All My Seams

Little Black Cardi

2012-01-18T18:21:00.001-05:00

I want to thank all of you for your concern and good wishes about my eye surgery and resulting problem. My eye has healed and I'm ready for another surgery next week. Ready is probably not the right word. Reconciled. Because of the way the anesthetic stays with me, I'll have two days that are worry free. I'll be totally happy! Giddy. Stupid.

I have a black knit fabric that has black, raised, textured flowers. It's thin. I bought it for a pattern that ended up being a wrong choice. So today, I made my old standby cardi. It's my "go to" thing when I want to sew but don't want to have to think about it or figure anything out. Lazy sewing. The fabric was perfect for it and it was quick and easy. Painless.

The last pattern sale at Jos I bought these patterns.

I like the lines on the McCall outerwear jacket. It has a saddle shoulder--something you don't seem often. And the See&Sew coat has a cute, full back. Who knows when or if they will get made. I think of my patterns as a collection, and truly, how many of us actually sew all the patterns we have? Still, they are comforting, aren't they? Especially when they are on sale so inexpensive.

I have traced and altered the Cutting Line Designs HeartsAFlutter overblouse. I believe Shams may have made it so I'll have to check her blog and PR to find it. I know it runs very large, so I used the finished garment measurements, which is what I always do, anyway. That's on the agenda for tomorrow.

Back in the Blog Business

2012-01-14T22:28:00.000-05:00

It was not a good week. I had cataract surgery on one eye. When my eye was clamped open, it tore. Inside where you can't see it but the Dr. can. I found out a week later when my eye didn't feel good. It's going to be ok though. Supposedly. I can't wear eye makeup for a month. I've worn eye makeup since I was 14. May as well not have any clothes on! I lost two complete days because the anesthetic knocked me on my butt. Then Blogger decided to cut up, ending with not allowing me to enter my blog.

After fiddling around for several hours, instead of sewing, I finally fixed Blogger. Actually, Blogger told me it wanted me to download Google Chrome. I gave in. After the download, I got back into my blog and it let me make comments again. Thanks, Blogger.

Sometimes, you just have to let it have its way.

Note to Bunny,Sherill and Rhonda

2012-01-13T12:37:00.000-05:00

Blogger is once again throwing me a curveball. I am not able to comment on any of your blogs on any computer. I don't seem to have any problems with others. So, please know I'm reading your blogs but until I can rectify the situation, I can't "speak" with you.

Bunny, I didn't know Erica Wilson died. I used to watch her show and have one of her old books. She was THE embroidery star of her day.

Sherill, your new jacket is going great! I love a jean jacket.

Rhonda, wonderful idea about showing us how to make different types of sleeves. That will be very interesting and informative.

Now, back to trying to figure out what the problem is.

Texting Gloves

2012-01-01T15:53:00.000-05:00

Or typing gloves, or fingerless gloves--whichever name one puts to them. I started the NewYear off right by sewing up two pair of these easy to make but kinda' cute hand warmers. The pattern is V8703, by Marcy Tilton.

They need a knit fabric-fleece or any other type of appropriate weight knit. Mine are made from black stretch Velveteen, with black stretch lace trim. These are the easiest little thingies to make, and I can see them in a leopard print or brightly colored knits, or even made from a discarded sweater. The most difficult part of the whole thing is finding stretch trim, which I'll be watching for now.

These texting gloves would make a nice little gift, especially for those who work in an office that's drafty. A little late for Christmas, but there are other holidays, and Christmas does come around again before we blink an eye. Marcy talks about them here:http://marcytilton.com/index.php?cid=1703

Daughter, you're getting a pair, sweetie.

CLD Discover Something Novel

2011-12-30T08:51:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like a flu bug to put a damper on the holidays. I'm taking antibiotics that I'm hoping will knock this crud out of me before Wednesday, because I'm scheduled for cataract surgery. I don't want to have to cancel the surgery and start that whole process all over.

I noticed this vest in Threads. It's Louise Cutting's Discover Something Novel.

The pattern:

I love this vest. It is a good pattern if you like to embellish. The right front has two pieces, the back is asymmetrical, split into two pieces, and the peplum is separate pieces, back and front. Mine is made from black velveteen, black velvet embossed twill, and white shantung. Here's the front:

The side, showing the peplum is is split at the side seam:

And the back:

It's hung over a white t-shirt, but it would look pretty over a shiny, long-sleeved shirt and velveteen pants. Although the pattern doesn't have a lining, I lined mine with a black/white print. Love.

A few weeks ago, I took a workshop called "Mixed Media", where we played with a lot of different mediums--paints, inks, etc. We did silk screening, stenciling, dying, sun printing, and many other techniques. I was introduced to something called Zentangle, and was hooked immediately. Zentangle is basically doodling repetitive patterns. When I realized this could be done on fabric, I was ecstatic! I bought this piece of fabric from the instructor. It's cotton fabric, drawn on with a Sharpie marker.

Isn't that gorgeous? The gal who did this piece drew it while standing by her kitchen counter. My goal is to be able to draw that on something--fabric, a shirt, white tote bags. It could be done in color, or this black and white drawing could be hand embroidered. Lots of possibilities. I love to sew, but I equally love playing with pens and inks.

Wishing all of you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year, filled with fabric and patterns!

V8624

2011-11-27T16:34:00.000-05:00

Here's a shrugg-y type jacket from Vogue, 8624. The envelope states it has kimono sleeves, but in fact, I believe they are more dolman. The under part of the sleeve angles down to the hemline of the jacket, creating drape and fullness at the side. Here's a photo of mine, with my husband holding out one sleeve straight.

Mine is made from a lightweight, drapey rayon. It does not meet at CF. It looks much better on than off, and the photo on the pattern envelope is an accurate depiction. It's another version of a cocoon jacket.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a workshop entitled "Mixed Media". We painted fabric with all types of fabric paint and ink, learned to draw images on fabric, stencilled, screen-printed, sun printed, etc. It was two riotous days of fun! I have a lot of samples that were done in the workshop that will never be anything but samples. The one thing I actually finished is a white silk scarf. I spray painted it with silver glitter. Then, I used Shiva Paintsticks to stencil words all over it. The paint had to cure for a couple of days, and then it was heat set with an iron. I intend to bead the edges with silver beads.

I'm working on a silky, sheer waist length mobius wrap. It's simply a rectangle with borders. Easy, right? It would be, except for the slippery fabric. Not particularly enjoyable to work with. I'm making french seams and serger rolled hems. If all goes well, I'll have it finished tomorrow. Then, I want to make the E-Shrug. I'm probably the last person in blogland to make it.

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Santas Got a Brand New Bag #2

2011-11-06T06:57:00.002-05:00

Santa Bag is finished. I will start carrying it on Thanksgiving. At least I was ahead of the game for a change!

No pattern for this bag. It came out of my head when I made the first one for my daughter. I quilted red satin fabric with red rayon thread to PellonFleece and then cut out the pieces. For stiffness, I used Peltex. There are pockets on each side for phones and glasses. There's a rhinestone key fob on one side (gotta have a little bling)! White fur balls hang from red satin ribbons, and trim around the top in white fur, taken from Santa hats. There's a "G" ornament hanging also, from red satin ribbon. Red and white candy-cane stripe handles that I found online. Zipped top with rhinestone zipper pull. Stacked buttons used for feet. And red satin lining, with a zipper pocket. Here it is.

Front:

Side with key fob:

Bottom:

Top:

Inside:

The tables and hardwood floors are dusty. Laundry is backed up and I haven't cooked a good meal for a couple of days. But the important things are done! I'll catch up with housework while I think about the next project. There is Christmas music playing in the stores. I am not ready for it.

Santa Bag In Progress

2011-10-30T17:27:00.000-04:00

Two years ago, I made my daughter a SantaBag. I had all the "ingredients" to make two-one for her, and one for myself. As things go, I didn't get mine made that year. I have started mine, finally, and will have it finished by Thanksgiving. (which, by the way, is coming up shortly)! Can you believe it? I misplaced September and October.

The SantaBag doesn't have a pattern. It's just a box type bag with a zip top. I've quilted red satin for the body, and it will be lined in red satin, also. I have red and white candy-cane looking handles, and a couple pieces of rhinestone bling for zipper pulls and key fobs. It will be trimmed around the top with white fur, and will have white fur balls hanging from a satin ribbon, just like Santa's hat. And, I have a tree ornament to hang on it also, which is my initial, done in silver and red, with rhinestones. Today, I got the pieces quilted, and interfaced with Peltex. I stacked three red buttons to use for feet, and have those sewn on. I'll work it again tomorrow. I'm thinking of Bunny as I'm sewing, because she makes some beautiful bags, and I think she's going to making some for holiday gifts this year.

Of course, I can't pass up a pattern on sale at Jos. I was there a few days ago, and got a few Vogue patterns, and one McCall. I have plans for V8624, a cute cocoon type jacket. I bought a black/white rayon print for it.

A couple of weeks ago, I took a workshop at Needlework & Textile Guild of Michigan. There's a workshop every month, and I attend all that I possibly can. This workshop was "Nuno Felting" a silk scarf. Basically, you layer wool roving, and ribbons, sequins, silk bits, etc. onto a silk scarf. Cover with a thin gauze, wet with water and soap solution, make a jelly roll of it with bubble wrap, and roll the entire thing back and forth, felting the wool into the silk. Fiber artists out there will know exactly how this process is done. Here's my finished scarf. It was laborious to say the least!

Knitting. I finished this ruffley scarf. It's made from Sashay by RedHeart. The yarn is a mesh-type fiber, with silver metallic on the edge. It's a no-brainer to knit-a good project to take along to knit when you're waiting for whatever. Or whomever. I have about 6 more skeins of this stuff to knit.

There was a big hoo-hah in the knitting community over KateMiddleton's knitted shawl that she was spotted wearing while grocery shopping. It was all over Ravelry. I downloaded a few patterns, and did some samples of the stitches used. Then, Claire posted about the Kate shawl she was making, called "Ubiquitous Kate". I found that free pattern at Ravelry also, and made a swatch of the stitch pattern. Decided I liked it and ordered yarn from KnitPicks. I'm using Gloss fingering yarn, in scarlet. Gotta say I'm totally enjoying knitting this shawl.

I think that catches up what I'm doing creatively. This week is not so busy for me as the last two, so I hope to get my SantaBag finished and maybe start on a jacket. To those of you who got the surprise snow, I hope you had yourselves a nice sewing snow day!

Marcy Jacket Closeted/Fiber Arts/Pattern Prize

2011-10-15T14:16:00.000-04:00

I'm so far behind in posting. My blog is shamefully neglected. I need a class in time management.

The MarciTilton jacket I've been working on is(was) almost finished. Problem: there is a big old diagonal pleat in the back peplum. It sticks out like a sore thumb on my behind. So, I took the pleat out, which would be fine, except that I used a stripe fabric, and the peplum is cut rather angular, making the stripes look wonky. So, I put it in the closet until I feel like trying to work out a solution. It's just one of those things. If I were to make the jacket again, I would take the pleat out before cutting the fabric. And it would not be a stripe. I still like the basic cut, and sometime I'll probably try it again. Meanwhile---

At September's Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan, we were honored to have a class by Bernina Fashion Show participant, MichelleMitchell. She sews art garments, and is an award winner several times. The class she taught is called "Crinkled and Gathered". We started with several 1-1/2" strips of fabric, sew together--as if you were strip piecing a quilt. On that fabric, you free-motion stitch in a zig-zag pattern, going across an area of about 2" at a time, and down the length of the fabric. That is repeated across the width. As you sew in that fashion, the fabric starts to bunch up, crinkle and gather. Here is what the fabric looks like with one layer of thread stitched on top. (The white fabric is "handles" you use to maneuver the fabric from side to side.)

That process is repeated until you have 7-8 layers of thread stitched, starting with the darkest thread and ending with the lightest. When finished, the fabric is about half the width of the original. There is only a trace of fabric showing through all that thread. It feels very much like upholstery fabric when done. Here is the finished piece.

From it, you can cut details of a garment, like collars, cuffs, pockets, etc. It was a great class. Also a big time-suck. I'm glad I know it though, because it may be exactly what I need sometime.

Designer group's October challenge is to sew something from silk upholstery samples that came from a furniture store. We could choose 3. One of the samples I chose is a dark yellow plaid. It was just large enough to make this Jitney Miser Bag from PeacockPatterns.

In the 1700s England, people carried these belt bags to keep their coins separated. The bag has an opening down the center, with rings on either end that slide up and down to open and close the bag. It is supposed to be worn with a belt to hold it on. No belt? Then you attach a carabineer and clip it to a belt loop or waistband. This is what it looks like from the right side:

And open, from the wrong side, showing the opening to put your valuables.

On the grab table there was this reprint of "Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery and Lace Work", first published in 1922. It's amazing seeing what could be done with a treadle machine. The book is filled with photographs of beautiful lace-work. I love it, and it is mine.

Lastly, I won this Jalie pattern give-away from LuckySewandSew(Jane). Drapey front cardis are so on the fashion scene, and I've seen this one made up a few times. Thank you Jane. This is in my queue.

I just finished another fiber-art class, and will post about that in a few days. Right now I am working on a SantaHandbag for myself. It is made from red satin, which I'm quilting and then cutting the pieces. It is not too early to sew for the holidays. Not if you're like me and have a lot of things taking up time. I know I'm not alone here. Jingle bells and ho, ho, ho!

V8709 In Progress

2011-09-30T08:34:00.000-04:00

I'm working on V8709. All I have to do is set in the sleeves. The fabric is a deep olive green/white stripe, poly suiting. Here's the pattern and fabric.

This, like most of Marcy Tilton's is funky, asymmetrical. It has a cut-on pocket, a diagonal pleat in the back peplum and a wonky-looking collar. The pattern says it's a jacket. Shams and Ann are calling this a shirt, or top. I can see why. But, because of the fabric, mine, I think, is more "jackety". Regardless of what you call it, it's an artsy, out of the ordinary garment.

I made a muslin, and glad I did. The pattern says it's loose-fitting. But, it's not loose in the shoulder/bust area. It's loose in the hip. When I made the muslin, before I set in the sleeve, there was a gap in the back armsythe. That's an indication of a rounded back. I never realized I have a rounded back, but it does happen with age and being bent over a desk (or sewing machine). It needs added length over the upper back. I followed instructions for "rounded back" in SandraBetzina's fitting book. As soon as I added the extra length in that area, the armsythe gap disappeared, like magic!

Other stuff. On a recent stop at Jos, I found this cool sweater knit in the bargain bin at 50% off. I couldn't resist. It's really beefy. A nice piece of fabric. I loved the giraffes.

At the last Creative Clothing Club meeting, I got some pieces of fabric off the grab table. There 3 yards of really nice, gray Herringbone wool. A dark red poly. and a navy DottedSwiss.

But what landed on the table is something I've wanted for a long, long time. Years ago, back in the 70s, I took Stretch&Sew classes. It was a big deal at that time, this sewing on knits. Very new. No one knew much about that type of sewing. I bought the workbooks, which are still today, good guides for sewing with knits. Several years ago, I let those books go, and have regretted it since. And then--there they were--those first Stretch&Sew books, on the grab table. It took me about a second to scoop them up!

There was also an unopened software program, "Sweater Wizard". I'm anxious to play around with that.

No sewing today or tomorrow. Our little grandsons, aged three and four, are spending the night with us. I don't know how any of you sew when you have little ones around. But, that's ok. Sewing can wait. This weekend, I'm doing crafts with the kids. We'll be making ghosts, and decorating pumpkins and other Halloween type fun!

NTGM September 2011

2011-09-22T19:06:00.003-04:00

Thank you for your kind words concerning my mother-in-law. We are thankful that she didn't suffer and had a very good long life. It took a few days for me and my husband to get rested and back to our normal routines. Things are good now. Yay!

In my last post, I mentioned that I had taken a two-day workshop at Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan. I am so grateful to belong to a number of really interesting sewing clubs. I know that many of you don't have person-to-person contact with other sewists. I do have to travel a distance to go to meetings-usually an hour to an hour and 15 minute drives. Just getting off this Island takes me at least 20 minutes and sometimes longer, depending on the ferry schedule. I don't let any of these inconveniences deter me, because I get so much out of the meetings. I learn a lot, and have made friends that love to do what I do.

The NTGM workshop this month was taught by MichelleMitchell. She is an art-clothing instructor, award-winner, and has been invited to show work for the Bernina Fashion Show (no longer in existence, alas). She comes with a lot of credentials. Not only is she super-talented, but she's a wonderful instructor, nice as can possibly be, and cute as a button!

First, we had a trunk showing of her award winning garments, which were breathtaking. It was a treat to get to see her things up close and be able to handle them and turn them inside out and examine them. Her workshop was called "Crinkling and Gathering". The technique is one that I have not seen before. The finished piece is used for an accent--collars, cuffs, pockets, etc.

She had us piece inch and a half strips of fabric, as if you were quilting. The piece was to be twice as wide and as long as you want the finished piece. Texturizing the fabric with her method shrinks the fabric to about half it's width. I don't have a photo of my fabric before I started, but just picture about an 18" wide piece of strip-pieced fabrics. The fabric is going to be covered with 7 or 8 layers of embroidery thread.

Using embroidery threads, you free-motion stitch, in a zig-zag motion, covering a 2-inch wide area at a time. As you move your fabric from side to side, the fabric starts to bunch up, gather and crinkle. The entire piece is covered this way, using your darkest embroidery thread first.. Here's what mine looked like after the first layer of thread.

At this point, you can see the pieced fabrics. I started free-motioning with a dark rust thread. The muslin on the sides are "handles" that you hold to maneuver the fabric from side to side. We are manipulating fabric here.

This process is repeated, with each layer of thread being lighter in color than the previous layer. I used rusts, greens and yellows. My piece ended up losing just about 50% of it's width. And here it is, finished.

You can't see the actual fabric now. All the layers of thread gives it heftiness, and it feels very much like upholstery fabric. Is it a big time suck? You betcha'! But, it is fun. And unique. I don't know what mine is going to be yet. I still have another piece to texture. This is a snow day project.

There is a flea-market at NTGM, where there are various sewing-type items for sale at a tiny cost. Fabric, notions, patterns, books, anything sewing-related that members donate. I scanned the tables and my eyes landed on this sewing basket. It was a dollar. It came filled with old notions--wooden spools of thread, a darning egg (who wouldn't need one of those?). There is a package of 5 machine needles from JC Penny's marked 40cents! The basket is in excellent condition. I suspect the notions are a lot older than the basket itself. It was worth a buck!

I am actually sewing a garment, and will post about it in a couple of days. Plus, I just attended a Designer group today, and have a really fun challenge to start.

Post It Notes

2011-09-17T09:37:00.000-04:00

No sewing here, unless sewing in my head counts. It's been three weeks of going to the hospital, sitting at the bedside of my MIL, and then funeral arrangements, and on and on. I did squeeze in two days of workshops, which were intense, but fun. I'll take some pics and post about the workshops this week. Meanwhile---

My MIL's funeral was this week
It's ok. She was 98. It was time.
I wore her black hat to the funeral.
I love it.
Why don't people wear hats anymore?
Sewing workshops are fun.
Also, intimidating.
My Smart Phone isn't so smart.
It forgets to receive my email.
Back to the repair shop.
Again.
Why do we need this stuff anyway?
I love Dorothy's outfits on "Golden Girls".
I AM a "Golden Girl" now.
Sigh

Maxine Moved In With Me!

2011-08-24T12:05:00.000-04:00

If you're familiar with Maxine, the "tell it like it is" cartoon character, you will recognize her as this doll. I inherited her. I love her and will give her a good home. When you push her button, she ~~gripes,~~ talks like only Maxine can. I had a doll chair in storage, and she fits perfectly in it. I'll get a lot of pleasure chatting with her.

Last week, I picked up a few patterns at Jos. One, the handbag pattern that DebbieCook has been making in beige camo. I'm thinking of making the large version in green camo. I also got a couple of Burda patterns, basic jackets and I love that swing coat. Also a Simplicity. Along the way, I spotted a rack of plaids. I don't sew with them often, but this black/red/white one caught my eye. When I felt it, I knew I had to have it. It's a "cushy", soft, thick brushed cotton.

From it, I cut this old Stretch&Sew Barn Jacket. It's not feminine, nor fitted, nor pretty. But it feels wonderful, and will be perfect for fall leaf raking, or apple and pumpkin picking, or just romping with the grandkids.

I'm short just a bit of fabric, so I'll pick up a solid flannel tomorrow for the under collar and cuff facings. I won't be sewing until next week, but this will be ready when I can get to the machine.

More later.

The Fix for Blogger Comments

2011-08-20T08:01:00.001-04:00

Blogger has had a problem letting people make comments. When you try to comment, it redirects you to your sign in page. The fix for this is: go to your sign-in page, sign in, and UNCHECK the box that says "stay signed in". As long as that box is unchecked, you'll be able to make comments.

What About Those Wrinkles?

2011-08-15T08:46:00.000-04:00

If you've ever wondered what to do about those wrinkles in pants, under the butt, or wrinkles forming around the back armsythe--this DVD to the rescue. I got it when it was on sale a couple of weeks ago. Peggy Sagers has a lot of sales. I think right now she's offering 5 patterns for $30.

It doesn't answer every fitting question, being an hour long. Peggy does show how to take care of a few common fitting problems though, and does it effortlessly by herself. Basically, she takes those wrinkles and pinches them out, forming a dart. The dart narrows to the nearest seamline. Those baggy bunches under the butt in pants--pinch out the fullness, making a dart, and narrow the dart toward the side seam.

If you haven't seen Peggy's webcasts--they are on her website, and they are free. There are 15 online right now. And--there is a webcast tonight, if you want to join in and ask questions. She'll probably offer something on sale too, whether patterns or fabric. It starts at 8 PM, CST, I believe. Here. Scroll down. Her webcasts are listed under "Upcoming Events". Tonight's subject is "one pattern, many looks". I'll be there.

A Little Fabric Artsy Project

2011-08-10T12:37:00.000-04:00

One of the sewing groups I belong to is a Designer group. We are issued challenges, the members do the challenge and then bring it back the next month for show and tell. It's always interesting to see where everyone's imaginations take them. The current challenge is "make something that goes in your handbag and embellish it". That leaves a pretty large window open for creativity.

I love playing with textures, decorative threads, etc. When starting a project that involves manipulating fabric, there are a few books I use as inspiration and instruction. There are these by a lady named Jennie Rainment. They are rather pricey, coming from England. Great books, thank you daughter!

This book, by Colette Wolff, has been around a long time.

I decided to make a cosmetic bag, and use several textured techniques to cover the front. First, I cut out a piece of muslin the size of the finished surface, and drew some curved lines on it, separating it into sections. Each section would be a different technique.

Then, with my base fabric, I cut out pieces to texture. I made pintucks.

Mexican tucks.

And I crinkled fabric, using Chizimi bobbin thread. I stitched a diagonal grid on the fabric with Chizimi in the bobbin, then shot it with steam, which shrinks the Chizimi, and crinkles the fabric.

Then, I took all this mishmash of fabric, cut it to the shapes drawn on the muslin, and sewed them down with a decorative stitch. I added some 1" origami squares, and did some beading. The top of the bag is quilted, as is the back. Sewed it together, with a zipper. Lined it. And this is the outcome.

This was fun to do. No rights or wrongs, no instructions to follow. Just playtime! I'm anxious to see what everyone else does.

Looking for Knits?

2011-08-01T07:54:00.000-04:00

Recently, Christine of CJPatterns was our guest speaker at Creative Clothing Club. She has a line of patterns, primarily designed for knits. She brought a trunk show of her clothing and her patterns to sell. She's a delightful gal, very gracious, and down to earth. Not to mention, she knows her way around a knit garment.

In the June/July Threads magazine, Christine's travel wardrobe is featured. There are several pages devoted to her garments, and a nice article that she wrote. She brought all the garments featured in the magazine. It was interesting to see them up close. She sent the clothes to Threads to be photographed, and when they were returned, some had seams taken apart in order for them to fit the model.

Christine brought large samples of the fabrics she sells online. Most of her fabric contains Lycra and are good quality. If you're looking for another source for knits, take a look at her website.

Happy Monday!

I Won !! And Jam #5

2011-07-27T19:41:00.001-04:00

Gwen, of After The Dress blog, had a very generous give-away last week. I, Gwen, won!! Yes!! It is:

After The Dress is one of the first blogs I discovered. We share the same name, and an unusual one. This is a big textbook-technical. It has tests at the end of the chapters. TESTS!!! A very detailed book, and one that even if you don't want to draft an entire pattern, it's great to have if you need to know how to draft a particular type of collar, or sleeve. Thank you so much, Gwen. (I feel like I'm talking to myself in first person)!

The other Gwen wishes that every one of you could have won. So do I. But not enough to give you my book! As Angie puts it, "Neener, neener"!!

I was happy to sew something that wasn't vinyl, after the experience with that stupid rain poncho! It was a failed experiment, but all it cost me was a few dollars and a couple of hours. Since that fiasco, I cut a bunch of knits, sewed them into Ts to get me through the rest of the summer.

This border print

became this cardi, which is my JAM #5. Boy, am I behind!

And I bought these patterns at the last Butterick pattern sale at Jos.

I love the cuteness of this jacket by SewSerendipity.

It is out of print, and being re-drafted, and re-issued. Not difficult to figure out,though. It is pleated at bottom and sleeve hems. I think I have just the right coordinating fabrics to make it.

Stay cool.

My Big Fat Flop

2011-07-21T15:22:00.004-04:00

At one of my sewing clubs, we are exploring rainwear/raingear and all things related. I decided to work on cotton laminate. On Amy Butler's website, she has very good information about sewing this fabric. Here. The cotton laminate I bought at Fabric.com is not hers, so I don't know if there is a difference between the brands or not.

I knew better than to use a pattern with details like darts, pleats, etc. I chose this rain poncho because of the simplicity. Here. Nothing simpler, so I assumed it would be a good place to start to work with this new fabric. I had no problems sewing it at all. I made a plain seam, pushed both seam allowances to one and top-stitched the seam, using a Teflon foot. And that is where the good part ends!

Here is the poncho. Now, it is not finished. I have to top-stitch all around the edges to hold the lining in place.

This is not a bad photo. It looks like what it is. Vinyl. It is not pliable. It is hot. It is heavy. It is uncomfortable. See how it just sticks out everywhere? If there were a way to hate it more, I don't know what it would be! You know what it's like? Like those heavy, yellow raincoats that firemen wear. Or fishermen.

The best thing I can say about it is--I know not to use this fabric ever again. I will take this piece of crap to my meeting about rainwear in September, so that others can see and feel it, and not waste their time. I'm sure I can make something better!

My Frill and Top Off My Glass Please

2011-07-17T19:55:00.000-04:00

I bought some lacy, meshy type yarn that, when knitted, forms ruffles. This yarn looks like a tube, but when spread open, becomes a light, airy, open fabric. Knitting sweaters in the summer doesn't appeal to me. The thought of heavy yarn in my lap makes me hot. But this very lightweight yarn works up into pretty, ruffled scarves, perfect for hot weather knitting. There are several brands. This one is Estelle's Frill Seeker. I had to go to YouTube to see how to knit with it. Yay for YouTube!

There is a quaint little town near me, Lexington, that is right on Lake Huron. There are a lot of shops along the main street that cater to tourists. Gift shops, dress shops, ice cream parlors, etc., with old, creaky wooden floors. It's a great place to spend the day and browse. I saw these cute wine glasses and just couldn't resist. I bought one for myself and one for my daughter.

It's a Mason jar on a stem! Called "Redneck Wine Glass". I've Googled them, and they are available online through several online stores, one being Amazon. Love it!

I have the rain poncho lined and ready to top-stitch. I'm not in love with laminated cotton. It's heavy and I can tell, will be hot. I will finish it though, put snaps on it and talk about it at Creative Clothing Club. And I'll get into detail about it here in a few days.

Back to my Frills.

Rainwear in the Forecast

2011-07-07T09:12:00.000-04:00

In September, I'm participating in presenting a program for Creative Clothing Club. The subject is "rainwear". We'll be exploring raincoat fabrics, patterns, construction, closures, seam sealants, spray on water repellents, etc. Coats, ponchos, umbrellas and anything connected with staying dry. If anyone has ideas, I would love your input.

The first thing I'm making is a rain poncho. This pattern is from Indygo Junction. Very easy, lined, hood, snaps.

I ordered a laminated cotton from Fabric.com and bought a bright cotton for lining. The laminate came rolled, which I appreciated because folding would cause creases that would be difficult, if not impossible, to remove. The laminate is stiff but pliable.

This book has a lot of good information for all outerwear.

And, Threads #148 has a good article on rainwear.

AmyButler has a line of laminated cottons, and good tips on how to sew them on her website.

My Designer group asked me to give a workshop on Kanzashi flowers. I don't mind, but I just started learning how to make them, myself. I've made a couple of other samples, and photographed the sequence so I can print the pictures for instructions. Here are the samples I made this week. I'm going to have quite a little garden! I wish I was as successful growing them outside!

Now, I have to take my husband to the Doctor to get the 26 stitches out of his arm , where he fell in a boat and cut his arm down to the bone. Ouch!

My Pinweaving Project

2011-06-29T19:51:00.001-04:00

Some time ago, Bunny did pin-weaving on a handbag. Hers is shown on the link. Years ago, I also did some pin-weaving, also. I'm just finishing a hand embroidery, and thinking of a new handwork project. Enter pin-weaving.

Unfortunately, I lost or threw out the Threads magazine about that technique--#51, I believe. I know I had it once upon a time. Really, I should invest in their DVD magazine collection. There is a more recent Threads article by Shirley Adams in #147, and online Here.

I decided to make fabric for the front and back of a handbag. It will be a boxy style bag, in fall colors. OK, I know, know--but I'm slow and it won't hurt to be ahead of the game for a change! I gathered some yarns and other fibers in turquoise, gold and rust for the bag. Fabric can also be used in pinweaving, but I'm going to stick to yarns and trims.

I have a pinweaving mat by June Tailor. It's a board, covered, padded and with grid marks on the top. I cut a piece of fusible interfacing a bit larger than my finished bag, and pinned it, fusible side up in 3'8" (approx) intervals. That makes the "loom".

Then, using a rust colored #8 Pearl Cotton, I made the warp by wrapping the thread around the pins, top to bottom across the entire piece.

These are some pin-weaving tools. Usually, I prefer a very large yarn needle.

Then start weaving the weft. It is free-form, taking shape as I work. This is where it is now.

Pin-weaving is fun. I've had a good time working with it today. Handbags are fun to make, too. You can get very creative with handbags, embellishing them to the hilt, which isn't always a great look in garments. I'm carrying a summer bag that I made some time ago.

I love this bag. My daughter has one similar. I call it "MardiGras". It is crazy quilted, and embellished with trims, pearls, iron-ons. Makes me happy.

Back to my weaving. Oh, and have a great 4th of July. Be safe this weekend.

Kanzashi #2 and What's Outside My Window

2011-06-27T20:07:00.000-04:00

There's been a lot of house construction in my home the last few weeks. New windows and doors. Repaired ceilings. Anyone who has lived through drywall dust know the mess I've been in. I cut out Tshirts, had them stacked up and was able to sew a bit while the carpenters were here. But, with the house being in such disarray and mess, it was difficult to do much of anything. It is over. House clean and everything back to normal.

Today, I wanted to try another Kanzashi technique. I didn't have instructions for these petals, but looking at a photo, and fiddling with some fabric, I copied a Kanzashi flower I found online. These flowers are my challenge project for the Designer group I'm going to on Thursday.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day. I had the *new* windows open, letting in a nice breeze. I looked out the picture window in my sewing room and saw our visitors.

Two grown swans and 7 babies. Not a bad view!

Tshirt Time

2011-06-11T15:57:00.000-04:00

Every summer, I sew Tshirts. Lately, there's been discussion on some blogs about PamelasPatterns, and her marvelous fitting Ts. I've used the same old Stretch&Sew Tshirt pattern for years, but I'm going to order a Pamela pattern, along with the neckline variations pattern. Although it's not mind-bending, creative sewing, for me it is essential if I want a T that fits the way I want it to. I made this one:

I cut out thee others, which are in my "to sew" pile. While in this simple sewing frenzy, I ordered a couple of cotton knits from TheFabricFairy. One is this Betty Boop fabric. Silly. Whimsical. But, really, Betty Boop is an icon! She makes me happy.

And, this green cotton knit.

When I get tired of repetitive sewing, there are these new top patterns I'll tackle.

As Betty says, "poopoopidoo" to you!

Kanzashi Flowers, New Books and Fabric

2011-06-02T09:02:00.000-04:00

I belong to a sewing group called Designer III, an offshoot of another sewing group. Funny, how sewing clubs grow and have babies! The group issues a design challenge one month, and the following month, you are supposed to have worked on the challenge and have something to show. This time, the challenge is fabric flowers. I'm working on Kanzashi flowers. They are Japanese silk flowers, traditionally worn in the hair. The technique has been simplified and being used for embellishing clothing and accessories.

Recently, I bought a book called "Kanzashi in Bloom".

And I made this: It's yellow and coral cotton fabric, artificial stamens and a button in the center.

What fun! It's basically origami, using fabric. I have some other fabric set out to make another. There are several folding techniques that I want to try. I'll probably wear these on suit jackets. Making them is addictive, but what a fun way to be out of control!

I have "new to me" sewing books. I have the original Couture sewing book by Claire Shaeffer, but couldn't resist buying her revised edition. Twinkle Sews and and Pattern Magic 2, I bought just to study the drafting. The Couture book by Linda Maynard is a beautifully photographed book, full of very good techniques.

There is a new fabric store in town! For the Michigan people, it's called "Sew Many Things", in Clinton Twp. It's small, but has some nice fabrics with Haberman's prices. I couldn't leave without buying something. Three pieces-one navy knit and two cottons for lightweight, summer jackets.

Off to make a flower. Since I can't grow them, fabricating them is the next best thing. Plus, your hands don't get dirty!

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GIVEAWAY!!!!

2011-05-17T18:36:00.001-04:00

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GIVEAWAY!!!!

Above is the link to this fun machine!

Have You Seen June Threads?

2011-05-03T08:27:00.000-04:00

In it, is an article written by Barbara, of SewingOnTheEdge.

Check it out. And, look for more from her in the future.

Garments made by me in the month of April--zero.

For SD Bev (and other knit sewing enthusiasts)

2011-04-11T17:20:00.000-04:00

Bev, your blog won't let me comment, so hoping you see this post.

Bev is writing her blog posts about using knit fabrics. I know of a wonderful tool that anyone who sews with knits would find invaluable.

Christine Johnson of http://www.cjpatterns.com/ has devised and written a "Perfect Sizing Worksheet". It enables you to calculate how much ease your finished knit garment will have, using fabric with any amount of stretch. For example, you measure your T-shirt pattern (or pants, or skirt, or whatever) at key points--bust, waist, hip. Write them on the worksheet. Determine the percentage of stretch your fabric has, and write it on the worksheet. Then, using her method of calculating, (easy math), you will know how much ease your Tshirt has using fabric with 25% stretch, 50% stretch, 75% stretch, or none at all.

It's genius. And it's free! To get it, go to the link above. Click on "Tips and Techniques". Next, click on "Perfect Sizing Worksheet". The first 3 pages are devoted to her own pattern line, where she has written all the measurements of her patterns. Go to page 4, where you'll see the "Perfect Sizing Worksheet". You can print it out, and use it every time you make a knit garment.

No more guessing how your knit garment is going to fit!

Enjoy!

Patterns, Books and EShrugs

2011-04-05T19:34:00.001-04:00

No sewing here for a few days. Next week.

Meanwhile, I collect things to sew, which is almost as good, doncha' think? I saw this IndygoJunction pattern, made up on Patty"s blog. Isn't this cute?

It's called "Midtown Trench". I love the pleats in the back. I will make this knee-length, maybe longer. I thought Patty's version, made with a large black/white print was cute as can be!

I have a love for fabric flowers. Here's a book, showing how to make Kanzashi flowers. They are worn in the hair of Japanese ladies, and traditionally made from silk. They can be made from a variety of fabrics though. I can see a little corsage of them on a suit jacket or dress for spring. SPRING!!

There are a couple of shrug patterns, taking Stitcher'sGuild by storm. Called "E-Shrugs", this one is a download from SewingWorkshop. Nancy made it here in a black knit. It's available on TSW site for $6.00. Nancy lengthened the sleeves on hers to the wrist, which is a fabulous idea.

The other is a free HotPatterns download, available from Fabric.com, called Cascade-Cozy Shrug. Karen made it in a gorgeous lace. Here's the illustration:

There are other versions on the Stitcher's Guild website, but these two are the most recent. I love them, and have both patterns downloaded and printed. They are perfect as an accessory or a lightweight coverup for chilly summer evenings. Make it in lace as Karen did, and it can go dressy for a night out on the town. Lots of possibilities. There will be one or two of these little E-Shrugs in my future.

In the works right now, I'm trying to copy an RTW, frilly cascade jacket. I laid it out flat, pinning one section at a time to a pinnable board with tracing paper underneath. Then, with an awl, I've pricked through the seam allowances, around each piece, making little holes in the tracing paper. Then, connect the dots. I have the body done, and made a muslin. It turned out pretty good, with just a little tweaking. Next, I'll work on the sleeves.

Right now, I'm getting things ready for a Spiderman birthday party for my little four year old grandson. Red and blue cupcakes, even! Because, what's more important than a little person's birthday? Especially when you're FOUR!

Aha! Photo Posting

2011-03-28T07:36:00.001-04:00

Something is still wonky in my browser, but I can post a photo- at least right now. Here is my jacket from a couple of posts below.

What I Found Out

2011-03-27T19:08:00.000-04:00

The problem with photos not posting is an issue with Blogger, and not the fault of my computer nor an operator error. It's happening to some people who use Internet Explorer. My IE did a major upgrade a couple of days ago and now I can't post photos. The Google docs are aware of it, and are trying to fix the problem. Meanwhile, if you see a little white box with a dot on my posts, click on it and a photo will open in another window.

I hope they find a cure to this disease soon!

Shoot!

2011-03-27T16:53:00.000-04:00

Can't get my photos to post. Where there's supposed to be a photo, there's a little square. This must be the picture, in miniature, because when I click on it, I get a large photo. Hummmm--

JAM #4, Done

2011-03-27T09:38:00.028-04:00

I'm going to try to post the photo. See what happens. Something is wrong with my Picassa album.

This cardi is super easy, beginner type sewing. It's made, altering a TNT T-shirt pattern. First, I traced a Tshirt pattern, large enough to go over other garments. The T-shirt pattern is split down the middle of the front. I made a diagonal line from the CF at bust-level to the shoulder, making a v- neckline. The front and neckline are bound. Added ties and 1/4" shoulder pads.

I've made this pattern in the past, using Interlock and Jersey. This fabric is poly/lycra and a real pain to handle. I see knit top after knit top cranked out of this type of fabric. I don't know how others seem to work on it wihtout a hitch. It's slippery, slinky. And it loves to curl and twist. I made 2" hems at the bottom and sleeves, and fused them with 2" strips of SteamASeam. Then top-stitched the hems. That added weight and stiffness so the hems don't curl up. I hand-basted the binding so the presser foot didn't cause any stretching of the binding, making ripples. Even then, I used an even-feed foot to do the final sewing.

The cardi turned out okay, despite the frustrations of the material. I like these in the spring/summer, because they are lightweight, and good when you need a little something. I have another piece of this poly/lycra to turn into this cardi, and then I vow to never buy any more of it.

JAM #3 finished

2011-03-12T11:25:00.000-05:00

This jacket is definitely spring! Here's the pics.

The camera sees it as being rumpled, but in my eyes, it is not. It's a camera thing!

Now, to make gray pants and a gray shell to wear with it!

The Grays (and a book)

2011-03-09T17:05:00.000-05:00

Lining is ready to be inserted into the yellow jacket. Wondering what color to wear with yellow, I'm thinking gray would be pretty for spring. I found a good gray, not too dark, not too light. I bought enough to make gray pants and a gray jacket, too. And a gray paisley for lining. Gray can be very drab, so I'll have to find a way to liven it up.

This book just kept calling me, and I answered the call.

I'm not doing a review, because Karen wrote a very, very good review, which encouraged me to buy it.

I should be able to put the lining in that jacket tomorrow. Yay!

JAM #3 In Progress

2011-02-28T15:40:00.003-05:00

If you've been following the JAM at Stitcher's Guild, you know there are a lot of beautiful jackets posted already, and this is only the end of February. Those gals are focused and sewing marathons!

I've worked up the pattern for my JAM #3. It is an OOP pattern, S2107. I'm using a soft, pretty yellow poly/rayon fabric, and a tone-on-tone silky for the lining. And, here it is.

Even though there's another good six weeks left of wintry type weather, I'm going to sew something for spring. Right now. Doesn't hurt to get a head- start on the next season, especially when one sews at a snail's pace.

By the way, there's a new book on the block. If you like the "Built by Wendy" books, she has a new release. It's "Coats and Jackets"

I looked this book over at the bookstore. There are three patterns included: patterns are for a fitted jacket, a boxy jacket with a raglan sleeve, and a coat. She shows a lot of ways to change those patterns up to make several versions of each pattern. I may buy it. It's worth taking a look.

Orange JAM

2011-02-23T20:03:00.000-05:00

I got photos of my JAM#2. The pattern is B5567.

Shannon made this and I thought it was a cute, unstructured jacket. Mine is made of bright orange knit fabric which has a loopy face, very much like terry. It's supposed to be unlined, but I added one which gave the fabric the body which it needed. Both the fabric and lining came off the grab table at a sewing club, so this garment was almost free.

The only closure is a covered snap. I sewed a glass button on front but it's non-functional.

The lining is the same color orange as the jacket.

This is the easiest jacket I've ever made. Nothing to it. It's a good pattern if you want a plain canvas for embellishing, or for that piece of fabric that cries for something simple. It can be fitted a bit more by sewing in the vertical darts, which I didn't do. I may go back and put them in one day.

On to JAM #3, which I haven't decided on yet. I have a couple of patterns pulled to think about.

My husband is recovering well from the stroke. So far, so good.

The New Couture Book

2011-02-14T17:36:00.000-05:00

Truly, all your good wishes for my husband, and me, have meant so much. When you have a loved one in peril, anyone who shows a kindness is cherished. Those of you who have been through a scare with someone you love dearly know my feelings. Thank you, my cyber friends, for taking a minute to wish us well.

I got the new sewing book, "The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques" by Lynda Maynard in today's mail. A few of you already have it and have reviewed it. I've just flipped through it briefly. It's laid out well and has great photography. I'm anxious to sit down with it and a cup of something hot, and read, read, read, every page. It's a good go-to-bed book.

Here's the cover:

Look at these pretty pictures. It seems very well illustrated.

I won't get to my sewing room until the weekend, I don't think. The doctors don't want my husband driving for a few weeks, as the risk for another stroke is still great right now. So, I drive him to doctors (which I would anyway), and to his band practices and wherever he wants/needs to go. I don't mind. He would do it for me. And heaven knows, the situation could have turned out much, much worse. Meanwhile, I'll read about sewing, and figure out what my next JAM will be.

MI is having a thaw! Even though we have some rough winter weather to come, this little break with peaks of sunshine makes us feel spring is imminent!

Books, Patterns and a Happy Day

2011-02-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

Thank you, each and every one of you for your good wishes for my husband. It has been a very stressful time for us and your kind words comforted me. Today, his vision returned to normal--12 days after his stroke. Like a miracle. Suddenly. I've been on an emotional roller-coaster and haven't accomplished much of anything today. And I don't care.

Some of you are familiar with Nancy Erickson's Fashion Sewing Group. I recognize a few names on Nancy's thread at Stitcher's Guild. I became very interested in the discussion(s) on that forum, and a couple of weeks ago, purchased the jacket workbook, and the 1945 jacket pattern.

I then ordered the other two jacket supplements, the newsletter, the book "Do You Love What You Sew", and the "Pants Conversion" leaflet. They came in today's mail.

So, even though I'm late for the party, I got there! I'm enjoying reading this material, and there is always something new to learn. Her method is to work up a TNT and then "design it yourself" details. I'd be happy to hear if you've made this jacket, or any of her patterns and your thoughts about them.

My Butterick jacket from the post below is finished. Photos maybe tomorrow.

JAM #2, the Beginning

2011-02-02T19:43:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for the nice comments on my Winter Sunshine. This is such a wonderful community, and I wish I knew each and every one of you personally.

As things seem to go in life, when it rains, it pours. My DH has had health issues for a long time, and Saturday morning, he suffered a stroke. On one of the worst, snowy, bad road days we've had until today. It was a small stroke, a TIA, I believe it is called. It affected his eyes, so that he has double vision, which has caused him to lose his equilibrium. He is home from the hospital and recuperating. The doctors believe his vision will return to normal in time, and he will get corrective lenses. Until then, he does need help and I can't leave him alone.

Today, I found some time to work on my next JAM. It's B5567.

I'm making View D, in the lower right corner. It's unstructured and although supposed to be unlined, I am adding a lining. The fabric is an orange knit, with a "loopy" face. I got this fabric off the grab table at a sewing club. I've had it in the stash for a long time, never knowing quite what to do with it. I don't think a muslin is necessary for this jacket. There's very little fitting and the fabric was free, so I have nothing invested. Shannon made this recently, and I thought it was cute, worn with a long sleeve top.

Hope everyone had a good snow-day and got a lot of sewing done.

Winter Sunshine Finished

2011-01-27T17:53:00.000-05:00

I'm finished with the first Jacket of the Month going on at Stitchers Guild. Yay! The fabric is wool crepe, in a color called "Winter Sunshine", from GorgeousFabrics. I liked the color's name, so decided to name my jacket the same. The pattern is an OOP, M 5711. I love this pattern. It has great details.

I've posted previously about the details and construction of this jacket. It went together beautifully. I will make it again. Sometime.

Here's some photos.

All it needs is a good press, which it will get when I'm in the mood. Or, I'll send it out. Now, on to #2!

Q&A, New Books and Progress

2011-01-08T16:54:00.000-05:00

Taking a break from sewing and watching Hungry Girl on her new TV show on the cooking channel. She's doing lowfat/low calorie pizzas. Maybe I'll make one for dinner.

Karin asked if I used a special foot or a double need for my top-stitching. I do a line of top-stitching using an edge-stitch foot, as close to the edge as possible. for the second row, I switch to a 1/4" foot and use that as a guide.

AnneLO asks if the wool crepe shrunk when I steamed it. Oh, yeh--6" on 4 yards of fabric. I used a clam press (steam press) with a damp press cloth and steamed the heck out of it.

I have a couple of new books. Well, new to me, not new on the market. "Jackets for Real People by Palmer/Pletsch is a book my daughter bought me for Christmas. I have several other Palmer/Pletsch books, and really like them. I'm reading this one, cover to cover.

When I signed on for the "12 Jackets a Year" sew-along at Stitchers Guild, there was a discussion about Nancy Erickson's "Jackets, Soft Tailoring for Modern Sewing book". FashionSewing is her website. There is a master jacket pattern, skirt, coat, knit jacket, pants pattern. Those become TNTs from which other designs are created. Her theory is to get a well fitting TNT and use whatever design details you want to them. This is what Shirley Adams tried to do with her "Alternatives" patterns, but I don't think they ever really took off. Those who use TNTs know what a time-saver they are. Here's the book, the master jacket pattern, and one pattern containing alternative details to go with the master pattern:

I love the book. Another than I'm going to read completely through. She has a lot of ideas for transforming a basic jacket pattern into multiple looks. Nancy Erickson also sells a newsletter, bi-monthly, I believe.

My Winter Sunshine jacket is well under way. It is ready for sleeves.

I found perfect buttons. There are only 6, and I want 8. This jacket is double-breasted. So, hopefully I will find this button at another Jos. I was surprised to find anything that matched this fabric because it isn't a color that's mainstream.

Tomorrow, sleeves. Maybe.

Little Bits Done

2011-01-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

Moving at my usual snail's pace, I am finally sewing on the jacket. Yay! I'm underlining this wool crepe with batiste. It takes time to hand-baste the underlining, but time well spent. I'm fusing interfacing to the underlining, which will prevent the crepe from collapsing from the fusing. Also, I will hem to the underlining only, so there won't be an "pick marks" showing on the garment right side.

Here, I've fused a 2" strip of interfacing at the hem of the batiste and am basting it to the wool.

I sew all my small pieces first--collars, cuffs, etc., so they are ready to sew to the garment when I'm at a point to need them. I've made pocket flaps, sleeve bands, a back band and collar. I'm top-stitching, using 2 strands of matching thread. I have one machine set up just for top-stitching. Here's the pocket flaps.

Now, those are totally boring pictures. But--it's what I've done so far. More later.

Ready, Set, Sew!!

2010-12-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

Fabric from GorgeousFabrics arrived today! Winter Sunshine wool crepe and a yellow/black/white stripe lining to go with it.

I made a muslin for M5711. This pattern was very well drafted. Everything fit together perfectly.

Front and back:

Squared armsythe.

Dropped sleeve with a pleat:

I tried Pam's method of shrinking the wool crepe by putting it in the dryer with hot, wet towels. There was no shrinkage. Wool crepe should shrink quite a bit . So, tomorrow I will begin the laborious task of wet-ironing it. All that steam around my middle age self is going to hot me up but good. Not to mention that I have excessively curly/frizzy hair even in a totally dry place. Still, it has to be done..

I'll probably underline with batiste. That's in the dryer now. More ironing. Once that's done, the fun begins on Jacket #1 of 12!

12 Jackets-Who Am I Kidding?

2010-12-26T11:03:00.000-05:00

The "12 Jackets" Sew Along at SG just got to me. I can't help it. I just had to join in. My first (I think), is McCalls 5711, OOP pattern described in my last post. I have ordered this mustard-yellow wool crepe from GorgeousFabrics. This is called "Winter Sunshine". I love that name. Winter. Sunshine.

After having a very intense Christmas Eve with DH at the ER, and staying home on Christmas Day, taking care of him, I participated in the fabric sale at FabricMart. It soothed me. Calmed down my nerves. The sale is still in effect through today, in case you're need a fabric fix.

I ordered the beautiful border print knit that Carolyn fashioned into a gorgeous outfit. I don't know what mine going to be. Maybe I'll just drape it on a chair and look at it. It's that kind of beautifulness.

Also, ordered this black herringbone wool for another jacket.

I hope to start working on the pattern tomorrow and get a muslin started. This jacket sew along sounds like a lot of fun. See you there!

Q&A, Sewing Products and Christmas Nails

2010-12-22T10:05:00.001-05:00

While so many are rushing around doing last-minute shopping or baking or whatever for the holiday, I am happily engaged in sewing, watching seriously sappy Christmas movies. No stress. Only fun.

In my last post, I showed a jacket, with diagonal basting on the edges of the CF and sleeves.

Q: Carolyn asked what the purpose of the basting is.
A: The seam is slightly rolled to the wrong side. The diagonal basting holds it in place until the edge
is pressed, or topstitched.

Here's the wrong side:

Using silk or rayon thread for basting will prevent getting an imprint from the iron when pressing over the thread. I don't mind hand basting, and in fact, it has saved me a lot of grief.

I'm making the Inset Jacket from CJPatterns.

I've made it before, but I am changing the sleeve this time. I love this easy, casual jacket. I'm making it in a black poly shot with silver metallic threads. This fabric has been in my stash for years. It's a good trial fabric to test the sleeve. If it works out, fine. If not, no great loss. This jacket has pleats, front and back, under a square inset. Here's the top of the front bodice. I am happy that the square corner actually turned out to be square!

The next project in the Q is this OOP McCall jacket pattern. Isn't this cute?

This jacket has a lot of detail. There is a dart in the front, extending from the bust to the hem with a pocket flap inserted into that dart (view B). View B also has 3/4 length sleeves with a band on the sleeve. There' a back yoke, pleated lower back bodice with a band there also. The armsythe is squared, and the dropped sleeve has a pleat. I love the collar.

I ordered a mustard yellow wool crepe from GorgeousFabrics, and a lining for this jacket. My version will be a suit-type jacket, rather than outerwear. I'll follow Carolyn's method of steam-shrinking the wool. I need a day and a couple of good movies lined up because it's a long process. I would love to join in the "12 Jackets in a Year" at Stitchers Guild. I can't wait to seee all the awesome jackets that you make.

I got a fancy paint job on my nails yesterday. Very festive, with red glitter polish and a gold swirly, twirly design. Rhinestones, even.

----and to all a good night!

At The Finish Line

2010-12-08T09:22:00.000-05:00

This jacket is almost finished. At last! I still have to edge stitch and remove the bastings. Here's the front.

And the back. Love the pleats!

I added a turned up cuff and buttons to the sleeves.

This jacket has a retro-feel with the large collar and pleated, swingy back. It's easy construction, easy fit. I will make it again, probably in the spring.

Have a great holiday. Hope Santa brings you lots of sewing goodies!

Where Was My Head?

2010-11-22T09:37:00.000-05:00

Thank you daughter, for fixing my Blogger account! She had to do a lot of finagling to get rid of my hacker, but my Google account is now back in my possession! Thanks to those who responded to my "desperate" post, also. It's not fun to have your privacy invaded.

I'm working on this Vogue jacket, slowly, but nonetheless, making progress.

I made bound buttonholes, all of them turning out well. I was singing a happy tune at this point.

I wanted a 3/4 length sleeve with turned up cuffs. This is where I got stupid. When I shortened the sleeve, I shortened it wayyyy too much! There wasn't enough fabric to cut new sleeves, of course. What to do? I added a piece to the sleeves at the bottom. See the seam?

I made a muslin of the cuff, and pinned it on the sleeve. It is a 3" deep cuff, and covers the offending seam. There will be a facing, turned to the inside.

"All's well that ends well"! For the jacket, and my blog issue!

Any Technies Who Can Help Me? Desperate

2010-11-20T11:47:00.000-05:00

I have a big problem with Blogger. Someone managed to get their email address into my Google Blogger account. I have to sign in using their email.

I've tried and tried to solve this, using Google help, but unable to get anyhere. I'm afraid my blog is going to disappear. Does anyone know how to contact someone at Google directly? I can't find a way to communicate with anyone.

Or--if anyone knows how I can resolve this issue, please give me a clue. Meanwhile, if my blog disappears, you know why.

Thank you, in advance.

A New Use For---

2010-11-17T07:14:00.000-05:00

You recgonize these floor mats, available at your local home decorating, DIY type store.

I use them in front of my cutting table to cushion my feet. One side of the mats has a textured, non-slip surface for your feet, but the other side is smooth. Necessity being the mother of invention, I discovered that the smooth side of these mats are perfect to use as a pinnable surface! Fabric and patterns can be pinned into them. So, if you need to pin a slippery fabric and pattern to cut out--this is a good solution. Pin fabric into them when manipulating pleats, etc, and for designing. Knitters can use them for blocking. Quilters can use them as a design board. If you need a padded surface for your dining table--these are a good solution. They can be cut to size also, with a craft knife. Because they fit together like a puzzle, you can have any length or width you need. Mine were sold in packages of 4. Who knew?

Last month, I took a knitting workshop from Mihaela, who sells her fabulous sweaters and coats for hundreds of dollars and whose designs are seen on the likes of Julia Roberts aned Oprah. Needlework and Textile Guild of Michigan was fortuante enough to have have her for two days. She is a knitwear designer and has her own line of yarn. Michigan people, she teaches at CraftyLady, which is--Shelby Twp, I believe. Our workshop was called "Texture in Knitting". We were given a bag of mixed yarn, different textures and colors to begin this "Peruvian Shawl". Here's a picture of the pattern.

There's a lot of 2-stranded knitting, and it forces you to put a lot of colors and textures together that I wouldn't normally do. Unfortunately, I got sick and couldn't take the last day of the workshop. I have the pattern though, and this project is on my needles.

On another pair of needles is this Einstein Coat,

by Sally Melville, from this book:

It's an oversized, easy coat, knitted in garter stitch rectangles. There are several gals I know who are knitting this.

Still working on the Vogue pattern in my last post. I haven't made much progress, but I'm practicing bound buttonholes and hope to get them finished today.

Have a great day!

It's Not Easy Being Green

2010-11-01T08:02:00.000-04:00

Thank you for your good wishes. I'm feeling much better and catching up with everything I didn't do for three weeks like housework, laundry and ironing. Amazing how things can pile up.

I finished this jacket, tshirt and pants that I started a month ago.

The jacket is M5941 in a loden/olive green houndstooth. It's a loosely-woven upholstery fabric and lined with a polyester something. This fabric ravels when you look at it and is unstable, so instead of struggling with buttonholes, I used covered snaps with buttons sewn on top.

The jacket facings and pants are dark loden green, and an olive t-shirt. I made this jacket in black/white houndstooth last winter and enjoyed wearing it. It's a good layering piece in cold weather.

I have this jacket , V8623, cut out and interfacing fused.

It's the same loden green fabric as my pants. I made a muslin, and decided to change the sleeves a bit by adding a wide cuff. I love the pleats on the back and the large collar. It's a bit retro-looking. Carolyn made it here, and Diana lengthened it and made it into a gorgeous raincoat.

For those in Michigan--one of the sewing clubs I belong to is having a day at Habermans this week. Habermans has a program set up for us with demos, trunk shows and talks. It's several hours with a lunch break. There will be about forty of us. And of course the main event is--shopping! If you've been in that store, you know I'm taking my BIG purse!

AWOL

2010-10-17T09:44:00.000-04:00

I generally don't post anything personal on my sewing blog. Thank you for letting me be part of your sewing world. Just want to say that I've been away due to a serious illness, and in the hospital for several days. I had not been feeling well, had a nagging cough, tired and run-down, generally. I continued to feel worse for a few days, and had difficulty breathing. I went to my doctor, who sent me to the hospital. I had some awful infection that consumed my lungs, but not pneumonia--something undetermined. That it turn, sent my BP soaring, and accelerated heart rate, and I have Pulmonary Fibrosis and a host of other things because of the illness.

I am weak and tired, but am recuperating. I have lots of time to catch up with your posts and see what great things you're doing. I'll be back at the machine one of these days. Counting my blessings.

Currently Sewing---

2010-09-30T08:07:00.000-04:00

Fall is my favorite time of year. Sorry summer lovers. Since our weather in MI has cooled down, I've had a burst of sewing energy. This is what I'm working on.

I made this short-sleeve jacket last year, out of a black/white houndstooth. I had, in my stash, this piece of olive/loden green left over from a failed project. There was just enough for this jacket. I'm making the hip-length version, and adding a lining.

I have a dark, dark loden green for pants to match. There's enough of the loden green to also make a jacket, so I pulled this pattern to think about.

Carolyn made this a while ago. I'm going to have to go back and search her posts for it. Diana lengthened this pattern to coat length, and it is just fabulous. I'm so glad to have a couple of awesome sewists to review posts for this jacket.

I belong to a couple of really good sewing groups. Needlework and Textile Guild of MI had a two-day workshop on Surface Design. Our instructor was so talented. We painted fabric, and stamped it in the most awesome ways. We started with a blank piece of solid fabric, and by using various stamps, covered the entire surface with print. Lots of fun. Next month, there's a two-day knitting workshop. It's called "Tecture in Knitting". Can't wait.

Creative Clothing Club has 400 members. There's around 100 plus attending each meeting. This month, the program was about patterns. We had a nice demo and talk by someone who uses pattern-making software. The one she uses is WildGinger Pattern Master Botique. She had contacted the company before her lecture, and they sent demo versions on CDs--enough for each of us. You can get a free demo online, also. I've played with it, and it's fun. Oh, and the "show and tell" at this meeting is fabulous!

Off to catch up on your blogs. Sew much!

My Pants

2010-09-22T18:40:00.000-04:00

Like many of you, I've struggled with pants fitting for a long time. I've seen Palmer/Pletsch teachers at work. Read many fitting books. Still--pants are not an easy thing to fit or wrap one's mind around. For a long time, I thought the issue was crotch length or depth. But no, my crotch is just fine! When I finally realized that my front waist is lower than my back waist, I was able to fit my pants. I now have pants that are as well fit as they are going to on my middle-aged body, in it's present state of fatness!

I am not posting a photo of my pants. Boring. I make plain, straight-legged pants. No pockets, even. Plain. Someday, I will make fancy pants and then post a photo. Maybe I'll embellish a pair!

But here is something that is not boring.

I bought my copy of this book at the bookstore. I've only skimmed it, but it is well done, well organized and has a lot of really good information provided by--YOU! I'm anxious to sit down and go through it, page by page. The other Gwen is giving away 5 copies of this book on her blog. So, if you're interested, run over there and drop a comment to get in the drawing.

I have to decide on my next project. I still need more pants, but I think I'll take a break from that and do something more creative. And read my new book.

My Cutting Line

2010-09-08T20:02:00.000-04:00

Oh, when will I ever learn? I needed a black, sleeveless shell to wear under suit jackets. I had some poly-silky in my stash that I decided would work just fine. Guess I forgot how horrible that fabric is to work with. Slippery, ravelly, miserable. I spray-starched it, which helped in controlling the beast.

I bound the neckline and armholes with 1/4" finished binding. Sandra Betzina, in her Power Sewing book,

suggests stabilizing near the seamline with a strip of something lightweight. I used Seams Great.

The top (and binding) turned out nicely but has to be washed to get rid of the spray starch. Right now, it can stand on it's own!

ShirleyAdams is retiring at the end of this year. She has been such an inspiration, and I've learned so much from her. Her pattern line, called Alternatives, are phasing out, so I bought a few that I wanted before they are gone.

Also, I bought a couple of CuttingLineDesigns patterns.

I love the color blocked coat. Pulling together three colors of wool is not going to be easy. I've searched online stores for a couple of days, trying to find the right combo. I had my heart set on a dark and a light olive along with a maizey-toned yellow. I can see I'll have to give that up and try for another color-way.

Meanwhile, I've cut a muslin of the My Hearts a Flutter overblouse. It runs very, very large, which is ok, knowing that in advance. Louise Cutting prints the finished measurements on the pattern envelope. Genius! Shams made it, and it is as cute as can be. The muslin is ready to sew. I have hopes for it. We'll see.

Burda and OttobreWoman

2010-09-06T08:16:00.002-04:00

Happy Labor Day! I will spend it in my sewing room, cutting and sewing a pair of pants. I have made one pair of black pants recently and made a sleeveless, black shell to wear under suit jackets. Not exciting, but necessary. Since I cleaned out my closets, I found "holes" that need to be plugged.

I do not subscribe to Burda or to OttobreWoman, but occasionally would like to have a copy of either. They are available as single copies on the following websites:

Burda can be found at: http://www.fashionistafabrics.com/

Ottobre Woman is available from: http://www.sewbaby.com/shopbaby/index.php(click on New Products). You can see the patterns in the magazine on the Ottobre website, here:http://www.ottobredesign.com/. I like Ottobre because it features REAL women of all sizes and ages.

Have a super holiday!

Sometimes, It's Just Black and White

2010-08-15T19:22:00.001-04:00

Thank you all for visiting my blog, and talking to me about the Deneuve tunic. I know how precious time is, and always appreciate your comments. I'm anxious to make another one and have several fabrics in the stash that are perfect for it.

I've wanted a black/white stripe Tshirt since spring. Or before. When I saw this pattern envelope drawing at the HotPatterns website, I started looking for black/white stripe knit. Now that spring and most of summer has passed, I finally got around to making it. I'm into fall sewing, so I lengthened the sleeves to 3/4 length, and added a cuff. Reminds me of "Jail House Rock"!

I whipped up this one too, for the end of summer. Doesn't look so good on the floor!

Like everyone else, there's so many projects in my queue, I can't decide what to do next. Really, if I would clean out the clothes closets, it would be easier to decide what to prioritize. It's so much easier just to keep jamming things together!

Have a great Mad Men night!

HP Deneuve Tunic --The End

2010-08-12T09:09:00.000-04:00

This tunic is a done deal. I love it. Totally.

I made a few simple changes to the pattern. I did shorten it to my liking. We all have our preference for lengths. The yoke is pin tucked. Here is where there's opportunity for a lot of embellishment ideas. Gig's has Heirloom techniques. Beautiful!

The pattern has a hidden placket front for buttons. On the neckband, instead of making a buttonhole, I made covered snaps and sewed a covered button on top.

The sleeves are supposed have french cuffs, with buttonholes also. But again, I simply turned the cuff into position, and sewed on covered buttons.

The pattern has a hemline, curved up at the sides. Instead, I made 1" side seams,, straightened the hem, and made a slit.

I used Hong Kong finished seams and bound armholes. And here is the finish line.

I will make this again. It's a casual, comfortable garment for fall/winter. Oops--sorry!

My New Best--Notion

2010-07-24T17:01:00.001-04:00

I cannot sew without a wrist pincushion. I'm so used to wearing one that I've gone to the store with it on! And a thimble! The one I've been using, made with lambs wool and a plastic wristband got worn completely out, the wool separating and pins falling out of the thing. One day, I saw the ultimate, beautiful wrist pincushion on Ann's blog (here she shows it). It's made in France! Sold by SusanKhalje. I scurried over to her website to purchase it and discovered it was OUT OF STOCK!!

Oh, how I coveted that pincushion! Time and time I went back to Susan's website. At last--they were available again. I wasted no time in ordering. It comes in red and blue. I choose red. It has a gold-toned wristband. Well-padded. Big. Expensive. I don't care. I heart it.

I couldn't wait to get pins in it. I love the weight of it and that it's snug and not all wimpy. Now, stop drooling over it! You can have your own. You know where.

I continue to work on the Deneuve tunic. It's close to finished. It has a hiden placket on the bib.

The fabric is red, but bordering on coral. In my stash, I had a piece of coral lining. I'm using that for Hong Kong and Bound seams. The photo below shows wrinkles, but in reality, there are none. It's just the way the piece is laying.

I'm ready to hem. Make a couple of buttonholes. Cover a few buttons. Pin something!

Pintuck Feet

2010-07-22T18:31:00.000-04:00

I admit it--I have a foot fetish! I LOVE sewing machine feet, and own most of them for several machines! For those of you who are not familiar with pintuck feet, here's a little information about them.

Some machine brands have several pintuck feet from which to choose. My Berninas have four different pintuck feet: 3 groove, 5 groove, 7 groove and 9 groove. The grooves serve a couple of purposes. After making one pintuck, that pintuck can be laid in one of the grooves of the foot, while stitching another, making perfectly spaced tucks. Or, cording can be inserted under the grooves to make a corded pintuck. Here you can see the feet, and the difference in them.

The 9 groove would be suitable for a very lightweight fabric, as opposed to the 3 groove, which is more appropriate for a heavy material.

With these feet, choose a twin needle--2.0 (width between the needles) for a 9 groove foot, and 4.0 for the 3 groove foot, and of course, numbers in between for the others. Thread the twin needles, increase the top tension and--sew. That's all there is to it! The tucks will form on the top of the fabric with straight stitches, while the bobbin does a zig-zag, pulling the fabric together on the back, forming the pintucks.

Here's the front of my tucked fabric, and the back, showing how the fabric has been pulled together.

The bib is finished, and neckband is on. More tomorrow.

Deneuve--Tunic With a Smile

2010-07-21T06:12:00.000-04:00

Recently, I bought these two HotPatterns.

The Plain and Simple Superfantastic Shirt and Deneuve Tuxedo Shirt, Tunic & Dress. I'm making the Deneuve Tuxedo Tunic. I seem to be copying Gigi, who made it a few weeks ago, and is now making another beautiful version, white with lace insertion on the bib.

I made a muslin, even though it's an unstructured, loose style. The muslin was perfect. The fabric I'm using is red poly-woven, lightweight fabric from Jos at $1.50 per yard. It's labeled as a "spring suiting", but it's soft and drapey. A good choice, I think, for this tunic. Plus, it doesn't wrinkle, which is a plus!

The bib is a great opportunity for embellishment. I am pintucking, using a pintuck foot and double needle. I chalk-marked straight lines the length of the fabric, every 1/2".

I was happy the pintucking worked on this fabric, without puckers. Once this piece was finished, I ironed it, and it looks good. So far. More as I progress.

S3786

2010-07-11T17:28:00.001-04:00

Here's my finished Simplicity tunic.

I love this pattern! I first saw it on Gigi's blog. Mine is made from rayon, very soft and drapey. It's comfortable and easy to wear. There are small tucks on either side of center front, from the Mandarin collar to just under the bust. Note to those who don't want the "preggy" look-this top does not do that. There is minimal fullness over the tummy from the released tucks--not gobs of gathered fabric like some patterns. It is good. Whether it works for large-busted gals, I don't know.

I made a couple of changes to the pattern. I re-shaped the Mandarin collar at the CF to make it easier to set in. I made a 3/4 length sleeve, gathered at the hem and cuffed. (There's a really cute version with a full lower sleeve that I will make next time). The reviews indicated the sleeve is snug, which it was on me, so I made a bicep alteration, but that's usual for me. The back is supposed to have a little gathered casing like this.

But, I don't need fabric to be gathered over my butt, so I omitted that and instead, made a couple of vertical darts. I will make this again, and yet again, especially for fall/winter. It's a winner!

Another happy thing happened to me this weekend. While DH and I were out and about, he dropped me at Barnes and Noble while he went in search of whatever at the hardware. When he came into the bookstore to get me, he found me fondling the Nook.

He insisted on getting it for me, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings by turning it down! So, I walked out of the store with her and of course, a pink case to clothe her! We have already become good friends. The first novel I have downloaded is AVintageAffair by Isabel Wolff. Appropriate, I thought! It's chocked full of wonderful Couture designer names, and I am loving the story.

As for a name for my e-reader--I can't think of but one. Ahem, all I can say is --I got a little Nookie! Ha!

If You're Looking For Black/White Stripe Knit

2010-07-09T13:34:00.000-04:00

TheFabricFairy has it as of this morning. I had a piece on pre-order.

It was in today's mail. It's a cotton Interlock by Michael Miller--1/2" stripes. Very good quality. It has some heft to it--not wimpy. Black/white striped knit has been difficult to find this year. Mine will be a simple Tshirt.

I'm making this Simplicity pattern from a blue rayon print.

I'm ready to set in the sleeves. Loving this pattern, and I'm anxious to finish it. Maybe today!

Dusty Definition

2010-07-05T17:12:00.001-04:00

A couple of people have asked about the term "duster". Your questions haunted me, so I Googled the word. Which is fine, because in this freakin' heat wave, I can't sew. Our central air just isn't keeping up with this horridness.

Anyway--Wikipedia defines "duster" as a light, loose-fitting long coat. The original dusters were worn by the Texas Rangers to keep trail dust off of their clothing. They had a slit up the back, making riding horseback more comfortable.

I made a muslin of S3786. I'm changing the sleeves to a 3/4 length, full and gathered at the bottom with a cuff. I cut out a very lightweight cotton fabric for that tunic, but all the time knowing it's too lightweight and sheer for me. I pulled another fabric to use, which is heavier and will be more appropriate. But, it needs ironing, which isn't going to happen today, in this heat. Maybe tomorrow morning, early. I like the top though, and expect to make it a couple of times, especially in fall fabrics with that long, full sleeve.

Stay cool!

A Done Deal

2010-07-03T10:07:00.000-04:00

I finished the red duster. It is exactly what I envisioned. Although it's too warm to wear it now, it will be perfect for fall. Yes, I said FALL! It is inevitable.

And back:

I used an old TNT shirt pattern, and made the following changes:

1. Lengthened and A-lined to calf-length.

2. Added breast pockets with white top-stitching.

3. Made a cuffed sleeve with tab

4. Added a back yoke, with tab and white top-stitching.

The seams are Hong Kong finished and bound armholes, and lace tape on the hem.

Next, I'm working on a tunic or blouse. Maybe this.

New Simplicity patterns are up on their website. I don't see anything particularly exceptional. Still, it's always worth a look, and you talented people make a rather plain looking pattern into something spectacular!

Happy 4th!

Sewing Day, Sewing Club, Sewing Patterns

2010-06-24T19:17:00.001-04:00

I finally got in a whole sewing day. It was wonderful! I'm working on my red duster and made a lot of progress today. I should be able to finish it tomorrow--Saturday, latest. So far, so good.

Creative Clothing Club met Tuesday. Our guest speaker was BarbCallahan, of barboriginals.com. She's from Florida. Some of you may have met her a sewing expos. Barb does "artsy" type clothing-- She has a line of patterns also--simple, loose-fitting garments which she embellishes.. Barb is a very entertaining speaker, and she had a great trunk show. I picked up several good ideas along with three of her patterns.

The coat is called Tea Garden, made from fleece. The other two patterns are tunics. Unfortunately, the photographs don't represent the garments very well. They look entirely different up close and in person.

Last week Simplicity was on sale at Jos. Not wanting to be left out of a sale, I picked up these tunic patterns.

And, I found Tshirt knits that were 50% off. Couldn't resist those.

These probably won't be made this year because I already have made several Ts, and have a few cut and still waiting to be sewn. But, there's always next summer.

Hopefully, I'll have another good sewing today tomorrow. I'm anxious to get that duster finished so, 1) I can wear it and 2) so I can move on to making a tunic. Or whatever.

Red Duster In Progress

2010-06-13T07:33:00.000-04:00

My wallet was returned, intact, minus the few dollars I had in it. I had cancelled my bank cards, and they will be reissued. I was thankful I didn't have to go through the hassle of getting a new drivers license and mostly, having to deal with Blue Cross for a medical card. I went to the bank and bought theft-identity insurance. With it, you register all your bank cards and bank accounts. If your wallet goes missing, you call them, and they take care of all your issues. One phone call. And if your identity is stolen, they will help you get out of your mess.

A while ago, I wanted to copy this--duster-- for lack of a better word.

I decided to use an old TNT shirt pattern. Here it is, on the red poly-linen fabric I'm using.

I lengthened the pattern and A-lined it. I drafted a roll-up sleeve with sleeve tabs, upper pockets and a back yoke. The fabric is cut, marked and interfaced. Ready to sew.

Happy Sewing!

Warning To My Cyber Friends

2010-06-10T23:53:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I lost my wallet. If anyone has ever lost theirs, you know what a horrible feeling that is. Panic and anxiety. I am fortunate that I don't carry my SS card. I only had $20 in cash. Within one hour, I cancelled a debit card and a couple of credit cards. Tomorrow, I have to go get a drivers license. The biggest PITA will be trying to get a new Blue Cross card.

So, just a reminder to all of you--make sure to keep up with your wallet at all times. Taking a moment to double-check where it is will save you stress. Really.

Now, I will drink wine.

Simple Sewing

2010-06-08T18:57:00.001-04:00

Thank you for the nice comments about my sewing room. It is my favorite room in the house, of course but was sadly in need of an overhaul. Now, that it's all cleaned up and organized, one would think I could sew something more clever than--

T-Shirts!

But no, Tshirts are what I need. I "whacked and stacked" this pile of knit fabrics, plus a couple others in my stash. I've made six so far. I don't know what to do with that diagonal print, but I thought it would be fun to play with.

I was at Jos recently, and bought these two old issues of Sew Stylish. They are Fall of 2007 and 08, bundled together. They're both good issues, which makes me wonder why I didn't get them when they first appeared. ???? I like this magazine, and don't intend to miss another issue.

Sewing tools are fun. These are my favorite because, not only are they functional, they are old-looking and wonderful. An awl and a point turner. They are made of iron- feel good in my hand. Christine Jonson, of CJpatterns.com was selling these when I was fortunate enough to be at her trunk show some time ago . Her husband is a blacksmith. He made these tools. Aren't they wonderful?

Now, I'm going to order some patterns. I definitely want to do some creative sewing!

In My Room

2010-05-31T22:53:00.000-04:00

No sewing for me this weekend. Instead, I finished renovating my sewing room. It isn't a beautiful room, but it's functional, neat, organized and let me tell you--clean! There isn't anything, down to the last spool of thread that hasn't had a rag on it!

This is a 13 foot counter top with storage cabinets and drawers and bookcases. It's where my main sewing machine sits, the tv, and whatever else ends up on it.

Turning around in my chair, there's a table with another machine and a serger.

Cutting table and storage.

Pattern cabinet with clam press on top.

Pressing equipment.

3-way mirrors.

And finally, the new floor.

I did do a little sewing tonight--hemming curtains. Not a job I like, but I am glad I know how.

Now, I'm anxious to sew a garment. After I play catch up with the rest of the house!

Rowenta Give Away

2010-05-24T11:39:00.000-04:00

Looks like a lot of us are hoping to win this great iron! Go here http://bitterbettyindustries.blogspot.com/ for a chance at this give-away.

Progress in Sewing---

2010-05-23T20:51:00.000-04:00

----room! Gotcha! No garments to show here. Not today. Not next week. Instead of sewing, I'm pulling up old floor tile with DH behind me, laying new tile. My sewing room is in distress. This fabric,

which is on the living room couch, came out of this cabinet.

This is my cutting table/storage. No cutting going on up there right now!

This is my pattern cabinet.

There's also cabinets along the length of one wall. My husband built all of them for me years ago. The floor is finished, and now I'm painting and cleaning from the ceiling to the floor. It's just time.

Until that room is clean and organized, I'll sew vicariously through all of you.

Books, Rags and T-Time

2010-05-16T20:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for the nice comments about my trench coat. It is finished, and I will post photos of it on me when I get around to pressing it--probably sometime this week. I like the coat, and will make it again, perhaps in the fall. I really like the look of a trench coat in a print. I'll be looking for appropriate fabric.

Like most people, this is a busy time of year for me. House cleaning, outside chores take priority and sewing gets pushed aside until chores are done. My sewing room will be torn up for a while, as we put new tile on the floor. Of course, that calls for a thorough cleaning of the room, too.

When I can get to it, I do have to make some new Ts for summer. Finding Tshirt fabric that I like is difficult. I do not like Lyrca. At all. It feels rubbery and hot to me. I know there are a lot of devoteees of Lycra, which is probably why there is so much of it available. To find a decent cotton knit without Lyrca is rare, especially prints. I have a few solids that I just purchased from Fabric.com.

I am such a sucker for books. This one has been on my list, and when I was at BN this week, there was a copy, which I immediately grabbed.

I am pleasantly not disappointed in this book. It's focus is redesigning commercial patterns- dart manipulation, etc. It's not as comprehensive as a text book, but it is more involved than most 140 page books. For people with a lot of sewing/designing experience, it's a "view before you buy" type book.

I love the current issue of Threads. I also picked up the spring Sew Stylish.

This issue of Threads is really interesting. There are some really cute ribbon flowers, for those who love to wear a corsage on their jackets-you know who you are! Sew Stylish has some fabric manipulation that is awesome. Both magazines have a lot of embellishment articles. If you don't subscribe to these mags, run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and take a look.

I'll be working this week on my floor. And thinking about sewing. Making plans. Sewing in my head!

Line Me Please!

2010-04-24T18:45:00.000-04:00

My trench coat is ready for lining. Here it is without facings and lining.

This will be a coat I'll love when it's finished. The lining is aqua, a little lighter than the coat.

I'm hoping to finish it this week. Famous last words!

A New Toy

2010-04-13T19:16:00.000-04:00

I made a quick stop at Jo's on Sunday to get a couple of 99-cent McCalls Patterns:

Just in case I get around to sewing a shirt one of these days.

While I was there, I noticed that the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker was $30 off its $110 price tag. I picked it up, and before I could stop myself, I had paid for it and was out the door!

I've been making bias tape for years with Clover's tape makers. I have every size, from 1/8" up. This little machine makes it so much easier and faster to make tape. I had no problem at all using the machine the first time.

There are heat settings for different types of fabric. I've only tried cotton, so I can't say how it works on silk or any other fabrics. But it makes fast and very accurate work on cotton bias strips. I love this machine. Where has it been all my life?

I looked on the Simplicity website for accessories, because I knew there had to be some, and sure enough there are different sizes of tips to make different sizes of tape. There's an electric winder to make winding tape onto the machine a breeze. Those things are on my wish list. I have tons of cotton quilting fabrics stored away that can be made into tape the next time I need some. Did I say I LOVE this machine?

I have done some work on the trench coat. It's been slow going simply because I haven't had much time to sew in the last few days. I have the pockets in and the fronts stitched together. The back is stithced together. The front and back yokes are sewn and all seams are top-stitched.

I should have time to sew over the weekend. Unless I feel the urge to make tape!

Trench Coat-the Beginning

2010-04-05T20:41:00.002-04:00

I'm really late starting a spring Trench Coat. By the time I get it finished, I won't need it!

I'm making S4084, which I believe is discontinued.

The fabric is aqua denim. Lining is a lighter aqua. There will be lots of white top-stitching, and white buttons. Silver D-rings hanging from the yokes, silver buckle.

I made two muslins to get the fit correct. There was some folds at the back armsythe, which I determined to be a result of sloping shoulders. Now, I know I have sloped shoulders. I've known it for quite some time. I don't know why it's so hard to admit it to myself. I can say my behind is as big as Wal-Mart, but I always have trouble believing the shoulder problem!

To solve the shoulder delima, I lowered the shoulder seam at the armsythe 1/2", tapering to the original line at the neck. Then, I lowered the armsythe at the side seam 1/2". Add a shoulder pad, and that area fits like a glove.

I wanted some fullness from the waistline down, so I slashed/spread the pattern in a couple of places, front and back, from the hemline to the waist, adding 8" to the front and back at the hem. Now it has an A-line silhouette instead of being straight.

I've done some other fiddling in preparation of sewing. Practiced bound buttonholes, and the jury is still out about those. I made some samples of top-stitching, which is turning out to be troublesome on that bull denim. In one direction, the stitches are beautiful. But, when stitching across the grain, the stitches look funky because of the way the needle hits the twill weave. I get the best result in both directions by using a stretch straight stitch (two stitches forward, one backward). That will be time-consuming, but it's the best method I've achieved so far.

I'll be interfacing the entire coat front with knit interfacing. It's lightweight, so hopefully the coat won't be able to stand on it's own!

And, that's where I am to date. More to come, as I progress.

Make it a good week!

Great Reviews

2010-03-25T15:07:00.000-04:00

Bev has just blogged an excellent review of the Trudy Jansen jeans--these:

She compares this pattern to KwikSew 3315. It's such a good review and comparison of both patterns. Those interested in making jeans or curious about the Trudy Jansen patterns would find her post very informative. I love the seam up the back leg.

Thank you, Bev, for such a terrific post. You answered all my questions, and more.

Now, I really MUST have the Trudy jeans pattern. And maybe a few more. And maybe a book or two!

Have You Seen This Jean?

2010-03-23T09:16:00.001-04:00

Bev is making jeans, several pair, in fact. She's making a pair from http://www.trudyjansendesign.com/ Here's the illustration:

There is a seam up the middle of the back leg. I think that's a great design feature. It's designed as a "fit" seam, but it would also slim the leg. It's easy enough to add to any pattern.

Trudy has some cute patterns. She also has a couple of DVDs as well as sewing and drafting books. I've looked at her patterns for a while but haven't purchased any--yet. I wonder if any of you have sewn with them, and if so, what's your take on them? She is in Canada.

Sunshine Award

2010-03-21T10:17:00.002-04:00

Julia presented me with the Sunshine Award. Thank you, Julia. You give sunshine to those around you.

The rules are as follows:

1. Place the logo on your blog.

2. Pass the award to 12 bloggers

3. Link the nominees within your post.

4. Let the nomineees know they received the award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Recently, I've found some blogs that are new to me. Some are new bloggers, some I just didn't know about. I chose 12 to include for the Sunshine Award. Whether they respond to it or not is perfectly fine. Each has something to add to our sewing community, and I enjoy reading their posts.

http://everythingjustsew.blogspot.com/ Judy is amazing. She has 5 kids--FIVE, and still finds time to draft patterns and sew!

http://drfunlivinglavidaloca.blogspot.com/ Doncha' just love a physician who sews? Goes to show you that even in their private life, they're still all about needles! Sister has a wonderful sense of humor. She's taking a workshop with Sandra Betzina, lucky her!

http://sdbev.blogspot.com/ Bev is rockin' some jeans lately. Doing a great job!

http://petiteandsewing.blogspot.com/ Sharon sews some awesome garments in Australia. That country kicks out a lot of needlework. I would love to visit there, except I think it's too hot!

http://sewatsea.blogspot.com/ Laura is just too funny! Not only does she sew, but she has some animals, real and stuffed, that get a lot of press!

http://3hourspast.blogspot.com/ Steph teaches dressmaking in--you guessed it--Australia! She's also researching and writing about fibers. She sews beautifully and writes as well.

http://vacuumingthelawn.blogspot.com/ Kyle is cute as can be and sews too. Only thing is--I can't figure out why she vacumms the lawn!

http://itsasewinglife.blogspot.com/ Elle recently made the Rooibos dress from Colette patterns. That pattern line is up and coming and she has a really nice photo of the dress.

http://fivemuses.blogspot.com/ Clio not only sews, but cooks as well! She has posted some delicious looking food on her blog, and still has a great figure. OK--HOW? Obviously, she isn't eating it!

http://www.josiesews.blogspot.com/ Josie knits and sews. She's making an Alexander McQueen jacket. Complicated? Oh yeh. You do know that's a free pattern don't you? If not, here's the link:http://www.showstudio.com/projects/ddlmcqueen/download.html I would like to study it. His work was unique.

http://tenthousandsewinghours.blogspot.com/ Victoria has made some lovely garments. Recently, she made an awesome yellow top, sleeveless, and perfectly summery. I don't know if she'll be able to show it off when she goes to Alaska!

http://sewstorebought.wordpress.com/ Sewing Fashionista writes a great blog. Her motto is her blog name: "Sew Store Bought". Interesting reading and diagrams of pattern pieces. Love this blog!

There you go--12 new to me bloggers. I'll be reading you!

Recent Purchases and Free Stuff

2010-03-16T20:57:00.000-04:00

During the last week I've made 3 pair of pants--2 black and 1 navy. The last pair needs a hook and eye and a hem. Then, I can move on to something more interesting.

Just in the event I should run low on patterns, I bought some last weekend, when Simplicity was on sale

at Jo's. Lori made S2443 recently, and it is cute as can be. I must have one.

Here are some fabrics I either bought, or got off the grab table at Creative Clothing Club. Two of them are already made into pants.

I found a poly/rayon fabric that I think will work nicely for the long shirt/jacket in a previous post. A friend suggested this NewLook pattern. After buying it and looking at it, I see there is no front band, but just topstitched to simulate the look of a band. Also, there's no collar band, but a rolled collar. I'll probably use a tailored shirt pattern but keep this pattern out for inspiration.

This

will become this:

There's a tunic in my future also, and here's the fabric and pattern.

I bought David Coffin's Trousers book with a 50% off coupon. I've heard some mixed reviews. There is no fitting in it at all. It's highly technical, in keeping with his Shirtmaking book. It will stay in my library.

Finally, I got a couple of old books off the grab table at the sewing club. I haven't looked through them yet, so they may, or may not, find a home here.

Happy St.Patrick's Day tomorrow to all who celebrate it!

Luck of the Un-Irish!

2010-03-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

Lori had a give-away a few days ago, and I am tbe lucky recepient of these beautiful napkins that she made.

These are just beautiful and not just on the front. She lined them with a print fabric. Amazingly, they are perfect colors for my home. All the walls in our house are dark--hunter green, dark rust, dark purple, dark wood flooring. I'll display these napkins on the dining table. Thank you, Lori!

I made pants. Plain, basic, fly-front. straight-leg, black pants. I'll not even try to photograph them. They fit very well. I have fabric to make navy and brown pants, using this pattern. I'll be working on them this week. Since I only wear a plain, basic pant, its pretty boring, like making T-shirts. Boring but necessary. I'll be glad to get the pants made so I can move on to something more interesting.

I got all caught up in the hype and just HAD to order this book. "Design It Yourself Clothes" by Cal Patch. Like ordering fabric, you never know exactly what you're going to get.

After I read through it quickly, this book will be given away. The pants draft and the shirt draft instructions have no darts. None. Zip. Now, that's ok if you want to make a yoga pant and maybe a big shirt. But otherwise, most of us need a dart or two. It's a very bare-bones drafting book.

I have several drafting books that I often use just to redesign an existing pattern. These are the two I use most often:

Patternmaking Made Easy" by Connie Crawford is her textbook for the college courses she teaches. It's thorough but easily understood. "Make Your Own Dress Patterns" by Adele Margolis is a wonderful reference about dart manipulation and changing darts to fullness. These two books I go to time and time again.

Monday is a day away. Have a good one!

Thank You

2010-02-23T10:15:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all the good suggestions for an appropriate fabric to make the shirt/jacket. I have ordered some swatches of shantung, poly/cotton, cotton/lycra.

And, thank you for the nice comments about my gray felted jacket. I appreciate each and every one. Sewing is an isolated art , and it's wonderful to be able to share ideas with one another. I have learned so much through your blogs.

A verification word popped up recently that I liked. It is: BLOGET. I will use that word in place of "bloggers".

Help Me, Sewing Friends !!

2010-02-22T11:28:00.000-05:00

I want to knock off this shirt/jacket:

I'm wondering about what type of fabric to use. I don't want lightweight fabric, like blouse-weight cotton or poly. Something heavier, something that won't wrinkle badly, that will be okay unlined.

Any ideas?

It's a Done Deal !!

2010-02-19T22:41:00.000-05:00

The gray wool felted jacket, heavily appliqued, is finished. Yay!

I added a modesty panel on the left front, and attached frog closures. I can see I need to add a snap below the last frog to keep that area closed.

I had a good time making this jacket. It's the kind of creative sewing that I love to do.

Have a great weekend, sewing, and otherwise!

Shoulder Pad Tute

2010-02-14T19:50:00.000-05:00

I once took a tailoring class from a little European lady. She was a seamstress extroidinaire, and she had a marvelous accent. She pronounced lapel, "la-bell". "Your la-bell MUST be pre-CISE" please!

One of the many things she insisted upon is making shoulder pads for tailored garments. Absolutely NO ready-made pads. She must have made an impact on me, because I haven't bought a shoulder pad since. These shoulder pads can be made any thickness. Most often, the pads in my jackets are 1/2" thick. Here's how:

I use polyester fleece, available at Jo's on a bolt, in the interfacing section. I don't remember the number on the bolt, but it's by Pellon and about 1/8" thick. I usually buy a couple of yards and cut as many pads as I can get out of it, all at once.

Begin by cutting squares--8", 6", 4". Two 1/2" inch shoulder pad requires 2- 8" squares, 1- 6" square, and 2-4" squares.

Cut the squres in half, diagonally.

Stack 1 large triangle, 1 medium triangle and 2 small triangles like this. (I'm using paper for clarity).

Top with another large triangle.

Pin the layers together, beginning in the center of the diagonal edge. Roll the layers over your hand as you pin, to form a slight curve. The diagonal edge is the edge that will be sewn to the armsythe.

After pining, it should have a curved shape like this.

Now, the pad will be hand-stitched together. On the diagonal side, backstitch through all layers, 5'8" from the edge, using a double strand of thread and making stitches 1/4" apart.

The other two sides are secured with a small running stitch, 1" from the edge.

Next, the pad will need some trimming. Round off the corner that lies next to the neckline. Cut through all layers.

Turn to the wrong side, and trim the bottom layer of fleece to 1/2" on two edges (Not the diagonal edge).

Pin the pad to a rounded surface, such as a sleever roll. Steam well, and let it dry.

THE END

My jacket is on the home-stretch. The lining is in and I'm doing handwork now--hems, diagonal basting on the edges, etc. Yay!

Jacket Progress

2010-02-12T16:45:00.000-05:00

Gray jacket is ready for finishing. It needed more embellishment on the right front and left sleeve. There was too much blank space. This is one time when more is better. I got another spool of decorative thread and embellished with stitches only--no applique. I added some details to the flowers with hand embroidery.

After much pulling of hair, and trying different buttons and closure options, I decided on Frogs. I think they are perfect for this jacket. However, I only have two, so I'll have to go Frog shopping.

Here's the front.

Close up of both fronts

And the back.

That's where I am. I've made a lining pattern, and hope to get started on that tomorrow.

Good sewing to you this weekend!

FO Photo

2010-02-08T19:25:00.000-05:00

I wore this new short-sleeve jacket today. It's casual and comfortable. I enjoyed wearing it.

It is M5941. I will make it again, maybe in a suitable spring fabric.

I bought gray lining and gray trim, but I don't know that I'm particularly satisfied with the trim. Still, I can continue on the jacket as soon as I can get back in my sewing room . I want the trim to go around the edges of the jacket, and make button loops with covered buttons.

Waiting for the snow storm to hit MI tomorrow. I have plenty of sewing lined up if I can't get out!

Progress with Applique Jacket

2010-02-03T05:53:00.000-05:00

I finished the applique on the back of the jacket and the sleeve.

I thought I may run out of the heavy thread I was using to applique. I had about 3 feet left on the spool!

I'll do some beading on the pieces next, and then start assembling the jacket. I'll be busy the rest of this week and the weekend, so probably won't get to sew again until next week.

I'm pleased with how the design has worked out. The decorative stitching is something different than usual to anchor the applique. Artsy. It was fun to work on and I'm anxious to finish the jacket.

Later.

Applique' Away

2010-01-31T17:32:00.000-05:00

I had the BEST time today, working on the applique for the front of the felted wool jacket. The hours passed and I was in the zone.

This is how I started. I traced applique' designs to freezer paper. Ironed the paper to felted wool, and then cut them out. The freezer paper sticks really well onto felted wool. Here's some leaves, ready to be cut out.

I hand basted the pieces in place, and then used the Feather stitch and heavyweight Sulky thread to stitch around the designs. I added vines and "whatnots". Here is the front, with the applique' finished.

I will do some beading. Not a lot, but I'll put a few beads in the flower centers and maybe some on the leaves. Maybe I'll work on the beading tonight. My plan is to run the design over the shoulder and let some leaves and a couple of flowers trail down the back. One sleeve will have some applique on it also.

I notice that a lot of you hit the latest pattern sale. I did too. I didn't buy the new Vogue patterns, although some of them are really nice. Most are too young for me (alas, but true), and wouldn't fit my lifestyle anyway. But, I will be reading your blogs and hoping to see some of those fancy dresses on you. You see, I live a most chic and fun life, vicariously through you!

Here's the patterns I bought.

Carolyn made Vogue8623, and I thought it was so elegant, with it's big collar and pleat in the back. It has a retro feel to it. Simplicity will be on sale at Jos the 12th through the 15th. I'll be there.

More later.

Playing with Felted Fabrics

2010-01-30T19:44:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago, I took a class in which we felted wool fabrics, and used a "cookie cutter" method of embellishment. Basically, a hole is cut in the garment fabric, a piece of felted wool the same size and shape is "plugged" into the hole and attached with decorative stitching.

I had my jacket cut out and waiting for design inspiration (or divine)! I made some samples of the "cookie cutter" technique. But, I could never make up my mind that I wanted to cut holes in that jacket. The gal who taught the class has some fantastic art garments using that technique, and in fact, she won a contest sposored by Threads, using the embellishment. Still----

Today, I pulled all the fabrics and threads out and decided to applique. Instantly, a big red flower came to mind. Years ago, I did a LOT of quilting. I taught it. Went to school to become certificed through National Qulting Association to be a quilt show judge. Baltimore Album quilts became very popular, and I fell in love with them. They are white backgrounds, with appliqued floral designs. Very fancy. In their time, the 1800s, the Victorian ladies of leisure made these time-consuming quilts.

I loved doing hand applique, and started designing Baltimore Album quilt blocks. Elly Sienkiewicz became an authority on those quilts, studying their history, etc. I took a couple of classes from her, and showed her the blocks I had designed. When her first book was published, she asked to use my quilt blocks in her book, along with the patterns and instructions to make them. Here's the book, and four of my quilt blocks:

What this has to do with my jacket is--I took the flower from one of the above pictures, enlarged it and am using it for the main flower on this jacket. On the quilt block, each petal is appliqued separately. The applique on my jacket is not intricate. It's more "folksy" with a modern twist. Here's the first flower, sewn down with a straight stitch.

Looks like a big old blob at this point! I cut the flower out as one big unit, sewed it down with a straight stitch, and marked with soap the petal lines. Then, I used a Feather Stitch and with heavy variagated thread, stitched around the flower. This is where it stands as of now:

I've drawn some vines with soap, and will make some leaf shapes and applique them . There will be beads because what's an art-type garment without beads? I'll probably applique down one sleeve and do something on the back, as well.

I had fun doing this and am anxious to get back to it tomorrow.

McCall 5941 Almost Done

2010-01-24T17:44:00.000-05:00

This jacket is sooo near done. I decided to put red decorative snaps down the front, but had only two. I have ordered snaps from SnapSource to finish this cap-sleeve jacket.

The fabric is black/white wool houndstooth. I made a few changes to the pattern. I added red piping down the CF and on the collar. I made two beautiful, perfect piped pockets, but when I basted them to the jacket, I didn't like them so off they came. The pattern didn't call for a lining, but I prefer it lined. Lining is red.

The major change to the pattern was shortening the length of the collar. The original collar ends at the finished edge of the jacket, so thatt it can be worn standing up. Here's how it actually should look:

But, I would never wear the collar up like that, and making it this way, if the collar is worn down, the two ends of the collar overlap quite a bit. Instead, I made the collar edges stop at CF. The CF to the finished edge of the jacket is 2"--quite an extension. I took 4" off the CB of the collar. It worked out well, and the collar lays nicely now.

I'll wear that jacket over a long-sleeve red Tshirt, which I made today. I'll get a pic wearing it when I get the snaps finished. This makes a nice layering piece, and would be a good transitional garment in between seasons.

More later.

My Little Golden Book

2010-01-18T18:12:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I read with interest Phyllis's post about SusanKhalje, her new website, and that she will be offering her Bridal Couture book on CD soon.

Phyllis commented about the price of this book on Amazon. I remember when that book first hit the bookshelves, but I never bought it. My curiousity got the best of me, and I checked the price of the book on Amazon-$93.00. Then, I checked on Ebay and found one copy for, get this--$140.00!

Today, I was out and about and stopped in Habermans to look for something. As I passed the books, I saw one copy of "Bridal Couture". I picked it up and looked at the price-$29.95. Now, I am not a fool. I bought that book in a split second!

If you find a copy , resonably priced, you may want to buy it because obviously, it is a Golden Book now!

Giveaway and Newsletter

2010-01-17T14:47:00.000-05:00

Claire hs a nice giveway on her blog. And, even better, she is going to publish a FREE newsletter. If you're not familiar with her sewing, you are missing out on some spectacular stuff. I'm sure her newsletters will have some interesting subjects.

So, if you want to read what she has to say, run over to her blog. There's a link in her recent post to sign up for the newsletter and the giveaway. But, the giveaway runs until tomorrow (Monday) afternoon only. Hurry!

Can You See It?

2010-01-12T19:47:00.000-05:00

Fortunately, mouth wounds heal rather quickly. My lip is sore and has a bump on it, but is definitely getting better.

I've been working on the piping for my jacket. I covered rat-tail cord with red satin. To keep the bias satin strips and slippery cord from going wonky on me, I hand-basted every step. It takes some time, but that's fine. I'm almost finished binding two pockets, one CF and collar sections.

There are several outside corners to apply cording. I need to be able to see up close and personal at the corners when I machine sew the binding. I must get a pair of magnifying headgear that's recently been talked about among some blogs. I do have a lamp with a magnifier. And, I have this really great attachment for my sewing machine.

The magnifier is specific to this Bernina machine. It has saved me pulling my hair out many times. Love it!

Sometimes, we need to see the bigger picture!