Sewing? What's that.........?

I can't remember the last time I posted about any sewing projects.  I think the last was the little dresses project early in spring.

Anyway, I have been doing a little sewing because it's too hot to do anything outside!

Let's start with a winner.....

New Look 6895

It doesn't look like much but it looks really good on and it was super easy to make.  Sometimes with these super easy top patterns they can end up looking boxy (especially without any darts like this one).  But I think this lightweight crinkle poly crepe made it work.  The color is a taupe/mushroom and looks really good with jeans.

Now for a loser..........

NL6803

No, that is not a potato sack, it's a dress.  I got this pretty striped seersucker fabric and was going to make a summer blouse.  Then I got the bright idea it would make a nice cool summer dress.  I didn't have enough for a lot of the dress patterns I have but this on would work.  I've made a different view of this dress with the pleated neckline and the obi belt so I knew it would need a belt and I found a nice one.  But even with the belt I'm not lovin' it.....

It really screams HOUSEDRESS when you put it on even with the belt.  And the front neck vee is really, really low....it stops past my boobs.  I'm disappointed.

Another winner.................

B3717

This pattern is OOP and is my one of my go to skirt patterns.  A simple slim skirt with narrow waistband and back kick pleat.   What makes this so special to me is the fabric.  I LOVE IT! Animal camo!!!  Here's a close up.

Mostly dogs with a few cats, bunnies and birds thrown in for good measure.  Adorable.

As Mr. Meatloaf would say ...."two out of three ain't bad".

On the Sew Again

I have finally gotten back in the mood to do a little sewing for myself.  Since I am hoping to shed a few pounds while The Husband is wired shut and I am fending for myself (I have already dropped 1.5lbs......probably those donuts we had earlier in the week!)  I don't want to jump back in with anything major just yet.  So here are my choices:

First up McCall's 5248.  I made the bathrobe a year ago and love it.  This time around I could use some summer pajamas.  These are all cotton fabrics, the green is going to be the shorts and the top will be a combination of the print and peach solid.  I haven't worked out the exact details, but with summer already in full swing here in the FL Panhandle this will be perfect for hot, humid nights.

Next up is Simplicity 3786 in view E (with the capped sleeves) in this light blue and yellow floral.  I saw a similar sleeveless  tunic in the Chadwick's catalog that I really loved and I have a beautiful blue, white and black cotton print in my stash that would be perfect.  But it's been awhile since I have done pintucks so I am going to make this my wearable muslin.  I'm not a huge fan of tunics but I do love pintucks and this looks like it will be very nice and cool.

Last in line is New Look 6677....gee, did I just say I wasn't a huge fan of tunics????  I am also not a big purple/lavender fan....but what the heck, I'm in a stash burning mode.  I am not sure which view to make.  My first choice is View E (sleeveless with major banding) but that neckline on the model is lower than I like and I and not sure if I am capable of redrafting this.  My second choice is View C, the white sleeveless, which is actually less tunic looking.  The neckline is more to my liking and I can still use the solid for the front placket and banded collar.  I could also make bias from the solid and use it around the armholes and side vents.  Jury is still in deliberations.

Anyway, I am happy to be back in the sewing saddle.  Hopefully I won't fall off again.  Time to get cuttin'.

Spring Sewing

There hasn't been much sewing going on here.  One of my brothers' and his wife came to visit this past week.  It was great, we haven't seen them in 6 years, so there was a lot of catching up to do.  They have never been here so there was a lot of sightseeing going on, too!

But things are getting back to normal and I've started two new spring projects. First up is B3717:

I am making View F, the capris. I wanted to make View E the ankle skimmers but I didn't have enough fabric.  I've made these before so they should go together fast. I am trying to "refine" the fit a little. We'll see how that works!  I am just using a cream stretch twill.  I've got all the darts completed so far.

At the same time I am working on S4182:

Also in View F (what the F???)! I know this pattern seems a little youthful for someone of my advanced (haha) age, but I like the lightweight jacket style worn with a tank underneath. Kind of like a summertime cardy.  I did add a little length to it so hopefully I won't have a "muffin top" peeking out!

Here is the fabric I am using:

I thought it looked very similar to the fabric used on the pattern cover, only a little softer. I have actually got the top bodice portion done:

I even have the seams finished already!

I would like to get them finished at the same time as they go very well together. Just add a light pink tank and I'm good to go!

A Little Sewing Going On

There has been a little sewing going on here, just not at a very fast rate.

I did finish another skirt from Butterick 3717 out of the tan/pink striped twill I recently got from Denver Fabrics.


Nothing fancy, just a plain straight skirt, but very functional. I don't know how I did it (probably rushing to get done) but the zipper top ended uneven at the top, by about 1/8 inch.


I was going to rip out the waistband and redo it but I never wear anything tucked in anymore so I figured it was okay to leave it.

B5351

I really wanted to move on to View A of this dress using this fabric:


Which is a 30's cotton Feedsack reproduction from my stash. It's all cut out and the side seams of the top and skirt are done. But I'm having some trouble fitting it because of the construction. The top band and straps go on after the side seams are done and then the bodice is attached to the skirt portion and then the zipper put in. It's kind of hard to fit it because, in essence it is 2 separate pieces. I am also not crazy about the skirt on me, it really hugs my little potbelly. Not a feature I want to emphasize. So I've put this aside to think about and work on something else.

B5331

A lot of people have made this pattern and I really like how they have turned out so thought I would give it a try. I chose this cotton fabric from my stash to make the muslin, if it works out it goes well with the taupe-brown skirt I made back in June. I just need to add a gold camisole underneath.


I'm making View B with the puffed sleeves. I am hoping they are not TOO puffy. The pattern calls for top-stitching on the princess seams and I remember Michelle at Cheap and Picky had flat-feld hers'. Since my first attempt at flat-feld seams worked out well on the taupe-brown skirt I thought I would give it a go here, after all this is just the muslin.

I was concerned about the curves of the seams but they came out good. The picture on the left is the right side and the right is the underside.


The underside could be a little neater and more even, but I think the right side came out very nice and neat. So I am very pleased with this. Now I just have to finish it. Hopefully this week.

The Fabric Man Cometh!

Like a lot of people, I too have succumbed to sales on some of the online fabric stores. My downfall was DenverFabrics, especially the twills. At least I have specific plans for these pieces (ROFL....Right, where have we all heard that line before!).

So here's what I got:

Top: Hi-Low black corduroy. This is for a hip-length wrap coat. I bought a flamingo pink flannel-backed satin on sale a few months back for lining and have been looking for a nice corduroy to start this coat for winter. Winters here are mostly mild but we can have some cool days and downright cold nights.
Botton: Black stretch sateen, for a TNT skirt.


Top: Magenta Twill to make view B of B5331. The color looks a little brighter here than it actually is, but it goes nicely with the taupey skirt I just finished and a top that I got to go with it.
Bottom: Cream stretch twill to make pants (yawn!)


Top:Tan/pink stripe twill to make another TNT skirt.
Bottom: Blue/green stripe twill to make shorts or a skirt. I have an inordinate amount of green tops, but nothing in blue, so I thought this would be a nice addition to my wardrobe.



This is my favorite piece, a taupey tan stretch pinwhale corduroy with a delicate floral vine embroidered in green,gold,cream and plum. I got it to make view A of B5331 (above, without the ruffling, I'm too old for that), but almost wish I would have gotten more to make a jacket. The vine pattern goes across the grain (and nap) so it could be tricky (at least for me) to work with, so a vest is probably better anyway. But I just love it and only $4.95 a yard!

I've cut a muslin of B5331 out of a mid-weight quilting cotton. I actually like the fabric and it also goes with the taupey TNT skirt, so I'm hoping it will work out okay. While I work on that I'll probably do something with the blue/green stripe twill as I can get a lot of wearings out of that right away. Everything else, except the black sateen skirt is for when it cools off because................it's still stinkin' hot outside!

One Garment-A-Month Sew Along

I decided to join the One Garment-A-Month Sew Along on PatternReview.com. We're three months into it but....better late than never. It's almost April so it seems like a nice time to start. I'm hoping it will keep me on track for at least one project a month.

Now I just need to decide what to make. I have several choices with the first being Simplicity 2896. Our anniversary is at the end of April and I would like to make a nice dress for the occasion. I was thinking of making the dress in this fabric:

A stretch poplin from DenverFabrics, but I don't have enough. Luckily they still have it and it's on sale (BONUS!). So I've ordered more, but they can be slow so hopefully it will show up in time.

I am also thinking of making my grandniece a summer dress from New Look 6860 in this fabric:

I have plenty of this in my stash and she loves green. So I will probably start this while I'm waiting for the balance of the dress fabric to show up. But I need to get some ric rac trim and a zipper before I can start this one. I should be able to pick that up this week.

Maybe I'll get 2 items done in my first month! Oops I think I'm getting ahead of myself here....it's not even April yet!