Finished Item: Deer & Doe Plantain and FREE fabric!

Yes. Free. :)

One of my coworkers does a bit of sewing and was going to make maternity pants for her daughter. Well, daughter quickly got labeled as high risk and went on bed rest and so no (work) maternity pants were needed. So there are 2 suiting fabrics from Fabric.com and a knit.

Yay me!

When the Plantain tee was released I was meh about it but who will pass up the release of a free pattern? Not I. I did print it and tape it immediately...and then never traced it off.

Well, there are like 3,071.5 renditions on the web already and I wanted in.

Last week at some point I traced off the pattern. I could have sworn I did flat pattern measurements and decided to cut the 40 neck with 42 from the arm pit down. I also decided I needed a 42 sleeve.

Well I can't fit it.

I want to say it's because of my fabric. It does not have much stretch (maybe 15%). My daughter kept calling it her shirt and it just might be!

But I will make it again because the fit is awesome. Yes, yes, I know mine is too tight...but it does a nice job of fitting the bust and then very gracefully grazing across the waist and hip. Always a good thing. And there's an elbow patch!!!  I saw some reviews that the neckline was too low but I don't think it is (if you do, well of course that's okay!). I judge "too low" by whether or not my tattoo shows. If I can wear a top without flashing my tattoo, I don't consider it too low!

Great drafting, the pattern tapes together well and I think the sizing is good. I just need stretchier fabric or a bigger size in not too stretchy fabric.

This is some of my 59 cents/yard fabric so the shirt cost me barely nothing. The red knit was scraps on hand and of course I had red thread. I constructed it entirely on the serger and haven't hemmed it yet. If my daughter decides she wants it it'll have to become a 3/4 sleeve anyway because the sleeves just barely fit me properly.

 

CUTE!

 

It hits at the right spot too!

 

Yes my stripes match even though my sleeves are strangling my arm.

Party Wear and February MAGAM Challenge

Still feeling blah.

I did not sew this weekend. It was so horrid. I tried. I tried to go into the sewing room but I felt so weak and nauseous on Saturday that I just couldn't. Wahhhhhh! Makes me shudder at how the entire month of September I did not sew, I did not buy fabric, I did not buy patterns. It was all utterly depressing. I wanted so badly to go to JoAnn's on Saturday to use my 60% off fabric coupon but I couldn't.

I did start the cataloging of patterns though. I've already found a few that were not in PR and about 4 that I have duplicates of. Oops.

Friday when I left work I was on the search for a sparkly cardigan. I had 20 minutes. As I was driving I remembered I had to pass Clothes Mentor. It's like "Once Upon a Child" for grown ups! It's not really a consignment store...you sell your "gently worn" (I hate that term) clothing to them for pennies and they re-sell for profit. They do carry some designers (way overpriced, imo) and I've totally been told they don't take garments from like Target and Express yet I saw garments from Express/Limited (same, imo) and the dress I bought is a Mossimo dress! Oy!!

ANYWAY, I tried on like 7 dresses and they all had sausage effect. I was discouraged. I also did not want to pay $22 for a used Gap cardigan (it was silver and sparkly and cute but $22?!). I found this simple sheath in the XL section (I was initially looking in the M which is why everything was horrific, apparently) and it was only $8! EIGHT DOLLARS! Snatched it right up. I liked the way it fits too. Of course I noticed right away that the neckline is too big on me (gaped a bit at front and back) and the armscye was too low. hahahaha! But I don't seem to have the same problems finding RTW that fits as many of my fellow sewers so I will consider that a blessing. While slightly too big at the neckline/armhole, it fit very well in the bust, waist and hip. And the length was perfect. Totally taking measurements from this dress when I am ready to make a sheath.

**I got lots of positive comments about sewing a lined dress however, I do not like the Cambie! (sorry!). Any other contenders for first lined dress you all can think of?

I also was tsk tsk'ing the dress for not having facings. So I kept thinking the lining was going to turn out in the front. But it was $8! Paired with my fa-vor-ite teal suede pumps and stockings (I *LOVE* stockings, hate pantyhose, and these have cool silicone strips so they actually stay put and don't slide down! And I've owned this pair for years, and have no clue where I bought them. :sadface:)

 

Overexposed to show the metallic threads

 

Ignoring the cat hair that has made it's way on to the dress... :) A little detail shot

 

I heart these shoes!

As usual, it was a great party, the food was SPECTACULAR and I only had 2 deserts. ;-)

For February I was thinking a vest (which I may still make) but I really want this jacket for spring and I am willing spring to come by March 1st. (it totally won't but a girl can dream)

It's reissued in the US edition of Burda Style; one of the patterns that is available for download vs. traceable in the magazine. It was originally in the 10/2012 edition; the Illusion Jacket. It has ponte sleeves which I think is pretty cool. I'm using this wool blend boucle from Fabric.com and pongee lining from FabricMart. Although after getting this pic, I'm thinking the lining is too green and I need something with more blue. We will see.

 In other news, my sweater is well on it's way! This yarn is one of the nicest acrylics I've ever used; but now I'm wishing I would have used a superwash. I don't think this yarn will hold it's shape well...although I also don't think I'm going to love the sweater. BUT I knew a test knit would make me "just knit a dang sweater already" and I won't be afraid to go ahead and start another one with the nicer yarn that I have.