Hot Patterns Gift To Me

Gwen, of "In Over My Head" blog had several give-aways in December.  She wanted everyone who entered to win, so at the end of the giveaway(s), she bought those of us who didn't win their choice of Hot Patterns from a particular grouping.  How sweet is that?  I decide on this HotPatterns Plain&Simple Boxy Bowling Bag pattern.  Whew--that's a lotta' name!  Looks like this:

I like a structured bag, and this fits the bill.  I'm going to search the HP Website and PR to see if I can find photos of the bag, finished.  I'm anxious to try this one out.

Thank you, Gwen.

I was glued to the TV last night, watching Downton Abbey.  Some of you are having Downton parties, with tea and crumpets.  I am so jealous!  Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it without a party.  Tonight, PeggySagers is doing her bi-monthly webcast.  It's about knits.  Honestly, knits are more popular now than in the 70s when Stretch&Sew erupted.  I took a lot of classes at the local S&S store.  It was new, fresh and fun.  Now the variety of knits has expanded so that it takes some skill to know how to handle the various fabrics, their stretch and eccentricities.  Which you know, they have.

I'll be here with my face in the computer screen tonight.  See you there.  

HP Deneuve Tunic --The End

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!

On the Riveria

I love my Hot Patterns Riveria Jacket.  It's casual and easy to wear, comfortable.

The review is here.

The pattern calls for a stable knit, but I used a gray striped, loosely woven wool, which I bought for 50 cents at one of my sewing clubs.  Because the jacket is boxy and not closely fitted, using a woven fabric worked out just fine.  The wool did require a lining.  I had this printed lining in my stash that I got off the grab table at another sewing guild.

The buttons were in my stash as well, so this jacket was basically a freebie. 

I did make a few changes to the pattern.  I added hem allowances and ommited the hem facings.  Because I didn't want to disrupt the stripe, I cut the back on the fold, instead of in two pieces as the pattern dictates.  The sleeves are two-pieced, but again, I made  them in one piece, so the stripe wouldn't be interrupted.  I added cuffs to the sleeves and ommited the sleeve facings.

I used a traditional tailored collar/lapel technique instead of going by the instructions.  It's not that "an old dog cannot learn new tricks" but I liked my old way better!  I will make this jacket again, probably in the spring.

I whacked and stacked 7 T-shirts, and sewed 3 of them.

The one in the center is brick red, and I will wear it under the Riveria jacket.

There are 4 Ts waiting to be sewn, as I have a few minutes.  That's something I can sew when I don't have to think.  I can make them in my sleep.  But, my next real project is this jacket,  that I want to make out of black/white houndstooth wool.

                                                         

I'll make the hip-length version, and although it's supposed to be an unlined jacket, I am going to line it in red.  A pattern, after all, is just a "suggestion".

Happy New Year to everyone.  May 2010 be your best sewing year ever!