Memory Lane...

 I  have been slowing working on my sewing room and cleaning it up again.  I have a little chest of drawers that I have supplies in but it has gotten where I can not locate stuff in it.  The mess in the chest is just a symptom of the whole room in generally.  So, it is clean up time starting with that little chest.  Each drawer will be dedicated to particular items.  In going through the drawers, I have found the following items which most likely were done in the mid-to-late 80's:

Unfinished projects.  I believe that the cross stitch is finished but they are unframed.  Money was very tight during that time period so I am guessing that is the reason that they had not been framed.  I will check to see about framing now.  I still like the pictures.

Off to do more cleaning.  I will like to get as much tucked away as possible as it is getting harder and harder to work in my sewing area.

Happy Stitching!

Adding to the Sewing Library and UFO completion

I purchased “Patternmaking For Menswear” by Gareth Kershaw this month.

I bought it specifically to see if I could draft something for my son.  The book contains a few patterns of interest – Henley shirt, hooded sweatshirt, sweatpants, shorts, jean jacket, and a single-breasted jacket.  There are other interesting items that I think I can adapt to the wanted style.  Of course, this book is just for drafting.  There is no information for fitting or sewing instruction.  But one book can’t really provide all the information.  Fitting is really only accomplished via experience. 

My son is tall and very thin which makes it very hard to find clothes.  I measured him recently to see what size shirt he wears.  It was a 14 with 36 sleeves.  That isn’t exactly a common size to locate.  I did find some 14 ½ x 35/36 online.  SML sizing just doesn’t work well due to length.  I know I can’t be the only one in the situation.  I would love to hear where you’re locating clothes.  Oh, yeah, pants are 30x36 which I can’t find anywhere.  I told him to wear a belt and bought 32x36.  I hate that he is in the situation where everything is so completely oversized.  I have purchased a couple of patterns from Silhouettes for him.  A shirt pattern which is too big but Peggy explained how to reduce the size and a jean pattern. I have yet to get the courage to try anything.  I also wonder if he will have the patience for me to fit anything.  My goal for spring is a couple of shirts with the close fit the young guys seem to like that are long enough to stay tucked in.   

I did a little bit of sewing last night.  I finished one UFO and cut out the lining for the brown wool skirt.  Maybe I will finish it tonight.  Here's the UFO:

Can you tell I'm thinking of spring? Actually, I started these last spring and got all the pressing for the hems completed and never finished the hems.  Now, they are all done and ready for spring.

Happy Sewing!

Another one bits the dust....

Yes, another UFO has bit the dust. The grain bag is finished. I didn't add the elastic to the top. It was super simple sewing and surprisingly everything came together easily. DH is very happy and proclaimed that he now needed to make a batch of beer to try out the new bag. I hope it works for him. I now have a pattern that works. The sewing time on this was very short. It took about 1 1/2 hours to complete and this included fiddling with the serger which had to be threaded from the beginning (I usually pull threads) and I had to move needles. Now, I'm wondering why this became a UFO.

However, I'm now planning new projects which will most likely become the next UFOs. I hope not but you know how that goes.

I have gone stash diving and found a couple of fabrics. The first one is some kind of challis (I think) and is in lovely fall colors. Here's the pattern I was planning on: The version I'm thinking about is the one shown in yellow. This is McCall's 5925. Is this still somewhat fashionable? I was going to lengthen it to knee length and wear tights with boots. I'm thinking that it might be nice and warm for my office. I did look for reviews and found one. I need to take the pattern out and measure it. Since the styling is suppose to be very loose fitting, I will need to determine how loose I'm willing to go.

The second stash find that I found was a navy dinosaur print. My son has agreed that it would make perfect pjs. Hopefully, I can get those made. He has outgrown everything and I'm sure would appreciate something besides short pjs now that the weather is getting cool again.

Don't think that I have made all the UFOs disappear because I haven't. I can think of at least three more but I want something new for myself.

Happy Sewing!