A Simplicity Fest

I mentioned that I'd sewn the most possible Simplicity patterns...They are all patterns that I made before so no actual reviews.


**Disclaimer: No machines were hurt during production of this post! I finished the red pants and vest almost 2 weeks ago; they were just unblogged.



Simplicity 2153
This time I made the vest in a cotton poplin that I got from Fabric Mart. I'd originally bought this olive fabric for a shirt but it was pretty hefty and stiff. After washing, the fabric seemed to have "streaks" in it so a shirt was definitely out. Then I decided it'd be perfect for a vest! I initially planned on brass zipper and what not but then the red hit me so I went with it.

LOVE.

I wanted to use the other collar and pockets but didn't have enough fabric. So it's essentially the same as my black jacket but without sleeves, and the little loop on back.

Simplicity 1696

Right after I made the floral pair I cut the red pair. But then wasn't feeling the love. I think the RPL would've been better suited for more of a trouser style. I don't hate them but I realized it's been a long time with them sitting there, needing hemming. That's typically a little indicator that I am less than pleased. Today I decided to just grab pics so they STILL aren't hemmed and I rolled them up. 

They grew on me. I like them as part of a casual look. Maybe with my "fancy" raglan sweatshirt I made last year.

The red is so hard to photograph. Sheesh.

I used the rayon challis from my V1395 dress for the pocket bags.

This is seriously THE best fly zipper I've ever done!!! It came out perfectly

Simplicity 2700

The TNT pants pattern. 

I had this rayon/poly twill suiting from FabricMart and loved the color. These took me awhile and as I got closer to finishing I decided to add the red bias tape to the waist facing. I then decided they looked like Sock Monkey inspired pants!!! :) With the serger threads and the main fabric and the red...hahahaha! I love them.

The black fabric was picked up last weekend on my SR Harris excursion with The Sometimes Sewist. It's a cotton/lycra/something. I don't remember if the something was rayon or poly. They feel nice but the lycra made these sew up a little differently than the first pair.

On the black pair, I narrowed the legs 1" front and back and added 1/4" to the waist of both pieces (for 1" total). Well with the lycra in the black pair I didn't need the extra. However, the tan pair (which were made first), has 3/8" side seams from about mid-thigh to the waist). The tan pair got faux welts. The black pair got carriers and no welts.

I left off the pockets on both because I needed pants nowwwwww. I also changed them to flat front (instead of tabbed waist).  Both were blind hemmed by machine.

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I have also started a non-Simplicity project! Hahaha!

**Butterick 6104 with cotton/wool blend suiting from FabricMart**

I hustled towards the end of my day off and got this cut. I am surprised at how quickly it's going together, because there are 300,000 seams. With the FabricMart contest starting up this week, it may be awhile before it's finished.

Apparently I am also having a red moment...

Finished Item: S2153 and My Genius Moment

I got a lot of laughs on the last post! :-)

Simplicity 2153, size 10. No alterations to the pattern.

The only thing I would do differently for her is lengthen it below the waist casing. *just* a little bit...which would allow me to make the pockets slightly deeper which would be nice for her long hands. But she is in love with it!

Love the bright contrast!

TWINSIES!!!! :)

Speaking of long hands...

My hand atop my 14 year old's hand

Why am I genius you ask?

Yes, this is an accurate representation of how large my living room is.

And it has sat, unused, since we moved in last July. 

I decided to move my machines upstairs (ironing board too). My fabric and notions and cutting table are still downstairs. I told them it's for summer, because I enjoy the natural light.

but that's only partially true

Remember how, on Memorial Day, I brought the sewing machine to the dining room table in order to work on DDs shirt while my brother was visiting? Well the machine has been there ever since. And I have sewn a ton. A TON. And guess what? Not one of the people I live with has complained.

I'm "there".

I'm "present".

They can see me.

Today I spent over 4 hours working on her jacket. No complaints. The kids were in there for at least half of the time, probably more and my husband was in there for quite awhile too. I realized it was me "going away" to the basement that made everyone whiny sad.

So I cut downstairs and put the fabric, directions, zipper, buttons, cording, elastic, etc in a basket and worked from the basket. Worked perfectly. 

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Lastly, I terribly miss my Papa. I hate that they live so far away :-(

Happy Father's Day to a super awesome dad!

The morning of my junior prom

Finished Item: Simplicity 2153

I finished it! 

I have seen only cute versions of this jacket in the sewing world and when I found the waterproof coating at FabricMart, I had to make it. 

I decided I wanted view C but with the elastic in the sleeve hem, like A. Now, there are tons of warnings about the ease in this pattern. I guess it is all relative. Normally I am a 14 with FBA, 16 waist, 18 hip (or 14 shoulder graded to 16 bust and waist and 18 hip). I had the larger size range of this pattern so I cut the 16. I didn't measure or anything...I just went for it.

The jacket fits fine. It fits like a normal jacket.

Okay, I could use a narrow shoulder adjustment. And the sleeves are on the voluminous side...but there is NO way I could have/should have gone down a size. I had to give myself a little extra hip room so that it wasn't tight! So...yeah. YMMV and all that.

Photos GALORE!

POCKETS!!

I mean, that isn't like super, extra roomy...

Overexposed to show the details

Pockets!!!! Epaulettes! :)

My polka dot bias tape! :)

This jacket was moving right along, minding it's own business and then...

I decided it needed a hood. And muslined and it was meh. And muslined and then...whatever. No need. See, I enjoy sewing. I enjoy working out a problem, but I will move on if something is seriously driving me crazy. So, no hood on THIS one.

Adjustments:

• Removed about 1" from the sleeve width (just did this while sewing)
• Shortened the sleeves 1.5" (which was almost too much! Ooops!)
• No interfacing except on the epaulettes. After seeing how the fabric behaved and seeing that a lightweight rtw jacket had no interfacing in the collar or the facings, I decided to leave it off. This fabric has quite a bit of body.
• Instead of creating a tube and turning the back loop, I just handled it like you would belt carriers. Felt that was easier

Particulars:

• Waterproof fabric from FabricMart ~2.25 yards (this fabric sews and presses AMAZINGLY!)
• 24" Zipper from JoAnn
• 1/4" cording from Hancock
• Handmade bias tape (woohoo!) as casing and on facings
• 3/4" elastic in the sleeves (about 9")
• All interior seams serged. 
• Yoke seams (front and back) topstitched

Mistakes:

• Bought a 26" zipper and spent 2 days looking for a black 24" zipper.
• Sewed the casing in place and realized I sewed it in the wrong place. Never mind the buttonholes that were sitting right there as guides.
• 1.5" was almost too much removed from the sleeve length. I just made it.
• Went to zip it up and couldn't. I had sewed the facing too close to the zipper tape and had to unpick the topstitching and facing stitches!
• Sewing the sleeve elastic casing and ran out of bobbin thread...realized I had navy thread in the bobbin. Luckily the area is gathered so you can't see it!
• Didn't make sure my toggle things were the right size for my cording! So I'll have to find a new pair.

I am in love with this jacket! It is fantastic! It feels good on and is sewn pretty dang well if I must say so myself ;-)

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this pattern for an easy but stylish lightweight jacket. I now plan to make the vest too.

It's no surprise that SOMEONE now wants me to make them one too!

Blog of Randomness

I really enjoyed reading everyone's responses on the fabric stashing question!!! and once again, I am constantly amazed by the way we are all doing the same thing (SEWING!)...in different ways. It's always fun to hear about what works for someone else and what doesn't...and to get new tips and tricks!

Now...The Randomness.

Dear sewing friends,

When I started sewing I'd saw references to making bias tape. Then one day I bought some and used it on a top. And I was smitten. "OhEmGeeeee! This stuff is awesome! Why the heck would I make it!?"

And I'd read comments from sewers about how icky the packaged stuff is and I'd be all...pfft!

Then one day I made a bias cut neckline binding for a top. And thought, "AGAIN, WHY would anyone make this stuff?!?! It's so extra tedious!"

Dear, dear sewing friends...I was so wrong.

I decided to make a lightweight jacket from this waterproof fabric I scored at FabricMart for cheap. It's black and using Simplicity 2153 which is unlined. So I decided I'd make black & white polka dot bias tape for the insides. And I was dreading it.

And then...THEN...I googled and found this tutorial by Seasoned Home Maker and it looked really simple and easy and I thought, "hey, even *I* can do THAT!"

Oh. My. GOSH!!!

Sure it took me 4 tries to get the second fold right (don't ask...) but I made bias tape! And a lot of it! And it was FAST. Well, the cutting was and I ran a couple short pieces through the bias tape maker...I still need to sew the ends together and do the whole lot of it but I think I'm hooked!

Yes, I know that isn't black and white. You see...I used some of the black and white fabric to make the bra top and uhmmm...I can't find the rest. I have looked and I don't see it. Now, what will happen (guaranteed) is, I will use this grey and white bias tape, finish my jacket and then BAM, I'll see the black & white fabric sitting in front of me. No worries. I *could* go buy a smidge of fabric but I'm on a budget and I have no more craft dollars for May. I spent them all. All. And I'm sticking to my budget!

So, the jacket. I decided that I don't need to finish this extra.fast.right.now. and I have been working a bit more meticulously than I normally do on projects. I will probably finish it sometime this week. I'm adding a hood (hello? Waterproof fabric!) and it should be great for the morning commute. It'll still be jacket weather in the a.m. for at least a month...and then I'll be ready for early fall!

Look at those pockets! I promise they are stitched extra neatly!

I need to serge the seam allowance here and topstitch it in place (towards the yoke). 

I finally realized THAT is why my loop kept swinging out.

That buttonhole ain't half bad!

The casing is created by stitching 7/8" bias tape or twill tape at the waistline and then running cording (if I remember correctly...) through. My bias tape will be 1" but I don't think anyone will come looking for me.

Since I don't have the black and white, there will be fewer accented areas. So only the casing and the front facing. Not the side seams or the inside of the hood. Whatevs.

I really like how this pattern is coming together and if you Google it, there really are NO bad versions! Everyone's is extra cute! I think I'm going to make the vest too in this orange twill.

What else...Hmmm. Jacket progress halted because my dear, sweet daughter saw the June issue of Burda and decided this tunic MUST be hers. By Tuesday for her culinary final (my husband and I get to go and have her cook a 4 course meal for us!)

So...those tucks? Oh good grief. I have one half done. I have to do the other one. Based on the length of time these tucks are taking she is getting a mama version of this top. The mama version will be altered such that:

There will be one skirt layer (it's WAY too short to be a dress on her. The girl has a 34" inseam...)
There will be no placket/cuffs. Nope. I am going to make a band and put some elastic in it.
That whatever is happening at the bottom of the button band? nope. It's going to end and then the top will meet the skirt.

Ain't nobody got time for that.

In other sewing news;

I'm thinking of this S1374 bikini in these two contrasting fabrics. :-O I cannot bring my head around mixing fabric. I see it when others do it. I LOVE it. I get scared to do it myself. The closest I got was the snake print/black ponte raglan and that wasn't exactly an interesting mix of prints.

Since the striped fabric was something I bought when I FIRST started sewing and didn't realize was a swimsuit fabric until I tried to make a no-pattern pencil skirt and press it (Oh boy!) it's been sitting. The coral was free in a FabricMart bundle. This will be my first swimwear piece so it'll be good practice.

Lastly (WHEW!)...

Growing up my mom would bring my sister and flowers every time she got paid. I grew to *LOVE* flowers. Trader Joes has really cute small bouquets for $3.99. I bought one today and figure that's a fun treat for myself...

No exaggeration...I smile EVERY.SINGLE.TIME I walk past them. Small price to pay for some warm fuzzies :)