McCall's 6203

One word - quick.  This is a simple pattern with the body and sleeves all-in-one.  I liked the neckline featured in the black/white version on the pattern envelope.  I tried this with my fabric, using the shirt fabric and a solid blue.  It didn't work at all, my fabric is a tissue weight and wasn't heavy enough to support the weight of the wider neckline.

Only change - I tapered the side seams at the waist for a bit of shaping.

So if you need a quick new top for the holidays, look at McCall's 6203

One more shot -

Okay, looks better with the sweater and belt.

Off to first varsity basketball game, one girl is starting tonight! 



Jalie Tie Top in Blue

The third time for this pattern, one time here and another time here.  I made this from the this knit from fabric.com.  I added a bit of length on this one and that was the only change.  It might be my top for Thanksgiving dinner - we are going to try and get a family dinner with my family, my parents and my brother's family.  My sister-in-law is hoping everyone will wear blues or greys - so we will see.

Christmas Tree Skirt

Erin needed a tree skirt for the Christmas tree in her college apartment.  She loves bright colors and most of the ornaments on the tree are bright red and aqua. So when I found these colors in a Christmas fabric line, I snatched up 2 yards.  I started it this morning at 5:45 a.m. before work and finished it up this afternoon after work. 

Here is a close-up of the fabric and the colors.

I just cut out the red fabric in a circle pattern, this link has information on how to cut it out steps 4 and 5.  I used a gallon paint can to cut the center and then just cut up one of the fold lines for the back opening.  I used a piece of muslin for the back of the red fabric (sewed RST and turned out), this eliminated bias binding.  Added the ruffle, ribbon ties and some topstitching.  Quick and cute, my kind of holiday sewing project.

Crafting

Yesterday, Meredith, Kaitlyn and I spent the afternoon in my sewing room.  Kaitlyn worked on Ruffled Christmas Trees, I did the ruffling and she did all the hot gluing.  We made several of them as the pictures show.  We used ribbon, osanburg, fabric and also used some quilting cottons from a jelly roll.  Those strips are precut 2-1/2" wide with a small pinking on each side.  I cut them in half (1-1/4") and did the basting on the cut side. 

Meredith was looking online for gift ideas and found all the zipper tutorials.  She made headbands, brooches, rings and hairpins.  I am wearing a brooch today.  Here is some of her crafting.

It was lots of fun and we are planning our next crafting day. 

Pillow Swap

I am participating in a Pillow Swap througha group on  Flickr.  I am not even sure how I stumbled upon this group, but so happy I did.  After seeing all the creativity from the previous swaps, I knew I had to kick it up.  I looked through my quilt magazines, pictures online and finally found this Moda Bake Shop Tutorial.  Here is the front of my pillow.

As I was sewing, thoughts kept entering my head - what about the back.  So I answered my thoughts, make the back very pretty and my partner can change up the way the pillow looks.

So here is the back:

The pillow has to be mailed by December 15th, so I am way ahead of the game and will probably mail mine tomorrow. 

Do you have a favorite side?  My girls like the side with the flower.  I like both of the sides and I need to make myself some of these pillows, it was very enjoyable being so creative.

Burda 11/2006 #116

Something quick and easy after sewing up my blouse.  This oldie but goodie from a 4 year old Burda Magazine (11/2006) #116. 

Make sure you use a fabric that looks great on the wrong side, too.  The collar rolls so you see the wrong side of the fabric.  I added 3/4" to the bodice, to lower the empire waist seam a bit.  Also, added 2" to the length and 1" to the sleeves. 

Fabric is rayon- lycra knit from Fabric. com

Here is the picture, hubby took it this morning, about the second time ever he has operated my camera.  Twins had basketball practice at 5:45 so they were unavailable during sunlight!

Hubby didn't pay any attention to what the picture looked like, in all 3 my eyes were closed.  I didn't crop my head - the sunrise was so pretty in the background (and my smile actually looked pretty good too)

Butterick 5526 - My first Never Too Many White Shirt Project

I am participating in:

Barbara from Sewing on the Edge is hosting.

I needed a new white shirt or maybe many before I get finished but for my first one I selected

Butterick 5526

View A(upper right corner) was my choice.

Pattern description: Fitted shirt have collar band, shaped hemline, long rolled sleeves (wrong side shows) and button tabs., front-button closing, topstitch trim and narrow hem, button trim on pleated pockets, front bands and princess seams

Sizes: 6 to 22.  I made a 12, corresponding to the finished measurements on the pattern tissue.

Instructions:  They were pretty good but I used several other references to help construct this blouse.  First was Sandra Betzina's book, More Power Sewing, a helpful hint for the curved shirttail hem.  Next was Pam of Off The Cuff Sewing Style blog for wonderful collar and collar band tutorial.  A great place to find the links for this information and many sewing tutorials Sigrid's Sewing Tutorial Blog.  With the help of Pam's tutorials, this is the best collar band I have ever constructed.  Thank you, Pam.\

The rest of the blouse construction was pretty straight forward and easy to construct.

Likes/Dislikes:  I saw Erica's Pattern Review for this one and put it on my list right away.   I like all the versions of the blouse, princess seams, sleeve variations, front design options. 

Changes:  Erica noted the pattern was short, so I added 2" to the length and 1-1/2" to the sleeves.  These all proved to be just right.  These were my only changes.

Fabric:  A beautiful shirting from Needle Nook Fabrics

Conclusion:  Great basic blouse pattern that has many options to make it unique for you.  Nice fit, good construction and easy to sew for a blouse.  I think I will get lots of wear from this one



Burda 12/2008 #113

Pattern Description:
for 113 A on page 21 - Over blouse, this t-shirt could well become one of your favorites because it's cut wide enough to easily wear it over another garment.
113B -  on page 28 - (bottom picture) - The wittily gathered neckline and narrow banded "cuff" on the sleeves give our jersey tshirt a trendy touch.  Wear this loosely-cut garment over thin pullovers and cinch with a tie belt at the waist.

Sizing - 38 to 46

Instructions and Changes: They were okay.  Burda did have you sew the side seams of the tshirt and then insert these raglan sleeves.  I ignored that part - instead:

1. Sewed the center seam of the front sleeve and back sleeve
2. Sewed the sleeve to the front and the back. 
3. Sewed the underarm sleeve and side seam in one continuous seam.

The binding for the neckline was a bit too long, I took about 3" off the recommended total.

I have read through the instructions a couple of times and didn't see any pattern or measurments for the "cuffs".  In the picture (the blue background) you can see what appears to be a wide binding for the cuff. 
The top is more of a 3/4 sleeve length, so I made my own "cuff".  Measured the bottom of my sleeve, subtracted 1/2" for the width and then cut it 7" wide.  I sewed the side seam of the cuff and then folded the cuff in half and attached to the bottom of the sleeve.

One more change, the sleeve was wide at the bottom, so I narrowed it from the elbow down by 1/2"

Likes and dislikes:  I have always liked the looks of the top and never took the time to make it.  Dislike - it is hard to see the garment details in Burda's pictures. 

Fabric used: One of the rayon knits from fabric.com, wonderful fabric

Conclusion:  A cute top with more of a sweater look.  I can see myself wearing this quite a bit and making more in the future.

Styled like magazine:

 Top only -

Tank from Simplicity 2603

Just such an easy tank top but has wonderful yoke and gathering details.  It will look great with the card-wrap from the same pattern  (Simplicity 2603) or  cardigans or jackets.  I think I could even put a white blouse under it for a vest look.

Late to the Party

the cardi-wrap party, that is. I finally made myself one and it is wonderful. I used slub polyester/rayon blend jersey from fabric. com.  Nice fabric with a bit of a sweater look. 

I am making the sleeveless shirt from this Simplicity 2603 pattern to wear with my cardi-wrap.  That will happen tomorrow, heading out the door to cheer on my niece at the State Cross Country meet.  Go Sophie!

Musical Performance Costumes Complete

The above pattern is Meredith's choice for her costume for Scrooge in December at high school.  Here is here costume:

Meredith plays the cello and with the long fitted sleeves, she wasn't able to move her arms to play her cello. 

Suspecting this, I made one sleeve, then attached it to the bodice and had her try it on.  Yes, limited movement.  So now short sleeve gown!

Kaitlyn didn't want the same pattern (of course, what do you think we are twins or someting ha ha!)  The real reason - this pattern is too girly.  The music director told them a skirt with blouse and an apron would be a good choice.

Working from this pattern:

I made this:

The pattern calls for 3 skirt pieces, I used 2 pieces only, wanted the look of a slimmer skirt.  Also, I adjusted the blouse a bit smaller, the bust measured 45" on her size!  Making the blouse with less volume, allowed me to make an apron from the leftover yardage.  The blouse still is so full, Kaitlyn cannot tuck it in, makes her skirt too tight.

Now this is how the photographs don't tell the whole truth - In person, Kaitlyn's costume is beautiful and looks so much nicer than Meredith's gown. I think it looks the opposite in the photographs.

Mark that off my list, hurray!  Now I am working on another anthro-inspired top. 

News on my Riveria Jacket - big, big oops.  I tried to fix my oops but my topstitching thread matched too perfectly to the fabric, this led to a nice big whole in my jacket.  New fabric is on the way!