McCall's 5890

I didn't start the Burda magazine dress yet, but it is all cut out and ready. Instead I sewed McCall's 5890.


I made it from a really nice knit that I bought on a whim at Hancock Fabric's a few weeks ago when I went in there for white satin for a banner project.

I made view D for the dress and view B of the jacket. Previous reviews on PR of this jacket commented that the finish for the hem along the shawl collar were odd because you could see the back side at the bottom of the front edge. So I used a tricot edge, at least that is what my serger book called it. I used a black wholly nylon in the lower looper and regular black thread in both needles and the upper looper. Here is what the edge looks like from the inside of the front edge and this is what it looks like on the outside of the front edge.

I wore this the other day and it is so very comfortable. Here is the whole ensemble as I wore it

Here is just the dress.

I had to do some alterations on the dress because the fullness of the skirt was a little too matronly for my taste. From the picture on the pattern envelope, it doesn't look that full. I cut the size 18 and it fit perfect at the shoulders and bust, but after it was sewn, I ended up tapering about an inch at each side seam at the waist and ending up with about 4 inches at the bottom. Each princess seam was tapered from 1/2" at the waist to about 2 inches at the bottom, to give the dress a more straight skirt look, but with a little flip. I really like the way it turned out.
I can even wear it with a black blazer for a bit of a different look.

The next project WILL be the Burda dress!

PMB blouse is a wadder

Ok, the PMB blouse is junk, trash, garbage! The last blouse I made with the old measurements was a princess seam blouse for the build a better blouse class and it still fits OK, but this new blouse I cut out and had looking so nice, until I tried it on....the darts hit me about 2 inches BELOW the apex! Darn it. So it is garbage.
I took the cashmere/silk fabric to the dry cleaner for shrinkage and have ordered the lining fabric.
I made the muslin on Sunday and it fit PERFECT,
yes PERFECT right from the pattern with NO adjustments at all...I am amazed and can't wait to get started on the fashion fabric. Yeah, Bruda World of Fashion magazine!!!

#2 Stitch and Flip Jacket

I finished the 2nd Stitch and Flip Jacket on Sunday afternoon.

It turned out really nice and it looks great with the knit Talbot's knockoff top that I made. I even have enough fabric for a straight skirt which goes on the list of projects to do.
Next on the list is a PMB blouse that is layed out and ready for me to cut out. Then the muslin needs to be made for the Burda dress. Those are the only 2 projects that I'm going to even THINK about doing for the near future.

I AM special!!

I am the....are your ready for this?? I am the "Featured Member" on Pattern Review today!!! Woo Hoo!!! Take a look on www.patternreview.com ad see me as the "featured member"...only today (Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009)...after that is is gone!!
Thanks Susan for letting me know.

Back in the sewing room!

I went back in the sewing room today. I washed an aqua pima cotton shirting fabric for a blouse and I printed off the pattern for the blouse from the PMB software. I also traced the pattern from the Burda World of Fashion magazine from October 2009 for the dress that I will make with the cashmere/silk fabric. Hope to get back in there tomorrow evening!

Lost the mojo!

I've lost my sewing mojo! I left for a conference to Mexico and can't get the sewing mojo back since I've been back. Today I received a shipment of 3 fabrics that I ordered last week from Michael's fabrics. One is a cashmere/silk blend that I am going to make a dress from Burda's magazine for this month. The other is a linen/cotton blend that I bought because it was on sale. The last one is a white cotton shirting - because I love white blouses! I try to post the pictures of the fabric later.
I'm hoping I will get the mojo back soon! Daugher and Son-in-law and grandson are arriving on Saturday...can't wait to see them again.

No entry in the Jacket contest :(

Well, due to the fabric I'm using (very bad ravelling) I've had to finish the sleeve seams different than the contest rules state. You are not to have any exposed seams in order to qualify....so I'm not going to enter. However, I will finish before the deadline. It is coming along very nicely! Pictures to follow.

Contest Jacket progress

Well after cleaning up the house,laundry and making a grocery list and making it to the grocery store, I was finally able to get in the sewing room and continue the work on the contest jacket. I sewed the front sides and have the sleeves ready to put into the jacket. Here are a few pictures.




Here is a picture of the "extra" fabric that I had to purchase. I haven't had to cut into it yet, but after I get the sleeves in, I will cut this for my facing pieces.

And speaking of grocery lists...a fellow WW member told me about this website that you can pick the type of meal plan you want and what store you want and for $15.00 for 3 months, it will calculate the points, have recipes, grocery lists and the prices for that store of the items on your grocery lists. I signed up for the Points system, for 2 people and any store (because I hate shopping at Wally World) and I bought my groceries from the list today. It seems pretty neat! Give it a try, I have the link over to the right! Weight loss update...another 1.4 # for a total of 46.2 pounds!

It's Here!!!

My fabric arrived today! Now I can cut the other 2 pieces and get started again on the jacket. I have all the back and sides done.

Rejected.....again!!!

Yes, can you believe it??? I was rejected to give blood again! This time.....I went to Costa Rica. So, now I'm banned from giving until June 2010, but I'm traveling to Mexico in 2 weeks. I guess I'll just have to be one of those people that will NEVER be able to give blood, because I'm always traveling out of the country for work. 2011 - I'll be in Brazil, 2012 I'll be in Russia. No blood from me!!!!! I really am disappointed :(((

Contest Jacket is coming along

I started sewing the contest jacket tonight. Yesterday I discovered that the paisley knit top I made on Monday will look fantastic with the new jacket. The colors match perfectly. The other fabric should arrive either tomorrow or Friday. I've really gotten as far as I can go for now until the other arrives.

Tomorrow I am going to do something I have never done before.....Give blood! Yes, I'm going to try it again. Over 20 years ago I tried to give blood at the hospital for this woman that had to have her arms amputated, and she was an accountant. I felt for her and her family and decided to give in her name only to be told that the meds that I was taking (Bactrim) was a sulphur drug and I wasn't able to give blood because there are too many people allergic to sulphur drugs. I never tried to give again. Last night the local blood bank called for my DH and I took the message that they were wanting his blood, then asked me if I had ever given. Tomorrow the blood bank is having a special 12 hour drive and I'm going to head over there at lunch and give a pint! I'll at least lose 1/2 pound :)))

I'm in luck!!

The store called first thing after they opened and the sales clerk found my fabric on the remnant table with 1 3/4 yards left!!! Plus it was on sale! I only needed 32inches, so the extra will be nice. She took my credit card info and will charge me and ship tomorrow via UPS!! The jacket is saved.

Change of plans.....again!

I had to make a change to the plans after the cutting day yesterday, because I goofed again! I realized my jacket pattern calls for 4 front pieces instead of 2 (this happened on the other one as well and I totally forgot about that little tidbit)I need to highlight that CUT 4 on that pattern piece, seriously I really need to go do that NOW! Anyway...I was doing all my markings on the pieces and I saw that little 4 there and remembered..and I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FABRIC!!! I am about 4" short, or course it could be 2" and it doesn't matter because I still don't have enough fabric. I frantically looked for the receipt and thankfully it does have the fabric item number on there. So I called the store, and they are closed today because of the Holiday. I left a message and hopefully they will call tomorrow and maybe I can get over there before the end of the week and keep my fingers crossed that they still have the fabric! YIKES...I was so upset.

Sooo, I regrouped and I started making the knit top that is the Talbot's knockoff. It turned out fantastic!!! Yay!!! But before that my DH helped bring in the Europro Vacuum Iron and Ironing board that my friend Jayne gave me. I didn't have the direction book and couldn't locate on online, so I really didn't know how to use the thing and honestly, I was a little scared! I had read that sometimes they pull so much electricity (1500 watts) that it needed to be on its own circuit. Well, it works WONDERFUL. I can't say that enough, it is totally AWESOME (and I don't use that word often because I think people use that way too much). This thing irons a seam so flat....well, I've just never seen anything like it, except maybe from something that the dry cleaner did. Here are a few pictures of this wonderful little machine.




With that said I had a great day in the sewing room after all. Here is the finished top!


So, I may just get started this evening on my PJ's! Plus I'll get to use the cool iron again.

Cutting Day

Today I've been cutting...and cutting...and cutting!

I have 3 projects cut and ready to go. I rented Margaret Islander's Industrial Tips video tape and one of the tips was to take a day and just cut out projects. Gather all items together (threads, buttons, seam binding,etc.) and tie with a scrap of the fabric.


The project to the left top is my next pair of pajamas. All my PJ's are too large now so it is time to make a new pair. I bought this fabric at Nancy's Notions online quite awhile ago. It is quilting cotton from one of Michael Miller's collections. I'll be making a short sleeve tunic style top and capri length bottoms. This will be #3 to sew in the cue.

The project on the right top is my Talbot's knockoff top. I mentioned this one earlier in one of the posts. This is #2 in the cue.


The fabric is a knit that was purchased in New Orleans at Promenade Fabrics.

And the front project is my jacket that I am going to enter in the PR Lined Jacket Contest. This the same pattern that I made for the Stitch and Flip Jacket class that I took from PR in July.

The fabric is a Home Dec that I bought in Mandeville a few weeks ago. The fabric is a blend of Linen/Rayon...we think! It steams/irons very nicely, but I will dry clean. The fabric is very similar to the fabric in a jacket that I had years ago. I'm using Ambiance lining fabric that I ordered online. I'll have to get to work on it tomorrow because the deadline is Oct 1 and I'll be leaving for Mexico on Sept 22 and not return until Oct 1...so I have to have it finished and photographed and my review written by the 22nd!

Now onto a finished project. I took another class Building a Better Blouse from PR in August and I put the finishing touches on it Saturday. This is a pattern that I blended from PMB and a Kwik Sew pattern for the sleeves. I am pleased with the way it fits. Not sure about the fabric though...maybe a little too "old lady" looking. However, I do LOVE me some paisley!


Oh, and I'm down another 1.2# for a total of 44.8....yes, .2 from an even 45#. Urgh! And it has been 35 completed weeks!

I have been sewing....really!

I really have been sewing, but not posting. It takes a lot of time to do both!! This is the top Butterick 4817, that I finished early July.


The rest of July I've been working on my Stitch and Flip Jacket class. I'm almost finished, just the tacking of the facing and the hem is left. Here is what it looks like now.



I'm taking another class on PR and it starts tomorrow. It is the Build a Better Blouse Class. I'm going to be using Kwik Sew 2849 .

While I'm preping the pattern for that class, I'm going to start work on my Talbot's top knock off. I found this top at Talbots and then found a pattern just like it!! The Talbot's top is on the right and the pattern photos are on the left. Doesn't it look just like it?

I also added something else to my sewing room! I went to visit my daughter in Orlando last weekend and I went to IKEA and bought an Alex chest. It now houses my ironing press instead of that large table.

Homework

My class started yesterday on PR - Stitch and Flip Jacket and I did some homework last night. We were told to sew scraps of fabric together using the technique and finish the edges with trim, binding, etc. Here is my finished homework....it's pretty!

I have NO idea what I'm going to do with it....but it is pretty!!!

Updating the sewing room ---- AGAIN!

I know, I've a "sick mind" as my sister says!!! I wanted to start using the clam shell ironing press that Jayne gave me and I had no room with the way the room was laid out. So....I ask my DH to build me shelves to free up some floor space and this is how they look! I love them!!!
Then I was able to put a table under them to house the ironing press...see!
Then, since he was building stuff, I asked him to cut me a piece of peg board and this is how it came out! I even found some cute baskets that fit on peg board. I found some really cute 3 ring binders, boxes and magazine holders at Office Depot, so I think I'm really finished with the organization of this room.....maybe???
More pictures:



My next class through PR started today, Stitch and Flip Jacket! The first lesson download was today, so I found out that the pattern I wanted to use wasn't a good choice for this technique, so I went out at lunch to Hobby Lobby and bought this pattern to use

I'm going to use a fabric that I bought while in Seattle and a lining that was in the stash from Vicki. I'll post when finished.

Plus yesterday I made the muslin of another sleeveless top that I will try to cut out this week. It is a simple top and should be easy to sew in a night or two. Another project I started this weekend was to put the measurements into the PMB software and make the fitting garment. I've sent the pictures to the company for their critiquing, we'll see how well we did. Thanks to Jill for her help!!! Also, today I bought a Light Box to help put the PMB patterns together. Jill brought hers for me to use on Friday and I immediately saw that this was a much needed item.
She went through the pattern stash that I bought at the garage sale and she found several she wanted. Now, I have to post the others online for sale. That will be for another day and another chore!

Patio Furniture Makeover DONE

I finally finished the patio chair cushion project that was started a little while ago. I got disgusted with the whole project after the first cushion was made and my velcro didn't stick. I used the non-sew velcro and I didn't follow their directions like I should have. A full minute is quite a bit longer than one would think it is! So, I put the velcro on the remaining 3 cushions as the directions stated and guess what? My fabric shrunk a full inch, so then the closure pieces didn't fit the rest of the cushion pieces. That is when I decided to toss it in the corner. Now after Tommy repainted the 4 chairs and table, I promised to finish the cushions. So back to the drawing board.

I ended up cutting pieces to add to the closure pieces so that they would be the correct length and it worked out very nicely. Here are the pictures:

The last 2 cushions may not make it through the summer - only was able to sew them with a 1 needle serger finish. While putting the new covers on the back cushions, the seam on the bottom that forms the box came unsewn. The seam didn't hold....oh, well. I'm done and next summer I'll just buy new ones because I will not be making them again! The fabric is a Waverly Outdoor fabric from http://www.housefabric.com/defaultproduct.asp and this is the pattern name http://www.housefabric.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=28498.

I used Coats and Clark outdoor thread http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=6f724c89-ff6c-49a0-af50-2ec09889a5c6 with a topstitch needle in the sewing machine and size 14 in the serger. The weave of this fabric is very loose and I think that is also why the 1 needle stitching doesn't hold up to stress.
Oh, and to get those new cushions into the new covers.....my Mother gave me the idea to put them into a garbage bag so it would slide right in, but someone on PR website went a little further with that idea. You put the cushion into a very large garbage bag then take your vacuum hose and suck the air out, then slide it into the cover, turn the vacuum off then cut the plastic bag off and pull it out of the cover. Worked like a charm!

Sewing update!

I finished the blouse last night and I really like this one, the fabric is so much better.

I made a fantastic purchase this morning on my way back from Weight Watchers (another 2.4# BTW!!) at this garage sale. I bought 4 boxes of patterns and 3 rulers for $30....I had $100 worth of fun just going through the patterns. Even Mama looked through them, I think she had that much fun looking through them too, and she doesn't sew! Here are pics of what 2 of the boxes look like after I went through them. And here is a picture of the fabrics I bought last weekend in New Orleans.

The one on the left is a paisley knit, then a pique polka dot, navy linen and then the paisley cotton/stretch. I need to get them washed. The polka dot needs to sit in vinegar and water to set the colors so they won't bleed. This was suggested by the owner. And I did a little online purchasing during the week and all of it arrived in the mail today.

I bought more Palmer Pletesch interfacing, waist band interfacing, pattern tracing paper and then from Pamela's Patterns, The perfect Tee Shirt, The Perfect Tank Top and the T-shirt makeover pattern along with some Heat'n'Bond for the hems of the T's.

Also, I broke down and purchased Pattern Master Boutique 4 from Nancy's Notions and it has shipped so I should get it next week sometime. Plus I registered for the making pants better online sewing class at PR which begins in June.....whew...I'm going to be very busy!