Saturday, July 18, 2009

I finally get to sew!

I spent this week finishing my "homework". 10 essays, each 2 pages long, double-spaced, 12 pt font about all sorts of teacher/student/No Child Left Behind topics... there were a few tears shed, but I made it. Every 5 years, teachers are required to accumulate 6 college credits or 18 SB-CEUs when it's time to renew your teaching license. I attended 2 workshops (6 days total), mentored a brand-new probationary teacher all year, and watched 10 online videos. Thankfully, the school district paid for the workshops and the online courses were free. Now, I have to send in my paperwork, pay $160, and I'm good to teach for another 5 years. Okay, I think I'm done ranting now, I'm just really glad I'm done!

So, to keep my sanity this week, I worked on a muslin (between essays) for some shorts. I used a pants pattern from July 2008 that had a simple basic design. How do you know when your fabric is really, truly ugly? When even a 6 yr old tells asks, "You're not making those to wear out, are you?" Thanks to Michelle (the pants making guru) for her quick emails to answer my questions about crotch depth! I was getting a surplus of fabric in the front under the zipper, so I compared the pattern to the curve of my favorite pants/shorts, and trimmed it accordingly. Sandra Betzina's "Power Sewing" was at my side for the fly zipper insertion. That must be one of the things in sewing that makes me really sweat. Mine usually end up puckered and scream, "Home-made!", but not anymore. I'm really happy with both the muslin and final version zippers. I've decided that fitting pants is really, really tricky, and I will learn the right way to do it when I go to New York in August. I know there are more adventurous things I could make, but in reality, I wear pants to work almost daily in the fall and winter, and it's the one garment that really intimidates me to make anymore.

This week's "To-Do" list:
Skirt #101 from the April '09 BWOF in this...
I know a lot of you have made this, and it looks great all around, so I know it's winner (a great place to start my fall sewing)!

Sorry about the photography, but this cotton (speckled with red and white x's) will be another "twirly dress" for Little Miss Princess. I made it up last spring, and it actually still fits! She's been asking to where it everyday, so another sure thing! Just have to buy some red or white for the border and ties! Bunny made this up recently using smocking (out of my league)!

And the "Question Mark" project of the week...
#122 from the April '09 BWOF, in this pleated poly blend?

Another pattern that I know a lot of you have made, so what's the story? Pro: This pattern is perfect for pleated fabric! Con: Is my fabric too "nice" (formal/dressy) for this casual pattern?

10 comments:

Michelle said...

I hope your muslins are going well! (And I would wear it out just to spite the munchkin that asked!) I love the new fabrics, and can't wait to see your version of that yoked skirt...I wear mine constantly!! As for the tunic with the pleated fabric, I think a simple style is a great way to showcase a fantastic fabric, and the "casualness" of the pattern may be the best reason to use it for that fabric!

Dawn said...

Funny but your skirt fabric looks just like the model photo. I think the pleated knit will be perfect for the v-neck top. I wear mine often. I wish that the school district/state/feds would pay for our credits and our stupid license fee. Ours is up to $200 now.

The Sewing and Knitting Loft said...

Love your fabrics. The patterns are just right for them. I agree with Dawn, the skirt fabric does look like the skirt in the photo.

Barb

gwensews said...

Definitely, you need time to sew. Summer will be over in no time. School starts--soon. Love the pleated fabric. It will look fabulous made up.

Shannon said...

Great looking line up of projects!

Bummer about all that work to keep your teaching license. In Ontario, we have to belong to the College of Teachers ($130ish fee each year) to keep our teaching license up to date, but thankfully, no courses are required.

Julia said...

Congratulations on finishing all of your requirements for teaching another 5 years. It sounds like lots of work. Once I got my master's degree I didn't have to renew mine anymore. The fabrics all look great, even for the shorts with the right top.

Gail said...

Your muslin looks like a finished garment. I'm very lazy with muslins. Sometimes I only tack them together so I can pull it apart easily and use as a pattern on the fashion fabric.

Bunny said...

That's is a great pattern for the pleated fabric. What awesome fabric! I always think the more elaborate the fabric the more simple the garment should be. Is that a dangling participle, teacher?

Unknown said...

My skirt fabric came from Gorgeous Fabrics (See the World in Black and White Boucle), and I have no idea what a dangling participle is, I teach high school math. And after reading Dawn and Shannon's statistics, I am now officially done whining about my license fees!

angie.a said...

I think it would be pretty as the v-neck top. Dress up what can be a really casual, "beachy" style! I want to make that skirt too. I'm stuck on fall sewing in my head, but can't seem to get my "self" to get busy on it. Of course. Fall will get here and I won't have any clothes!!

I only had to pay my $100 to get recert'd for another 5 years last month. I already have to do 60 hours a year in professional development type activities (college classes, workshops, etc. etc. etc.) I'm jealous of my neighbors in OK who only have to do 60 hours every FIVE years!!!