A Wee Bit has been going on....

A wee bit of sewing has been happening.  I decided to try The Perfect T-Shirt by Pamela's Patterns:

This will be my test garment as I haven't tried this pattern before.  I decided to go with a scoop neck and 3/4 length sleeves.  Here's my fabric:

I'm not sure what it is but I'm leaning toward a polyester. However, it is very stretchy and has was a wonderful bubbly texture.  I found it while I was digging through the stash.  I'm hoping that I actually end up with a wearable item.   I'll post a pic when it's done.

I haven't returned to my pillow that I started in February yet.  I will get it finished before the first of June though.

I've been enjoying the wonderful weather that we have been having. The flowers are blooming.  This is about 1 1/2 months earlier than normal. The daily walks have been really nice.  I didn't realize how much I missed walking every day.

The spring weather has also gotten me into a major spring cleaning mood.  I started with the spare bedroom which has been a dumping ground for a long time.  I have cleared the closet (mostly), moved furniture around, vacuumed and dusted.  There is still a lot to do in that room as my next step was to clean other closets and you know where that ended up.  I plan on having a charity come to the house to pick up the excess stuff that I have.  When everything is boxed up, I will schedule a pick-up.

Today, I also made time to go shopping.  I do not like shopping very much but sometimes you have to do it.  I started with purchasing a pair of shoes:

This is a pair of Clark's. I have been wanting to get these since they first showed up at Macy's and I almost didn't get them.  Macy's was sold out when I went to get them but the Clark store had one pair left in my size.  The 2 1/2" heel is a little bit taller than what I am use to wearing but I think it will be Ok.  I walk around in the store for a long time before I bought them.  The shoes just got me started.  Then, I headed over to the Christopher Banks.  I was there yesterday and thought there were many items I wanted to try on.  Today, not so much.  I did end up with a skirt, three tops, and a bracelet.  One of the tops was a white t-shirt with a interesting ribbing treatment.  I hope it still looks interesting by the end of summer.  All in all, not a bad shopping day.

I have found some interesting blogs recently.  I have added the Fashion Sewing Blog to my list on the left under Websites.  There are sew-alongs there. The TV site has many techniques.  Great place for beginners (or not) to learn.

Happy Sewing!

Another day or two

The Singer 160 has been returned.  I really didn't need the machine.  I just wanted it.  Does anyone else do this kind of thing?  Although I will say that the Singer customer support isn't very good.  I sent an email detailing the problems that I was having with the 160, detailing what I had done, and requesting information on service in my area.  I received an email about 2 weeks later (a little slow) telling me what page number in the machine that described how the needle threader worked.  The machine had already been returned at this point but they didn't really answer my questions.   Really? Pointer at the little 10 page manual for instructions on using the needle threader after I told that NO parts moved when the needle threading button was engaged. 

I haven't done any sewing since I played with the 160.  I have been slowly cleaning up the entire sewing/office/study room though and that is a big plus.  I just wish I had more organizing space.  I know I will get it figured out eventually.  In the meantime, I had been dreaming of spring/summer sewing.  I done with winter.  I'll show my projects as I get them done or as I'm working on them.  Yes, I'm still working on going through the Sew Modern Book and it will play into my spring/summer sewing a little bit.

Yesterday, I decided to hop into Kohl's and see what was being offered for spring. So many pretty things but nothing really jumped out at me.  There were a couple of tops that I might go back and get.  I wonder over to the lingerie department to look at bras.  UGH!  When the bra sizing change to S-M-L-XL?  or 36C/38B?  I'm sorry I thought SML was sizing for sports bras so the girls could be squished.  I know that the C/B cup sizing is correct but really can a person who wears a 36 band wear a 38 band and be comfortable?  I don't think so.  No, I don't remember brands these bras were but I'll look the next time I'm at Koh's.  I really want to get some new t-shirt bras but I'm not willing to go SML or any other mixed sizing.  The companies will lose my business.  Yes, folks, if I can't find what I'm looking for in a bra, I will make every effort to make my own.  This is not really anything that I had really considered but you will not find this 36? wearing a 36?/38? because I know that if that band that will supposedly fit either size will not.  There isn't anything more uncomfortable than wearing a bra that has to pulled down because the band is tooo big. This has GOT to be a decision made by a MAN.  LOL

OK, enough of my rant. 

Another day..

Well, I did get the pillow started yesterday.  The front and back have been cut out with the zipper installed on the back.  I started my bias trim and messed up the first one.  Somehow, I ended up cutting on the straight of grain and that will not work.  I will work on getting the remaining fabric turned into bias and hope that I have enough fabric left.  Maybe the pillow will not be as frilly.

The new sewing machine (Singer 160) showed up on Friday.  I was so excited.  It really is a pretty machine even if it is fairly plasticy (is that a word?).  I unpacked it and checked to make sure that everything that was suppose to be in the box was in the box.  There wasn't enough time on Friday to do anything else.  Fast forward to Saturday afternoon. I cleared off a spot on one of my tables and set to work getting the machine ready to sew.  First thing, the automatic needle threader didn't work.  Ok, that isn't that big of a deal but this is the nosiest machine that I have EVER heard running.  As I walk through testing all the stitches, I realize that  not all of the stitches stitched correctly.  Now, I know with this being electronic that there could be some adjustments needed but I don't think that there is anyone in the area that works on these machines.  I contacted customer service but haven't heard back from them yet.   It has a 30 day return window for returns and that really isn't long enough to send to a warranty center for work.  However, it is a pretty machine.  It comes with some great stitches and would make a great machine as long as it is functioning correctly.  If I don't hear from the Singer customer service by tomorrow evening, I will be returning it.  There really isn't any reason to keep it if it isn't functioning the way it should be.

Happy Stitching!

One project down...

Yes, the sleep shirt is finished, mistakes and all.  Here it is:

Sorry, not a great picture but it was the best I could do.  The back of the shirt is black.  My son is happy with the way his shirt turned out and I'm mostly happy with it.  The shirt took 1 1/4 yards of the starwars fabric and 1 3/4 yards of the black fabric.  I do have a little bit of both fabric left.  The starwars fabric will be destined for the quilt that we are working on. The black fabric will probably be binding for something in the future.  The pattern is from the Buckles & Bobbins - A Beginning Sewing Book for Boys.  This is a great pattern. 

It really felt good to have the serger and sewing machine going.  I may have finally bonded with the Behemoth.  Yes, that is what I call one of my machines. 

Ok, it is off to start the pillow project from the "Make It Sew Modern" book.  It will have my modifications because I just can't follow directions.  LOL.

Happy Sewing!

I must be on a roll....

Yes, I am.  The sleep shirt for my son has been cut out.  I did have to get very creative but I think it will work.  I had to add about 6 inches to the length of this top.  I also, had to change the draft of the sleeve slightly so that I was sure that his hand would go through the sleeve.  I'm hoping that I will have the top finished by Monday.  Let's see if I can really get the machines going.  The serger needs to have the thread changed and the machine that I will be sewing with hasn't been checked since I moved and plugged it back in.  Hopefully, it is working fine. 

After I cut out the shirt tonight, I realized that Vogue had new patterns out.  What's up with the funny poses?  They don't show the clothes at all.  It makes me wonder if the clothes didn't fit the model and that was the only way they could get a picture.  Here are some that I found interesting:

I like both pieces in the pattern.  It is Vogue 1294.  See what I mean about the weird poses.  Does the pants not fit the model? Is the top too wide?

I guess that is the only one that I found interesting enough that I would purchase.  There is another pattern that I liked but you can see the models bra in one of the pictures which tells me that the neckline is really low.  Here's the pic and the line drawings:

This has a really cute neckline.  The pattern number is 1285.

They also had a new men's jean pattern but it looked funny.  Like the rise was too high.  I thought about it for about 2 seconds.  My son is very lean and tall for his age and I have a very hard finding pants.  I have been thinking about sewing them for him.  We'll see.  It may be more efficient to make shorts for him as boys tend to wear their shorts long and I can't seem to find shorts long enough.