Stitch Me Up

Vogue 8776

2012-02-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

Pockets

Not the best outfit with this: long sleeves and pants would be better

Back

Open (I like it better closed)

Vogue describes this as a semi-fitted, unlined cape with convertible collar, lower side front seams with pockets and stitched hems. I guess it is a cape. I think of a cape as not having any arm openings and this has them. They providelimited mobility though so maybe we should just go with "cape". I used size M which is one size smaller than my measurements as usual in an unfitted garment. I made View C, the longest one.

The designation "very easy" is wrong IMO. The slit buttonholes and slit armholes are a bit confusing I think.

I love the unusual style and shape but I'm not so sure I like the low wearability factor.

I used a raspberry red boucle that has been in my stash for many years, maybe 25. All this time I thought it was a woven wool. Once I got it down from the shelf I discovered that it is a knit, with a backing similar to fleece. Probably not all wool either as the moths had showed no interest in all that time. I'm quite happy to have this bulky fabric off my shelf. Now if I just had more closet space!

This fabric made the project much harder than it would be with a lighter or thinner fabric. Because of its bulk the buttonhole slits and a few other places were hard to maneuver and required careful hand stitching to make it look right. Because it is a knit, stretch was a factor in sewing seams. I didn't think about it ahead of time as I should have so some seams stretched as I sewed them. The bottom armhole openings grew as they are not reinforced at all. The top armhole openings are doubled with the self facing so they stayed more in shape. Fortunately I used a lining fabric for the pocket lining which helped to stabilize the pocket edge. I left off the extra buttons as the fabric was a nightmare and I knew buttonholes would look terrible.
Have you been watching Project Runway Allstars? Mila made a cape somewhat similar to this pattern. The silhouette is the same but the arm openings are vertical and there is no collar. Very sharp looking.

Sewing Workshop Tosca Dress

2012-02-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

This is my third version of the Tosca Dress. Yes, you could say I like this pattern. Yes, the underarms are low but, no matter, I wear a tee shirt with the dress. Think of it as a jumper. This time I left off all pockets as well as the tucks and hem bubbling. Don't need that with this incredible fabric. First version. I don't think I reviewed the second version which I made from linen last summer.

The fabric is a wool gauze, almost sheer, with an interesting folded and reverse appliqued border on one edge. I did not do this wonderful-ness myself but bought it looking like this from FabriX in San Francisco. The hardest part of this project was figuring out how to use the fabric. Fortunately, when this fabric was spotted, I was shopping with my friend Dorothy. We both were stunned and amazed by this fabric and wanted it. We discussed possible ways to use it. I think she was the one who thought of the Tosca Dress. We had both made this dress already and recognized its potential. She made her version with this fabric some months back. In fact she found a perfect china silk at Thai Silks to use as an underlining so I used that too.

So not only do we have matching dresses, but we used the same fabric for our tee shirts. Joann's had cotton interlock in the right color to harmonize. We could dress as identical twins. People already ask if we are sisters when we shop together. Why not dress alike? Well, okay, maybe we won't do that.

Close up of the border.
Close up of the collar.
Side back

Anyway, I heartily recommend this pattern to you.

Fashion in Harmony: Chinese Lantern Skirt

2012-01-23T20:13:00.000-08:00

I posted a review for the Chinese Lantern circle skirt on PR and I see that my widget linking from here to there has gone awry. Try as I might, I cannot get it to return with my review photos and the links.

With the Thinker

With the column

Mystical View

This skirt is so totally easy to make.

Back view

You cut 2 circles, cut an opening in the center for the waist on one circle and the legs on the other circle. Offset the circles at right angles, stitch together at the circumference, add elastic or drawstring for the waist and you are done. Looks much more complicated than it is.

In this version I used a wool jersey which is, of course, a knit. Because of the stretch-ability of a knit it is easy to walk in this skirt. If you are using a woven as I did in my other version, it may be necessary to make the leg opening larger than the waist opening. Depending, of course, on the size of your waist.

You can see, if you compare the two versions, how the draping differs between the two. Both really quite nice. I see more of these skirts in my future.

The Square Version
Reviewed here

Egad! I've been remiss!

2012-01-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

Dish side, 1/8th of the total

I see that I haven't posted since October. True, we were in Jackson Hole twice, Christmas and New Year's happened, and other little things got in the way. I haven't even done much sewing although I have made a few things. I'm working on reviewing those that I have photos of at this very moment.

Teapots, 1/8th of this side

I have plans for new projects of course, but can't seem to get started yet. My kitchen and bathroom were painted last week which involved chaos. When I say kitchen you must understand that, in addition to all the excessive normal kitchen ware, I have many collections on display (cat teapots mostly). All things, including inside the cupboards and drawers, had to be removed as the insides are painted as well. While the painters were here we couldn't really cook anything as the room was draped in plastic. Thank heavens we have a second bathroom because that room was draped also. Although they finished their work last Friday, I am still living in chaos because I was told not to put anything back on the shelves for 5 days. Dishes stacked on the floors, pots under the chairs in the dining room, big boxes in the laundry. You get the picture. I think tomorrow I will wait no longer. Everything goes back in place. I cannot create fashion in such a situation!

After all this the kitchen will look exactly the same except the paint will not be chipped in places. I took lots of photos so I would remember where to put everything.

Vogue 1135 Chado Ralph Rucci dress

2011-10-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

A beautiful dress designed by Ralph Rucci. Intriguing shaped tucks circle around the bodice, skirt and sleeves. Vogue calls this a "lined, A-line dress, fitted at bust, with all over shaped tucks, below elbow length kimono sleeves, gussets, side front slit and back zipper. Braided, self-fabric belt is attached along seam. Asymmetrical hand rolled hems". I see that it is now OOP after only 2 years. Too bad.

This comes in size AAX (4-10) and DD (12-18). I usually cut size 8 or 10 at the neckline, shoulders and sleeves, do a FBA and add extra for waist and hips. My measurements put me between 16 and 18 but I know that is way too big for me above the bust. This time, though, it looked tricky to do the usual FBA and even to add at the side seams because of the tucks, side panel and gussets. Just way too much fuss. The pattern front gives the actual garment measurements at the bust, waist and hips. I saw that the 16 would be a little bit bigger than I am so I cut that planning to do necessary shoulder alterations at the overarm seam. The necklines hardly varied from size to size so I didn't worry about that.

The instructions are very complete except for assumptions that a skilled sewer should be aware of, like trimming seams. Lots of couture techniques such as fusing interfacing over all seams, hand rolled hems, and lining. The side panel and gusset are the only really advanced parts and the instructions are very complete for that part of construction. I guess getting the tucks lined up across the seams and zipper is also a bit tricky. I found one small mistake at step 34 where they forget to mention stitching the facings after instructing you to pin them. They do show the seams stitched in the drawing so that is a no brainer.

I used a poly/rayon/lycra Ponte with a miniscule stripe from Joann's. The pattern calls for moderate stretch knits only such as wool jersey and matte jersey. I read that the original designer dress was made of interlock or double knit. I think that is a better choice than jersey because of all the seams. The stability of double knit made this a lot easier to get all those seams and tucks to be smooth.

I didn't want to use wool, although that would be beautiful, but I knew it would irritate my skin with such a high neckline. The pattern calls for lining (with stretch charmeuse or stretch Crepe de Chine) which would help with the skin sensitivity issue. However the neckline facing uses the fashion fabric. The lining is entirely optional as it is there only to hide all the interior construction. I left it off as I am very concerned about being too warm in this style.

I recurved the outer sleeve seam to make the shoulders narrower and I tapered the back zipper seam in an extra inch starting just below the neck down to below the waist. I shortened the dress 5 inches. Design changes: I left off the braided belt as I want to wear necklaces with this and felt it would be too busy with the belt. The seam under the belt was not sewn into a tuck so I went back and added that to the seam at the end when I decided not to use the belt. This necessitated undoing about 6 inches of the zipper application in the back so it would be better to decide to do this earlier in the game.

I notice in the photos that some of the pieces look darker in color as though I used the opposite side of the fabric or cut them facing a different direction. It puzzled me when I saw the photos. It is caused by the varied grain directions which reflect the light differently. I followed the grain lines carefully so that is just what happens. It isn't that noticeable in normal light.

The slit looks alarmingly high on the model in the photo on the pattern envelope. I stitched mine as indicated and you can see that, on a person of normal height, the slit is not that high on the thigh. My DH's initial reaction was that it looked to be a nun's gown. When he said that I decided to keep the slit.

As I didn't add the lining nor do the hand rolled hems nor make the braided belt this didn't take much longer than many dresses. Of course mine isn't quite couture but it is fine enough for me. Now to have some cool enough weather to wear it!

Vogue 1210 Sandra Betzina dress

2011-10-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Not crazy about wearing it this way

Catching up with some garments I made in the past few months. This Sandra Betzina dress is super comfy to wear but the weather has been way too hot for sleeves and any fabric with lycra in it. Maybe in the next few weeks I can start to wear it. Easy and quick to sew. I should make it again.

Travel wardrobe

2011-09-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a great trip to Ukraine and Russia. The Russia part involved Moscow and St. Petersburg linked by cruising along waterways between the two cities. This involves the Volga River, many canals, and the two biggest lakes in Europe. How does this relate to sewing you may ask? I sewed most of my wardrobe, some specifically for this trip, and some already on hand. I was going to sew more including this top, which was under the needle of my machine on the eve of our departure, when I suddenly had to rush my DH to the emergency room. Such drama! He had fallen on our sidewalk (replacing a sprinkler at 8 pm the night before a trip without being packed.... dumb idea) and gashed the back of his head. 6 staples and we were home after 5 hours at 1:30 am. We kept telling the personal at the ER that we had to catch a plane in the morning so hurry up. Well, we didn't really say that. So that top did not get to go on the trip! (side bar: the doctor gave me a tool for removing the staples in 8 or 9 days in case we couldn't get to a doctor or clinic. Are you kidding me? I couldn't see going to a doctor in Moscow but on the other hand, me removing staples stuck in my husband's head? Fortunately, I found a nurse among our fellow travelers who was happy to help out. Trauma averted).

The basis for my wardrobe was this green ponte jacket for which I used Sewing Workshop's Onde Jacket. I wanted a longer jacket to cover my longer tops and one with handy pockets. It also needed to be loose enough to go over two or three layers and work under my Babette rain jacket. The Onde worked perfectly. With it I wore black ponte Marcy pants and skirt from Vogue 8697, purple ponte Marcy pants Vogue 8712, the purple ponte vest I made recently, a new Butterick 5679 top in a chartreuse animal print, Vogue 8582 Marcy top with high neck and long sleeves of black ribbed knit.

There were other things too but those were what I wore the most. Because it was chilly and damp I often layered a top, a thin black sweater wrapped across my front, the Onde jacket and my raincoat. A few times I even threw a black fleece shawl over that. Hard to imagine all those layers now that I am back home where it is still 90+ degrees.

Sierra's new doll, dress, and bloomers

2011-09-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

I seemed to have dropped out of blogging, haven't I? But I have been sewing. Lots of things. After I return from yet another trip, leaving tomorrow for 3 weeks, I will try to catch up. But in the meantime here is the latest. My DGD needed a soft doll so one was found at Joann's for a mere $4.99. The doll has lovely red hair and shoes and socks but no clothing. Also Sierra needed new bloomers. So I made bloomers for her and a matching dress for dolly. No pattern needed for dolly. Just traced around her and made an aline shape with scoop neck big enough to get on and off. I wanted it to be similar to Sierra's recent dress and lined it with the same fabric. Both dresses can be turned inside out and they will match. The dolly's dress has velcro to close at the shoulders as buttons would be too tiny and too hard for a toddler to do. I also made a little sash for dolly with the bow stitched closed and a velcro spot to hold it on her body. Also easier for little hands to manage. Sierra seems very happy with her new dolly and bloomers.

I used McCall's 6370 for the pants. Very simple. However, if you use this pattern, watch out. The order of construction is not what I'm used to and I managed to get almost done before I realized I had sewn the waist elastic to the pants legs which were not sewn together. Dumb. My excuse.... I was in a big hurry. Lots of ripping out, doubling the construction time. So watch out for that.

Also the suggested elastic length for the leg is too small. They suggest the ankle circumference plus 1 inch. I did that and it was way too tight as the pants ride up the leg. I took out that elastic and put in a longer one that added another inch. Also I used a narrower elastic which didn't cinch up as much.

The wall hanging I made for her room has embroidered faces in the center of the pieced flowers. I chose this fabric because it also has flowers with faces. I thought she would enjoy noticing that little detail.

Sierra's Dress

2011-07-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Front

Back

Interior lining

With purchased leggings

Sierra with her dress over pj's

Posing

Happy Girl

A delightful dress for a little girl. I bought this pattern at a quilt show so naturally it is designed to make use of fat quarters. Or you can cut it from regular cut yardage if you like as amounts are given for that also. It is fully lined and can even be reversible. The curvy edges of the pieces use coordinating purchased or custom-made bias binding trim. Buttons at the shoulders for an easy fit. A matching doll dress that fits 18 to 20" dolls is included. And leggings. View A has 5 different fabrics and View B has 6. I did View B, just so I could use more fabrics.

Sizes 2 thru 5 are included. I made size 2 for my GD who is a large age 14 months usually wearing 18 month sizing. It is big for her but she will grow!

Very easy instructions. Complete, everything a non-quilter needs to know. The pieces are layered onto an inner backing with the bias trim wrapped over the proper curving side. It is like putting together a simple puzzle. I found this garment a lot of fun to make.

I really enjoyed the construction technique and I loved picking out coordinating fabrics. I used quilting cottons pre-cut into fat quarters from Joann's. Also quilting cotton for the lining and muslin for the inner layer. I preshrunk all the fabric.

This was a fun project. It takes a bit longer than making a similar shaped dress for a toddler but much more fun. I made this at the recent retreat I attended that had many quilters there as well as garment sewers like myself. This little project got lots of compliments. I hope to sew it again. Maybe one in each size as she grows. And if she gets a doll the right size I will make that too.

Catching Up

2011-07-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

View from the sewing room

More View

The Dragonfly Dress

The Tahoe Top

The table behind me

The Mizono Shirt

Sharon and Dorothy

Wearing the new Marcy Tilton Shirt

I had a fantastic time at the sewing retreat except for the fact that my friend Barbara was unable to attend with me. I really missed her companionship and ready advice when I needed it. We had fun keeping in touch while I was there by using my iPhone to take photos of each project and sending it to her immediately via email. That way she could comment and feel part of it too.

I was very, very focused and sewed many things. We can come to the sewing room anytime and many are there well before breakfast. Not me as I stay sewing until mid-night. Even so I am not the last one there at night. There are always the same 4 or 5 of us holding down the fort late at night. No one stays longer than Lyla Messinger who seems to have endless energy. She would be there until 3 am. Of course we never saw her at breakfast.

All meals are included at this retreat spot so I would sew, eat a meal, sew, eat another meal, sew, eat a third meal, sew and finally sleep. I figure I had 14 hours of sewing a day for 4 days and about 5 hours on the first evening. Crazy. Sore shoulders. 15 projects done! Some people are more relaxed and chat a lot. I enjoyed listening to all the chit chat around me and stopped to answer questions or show my things to anyone who came my way. But mostly I just sewed.

So I have a lot of garments to photograph and review. 1 toddler dress, 1 rain coat, 1 hooded jacket, 5 dresses, 1 pant, 2 shirts, 2 knit tops, 1 bizarre gown, 1 hospice hospital gown. The hospice gown is for a charity project the sewing group does every year. I won't review the Hospice gown, or several items I've reviewed before. But as you can see I have a lot to do.

One shirt I made is the Marcy Tilton Vogue 8709. I wore it the other day to meet SFShaza at my friend Dorothy's house. She wrote about the meet up on her blog http://communingwithfabric.blogspot.com/2011/07/blogger-meetup-meeting-ann-smith.html. So much fun.

Behind

2011-06-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

You can see from the side bar with my pattern reviews that I'm way behind in writing about my projects. I haven't blogged about the last 7 garments that I have reviewed. Instead of writing about them here I think you can just click on the links to check them out. Meanwhile I have been a woman possessed with the sewing mojo preparing for my sewing retreat at Lake Tahoe which starts tomorrow! Yeah!! I have cut out 15 projects in hopeful anticipation that I will do them all. That probably won't happen as there are only 4 full days and one evening to sew. But I will try. I hope that the masseuse comes around like she did last time because after a few days my shoulders are in desperate need.

The photos show my set up the last time I went two years ago. Very excited to be going again.

Vogue 1238 Miyake dress

2011-05-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

I have made many Miyake patterns through the years. Some have been favorites (1476 coat I am still wearing after 25 years) and some have been worn once or never. I always love sewing these patterns as they are unique and often counterintuitive. Fun puzzles and I do love a puzzle. This dress has that Miyake quality although it is quite easy to construct. Nothing that puzzling. However, although it was fun to make, it may only be worn around the house in the hot days coming up. That is because it seems like a muumuu on me. Really full through the bust (no need for a FBA here) and of course wide at the sides. The wide sides don't bother me (see Vogue 1234 review) but the overall fullness through the bust does.

Have you noticed that Vogue's description have become minimalistic to the extreme? This one says "Pullover dress is very loose-fitting at the bust. No provision made for above waistline adjustment". No mention of color blocking, curved seams, bound edges. I used a Medium although my measurements are in the Large range. Obviously I could have cut the Small. Or maybe XS.

The envelope photo shows the shoulder pieces front and back cut out of the main fabric. The cutting layout also shows it this way. However the line drawing shows the shoulder pieces cut from the contrast. I did it with the contrast. Of course on the envelope photo you can barely see the difference between the fabrics anyway. I also turned the armhole binding toward the outside to have the contrast there also.

This is one of the easiest Miyake's I have sewn. I did not do the stay stitching called for in the instructions. I have found that often stay-stitching knits causing more stretching. Also I put it together on my serger which helped prevent the seams from stretching. It takes quite a while to sew all those long curves so eliminating the stay stitching (and second row of stitches inside) saved lots of time.

I love the curved, bound neckline. And I love the curved color blocking. Love the floaty coolness for hot weather. Dislike the excessive fullness. The back is pretty cute.

The black is rayon/lycra jersey with stretch in both directions. The black/white dots fabric is rayon/poly blend with no lengthwise stretch. I was concerned that the two different fabrics wouldn't work together but they did. In fact the contrast with less stretch helped keep the very stretchy black in check.

I shortened a few inches at the bottom. I would have like to shorten it further but then you loose the black at the bottom. To shorten further you could take deep seams on all the curved pieces.

I intended this as an experiment using remnants. It feels like a nightgown to me but perhaps that stems from my fabric choices. I don't think I will make this again but it was a fun project.

BurdaStyle Twister Dress

2011-05-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for an edgy dress that is almost instantaneous to make and has a FREE pattern? Here it is, a downloadable pattern from BurdaStyle. This dress takes longer to download and tape together than it does to cut out and sew up. That is because there is only one pattern piece, placed on the fold with two shoulder seams and one long underarm/side seam. If you leave the edges raw as I did that is all you do. You could choose to finish the edges which would add another half hour to the 15 minutes you spent so far!

You need a knit that stretches both ways for this dress. My first try was using a fabric I no longer liked that was stored in the garage. That was the most time consuming part of the project, finding that fabric. Really, once I found the fabric, I cut out the dress, sewed it up, tried it on, decided it was too tight in the hips, fiddled with it, picked out jewelry, took it off, got redressed and only 30 minutes had gone by.

As I found the first attempt to be a wee bit overly snug through the hips I have decided to wear it as a long top, ruched up over my torso. I didn't even trim off the extra length.

For my second effort I added about 2 inches at the hips and cut it from black rayon jersey/lycra. Much better look, both in the fit and in the dark, solid color. I made one for my DIL as well. Why not? It only takes a few minutes. I offered to make one for my other DIL but she declined. It isn't for everybody after all.

If you are interested in trying this, I cut the larger of the two sizes. My hips are @39". You take it from there. Plenty of room for a full bust. No need to alter there. Go to http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/my-neon-twister-dress to download the pattern.

Sierra's Quilt

2011-05-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging lately but I have managed to squeeze some sewing in between a ridiculously busy 6-8 weeks. Out of town trips, 4 birthdays, Easter, #1 son with wife and two boys (just 4 and 2 1/2) visiting from Wyoming, #2 son turning 40. It has been crazy, hectic and wonderful. I pushed to get this quilt finished for Sierra's 1st birthday. It looks cheerful in her room so I am happy I did it. But quilting is not my thing so I felt stressed doing it. It would not stand up to the scrutiny of a real quilter but it looks cute in her room. She loves toys and things with faces so that led me to pick this particular design. I changed it quite a bit from the pattern leaving off a dopey border. Amazingly all the varied fabrics in the flowers were from scraps from either my projects or my friend who quilts a lot. No two fabrics the same! I made each face different with one having her coloring.

Vogue 1234 Sandra Betzina dress

2011-05-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

I'm in love. This is my new favorite dress. So comfy in 4 way stretch rayon lycra, it feels like a nightgown. The pattern description: Loose fitting, pullover dresses with hem facing. View A has the center front cut on the crossgrain. That is the view I made.

Pattern Sizing: Today's Fit sizing. I used a combo of B, C & D. The fabric is very forgiving so sizing to fit is easy.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes except mine is much longer. I removed 6 inches from the bottom and, although I am short, the length is still much longer than the photo suggests. I decided I liked it as a maxi dress.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Good instructions that are easy to follow. There are a few mistakes or odd instructions I will address under what I dislike. This is rated easy but I question that. There are several pivots to manage and the back vent area is a bit fussy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the style, love how it plays with the stripes, love the comfort, love the mostly easy construction. Dislike: I had 3 1/4 yards of fabric that was more than 60" wide. I didn't have enough even though the pattern calls for 2 7/8. I had to piece the hem facing and cut the sleeve sideways. (I didn't mind this as I wanted the stripes to change direction). So watch out for that. Also some instructions seemed not quite right to me. Sandra suggests shortening the dress at the end. Problem with this is that you may end up removing all of the back slit and complicating the vee at the center back bottom. I did have to shorten a lot and fixed that by resewing that vee so that I didn't end up with a cropped off stub. Also, she suggests not finishing the interior seams until the end in case you need to alter. But later she says the only place you may need to alter for fit is the short underarm side seams. That doesn't come to almost the end. I would suggest that if you want to finish the seams on the serger or even just trim them do it as you go. I didn't and, when I decided I did want to serge all those seams, I had to remove stitching in a number of places where the seams crossed. Extra time for that. Also, most seams are sewn just to the dots which are set back from the edge 5/8ths. Some places this is necessary to enable the pivots but others such as at the neck edge it is not. You are never suggested to close these open seams but you need to before you apply the neck or sleeve bands. Small details but surprising since the instructions are otherwise so complete.

Fabric Used: Rayon lycra jersey with 4 way stretch. I call it 4 way stretch but it can also be called 2 way stretch. Whatever, it needs to stretch both crosswise and lengthwise. This lengthwise stretch helps create the terrific drape of this dress. However it also causes it to grow lengthwise. Be sure you fold the dress over a hanger rather than hang it full length on the hanger. Full length dresses of this type of fabric will get longer and longer if you hang them.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:Changed the sleeve grain to have the stripes up and down, shortened as mentioned above.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I would love to make this again. It is a fun garment to put together, like a puzzle. Definitely recommend.

Conclusion: Very fun dress which I think will be a favorite for me this summer.

Vogue 1213 Koos Van Den Akker design coat

2011-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

I loved this pattern from the first moment I saw it. Then my friend Dorothy made it and I loved that too. I even got to try it on so I realized the size 12 she made would be big enough for me even though my measurements are a few sizes larger. So the description of loose fitting on the pattern envelope is quite correct. Here's that description: very loose fitting, A-line coat, below mid-knee, has collar, collar band princess seams extending into scallop detail, side front pockets, variety of contrasts, hem facing, decorative buttonhole patch closure, long two piece unined sleeves.

Pattern Sizing: AA (6-8-10-12) and EE (14-16-18-20). I made size 10 above the bust and size 12 below. I found it still too large in the shoulders and upper chest and took about 1/2 inch out at the sleeves seam in the back. I also took in the princess seam above the bust as it seemed too loose there.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Pretty good, a few mistakes as Dorothy noted. Nothing major though. Lots of pieces and steps but nothing really tricky.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Of course I love the scallops. The buttonhole treatment is wonderful. Dislike certain aspects of the fit. I find it odd that the coat is lined except for the sleeves. Occasionally jackets or coats are lined only at the sleeve to make it easy to put on. I don't think I've ever encountered the opposite before.

Fabric Used: This amazed me..... I found all these wools in my stash. According to my records I purchased them between 1985 and 1986. I must have been on a teal kick then. They are flannels, tweeds and one challis. That one, with the leaves, I interfaced entirely to make it have a little more body. Even the silk charmeuse lining was in the stash.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Only the sizing changes as mentioned above.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Probably not unless it would be a one fabric one like Sfshaza created. I definitely recommend it to those of you who like something a bit out there.

Conclusion: Fun and funky. I just finished it and before having a chance to wear it I included it in a fiber arts display I was invited to participate in at an art gallery in my town. I wanted a hat for my mannequin to wear since she has a teeny tiny head and looked ridiulous with the big coat. I found a vintage one in my hat collection but I discovered it has a moth hole right in front. To disguise that I made a pouf of the challis fabric. In 6 weeks when I get the coat back from the show it will be too hot to wear it. But next fall I will wear it and wear it with the hat!

Little knit dress for Sierra

2011-03-04T16:19:00.000-08:00

A while back a showed off the little dress I knit for my DIL's baby shower. Finally Sierra is big enough to wear it. I didn't know what her coloring would be but with her dark her I think the strong color is great. I'm so pleased with how she looks.

Here's the original post about the dress

Vogue 1232 Pamella Roland dress

2011-02-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

If you are contemplating sewing up this pretty dress let me warn you. It is an epic project. It looks innocent enough in the photo but this dress could be worn into battle it is so thoroughly constructed. I guess if you are going to sell for $2000 or so as the Pamella Roland original did, you need to having something to show for it. Here are some statistics: 24 different pattern pieces to cut from the fashion fabric, 14 pieces to cut from interfacing, 9 pieces of lining. The bottom hem is 10 yards around (yes!! 30 feet around the flounces) and altering for bust, waist, hips involves many pieces including the flounces. It is very complex to alter. The dress is quite weighty what with all that interfacing, lining and 4 yards of 58 wide fabric. I mean, there are only a few little scraps left. Because my fabric wasn't quite the 60 inches wide that is called for, I needed to shorten the 3 flounce pieces an inch. I would have done that any way for my height.

That said it is a very nicely drafted pattern with good instructions for the most part. Some parts of the lining construction are pretty confusing but clear enough if you ponder the drawings long enough. Mostly it is just very time consuming. Lots of stay stitching and easing curved seams.

It looks like a wrap dress but really it is sewn shut at the front and access is through a side zipper. I'm pleased that the front stays closed even though it is only sewn together at the waist.

The fabric is a linen/rayon blend that has sat in my stash for years. I did have to get to Joann's to buy some barely acceptable poly lining.

One thing I did that helped me a lot was to label every piece with a bit of blue painter's tape stuck to the right side with the pattern number and name (RF, lower RF, etc.). With so many pieces and the right and wrong side exactly the same it would be super easy to get a piece in the wrong place.

The fabric is a linen/rayon blend that has sat in my stash for years. I did have to get to Joann's to buy some barely acceptable poly lining. I plan to make the matching covered belt but I'm waiting on a vintage belt kit. Might as well go for the whole deal.

I would say this is indeed an advanced pattern due to the number of pieces, the trickiness of altering, and time needed to construct. However there really aren't any difficult sewing processes to encounter so if you are interested in a couture constructed dress here it is.

Envelope description: Close fitting, lower calf at center back length, lined dress has front darts, front and back princess seams, lapped fronts, shaped lower edge, gathered flounce, armhole overlay, collar with collar band, left side invisible zipper, self-fabric flower with large and small petals and pin back, self-fabric belt and thread belt carriers.
I would say this is indeed an advanced pattern due to the number of pieces, the trickiness of altering, and time needed to construct. However there really aren't any difficult sewing processes to encounter so if you are interested in a couture constructed dress here it is.

Another Au Bonheur review

2011-02-20T22:20:00.000-08:00

I made up another of the Au Bonheur patterns I ordered recently. This time a funky pair of pants. It is a fitted pant with an unusual banded bottom edge. The band is sewn on so that it forms folded peaks. A stretch fabric is required for as you can see it fits very closely. I raised the rise about 2 inches to hang from just below my waist and I eliminated the front zip. I also eliminated the waist facings to use elastic instead.

The pants are pretty simple to construct with the bottom band being the only thing different from many pants. Basically you sew all the long seams leaving the center front and center back seams open for the bottom 6 inches or so. Sew the crotch and side seams. Then you stitch the bottom bands to the bottom of each leg. The odd part is that the band will turn 6 corners going around each pant leg. You will need to stay stitch the edge and slash to each corner to make a smooth seam. They don't mention stay stitching or slashing at all. Since there are no markings for where you should reinforce and slash I found it easy to stitch the entire length of the band, pin it in place and then slash at the corners. Hope this make sense.

I think this pant only looks good with the cropped length. Sfshaza tried these and didn't like the look but she lengthened them to full length. I think that creates too much fabric puddling around your ankles.

I used a light weight denim with lycra. The sizing requires a stretch fabric. It doesn't suggest a knit but I think you could use one that has some stability to it. I started to make the size larger after my experience with the coat sizing. I actually made a muslin which is a rarity for me. I usually just fit as I go after a tissue trial. After running up the muslin in size 42 I could see that was too big, cut it down to 40 and found that that worked. It may not be the perfect fit for me but close enough.

I'm enjoying these patterns. Even the translating is fun although it seems a bit like homework for my high school French class.

Au Bonheur des Petites Mains Coat

2011-01-31T22:50:00.000-08:00

I've been eager to try the French pattern company Au Bonheur des Petites Mains after seeing some reviews here on PR especially those of Sfshaza. Here is her recent coat review that spurred me on to buy some of the patterns. I chose this coat which they title "Manteau a Decoupes" which translates literally to "cut coat". This would refer to the unfinished seams sewn to the outside I guess. The coat is fitted through the bodice and flares out at the skirt. There are multiple seams that are stitched wrong sides together leaving the raw edges to show and create an interesting effect. As the edges are unfinished it is important to use a fabric that doesn't ravel. I was very amused at the translation of the suggested fabric. They call for "polaire" which Google translates as artic. I'm guessing this means fleece.

This pattern comes in French sizes 36 to 44 in one envelope. I chose size 40 based on my waist and hip measurement planning to do a 3 inch FBA. When I did a muslin fitting I discovered that the pattern is very snug through the hips. Really there is no ease at all with the garment measuring the same as the given hip measurement for the size. But the shoulders were big on me. I did quite a bit of altering, both at the muslin stage and as I put the actual garment together. I was so focused on fitting in the upper body area that I didn't pay any attention to the length. It turns out the coat is very long and, though I shortened the torso and the sleeve length, it still seems long through the upper body to me. Of course I am 5'3" and it is probably designed for someone 5'7".

There are minimal instructions in French. I enjoyed the exercise of translating them with the help of Google Translate and glossary. I used a fulled wool blend from Fabric Mart. I steamed the wool to further felt it. Lovely fabric to sew on. I'm happy to have another piece waiting in my stash.

I added at the bust and side seams, took away at the shoulders, back neck and armholes. Also I took away some that I had added at the side seams and shortened the sleeves and the overall length. I also omitted the zipper that is applied on the diagonal front. I didn't think I would ever really zip it up but I may add it if I feel the coat shifts around too much when I wear it.

Once you get passed the fitting issues, this is very easy to construct. If you add just 1/4" seam allowances you can save time from trimming all those seams down. There are no facings or hems and the collar is a single layer. I think it is a fun coat.

Vogue 2949 Sandra Betzina Jacket

2011-01-14T15:51:00.000-08:00

This jacket pattern became one of my favorite garments. See the previous review at http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=25551. That jacket sewed up in about an hour beginning to end and is wonderful. Now this one that I will be discussing today was the opposite: took forever and is not wonderful. However this change was entirely due to the fabric so if you are only interested in the pattern, stop reading.

The fabric may hold the record for being in my stash the shortest amount of time before being cut, maybe 2 hours. As I unpacked it from the delivery box, I realized it was quite different from what I had envisioned from its on-line photo and description. I didn't like it that much but it was very expensive. I knew if I didn't use it right away it would sit forever in my stash. I could see that the coat pattern I had in mind would not work as the fabric was too thick without much drape. Not good for tucks. So I searched around for other patterns. I had planned a coat but decided this would look more like a bathrobe if it were long. So I switched to jacket mode, even though I would have a large expensive remnant. I also decided to show the back side which shows the quilting better and thought I would show the white finished selvage. Thus the lining fabric I had ordered would not be used. I got out this favorite pattern thinking I had found just the thing. Ha.

The fabric is unique and interesting but the least stable fabric I have ever encountered. It consists of strands of fluffy wool yarn (the white) sandwiched between thin sheer wispy silk (gray on one side and black on the other). This silk shreds as you look at it. The yarn batting is barely held together with cross-wise stitching. So as you cut this it falls apart. I dealt with this by immediately serging all edges. That helped stop the raveling but stretched the edges, even with the serger set on differential feed.

I decided to finish the edges with a dense over-lock stitch using woolly nylon to fluff up and finish the edge. I'm almost happy with that decision. I really regret using this pattern though because as it is unlined the fragile shredding silk on the inside looks bad and won't last well. At the end I decided to turn the lower hem in and top-stitch it as the over-locked edge looked too squirrelly. I may do the same with the sleeve hems.

I decided to use the lower back piece on the jacket so it would be a change from my previous version. Boy did that look ridiculous in this fabric. In this photo you can see the white selvage edge I was mistakenly trying to preserve. Be sure you use a drapey fabric for that folks! My solution was to fold the drape forward and stitch it into a pocket-like shape. I am rather pleased with this idea.

I still love this pattern but will stick to a boiled wool or other fabric that doesn't need an edging or something very drapey and thin enough to turn back the edges.

Reviewing the year

2011-01-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

That was a long stretch without attention to my blog! True, I have been away from home a lot during the last 6 months, especially this fall. Trips to Jackson Hole in November and another 17 days at Christmas and New Years, 27 day trip to South Africa in September and October. I did squeeze in a little sewing but not as much as usual and have dropped behind in both blogging and reviewing on PR. I haven't even entered fabric purchases and projects into my data base. But now I am looking forward to two months at home I think. Time to get catch up and get moving.

So I'm looking at my project list and I'm surprised at how much is there since I seem to be away so much. Here's how it breaks down: 8 jackets/vests, 6 skirts, 2 pants, 17 knit tops, 3 woven tops, 3 tunics, 3 dresses, 1 robe, 2 coats, 1 nightgown, and a few misc. baby items. That is 46 items not including baby. I'm amazed because it seems I went months without sewing a thing. This includes 18 Vogues, 6 Sewing Workshops, 1 Shapes, 6 Jalies, 3 McCalls, 2 Burda Magazine, 5 Burda envelopes, 1 Hot Patterns, 1 Simplicity, 2 LJ Designs, 1 Taos skirt, 1 Japanese book, 1 Kwik Sew.

It seems a lot but considering some items were using a pattern several times, I can see I buy way, way too many patterns. But in spite of that fact, I just ordered 4 new patterns from the French company, Au Bonheur de Petite Mains. I'm quite excited to try these.

Mud Cloth Plaza Jacket

2010-11-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from a wonderful trip to South Africa where I was happy to be able to buy a piece of true african mud cloth. Do you know about mud cloth? It is hand woven by men in Mali using their own hand for the loom. Because it is woven on the hand each strip of fabric is just about 5 inches wide. These strips are then sewn together to form a textile about a metre wide. Once sewn together the women dye the piece using traditional symbols all of which have some meaning to them. They use natural dyes in earth tones, black, brown, tan, olive. Mud is used as a resist in the dying process. My piece was about 2 metres long which seemed to be typical. As you can see mud cloth is a very dramatic textile.

I had in mind a different pattern but, once home and after washing/shrinking, I realized I really had very little fabric to deal with. The Plaza Jacket is perfect as it uses very little. Even so I had to fold out 5 1/2 inches on the front and back to fit on my narrow fabric. As you can see the jacket is still very wide! I lengthened the jacket also to use all my fabric adding about 2 inches to the length.

Speaking of the washing/shrinking, I carefully washed the fabric in cold water as recommended. I knew it would fade and the color would bleed into the white areas to make them less bright. Even so it was necessary to wash the textile as it came with a very "natural" odor. To my surprise, not only did it fade and bleed, but it turned my dryer into a brown mess. I had to wash down the inside of the dryer to remove all the crud. I washed it a second time throwing 3 of those dye catching papers into the wash. They came out dark bown but the textile looked a lot better. This time the dryer stayed clean.

As to sewing mud cloth, I'm glad I picked a design with few seams or details. This was a bear to sew. Even the serger didn't like it. I broke needles on both machines and even with a heavy duty needle, I needed to sew very, very slowly. It is like a heavy burlap.

There was a stripe on the selvedge edge of the textile so I eliminated the turned back hems on the front edges and sleeve hems so that I could use it as a design element.

I'm very pleased with my mud cloth jacket.

Vogue 7802 Sandra Betzina skirt

2010-09-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

Finally I got time for a photo shoot. Here is my wonderful Moulin Rouge fabric turned into a can can skirt. I acquired this fantastic Moulin Rouge fabric some years back. Every so often I would get it out to try to envision what it should become. You know how it goes..... look through lots of patterns, pick a few, not enough fabric for those, try again, nothing inspires, put the fabric away for a few more years. The more you love a fabric the longer this process goes on it seems. Finally I decided it would be a skirt using this Sandra Betzina pattern with black trim. Since I so loved my fabric I did a rare thing for me. I made a muslin. You know... to check the fit. Hated that skirt. Put the project aside again. Changed my plan to making a jacket or shirt. Bought 3 more skirt patterns. In the end, as you can see, I went back to the SB pattern. I realized that the muslin was ugly because of a)fabric used b) no contrast trim c) no whimsy. Fit was fine. Just needed to add the whimsy.

So I threw this fabric out on the cutting board and with trepidation cut my precious. Now I'm so happy with my skirt!

I think this is a vintage cotton, probably designed to be for curtains in the 40s or 50s? Anyone know?

I left off the bias trim at the hem and waist. I added an underskirt with tulle. I made that by serging tulle to an old slip. I did multiple tucks to the lower skirt.

I remember seeing Sandra wear this skirt some years ago and it looked fantastic because of her quilted fabric with leather trim. Her patterns always look much better in person in her chosen fabrications than they do on the pattern envelopes. This was even photographed in her fabrics but maybe it just has to have her wearing it to look fantastic.

Catching Up

2010-09-08T22:10:00.000-07:00

Wow it has been a crazy summer. 3 reunion trips, 2 trips to Jackson Hole to see the kids, multiple trips to Bay Area involving DS#2 home purchase and move in, home only a few days since June. Home now for 2 weeks and finally getting caught up but soon will be off again on an international trip for a month. So now I have been sewing and loving it, finishing up some projects and dreaming up others.

Today I made a skirt from a fantastic vintage fabric that has been in my stash for almost 10 years. I loved the fabric so much I had a hard time deciding what to make with it. I think it was a drapery fabric from the fifties maybe, depicting Moulin Rouge subjects. Photos soon.

See my reviews listed at the right to see what I have been up to in the few weeks I have been at home. How will I ever use up my stash if I am never at home???

Vogue 1165 Sandra Betzina blouse

2010-07-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

Where do I start? This was the project from h**l. Who would expect it? Not I. I have had lots of success with Sandra Betzina patterns. Usually her instructions are excellent and the fit works for me with my usual alterations. The one other reviewer of this blouse here on PR didn't seem to have any trouble. Maybe I have lost it. Indeed, some of my issues were caused by myself but most came from problems with the pattern. I would say probably driving a pin through my thumb was my own fault although if I hadn't had to redo the sleeve after trimming the seam allowances I would not have had that pin so near my thumb. A little neosporin and a bandaid fixed that mishap.

Here's the pattern description from the envelope: "A line shirts with pleat detailing and darts in front, choice of snap or button closures. View A has long, pleated sleeves with placket. View B has three quarter length sleeves". I would call the front detailing tucks as they are not pleats. This has Today's Fit sizing A through J. I cut my usual size B at the shoulders, sleeves, and neckline and size C at the sides except I added even extra in the seam allowances there.

It looks like the pattern photo especially since I used a white fabric. My tucks pucker. Not surprising since they are all sewn on the bias. I happened to look at the Power Sewing forum where Sandra answers questions about her patterns. Someone had asked about the puckering tucks problem on her own project. Sandra said she has made the blouse 3 times and never had a puckering problem. She suggested a technique to help with that using a fusible thread inside the tuck. Of course at this point all my tucks were sewn so I didn't try that. I've decided that the puckers are a design feature.

Another problem I had with the tucks involved my marking technique. It is very important to mark the lines carefully. Sandra suggests tailors tacks. I started doing that but it was way too time consuming. So I switched to a tracing wheel and transfer tracing paper. Of course I used red to show up on the white. (I just got out the transfer paper envelope and there I see that they admonish me not to use red or blue on white fabric. Why do I notice these things after the fact?) I also did it on the wrong side since I usually mark on the wrong side. Once the tucks are sewn the marking is on the inside and were very resistant to removal. After lots of blotting with water and scrubbing with soap I finally resorted to washing the whole blouse front, soaking it with lots of suds, to be sure it would come out before I spent more time on the project. At that point things had gone along okay and I hadn't put a whole lot of time into this. Little did I know, what with the collar and sleeves and other issues that this blouse would take around 20 hours to sew!

There were a few problems with the instructions. The collar was quite confusing primarily because on the pattern piece it says to cut 2 on the fold. I did that and interfaced as instructed. I spent a great amount of time trying to make the collar work with both those pieces. Finally I looked at the cutting layout and noticed that only one collar piece was shown. That helped. It made a lot more sense with only one collar piece. However there was still a problem with step 24 and it's illustration. If you have done this type of procedure before you will be able to do this but not because of the instructions in this pattern. It would be simple to make it clear by saying "temporarily tuck the body of the shirt inside the collar to stitch around the corner of the collar to make a clean facing." But they didn't say that.

My next issue with the instructions involved the sleeve placket. I have done these before but it has been a long time as I don't make shirts much. The instructions were vague. Sandra says "if sleeve plackets and neckbands are your nemesis, I have made a DVD called "Shirts and Blouses" where construction is demonstrated in close camera work." A few more words in the pattern instructions would have been more helpful.

About the sleeves: Sandra has this sleeve sewn in flat. I'm not sure why except some sewers think that is easier. Not in this case. The sleeve has a high curve with easing and was not easy to sew in flat. She does mention to sew with the sleeve on top. I stupidly ignored this particular instruction because I like to have the sleeve underneath to allow the feed dogs to help with the easing. However in this case, because of the curve of the sleeve cap, it is very hard to stitch around that curve without catching the sleeve in the stitching if it is underneath. Don't ignore this instruction. I serged the sleeve edge with the garment on top and this led to disaster. Yes, I cut a slash in the sleeve top with the serger blade. This is why I had to rip the sleeve off, cut a new sleeve, sew on another annoying placket and resew the sleeve in place (this time with the sleeve on top).

Finally after all this trouble with the sleeves I finally got to the point where I could put on the shirt only to find that the sleeves were too tight at the sleeve cap. Never have I had this as a fitting issue. Usually sleeves are too loose on me. Maybe my arms have grown lately. Once again I removed the sleeves and sewed them on with the tiniest possible seam allowance (which led to pin in finger episode). They are still a bit tight and not terribly comfortable but wearable if I don't raise my arms or try to dance.

Next the cuffs: not too much trouble here. If you have figured out the collar sandwiching then the cuffs will be easy. One small issue on the cuffs: if you use the size button recommended and place the buttonholes as marked on the pattern, the buttons will bump into each other.

Before I started this epic adventure I thought I liked the style with the diagonal tucks and spread collar. Now I don't. I did like several nice tips that Sandra included. One was to use Steam-a-seam 2 Lite for the hem applying it to the right side of the fabric at the edge. Then you iron up the 5/8ths hem while the paper is still on the steam-a-seam. After the hem is ironed up you remove the paper and turn under the 1/4" edge and press it in place. This makes a curved, turned under hem very easy. I was happy to use that trick on another project with curved flat felled seams.

I used a white pima cotton with a woven in design purchased in Cairo a few years back. My size alterations were as mentioned above. Also I dropped the dart which I always have to do. The problem with doing that is that the lower dart will cross into the tucks. Thus one must shorten the dart. Of course I didn't realize this until after the fact so a bit of ripping and restitching was necessary.

Now that I am recovering from this experience I am liking the style again. Hopefully some of my suggestions might help you if you try this. This garment has 53 steps of construction, some of which are confusing. Why is it labeled "Easy"?

Recent projects

2010-05-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of those projects I promised you. I see that I never took a photo of the latest Jalie top. Should have taken a shot yesterday as I wore it for a Mother's day visit to the new baby. The previous post shows the Soho robe/coat. Will I ever catch up?

Sewing Workshop Soho Coat

2010-05-07T15:38:00.001-07:00

Sewing Workshop Soho Coat
Originally uploaded by happy10ann

I intended this to be a new coat. I love the Soho Coat pattern and when I saw this double sided fleece in two of my favorite colors I thought, ahah! a wonderful coat. However as it came into being it decided to be a robe, thus the slippers. It will be a lovely, cozy robe. I think the fabric is just too poufy to make an acceptable coat although I could wear it in an emergency.

Recent projects

2010-04-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

I've been sewing quite a bit in between exciting visits to see my new granddaughter, born April 13th. I have a new version of the Sewing Workshop Liberty Shirt pictured here. Also a color blocked shell from an old Vogue pattern, a linen dress from a new Burda pattern, a drapy rayon top from a new McCall's pattern and a fleece coat/bathrobe from Sewing Workshop's Soho Coat pattern. I also made another Jalie Criss Cross top (love that design). I'll get pictures up I promise. Meanwhile here is a shot of the new baby, Sierra Naima Smith, wearing a sweater and booties I made for her daddy before he was born 39 years ago. I saved it along with the blanket she is lying on until it could be used again! She is 6 days old here, the same age I have a picture of Derek wearing the set.

Vogue 8559 Marcy Tilton jacket as a vest

2010-04-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

My garments are sewn using Marcy Tilton's jacket pattern view A without the sleeves. It is a loose fitting unlined jacket with dropped shoulders and fronts longer than the sides. View A has no side seams. Without the sleeves it is just one pattern piece. It is hard to see on the pattern envelope as it is shown in black. It is an entirely different pattern from view B/C which is shaped differently and has bands.
Pattern Sizing: Sizes XS-S-M or L-XL. I made size Medium.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Well, except for no sleeves and no decorative stitching and my edges were bound with ribbon from the fabric.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Marcy has excellent instructions.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I have made this pattern before using the other view with a matching tank top. I was intrigued to try this view. My fabric is very unstable so I wanted to use a pattern with few seams. I like the drapey, relaxed style.
Fabric Used: A fantastic fabric with ribbons woven through. I bought this fabric at Marcy's booth at Puyallup after I saw a sample garment they had there using this fabric. Katherine Tilton had made it (using a different pattern) binding the the edges with ribbon pulled from the fabric. I decided to try this too. The selvedge has the ribbon looped along the edge so I used that along the bottom edge.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: As I mentioned, no sleeves and bound edges.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I have made this view again in a sheer lacy knit using the 3 thread rolled edge on my serger for the finishing. Here's the back
Conclusion: Quick vest to make especially if you use the serger for the edges. Wrapping the edges with the ribbon took a while but since the sewing only takes a few minutes it is still a quick garment to construct. I'm wearing it here with the Jalie top and Tilton pants I recently reviewed.

About the MT outfit

2010-04-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks everybody for your reassuring comments about the pants. I love them.

Kathleen, I cut the edge with a wavy blade rotary cutter. That was a quick and really fun thing to do. I tried it at the neckline but that didn't really look as cool so I turned that edge in as a binding. Thank you.

Vogue 8637 Marcy Tilton pants with Vogue 8497 MT top

2010-04-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is such a great pattern. I made the skirt last month and have been wearing it constantly. I forgot to review it I think because it seemed like such an old favorite already. I will get photos soon. Meanwhile I have now also made the pants from the same fabric and they are my new favorites. So comfortable and funky. They are an elastic waist pull on pant with wide darts at the lower side edges which control the fullness of the curved side panel.

Pattern Sizing: Size BB includes 8 - 14. Size F5 has 16 - 24. How do they come up with these sizing labels?? I made size 12 which is one size down from my measurements. I also cut the size 8 crotch since I am a short person. I also shortened the length 1 1/4" (I usually shorten 2') but that was too much and I had to skimp on the hem depth.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes Another view
Pants closeup
Pants back

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very simple design and easy to follow.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?Love the slightly funky look combined with easy comfort.

Fabric Used: Cotton interlock or double knit.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Size changes as above. Also changed the waist slightly to use my 1" wide elastic that I had on hand.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Definitely. Love these and will make them again.

Conclusion: I still had a bit of the fabric left after making the skirt and the pants so I squeezed out the top using Vogue 8497, another Marcy Tilton design. As this fabric doesn't curl up attractively on the raw edges I decided to get creative and used my wavy rotary cutter to cut the raw edges. Top
Another view of top
Top back. I think I am not standing up straight causing the back to be all wrinkled.
I was quite surprised to see the following comment on my review at Pattern Review. I thought these pants look pretty good on me but more to the point is that I don't usually see this kind of comment on anyone's reviews:
"I was planning on making these but after seeing yours I've decided against it. While your sewing is fine, I don't like how it makes you look shorter and dumpy."

Tracing from Polka Dot Overload

2010-04-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

The blogger Polka Dot Overload at http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/03/perfect-pattern-tracing-paper-love.html#comments has an interesting topic open for discussion right now. She asks if you are a cutter or a tracer. She has converting from fear of tracing to loving tracing, attributed primarily to finding the right tracing material. This led to me thinking about the topic and formulating my feeling about it.

I am a cutter. I hate to trace. I have tried different tracing materials and do it when necessary. But it is not about the problems with the different tracing materials but the act of tracing. It is very time consuming, it hurts my back, it is easy to be inaccurate, etc. I like to cut right into the pattern. It is only a pattern. I get them at sale prices. They are not expensive. Even expensive ones I cut out. My time (and back) are worth the expense. So what if I render the pattern unusable for the future. The chances are slim that I will use it again. If I do want to reuse a pattern it is a rare chance that it will not be reuseable. You can always tape it or add tissue where needed. Also, I don't like heavy paper patterns. So much bulk. I like the flimsy tissue.

How about it? Anybody like me?

Dress for baby

2010-03-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

I will try to do some catching up here. I've been gone on several trips (baby shower in LA, Puyallup Sewing Expo, visit to kids/grandkids in Jackson Hole) but I have been busy sewing since I got home. While I was on the trips all I managed to do was to knit this adorable little dress for the soon to arrive baby girl. It went together very quickly and was knit almost entirely while we drove to Jackson. The top part is faux cables so I didn't have to fiddle with extra needles which made that section pretty easy. I just had to remember my decreases for the shaping.

It is supposed to be sized for 3 - 6 months but it looks bigger than that to me. The nice thing about it is that it can be worn as a dress first and later as a tunic or top.

Jazz Cats diaper bag

2010-02-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

My #2 son and his wife Rachel are expecting a baby in April. I made another diaper bag from the Simplicity pattern I used 3 years ago to make the sock monkey bag for #1 son and his wife Suzanne. The previous bag was such a success that it was totally worn out. This time I decided to use a fabric that son #2, also a musician, might enjoy. There are jazzy cats playing congas and other instruments. I combined this with 2 other coordinated music fabrics. With the scraps I made 3 envelopes with velcro closures to help organize inside the bag and also a changing mat with a strap to hold it rolled up. I thought I had taken a bunch of photos to document this one a few weeks ago but they have disappeared. Maybe I imagined taking the photos. I did get just two at the shower this weekend.

Vogue1097 Sandra Betzina Coat

2010-02-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

Sandra Betzina's coat pattern described thusly: "Loose fitting, lined or unlined coat below hip or mid-calf has two-piece raglan sleeves with sleeve tabs with Velcro closure forming cuffs to hold sleeve fullness, two-piece hood with elastic casing, optional shoulder pads and belt, concealed separating zipper closure, side front pockets, upper and lower back seaming." Whew! Lots of detail. This coat took awhile but was fun creating.

After I started cutting this out I realized I should have used a simpler design, such as Sewing Workshop Soho Coat, because this fabric has enough going on all by itself. If I had only chosen that pattern I would have been done many hours earlier. Most of the details in this more complex design don't show up that much and broke up the fabric pattern unnecessarily. Also, I feared I wouldn't have quite enough yardage as my fabric was 3 inches narrower than the amount listed. Because of this I made no attempt to match the fabric designs. See the back. Then surprizingly I had more than a yard left over out of the 4 yards I started with. Darn, I could have done some matching. Same thing with the lining.... more than a yard left over. I don't know what went wrong with their yardage estimates this time.
Pattern Sizing: Today's Fit sizing. I used B above the bust and C below. This helps keep the neck and shoulder line in scale for me while adding the ease necessary at the hips and bust.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes except my fabric is so different. Side back
Were the instructions easy to follow? Excellent instructions. Sandra adds lots of tips and detailed instructions beyond the normal Vogue instructions. The bagged lining is especially well described.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?Love the ruched collar/hood (although it looks a little crazy when pulled Up), love the design of the pockets (in the seam), love the unusual cuffs (except...see dislikes), love the seam lines (that you can't see very well with this fabric). Dislikes: the cuffs are gathered up by the band and secured with velcro. The problem is that every time you have to wrap this around your arm and attach while fiddling with the gathers. Too fussy and even hard to get right. I soved this by tacking the band in 3 spots so I only have to pull the band snug the last few inches. You can't attach it entirely because it would be too narrow to put your hand through.

Also dislike: this may be my error. The front band pulls and curves out as it heads toward the bottom hem. I don't know why this happened. I was careful with the cutting and stitching and pressing.

Also don't really like how the front band is off center. Looks a bit odd to me.
Fabric Used: A taffeta (poly or acetate? don't know) with patchwork and embroidery. I intend this as a raincoat but I doubt it is practical. With all that patchwork and embroidery there are thousands of little stitch holes. Plus who knows what the fabric will do if soaked. I will spray with ScotchGuard but plan to carry an umbrella. Lined in copper crepe back satin.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:None.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I think once is enough for me but I do recommend this. I think it is a very cool design. It would be best in a solid or simpler fabric so all the lines can be seen.
Conclusion: Although I said I probably wouldn't sew it again, now I'm thinking how cute this would be to make it in the shorter length.
p.s. I should have changed to my brown boots for the photo shoot.

Burda Magazine 9/2009 #115

2010-02-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

Here's Burda's flowery description: "You don't have to rob a bank to afford this suave knee-length coat in posh wool fleece coating. You sew it yourself which is actually quite easy as the coat is unlined, has kimono sleeves and a scarf collar." Interesting that they describe it as quite easy but give in 3 1/2 stars on their difficulty rating. I picked this pattern for the interesting seam lines and unique scarf/collar.

This is drafted in sizes 72 through 88 which are the tall size range. I am not tall so I scaled it down as necessary.

I need instructions primarily for order of construction. I have a hard time remembering that and don't want to think too hard about it so I find Burda's instuctions okay. The important steps are there. They do leave off things that I should be able to remember but the senior brain blanks out.... for instance there is no mention of stay stitching at the corners nor slashing them. How many 100s of times have I done this when told to by Vogue, et.al. But since it wasn't mentioned here I didn't think of it until I found myself struggling with those pointed intersections.

I used a wool melton double cloth from Fabric.com at an amazing low price. The pattern calls for coat fabrics with a soft surface and only fabrics that do not fray. Mine has the soft surface but does fray. I don't see any reason to use only fabrics that don't fray. I guess they suggest that because it is not lined but all you need to do is finish the seam edges inside. All exterior edges are faced or hemmed. I decided to line mine to make it more comfortable. I used a silk charmeuse from my stash.

Originally I cut the coat to be longer as in design 114 in the magazine. When it was together enough to try on I showed my DH who thought it was a bathrobe. That, plus the alarming green color, made me annoyed with the project and almost threw it out. My friend Barbara encouraged me to continue so I cut off the extra length, added the lining and pressed the edges vigorously. Much better. I used a large snap at the neck to close. The design calls for 5 snaps but I didn't think that was necessary. I think I may add one more just below the seam across the front. Both snaps will be hidden by the scarf when worn. Oh yes, I also reduced the width of the collar by 1 1/4". You need to be that tall person the pattern is sized for to wear that tall collar.

I might make it again if I found the appropriate boiled wool. In that case I would not face all the edges or make the scarf doubled to keep it lean and mean.

The color is much more intense than the color looked to be when I ordered it. Maybe I'm just sick of looking at it and once it hides in my closet for a while my eyes will have recovered.

I have recovered: I wore the coat last night to a concert and it felt good. Someone even complimented me on how good I look in green. So it will be worn and loved.

Jalie 2787 Criss Cross Top

2010-02-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

This is my first Jalie and I'm quite pleased with it. I chose the Criss-cross top which has bands that cross and are stitched into the side seams. This creates a secure, non-gaping front. The lower part of the front is a separate panel that lies underneath the criss cross bands but is not attached to them. In a stretchy fabric this top can be used for maternity and even as a nursing garment. Not that I need that!!

Jalie has every size from young girl to plus size 22 in one envelope. I used size U which is 3 sizes less than my bust measurement but close to my waist and hips. I did a flat pattern measurement and the pattern seemed similar to some of my tops of like material. I chose that size so the shoulders and neckline would fit correctly.

I used an onionskin from EOS 5 years ago depicting the Sistine Chapel. The Jalie instructions are brief but accurate and adequate. The diagrams are especially good.

I decided to leave all edges unfinished. I like the look in this kind of fabric. Also I think it helped keep the top from being too tight. I feared the bust would be overly snug after I cut it out and held it up across my body. But by not stitching or stabilizing the pieces in any way it keeps the maximum stretchiness. I shortened the length by 2 inches for a more flattering length on me.

I plan to make more of this pattern and other Jalies waiting in my stash. I definitely recommend this one.
By eliminating finishing the edges and hems, this only took about 20 minutes to sew. The pants are Sewing Workshop Plaza pant in brown wool jersey.

I say it took 20 minutes to sew which would be correct except when I put it on I noticed the sleeve had a curved and slanted bottom. I thought "hmm, I hadn't noticed that look on the envelope picture." Then I noticed that the other sleeve was straight across. Finally it dawned on me that I had sewn the sleeve in upside down. Yes the hem edge was sewn to the shoulder. The amazing thing is that the edges are exactly the same length so I didn't notice this goof while I stitched. So be aware the curved edge and flared hem edge are equal. It actually felt alright on due to the stretchiness of the fabric but, though my DH couldn't see it, I didn't like the images being upside down. Out with the ripper!

Burda 7594

2010-01-28T16:58:00.000-08:00

I made this again using a neat textured knit from Stone Mt. & Daughter in Berkeley. The stripes are raised and puckery. I changed the cutting layout to vary the direction of the stripes, much like I did in my first version. I thought it would fit the same as the previous one but when I got it together and tried it on it looked awful. It was quite loose through the torso and really added bulk. Not a good look. Many inches were taken in at the side seams, maybe 4 - 5 altogether. I can wear it without the tee underneath once the weather warms up as I sewed the side seams up higher under the arms than the pattern indicates.

Simplicity 4076 top & Vogue 8561 skirt

2010-01-23T22:52:00.000-08:00

I haven't been posting but I have been sewing. I got way behind on my reviewing somehow.
First up the Marcy Tilton skirt Vogue 8561 that I made last year. It was so problematic because of errors in the pattern plus a fussy fabric. I've had my eye out for a nice pin stripe to use to simulate the details of the skirt in the pattern photo. A few weeks ago I visited my DIL in the Bay Area and had time for a quick stop at Stone Mountain and Daughter. Love that store. I found 4 pieces that had to come home with me. One is this lovely light weight wool charcoal/creme stripe. It worked up nicely.

The skirt is a bit time consuming because of the top-stitching especially if you need to keep changing the thread color each time as I did. Hemming is a pain because of the different grains at the hemline making it hard to get it even. One has to call on DH to help in a case like this.

With it is that great top that has been such a popular pattern. I wanted a red top to go with my latest skirt and I love the shape of this top. View A is very similar to Simplicity 4095 that I have used many times for both the top and the skirt. This one, 4076, has flared sleeves which I didn't want so I used the sleeve from 4095. The other difference is that 4095 has gathering at the forward shoulders and slightly more curved in waistline. The red rayon jersey was waiting in my stash.

This is my best neckline. It is low but not too low and doesn't gap. Although I changed the sleeve to the narrower one I forgot to take it in even more at the lower arm. I really prefer it to be snug so I can push it up. Too lazy to take out the topstitching to change it now.

The size I cut, though right for my bust and hips is too big for my shoulders. I took in the sleeve seam 1/2 inch and eased out more than an inch at the back neck.

Everybody loves this one. There are 163 reviews on PR! I definitely will be making it again.

Summing Up

2009-12-31T11:24:00.000-08:00

I notice other bloggers having been reviewing and totally their production for the year. That struck me as a fun thing so I have done it too. I had thought before reviewing that I hadn't really made very much this year since I have been away from home so much. It amazed me to find I had made 59 things. A few are not much.... scarf, baby blanket.. but most are the usual project ranging from simple knit tops to jackets. I didn't do any really time consuming projects this year except for a quilt to hang in my grandson's room. No major lined jackets, fitted dresses, etc. I see a shortage of dresses and pants which I'm feeling in my wardrobe. Here's my breakdown:

Knit tops 16

Woven tops 8

Knit skirts 4

Woven skirts 3

Knit pants 1

Woven pants 2

Lounging gowns 2

Jackets, Coat, Cape 11

Knit dresses 2

Costumes 3

Baby 3

Men's shirt 1

Quilt 1

Scarf 1

Addendum: Silly me. I forgot the 3 most recent items as they haven't been photographed yet. I guess they are not real until they have a picture taken. 1 woven dress, 2 knit tops.

Simplicity 4434 Baby clothes

2009-12-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make a gift for my expectant DIL using a fun fabric. I had made a great blanket for my other DIL using a flannel monkey print and minkie. They are still using that blanket after almost 3 years. I found this wonderful animal print at Fabric.com in Minkie and looked for a flannel to harmonize. I even ordered one with this one but the colors were horrible together. I had also ordered the polka dot Minkie in the same colorway to use for another project. So when these arrived and I had to discard my original plan with the flannel I looked to the dotted fabric to be the reverse. The fabric was thinner than I had expected but that worked to my advantage in this case because using the two together was not too heavy. By careful cutting I was able to make the blanket and have enought left to make this cute little cape. Miraculously I also found a could squeeze out the matching pants. These baby clothes don't take much yardage!

Pattern Sizing: I cut size 6 months. I don't know about how it will fit as the baby (known to be a girl this time) is not yet born.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy. Nice instructions for making the tassels and pompons, something I hadn't done before.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Cute style, maybe not the most useful for a baby but easy to put on.

Fabric Used: Animal print and dotted Minkie fleece.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No changes to the cape and pants. The blanket was my own invention. I was going to make the shaped bunting on the pattern but the bias binding I had looked terrible with my fabric. So I changed plans mid stream and cut one square for the blanket smaller than the other, laid the smaller inside the other, mitered the corners and brought the edges over to look like binding.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes. Now that I see how easy it is to make baby pull on pants I will certainly not hesitate to make more. Really only about 20 minutes.

Conclusion: Cute little set. I'm eager for the my new GD to arrive to see it on her. Really, I'm just eager to have a granddaughter. I have 2 boys, my sister has 2 boys, my brother has 3 boys and 1 girl, my son has 2 boys. You see there is an extreme shortage of girls for me to dress.

Kwik Sew 2935 Aloha Shirt

2009-12-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been a long time since I blogged. As usual life has been hectic. A trip to St. Augustine and Savannah from Thanksgiving to the first weekend in December threw me off my usual Christmas prep. We had never been to that area and loved it of course. Lots of wonderful history, architecture, and even Christmas events to attend.

Once home I plunged into the frantic Christmas activity deciding wisely to not decorate as much as usual since, not only was time short, we aren't going to be home from the 22nd to the 28th. Just as I thought I was getting it under control my son called with a plea for a Christmas themed Hawaiian shirt. He needed this for a gig coming up soon where he is playing next to Santa at a shopping mall. The hiring agent really wanted him to wear a whimsical themed shirt. He always performs in Hawaiian or Caribbean style shirts as he plays the steel drum so he has a vast collection of such shirts. He has several that I thought would be good for such an event with red flowers and green background. But no, not good enough. So I ran off to Joann's where, although the Christmas fabric was picked over, thankfully it was 60% off. I managed to find one that didn't look too tacky and raced home with it.

Of course it took me longer than I expected but it was fun making this. The most amusing part was watching my son, via web cam, try to measure one of his shirts with a 12 inch ruler. Eventually he got the required measurements for me to proceed. I mailed the shirt to him and he got it in time for his gig tomorrow. He reported via email that I am the Christmas shirt genius. He said it fits perfectly and the agent will love it. I am a happy mom.

Sewing Workshop Bells and Whistles Shirts

2009-11-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

I made this back in late August or September but since then my life has been crazy so I forgot to review it. There are two cool shirts in the pattern. The Bells shirt which is the one I made is described as a semi-fitted shirt with a collar and collar band, curved front band closure, left shoulder coverlay and back darts. Below elbow, set in sleeves with a split band and cuff. Floating front band provides buttoning options. Curved shirttail hem. The Whistles shirt is loose fitting in two lengths with front and back placket wedges collar long sleeves and partially concealed button closures.

Pattern Sizing: The sizes range from XS (6) to XXL (22). I made the Small with no alterations although my measurements are on the high side of the Medium. So my garment is probably closer fitting than intended. I usually make the smaller size for a good fit through the shoulders and the larger size at the sides. But I could see that there was enough ease for a comfortable fit.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.
Back
Close up

Were the instructions easy to follow? The usual excellent Sewing Workshop instructions.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I don't wear shirts often but when I do I like it to be unusual. This filled that requirement.

Fabric Used: A shibori looking fabric from FabriX in San Francisco. I'm guessing it is pseudo shibori and, although it feels like cotton, perhaps it is not because all the crinkles and shibori looking knot texture stays in after washing. Here's the really freaky thing.... I discovered when looking at other reviews here on PR that reviewer sfshaza made this same shirt using the exact same fabric at about the same time I did! She must shop at FabriX also. But to pick the same pattern for this fabric stunned me. Here's her review.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I tried switching around the grainline so the stripes would go different ways but it doesn't show up very much.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I definitely recommend this shirt. I'm looking forward to making the Whistles version.

Conclusion: I love it.

Burda 7594 "Missoni" tunic

2009-11-18T12:14:00.000-08:00

A quick and easy tunic which is fun for stripes. The bodice front will have the stripes run diagonally, the back vertical and the lower part around if you use the selvedge as the hem. Burda shows it using contrasting fabrics for the top and bottom sections although it is hard to see in the illustration.

Pattern Sizing: Sizes 36 through 50 in one envelope. I used size 44 which corresponds most closely to my measurements but took out at least 4 inches from the bottom section and overlapped the bodice top and extra 2 inches. So I guess you would say it runs large.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes. Here is the back, without the scarf, and the scarf as a sash.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Excellent instructions with some extras that you don't usually see. They include specifics for using sweater knits such as chain stitch to help stabilize the neckline and hand stitching or double needle stitching for hem finishes. I did the hand stitching on sleeves and neckline. This took a little more time but it still sews up quickly even with the hand stitching.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Like the simplicity to show off a showy fabric and the ease of construction. Also I liked that it was very easy to alter.

Fabric Used: A Missoni-like open weave sweater knit made of Viscose and poly from EmmaOneSock. It has a double scalloped selvedge which I used for the lower hem on the top and the edge of the scarf. The tunic uses very little fabric but to have the stripes match and the scalloped edge you need two yards. This leaves about 15 inches of unused fabric along the other selvedge. Logically one must make a scarf from this long piece. I cut along the zigzags on the none selvedge edge to have the scallops on both sides of the scarf.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:Reduced size as mentioned above and cut the bottom section sideways to use the scalloped edge as a hem.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I definitely recommend this one and may do it again.

Conclusion: A trendy and easy to wear look. My fabric is a bit springlike so I may have to make another quickly in a more wintery fabric to wear now.

Hot Patterns 3 Graces Cross front top

2009-11-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

I made the cross front version of this popular new Hot Patterns top. It is described as having a slightly cowled neckline and a cross-over wrapped front. I choose the extra-long sleeve that is designed to be scrunched.

Pattern Sizing: Sizes 6 thorugh 26 included in one envelope. I made a 10 as that cooresponded most closely with my hip and underbust measurements. My full bust is closer to size 14 but this design is quite generous through the bust so no FBA was needed.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Mine seems to be looser especially through the center front tummy area.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Uh.... no. The on-line video helps a lot but I don't think a pattern should be dependent on that source. Even with the video this top is confusing to get the criss cross right. I'm not sure that I don't have an extra twist in there.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Love the drapey style. Don't like the excess of fabric in front

Fabric Used: Rayon jersey.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:None.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably won't make this style again but I plan to try the looped front version. If you like something a little different try it.

Conclusion: I like this okay although it seems a lot of fabric on my front. The back fits well. The rayon jersey is super comfortable to wear. Here is a view of the top in in action.

The Devil Family

2009-11-07T20:47:00.001-08:00

Life has been crazy for the last couple of months.... the trip to Israel/Jordan (fantastic), trips to Oregon to care for DFIL and finally for a memorial service (he was 91), a trip to Jackson Hole to see the kids/grandkids and last but not least, a trip to the ER for me after a nasty fall off a ladder. This caused a concussion, torn back muscles, and a bizarre cut at my mouth from the pruning shears. Stitches were required inside and out as the edge of my mouth was sliced open. Eek. This happened on DH's birthday. What a way to celebrate....7 hours in the emergency room.

Now after a month I am almost healed and finally back in the sewing room. The only thing I have sewn in 2 months because of all the craziness is halloween costumes. Here they are.... the devil family.

Off again

2009-09-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

I have 3 garments ready to review but due to extreme busy-ness my photographer hasn't been available for the necessary shoots. I kept hoping a moment would open up but now we are leaving for a 3 week trip to Jordan and Israel (part of the cause of the busy-ness) so I won't be able to get to it for a while. Here's a teaser: Sewing Workshop Bells & Whistles.... I made the Bells shirt out of a cool shibori dyed cotton, Sandra Betzina V1101 sweetheart neckline dress from a colorful graphic cotton sateen (not sure I like this one on me) and Hot Patterns Classix Nouveau 3 Graces T Shirt ( the cross front one).

Last minute packing and we're off today.

Questions

2009-09-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

Just a note to answer questions:

Anna e le manine d'oro: You are right....it is too hot here in California for boots, probably until November. I liked the look of the skirt with the boots so I donned them but only for a few minutes. To wear the skirt now I need sandles and sleeveless top!

Bobbie, my elbow is much better. The antibiotics attacked the staph infection and then, since I still had a very puffy elbow after 3 weeks, the doctor drained the fluid, injected cortisone and said from the looks of the fluid the infection was gone. Arm still feels a lttle weird but I think it is healing. Thank you for your concern.

Shapes Crazy Eight Top

2009-09-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

I was hesitant about this pattern design for myself as I didn't think it would be flattering with the wide neckline and wide sleeves. My friend Dorothy made it so I had an opportunity try it on. I was right.... I didn't like it on me. However, worn backwards I loved it. So here it is, my Crazy Eight top worn backwards. I love having the diagonal drape across the front. This fabric is one that has languished in my stash for many years. I really had no clue what to do with it. I started to cut the top from another fabric (jersey with a one way design) but realized that the flowers would all be sideways as the pattern pieces are cut out across the grain. At the last moment I pulled out this fabric and threw it out on the cutting table. Funny how these things happen. I had spent hours trying to find the perfect fabric and in the end pounced on something with 30 seconds thought. However it goes down, I'm happy with how this turned out.

Ruffled fabric tube skirt

2009-09-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had a wonderful day with a Pattern Review friend shopping for fabric in San Francisco. I call her a PR friend because I met her at the May Portland PR weekend but we had followed each others reviews for years. It was so exciting to meet Harriet and get acquainted in the real world. She had a trip planned to SF which is about 90 miles away from where I live. So we got together. I showed her my favorite fabric haunts. One of these is FabriX which is a tiny shop with a chaos of discounted fabrics. You never know what will be there. This time I fell in love with several pieces before we even got all the way inside the store as they have barrels with good stuff spilling out the doorway. This is one of these..... a knit backing with knit ruffles already applied. I've never seen anything like this. It appears the ruffles are knit in, not added. I quickly decided to make a tube skirt, wrapped the fabric around my bum to see how much to buy, and made off with one yard at $9.99. I had thought it would be a ten minute project with one seam and elastic serged on for the waist. But as I fiddled around with the fabric I realized I would like the seam sewn to the outside to create a cascade of ruffles. This took a bit more fiddling to figure out how to do this. I started and stopped each part of the seam under a ruffle to keep it flapping free. At the waist, after applying the elastic I stitched down the top part of the ruffle to keep it flat. Fun don't you think.

Vogue 1114 Issey Miyake

2009-08-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited about my latest project. I love the intrigue of Miyake patterns and went into this one thinking it would probably not really be a wearable garment as some of my Miyake's have been in the past. What a great pleasure to find it not only wearable but wonderful! I thought it might require leggings to look right but discovered it is great with regular pants.It took me a long time to come up with two fabrics that work together, partly because there is a lot of yardage involved. The black takes over 3 yards and the contrast 1 3/4 if the fabric is 45" wide. I searched my stash for awhile, then ordered some fabric from Fabric.com which I hated (thankfully they are wonderful with returns), went back to my stash and finally settled on black with the silk chiffon animal print for contrast. I laid out the pattern and discovered my original black was short on yardage. Dipped back into the stash to find another black. This wool dobby (left from some projects years ago) had enough yardage but was quite different than the original plan. But how pleased I am with the result. I think it is even better. All this to point out that I'm sure I spent a lot more time looking for fabrics than construction which was probably around 5 hours.

There is one main pattern piece, cut twice and joined at center back. No side seams. Most of the construction is easy but there are a coupled of places that have the usual Miyake puzzling affect where you scratch your head and study the drawings a lot. But the instructions are all correct and if you follow along carefully (having marked all the dots precisely) it goes together beautifully. Sleeve facings and the contrast piece are the only other pattern pieces to deal with.

I think I like it best with one side buttoned up and the other side buttoned crossed over. I'm unlikely to ever wear it with both sides buttoned across the front but took a photo to show you that look. Also, although I like the unbuttoned look from the back, I'm not crazy about it from the front so I probably won't wear it that way either. I like it both with the sleeveless tank and the longer sleeve.

What I've been doing

2009-08-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

Home once again from a fantastic reunion/visit with family in Jackson Hole. Everybody had fun and we survived lots of babysitting time including overnight with the 3 am bottle and 5:30 am wakeup. I had one afternoon with time to myself so I traced several Burda WOF styles for future sewing. I chose simple ones with just 3 or 4 pattern pieces as my time was limited and the set up awkward. Hopefully sewing will start soon.

I'm recovering slowly from a bizarre medical situation that has me functioning more slowly than usual. I woke up 3 am in the motel on the way home Monday with an increasingly painful elbow. After a few hours I got up and looked in the mirror to find a very swollen elbow and arm. A little black mark made me think I had been stung or bitten. Asked the Motel manager if they had scorpions. Fast forward.... fever, chills, red and hot arm. Finally Wednesday I went to the doctor who didn't buy into the sting/bite theory but called it a staph infection. Asked if I had banged my elbow recently. I couldn't remember doing so but what with hiking, rafting, and playing with babies maybe I did. Apparently the bursa at the elbow is a very vulnerable place so that if it gets hurt and then has a open cut, the staph bacteria, which is around us all the time, can invade. I did have roughness on my elbow as though scraped so that must have led to this. Hopefully the antibiotics will work for me although I read that the staph bacteria is very resistant. I'm saying all this so you will attend to any scrapes with disinfectant!!

Pattern Reviews

2009-07-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

I finally got all my reviews written. Boy, when you do a lot of sewing, the reviews pile up. I'm leaving, as soon as I pack, for a 3 week trip to visit the babies in Jackson Hole. So, sorry, I don't have time to add anything to my reviews. I hope you enjoy reading them. They are linked to the right. No sewing for me for a while unless my DIL has dreamed up some projects for me to do while visiting. She usually does....

Writing reviews

2009-07-18T14:41:00.001-07:00

I've been procrastinating writing my reviews for PR because it has just been too darn hot to put the garments on. Finally I got organized with the makeup on and DH ready early enough in the morning to do a photo shoot. We took photos of 7 projects all at once! As it got warmer I moved upstairs where there is AC so some of the photos are in the hallway which is the coolest part of the house.

Now to write all the reviews....

Tahoe Sewing Retreat

2009-06-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

Home from the sewing frenzy and exhausted. But happy. Barbara and I were sewing demons once again this year at the 5 day retreat our sewing club holds at Lake Tahoe. Such a beautiful setting with fantastic weather and we huddled over our machines the entire time, from 7:30 am to 12:30 at night. 20 minutes for each meal, a little bit of conversation with others but absolutely possessed by the sewing mojo. Between us we created 25 garments. This year we were quite organized ahead of time by planning our projects and cutting them out before going. We found it often congested at the cutting table and hard to concentrate on the important cutting/altering step in the retreat environment. So having our projects prepared before hand really helped.

I found myself really stupid at times and needed Barbara's help figuring out pattern instructions occasionally. What's with that? I think I'm losing it. One project in particular, an Issey Miyake top and skirt that I have made before, was impossible for me to do without her help. Another time she had to help me rip out about 1/2 inch of stitches, black on black, that I couldn't see at all. I spent 45 minutes with no progress and was ready to quit. She worked at it for another 45 minutes while I held a magnifying glass over it and finally got those blasted few stitches out. Thank heavens she was there.

We're already looking forward to next year. I will gradually post about each project. I'm really happy with all of them which is quite surprising to me as about half I considered experiments or possible disasters for a variety of reasons.

Vogue 1113 Mizono Jacket

2009-06-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

For years I've seen Mizono garments in a few boutiques I've windowed shopped in and now here one has appeared at Vogue. I'm thrilled. This is an unlined jacket, loose fitting with asymmetrical hemline, Kimono sleeves with uneven hemline, lapped fronts and neckline slits. There are also pull on pants included in the pattern but I only made the jacket so far.

I cut size 8 (although my measurements call for 16+) and I took in the underarm seam another 1/2 inch. So, it has a lot of ease. Compared to the pattern illustraton mine looks longer on me as I am 5'3" and didn't shorten it at all. You can see that it is quite short in the back.

I loved the unique shaping, easy construction, the neckline, the interesting sleeves, everything.
I used a wool tweed-like fabric that actually has little white colored squares on the surface of the black. A wonderful unique textile I bought recently from the Textile Studios final sale. Boo hoo, sad to see that resource go.

I made no alterations, not even the sleeve length. I worried about the sleeve length as I usually need to shorten sleeves about 2 inches. There is no place indicated to shorten the sleeves although you could do it half way up the sleeve and true the seam. But, after a quick tissue fitting, I decided that the shorter part of the sleeve would hit on the top of my arm and would be short enough. I did move the location of the button slightly to hit me at a more flattering spot.

I probably don't need another soon but I do highly recommend to those of you who, like me, enjoy the unusual. I may make it again someday in a summer weight, linen perhaps.

As you can see I'm very pleased with this new garment.

Which projects?

2009-06-12T15:34:00.001-07:00

I need to get ready for the wonderful Tahoe retreat coming up a week from this Sunday. It is 5 days and nights of sewing non-stop organized by the club Haute Couture that I am in. No distractions except to eat which is all provided. No tv, no computer, nada. Well, there are interesting other ladies all passionate about sewing so there are conversations. Last year Barbara and I took our hiking shoes but never left the rooms even though Lake Tahoe was right outside our window. We were obsessed. I'm sure it will be the same this time.

So the problem..... I found that it was best last year if I had my fabric and patterns cut out ahead of time. The cutting situation there wasn't the best and when I did have to cut out it was hard to keep focused. It took me much longer to cut out a project than it would at home.

I took about 20 projects and 7 or 8 were cut out ahead of time. I sewed 10 in the 5 days. I hope to do the same this year. I'm going crazy with trying to decide which patterns and fabric to start cutting. I have pulled out dozens of each to contemplate. But each time I pull something out it reminds me of another fabric I'm dying to get to. How shall I focus???? I thought about doing a coordinated wardrobe but that seems too hard to pull together right now.

Sewing Workshop Valencia Jacket

2009-06-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is the first garment I have sewn from my Portland spree. I wasn't sure what I would do with this linen eyelet when I found it but loved the color and figured something would work out. I knew I wanted a loose over garment so I wouldn't have to line the eyelet. This was my most recent Sewing Workshop pattern purchase so it was eager to be sewn up. Sewing Workshop describes this as a "loose fitting jacket with soft fold-back lapels, long sleeves with faced cuffs and angled narrow hems. Under sleeves end in "V" at waistline side seams. Wrong side of fabric shows on lapels." There are also straight leg, one seam pants included in the pattern. I just sewed the jacket.

Although my measurements are well into the Medium size, I cut the Small and am happy I did. I could have even gone down to the XS I think. The front is very loose as you can see. The back fits more closely so you need to watch out there if you go down in size.

This pattern has the usual excellent SW instructions. I think, with the good instructions, this could be an easy garment for a novice to sew except for the underarm "V". It is actually a half gusset that is part of the under sleeve piece. That one detail might throw the beginner off although it is not difficult. It just requires precision.

I like a soft jacket. I've made some very similar to this before like Vogue 7640, now OOP, and enjoyed wearing the style. This SW is almost the same except for the 2 piece sleeve with underarm gusset.

On the Portland trip I also bought another 30 or so yards of fabric. Egads! What was I thinking??? Well, at least I got one piece done.

Pattern Review Weekend

2009-05-29T20:43:00.001-07:00

I had such a fantastic time at the PR weekend in Portland, rooming with Annika, meeting everyone, learning from Pati Palmer, and fabric shopping. I had planned to just look and not buy. After all I already have more fabric than I can use in two or three lifetimes. But how can you spend all day in fabulous fabric stores without succumbing. I mean really, wool jersey is so hard to find, 50% on beautiful silks, great jersey prints.... what could I do? It took me all week just to enter everything in my database and find places to put it away. Oh no, I didn't find places to put everything away. I'll just have to sew it up right away. Here are a few photos. See more at the link at Pattern Review http://www.flickr.com/groups/1115798@N21/

McCall's 5752 The Perfect Knit Dress

2009-05-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

This very popular pattern deserves its reputation and title as "The Perfect Knit Dress", so dubbed by Pati Palmer. It lives up to the suggestion that it is flattering to everyone and easy to sew. I had hoped to finish this before attending the PR weekend so I could wear it on the Pati Palmer day. I didn't quite get it done in the hectic weeks before the event but here it is now.

My pattern was size BB which is 8 - 14. It is also available in size FF, 16- 22. I made 10 in the shoulders and neck, and 14 at the sides. This is my usual combo. I found this fit better than most without additional tweaking or FBA. I lengthened the skirt 2 inches. In the photo I have knotted the front drape but it is constructed just as the pattern shows.

There are extensive instructions on how to alter. I did change the order of construction as suggested by Barbara V in her review on Pattern Review. I see that others have done this also.

I love the ruched waist that hides body issues, especially in the back. I love the cross over that doesn't gap or reveal. I love the soft drape in the front which also helps hide body issues. Maybe I'm dillusional but it does seem to flatter. I think this is a rayon knit, perhaps blended with cotton as it is very soft and cotton-ey feeling. I purchased this 6 years ago from Fabric.com for less than $10. From that I have made this dress plus a maternity top last year for my DIL. What a bargain! I would love to have more of this type fabric.

I really like this dress. It is so comfortable to wear and goes together easily. No wonder many have already made this dress and reviewed it favorably.

Sewing Workshop Ikina Jacket

2009-05-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

I forgot to blog about my Ikina Jacket. I love Asian styling, especially enduring styles like the kimono to make garments I can wear for years. Pattern Description: The Ikina Jacket is a below waist jacket with open sides finished with kimono-like facings, bias-cut, one-piece collar/band, three-quarter length sleeves and deep hems. The pattern also includes above ankle, pull on pants with elastic waist. I just made the jacket. I used Sewing Workshop Plaza Pants pattern for the pants I'm wearing here. The top is an older Burda pattern, 8987, that I have used before for a simple, bias tank. I lowered the vee this time and eliminated the back slit opening as it wasn't necessary for getting into the top. I find those slits on bias often poke out at the back so I try to avoid them. I used size small although my measurements call for medium. This works best for me with a loose fitting garment as my shoulders are small and there is plenty of ease for the problem bust area. As always Sewing Workshop has excellent instructions that result in a beautiful finished product inside and out. I'm calling this silk organza because I don't know better. It is similar in crispness to organza but has this beautiful woven in pattern and texture and is a different color on the back side. Does someone know what it is? I purchased it at StoneMountain & Daughter in Berkeley. I used the back side of the fabric for the neckband and facing. I also flipped the hem of the sleeve to the outside to show the back side of the fabric there. I know some sewers have left off the side facings and sewn the seam traditionally thinking it would make them look wider. I considered doing this because I certainly don't want to look wider! But I basted the facing on and loved it. I certainly feel it makes the style special. Without it is okay but not extraordinary.

Quilt for the boys

2009-04-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Here I am quilting again. This is the third one this year and I never quilt! I guess that's what happens when you become a grandmother. We're leaving early tomorrow for Jackson Hole so instead of packing I'm finishing up the quilt which will be a wall hanging in the boys room. I still need to do the binding and trim all the threads but I can do that when I get there. Overall I'm very pleased with it. If you look closely you can tell I'm not a polished quilter and little things are not quite right. I won't be entering it in any shows that's for sure. The close up shows the stippling that I did all over. That sure uses a lot of thread.

The animals are cut from a fabric panel showing the illustrations from "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?". Owen, at 2 years old, has this book memorized. I think he will enjoy seeing the familiar animals.

Haute Couture Fashion Show

2009-04-18T20:00:00.001-07:00

Today I participated in a fund raiser fashion show for a club I am in called Haute Couture. We have monthly meetings with speakers on a wide range of topics of interest to fashion sewers. We also have workshops to learn new techniques and field trips to places of interest to the group (recently the Yves St. Laurent show in San Francisco). Today was the fashion show. Members model garments they have made for themselves or if made for someone else, that person may model it. This includes grandchildren or daughters. One of our members is a male costumer who outfitted several members with costumes and modeled a bunny costume himself.

I modeled 4 outfits. Here are a few shots. I didn't get all the images I wanted as I had handed my camera to someone unfamiliar with it and she had some trouble. But I'm happy to get some that represent the scene. The shot with me in a black top at the front of a group shows six of us modeling our "Instant Gratification" top that so many ladies got excited about at our sewing retreat last June. By chance I had worn my original orange top on the first day of the week retreat and by the last day 18 or 20 had been sewn, all by tracing around my original garment.

Hot Patterns Riviera Tee Shirt

2009-04-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

I made two views from this pattern and like them both very much. The bright green was to be a test for fit because I thought the fabric too bright for me. However it grew on me so I finished the sleeves which really add appeal to the top. I want to make this one again. Here's the review: http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=38228. The second top was the one I really wanted to make but because of all the pieces it was hard to tell how it would fit, thus the trial bright green one. This one takes quite a bit of time to construct because each seam is sewn three times.... wrong sides together, overlocked, and finally stitch down flat. I didn't think I liked boat necks on me before this but my thinking is changing on that. Here's the review for the second top: http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=38230

What's up with me?

2009-04-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

It seems I have been forgetting about my blog. It isn't that I haven't been sewing. 3 tops and a skirt have been reviewed since I last wrote here. Don't know what's up with me. Do I not want to write, communicate, or who knows what? I certainly spend time here at the computer reading other peoples blogs. Maybe that is more fun than writing for me. I will try to do better.

Sewing Workshop Liberty Shirt

2009-03-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Liberty Shirt from Sewing Workshop is described on the pattern envelope as a "shirt or jacket with diagonal side seams angled to the front, soft stand-up collar, and set-in sleeves with vent openings. Asymmetric front and back deep hems with mitered corners. Front topstitching detail and five-button closure." It is exactly as described. Sewing Workshop does a terrific job on the instructions. They make everything clear with good illustrations and extra details that lead to a nicely finished garment. I always fall for something a little different and asymmetry especially attracts me. The side seams and unusual collar caught my eye.

The sizes run from XS to XXL. I made the small although my measurements indicate the larger end of the medium. I did add an inch at the bust but took in the shoulders 1/4 inch to be even smaller than the small. I didn't shorten the length which would probably have been a good idea for my short height. However, though I usually shorten sleeves 2 inches on most patterns, I didn't do that here and they are the right length. So if you have normal or long arms be sure to check the sleeve length before you cut.

My friend Dorothy made this in silk noil and I got to try it on. That is how I knew I should make a small with the FBA. However, hers was more flattering on me I think because of the drapier fabric she used. I like mine but I may make another for that other look. I definitely recommend this. The fabric you use makes such a difference in a garment. My linen stands away from the body more than the silk noil but it may soften with time. It also is a dressier look. I do like my shirt and love the color.

Sewing Workshop Trio Top

2009-03-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sewing Workshop's new pattern includes a lot with a top, a t-shirt, and pants. I've just made the top out of a well aged stash fabric from Hong Kong. I thought it would be fun to use a stripe to highlight the back panel by turning it cross grain so I searched my stash and found this one purchased 15 years ago. It is a lovely raw silk with an annoying property of horrible smell when ironed. Hopefully I won't ever get too hot while wearing it.

Here's the envelope description: T-Shirt: Shaped t-shirt has three-quarter length raglan sleeves, narrow neck binding and double stitched hems. Top: Easy fit, sleeveless short top or jacket has inset back yoke with eased seam, small tailored collar and neck band, and eight-button front closure. Pants: Ankle length pants have long cargo pockets with top button or optional zipper closure sewn into side panel seams. Elastic waistband with flat front. I made the just the top so far.

This pattern has the usual excellent Sewing Workshop instructions. I stupidly sewed the collar stand on upside down and had to improvise the finishing as I had already trimmed it when I realized my mistake. But this was my mistake due to inattentiveness and no fault of the pattern itself. I like the stand up collar, the unusual inset in the back. One minor dislike: the bias binding on the armholes tend to flare up. This often occurs on this type of sleeve. I think if you pull on the bias slightly as you are sewing it this can minimize this. I forgot to do this.

There is plenty of ease through the bust so no need for the usual FBA. After finishing the armholes with the bias binding I decided they needed to be shorter. I turned them under and topstitched. If I were doing it again I might turn them under another half inch. I also sewed the side seam up another inch higher so I can wear this without another top underneath (when I add the buttons, that is). Without that extra inch the armhole is very open. And I changed the cutting direction on the back panel to have the stripes run vertically.

I wore this to a meeting tonight and got lots of compliments. I haven't put the buttons and buttonholes on yet as I hadn't decided just what to use there. I want to wear it with the necklace and don't want the buttons to conflict. The stripes will match up when I do the buttons.
The pants and t-shirt are not the Trio pattern. Marcy Tilton pants Vogue 8397, purchased top.

Catching up

2009-03-15T16:24:00.001-07:00

What with trips to Jackson Hole to play with my grandsons and now spring weather at home (the garden calls), I'm having a hard time getting to my 1001 sewing projects. And keeping my blog and pattern reviews up to date! I have several projects finished (ugly coat, silk that smells SW Trio jacket), some cut out (SW Liberty shirt, baby quilt) and a pile on my cutting table. We returned Friday from winter in Wyoming to find lovely warm spring weather here and a garden that is out of control. My body aches from weed pulling. Maybe I will sew tomorrow...

Simplicity 4095 mesh top

2009-03-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

This must be my most used pattern ever. I have made the skirt 3 times and now the top 3 times. And I rarely use a pattern more than once! This review is for the top and since I did a few things differently I decided to write a new review for Pattern Review. The pattern has a wrap over top with gathered forward shoulders and gathers where the top wraps to the side seam. There is also a 6 panel skirt and elastic waist pants and a second top pattern that does not wrap. That's a lot in one pattern.

I used a mesh which I'm guessing is probably nylon. I decided to copy some RTW mesh tops I've seen which have double layers in the bodice and no hems. Doubling the fabric is very useful with the mesh as it is on the sheer side. It was a little confusing to sew the doubled pieces together as it is very easy to loose track of which is the inside and which is the outside. I changed the order of sewing to make this work. First the neckline gets sewn and turned. So instead of binding the edge and topstitching you just stitch right sides together and turn. I did this with the serger so that I had a very narrow finished seam inside. This is nice with the sheer fabric. I then sewed the shoulders so that all seams would be hidden inside. Sew up the side seams and set in the sleeves. The sleeves are a single layer. And thats all. No hems at the bottom to stretch out.

I got this fabric out of my stash to make an alternative top to wear with the blue cotton knit Sandra Betzina skirt. However once finished I have decided that there is too much going on with the print and the busy skirt plus the color doesn't go quite as well as I originally thought. So I will wear it with jeans.

Burda 8168

2009-02-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

I searched through my pattern stash to find just the right design for this wonderful two sided wool. The color combination is so delicious that I wanted both sides to show. This Burda pattern has been waiting there in my file cabinet waiting for just this moment.

The jacket has multiple seams and if constructed as described in the pattern, the seams and edges are highlighted with hand blanket stitching. I didn't do this. It calls for felt, fulled fabrics or tweed. You need a fabric that looks good on both sides as the wrong side shows at the collar. It is described as loosed fitting.

Because it is described as loose fitting I cut out the tissue in a size 40 instead of the larger size my bust/hip measurements need. I pin fit the tissue and decided it really wasn't that loose fitting in those areas so I added the necessary FBA. That worked out fine. I also stitched the underarm curve up higher under my arm to reduce extra fullness.

I found the perfect button at the recent quilt show. There were vendors there including one button booth. Happy day.

I like the interesting diagonals and the soft collar so I sewed all but the side/underarm seams wrong sides together to emphasize the lines. Then I pressed them open and topstitched them in place. I serged the outer edges using rayon embroidery thread. I rolled up the cuff to show the reversed side and I sewed the collar on with the opposite side out also to show off the other color. My fabric is not felted so it ravels some even with the top-stitching. I think of it as slightly de-constructed, a trend I am enjoying.

This is quick to sew. If you do the decorative hand stitching it will take longer of course. I definitely recommend it. I would love to make it again.

Vogue 8497 Marcy Tilton & Vogue 1018 Sandra Betzina

2009-02-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

I combined two of my favorite Vogue pattern designers for an outfit that I am loving. The skirt I was confident I would love. My friend Dorothy made it earlier so I had seen it in person. (See her version at http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=26810) The top I wasn't so sure about as some reviewers hadn't liked the fit. Some didn't like the deconstructed construction but I knew I would like that. I sized it down a bit to be a closer fit and like it quite a bit. Here is my skirt review and the top.

I have just discovered that I can control my blog entries much better by using Firefox instead of Safari. Who knew? Before, on the last few entries, I have struggled to make links. It was very time consuming and awkward. That is why my Kreativ Bloggers write up is so strange. This will help me immensely.

2009-01-26T10:55:00.000-08:00

Birgitte http://bubblegum4breakfast.blogspot.com/ has nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. I am so honored, especially since I haven't been posting much lately. I promise to do better... I have a few projects ready to review once I get those photos taken. Thanks Birgitte.

Here are the rules for the award

1. Copy the award to your site.

2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.

3. Nominate 7 other bloggers.

4. Link to those on your blog.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate.

Loohoo Originals http://loohoooriginals.blogspot.com/

Two On Two Off http://twoontwooff.blogspot.com/

Assorted Notions http://assortednotions.blogspot.com/

Sue's Sewing and Happenings http://smvite.tripod.com/suesblog/

Peacock Chic http://peacockchic.wordpress.com/

Bloom's Fabric Obsession http://sewblooms.blogspot.com/

noile dot net http://www.noile.net/

There are many other wonderful bloggers out there that I enjoy following but they have already been nominated for the award so I didn't list them. I'm sure you all love reading and sharing as much as I do.