Summer Hats and Sure Fit

Long time between blog posts.  I haven't sewn much in the last few weeks.  But, with the season about to change, I expect a resurgence of sewing energy.

My Designers group challenge for July/August was hats.  I love hats and this was a fun challenge, where I came away with lots of ideas.  The photos of all the hats are on the Designer blog.

My hat is a tall-brimmed sun hat, made from black/white check fabric.  The pattern is by HotPatterns, and is a free download at Fabric.com.  It's called "Sunny Side Up" hat.  I trimmed it with a wide black grosgrain ribbon and a black flower.

I love my hat.  One day I will get a photo of it on my head and post it.

I continue to use my now new TNT blouse pattern, drafted using the SureFit system.  I like fiddling around with designs and patterns.  This white blouse turned out well, and who doesn't need another white blouse!  In fact, I need at least 3 more.

It's nothing spectacular, but it fits and I need blouses for fall/winter.

I'm working on a black/white gingham blouse now, with a Mandarin collar and sleeves gathered at the hem.  I need to get that finished and move on.

Happy September to all of you, and enjoy sewing some fall clothes. Ahhhh, it's in the air!

V8324

Here's one of my favorite blouses. Unfortunately, the photograph doesn't show it to it's advantage! I would like to have seen a photograph on the pattern envelope instead of a line drawing.

The pattern has a pleat at center back, fastened at the waist. Plain V-neck or with added ruffle. Short bell sleeves, or long bishop sleeves. I made the version with a ruffle and made a 3/4 length sleeve, adding a ruffle there also. It's semi-fitted with bust darts and vertical darts, front and back.

My blouse is made of rayon challis. I LOVE rayon challis. It's so drapey and soft. It's hard to find. I have a couple of pieces in my stash and at least one of them will become another of this pattern.

Linda suggested I describe how I made the ruffles on this blouse. I disregarded the instructions and made the ruffle I prefer. Patterns are just a starting point--a suggestion. Sometimes, I don't like their suggestions! The pattern calls for a double ruffle. That may work if using a sheer fabric, but in challis, the ruffle would be heavy and weigh down the front of the blouse.

To make the ruffle on both the neckline and the sleeves, I first determined how wide I wanted the ruffle, and cut a 3" strip of fabric across the grain. On each long side, I made a serger rolled-hem. I gathered the strip(s) on the machine with a gathering foot. making the gathering stitches 5/8" from the edge. The strip was ready to be sewn in place, to the neckline and to the sleeves.

It's a simple, uncomplicated way to make a ruffle. Here's a closeup of the sleeve:

This is a nice pattern. It's feminine and comfortable.

I have jeans cut out, ready to sew. Maybe I'll get going on those next week.

Have a great week.

A Tale of Two Blouses

Thank you all for visiting my blog. I'm loving this blogging community. I learn a lot and laugh a lot. I also feel your frustrations, having had many myself. There are so few people who sew, that it's great to be able to share our skills and reach across the miles and oceans to each other. Everyone, regardless of their skill level, has something to bring to the table. We all learn from each other.

Sometimes, you just need some basics. Boring but necessary. I really need some blouses and pants. After my pants shopping experience, I know the only way I'm getting pants that fit will be to make them. Blouses are easier to buy, but I have a lot of blouse weight fabric in my stash that needs to be sewn.

This is my TNT blouse pattern. It's Palmer/Pletsch for McCall, number 3284. Plain blouse, nothing fancy. It is a semi-fitted blouse, darts front and back, roll collar. Easy sew.

I made one in an ivory/brown print. I have brown pants to wear with it. There's another one in the works that is a multi-color animal print. Here's the finished blouse, and a detail of how I

finish the inside of the rolled collar. There's several ways the collar can be finished. I like to bind the edge. It's easy, and makes a nice, clean finish.

When the animal print blouse is sewn, I'll probably work on a jacket. I have a pattern traced and altered, ready for a muslin.

There was no sewing going on here this weekend. I had my two grandsons, age 2 and 8 months for the night on Friday, and all day Saturday. I love having them, and sewing can wait. We delivered them to their parents Saturday evening, and had a Wii bowling party.

After church today, DH and I decided to go shopping, and came home with a Wii. To justify it, we bought Wii fit also, for exercise, you know. It's a health issue!

I wonder if there's a Wii sewing game? Maybe one that would solve all pant fitting problems, for instance. Speaking of that--I've been following the jeans sew-along at PR. There's some interesting problem solving going on over there.

Sewing is priority this week. Famous last words!