Another Thud on the Porch...

 The buying has continued but I have started sewing again so the purchases should slow down.  Here are the fabrics: 

I purchased 3 yards of this blue/black gingham shirting.  It is 100% cotton and machine wash.  I intend for this to be a long sleeved shirt.

 This is a Graphite 100% cotton denim.  The care is machine wash.  I purchased 3 yards.  I am going to make some jeans.  I have not attempted this in years but I am going to do it.

This is a Prussian Blue cotton/rayon/lycra jersey.  It is machine wash on cold.  I purchased two yards.  I intend to make a t-shirt.

Happy Stitching!

Buying Spree Continues...

 The buying spree is continuing.  Here are my latest fabric acquisitions:

 

Both of these fabrics are from Fabric Mart.  They are 100% cotton twill.  Easy care with machine wash and dry.  They are destined to be bottoms of some sort.  I purchased 4 yards of each color so there is a possibly that each color will have a muslin and a garment.  

I fell for another Love Notions Featured Friday pattern:

This is the Love Notions Allegro pattern.  It looks to be a fairly versatile pattern.  I had resisted it for a long time but a sewing friend has had very good luck with the pattern so I decided to give it a try.  We'll see how it turns out.

I am still thinking about getting another sewing machine.  I need to figure out what to do with my computerized machines that are no longer in good working condition but the computers are still functioning.  Since parts for these machines are hard to get, I will love to send to a new home that would use them as part machines.  Any ideas?

Happy Stitching!

More Fabric...

I recently got sucked into another sales at Fabric Mart.  I am usually pretty good about not buying but not this time.  Here are my chooses:

This is a cream/black herringbone is 100% cotton.  This is probably one of my favorite patterns.  My original intend was to make Colette Clover pant in ankle length.  Unfortunately, I didn't read close enough and missed that this pattern was meant for a stretch woven.  I will need to locate a similar pattern.

This is a black/white 100% chambray.  My intend with this one is to make a shirt using the Grainline Archer shirt.  This has been on my bucket list for a long time.  Maybe this will be the year that I get it accomplished.  I certainly have time.

Happy Stitching!

Thud...Another Box of Fabric...

Ever since the big move and my realization of just how much fabric I own, I've been trying to reduce the stash.   This should mean that I shop the stash before purchasing.  That is not always the case.  Surprisingly, my husband actually encouraged this purchase.  I may have purchased a little more fabric than what he had intended.  I did write down the amount I was purchasing and the intended project.  We'll see how that goes.  Here's the fabric:

This is the fabric that caught my husband's interest.  No, it wasn't the fabric itself but the content.  This is a Black Polyester/Polyurethane Drapey Crepe Suiting. He wanted to see this fabric because of the polyurethane.  Well, who are I say he can't do that?  I bought enough for a skirt and pants but it may be a skirt and jacket.  The remaining fabric was just why not?  Shipping is half price along with the bargain prices of the fabric.

This is suede knit.  I never had a suede knit before and wanted to feel it.  I purchased enough for a pull-on pencil.  Perfect!  The color doesn't exactly make me think of a soft shadow wouldn't that be gray?  This feels more more brown but I'll figure it out.

This is a polyester/lycra leather.  I'm hoping those wrinkles can be dealt with.  Otherwise, this was a bad purchase.  I have on my list that this was intended for a skirt but I'm not sure.  We'll see if this is usable fabric.  It does indeed have a very nice stretch to it.  Maybe I can make a jean type skirt with it.

This is a polyester leather.  It is a very nice leather look fabric.  It is intended be a shoulder bag.  Let's see how that turns out.  I have looked over the pattern yet.  It is a little different style than I would generally carry but if the top is closed and I can create pockets and such for the inside, it will be good.

This is a ponte knit and it is really nice.  After seeing it, I was wishing that I had purchased more of this fabric. It was intended to be fabric for a muslin but it may be too nice for that.  However, if I don't use it for that then it will become stash fabric and I really don't need for of that. 

How's that for all black fabric?  I can't help it.  That particular sale seemed to lean that direction for a bit.  Hopefully, everything will get made by fall.  Do you fall for the Fabric Mart sales, also?

Fabric reduction isn't going so well this year.  I have purchased roughly twice as much as I have sewn. 

Happy Stitching!

Fifth Avenue Cape...

I'm finally getting around to the Fall Silhouette patterns.  Yes, I know I've been taking my time.

So, I'm starting with the Fifth Avenue Cape in the following knit:

This is the Black Honeycomb Double Knit from Fabric Mart.  When I first received it, I thought it felt too synthetic but it was much nicer after washing.

I found a new-to-me stretch thread that I decided to use with this project.  It's Eloflex thread .  Here's my testing with the thread:

Above you can see my test strips.  The first picture shows 10-inches of the fabric and the second picture shows that I can stretch it to 15-inches.

Here's the test seam.  You can see that it stretched ever so slightly.  The 10-inch area is now about 10 1/4-inches long. 

In this picture, you can see that the test seam was able to stretch just as much as the fabric without the seam.  I thought that was pretty impressive.  It is so easy to pop a hem in a t-shirt that has been sewn on a sewing machine.  Maybe I will invest a little more in this type of them.  I really do like being able to sew knit on the sewing machine without have issues.

Now back to the cape pattern.  Several people have made this little cape/jacket, whatever you want to call it.  To me, it is more of a jacket than a cape.  There has been a lot of discussion regarding this pattern and how it is put together.  Peggy did a youtube sew along recently using this pattern - here.

Here's my version of the Fifth Avenue Cape:

This is the cape with the collar unzipped.  It seems like the collar is a little over whelming.

Here's the jacket with the collar zipped closed and it has been washed.

The is the cape with the collar partially zipped.

Here's my conclusion of the pattern:

1.  This is not a beginner pattern.  Be sure to view the youtube sewalong.   Be sure to check all the directions before starting and make notations of pattern markings on the fabric.  Also be aware that not all the markings are on the pattern and you will have to put them in yourself (i.e., pockets).

2. I'm not sure how I feel about this cape/jacket.  It is certainly different.  The fabric is a little spongy which made the zipper application a little difficult.  There was a lot of hand basting involved which really slowed it down.  It was suppose to be one easy session. Hah!  This may very well be a good example of fabric and pattern not matching up well.

3. I might make this again in a light weight drapey fabric that can be pressed and in a much smaller size.

What are your thoughts of this pattern?  Have you made it?

Happy Stitching!