There's a little bit of sewing going on...

So much has been going on...work has been busy, bathroom renovations started today, spent twice weeks walking around in a black boot while the doctors were trying to decide if I had a fracture or not, and I've been sewing a wee bit.  Sewing has just been fleece socks as DH requested some.  It is a quick, easy project that says the I can finish something.  It does feel good to finish a project even if it is small.  I realized that I have misplaced a critical piece of the dress project.  It has yet to be found.  I'm really bummed because I really liked the fabric that I used. The bathrooms are both going to be a black/white theme.  This will be replacing the 60s pepto pink and turquoise/black.  The main bath will be a more muted with gray walls with the master being either a soft blue or green.  I have waited 9 long years and just not realized I forgot to take pictures before the demo start on the pink bathroom.  I think I have pics from when we moved in so maybe I'll still be able to do the before and after shots.  The bathroom with the muted gray walls will have a little bit of shot of color in the shower curtain and the rug.  I have decided to make a chenille rug for the bathroom.  Here's the color palette that I chose:

A little shot of red.  The cabinets in this bathroom will be white with a black top.  I hope I don't regret that dark top.  Replacing the top is fairly easy should I decide sometime in the future that I don't like it.  So far, I have cut the fabric to size.  My son assisted with layering the fabrics and I have started the tedious sewing of the diagonal lines every 1/2 inch and ordered a blade for cutting the fabric.  I hope it is finished by the time the main bath is finished.

A friend and I have decided to do a monthly sew-in and alternate between each other homes.  The first sew-in will be at her house and we are planning to make pot holders.  We will be attempting to learn the free-motion foot and binders.  My fingers are crossed that our pot holders get made.  We are using the freebie pattern at Oh Fransson!: Quilted Pot Holder and tutorial.

I finally finished the " Over-Dressed The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Kline".  This is a very read for everyone.  (Sorry, can't figure the font change).

That's it for now.

Happy Sewing!

No Sewing Here!

Happy New Year!

Progress on the dress is at a standstill.  Things in my household got turned upside down the week after Chrismas.  My MIL passed away and we made a trip to the Midwest.  Thankfully the weather was good going to and coming home.  I don't like driving the interstates when there is a lot of snow and ice.  It was good seeing my family even though it wasn't the best circumstances.

I finally finished reading the series that I have been reading.  It was The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind.  All 12 books were execellent.  I've started my next book.  It's Over-Dressed The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Kline (sorry, I was going to add an image but it will not let me upload).  I'm hoping that it is a good read.

Happy Stitching!

Next project....

I've been working slowly on my next project.  I think I started it at the beginning of December. It's this dress from McCall's:

 

Not quiet a classic shirt dress but close enough.  I did make a couple of changes after I made a muslin which is something I don't usually do.  The changes that I made were changing the slope of the shoulder, adding bust darts, lengthening the dress by 2", and increasing the width of the sleeve.  Looking at the sleeve on the model, the  dress looks like it has lots of ease in the sleeve.  However, the muslin was really tight on my chubby arm.  Hopefully, I added enough ease.  I have also been changing little things as I go, too.  We'll see how it turns out.  It's just another piece of fabric from the mighty stash.  I think the fabric was a rayon challis.  

 

If this works out, I will make another dress in the spring from this pattern  I shouldn't waste the effort that has gone into making the adjustments for just one garment.   However, there are lots of patterns to work with. I have a might pattern stash also.

 

Happy Sewing!

 

A little sewing

It is has been such a long time since I made a post that I forgot my password. Really, I have only been making little items so not much to talk about.  However, the sewing bug hit today and I decided to try the 10 minute runner.  Here's my version:

If you haven't heard  of this before, here's the link the 10 minute table runner.    It took a little bit longer than 10 minutes to make this but it was certainly less than an hour from the time I picked the fabric out. I'm also thinking about adding some little yo-yos on the ends as a decorative element.  We'll see if I get around to that.

Here's another little project that I worked on when my son was going back to school:

This was for the assignment reminder for school.  It holds two pencils and there is a little hidden pocket on the back that he could put stuff in if he wants.

Happy Holidays!

A finished project....

Yep, that's right. I have finished a project and I can't remember the last time I finished anything. That is so sad. In my last post, I mentioned that I have been working on the Sorbetto tank top   pattern by Colette Patterns.  Here's my finished top:

I was fairly impressed with this pattern. It was very well drafted.  I did make a couple of changes:

1. Moved the dart from being a straight dart to a french dart.
2. Made a larger dart by 3/4".
3. Added 3/8" to the bottom.
4. Due to lack of fabric, I removed the front pleat.

I can see in the mirror and the pictures that there is still a little bit of length and depth issues going on but this is a completely wearable top.  It actually fits better than most RTW.   I really thought the first try at this would be a wadder and used some really pretty scraps that I found in my stash.  That bit of left over fabric was just perfect for this particular project.  I'm thrilled that I have a woven tank top pattern now.  The one thing that I did not like about the pattern was the bias binding application. 

The things I will changing for the next try on this top:

1.  Make a larger FBA.  I can see the signs that this needs to be larger with the front being shorter than the sides and the wrinkles from the bust to the side.  There is also a little bit of gaping around the armhole.  Again that could just be the need for a larger FBA.
2. Change the bias binding application.  This should not be too hard to accomplish.
3.  I would like to draft a sleeve pattern for this pattern.  I think that having a little bit of a sleeve will be a little more flattering.  Once I get the top fitting where I'm happy with it, I will redraft the armhole and draft the sleeve.
That isn't too much to do, is it?

The next project is a skirt.  I draw an a-line skirt based on my measurements.  It is really simple.  Same pattern piece for the front and the back.  When cut for the front, the pattern piece is on the fold.  When cut for the back, the pattern piece is not cut on the fold with a seam allowance added.   This should be easy.  The pattern does call for a cotton lining.  We'll see if one is needed.

Happy Sewing!

I didn't realize...

....that it has been so long since I have been to my blog. Time has literally flown by. I've been busy doing a deep clean of the house. I have donated many boxes/bags of items to the charity but I am not finished yet. I will still continue working on clearing stuff. I know that I haven't hit every corner yet.

I did get my sewing room moved around and cleaned up. It has really put me back into the mood for sewing. I have traced and modified the Sorbetto pattern from Colette. The pattern is super simple. The hardest part is the binding. I am definitely out of practice on the topstitching. I have also drawn an a-line skirt pattern. That is next on the list. After the skirt, I may return to the Sorbetto and make another top.

We also went on vacation to Colorado/South Dakota area. It was absolutely beautiful. I hope that I get to go there again. I was sad to the find out that the forest are dying. I hope that something is can be done to save it. Here's one of my favorite pictures from the trip:

When I look at this picture, I see a hawk overlooking his territory.  The mountains and rock formations were just beautiful.

After my vacation, I had family come and spend a week.  It was so much fun to see them.  I do miss living close to family. 

Hopefully, the next time I check in I will have some sewing related projects finished and ready to share.

Happy Stitching!

I have been sewing and playing with new tools....

We recently went on a short trip and I had to have something to do while in the car. So, I got a Clover French Knitter with interchangeable 4 prong head, 5 prong head, and 6 prong heads:  

I’m not one for making jewelry but this does have instructions to create beaded jewelry. I had some sport weight wool and decided this would be perfect for playing with the French knitter. Following the enclosed directions (there are two methods) I created the following items:
4-prong head:

The one on the left is Method 1 and the one on the right is Method 2, I think.

5- prong head:

The one on the left is Method 1 and the one on the right is Method 2, I think.

6-prong head:

The one on the left is Method 1 and the one on the right is Method 2, I think.

6-prong head different method:

For this version, I was playing a little bit. Instead of following the directions for method 2, I wrapped the yarn around the posts twice. Then pulled the bottom yarn up and over the top yard. I was expected a looser knit but received a very tight knit.

4-prong head using 2 prongs like a lucet:

The one of the left is the Method 1 and the one on the right is Method 2, I think. I was expected a much tighter knit on this as a lucet will make a tight square cord, think shoes laces. Yes, if you were using the correct type of thread, you should be able to get a tight cord. Of course, maybe it depends on the size of the prongs and the distance apart . I do not know. Do you?

6 prong method with a crochet thread:

I enjoyed playing with the French Knitter. It might be fun to attempt to create some jewelry but I am not sure that I want to add another type of crafting to the already overflowing sewing area. I do think that this would be an great way to create an embellishment. I was thinking that a thread like Razzle Dazzle from Superior Threads would create a beautiful cord but the Glitter Halogram from Superior Threads would too. I’m sure that there are lots of threads and yarns available to create some beautiful cords or jewelry. I will be playing with this some more.

I made the 1st muslin of The Pattern T-Shirt pattern from Pamela’s Patterns. Here it is:

Please note that this is NOT finished. I really saw no point in finishing as it was too big. I may go back and take in the sides a bit and see if that helps any. The fabric I chose doesn’t photograph well so I couldn’t show pictures of the visible problems in the back ….many vertical folds going down my back. I will say that I thought that I chose the correct size. I talked to Pamela a little bit about the problem and then re-measured. I decided to go down a size. The next size has been traced and cut out. The 2nd muslin fabric has been chosen. Pamela also gave me directions to narrow the back. If moving to a smaller size doesn’t take care of the problem of the many vertical folds of fabric in the back. I have lots of fabric so this isn’t a big deal for me to play with the pattern, at least I’m using some stash fabric.

I found a new to me pattern company - Schnittquelle and I love this jacket. The new June/July issue of Threads arrived today. I love getting my sewing magazines. I have reduce the magazines to just two now – Threads and Inspirations. These are the magazines I enjoy the most. Back to Threads, the article that caught my attention first was the one on Sewing with Strips. I would like to play with the strips a little bit. One of the new Colette patterns has a dress version with stripes.

Well, I suppose that is it for now.

Happy Sewing!