I Won !! And Jam #5

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.

Aha! Photo Posting

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.

JAM #4, Done

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

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!

JAM #3 In Progress

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

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. 

JAM #2, the Beginning

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.