Miscellany

So much life right now. Maybe I'll discuss later...at some point...Just think positive thoughts for me please!

At any rate, I've been doing all I can to keep busy (sewing, cleaning, family time...) I almost welcome work tomorrow!

I shelved my B6141 jacket for now. I wasn't completely feeling it and couldn't bring myself to work on it this weekend. But I did a whole bunch of other stuff.

Friday I went to see Mission Impossible, it was pretty good.

Saturday I muslined the bodice of B5030

I did standard Big4 adjustments for me; 1" bicep adjustment, 1" FBA, slight narrow shoulder adjustment. Obviously I didn't do a swayback adjustment! eesh.

I also need to lower my front darts a tiny bit.

I don't have enough fabric for it though :( Well, the fabric I intended for it. I'm almost tempted to order some crepe from FM while they're having their 55% Labor Day sale. We shall see.

I cleaned and redecorated my bedroom. The only new item is the dresser. It's an IKEA Malm that I found on Craigslist for $50! It's in great shape too! The rest of the stuff was all stored in the basement or garage. Why I hadn't been using my fun decorative items, I don't know.

The only other thing I want to buy is an area rug.

Because we have a TON of closet space in this house, dressers weren't that big of an issue. The plastic 3-drawer dresser housed my undergarments and socks previously and tank tops. I have a lot of tank tops; they're my favorite loungewear item.

Now, I have undergarments in the dresser, folded "real" tops (e.g, no t-shirts) and sweaters (because sweater season is coming) will be in the 2nd drawer. The 3rd is empty for now.

Those drawers are HUGE!

The ottoman is empty for now too. I haven't figured out what to use it for or if I need it for storage. 

The plastic drawer unit has workout gear and leggings/shorts/tank tops - e.g., loungewear. The basket on top has my belts, all rolled up.

This allowed me to move more of my shoes from down the hall into my closet. Yes, I have a lot of shoes...

The shelf has tshirts, shorts, casual pullover tops and jeans. I decided to take my jeans off of hangers. They're so bulky and seem to work better folded.

The over the door hooks have scarves, my favorite 'throw-on' sweaters and hoodies and my robe. I would like to get my robe closer to my bed though but can't think of a good place to put it. 

And I finally hung my little cheap-o mirror on the wall! It's behind the closet door that has the jewelry hanger on it.

Yay for better selfies!

And I bought new shoes (shhhhh!)

My ballet flats are so gross and ratty. I tried these on in store one day and knew I would buy them eventually.

Both are by Kelly & Katie, a DSW private brand

And then today I scrubbed the bathroom. Like, worked up a sweat!

And then I decided to start my Minoru. 

All of those &#(*#@ pieces to trace! grr! But I am happy that it has separate lining pieces, it really makes a difference.

Like many others I am completely appalled and offended at a casual outerwear piece without pockets. I scoured the stash and liked these 'fancy' patch pockets from M6531. That pattern has a gusset which would be nice, but I didn't realize that it was there until after I'd already lined the pocket pieces.

The buttons I'm auditioning are regular old Hancock buttons and the lining came from the Spot the Bolt table. I decided to go a little fun and funky :)

This picture is so askew! LOL! Sorry.

I basted this side to check the pocket placement but it's useless without the whole jacket on to see how it feels. So I'm just going to have a little tougher time putting them on after the side seams are sewn and the gathers are pulled in the shoulders/back. This jacket has a CLOSE fit. 

I will probably get this done in the next week or so.

And now I'm making dinner. And I still need to wash my hair today. 

And sorry not sorry but...I will be SO FREAKING glad to have a breather after Round 1 of the Sewing Bee. Hopefully Round 2 goes more smoothly.

Shorts Muslins & Other Plans

M6403 - pleated fail.
 
M6403 - straight shorts looked like hacked off pants -aka- the thigh opening wasn't big enough.

These just feel wrong. Too tight in front for the pleats to relax but too big at the hip and just unflattering at the butt. I do like the width of the thigh though.

 BSM 03/2012 #126 - Good. Pretty good...but not the pattern I want to use for several pair. I can see one or two in this style.

I think the Burda curve works for me. I had to add a very small (like 1/2") wedge at center back.

Thurlow - I debated sharing the pics because holy cow were they tight but...here goes

Spare yourself and don't look too closely at the front pic!

I cut a size 10 because the finished measurements were 35" waist and 46" hip.  But shorts need to be bigger apparently. They aren't intended to sit at my waist like trousers and the hip/thigh needs more room/ease. I measured a pair of RTW shorts and realized they were indeed bigger. And I also, apparently need more booty room. So I traced off a size 12 and altered the back crotch curve.

I realized that this pattern had a much deeper curve than my S2700 pants pattern or my RTW shorts. So I 'raised' the curve  to be less vertical (more "J") which seemed counter-intuitive but by raising the curve I added more fabric therefore there's more available to cover the junk!

EUREKA!

But I went too far because in the size 12, I had baggy butt. Ahhhh.

I have no more energy to muslin...but I have a thick cotton (drill??) fabric in my stash in a BRIGHT kelly green. The Burda's are in progress as a wearable muslin. I have enough to cut the Thurlow's from the same fabric.

I'd planned on making the Thurlow for the contest but it ends Saturday and I'm unsure I'll make that deadline.

Last night my son mentioned that he has an orchestra performance on Friday.
"Wash your shirt", I said.
"Ok. But I can't fit my pants", he said.

DOH!

But then he asked if I can make pants for him and of course I said, YES!!


This is from their latest release and is perfect for a twiggy 14 year old boy. And I had some 50/50 poly/wool (that I picked up for under $3/yd at Hancock) in the stash so I got to work!

This made me think about the awesome Kyle and her amazement at how much I sew. Which I don't think I sew a lot and I wish I could sew MORE!!! :-)

But last night was a perfect example of how things get done.
5:30 - got home
5:40 - went for a walk
--Because I live with people who are all bigger than me, I will not go to work everyday and do everything at home too. So while I went for a walk my daughter peeled potatoes for dinner and my husband cut them. My son started browning the ground turkey--
6:00 - started dinner (pants convo ensued)
-While cooking dinner I traced off the pants and cut out the paper pattern-
7:00-8:00 - eat dinner and do normal stuff like talking with goofy kids and playing ninja in the kitchen (yes, I know I said they were bigger than me...but we like to play kung-fu ninja)
8:00 - 8:30 - Cut out pants
8:30-9:30 - watch Breaking Bad on Netflix
9:30 - the husband decided to watch an episode of The Walking Dead.
9:30 - 10:15 - interfaced the pieces that needed interfacing, prepared the carriers and serged the cut edges of the pants.

So, yes, I am a busy body. I know! I just can't sit still! But I get a ton done in these little chunks of time.

Tonight I hope to get the zipper inserted and get them all basted so he can try them on.

**It's going to snow today. I still want my dang shorts!!!!

Sewing ADD; Burda Style 02/2014 #111 Muslin

When I got home yesterday it was still daylight (at 5 p.m.!!!) I took the opportunity to trace off another pattern from the February 2014 issue.

Apparently when you realize the Burda mag tracing isn't that bad and you do it once, you become addicted to it and want eleventy patterns from the magazine and you want them NOW! So you exhibit sewists ADD and have far too many things that you want to crank out.

This issue has SO much good stuff in it and one that I absolutely love is the square neck dress, which is #112.

It's so sweet and romantic looking! Yes, it's boxy...can I pull it off??

 

I decide to start with the top - less commitment. 

It didn't take long to trace the pattern out and I cut it after dinner, while my kids were in a weird way...he was HELPING her clean the kitchen! They were also in full on goofy mode.
  
I had this thick black (twill?) remnant in my stash - just over a yard - and managed to JUST eek the top out.

Now, the top does not fit as badly as it appears in that first pic. I usually have my daughter take pics because hubby doesn't get that I need him to stand up and take them. He's sitting or lying down and I get Oompa Loompa effect.

BUT, it IS too big at the neckline, the armholes sit really low and there is too much fabric in the back. But then the front is riding up (I cut a 42). I posted on PR if I should do a 40 with an FBA and was told it looks like a tilted waist issue, not a full bust issue. Thoughts??

Also, The back isn't too tight but holy moly, the sleeves ARE. I think they are pulling the back making it look tight. I had to have him pull it off of me because I couldn't lift my arms enough to get it back off!

I really want this top and the dress!  I love the little sleeves! Although they are only a rectangle that has been folded over and gathered...

**Oh, it should be noted that it is intended to be cropped - the back length is only 16"

Also - and if you have this issue that might help - the sleeve is one pattern piece that you then divide into two pieces...only to sew it back together. Is there any reason I can't leave it as a one piece sleeve?

Simplicity 1699 Muslin and Some Tips From a Beginner!

See, this is why I don't muslin. Okay, there are adjustments I can make to this pattern but...if I sewed this in my fashion fabric and it fit this way, I would not be unhappy. I would acknowledge the imperfections, but I would wear it, proudly.

Front: I could use more room from the bust down - my shoulders are narrow with respect to the rest of my upper body. Look at that sloping left shoulder!!!

Back: Will I do a swayback? nope. I should...I should in preparation for my classic fitted blazer.

Side: It isn't level from front to back. I need a little more length to get over the bust. See how it's pulling slightly?

It *is* a little tight across the back when I lift my arms or bend over.

I *think* my bust dart needs lowering but I'm not sure. Chime in please!

I've been doing narrow shoulder adjustments on my tops lately and have been quite pleased. I'm not sure it's necessary on this though. I think I just need to account for the sloping shoulder rather than narrow both shoulders. Also, I thought I'd hate the pleated sleeve but I don't!

I posted on Pattern Review for a muslin critique but would appreciate any and all advice, comments, suggestions, etc. I am getting pretty excited about this little jacket! :)

As I was making this muslin, I was all...WOW! I am going to sew EVERYTHING with cotton broadcloth!!!! It cuts well, it sews flawlessly, it presses like. a. dream. Swooon. Make everything out of cotton broadcloth!!!! Ok, not everything but...you get my drift.

Do not sew over your pins. It's a bad, bad habit. I have been caught a time or two. Once, the needle the pin, the tip of the needle broke off, and it hit me in the face. Luckily, I did not get hurt. That stopped me from doing it for awhile. Then I started again. And this weekend, this happened:

for shame

Lastly (for now), change your sewing needle! Throw away bad pins!!! But since those things are sharp, have a handy, dandy, sharp thing container. For me, that's a glass (!) Trader Joe's spice jar. (They have amazing garlic powder, cumin, oregano, basil and smoked paprika. For $1.99 each!)