Look Alikes!

Little Miss Princess had a special day at school today.  In honor of March being "Reading Month", her school declared it "Dress like your favorite book character" day, so she didn't have too much trouble picking her favorite character! I dug into the stash, and found some white bleached muslin, and used Simplicity 3668.

It was already cut to a size 4 (earlier version, made a dress), which was a smidge too tight, but once I picked out the the front pleats, she had enough room to move.  I used some fabric paints to put the blue design around the neck opening, and a few strips of tan cotton were braided together to make the belt.  Add a flat iron to the hair with a side-braid, and voila... Julie in the flesh!

Her friends all asked where her mom bought Julie's shirt, and LMP proudly told them, "My mom made it!"  So, if you have a little "American Girl" in your life with a Julie doll, this is the perfect pattern to recreate her look.  Too bad it's out of print, but I did see it available on ebay.

Here's the earlier version of Simplicity 3668, a Christmas dress from 2008.

February Productivity - Way Down!!!

Maybe it was the weather.
Maybe it was a result of too busy of a January.
Maybe it was something else.

But I did next to NO SEWING in February.  Today, I finally hemmed the dress I've been working on since January for the Vintage Sew Along (pics are there), and that is it.

Mojo is gone. Absent.  Nada.
I have plenty to work on (Communion Dress, hello?!?!), just find myself in no hurry to run downstairs and get moving on any project at all.  So weird.  I don't like it at all, and Bo keeps making me feel even worse about it.  It's happened before, I'm sure it'll happen again, but I've got to get over this funk.  That's it, I'm heading down there right now.  Later!

Wardrobe Staples

Shirt - McCall's 5630 (Palmer/Pletsch Perfect Fit Blouse)

I've had McCall's 5630 in my pattern stash for a long time (it's OOP now), along with some fabulous white cotton Ralph Lauren shirting (from Ressy's co-op).  My favorite button-down blouse in my closet is from Victoria's Secret, with front vertical darts and side seam darts, back vertical darts and shoulder darts, with french cuffs.  I was happy to change the french cuffs out, but really wanted a great fit through the bodice.  This is the only pattern I own (including 3 years of Burda subscriptions) with 3 of the 4 darts included.

I took my time with the collar and stand, using my wooden tailor's clapper to press the seams open carefully and trim closely.  My hand-stitching was impeccable along the collar stand, front button placket, and cuffs (Susan Khalje would be proud)... and I was thinking, "Damn, I'm good!".  Then it happened.  The bump in the road.  Can you tell what it is before I say it out loud?

Too much ease in the sleeve cap. No matter how I tried to gather it, ease it, pin it... I got puckers.  I ripped, I re-stitched.  Still puckers.  Yuck! I navigated through the worst part of a tailored, fitted shirt... and got stuck with stupid sleeve seam puckers??? Seriously?  In all honesty, the only person who will notice will be my husband, because I pointed them out to him.  So, whenever I wear this shirt I know that he will say, "Wow, you look great! Too bad you messed up the sleeves..." And I will laugh, because it's a reminder that I am my own worst critic, and the blouse is 98% "Amazing" and 2% "Oops".  I should've known better, as the last 2 reviews on PR warned of that problem, but I didn't take the time to measure and check.  Oh well, live and learn!  I will fine-tune the pattern and remove some ease, so the next version will be perfect.  Actually, I haven't serged those seams yet, so I may still remove those sleeves, and fix this version!

What I did take the time to do, was to tissue fit the pattern on Bo.  Something I've never been able to do before, but now I can! It was so awesome being able to pin it together, slip it on her, and check the fit without doing a muslin.  I have to re-train my brain that this is now an option with all my patterns...

Pants - Simplicity 4135

This is my 3rd version of the Simplicity Threads pattern 4135.  I consider this my TNT pants pattern, and this tiime I used some really nice "Easy Care Wool Blend" in charcoal from Gorgeous Fabrics.  Such a great fabric... it's pressed beautifully and is a really lovely suiting weight.  Great for winter, but will transition into spring, too.  I used a black cotton broadcloth from the scrap box for the pockets and waistband facing.  The only change this time around was the narrowing of the pantleg.  When I wear these for real, I'll take a pic so you can see that it was definitely a change for the better! Sadly, Little Man accidentally head-butted me today during a wrestling session, and my right eye is all swollen, so you'll just have to deal with pics of Bo modeling for now! If you've never made pants with a pocket bag that extends to the center front, then you're really missing out on a no-gaping pocket situation!

This won't be last you hear from me on either of these patterns! They are true "wardrobe staples" and with many beautiful cotton shirtings in the stash and another length of "Easy Care Wool Blend" on it's way to me from Boston (yes, I caved during the 1 day sale), I will hopefully continue to improve my skills on them, too!

Not a Bad Start to 2011...

13 garments (23 yards of fabric) got made this month!
1 for a client (Betzina Sweater Vest), 6 for the kids (2 dresses & 4 pj pants), and 6 for me.
I never showed you the first item of the month, my brown plaid skirt using Simplicity 2512.

View C

I started in on New Year's Eve, and really like it except for 2 things...  It's a little too short and a little too tight.  Oops... Time to hit the treadmill!

In my opinion, the pattern runs a little bit small (and is unlined), but I wasn't the best behaved over the holidays, so maybe I should take the blame! I had about 1 1/4 yds of this fall wool/flannel sitting in my stash for a long time, and never would've dreamt that it would be enough for this skirt! I paired it with a rust colored top (Simplicity 4020) that I made at the end of December, and it's a great match!

My most recent accomplishment is another pair of TNT pants ("Threads" pants pattern Simplicity 4135) using some lovely grey wool blend twill (Gorgeous Fabrics) I bought grey and brown, but now I see only the tan is left.  They just need the waistband and a hem, but they're nearly done, too! The wool is a wonderful "transitional" weight that will carry me through winter, into spring!

Can I say how much I love having my dressform, not only for fitting (tissue fitting was never an option before), but now I don't have to get all done up for a photo shoot! Woo hoo!
 My "Vintage Sew Along" pieces also fall into the "nearly done" group, as the skirt has some fitting issues and the dress just needs to be lined. Maybe today's "Snow Day" will allow me to get that done... The dress is so lovely, and the polka dot fabric I found on ebay is perfect.  Really excited to wear this in warmer weather!

The Communion dress is all cut out, but I'm taking my time on construction.  I really want it to be perfect, and don't want to rush through, or get frustrated.  I work on it a little here and a little there, which keeps me productive! See how my "helper" keeps busy while keeping me company?

Practicing taking a "self-portrait" with the camera!

My last "accomplishment" is really ridiculous.  I'm proud to say that I've not purchased any "fashion fabric" all month! I've bought only a few linings (I don't stash linings), and of course took advantage of the Atlanta Thread sale, but NO NEW FABRICS.  I managed to sew over 20 yards just from my stash, and bet that I can do it for another month (or more).  Crazy, but the great thing is that I'm using what I own and it looks great.  My "wish list" is definitely in existence (knit denim and some of that tan wool), but I'm really trying to thin the stash first.  Ann: I saw the 20% Today Only Sale.  La la la la la.... I can't hear you!!! Yeah right, who am I kidding! ;)

February will hopefully bring some nice cotton button-down blouses, a few nice winter dresses, and I should really sew something up for DH.  He's the only one that didn't get anything new out of me in January, and has had to deal with all that nasty, cold, white stuff outside!

Enabler Alert!

Got a serger? How about a coverstitch? Maxi-Lock Thread is on sale at Atlanta Thread & Company, but only until Midnight TONITE! (The coupon code is "maxi-jan-2011" at checkout).

At $1.75, I stocked up on a few colors I didn't have, and grabbed a few spools I needed.  For $6 shipping, it's worth it, getting a much, much, much better color selection that Joann's and not having to deal with going out in the cold snow and waiting in a long line (have I mentioned my great unhappiness with JA's lately?)!

Here are all the colors available (I love this feature, makes my life so much easier than trying to guess what color "Lauren" is)! It's so much better than the black, white, red, and blue that is typically stocked at a store.

They also have a fabulous selection of many other sewing supplies.  I also ordered about a dozen zippers of various size and color. The prices are amazing and the color selection is wonderful. I took inventory of my upcoming projects and ordered accordingly.  Less then $1.50 for a full size invisible? Count me in! With my order, the shopping came out to be less than a quarter (25 cents) per item, which is still considerably less than what I'd pay at JA's.

Have fun! And if you didn't catch the notice in time, no big deal.  Their regular price is $1.85/spool!
(Note: I am not affiliated with Atlanta Thread, but think we sewists need to look out for each other!)

Love and Hate (Mostly LOVE)

Love:
-The fabrics both came from Gorgeous Fabrics and were wonderful to work with.  Exactly the right weight for each pattern!  It looks like both sold out, but I'm sure Ann has others that are equally awesome!

Butterick 5555

-The style and fit of the top.  The neckline "bib" (especially with the plaid on the bias) has a great shape, and the gathers underneath are just the right amount.  It's got the right amount of roominess for a tunic, but without the "maternity" look.  (Although, if you're pregnant, this top would totally work for you!)
-The sleeves are a great length, and again... just the right amount of gathers, so as to not be too "poofy". I'm also happy with my decision to place the cuffs on the bias, which a small (but cute) detail.
-The idea of leggings (and the comfort), but I'm not sure yet where I'm going to wear these...
-This is such a nicer alternative to jeans and a t-shirt! Whether worn with my boots...

or my booties...

I'm feeling very trendy and youthful in this outfit!

I matched the plaid at the side seam!

Hate: (Such a strong word... how about "dislike"?)

-The squareness of the hem on the shirt is really bugging me.  With leggings, it just seems so "blocky" to me.  I was going to gather the bottom 2-3" of the side hem to give it some shape, but DH said it looked fine the way it was.  I trust his opinion, so I left it alone.
-The pattern instructions on the application of the collar were very weird.  Not that I needed them, but I always check them out. It showed a finished neck edge, but if you're applying a collar, why bother? I don't get it... but I did it my way and it was just fine.

McCall's 6173

-The leggings pattern runs so BIG (and long)! The envelope said that my measurements were a "Large", but holy moly...  Um, pattern makers?  Leggings are supposed to be tight.  No ease.  I took them in again, and again, and again.  If any of you want this pattern, I cut it on the "L" lines, and I think it would fit a RTW 14/16 just right, even if you're a "Tall" (I took 6" off the length)! If I can get a smaller size on sale this weekend, I will put this one up for grabs!

All in all, I'm very happy with the entire outfit, and am ready to make more like it!  I'd love to find a nice stretchy denim looking knit to see if I could knock-off some "jeggings". Jean-leggings? Jeggings.  I didn't make it up, it's already out there, I swear!

Beating the Bias

Butterick 5555 is one of my current projects.  I've got a few in various stages right now, it actually helps me stay productive.  I'll explain in a little while...

This tunic is super cute, and when I saw the perfect cotton plaid shirting at Gorgeous Fabrics, it all came together.  I've got leggings (McCall's 6173) in black to wear with it, and realized that I wanted to place the plaid on the bias for the bib and cuffs.  The 2 yards of 60" wide left me enough room to do it, even after matching the plaid on the side seams.  But, bias can be tricky, and I wanted to make sure that it stayed put (not stretching/warping/distortion causing me to go MAD).

The first thing I was mindful of was the U-shaped dip in the bib.  As I cut the pattern paper, I decided to not cut "into" that U, that it was be easier to maintain the shape and keep the bias true if I waited to cut that out.

Fusible interfacing was applied to the cuffs, collar band, and bib, locking the size of the pattern pieces in and keeping the bias from stretching it out of shape.

Then I cut the "U" out of the bib... and breathed a sigh of relief.  I am really excited to put this entire outfit together!

Bo is feeling tropical these days, modeling my wearable muslin of the 1950's sundress for the Vintage Sew Along.  I need to attach the yokes, and line it (the voile is on the way), but I really love how this is coming together.  You can see that the fit is perfect, and although it's not an ideal dress for Michigan in January, it will be ideal for our tropical vacation this spring! Can hardly wait...

I found the perfect red polka dot cotton for this, but really wanted to make sure the fit was right.  Lucky me, now I'll have 2 really cute dresses for spring/summer!

As for the numerous projects, having things in various stages makes it easier for me to fit sewing into my schedule.  I can cut paper patterns upstairs, sometimes cut fabric, and definitely do pinning up there.  My machines stay downstairs, along with the iron, so depending on what I feel like doing (inserting a zipper, pressing fabric, cutting a pattern), I have a project in a similar phase of construction.  As I was taking the pics tonite of the top, my mom's angel clock started chiming.  If I never told you before, this clock was a gift to my mom from my brother, but he gave it to me when she died, since my kids love watching the angels "dance".  It chimes all different songs every half-hour, the doors open, and the angels come out.  It makes me smile when it does, like having my mom in my sewing room with me.  Thought I'd share it with you, too.