Just for the “skirt” of it. . .

I decided that I just wanted a “fun” skirt.  Something not your prim and proper business attire.  Something with some fun print.
So I took this pattern, McCall 6570;


This pattern is actually a circle skirt, so needless it say it calls for a considerable amount of fabric (2 1/2 yards .  Now if you add the fact that I have to lengthen my patterns by 4-6 inches.  I ended up using at least an additional 1 yard.

I lengthened the print piece by about 6 inches.  Because this is a circle style skirt and I added length to the print section of the skirt, I ended up having to re-draft the border piece.

After all of the alterations the finished skirt looked like this: (sorry for the picture quality, had to use my phone)

Pattern Review:

Pattern Description:  McCall 6570, skirt view B

Pattern Sizing: Size 14/ bust 36

Did it look like the photo/drawing on pattern once you were done sewing: Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  The skirt went together very easily.

Fabric Used:  Cotton print from Joann Fabric in Alpharetta, GA; Dark Blue Cotton from stash

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I had to do my standard length adjustment.  And because this is essentially a circle skirt I had to redraft the border.

Would you sew it again? Maybe,  I've got a couple other skirts I want to try first.

Just a little bit of leftover fabric. . .

Well with all of this sewing there is bound to be some leftover fabric, so what do you do with it?  You use it in another garment.

I had some of the black fabric leftover from the dress of the previous post.  Just enough to make some short sleeves.  So I went into my vintage pattern stash and found this pattern:

As a matter of fact I have two copies of this pattern.  (That’s what happens when your Mom helps feed your vintage pattern collection!). 

I also had some black 2-way stretch knit left over from another project.  So I chose to do the turtle neck view with the short sleeves.  The only modification I made was to remove the back zipper on the turtleneck; cutting the back on the fold.  As for sewing the knit I used a mini-zigzag on my sewing machine.  Yes, I have a serger; but just don’t like sewing knits on it when it’s the first time I’m making a pattern.

I used a blindhem stitch to hem the sleeves. And chose not to hem the top: I was worried about stretching it out of shape.  Besides it looks cleaner with the even cut across  the bottom:

Pattern Review:

Pattern Description:  Vintage Simplicity 5185 Women’s Turtleneck top (view A w/ modifications.

Pattern Sizing: Size 14/ bust 36

Did it look like the photo/drawing on pattern once you were done sewing: Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? This pattern only had 4 pieces , so I didn’t even use the pattern instructions.

 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I love the fit of this pattern.  Also I liked the collar, it a a close fit on the neck.

Fabric Used: black knit purchased from Denver Fabrics (now known as Colorado Fabrics), and scrap from the sleeves of the dress made in previous post.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  Original pattern had a zipper in the center back, I removed the zipper and cut the back on a fold.  My fabric had more than enough stretch to accommodate this.  I also added 1 inch to the bottom.

Would you sew it again? Definitely yes, I already have my fabric chosen

 

Happy Sewing . . .

I can do that . . . . .

So much junk mail comes to my home and usually I just toss it out.  But on yesterday I got a sales catalog from Alloy.

Immediately I spotted this dress:

And I remembered I have some fabric in my stash that I could make this from. I bought both pieces from Colorado Fabrics (previously known as Denver Fabrics).  The piece for the sleeves was purchased from the “by the pound” bin; which is remnants that are sometimes as large as a yard.

The other piece was on their discount wall, and was a light gray knit:

I thought they made a pretty good combo:

Since I already had the altered pattern from Vogue 1317 (previous post and review), I thought this would be great!

Changes I made to the dress – beyond what is in the photo:

• lengthen to below the knee
• add black trim at neckline
• I put 2” strip of stabilizer along the hemline, I just felt I needed that along the hemline.
• I also underlined the dress.

It is very comfortable without feeling constraining.

One day I’ll take pix of me in these.  But if I wait till I wear them I”ll never get them posted.

Happy Sewing . . . .

Burda Style for the US . . .

 

Well today I took 1/2 day from work, and decided to stop off at Joann’s fabric store to pick up a couple of Simplicity patterns at 5/$5.  At the register I discovered this:

This is the premier (Winter 2014) issue of the Burda Style magazine (I’ll call it Burda-US).  I had to get it to see how it differs from the German Burda Style (Burda-Ger), which I subscribe to:

• Burda-US published quarterly; Burda published monthly
• Burda-US contains some of the patterns from the monthly issue of Burda-Ger
• Burda-US does'n’t have the “ALL STYLES AT A GLANCE” page, which is kind of nice to have.
• Nice thing; measurements, yardage, etc. are written up in US english.  Which is nice
• Magazine is bound rather than stapled.  So you don’t have to pull apart the staples.  The pattern section is on perforated pages that can be removed from magazine.
• Price per quarterly issue $14.99 (But can get yearly subscription for sale price of $29.99).

I wanted to see if it offered me more than the German version.  It is a more “Americanized” version of Burda Style,  There is a “top 10” section; this months top 10 is on “Sewing the perfect buttonhole”.

I’m still going thru the issue; but so far so good. I just wanted to share this; and will provide more details as I get farther thru my analysis.

However, since I have a annual subscription to the German magazine I probably won’t do a subscription to this one.  I’ve gotten used to my Burda magazine’s coming monhly!  

 

Happy Sewing . . . .

If you don’t like the fit; maybe alter the pattern?

So like many, at first I fell in love with this pattern.

Vogue 1314

After seeing the success of Mimi's version here and here. I thought it would be perfect.  However, when I made it the ruching just didn't lay right.

Maybe there isn't enough ruching, I don't know.  I just know it wasn't right for me.  I was so disappointed in it.  Needless to say I haven't really worn it.

I kept thinking that maybe I read the instructions wrong or something.

Then I saw the posting by Sarah at Goodbye Valentino (here).  My results looked a lot like hers.

She was able to save hers (see here).  Maybe I'll give it another try later, once I've recovered from my initial disappointment.

But I'm not one to be outdone by a sewing pattern. NO, I'm not going down like that.  So in order to prove that I outdid the pattern, I took out the ruching of the pattern, and produced this:



It fits wonderfully. (I'll have to take pics of it on me the next time I wear it) .

However, after reading Goodbye Valentino's blog, I may give it another try with the ruching.

So here goes my review of Vogue 1314:

Pattern: Vogue 1314

Fabric Used:  Knit fabric from stash.  The solid is a slightly ribbed knit

Pattern Sizing: 14-20 (cut in size 14)

Did it look like the pattern: no not really

Were the instructions easy to follow: yes

What did you particularly like or dislike:  For some reason I just couldn't get the ruching to lay correctly, not sure if it is the fabric or what.  I may need to add some ruching or do adjustments similar to Goodbye Valentino.

Pattern alterations or any design changes:  My standard alterations

• Added 6 inches to length
• Added to hip width

On the second iteration, I removed the ruching (maybe this is what I will start with and just ad additional ruching.

Would you sew it again:   Maybe I'll attempt it once more (with ruching); since I’m not one to be outdone by a pattern – LOL.

Would you recommend it: I'll hold off until I've tried it again.

Saving the environment with some "no-brainer" sewing!

From time to time I just need to do some repetitive sewing.

I had gone to the grocery store, and was informed that next year most of our stores will start charging for plastic bags.  I figured this would be a good time to use up some of my stash, and "save the world".

So I had this pattern:



Simplicity 1750

 

On the first couple I made the pouches that goes with the bags, and then thought, Why am I putting so much effort into the pouches.  Also, on the first couple I used the fashion fabric for the lining.  Then I decided why am I wasting my fabric to put

in the lining, I can just use a cotton muslin.

Once I figured these two things out, I went on a sewing frenzy.  Each of my co-workers got 2 bags each (that's about 12 bags).  I personally made 10 for my family's use.  My husband is a big basketball fan, and my daughter played ball in college, so I had a surplus of basketball fabric so all of ours are basketball.  That worked out great because my husband can use them and still look "macho" - SMILE!  He loves the bags.

 

I had lots of cotton prints from when my kids were little.  So my co-workers ended up with very colorful bags: ABC print, Baseball print, florals, Trains, African prints, etc.  You get the drift.  They loved them.  Then while at an estate sale I found the John Deer fabric, and fishing print.  So I made 6 bags for my parents (They have a farm and love to fish).

 

The bags are wonderful and very sturdy.  And because of the wide handles a lot easier to carry than the cheap plastic bags from the grocery store.  My family loves these.  I think I'll be doing some for Christmas gifts for my son's.

 

It's not garment sewing; but sometimes you need to make something that doesn't require a lot of effort.

 

I figured I need to do my part to save the earth! Why didn't I do this years ago?



Pattern: McCall 1750

Pattern Sizing:  One Size

Did it look like the pattern/drawing:  Yes

 Were the instructions easy to follow:  Yes, there is only 1 pattern piece for the bag and 1 for the pouch.

What did you like about pattern: It was extremely simple and the bags are sturdy

Pattern Alterations:   None

Will I sew it again:  Yes, look out Christmas here we come - LOL

Bernina App

All these years I have been dealing with severe seasonal allergy.  Each year about the fall, I'd get a severe cold, etc. and am not able to shake the cough for several weeks.  Well last year I decided it was time to get it checked out, after working from home for 2 weeks because of this nasty cough.  If you've ever been around me then it is one of those nasty, hacky, raspy coughs.  Turns out I have severe allergies to weeds; hence the nasty cough, etc.

So during those times what do you do?  You surf the internet.

Look what I found!

The Bernina App! 

 It provides me the ability to record which accessories I own and want.  I can also easily access video's and tutorials on using the different accessories.

If you have a Bernina, then make sure you get it.

Now if only they'd develop one for the Viking (Yep, I kept my Viking Designer 1 machine).

Happy Sewing . . . .