The Classic Shirt Dress has been finished. Here is the final project:
I wish I had not procrastinated as long as I did but I am very happy with the results. There was a comedy of errors made - stitched wrong depth of topstitching, sewing wrong side of front facing outward, and the list goes on.
Happy Stitching!
Here is a the new Islares Top pattern from Itch to Stitch:
I have been thinking about getting this pattern for months. Honestly, for now the summer dresses are covered pretty good but this little dress is just a little bit different with the little twist.
Now, I just need to figure out the sizing as I have not used a Style Arc pattern before. I know I have fabric that will work to make the dress. I just need to get the pattern fitted over winter.
Happy Stitching!
Fashion seems to be trending to matching jackets/pants again. Here is a wonderful jacket:
I have really been procrastinating on this dress. I really have no idea why but I am sure it have something to do cutting the front of the dress to make the button tab. Okay, I admit I can be chicken sometimes. I kinda miss the fearless sewer that I once was.
After careful measuring of the pattern for sitting room, I decided to add 1/2-inch to the side seams through the hem starting just below the bust dart. I did not change the pattern but made a little template. I have been thinking about the beautiful selvage on this fabric. I can not think of a way to incorporate it into the dress but here is peak at it and you can see a better picture of the fabric:
So, I have been procrastinating like you would not believe. Why is it so hard to make a cut right down the middle of a project? I put it off for days but I finally cut it. Here is a picture of the basted placket:
I stopped at this point because it is night time and black on black is really hard to see for older eyes. I have not memory of my ability to do this when I was younger. There are still a couple of decisions to make here and stopping to consider what is next will prevent mistakes. You know that the front placket is not the scary part of making a dress. The sleeve placket is equally as scary. Here is the finished plackets:
The plackets are not perfect but good enough. The remainder of the project should be easy. The finished dress will be the next project post.
Happy Stitching!
The Itch to Stitch summer promotion is coming to end. I think it is ending on a bang to get you ready for fall/winter:
Happy Stitching!
As the cooler weather approaches, I know that I won't be wearing as many dresses. I need to start looking toward either long skirts/dresses or pants. Today, it is pants:
When I saw these pants, my first thought was this pattern:
Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.
Happy Stitching!
I really tried to get my sewing plans started early this year along with starting the sewing early but here it is mid-September and sewing has not started. I kept my sewing plans small so that I could accomplish them. I am a Seamwork member so I set my project goals as follows with the date ending 11/30/23:
1. The Octave Coat pdf pattern by Love Notions. This one was planned way back in early July. I need to get going on it. Pattern needs fitting.
2. The Liesl & Co Classic Shirt in a black/blue check. This one has already changed from a shirt to a dress as I had a lot of fabric and I wanted to use it. You can read my thoughts here. I will need to add another shirt. This fabric is stash.
3. The Liesl & Co Classic Shirt in red/black/gray plaid. It is already fitted. I might as well use it. This fabric is stash.
4. The Liesl & Co Classic Shirt in periwinkle/gray plaid shirting. Gotta love a fitted classic shirt pattern.
5. The Seamwork Piedra knit dress pattern in a gray jersey. This is a simple t-shirt type dress perfect for every day. Pattern needs fitting. This fabric is stash.
6. The Seamwork Tia dress pattern in teal knit. This is another simple shift type dress that is perfect for every day. Patterns needs fitting. This fabric is stash.
I used the bi-annual Design Your Wardrobe to assist with the process. I no longer follow through all the steps but I follow through enough that I go through my existing fabric stash and pattern stash. I admit the first couple of times I went through the program it was a little overwhelming. There is a lot to think about and learn.
So, that is my plan for this season. I think that I have left myself lots of wildcard stuff so I do not get bored. After all, I am making three Liesl & Co Class Shirts or a variation of it. So, half of the plan should be easy to make. I will definitely sew on other items as well.
I am an affiliate of Seamwork. Use this link to get 50% off the annual subscription. I do get a small commission at no cost to you. Fifty percent off is a win-win. There is more. Seamwork has various classes. Some of the classes are free with the membership and some have an additional costs. The Learn to Sew class has an additional charge. Click the link for the class and you get $100 off. That's a pretty good discount.
As I continue to work on reducing the stash (yes, I know it is a laughable thought), I pulled out this fabric:
I had my husband measure from the edge of one of my previous Classic Shirts to where I wanted the hem to be located. He stated it was 15-inches but I am going to make it 16-inches. I need an additional yard of fabric over what the pattern states for the shirt. This might be close. I guess the pattern pieces will need to be adjusted and then checked with the existing fabric. I will want the yoke and the placket on the bias. It is easier to do than attempting to match everything.
Here is the pattern work:
Here you can see where I added a section. This was added at the shorten or lengthen line. I ended up adding 14 1/2-inches because when I pulled out the pattern it had 2-inches folded up. Being a little long is never bad and generally much easier to fix than being too short.
On this photo, you can see where I added the line for the popover dress. It is the third line from the right or first line on the left. Sorry for the bad photo. It is really hard to get pictures of this sort of thing when most every line is faint.
This is all the pieces that I have added "cut on the bias" lines.
I think that the pattern work is finished. Now, it is time to get the fabric pressed, pattern laid out, and cut.
Happy Stitching!
This single button jacket feels more like a coat to me:
Judging from the description it is definitely a coat and not just a jacket. It seems to be meant for cold weather. Here is a close up of the pick stitching:
As for patterns, that lapel is going to be hard to locate unless it is a vintage pattern. Here is one with a narrower collar that would be nice:
I recently was part of discussion regarding sewing machine needles. It was the typical - how do you store your needles, how often do you change your needles, what do you do with slightly used needles, etc. During this discussion someone talked about using a needle pad. So, I looked it up and purchased it:
Pretty interesting. Every time I change needles in my machines, I change out anywhere from 1 to 6 needles depending on the project. Typically, I would slip the needle back into the needle case but that is not working so well anymore. So, this cute little pad is going to be tried out and see how it works.
Back at the end of June, I reviewed this book - Create The Perfect Fit. After having the book for weeks from the library, I decided to purchase it. I will admit that I had almost given up hope of finding a reasonably priced copy of the book but I did. My very own copy:
Now, I get to spend all the time I want going through the book and not having to worry about someone requesting it.
Last week in the New Toys post, I posted about getting the clear foot for the Juki MCS-1500. I got to use it and it is perfection. I think it is worth the expense of the foot. It really does help with getting the stitches even. I think I might finally be getting the hang of using that machine.
Also, I have added to items at Destashify. Check it out.
Happy Stitching!
The blue colors are calling me this year. Here is a fabulous blouse/shirt:
This is the Lafayette 148 New York Scottie Abstract Blouse. Price tag: $798.00. Details: spread collar, hidden button placket, long sleeves, single button split cuffs, box-pleated back yoke, shirt-tail hem, relaxed fit, silk, dry clean only.
The print makes this blouse. Even if it is a classic. I would use this pattern:
Honestly, the fabric is best part. This is just a classic shirt pattern with a couple of extras. Remember if you already have a shirt/blouse pattern fitted. Use it. Save that money for fabric and notions.
Happy Stitching!
As I get toward the end of my life, there are things that I can look back on and say "Wish I had...". Here is my list:
1. Spent more quality time with my husband, children, and family.
2. Worked harder at maintaining my weight.
3. Spent more time doing strength exercises and stretches.
4. Tried harder to eat a healthy which would have helped with item 2
You might ask, how does this relate to sewing? Well, item 1 is a blessed life thing. Quality time can never be regretted. Really who cares if the house is perfect. As for the other 3 items, they affect your sewing. All affect fitting ability. The more curves the harder it is to fit in my opinion and I have plenty of curves. The strength exercises and stretches help keep things inline. You got a tilted waist (I do), you have weak abdominals and gluts. Your shoulders rotating forward. You can bet that there is a muscle or two or three that need to be worked on.
I have been to physical therapy three times in the past five years. That is a lot of time and money. Believe it or not all of it have been the same leg from the ankle to the knee to the hip. Therapy for the ankle had exercises and stretches all the way up the leg. Therapy for the hip had exercises for the abs, the glutes, the leg muscles. Therapy for the knee had exercises for the entire leg along with the abs and glutes (admittedly, I had a fractured kneecap and braces slow you down a little bit).
So, I am going to work harder to lose the weight. At 20, I weighted about 115 pounds. I do not necessarily want to be at that weight again but 120 to 125 would be good. Just to give you an example of not maintaining weight. If you gain two pounds a year, at 60 I would have weighted 195. Two pounds does not sound like much of a weight gain but two pounds a year for forty years is a lot of weight gain. I am not saying that is how much I weight but you can see in my pictures that I do not weight 115 lbs anymore. I was one of those people who gained weight while I was pregnant and could not get it to go away. I honestly gained too much weight while I was pregnant.
I am going to start working on exercising again. Moving half way across country stopped my daily exercise routine. I could not find a gym that I liked working out at. Even though it terrifies me to get on my knees, I am going to start doing my yoga and stretching routines again. I will visit some gyms again and see if I can find some where that has machine availability. The last gym I joined I could not find a time when machines were available. There did not seem to be a limit on how long some one could use a machine and frankly, I can walk and ride a bike at home. I like doing a circuit. Now, you have seen my excuses let's see if I can get started working out.
Happy Stitching!
A couple of weeks ago, I made an inspiration post regarding a knit dress. I really liked this dress and kept going back to look it. I finally decided that I was going to buy it instead of an attempted recreation. I ordered the dress with the hope that it would fit fairly well and hoping it was not too short. Well, I was pleasantly surprise. I ordered the blue version of the dress.
I will admit that I enjoy collecting feet for my sewing machines. In the last year of so, Juki released new feet for the MCS-1500. I would love to have gotten all of the new items for the machine but they are mostly very expensive. So, I selected the one I thought would be the used most.
I really like the print mixing in this blouse:
This is the Pretty V-Neck Blouse by Boden. Price Tag: $120.00. Details: pop-over styling, long blouson sleeves gathered into a cuff, viscose fabric, oversized, finishes at low hip.
Love, love the mix of prints on this. The styling of the neckline reminds me very much of the Love Notions Vivace Dolman neckline. However, you might be able to get a similar look using the Love Notions Rhapsody Blouse.
If anyone has seen a blouse like the inspiration, please let me know who produces it.
Happy Stitching!
Back in July, I decided to indulge in another pattern. It was the Itch to Stitch Taroko Skirt pdf pattern. It seemed like a good basic skirt to have in the collection. Here is the line drawing:
1. Printed a straight size 18.
2. Added 2-inches of length.
3. Added 1/2-inch of play room at the side seams.
I am proud to say that I found a piece of fabric that was just large enough to cut out this skirt with the changes that I am making. Sometimes, the stash delivers. The fabric is a dark khaki twill and should be a good basic. Here are the results:
Overall, I am very happy with this skirt. I did press it before the picture but I think it needs a trip through the washer/dryer and pressed again. I hope the fold lines come out. I suppose it is possible that it was folded too long in the stash.
As far as the changes to the pattern, #3 was not needed. This surprised me as I thought I would need a bit more room in the waist. As far as #2, I think I may have added a little too much length for this skirt. I will probably leave it when I make a skirt for winter as I can wear tall boots with it happily.
I think this is the last of my summer sewing. I had another top that I wanted to make but by the time I get a muslin done the warm weather may be gone. It is time to start fall/winter sewing.
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Happy Stitching!
