Sewnista In The Making

Finished Object 11.2

2011-02-28T14:00:00.024-05:00

This is my 2nd FO of 2011...

I originally started knitting this for myself. But then I decided to gift it to a great girl that works with me in honor of her moving to China for the next several months for work... a sort of a good luck present.

This yarn is Cascade 220 in Fuchsia.... LOVE IT!!

I got it from Rare Purls in Duluth, GA over the Christmas holidays...

Fab.

As impromptu a gift as it was, it was my first foray into knitting for someone else........ gggrrrrrrr....

Madelinetosh Honey Cowl in Cascade 220 Worsted

.....all I know is, she BETTA be wearing it the next time I see her...... I'm kidding........ kind of.

Holla!

Finished Object 11.1

2011-02-26T17:14:00.000-05:00

I actually finished this months ago...

...but I only just got around to actually taking a picture of it...

So, I'm just going to count it as my first FO of 2011.

Broken Cable Cowl in Cascade 220 Undyed Peruvian Highland Wool

I would definitely knit this again, but I would choose a softer, drapier yarn... something more along the line of LB Thick and Quick or the like...

Holla!

goodness gracious sakes alive....

2011-02-06T16:53:00.000-05:00

I was just visiting my friends book blog Penny Pimpin and I was pleasantly surprised to see my site on her blog list.... only to be shocked and awed to see that it had been 3 MONTHS (!?!) since my last post.

Shameful.

I'm astounded that so much time has past without my really realizing it. So much has been going on... My company changing hands and locations and a general dip in the quality of life there.... A long holiday vacation that made it extremely hard to get back into the swing of things once I got back.... The horrible weather we have been having here in the City.... ((ssiigghh))

All that has just lended to a general lethargy that has kept me sitting on my ass for the most part.... Luckily, that's were I do most of my knitting... ;-D!

I do have some finished projects that I need to post, but some of them are gifts that have yet to be handed over, so it will be a week or so before I will be able to share them.

I can say that I have a few new projects planned...

I desparately need a hat alternative for these cold weekday mornings. As much time as I spend getting my hair together in the morning, I'll be damned if I'm going to tug a hat over it!

I have found these two styles, but I'm torn...

This choice is the Vanessa Headband by Nancy Ricci...

I love the cables and its nice and wide over the ears.

This one is called Cablerimetry by Meg White...

Again, more cables, and I love that it is knitted flat and has a button closure in the back!

While I'm deciding which to do, I plan on casting this one on today...

This is the Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh...

I have the perfect yarn for it that I got over the New Year holiday in Atlanta. I bought it at a cute little place in Duluth called Rare Purls. I'll post pics soon! Promise!!

Holla... and belated Happy New Year!

Next!!

2010-10-24T11:52:00.000-04:00

I had planned on casting this on today, while still high off finishing my first pair of 2-at-a-time/magic loops socks this weekend....

Short row scarf from LionBrand.com

I'm going to make it with this yarn I picked up my new favorite yarn store Smiley's in Queens.
It's about an hour away and it's only open on Fridays and Saturdays, but dang if it wasn't worth the trip!!

... this is a great looking and feeling yarn that was 2.99 a skein... I got the whole bag of about 450+ yards for 10 bucks!! Anywhere else, each skein would have been anywhere from 5-8$ a piece, right?

Unfortunately, I realized I don't have the right size needle. Looks like I need to make a quick trip to P&S Fabrics tomorrow to pick up some circular 11's.

Then, score of all scores... I picked up these beauties...

..... 2.99 a skein!.... 50/50 Merino and Silk!!....I <3 Smiley's.... seriously!!

I plan on making this lovely piece of knitted... loveliness... with my score.

It's the #11 Feather Stole by Irina Shabayeva that was featured in the Fall'10 issue of Vogue Knitting....Loovveee. It......... now, I'm not saying I will be able to make it anytime soon, but it's in my queue!

Holla!

short and sweet

2010-10-24T11:10:00.000-04:00

Two down. From the top down.

I finally finished my first pair of socks!
Using the 2-at-a-Time/ Magic Loop method no less..... Holla!!

(almost) always do what your mama tells ya...

2010-09-06T10:37:00.000-04:00

I'm going on a family cruise for the Xmas holidays this year.
It's going to be the first of its kind for us as almost 16 family and close friends are getting together for a 5 day Caribbean vacay.... CANT WAIT!!

The other day I was talking to my mom about my new knitting ~~obsession~~ interest and how much easier it is that I can just pick it up or put it down without having to dismantle anything.

Knowing that I still love sewing and I check out my favorite sewing links everyday, she suggested that I revert back to my one project a month concept with the goal of the cruise in mind.

I've thought it over and decided that I like the idea and I'm going to do it.
Nothing major, just some quick projects to get me back in the swing of things maybe get my mojo flowing again after a year off...

Of course, a juicy Labor Day sale sale over a BMV didn't hurt.

Because, of course, I couldn't just use any of the patterns I ALREADY have overflowing out of my drawer...ooohh nnnoooo, I need to start FRESH!! Here's what I found...

This two piece from Badgley Mischka (V1195)...

I love the over top...

Then I remembered this cute little Anna Sui dress (V1153)...

It's an older pattern that I've been looking at for a while.
I think it would look cute in a light linen or dress weight broad cloth.

Then there is this asymmetric top from McCalls(M6204)...

I actually just bought a top quite similar to this from ASOS.

And lastly, this legging pattern(M6173)...

Not bad for $5 a pop.

Holla!

"Sock it to me!"

2010-09-06T09:01:00.000-04:00

..... is what I will name my post when I actually COMPLETE a sock... not even a pair!.. A sock.... for now they are kicking my ass and leaving me feeling rather discouraged.

I needed a little picker upper and found this simple baby hat pattern in my 'Teach Yourself Visually Knitting' book....

I used some of my favorite fuchsia pink Debbie Bliss Rialto DK ~ my best 'Wool Watcher' find to date!

It was soo smooth and springy and perfect for a little stretchy hat like this... Def going to get some more and make a hat for myself.

I took a few liberties.... trying to insert a half-rememered mock-cable stitch I had seen Sunday morning on Knit and Crochet Now.

... apparently, the half I didnt remember was the most important half... ;);

But, I think its still cute and it gave a me little practice on some basic decreaese(P/K2tog) and a little Icord action. As an afterthought, I added a little tassel at the top.

Never mind I don't know any babies.

Holla!

Projects No. 4 and No. 5...

2010-08-21T10:06:00.001-04:00

Project No. 4
... My first footie!

... ran out of yarn on this one... so I'll just have to play musical feet for a little while.

Project No. 5
... My first socks!!

... I just used what yarn I had on hand for this one. I wanted to test out the pattern before I bought more yarn to make it for real. Glad I did because the cast-on and increasing needs a little tweaking.

Holla!

Projects 3.1 and 3.2

2010-08-14T12:40:00.000-04:00

These are my first attempts at felting.
Much is still desired with regards to my technique :):

Holla!

Fait Accompli

2010-08-08T17:43:00.000-04:00

The Market Bag is finished!!

... Unfortunately, Blogger is tripping with my pictures!
Until I can figure out what is wrong, you can see them here.

Holla!

Welp, soo much for that!

2010-08-04T15:05:00.000-04:00

I had big plans to get up early and scoot to the post office before work this morning and pick up a package of yarn I ordered from TaddyBeeKnitting’s Etsy Shop. Only to waylaid by the notification that the local PO only opens at 8am on Saturdays! Today is Wednesday!...:-(

I had wanted to take ‘le sac du marche’ to the FG/CH K&C meet up tonight and try to make some more progress... bbooooo!!

Luckily, one of my co-workers brought me a copy of a[nother!] scarf from LB.com that just so happens to call for the same homespun yarn I picked up on sale at LBStudio this past Sunday.

It looks to be a super easy/quick pattern that I might be able to make some major headway into very quickly... between the wine and beer runs that is..sniff (... or hiccup, as it were.)

Crochet Ruffle Scarf from LB.com

Holla!

projet numéro deux

2010-08-03T20:36:00.000-04:00

... le sac du marché

Holla!

A little Saturday afternoon knitting...

2010-07-31T15:04:00.001-04:00

...found this easy cables pattern over at LionBrand.com.

The yarn is un-dyed Peruvian Highland wool I picked up yesterday from a Brooklyn LYS, Knit-A-Way, yesterday.
As a rule, I don't care for wool... it always feels to hard and scratchy on my skin... this un-dyed quality feels quite soft and I still haven't gotten that itchy feeling from it. I have high hopes that this little scarf will become a staple in my winter wardrobe.

I have my last class at Lion Brand Studio tomorrow morning... I get 10% off student discount aanndd they're having their summer sale... SCORE! I've had my eye on some 100% baby alpaca and a cotton/bamboo blend.

If anybody is on Ravelry... friend me.... feeling kind of lonely in there...;-)

Holla!

Done and Done!

2010-07-25T18:57:00.000-04:00

I'm soo proud. It's my first knitted object!

Well.... technically, this...

... is my first finished object... :(:

But since that was supposed to be a scarf and NOT a hand towel, lets just pretend like it didn't happen, shall we?

Holla!

Not tha Mama!!

2010-07-04T15:24:00.000-04:00

Remember Baby Sinclair from that old 90's TV show 'Dinosaurs'?

yyeeaahhhhh...... well meet Not tha Sewing!

I will get my act together.... one of these days....((((sssighhh)))).

Holla!

Cut fabric....

2010-06-26T16:12:00.000-04:00

..... It's a start!

Holla!

....Out with a Clang!

2010-05-02T11:26:00.000-04:00

Even with a self-imposed deadline and a 'Project a Month: April' incentive... the Mojo remained ever elusive.

Because I didn't want to be a COMPLETE loser, I did gather myself yesterday to make the dress....

"...That looks more like a top." you say?

That's because it is.

Halfway through the construction I realized the color and pattern would be a bit much for an entire dress. So, I decided to forgo the three bottom tiers and make it a peplum top.

It did come out altogether cuter that I expected. Unfortunately, it came out altogether SMALLER than I expected, too.

I'm going to make it again, adjusting it for wider waist and cross back measurements. I will also add a few inches for the the peplum as well. (I just used one of the already cut skirt layers, but it wasn't as long as I would have liked.)

You can't tell from the pictures but, the way I adjusted the dress to be a top, it made it fully lined, and almost reversible if not for the CB zipper.

The bodice was already fully lined with self fabric, with completely enclosed seams. I ended up using the same technique with the peplum so the hem seam was hidden as well.

I think I will use an alternative closure method (maybe a large key-hole opening) that would allow for a pull-over top instead of a CB zipper, then it would be completely reversible.

The print was perfect for a top, so I'm headed back the Fulton Fabrics tomorrow to get a few more yards before it's all gone.

I think for May, I will try something where I don't have to worry about it fitting... maybe a quilt or that apron pattern my mom asked me to make her LAST YEAR.....';?

Holla!

Meant to post this earlier...

2010-04-17T11:49:00.000-04:00

... But, as it is want to do... Life got in the way... AGAIN (.....the nerve!)

But I do 'sewlder' on... heeehee.

Holla!

On your mark...

2010-04-09T22:30:00.001-04:00

Holla!

Project-a-Month: April aka ...a kick in the pants (.. or skirt... or shirt for that matter...whichever!)

2010-04-04T13:49:00.003-04:00

Okay.

I am secure enough in myself to admit that sometimes I need ~~threats~~ incentives to get out of a funk.

I was sitting here watching 'Julie and Julia', being inspired... and getting hungry... but mostly feeling a bit grouchy thinking about all the fabrics and all the patterns I have sitting in their various nooks and crannies around MY house that I should be 'cooking up'! But as I've droned on about in these last few posts, I'm hard pressed to get up the energy to actually DO anything with them.

The old (less stingy) me would think,"...oh, you just need to get some newer, more interesting patterns and some better, prettier fabric and THEN you'll be RARING to go!".... *ahem* It was that selfsame thinking that had me storing all manner of patterns and fabric in every available nook and cranny in my house in the first place!

So, I'm reaching out.

I have these three patterns and fabric options - ON HAND!!

This first one is a McCall's pattern that's been chilling at the top of the pile waiting for me to notice it.
This fabric is a cheapy cut I picked up a few weeks ago, just because.
I thought it would make a cute dress.... and what do you know... It just might.

I really do like this fabric. It's on the sheer side, but I think the shirring effect in the dress layers will help combat that a little.

This pattern I picked up sometime last year online during a 1$ pattern sale... Love the off the shoulder look.

This is a slub knit jersey I picked up at Paron's sometime last year...

I've been wanting to use it for a while and I guess now is as good a time as any.

And some of you might remember this pattern and this fabric...

So.... all this begs the question.... which one should I make?

I'm picking up my 'Project-a-Month' motto I quietly adopted last year, in an effort to keep myself from going crazy trying to do too much at one time. And, from getting anxious and discouraged for never seeming to have enough time to finish any of them.

I welcome any thoughts and ideas... and any sewing buddies!... that would like to join me with their own April project.

HELP!.... I mean, Holla!!

Don't START none.... Won't BE none...

2010-04-02T14:23:00.000-04:00

... This is true with gun fights, fisticuffs and dance-offs.

And, apparently, home sewing projects...;-|

I just walked past my much ballyhooed sewing table that's been sitting, half open / half closed, in my living room for ~~the last several weeks~~... *ahem*.... a while, being used a catchall for mail and magazines and all manner of hair and hair related accessories.

Maybe if I move my machine next to my computer, where, it would seem, I am inexorably drawn as soon as I walk into the house, I might actually be able to start another project.

*ssiigghhhh*... if mights and maybe were tulips and daisies, I have a garden. At least THEN I'd be active outside with a valid excuse for why I'm not SEWING!

Holla.

..... It's Alive...

2010-03-26T22:03:00.000-04:00

.... by 'IT' I mean ME, of course.

I'm still here... tweaking the place and contemplating a move... virtually, again, of course.... but also thinking that if I went through the effort to MOVE the site, it would call to question the infrequency with which I actually USE the site... other than for my own personal onestopshop for all the sites that I like to visit...*sniff*

I am shamed to say I haven't even touched my machines since... *gasp*... October!

*sigh*.... Yes. Dust.

I will do better. I MUST do better.

Holla.... (soon, I promise!)

Random Acts of Fabulousness

2010-01-29T22:32:00.002-05:00

I've become ~~obsessed~~ highly enamored with Real/Street/Personal style photo blogs over the last several months... largely influenced by the energy the new product development head at my co has infused our product line with at work... this woman can spot a trend a year out ... le sigh...

As you may, or may not, have noticed, I've added several more links to my sidebar feeds list.

The Clackers - WhoWhatWear   - LoveMadeVisible
... both seemingly one stop shops for photo-collages of the new shows. Accompanied by highly opinionated, yet wickedly funny commentary.

Garanace Dore
... Superfine eye.... might be why she and 'The Satorilaist' are so.... ahem... close.

Igore + Andre   - Fifi Lapin
... How I wish I could sketch... NOTE TO SELF... add beginning sketch to 'Classes I must take' list @ FIT...

The Cherry Blossom Girl   -   Aspirations of Prosperity -   Karla's Closet
... along with Childhood Flames and The Stylish Wander, these girls really have me wondering what, exactly, their parents do for a living.... I was hard pressed to whine a pair of real live Guess or Jordache or, worst case scenario, Gloria Vanderbilt(!) jeans out of my parents when I was their age.

Le Blog de Big Beauty
... If I'd not already created a 'Random Acts of Fabulousness' blog list, I certainly would have done so after finding this blog last night! THIS CHICK IS HELLA-FAB! She's an excellent example of Super Size meets Super Fashionable.... And she French! (... that last part, and the peppering of other French language blog links, is because I'm amped about starting my first official French foreign language class at the French Institute in a few weeks)

... All in hopes that you would find some of these sites as fascinating and style inspiring as I do...

Holla!!

Must be some kind of record!

2010-01-18T13:41:00.000-05:00

... 3 posts in one day!!

Since I was all hot and heavy about looking for Derby dress ideas, I decided to peruse the handy dandy interweb's pattern suppliers. Low and behold, I think I came up with a few goodies...

For this...

how about...

...Butterick's 5324.

And for this...

maybe....

NewLook's 6369.

Just some thoughts. But, as always, if anybody see's better options... HOLLA!!

"... And they're off!....."

2010-01-18T12:34:00.000-05:00

I've been doing a little forward thinking lately and I've decided to get a head start on my Derby dress this year.
I had a fine time making my dress last time, and I have a few ideas about what I want to do this year...

A few days ago, I got my ideeli notification and saw this Pucci dress that I stared at for a good 5 minutes...

.... love. it.

I was thinking about using this lovely silk charmeuse I got on one of my MeetUp fabric shopping trips last year.

I have also been ALL.OVER. H&M's new Garden Collection promo these last two weeks or so.

I heart the embroidery on the bodice.... I heart it very much.

I think something like this would work really well for Derby too....

ssswwweeeeeet.

... I'm thinking a nice dress weight poplin?... Ooohh! Maybe I could find another nice eyelet like the one I used last year!

Now I just have to find the patterns..;-\

Holla!!

All these days later....

2010-01-18T11:36:00.001-05:00

I wore the WD dress again for New Years...

This time I paired it with over the knee leather boots.

To nice effect I think.

Holla!

If any one photo could sum up my Game (...capital G!) plan for 2010....

2010-01-10T17:42:00.006-05:00

V Mag 'Size Issue'.... on stands 1/14/10

Game. On.

Holla!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!!

2010-01-06T20:30:00.007-05:00

.... what's good, good people?

I looked at The Machine today and saw dust.... how. embarrassing.
But 2010 will see me do better... promise!

Meanwhile, I am adding some more style blogs to my Fashionista Index...

Jak and Jill ....what the what!?!?

Style Rookie .... where was I at 13?

Holla!
............ and Happy New Year!

Fabric Stores in the ATL...

2009-12-22T12:56:00.002-05:00

I'm headed to Atlanta for the holidays and I would love to check out some nice local fabric stores in the city.

Of course, I can't remember any of the names I've come across over the past year.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Holla!.... and Happy Holidays!

Long, long, long time coming... back, that is.

2009-11-30T20:46:00.009-05:00

I have been completely out of the sewing and blogging loop for several weeks now...I've been using my purty new sewing table more as an ironing board base than a cutting table... but as we all know the mojo comes as the mojo goes... at will.

I did go on vacay during this time.... a cruise to the Bahamas.... and I am happy to say that my black Weekend Designer column dress was a raging success at the formal dinner on the ship.

Here are a few of pics from the trip....

My sister and I in the limo on the way to the pier.

Me on the balcony outside our suite.. recognize this dress?

My sister and I again, on our way to para-sailing.

The next pic is a better version of this picture, but this one is my abso-favorite! I swear, they look like a female-lead Mafia family! My Nana as the no-nonsense Don.... My Mom as her, equally no-nonsense, Underboss.... and tell me my sister doesn't look like a solider that's telling you, with her eyes, that you've come close enough!... HHHahhaaaa!!!

Very nice! (... My fam AND my dress!)

Holla!

If at first you don't succeed... try, try again... (OR!... scrap it and do something else!)

2009-09-20T12:59:00.000-04:00

Which ever!!

I, for one, ended up doing both...

I really loved this Weekend Designer Column dress How-to.So, I kept adjusting the pattern till it would work for me.

Finally I got it. I was doing pretty good until I, over zealously, took in some excess fab on the side seams. I, apparently, needed that fabric, else the back zipper buckled!

And the straps.... )))Grrrrrr(((.

By pure happenstance, as I was trying to fit it again, I pulled the dress on backwards, to get the zipper up...(((eyeroll))).... I had the straps wrapped around the bodice and when I turned it around again, Whomp!
Momma likes!!

Since I didn't need as deep a pleat anymore, because the straps covered so much, I took back some of the room I needed.I even added pockets. I put them a little low on the hip... not necessarily intentionally low... but I think it works.

The pattern also called for a self-fabric lining. Since I was using a linen, I decided to use some light weight jersey I had in the stash to make it instead... it was a new concept for me. I liked the result.
... like Slick Rick said at the beginning of 'Children's Story', "HHeeerrrreeee We GO!"

********************************************

Now, is it just me or does anyone else get the overwhelming urge to get up and make something after watching Project Runway?

This week was no different... I set out to make this M5754 top from McCall's.

(I poo-pooed the sleeves and chose jersey instead of a woven for the bottom.)

Unfortunately, the allover stretch lace I was planning on using was not a color match for either of the black matte jerseys I had on hand.

But, while I was rummaging through my stash, I came across several trim laces I'd forgotten I had.

My first thought was to piece the lace together and then cut the pattern piece. But then I'd lose the scalloped edges.... blah blah blah.

Anyway, while I was holding up the different lace choices to see which pattern I liked best, I thought, 'hey!' what about a sleeveless tube?

I ended up using the bottom pattern pieces (view C), since it was already the proportion/shape I like.

All it needed was a row of lace across the top and Whomp Whomp!!

(Front detail)(Back detail)

I liked that tricot shelf bra idea so much, I added it to this top too. But instead of making one from scratch, I used a mini-tube cami-ette I got from work.

I'm going on a cruise to the Bahamas at the beginning of next month and I can't wait to rock BOTH of these!

Holla!

Totally off sub.... has anybody ELSE chosen Kathy the California Cow?... L.O.V.E. her song.... "...C to the A to the L - afornnnnnyyyaaaaa!!"

Sing it with me y'all!!

2009-08-30T10:36:00.009-04:00

"I'm so excited... and I just cant hide it!!"

Okay so, over the last several months, many of my nearest and dearest have embarked on various degrees of higher learning. Some finishing a degree program started many years ago. Some studying something completely new.

Needless to say, I was inspired and decided that it was past time to supplement my 15years of garment production experience. In hopes of, both, making myself more marketable, but to also be more knowledgeable in the way my company's business is changing now.

I said all that to say, I walked myself over to F.I.T on Friday and enrolled into one of their Professional Development Programs... Product Development, to be precise.

My first class actually starts next Saturday, 'Fabrication -Everything You Need to Know'. That is EXACTLY the kind of knowledge I have been wanting to get for both my work and craft life!

Then my next class is (if you can stand it) 'How to Build a Better Garment'.... I know this will be geared toward bulk garment production, BUT STILL!!

It's a certificate program, not a full fledged degree. But as I never really liked school, baby steps.

And best of all.... NO EXAMS!! I'll say it again, I'm so excited!!

Holla!

Small Victories.

2009-08-25T20:42:00.010-04:00

Fresh off a crash and burn attempt to adapt this Weekend Designer dress to (((sniff))) my.... particular measurements.... I needed a 'sure thing'.

Hheellooo McCalls 2781!
I've made this dress a few times before. But this time, instead of sewing up the skirt portion, I left it open (...with the existing selvage edges saving me a finishing step) and converted it into a wrap dress...
Done and Done!

Holla!

Sim2584 Complete.

2009-08-23T17:42:00.004-04:00

Looking forward to adding this one to the fall wardrobe!

Holla!

Frankendress, V2....

2009-08-22T21:17:00.000-04:00

After making the aforementioned adjustments, Voila! (...and please say it as I would...'Vee-Oil-Ay!')

The fabric is cheap for a reason. Its super stiff even on the bias.
I will be doing yet ANOTHER version in a nicer fabric that is a little more forgiving...

But some of the more pressing issues were taken care of....

See! Its not NEARLY as..uummm... revealing... as V1!.

... and trimming the back pattern piece was definitely beneficial!

I'm toying with going slightly above knee length, I think it makes the dress a little more casual and wearable.

Anyway.... there you have it.

Holla!

It looks better on me, I SWEAR!

2009-08-22T14:00:00.017-04:00

....See, what had happened was....

I was on the subway headed to work this past Monday morning. From the corner of my eye, I see this woman in a really cute white dress. Now, what caught my eye was really the color. Just white, but that really bright and 'just bought' white, you know? Anyway, it was a simple sheath with, thin self-fabric shoulder straps.

Uber-typical dress for running around the city on a hot summers day, right? Right!

But then, she turns around and I see that the back of the dress covers her entire upper back and shoulder! Basically a boat neck line draped across her back neck and shoulders from HPS to HPS.

I thought, I.HAVE.TO.DO.THAT!!

SSOOO...Now, I don't pretend to have any deep knowledge of pattern-making, but I muddle through this one by taking a dress from my closet and 'rubbing off' the armseye curve and a bit of the shoulder slope.After I got that initial template, I measured my bust line and cross back then squared down from the armhole opening to the hem line.

For the front, I measured down from my HPS to about 1/2 way down the armseye (about 7") and then squared across to CF.For the back, I squared from the very top of the armseye curve.

I laid out the fabric (cheapy linen from Fulton Fabrics, 3$ a yard) and placed the pattern on a 'eye-balled' bias.

In effort to avoid binding the top edge of the front piece, I doubled over the corner of the fabric so it over-lapped to about my bust line (I just serged the edge for a clean finish.)
However, I wasn't thinking that far ahead when I laid the back piece out, so I ended up sacrificing a bit of the neck line height and folded the cut piece under.

I cut bias strips, from the scrap fabric, to bind the armhole opening as well as to cover the missing top half of the front shoulder.

Once I put the dress together, I found that 7" down from HPS was ....uummmmm.... a litttttllllllle.... low....
... ahem....

So I've added another inch to the top of the front pattern. Now the binding strap will reach 6" down from HPS.

I also found that the cross back shoulder measurement was a bit wide and the straps didn't sit on my shoulder that way I wanted.
So, I trimmed about 3/4" from the total measurement.With those tweaks, this is what I am hoping for...I'm going to cut and sew another one today.... Will post more pics later.

I have to say, considering I only saw the dress for the corner of my eye for about 2 seconds, I can't promise that this is what HER dress actually looked like. But it is what I remember!

Holla!!

A hint of Fall...

2009-08-15T19:53:00.005-04:00

... No, not the weather. Just my Saturday sewing project... Simplicity's 2584.

Its not complete (... need to make an invisible zipper run...), so I didn't take a full set of pics.

But, I was particularly proud of my work on the front bodice/neck line detail....
... so I had to share.

More pics to come when I finish.

Holla!!

FINALLY!

2009-08-09T19:50:00.009-04:00

... I've been having neck issues, so sitting in front of the machine has not been on my 'fun things to do' list for a few while.

But I woke up this morning and, no lie, the first thing I thought was "I need to finish that quilt today".... (that might give you some insight into how strange my mind works sometimes.)

So, I got all the pieces together and finished quilting the 'sandwich'... I used black for the top thread and this bright shinny orange for the bobbin thread...
Then, I spent the next few few hours hand finishing the binding...

I learn something... I HATE hand finishing binding... truth, I'm not a fan of hand sewing in general. But, this was singularly distasteful...

But, I consoled myself by watching 'Taken', 'Quantum of Solace', the last three episodes of 'True Blood' AND the last two weeks of 'Entourage'...

I told you... I.HATE.HAND.SEWING!!

But, when all is said and done, I set out one goal for myself today, and I finished it. FINALLY!!

Holla!!

Another one bites the dust....

2009-08-02T15:02:00.004-04:00

...I'd like to take this time mourn the passing of McCall's 5388.

I spared it the indignity of photographing its short and needlessly difficult life.
We made every effort to meek out even the humblest existence, alas, it was to no avail.....((sigh))

One good thing can be said, I got a little ego boost in finding that I can cut the pattern a good 3 sizes SMALLER next time around... HA!!

Holla!

(.... for any of you that were worried, the effects from that busy bee sting has, apparently, COMPLETELY disappeared.)

Built by Wendy by Me

2009-08-01T15:55:00.015-04:00

I must've gotten stung by a busy bee last night because, around 10pm, I had this irresistible urge to cut out a pattern... (Yes. I acknowledge ALL the things wrong with that sentence! LOL)

I picked Built by Wendy's #2865 and paired it with this matte jersey I picked up a few weeks ago from P&S fabrics.
Its a really cute black and white zebra patterned seashell print. Its a little odd, but in a very good way. (... if you look at it really hard, it almost looks like actual zebra's with their heads curled into their necks... doesn't it?)
I picked view C's hip-length tank top paired with view B's sailor's collar detail...
Still feeling the effects, I was up at 8am this morning cutting and sewing it together.

This was my first knit pattern and I have some fine tuning to do with learning start-to-finish garment construction with a serger. But I think I did pretty good for the first go round.

I still have to finish the hem... I tuckered out around 3 and decided to take a break before finishing this one and starting up on McCall's 5388 (... also cut out last night...ha!)

Holla!

So much to sew....

2009-07-28T14:38:00.013-04:00

.. So little time!
I've been out and about for the last few weekends and now my projects are backing up!

I ~~must~~ ~~should~~ want to finish my quilt - now that I have the Supreme Slider!
I ~~have to~~ ~~need to~~ want to cut/sew up the Simplicity/Built by Wendy knit pattern 2865!
I ~~should~~ ~~need~~ want to cut/sew up the Simplicity/Cynthia Rowley dress 2584!

PLUS, I want to find a set of patterns that I can use to do my first Official Fall SWAP!

Its all starting to stress me out... I'm feeling like I'm falling behind... but I keep trying to remind myself, sewing is a HOBBY not a JOB!

CHILLAX, MICA!!

((inhale))....((exhale))..... ((inhale))....((exhale))..... repeat!

Holla!

Thoughts on a Fall SWAP...

2009-07-19T11:28:00.004-04:00

Just a few pieces that have caught my eye...

I keep looking at this same silhouette over and over again... This one is from Fendi.
I made a similar silhouette last year out of m5701. I think it might work for this too, if with slightly different proportions.

Here is a super cute skirt from Kate Spade's Spring'09 collection.
Obviously, I'm still really feeling the color block look. And, I love the mix of solid and print with this one. I have a few simple skirt patterns in the drawer. I'm sure I have a body to match this one.

Just some thoughts.... we shall see.

Holla.

Mailbox lovin'

2009-07-13T20:22:00.004-04:00

I finally get home, exhausted, from a full day at work and a two hour Spin class. But, I was quickly perked up seeing this leaning against my door...WOOWHOO!!

Then, I opened another goodie package and found this!My quilting teacher highly recommended this book. She said it was one of her personal favorites.... I copped it for 4.80$!... It looks brand new!!... Gotta love Half.com!

I'm still waiting for the 'Complete Photo Guide to Sewing' that I got for 11.50$!

Holla!!

It pays to compare....

2009-07-08T20:21:00.009-04:00

For any of you who have read my posts over the last year.... Yes! A YEAR!... you have probably figured out that I can be ~~a bit cheap~~ cost consciouses! Well today, once again, my ...intense awareness of the contents of my wallet... has served me well!

I've been coming to terms with the fact that my sewing set up ....using my bar height Dining room table (supplemented with an extra-long glass table-topper usurped/re-purposed from my coffee table!) as my main cutting surface and a 'trash to treasure' cafe table I ~~purloined~~ rescued(!) from the trash heap, as my sewing table... is just really not working anymore.

Thus, I decided to loosen the purse strings a bit and go buy a real craft table.

I wanted something that was sturdy but would still fold away. This way I could have my dining room back.

I've had my eye on this Sullivan's 'Home Hobby Cutting & Craft Table' for some time now.

I priced it out at $99 at Allbrands.com and $119 at Joann.com.

Now, they both were running sales....
5$ off 25$, 10$ off 199$, etc at Allbrands (post a comment if you'd like the coupon codes)
vs.
free shipping on 50$ or more at Joann's (I think the code is on the site. Otherwise, see above)

But, after I posted the table in both shopping carts...
Allbrands was 124$ after shipping cost - 5$ off = 119$
Joann's was 119$ + free shipping + 15$ special handling = 134$

Well HMPH!! Not so fast, Jo! As much as I love Joann's, they are ALWAYS trying to pull a fast one! Like giving out 50% off codes on all 'full priced' items only to have you look and see that EVERYTHING is already discounted, therefore ineligible!! (I was even leaning forward as I typed this line...hee!)

Well, if it's not obvious, I went with Allbrands. And, I am eagerly awaiting my new toy... ahem... table!

Holla!

MaxiMe to the rescue!

2009-07-04T17:00:00.009-04:00

((.... Insert Hip/Funky yet Heroic theme music here... Think Gnarls Barkley!))
(((insert my consternation with Picasa's tiny collage pics HERE!)))

I got up early this morning and went to work on MaxiMe... I ended up using every pad (althougth maybe not with their intended design) and before long I had a reasonable facsimile of me... And not one stitch of Duct Tape!

She still has a few odd lumps and bumps here and there, but that was because I had to improvise with some of my padding materials. But as soon as the holiday is over, I will rectify those few issues too.

Overall, I am quite happy and feeling quite accomplished!

***********************************

And adding to that feeling of accomplishment, I also finished piecing the binding for my quilt! I used all the scrapes of silk I had left over after I finished all my block borders....

I love it when a plan comes together!

Holla!

.... Crisis... potentially... averted

2009-07-02T13:57:00.013-04:00

Sooo, being the self-sufficient tinkerer that I am, I decided to do some hands on investigation with The Machine after I had sent out my 'The sky is falling" emails on Thursday night (one to Viking and one to Sew Right (... the latter, by the by, sent me a very detailed and helpful email this Friday, morning.... even though my warranty was up two weeks ago.... handily letting me know that I was already on the right track with my tinkering... thank you very much!])

I started by taking up the face plate on The Machine and pulling out the entire bobbin casing. I saw a little screw that was attached to a thin metal sheet. I took my handy-dandy mini-screwdriver and torqued (righty tighty / lefty loosey) the screw all the way until the metal piece was flush with the screw.

I put it all back together and it was instantly better! But, I actually had to set the tension setting to 0 or else the top thread was being pulled to the bottom of the fabric (the opposite of my original problem.)

Then, it was just a matter of tweaking the screw (.... that would make a great book title, right?) and the tension dial until both were set at a medium setting and I was not getting too much bobbin thread showing on top or too much top thread being pulled to the bottom of the fabric.

I finally got it to a point that I think is the best possible medium.

The settings aren't the same as they were, but I think its a very good compromise, it still gives me a little wiggle room and it's not too far to the highest or lowest settings.

.... ((wwhheewww!!)

************************************

I also started on the first part of MaxyMe's transformation. I took some gel glue and laid down a lot of the more flyway bits of her original outer covering.

Once the glue dries, I will commence with the padding and the covering and the body suiting... more pics to come!

Holla!

Something is rotten in Denmark...(Viking Emerald 183)

2009-07-01T19:22:00.003-04:00

... or Sweden to be more accurate!

Two weeks ago, I noticed that the thread tension on The Machine was off.
I played around with it, but no matter what setting I used, 0 or no tension, or 9, the most tension, the bobbin thread was sitting on the surface of the fabric.

I've tried changing threads... rethreading bobbins... cleaning out the bobbin area... everything... to no avail.... I can pull the top thread right out of a sewn seam without even touching the bobbin thread... THAT'S not supposed to happen!

I just set an email to Husqvarna Corporate, but based on a lot of the web comments I been reading, I'm not holding out that they will be much help.

If this machine bites it, I will might have to bite somebody myself!

Holla.... especially if you may have any tips or help to offer!

Pattern Sale and Online Tutorials...

2009-06-28T11:50:00.009-04:00

Hey all...
SewingPatterns.com has Simplicity Patterns on Sale until tomorrow (6/29) for 1.99$ each! I've already picked out 6 (limit is 10)... but I'm waiting for my personal pattern shopper (my mom) to confirm she didn't already buy a few of the styles I picked out.

Sim2865

Sim2863

Sim3692

Sim2586

Sim2584

*******************

I was strolling the interweb and came across this great pattern alteration tutorial from The Sewing Divas' Use Darts to Create Sheath Dress Drama... gotta give this one a try.

And, for all you home decor sewers out there, here is a really cute MITERED PILLOWS how-to from Weekend Designer.

Holla!

Two Things...

2009-06-21T16:30:00.008-04:00

First thing is.....

I did it!! I completed my first quilt... ahem... top!..;-)
It's a bit skewed and wonky-looking close up in a few places... but all.... WOOT!!

The second thing is, I figured out why I was having some many issues with those Burda patterns... I was using this chart when I SHOULD having been using THIS one!

... this measurement chart makes it seem like I should look like one of those funhouse mirror reflections!

Seeing as I have yet to find any of the BurdaPlus patterns particularly appealing, it looks like I can take the next exit off the Burda pattern highway. Because no amount of diet and exercise is going to make my hips any narrower or my back any less broad.

Holla!

FabulousFit.com FItting System...WOOT!

2009-06-19T12:20:00.011-04:00

... I placed my order today!!
I sent them an email last week asking for help and they set me right up!
I called today to place the order and, low and behold, their factory is located in BROOKLYN! Just a quick bus ride from mine own homestead!

They are processing and shipping my package out TODAY! (It bares repeating...) WWOOTT!!

I hope to have my new (to me) full body dressform changed from a TatteredTina to a MiniMica by next weekend!

HOLLA!

"Talk to me like I'm 5..."

2009-06-14T21:31:00.007-04:00

... that's one of my favorite Michael Scott lines from The Office this season. And it's exactly what I need right now.

The June issue of Burda has some really cute styles in it, again. But, after my last (and first) excursion with them, I was kind of put off after being well and thoroughly confused about their sizing system.

I did what I always do and just made the largest size the pattern came in and did my fixes from there. But, I was having to fix patterns to a point that they no longer had the lines of the original style. Some of my favorite Blogistas seem to pump out Burda styles one after the other... I am CLEARLY missing something.

Long story short, can anyone plainly and simply (...remember, I'm 5...) explain to me how to read the Burda size chart.

Much appreciated.

Holla!

sew envious...

2009-06-14T12:17:00.004-04:00

....(but in a good way)

Have you ever gone to another's sewing site and found yourself looking ~~stupidly~~ stupefied at your screen like 'They finished how many projects this weekend? Its only 12pm! On Sunday!!'

ssiiiggghhhh... I'll name no names to protect the the innocent (and the envied,) BUT Y'ALL KNOW WHO Y'ALL ARE!!

...one of these days...
Holla!

... lets try this again...

2009-06-13T20:52:00.004-04:00

I thought some of you (who actually knew what you were doing) might get a kick out of my quilt layout ~~chicken scratch~~ template. ..

And I went back rearranged the blocks to match the color combo I drew out originally. And, I added the rest of the silver sashing to the artwork I created to see the fuller look.
When I scan the black/grey border fabric, I'll add that too.

Holla!

Quilting by Committee

2009-06-13T19:15:00.014-04:00

After the 4th week in my beginner quilting class, we're at the point where its to actually start creating the quilt itself.

I decided to go with my identical monotone black and grey blocks... .... instead of the much busier brown and blue group. But, still wanting to add some color in the piece, I decided to be adventurous and use some bright jewel toned dupioni silks as my sashing.
I was playing around with placement last night and came up with this rough draft...
But this morning I was feeling even more frisky and thought about doing a strip pieced sash. Something more like this... ... I'm liking it.
After I'd saved all the photos for posting, I started playing around with my photo editor and came up with a R-E-A-L-L-Y rough draft of how I hope the finished look will turn out.

This is still without an additional large silver band that will wrap around the entire large square. And also the final black and grey border (in a fabric in the same black and grey tone of the darkest color fabric in the blocks themselves...)

I might go back later and add that art and see how it works out. Please keep in mind that this is a really rough draft on top of the fact that I have extremely basic photo editing skills, so the color placement is not ~~good~~ optimum.

I drew it out on paper, but it still looked much better in my head... HA!

Holla!

Show me whatcha working wit'!!

2009-06-13T15:41:00.016-04:00

We're doing a spring cleaning at work and they literally tore upon the doors on our fabric and equipment stock. And let me tell you, it was a free for all!!

I came away with some floral printed stretch lace and printed charmeuse. A bucket-load, literally, of several quality jersey and ribbed knits in a few great staple and fashion colors. Some really hefty brushed satin. And, a handy bundle of printed jerseys that are screaming QUILT ME!!

AND! AND! AND! A full body dress form!! With a rolling stand!! I decided to spare her the indignity of exposing her (rather tattered) girly-bits all over the interweb. Besides, she isn't exactly my size, so some major rework is going to have to take place before she's up to snuff.

I did do a little recon and I found two Fitting Systems, made especially for dress-forms, at FabulousFit.com. I sent them a message asking for a little clarification on a few points. But, I think their systems will work quite nicely!

Holla!

Free Pattern-palooza!

2009-06-09T20:06:00.015-04:00

So today, as I was squeezing a lunch hour into my day I stumbled upon Weekend Designer... Oh, how I LOVE finding new stuff!!

This site is chock full of free made to measure and no pattern design ideas ...
... like this ultra-hip/hot poncho inspired by Best Behavior....

and this cutey-patutey cropped vest like the one at Chulette...
... this is just a few of the wide range of ideas they offer... it's a must visit!

I also spied a link to Amy Butler Design on their site and danged if two of my favorite words weren't right up there in the heading.... Free and Patterns!!

I got these ....

NIGELLA SILHOUETTES

AMY'S NIGELLA QUILT

THEA'S PUZZLE QUILT

... and almost all the rest... heehee....goody!

Holla!

HOME SEWERS, UNITE!

2009-06-05T14:06:00.007-04:00

… against Design Piracy Prohibition Act 2009

Read about it here... Fashion-Incubator
... and here... AAFA Leads Charge Against "Fashion Police Bill"
... And here ... ThreadBanger - The Design Piracy Probation Act: No more knock-offs? Or unseen expenses for independent designers?

React to it here...AAFA AutoResponce Form to your local Gov Rep
...and here ... Online Petition needing Signatures

Holla!

Homework.

2009-05-30T15:37:00.013-04:00

More test blocks for class....

PINWHEELS IN CORNERS WITH 1/2 SQUARE TRIANGLES

CHURN DASH

NINE PATCH IN CORNERS

Holla!

ObFabric Compulsive

2009-05-29T21:48:00.017-04:00

I've come to the realization that I have developed a bit of a fabric fetish... here lately, I can't seem to see a fabric that I like and NOT buy it... I somehow convince myself that if I don't buy it I will regret and suffer later for it.... It's funny (... funny ha-ha AND funny weird)

So today, I visited the facilitators of my latest new favorite thing, and came across these cute cuts... Heart the peacock!

.... and who doesn't love a good spiderpig?

Then, because I was in the area (wink/wink) I stopped by my local cheapy fabric shop. I'd already made my rounds about the store, but, as I was leaving, I saw this...It's almost like a cool mix between charmeuse and sheeting, drapey but with no slip. It made me think it would be a nice fabric for my Vogue 1086.

Then... I swear, it's as if the Fabric Fae were conspiring against me... the woman in front of me at the checkout pulled out this lovely hand-done African batik print...
She was going to back it and use it to recover a chair. I thought about washing it then using it for s2584 by Cynthia Rowley for Simplicity.... there were only 8 yards in the cut. She took 5. There were 3yards left.... as SNL's Church Lady would say... "...how convvvvenient..."

It's a tad bit see through...
But, I think if I do the same thing I did with the Derby dress and back it with some sheer lining, it should solve that problem.

Anyway, let me go make an offering to the fabric gods so maybe they'll leave me be...

Holla!

It's a 'Block' party up in here!!!

2009-05-22T13:19:00.026-04:00

My City Quilter class started this week..... LLLOOOVVEEEDDD it!!

We started out talking Quilting in general. The instructor is very nice and stressed that quilting was a hobby and there was no such thing as a bad quilt.
She went on to talk about the most basic aspects of truing up your fabric and cutting strips (most of the blocks we will be building in class will consist purely of strip cut fabric.)
We practiced strip cutting and sewing the 'scant' 1/4" seam... which is harder than I'd thought it would be... I'm a notorious 'wavy seam' sewer... so I'm thinking mastering the tiny straight seam will actually end up helping me in my garment construction too!
Eventually, we went out into the store to make our fabric purchases for our blocks... our finished quilt will consist of four 8" square blocks of varying designs.... variations on the 'Log Cabin' and the 'Puss in the Corner' (...I've already decided that, as I want my quilt to be very symmetrical and a bit subdued, I'm going to do all 4 blocks using a 'Log Cabin' design.)... Anyway, I'll spare you the gory details of losing 30minutes of my life trying to pick out 1 1/2 yards of fabric, but I did finally settle on these three monotone grey, black and 'dirty bath water' white (I know, I know, but somehow it works...) prints. I'm going for a kind of Asian-inspired look, so I shyed away from really high contrast color combinations within the blocks themselves. As I said, I want it all to look kind of monotone and symmetrical, but I think I will add pops of color with the borders and the back ground fabrics...
Anyway, this is the result of my first attempt at Block building...

.... Its not EXACTLY square and, now that it's put together, I'm not 100% in love with the print placements. I think the center print is n0t quite intense enough to compete with the grey ground fabric... but for my first actual block its not TOO bad.

*******************************************************

Since I had a half day this past Friday, I decided to head over to B&J Fabrics in the Garment District.
I've been thinking about new sewing projects that I want to tackle this summer. After doing some research on what fashion and color trends are coming around this summer, I've focused on Color Blocking. I'm really loving these print blocked pieces...
.... these two are Jean Paul Gautier

This one is from Micheal Kors...

Love it!

Then I saw this cute little number from Missoni...... and thought about B5211 that I made, like, 3 times last summer!

With the summer color trends of neutrals and greys, falling right in line with my own preferred color choices, I found cute set of prints...

And since I have quilting and fabric piecing on the brain, I had the bright idea of piecing the fabric together BEFORE I cut the pattern pieces.

Then I could layout the patterns in the optimal manner, instead of trying to dissect the pattern and cutting out all the individual pieces.... But, past as prelude, my 'bright ideas' don't always pan out the way I'd like... But its not like THAT ever stops me!

Holla!

New Friend in my head....

2009-05-21T15:50:00.006-04:00

Earlier this week I got a very nice mention from The Stylist over at The Style that Flows…

I'd seen a few comments from her over the months, but I admit this week was my was my first visit to her new site.

Loving her pattern and fabric choices… seeing as that I have some of the same patterns that she seems to have, LOL… But she had me at her DTD… yyeaahhh… looks like I have a bit of work to do…HA!

And on a (wwaayy to the) side note, any friend of Adele is a friend of mine!

Holla!

Pattern Maker Sloper ... Revisited

2009-05-17T15:24:00.009-04:00

I put together the second version of the PM bodice this afternoon.... I think the overall fit came out better this time, but there were two major fitting issues that must be addressed in the next attempt...

The first of which being the Bust Dart....

... the second issue being the Shoulder line.... the way its calculated, the front bodice is pushing too far past the mid shoulder point.

But the neck was perfect this time. And the sleeve actually fit quite well... better than any fitted sleeve from a commercial pattern that wasn't adjusted first!

.... I still have to say, for a free piece of software, its a major score!! I'll keep you posted on the next version.

Holla!

... no wonder it felt so familiar

2009-05-14T20:03:00.007-04:00

Thumbing through my copy of this....
.... and I see this...

I thumbed through this copy a few weeks ago, when I first picked it up, and I swear I don't remember seeing this in there... HA!

Holla.

Knock Knock... Who's there?

2009-05-13T19:23:00.008-04:00

.... FED EX with your new Baaayybbbay, that's who!!!

No sooner did I get the email alert that Amazon had shipped my serger, I get buzzed by the delivery man with the package in question!

YYeeaahhh BBoooyyyy!!

.... and Love is already forlorn at yet SOMETHING ELSE that takes my attention away from her...

.....aawwwwww..... And its not even out of the box yet!!

Holla!

What tha....!?!?

2009-05-11T20:49:00.019-04:00

... sooooo, I was traipsing about the interweb today looking for help (((again!!))) on getting a better fit with my store bought patterns, when I came across this gem of a site....

Pattern Maker Software

PatternMaker is a CAD-based program that allows you to make custom clothing patterns from any computer. Easy to use, type in your personal measurements into
the interface, and from that, produce a custom clothing pattern designed to fit uniquely you!

.... and then I saw these magic little words.... Try. Before. You. Buy...... ((please hear Kyle's from mother, SouthPark, when I say))... What? WWhat! WWHHAATTT!?!

They actually have a basic fitted bodice and pant sloper in their free trial version! With a long sleeve! And a choice of bust darts or princess seams!! And multiple collar choices!! Again I say, WHAT THA?!?!

Now, some of you may know by now that one of my favorite things in the whole world is the word FREE, so I came right home and downloaded the software.... and finished the evening with this:

... amazing.

Upon further inspection, the site offers these groupings of very basic pre-designed (...and I use this next term in the broadest sense possible) 'fashion' patterns for women, men, kids and they're all about 30bucks a pop. Seeing as most of the sets have 7-10 different bodies (the women's bottoms pattern set as something like 15-20!) Its kind of a bargain. Especially when you consider that most styles out now are just nicely embellished versions of the same basic shapes.

I have to tweak some of my measurements and adjust the seam allowance, but for the most part.... SCORE!!

Holla!

Would you believe....

2009-05-09T20:25:00.017-04:00

.... I got all the way to the Derby and forgot to take any REAL pictures!?!?... I walked away with only two passable pictures from my phone!! I can hardly believe myself...

Anyway, the dress was a success! Everyone was thought it looked store bought! That was great, especially since it was probably my first completed project this whole year!

I got a lot of complements on the hat as well... some of you might remember my accessory dilemma from this post.... I loved the pink and black feathers, but the peacock feathers worked really well with my shoes. And well, sometimes more is more... I went with BOTH OPTIONS!

****************************************

Well y'all, I bit the bullet... AGAIN... and I bought a serger yesterday!!!!!

I opted for the Brother 1034D. Largely due to the multitude of good reviews it got on PatternReview (...the first place I go when I have any questions about a machine) and on HSN (....where I was originally going to buy it... I mean, who doesn't love flex-pay??)

I actually ended up going with Amazon.com because it was almost 100$ cheaper than HSN and still about 40$ cheaper than AllBrands.com (... the first place I go to cost compare any equipment)

I really had to fight the urge to go with my 'better to have more than you need than less than you want' mantra and pick up this Singer Quantumlock that was also on flex-pay at HSN.

But, I said that's how I got Em (.... just about this time last year, if I don't mistake the timing) and I only use about 1.724% of the stitches she comes with!

So, going for a 5 thread machine at 600$, when all I REALLY need is a basic machine that will add a finishing touch to my projects, seemed like a reach.

When it was all said and done, I got it for 238$ with tax and free shipping. But that was with a 5-9 day shipping window, so it will be at least next week before I can play with it.....hmph!

Holla!

I haven't started my Quilting class yet....

2009-04-27T20:38:00.004-04:00

.... but I'm all over this one!!

UPCYCLED TSHIRT QUILT (Part One)

UPCYCLED TSHIRT QUILT (Part Two)
(via CraftStylish.com)

Well, looky looky....

2009-04-18T12:47:00.001-04:00

http://www.threadbanger.com/episode/THR_20090403

Make that Derby DRESSES!!!

2009-04-11T14:20:00.011-04:00

Soo... I've been having 'refashion-envy' of my girl Antoinette since I found her blog... and being so inspired, I decided to try my hand at it this morning.

Now, for any of you familiar with the CleverGirl, you will know that what I have done is little more than child's play... But, I am rather proud of myself, thank you very much!

I took this mumu that I thought had a very nice print and decided to make a strapless summer dress.

It was super simple, since all it really took was cutting off the sleeves and shoulders then adding a simple encased elastic around the top.

I think it came out pretty cute... for an hour's work anyway.
Cute enough to wear to the second day of Derby I think...

Holla!

Edit:.... I just added a review on PatternReview.com

99.873% Finished!

2009-04-10T10:19:00.009-04:00

Here she iiiisssss.....

.... I spent yesterday evening fitting the dress (...taking it in almost 2" in the hips!!) to give it a nice streamlined look... Now I just have to finish the inside.... I have a friend with a serger and I'm going to take it to her to get it as pretty on the inside as it is on the out!!

Holla!

You know what they say about 'the best laid plans..'

2009-04-05T14:01:00.007-04:00

... SOMETIMES THEY WORK OUT JUST LIKE YOU WANTED THEM TOO!!!!

I decided to do pleats on the neck line of the s2925 this time... I wanted a more streamlined look than it had on the first version...

I took the neckline of a store bought shirt I got a few months ago and just kind of played around until I got the look I wanted and the dimensions I needed...

I think it worked out pretty well.

And I can proudly show off my 2nd successful invisible zipper installation...

((mmwwaahh))

Plus! The hem is coming together swimmingly on the s2925...
...lets just hope that my sides match as well as my two back pieces.

Holla!

I love it when a plan comes together!

2009-04-04T14:53:00.014-04:00

So, I had this bright idea for saving time when cutting out the eyelet fabric and the underlining for the S2925 dress (....It's a little play on lsaspacey's tip about fusing the interfacing to the fabric BEFORE cutting the pattern pieces.)
I figured if I could adhere the eyelet fabric to the underlining before I cut it, I would save myself a lot of time. And it would save my having to sew 4 layers of fabric together (eyelet+lining+lining+fabric.) Instead, I would only have to wrangle 2 (eyelet/lining+eyelet/lining.)
Hence, I went on a hunt looking for air soluble fabric adhesive... of course, since I was actually LOOKING for it, I couldn't find it anywhere! But, I did luck up at the City Quilter where they had 505 Spray and Fix adhesive on sale... ... Its not air soluble, but that's probably better since I am notorious for my 'green light!/red light!!' sewing pace.

The trickiest part was figuring out how best to actually apply the two fabrics together... but I figured it out and it worked just like I like a charm!!!Now that I had both pieces stuck together, cutting out the pattern pieces was a snap.
I didn't.... exactly... obey the whole 'cut with the grain' technique on this one, because I wanted to take advantage of the scalloped edge along the selvage of the fabric as a natural hem.
Lucky for me, the fabric was JUST wide enough to fit the lengthwise pattern piece... SCORE!!

I took a break after that project to find my camera, that fell of the table at one point in the morning... AND DISAPPEARED!!.... Two hours later!! I found it.... UNDER the table, BESIDE the curtains, BEHIND the vase... I mean... REALLY?!?!..... now my head is out of the game... so I'm going to watch last week's 'Castle' and chill for a little while....

Holla!

SSSCCRREEECCHHH!!!.... Change of plans

2009-03-29T15:44:00.022-04:00

Soooo.... We had another great Sewing MeetUp today... I got to meet some other friendly New York sewers and I picked up some very nice fabrics plus some extras... I hadn't initially PLANNED on spending 60+ bucks on fabrics today. But I consoled myself in saying that I would have paid more than 24$ if I saw the dresses in the store....

I have put the Butterick 5029 on hold, in favor of remaking the Simplicity 2925 again in a different fabric...

I found this black eyelet fabric at A&M Farbrics on 39th street. We ended up there just because they happened to be open on a Sunday!... The service was pretty good, and because we were the first customers they had all day, I got a pretty good discount... 8$ a yard, down from 15...

I really liked the scalloped detail on the selvage. I'm trying to figure out how to lay the pattern so I can get that detail for the hem of the dress...

I ended up going to P&S Fabrics in Chinatown to get a lightweight black lining (the black equivalent of the off white lining I found to use with B5029) It's not the same tone of black, but I think its a complimentary combination.

After we left the fabric district, we headed over to M&J Trimmings.

I ended up leaving with some feather embellishments for my Derby hat this year.
I wore the same hat last year, so I decided I needed to add a little something extra to jazz it up a bit... I picked out the fuchsia and black feathers above along with these peacock feathers...

I wasn't sure which I like better at first, but I think the pink/black combo will be the ultimate pick this year... (Special thanks to Elizabeth for all her critiques... great eye!!)

I also got this FFAABBUULLOOUUSS printed charemuse at A&M fabrics.. another deal at 8$ a yard....
I was thinking of making some derivation of these dresses...
I also like these two...
I know I have seen a pic of the exact dress that I'm thinking of, but I cant find it yet... But I'll keep you posted...

Holla!

...Back in the saddle!

2009-03-22T17:28:00.020-04:00

So, it hit me that it really is Spring again and that means Derby season is upon me... and as I'd previously committed to making my Derby outfit this year, I figured it should snap to it.

That being said, I still haven't decided exactly what dress to go with, so I've decided to try to make two...

This Simplicity 2925, View B (the white dress)...

and Butterick 5029 ....

The first of which I made today... I decided to go with the 2925 1st as it seemed to be the, well, the simplest..

I used the gold-splashed printed cotton/linen that I got from the going out of business sale at Paron's East last year. I think it come out pretty much like the pic, but I still need to taper the skirt seams as its a bit wider at the hem than I'm wanting.

I'm also kind of proud that I installed my first working invisible zipper in an actual garment with this dress!! SUCCESS!!

For the B5029, I really want to use this this fabric I got at one of my fav cheap fabric resources, Fulton Fabrics, in downtown BK.

It's a really pretty light linen-ish (lol) fabric that was only 3$ a yard....However, it's wwaayyyy sheer!

So I'm trying to figure out how to get around that. I was thinking either cut it double, or maybe buy some really light weight linen to use as an underlining....

Since Kentucky Derby is the first weekend in May, the weather is usually pretty temperate. But sitting out in the sun for 8 hours on even the mildest of days can get a little uncomfortable in the wrong fabrics.

Anyway, since I have a little over a month, I think I should have enough time to piece this one out... pun intended.

Holla!!

Ooopss! Almost forgot!!

2009-03-13T21:04:00.006-04:00

Many thanks to my favorite person in Austin TX, the uberClever Antoinette!

She nominated me for the Sisterhood award!!

Holla (.... and thanks!)

It's....IT'S AALLLIIIVVEEEEE!!!

2009-03-13T20:28:00.007-04:00

... Yes it, I mean, I am alive.

I just have not been able to get myself together to get behind the machine for the last several weeks... largely due to the crazy cold weather we were having here in NYC and now due to the crazy warm-ish days that keep popping up here and there.... not warm enough to completely erase the chill in the air, mind you. But warm enough to get my allergies nice and flared up, nice and early for spring....sigh.

All that and the fact that the last handful of projects that I've started have all fizzled out like a half empty can of soda left out in the sun... double sigh.

But! In anticipation of getting things moving again, I signed up for my first quilting class yesterday!! YEA!!

The City Quilter is a one stop quilting shop literally a hop, skip and jump away from my office. After realizing that I was going to need a bit more hands on instruction than just the free tutorials that I was finding online, I went in yesterday and signed up for their next session of beginner quilting classes .... good news, I was only the 2nd person to enroll and didn't get shut out like I did for the last class... bad news, I have to wait till the end of May for the dadgum classes to start!!

Apparently, quilting instruction is a brisk business in NYC. Who knew?

My next thing is my intention to sew my Kentucky Derby dress this year... please note how I said it is my INTENTION!!.... seeing is I haven't exactly decided WHAT dress pattern to actually make, I'm already behind the 8ball... But more on that later.

Holla!

I bit the bullet….

2009-02-02T20:49:00.049-05:00

…. I bought my first Burda magazine!!

I have been in a sewing rut the last few weeks after project after project got tossed into the Abyss aka the Closet of No Return… the place that all the projects that I either fall out of love with somewhere in the production process or finish and try on, only to immediately pull off with my face all twisted up like something stinks!

Since there is no store we can return bad sewing projects too for refunds, they get tucked away never to be seen again...

So, me being me, I say to myself "...Self, maybe what you need is a greater challenge. Maybe something completely different that will make you feel like you're really doing something new…."

Enter Burda.

Although I have been looking at these magazines for a while now, this is the first issue that actually had enough individual pieces that made we want to fork over a 10'er and bring it home.

I love this dress!! And this top too…Part of the appeal is definitely the fabrications that they are using to make these pieces look so fresh and on point for this season…

From all that I've read, there is a pretty steep learning curve with these patterns so I'm sure I'll be reaching out to sewing blogiverse asking for answers and tips…

I think I'll start small and maybe go for this skirt… I made a BurdaStyle skirt earlier this year and used my skirt sloper to refit it… it work out pretty well….

This is the same pattern as the one above, but I'm loveing knee length right now...

Something else that has been tickling my fancy latest is… ((inhale))……((exhale))…

Quilting.

Once upon a time I looked a quilting as something my Nana (grandmother) would do in the back room, tucked up in her comfort chair, glasses perched at the edge of her nose, splitting time watching the needle and the soaps on the TV…

It just wasn't something that I was ever really interested in. I felt like it was so… 'Old timey' and shabby (BEFORE it was chic.)

But! since I started sewing again and opening up to more and more craft arts, I have seen some really fantastic creations that I would love to be able to try…

I found a few new sites this weekend that totally had me entranced….

Lazy Gal Quilting

A Stitch in Dye

Quilt While Your Ahead

I guess its really about seeing shapes and color combinations differently than I had previously given a chance.

Holla!

Looks like its catching....

2009-01-26T21:28:00.009-05:00

Many thanks to both Alviana over at Sewn by Alviana and Jackie at Jackie's Sewing for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger award!!
WOWSERS!

And, as the rules go....
I have to do the following:
Copy the award to your site.
Link to the person from whom you received the award.
Nominate 7 other bloggers.
Link to those on your blog.
Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.

And the Nominees are.....

1 - Nina at NeoSewMama... she's an all-around talent!
2 - Peacock Chic... again, she has her crafty little hands in all kinds of cookie jars!
3 - Ms. C Dishmey at Wall St. by Day...... One of the many uberChic crafters I have found since I came out of the Crafter Closet.
4 - The Clever Girl, Antoinette... (yes, I know she's been nominated already, but she's so nice I'm nominating her twice!)
5 - Teasa at That's Sew Live. This was one of the first sewing blogs I found... I had no idea this world even existed! Where WAS I!?!?
6 - Geri at Sewable... she is a must read. Every Post.
.... and last but not least...
7 - My fellow New Yorker, Lashell at Starting from Scratch. She's got great style... and I should know, we shop at a lot of the same places... heehhee!

Check them all out.

HOLLA!!

... Guess I should have kept them separated, huh?

2009-01-25T11:13:00.005-05:00

Just found this good little article on Threads...

A Pin for Every Purpose

...and here I am just buying the 'pretty' ones... ha!

Holla!

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it...... Vogue!

2009-01-15T19:44:00.017-05:00

.... loving these two new patterns they just released.

...V1090 from Michael Kors and V1086 from Tracey Reese, respectively! But you know me... I'll be waiting for my mom in Atlanta to let me know when JoAnn's has Vogue Patterns on sale... 18$ a pattern is NOT the business!!

..............And...And... AND!!!.... I successfully installed my first invisible zipper yesterday... (the term 'installed' may be a bit grandiose since I used two scrap pieces of muslin and all....)
All thanks to this handy dandy little How-To I found cruising thru YouTube the other day....

Holla!!

OMG!!

2008-12-20T13:21:00.009-05:00

... I can't believe its been more than a month since I last posted... wwwwwell... I CAANNN.... I just rather pretend that I can't....

The last few weeks have been... well.... they've just been.... and I've just tried my best to simply stay afloat.

Needless to say, I haven't been doing that much sewing these last few weeks. But, I did manage to pull out of my winter doldrums to make this little dress for my niece for Christmas...
It turn out to be a score, since I used some fabric that I bought several months ago, but never could find a use for... too expensive to use as a wearable muslin/not enough yardage to make anything my size.... Anyway, I think it came out nice and it was basically cost free during this financial crunch time.

I did take the chance to do some new things that I hadn't done before on a quick and small scale... like these flat felt seams....

... and this double stitched ribbon trim I used on the hem.

I also used a contrast color lining for this patch pocket...

...and added these buttons to tie in the pink from the lining....

*note to self.... and others... if you even THINK you may want to add a pocket to an item, try to THINK of it BEFORE you sew it up............. just a thought...

Happy Holidays!!

Holla!!!

B4469 part deux... Thanks Mom!... and the "1 hour" Skirt

2008-11-16T20:19:00.039-05:00

Still busy. But, Still here. And, still sewing!!

I really did like the b4469 blouse so I made it again... Its pretty much a carbon copy of the first one, but in a heavier weight stretch cotton broadcloth. I did make a few changes...

In addition to taking about an 1/2" off of the bust dart points, I made clean finish two-ply ties instead of the single-ply tie with the narrow hem.
I decided that instead of the wrap-around the extended tie, I just added a new tie at the other side seam. I expect this to keep the fab from bunching up in the back. I used light weight elastic as inside ties... Next time I think regular twill tape will do.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks ago, my mom called and told me that her local JoAnn's was having a 99c McCall pattern sale. So I gave her a list of possibles and wished her luck (... this was her very first time going pattern shopping... during a 99c SALE, no less!)

Not only did she come back with every pattern on the list, she also started her own so called "... Oooo, Mica can make this for me!!" stash.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I was cleaning up my sewing space (after having let it take over since LAST weekend) I remembered I had pulled out this skirt pattern to supplement my fall wardrobe. As its called the '1 hour' skirt, I thought, let me just knock this out right quick. (...I made view C, but without the patch pockets)

I used a medium weight stretch denim fabric in soft black, with a slight sateen finish.

While it took me more than an hour (... I tend to sew like Ms. Daisy, especially when I'm trying to catch up on all the TV show's I DVR'd all week...) but it was really quick.

Holla!

'Nuff said.

2008-11-05T21:13:00.005-05:00

Holla.

... sunny Sunday afternoon

2008-11-02T12:26:00.011-05:00

I finished the top this morning ((... and the audio book 'Already Dead' by Charlie Huston, that I used as 'background noise' for this project...))

All in all, a nice garment. I will be making it again.

Mainly because of all the different sleeve options and how easy it really is to put together.

..... But mainly because once I started sewing this fabric, I realized just how much it looks like hospital scrub fabric (lol). ((I also took note that while the bust darts are placed okay, they are way to long... Next time I think I'll take at least a 1/2" of the tip.)) I almost dumped it, but I'd made a promise to always finish any project I started. Even if it's obvious its not going to be a keeper, at least I will still have learned what NOT to do.

After I finished the top , I decided to take Love and make our annual trek up the street to cheer all the runners in the NYC Marathon. It passes just a few blocks up from our house.

I got there during the thickest part of the crowd...

... even the runners were in on the picture taking action.

Holla!

.... baby steps

2008-11-01T12:07:00.005-04:00

The past few weeks have been ... tumultuous... to say the least. But things seem to be finally seem to be settling down, so I thought I would take a turn back at The Machine.

I figured on something easy, so, like I said... baby steps.

The sheer fact that I cut the pattern itself instead of my usual trace and cut procedure is a telling sign at how I had to push myself to get back into the swing of things.

But like they say... each step is the start of a journey.

Holla!

... alive and kicking....

2008-10-17T21:11:00.003-04:00

.... sewing.... not so much.

I've been working like crazy the last few weeks and I've been pretty much vegging every available minute I have off.

But I do look longingly at The Machine everyday... right before I shuffle off to bed.

I WAS looking at my stash this evening and I do have a (purported) 1hour skirt pattern that I might try to work on this weekend... So I may have something to share fairly soon.

Till then... Holla!

... not so much.

2008-10-04T18:58:00.007-04:00

They say a picture says a thousand words...

... this one says "... just because they make it in your size, doesn't mean it fits."

Back to the drawing board.

Holla!

"...BINGO!! We got action!!..."

2008-09-29T22:37:00.012-04:00

Cheryl, over at Passion Flower Musings (AND, I might add, the one.... and only... person to add me to their "Blogs I follow" list!) just told me to check out the Marie skirt over at BurdaStyle as a possible pattern for my Inspiration Game Piece...

I think its BANG ON!!

I just might have to move this up to the top of the 'To Do' list!!

HOLLA!!

Slow flow MoJo....

2008-09-29T10:44:00.029-04:00

I got back behind the wheel... or the needle as it were... and start a new project a few days ago.

I decided to try my hand at my first BurdaStyle pattern.
I chose the 6012 Kasia skirt I downloaded for free from their pattern page.

Because it was my first printed pattern, and I wasn't sure about the sizing, I decided to do a test run with some wearable muslin I got down at Fulton Fabrics.

I went there looking for muslin, but they ran out. So, I went with a heavy/bottom weight woven fabric instead.... not bad for 2.50$ a yard.

Please keep in mind, this was a wearable MUSLIN. So never mind the contrasting pocket lining or black zipper.... like the song says, you've got to use what you got, to get what you want.

I even put my newly acquired sloper making skills (and I use the term 'skills' VERY loosely) and made a skirt sloper to see how much I had to adjust the pattern.
I was very proud of myself... thank me very much!

The skirt worked as a bit of a booster shoot... I've already pulled out a few more patterns and fabs to make my next few projects...

I really like this simple shift top from Vogue... "Very easy"... hmph, we'll see....

I also need to make a heavier weight version of the M5701 Dress. I got this black poplin fabric a few months ago...

....I'm on the fence about the fabric, but I love this dress!

I'm planning on doing this wrap skirt next.
But I cant decide which fab to use.

I'm also on the hunt for a pattern for another Inspiration Game Piece.

I've been carrying around these mag pages in my look book for the last several weeks.

Then when I went to Fulton Fabrics looking for muslin I found this lovely print in a poly-satin shantung fabric. It has a really soft drap and a very subtle shine... and it was only 3bucks a yard!!

Now I just need to find a pattern.

Holla!

Turnabout is fair play and all that....

2008-09-19T20:24:00.005-04:00

More goodies for me from Antoinette....... and now some goodies for Antoinette from Me!!

... I'm sure she'll work her Clevergirl tricks on this box in no time flat.

Tomorrow I'm going out with the The New York Sewing & Fabric Shopping Meetup Group. We are going out for our first fall fabric shopping expedition...I'm hoping being up close and personal with a few creative people will get me out of this sewing funk I've found myself in.

My camera's charged and packed so I'll be sure to take plenty of pics!

Holla.

...ssiigghhhhh....

2008-09-17T21:40:00.002-04:00

Have you ever been in a mode where you tried a project, only to tired of it half way thru? Then you skipped on to another project only for it not to work out as nicely as you'd hoped? Then you moved on to yet ANOTHER project only to look at it and go from feeling '...meh' to bleeh about it?

Yeah? Well that's where I am right about now.

I keep seeing all my Internet FIMH's (friends in my head) making all this great looking stuff and I look at the half finished projects on my table and I just turn back to the couch and dive into another book.

.....I need a kick start in my proverbial pin cushion.

I'll holla.

........meh.

2008-09-07T13:27:00.009-04:00

I put the V8487 together last night... it's oookaaaayyyy.

I will say it looks better on me than hanging on the form. But, since I'm not feeling photogenic today, this will have to do...

I have some fitting issues to deal with in the back and around the hip area that I might get to today. But since there is some prime Football watching to be had today, that is a very strong 'might'

Holla!!

Fall'g back into sewing...

2008-09-03T13:54:00.034-04:00

Being soo caught up in various pattern making activities, coupled up with two weeks of Olympic coverage, followed by two more weeks of Convention coverage, I have not sewn a thing in almost a month!!... Bad Mica!

So, seeing as it looked like I was just going to be sitting on my tooter all day on Monday, mustered up the energy to work on this...

This is another one of those patterns that I kept ~~screwing my face up at~~ coming back to since it debuted earlier this summer.

Then a few weeks ago I looked, again, at the artist rendering (in blue) and imagined myself (standing JUST like that) and said to myself, with the right hair and shoes, that dress just might be a tinsy bit fly.

Then, as fate would have it, I ran my eye over this really drapy/light weight denim I picked up at P&S fabrics a few weeks ago and thought 'Bingo!'

It has a really nice handfeel and the softest sheen. I thought it would lend it self well to this dress. I've only gone so far as to trace the pattern and pin the fabric. I have to re-pin it (... realized I was wasting too much fabric) but the plan is to cut it out tomorrow/Friday and sew it up over the weekend.

And, I'm super proud to announce I used my newly acquired sloper making skills to adjust the pattern for a better fit... instead of the randomly placed slashes and cuts and taping that I would have done OTHERWISE... ((sniff))

I think I can safely name this dress my first Fall wardrobe piece... I'm not quite SWAP'g yet, but I'm trying.

OOHH, I ALMOST FORGOT!

Okay, so, I was reading thru the tips on Threads.com a few weeks ago and stumbled across this article on Rotary cutters and mats....

Well, I have been eyeballing the cutters at one of my local fabric shops for a few months now, but one of the major reason I put the idea aside was purely the cost of sizable cutting mats.
Most of the ones I see online are around 24 x 36 or some other minuscule size. Anyway, rambling thought stopped short, this article offered the most unique alternative to a gridded cutting board... POLY-VINYL FLOOR MATS!

You know, the big hard plastic mats you see under office chairs?!?

The Threads article suggested that the composition of the chair mats make it very similar to some of the solid vinyl styrene options you can get at your usual sewing supply vendor. But at a considerable savings...

So, you know me.... I went Straight to Staples and bought this!

....AND!! And it's clear and fits neatly over my cutting board so I still have my grid lines...BONUS!!

Its exactly what I wanted, a large mat that I can lay out a number of pattern pieces at the same time....

... all for a cool 24.99.... SCORE!

HOLLA!!!

Officially Unofficial last Sloper class...

2008-09-01T16:35:00.014-04:00

... or maybe Unofficially Official... whichever! Even though we got very far in our 4 week class (...finishing a full front and back bodice and fitted straight sleeve and a bodice with extended torso,) Shannon graciously extended our class another week so that we could do a pant sloper! Yea Us!!

Here is my (sample size) finished sloper I made in class on Saturday...

I'm soooo proud of myself!!

HOLLA!!!!

Slopers, Day 3 (and a half...)

2008-08-25T20:06:00.015-04:00

Okay, so after going to my 3rd 'Slopers' class I came home amped to put what I learned to work...
..... underwhelmed?... I understand.

But I kept at it and, after several stops and starts and more that a few cuts... and retapes... and re-recuts.... and, you guessed it, re-retapes....

Better, better.

So much so that I felt confident enough to cut a muslin..... Tttaaadddaaaaaaaaaaaa!!I was soooo proud of myself!!

I still have a lot of fine tuning I need to do. But overall, I'm very pleased. I'm eager to try my next one - a two dart bodice!! WWWWHHHHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

And you may have noticed that I added some measurement lines to my Duct tape dummy....
I found it invaluable in getting those measurements right.... (ahem... not that I got them 'right', per se... but you know what I mean...;-)

Now I have a question....

Is anyone actively using the Lutterloh pattern making system? I have been looking at it off and on for a few weeks now, but I'm kind of hot and cold about it.

I love the idea of being able to make 'custom fit' patterns. And I like that some of the pieces can be integrated together to make different styles from existing pieces (... and you know how much I love THAT!)

But, it doesn't come with any construction instructions (... not that I'm very consistent in reading and using instructions when they are provided...) and you also have to make your own/decided when you need facings/interfacing, etc.... that kind of scares me.

You may or may not have notice, but I have a rather vivid and detailed imagination. It's just that all that imagination sometimes gets lost in translation somewhere between my brain and my hands.

I can totally envision myself doing all these great things with this system.... only to actually get it and end up ~~stuffing it up under the bed with all the other money pits I've invested in~~ not using it.

It is a little more pocket than change at about 120$ for the entire kit plus around 18$ to 20$ for the quarterly pattern updates. But, thanks to the friendly message board over at PatternReview.com, I read a great suggestion about just buying the main tool kit and buying a pattern supplement as an alternative to the complete starter kit. That would add up to about 40-45$ and give me a chance to test it out without making such a big investment.

Any thoughts? Pros? Cons?

Holla!

Duct tape Dummie!

2008-08-18T13:46:00.029-04:00

So, I had another great MeetUp on Sunday, this time with The New York Sewing & Fabric Shopping Meetup Group... we met up at Whole Foods cafe down on Houston and 2nd Ave. We had a good crew show up and we pretty much got right down to business...

I didn't take any pictures because, (a) as it was my first MeetUp with this group and I didn't want to be presumptuous. And, (B) it was pretty hard to move in what (I was told) looked like some kind of Greco-Roman battle armor...lol... I said I was going to go home and fashion a helmet and battle ax next!

....... hmph.

Of course, I rushed right home to re-work my dress form to fit its new shell....

Turns out, even thought my standard form fit my measurements, all the emphasis was spread out in the wrong areas... my side dials were way too high, but my bust and center back dials weren't high enough.

The shoulders were much too arrow and ... ((ahem)) the back waist was much to wide... hehhee!

But, then there was the stomach.... situation.

I will save myself the embarrassment of telling you how many bags and t-shirts I used to fill out the ....((ssiigghhh))..... hollow...... that my body left.... but now I know why men are always giving up there seat for me.

Here I am thinking they were just being nice.... turns out its cause I look about 3 months in .... AT LEAST!...

.... Man! I need to get to the gym... that's just embarrassing!

Holla.

Slopers, Day 2

2008-08-16T17:16:00.021-04:00

I had another great class learning to make slopers with Shannon at Soul Collections.
I even stopped to take pictures (this time!)...

We went back over the basic one dart front bodice sloper as a quick review of the last class...

It actually fit!!.... so exciting!!

Here's our (kindly and uber-patient) instructor Shannon working on one of the pattern variations we did today, the Princess Seam (dartless sloper)....

Here's Shannon and my 'classmate' Pel going over the finer points of straitening out a waistline after adjusting dart legs (... a time or two.... or three, in MY case...)

And here's Shannon showing Pel exactly how the patten relates to a dressform and the myriad of variations you can effect once you have your basic sloper set up....

Meanwhile, in the opposite corner....
...ummm.... are you SUPPOSED to be cutting that?!?!?!?!

.... apparently not...((sniff))

Overall, it was another afternoon very well spent!

And when I got home... Look what was waiting for me?!?!!

.... The Simplicity 3882 that was listed on my pattern list.... All thanks to my most favorite Austin blogger, Antoinette, the Clevergirl!!!

Okay, now it's off to practice what I learned today!!

Holla!

Saturday, Hitting the Slope(r)s

2008-08-11T20:58:00.006-04:00

So, I had my first Intro to Pattern Making MeetUp this past Saturday. It was great!! Don't quiz me, because I probably couldn't ( and, by 'I probably couldn't ', I mean 'I difinitely can't') make a sloper from scratch right about now, but I'm definitely amped for our next class.

I was so inspired by the time I got home, I made this handy-dandy carrying case for the smaller tools that came with the class fee...

I made it out of some scrap pieces of stretch denim I had on the table after cutting out the denim/exposed zipper version of M5701.

I didn't have any kind of pattern or even any real planned out idea of how to make the 'pouch'. I just kind of pictured what I wanted and kept making seams and stitches until I ended up with this...lol.

I couldn't decide how I wanted to secure the pouch closed, so I just used two pins to hold it for the time being. I decided I like the look and left it that way.

Holla!

Getting my feet wet...

2008-08-03T11:06:00.013-04:00

Yesterday I decided to tackle the M5701, in effort to see how to go about altering it to make the D&G Inspiration Game piece...

I decided to make the pattern straight out, with no changes, so I could get a feel of the fit and how all the pieces went together...

So, after some creative pinning (I was afraid I was going to run out of fabric) on the black Italian linen I got at the Paron's East closing sale... and more than a few head scratches at the directions...

I ended up with this... Not bad.

I didn't do any fit alterations (with the exception of taking in the side seams, from right under the pocket down to the hem, to give it a more tapered look) but I think it looks pretty good.
It fits fairly close along the bust. But I don't think I'll do any FBAs. When adding the back zipper, I think it will make getting it off and on infinitely easier...

And this fine medium weight linen was giving me fits! It frays like crazy, and as I found out in the most heart breaking way, the notches are prone to tearing.... I had to patch up this beauty right after I tried it on (before I added the armhole bands).

I was reaching around to pull the dress up over my head and heard the softest, gentlest RRRRIIIPPPPPPPP!

Sigh. Really?!?

Overall, I really like the pattern, and will be making this one again, straight and altered to look like the D&G.

Holla!

Ain't that the truth....

2008-07-31T20:24:00.008-04:00

... check out the caption on the mag cover.....

I stalked...STALKED! my local magazine shop waiting for this mag to come out all month.... only to miss one day... ONE DAY.. and be told he only got one bundle in, the.day.i.missed. and he sold out the same day...

Well thank goodness for the hot chick over at BatchPlease! I was visiting her site yesterday and saw this....'Gone, but maybe not too late...'

Please believe I went to a bigger mag shop on 23rd and Broadway, 1st thing this am, and low and behold, I came home with these....

(( ...please hear John Witherspoon of 'Boomerang', the 'Friday...' movies and 'The Boondocks' when I say..)) Yyeeaaahhhh Boy!!

Holla!