Happy Thanksgiving! and etc....

Hope everyone had a wonderful day! This year we stayed in PA. We fixed a lovely meal and then spent part of the afternoon geocaching. There is a cache at the park down the street. We finally managed to find one of the four hidden clues in the park but the second clue appeared to be missing. Others have figured it out so we are going to keep trying. This evening found us trying to figure out a new board game "The Pirate King". This is a long game to play. After two hours, we decided to take a break till tomorrow.

As far as sewing, the past week has found me mending. It is not my favorite thing to do but it was just sewing on buttons so it was not so bad. I did work on redrawing the Simplicity 3789 top and changed from a 12 to a 14 with the D front, then used the pivot/slide method of alteration to finish up. I think that I have a workable pattern now. I just need to locate a spot and an hour of extra time to get the top cut out.

I have been working on rearranging the existing sewing room. I have moved the bookshelf and the sewing table. I'm going through my books and magazines as I have more items than space. I will be parting with my collection of Sew News. These magazines will be listed at Pattern Review by year for free just pay the shipping. There are other magazines that I will be listing with just shipping payment. I still need to go through the collection of books. I don't know what I will be doing with those books. Haven't decided whether or not to donate to the library or attempt to sell. I have also managed to get two the machines back to the sewing table so once I get a chair I will be able to sew. Also, I will have space to embroidery with the Diamond. I have not embroidered with this machine except in an owner's class. It's not convenient to carry that machine and it's many parts to classes.

Happy Sewing!

Where did the week go?...but I've been sewing!

Wow! The past week went by quickly. I've been busy with work and everyday things. However, I have found time to sew and work on the Simplicity top pattern. I've been working on crafty things (i.e., stuffed kitties) and trying to paper fit the Simplicity top pattern with DH's help. I've decided that I'm going to start over with the size 12 pattern and use the pivot and slide method of pattern fitting. This has worked well in the past and I'm thinking that it will work this time, too. I'm not sure why I think that I need to try something new when I already have something that works.

Happy Sewing!

Simplicity 3789, Threads - 01/2009

I have started the paper fitting of the Simplicity 3789. DH has been helping a little bit. I think I need him to take some pictures so I can see what he's talking about. The back on most tops is usually too wide me and from what he is telling me the size that I choose to way too narrow from about mid back to the hem. Of course this is an easy fix for most pattern just move over and trace the next size. I haven't done this yet. Maybe tonight I will be able to retrace that portion of the pattern. The front looks good. The center line is staying centered and the side seam is where it's suppose to be. Maybe when I'm done I can make a couple of tops from this pattern.

Have you read the article on white shirts in Threads 01/2009? It is really an outstanding article for all three of the designers. I printed the extra collar information from Lois Cutting today.

It's off to do more housework. The school gardening club is in a couple of hours and I still have a few things that I would like to accomplish before then. I just wish that it was warmer outside because I don't like standing around outside for long when it's cold.

Happy Sewing!

Simplicity 3789, etc.

Today, I made time to trace Simplicity 3789. I took my measurements and decided upon a size 12 with a D front. I'm a little concerned that the sleeve will be too narrow but we'll see what happens when I do the paper fitting. DH will have to help with this but I think he will be willing. Paper fitting isn't really a one person job, at least not for me. I will need to decide whether or not I'm going to make a muslin or make the with the real fabric and say my prayers. LOL. We'll see. I don't think that I have any “muslin” fabric hanging around in that weight. Perhaps I will get the pattern cut out tonight, too. That would be wonderful.

I also need to start thinking about Christmas sewing. I have a short list of sewing for family and friends. I will not be posting a list because I don't know who may be reading. I'm making my niece and nephew something, perhaps my Mom, my DH, and maybe my son. Seems like I'm leaving my Dad out but I don't have any idea what I could make for him.

Happy Sewing!

The Bag for the Halloween Costume is done!

If you didn't know, the Indiana Jones character carries a vintage WWII gas mask bag. So, after looking at a multitude of photos of said bag, I decided that it would be very easy to make a bag and it was.

Here is the pattern that I drafted. Not a lot. I drafted the main part of the bag in one long piece with side pieces. The size of the bag is larger than one of the vintage bags since it will be the candy bag for Halloween. The size that I ended up with is 12" x 15" x 3" and I used 1/2" seams.

Here's the finished bag. Not bad for my first attempt at drafting a bag. This style of bag is suppose to have snaps but at the last minute I decided not to put them. It seemed like a waste of the snaps. The bag handle is from a bag that I got at Good Will for this purpose.

Here you can see the side of the bag with the d-rings. You can also see the seams which are basically french seams. Yippee! Halloween costume is finished with the exception of make-up which I have decided if I'm going to give the kid stubble or not but I did locate a website with a video on how to do the stubble.

Now, it's time to decide on the next project. It actually didn't take very long to decide on. I will be making this Simplicity pattern:

There are a couple of decisions that need to be made like size and which view. I'm thinking either the bottom one on the left or the middle on the right. The pattern has separate fronts cup sizes c and d. I'm hoping that this will eliminate a little bit of work. The fabric that I found in the stash is a pinky/lavender shade. It's on the washing machine right now.

Happy Sewing!