Me Made May 2014: 1 week peek

Sooooo I guess other folks who were doing weekly recaps did it like by calendar week. Ah well. I'm a rebel.

Also, I know that some (ok, LOTS) of people glaze over during the month because of Me Made May. Hence my decision to participate daily on IG and only post what will be 4 updates here on the blog (7/7/7/10 days). Bear with me! :)

I am secretly enjoying Instagram! I have avoided it as I didn't 'get it'. I still am unlikely to use it for regular, every day photo uploads but I love it for sewing. I have found many new sewing 'friends' to follow and ooh and ahh over what they make - Score!!

Day 1: McCall's 6844 cardigan
Day 2: McCall's 5890 [ I was so excited for my work conference on Friday because I could wear  a dress!!! :) ]
Day 3: Simplicity 2061 pants
Day 4: Burda 02/2014 - #135 top and #109 skirt
Day 5: Sew Simple 1523 top and Burda 10/2012 #113 jacket (Although I wear the jacket daily)
Day 6: Plantain tee
Day 7: Simplicity 1916 top

This week I wore 3 items that I had not yet worn!! And I had NO repeats! Yay!!

In other sewing news...

And I made another McCall's 6844 cardigan. Really I can't write anything else about it that I didn't write the other FOUR times I made this pattern :)

WAIT! I can!!! On the very first one, the black one, I followed the directions exactly and interfaced the band. Then the next 3 I did not interface the band/collar. But I've come to realize I like the weight/stiffness(?) that the band has when interfaced so I interfaced this one.

This is made from the same knit as the plantain tee above. I wear the others at work over sleeveless tops/shells and the ponte is getting kind of warm at times (if you overheat like I do). 

BUT anyone that works in an office knows that in the summer months you need something lest you turn into an air conditioned ice cube...so this lightweight knit version should be perfect as the mercury continues to rise.

Lily is lopsided and I can't seem to fix her :-/

Oooh. This month I am also managing the vintage pattern contest on Pattern Review. It is an interesting process to say the least :-)

PANTS contest coming up mid May! Woot! Even though I can't win, I am making red pants. Cause everyone needs red pants!

Finished Items: B5678 and M5890

I *FINALLY* finished that dang blasted Butterick top. I am wearing it today to decide if I like it enough to redo a couple tricky things like the curved hem and cuff top-stitching. It's a bit fiddly in this poplin (Loud and it's clingy)...and the curve of the princess seams are higher than where my actual bust is. So I think I'm going to move on to V8772 and try that one before making another version of B5678. It's darted and I feel like darts are easier to manipulate than curved seams. No?

(Sorry for extra crappy photos)

This is after Chipotle and cake...

**You know how everyone says don't sew while tired? I say don't try on at night! :-O I am so bloated by evening that I have had SEVERAL things get tossed aside in a fit only to put it on some other day and realize it does fit...just not at 10 p.m. when I'm all full-o-bloat.

I don't remember fighting with the hem on the previous trials of this shirt...but I wanted to throw this thing while hemming. Also, I goofed on the buttons. I swear I tried it on several times to judge where the FIRST button -aka- the bust button should go. Nope, it's too low and they are too far apart...even though I used the recommended number of buttons. I was thinking of sewing in a snap right above the bust button and right below it...We will see.

On that note, I did not get to my vest. I pulled it out and contemplated it...but I didn't start it. I did however pull out M5890 and get it sewn up - both the top and the dress. Verdict? LOVE.

Uninspiring, right?

 Through several McCall's sales, I looked at this pattern and always put it back. And then I saw it made up on someone and thought, WOW!!! THAT is flattering!

I only have dress form pictures due to feeling very oompa loompa like this weekend (I blame the cake...not myself but the cake!)

 

Fabric for both is ITY knit from FabricMart. Love to wear and sew (serge) it, hate to hem it. Hate. Hate. Hate. 

Hate that they suggest "turn 3/8" then turn 3/8" again" for finishing the neckline and arms.

Love the princess seamed front and back and the scoop neckline. The b&w top is now no longer work appropriate because it scoops low enough to show my tattoo. Dang it. The dress did not get hemmed as low.

Also, the top is kind of short. Like danger of belly action when you lift your arms. But the dress is too long. ALSO, I don't want to hack off at the hem of the dress because I don't want to lose the flare.

So I think I'll trace the top off (this time I just folded the pattern and cut the fabric) and lengthen it...and shorten the pattern for the dress.

Do dots make you happy too??

The more I stared at this fabric for the dress, the more I loved it. It's graphic and the print kind of melds together. I put my grey cardigan (which I love but is totally not the best silhouette for me) and loved it. Then I realized this print goes with SO many things in my closet!!

Bottom right is my black M6844 cardigan...all others are RTW.

Otherwise I spent hours -- HOURS -- making shorts muslins. More on that tomorrow.

AND I have over committed to things I want to do in March.
-New to Me Pattern Company contest
-Fitted Blouse contest
-March MAGAM
-Trench coat sew-along

We will see how the next 21 days play out!