Jammies and a Jacket (Project Runway Update!)

Shocked? Yeah, me too! I didn't think I'd have anything to post until the weekend! Had to stay home with Little Man, since he's not quite ready to return to daycare after the flu bug hit him Monday. He played, I sewed, we played, he slept, I sewed...

Here is the latest version (4th) of the TNT Little Miss Princess Nightgown (aka Butterick 4910). This pattern is good all year round... flannel, cotton, or like this version, flannel backed silky. I found this fabric on the clearance shelf at Joann's for $1/yd, you just can't say no to $2 jammies! At that price, I'm thinking I should've gotten a few more yards. Pooh Bear and Piglet never go out of style!

The other wonderful thing about this pattern is the variations. Short sleeve, long sleeve, short dress, long dress, pants, or shorts. Like I said, all year long! I got smart and bought second pattern, this time tracing it off so I can use it FOREVER. Or for the next 3 years...

I'm so proud of my little girl! She earned her yellow stripe belt at Tae Kwon Doe last night! Her instructor has invited all the parents to participate tomorrow night... should be fun. I think.

Project #2 has been my new spring coat. Here in Michigan, the afternoons are reaching about 60 degrees, but it's pretty chilly in the morning when I leave for work. I'm using #106 from the Dec. 08 BWOF, a 2 1/2 dotter. Pretty simple and straight-forward, (it's got great, sporty seam lines through the shoulders) but I have a couple of issues.

• The fabric is a linty, ravelley mess. It's a black layered crinkle poly. Perfect jacket weight, but there's no drape to it. Can be a little puffy on the seams, and doesn't press flat. I've serged anything I can, so that part of the fabric issue is solved. But, the puffy factor is irritating. It's not really a problem, just takes longer to deal with, and I really don't want to look "puffy" when I'm wearing it. Got the fabric from Ressy's co-op, and I like that it's black and will go with everything.


• The fit is really weird. I cut a 44, and it's perfect in the shoulders and chest, but gigantic through the waist. Huge like a maternity top. I could easily fit a basketball under it zipped, no kidding. BWOF describes this jacket as "short and fitted", HA!!! Luckily, the center back seam is not topstitched, so I'll just take it in there, and maybe in the side seams. I've got to fix this... one side is higher than the other on the top of the zipper. Could've sworn it was all matched up when I pinned it...

This is the first time I've ever installed a separating zipper, which wasn't bad at all. It was a pinch too long (no biggie), but it's supposed to be hidden, and the stupid puffy fabric won't neatly fold down flat. I know I can fix it, but I'm tired, so I'll hit it tomorrow... with a hammer...

ETA: Project Runway will return... to Lifetime this summer. Here's an article with details.