Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.  Here it is, the cusp of a new year.  All new possibilities and goals.  I plan to be a better blogger, have more output as a sewer, and to try welt pockets some time this year.  On Pattern Review, I have joined the Fabric Fasting  and the Monthly Sew-A-Long threads in an effort to use more of my stash.  I don't have a very big stash, especially compared to some (oh my some!) but I do need to make better use of it.  I'm going to try to use 2 yards of stash to every 1 yard of new.  And patterns.  I have so many I really need to make a serious dent in those. After all I bought them because I want that garment.   But like the saying goes: so many patterns, so little time. Surely a reasonable goal is at least on garment a month even for this slow sewer.  I have two garments to "catch up on" with you when I can get photos.   Catching one of my guys is hard but I should have an update this weekend.

What about you?  Do you make resolutions or set goals for the New Year and what are some of them?  I wish you luck with them and bloggy people that I follow I look forward to seeing your progress this year!  Happy sewing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hoping everyone has a lovely day with family and friends!

Burda 6761, The Cotton/Linen Top

I finally got all my ducks in a row to do a post on  this top.  I used Burda 6761, a cute little pullover top with a gathered peplum and 3/4 sleeves.

 

I used the cotton/linen voile that I got from Fabric Mart.  It went on sale right after I bought it.  Darn it all but I just had to have it. The print just called out to me.

 

 

The peplum doesn't go all the way around, it ends at the front sides forming the front darts; ingenious.  This also leaves the front flat which is flattering to everyone while the peplum hides all kinds of fluffy.  I used the size 18 (44) and it fit well with no alterations.

 

The back has a slit with a button/loop closure but the neckline is plenty roomy enough to make this a pullover.  The pattern is rated as easy and it really is but you do need to follow the directions as they don't go in the usual fashion.  The darts and the side front seams are one and are done after the application of the peplum.  It sounds strange but makes sense in the pictures.  Fancy that! Burda directions and pictures making sense!

It's a great little top that whipped up in no time.  I just love it and know it will get lots of wear. Happy stitching!

 

McCall's 7196, Bozo the Clown Top

A few weeks ago I purchased Mccall's 7196:

 

I was picturing myself in that lovely flowing tunic with the graceful pleats down the side.  When it came down to making it, I realized all the fabric would drown my 5'3" frame.  Still picturing flowing tunic with pleats though, I made view D:  straight hem below the hip with 3/4 sleeves. I purchased a festive peachskin for the fabric.  It has a nice drape without being heavy but enough body to hold the pleats.

 

I cut a size 18 and used a size 20 sleeve to give the biceps plenty of room; the 18 would have been a tad snug. I thread trace the pleat lines which went surprisingly quick.  The directions were easy and clear and the project just flew along.  The tunic is very long, even this "shorter" one.  I had to cut 3 inches off the hem to get it to hit just below the hip. 

 

The top is very pretty when I'm standing still, but how often do we stand still?  I couldn't even get still pictures as the wind was blowing (sun in my eyes too).  As a result I look very preggers ( and grumpy)  I think.  Why I did I think any kind of pleating would hang off a 38" bust properly?  Duh.  The print may be just a little to busy and festive for this top.  But the fabric did sew up and press nicely.

 

I'll have to say I don't think this one quite worked well for me.  I may still wear it about the house; it is quite comfy and loose.  I won't be sewing it again. I still have to blog about the cotton voile top. Will do that as soon as I can get a picture with it.  On to the next project...Happy sewing

Simplicity 1328-- Finished!!

My husband has a new jacket! It fits!  And he likes it!  Happy dance!  Smiplicity 1328 has taken me almost a month to finish-- I'm a slow sewer-- but I've gotten to learn so many new things along the way:  thread tracing, flat fell seams, plackets, how to do a collar stand.  I had help along the way though.  You Tube, David Page Coffin's "Shirtmaking", "Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry" by Susan Huxley and Vogue's "Vogue Sewing".  I couldn't have accomplished it without them.   (Nerds do love their books.)  Coffin's book was the most helpful.  It takes you through every step of shirtmaking in detail. 

I used a size XL ( 46-48) based on the jackets in my husband's closet, size 46 regular.  I was so afraid the whole time I was sewing it that it was too big because it looked absolutely huge! Especially when I stored it on Zelda to help it keep its shape.  It looked so big there I started draping it around my chair instead.  I guess my eye was just used to seeing a much smaller size for me because it fits him wonderfully. 

I did three things differently from the pattern. 1) I lined the pockets.  I'm so glad I did.  They added some structure to the pockets and my husband was delighted with the touch.  He noticed it right away. 2) I used self fabric for the interior yoke instead of lining as I'd never seen a man's shirt use lining there.  3) I used self fabric for the button placket for the same reason.  I think they look very professional now. The fabric was a brushed flannel from JoAnn's in a lovely charcoal grey so it wasn't too thick working with those layers. 

The pattern wasn't exactly hard just very time-consuming with new things to learn. The layers were difficult for the flat fell foot for the side and sleeve seams because of the fabric I chose.  They're not perfect but they're not bad, either.   I practiced on scraps for a long time before I did it for real.  Glad I did because I was awful in the beginning!  The plackets weren't hard to do just intimidating and a bit of a puzzle to figure out.  I'm so proud of how nice they look.

My favorite things about the jacket are the same things my husband likes about it, too.  (We've grown so alike over the years.)  The softness of the fabric, the lined pockets, the pleats in the back to allow more arm movement, and the number of pockets. (There are four huge pockets on this thing!)  He was having a bit of fun modeling for me cracking jokes, goofy guy.

 So my first attempt at men's sewing has been a success and I'm no longer afraid of it or too intimidated to sew for my husband. (The what if it doesn't measure up to his RTW mentality?  There will be more projects in the future. But in my immediate future I have a Burda top because I just got some lovely cotton/linen voile in the mail and have a staycation planned for the week ahead. A few chores and a lot of sewing is on the agenda.  What fun!   Happy stitching all.

Flat Fell Seams and Plackets, Oh My!

Work is progressing on the Simplicity 1328.  With generous help from David Page Coffin's book Shirtmaking-Developing Skills for Fine Sewing, I've been able to sew the plackets in place and I believe they look good.

(I'm in the process of sewing on the cuff now.)  They're straight and raw edges are all enclosed. So far so good. 

Next up were the seams.  The Shirtmaking book recommends using a flat fell foot for best results.  My machine didn't come with one, so off to Amazon.com I trotted til I finally found a foot that would fit my machine:

Now what to do with it. It came with no directions.  I found this great tutorial on You Tube:

 

Now  I'm doing flat fell seams also! 

 

 

It's hard to see them on this gray fabric and black thread but you get the idea.   The thickness of the  flannel made it difficult.  Had it been a regular shirting cotton it would have been much easier I think.  But I practiced for a long time on scraps of the fabric before I launched into the real stuff. I'm learning so much with this project!  Hope you're having fun with your sewing too.  Happy stitching.

Shopping At Joann's

Joann's is having the Labor Day sale this weekend and have lots of sales going on.  Chiefly, for me at least, patterns.  Butterick and McCall's are $1.99 and Vogue are $4.99.  There are lots and lots of patterns I want, but I decided to limit myself to what I will realistically sew up in the near future.  Only two came home with me, McCall's 7196, I love the pleats on view D. and McCall's 7254, loving the jacket and the vest. 

Of course fabric is also on sale so a little came home with me as well.

The happy dots is a peachskin that I was thinking would be pretty for the McCall's 7196.  The ivory is another peachskin and the lace to match are for a project I want to do next, McCall's 7095. 

Right now I'm deep into Simplicity 1328:

 

 

 

I'm making view A, the shirt jacket for my husband.  This is my first foray into men's clothing, so I'm a little intimidated.  I'm using a medium-weight brushed flannel so regular markings would not show up.  It was the first time I've used thread tracing to mark a pattern.  It was very time consuming but has been worth it.  Who know where all those pockets would have ended up without it?  Now I'm working in the plackets, another new skill set. We'll see how that goes.  I fear a seam ripper is in my future with this one.  I just want it all to be so right and there are so many new skills involved in this project.   Do you challenge yourself with your projects?  I know this is how we grow as sewists and my reference books are getting quite the workout.  More updates later and don't forget to catch that sale if you haven't already.  Happy stitching.