Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Jalie 2919

I made another Jalie cardigan.  Not sure how I feel about it but I do know one thing, it is very warm and I like that.

Fabric is a velour type knit, another $1.59 a yard special and that is my last yardage of my great buy.


Here is the original review.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

What I Wore Today

I have been sewing, just not getting any pictures, it is so hard with the short daylight hours.  So here is a couple of pieces from my closet.



The top is Vogue 8597, blogpost here and the skirt was made way back when (2005) before I had a blog.  It is Simplicity 9825 and you can read the review here.  I have always liked this skirt and happy I have kept it in my closet so long.  I do need to do a different belt or no belt.  Not liling the look in the picture, too straight, need some definition in the outfit.  Suggestions?

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a great day with family and friends.  We are getting ready to hit the road for a 5 hour drive for our Thanksgiving celebration.

We are taking these cute little treats which Kailtyn made last night
Aren't those darling pilgram hats?  We are putting in the way back so I don't eat them all on the way.

Happy Thanksgving

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Signature Style Winner

I used random.org for the drawing and it picked

And number one is Margaret, congratualtions!





Send me an email with your mailing address and I will get the book headed your way.

Thanks everyone for the great comments on what you are thankful for, very fun to read.

Friday, November 18, 2011

A Thankfulness Giveaway

Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving?  Wasn't it just here?  Well, it is that time of year to think about all my blessings and everything I am thankful for.  My list is very long and I am very thankful for many things.  My family and friends are right at the top of the list.  Also, my sewing is on the list, I am very thankful for such a fun and fulfilling hobby.  I have always enjoyed sewing but thanks to the internet community, I really enjoy sewing. I have made incredible friendships thanks to these blogs.  I get so many ideas from other blogs, Pattern Review, Pinterest, Cabi and Flickr to name a few. Also, thanks to the internet I have found great fabric online, new patterns to try and books to buy.  My cup runneth over, not too mention my fabric shelves, pattern cabinets, notion drawers and bookshelves. 

With all this  thankfulness in mind, I would like to giveaway a book from my sewing bookshelf.  I have enjoyed the book, the projects and the photography and want someone else to enjoy the book also.

How to enter:

Leave a comment on what you are thankful for - sewing, crafting, something or someone from the online community.

I will draw next Tuesday the 22nd and get it mailed on Wednesday. 

Thanks

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

McCall's 6200

Pattern Description: Loose fitting, straight, above mid-knee, pullover dresses A, B, C have front and back gathers, neckband and elbow length raglan sleeve variations; dress A has wide sleeves, contrast neckband and contrast belt; dresses B, C have gathered sleeves with self sleeveband; dress C has self belt.

Sizes: 8 to 16 and 18W to 24W

Instructions:  Very easy to follow, great order to the instructions.  Notice this dress is not gathered all around the neckline and sleeves, only the front and back neckline is gathered.  I really like this feature, keeps it from looking too much like a peasant top/dress. 

Fabric:  Another great lycra/knit from the store with the $1.59 a yard treasures. 

Changes:  Only one, I used my coverstitch on the neckband at both the upper and lower edges.

I also cute a size smaller than usual, lots of ease in this pattern.

Conclusion:  This is for Erin and  I really want one, too.  If this one wasn't a couple inches too short, not sure I would be giving it up. Also, note the neckline is wide on the pattern envelope and it is that way on the actual garment.


Sunday, November 13, 2011

Stocking holders

Using U Create's November Project for inspiration, Erin and I (and her dad) made her stocking holders for her new home.

We got a 2 x 6 scrap board, cut each four pieces 5-1/4" each. Mike used his router and made a groove for the frames..  The frames are 4 x 6 frames from Hobby Lobby (50% off) and with the routed groove, Erin can change what is in the frame.  A little bit of paint on all the wooden surfaces, she has mostly turquoise and red ornaments for her tree.

The frames have scrapbooking paper background and initials cut out with my Silhouette.  She bought hooks in our small town but they were the wrong color, so she painted them her trim paint color.

take a look
Stocking found at Hobby Lobby and yes one for their dog.  I am going to embroidery their names on felt and then stitch it onto the stockings.


Her fiance's holder

Her holder

 Aren't they cute?  And very inexpensive to make.  I might need new ones, I really like Shanty 2 Chic's holders with the clothespin.  I am thinking a cute picture of the girls when they were little, dressed in their Christmas finest.


Butterick 5564

Description: Close-fitting, pullover top A, tunic B, dress C have scooped neck with binding, drape sleeves with pleats, inset and stitched hems. A: hip length. B: below hip length. C: above mid-knee length

Sizes: 6 to 22

Likes/dislikes:  The interesting sleeves, youthful look and the center back seam.

Instructions:  The were pretty good, except for the insets, this part of the instruction left quite abit to be desired.  You look at the sleeves on this top and it looks very breezy but then look again at the body of the garment and it is a pretty close fitting garment.  One plus of this pattern is the insets, a front and back with sews into the bottom of the sleeve seam and the body sleeve.  Great pattern piece, otherwisde not much coverage on the side seams with the big billowy sleeves. This part of the instructions has one illustration and the following "Pin right side of inset to armhole edge over wrong side of sleeve front and back. Stitch entire armhole edge." 

here is the illustration:


The sleeves take quite a bit of time to pleat and sew to the garment.  I did sew the binding a couple inches shorter to keep the neckline close to the body.


Fabric:  A nice interlock found for $1.59 a yard.

Conclusion:  Cute and fun, I do think Erin will need to where a cami or long-sleeve tshirt with this one the neckline is pretty low.  If you are looking for something different try this fun pattern.




Very windy day so these big sleeves were hard to photograph


Thursday, November 10, 2011

McCall's 6078

As Gwen commented, I am sewing one for me, one for Erin.  Well, it is my turn again and I used the last bit of the stripe knit and made this great draped top.  The original review can be found here and the blog post here


My silly husband loves to just take tons of pictures until I take the camera away from him!

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

McCall's 6163



Pattern Description: Close fitting, above mid-knee length knit dress with mock wrap front, gathered at left side with collar and raglan sleeves.


Sizing: 8 to 16 and 18W to 24W

Instructions:  They are easy to follow, good beginner dress.  I left off the collar and collar band, so I had to add some steps and change the order of my construction.

Changes:  This dress is for...... yes, Erin, again.  We found this pattern at Joann's while at the State Softball weekend.  She liked the raglan sleeves, elastic in the sleeves for a ruched effect and the gathered wrap.  She was not a fan of the collar, wanted to wear sweaters with the dress and thought the collar would get in the way. 

So my changes:
  1. Sewed the center back seam
  2. Sewed the front and back sleeves together
  3. Stitched 1/8" elastic to the sleeve seam to make the ruching.
  4. Sewed sleeves to front and back
  5. Measured pattern pieces at neck edge and cross over, subtracted seam allowances.  This measurement is to  for the self-fabric band around the front crossover and neck edge.  My fabric is very stretchy, so I subtracted 6" from the measurment for the band.  I wanted the band to fit tight and pull the crossover to the body.
  6. I then marked quarters in the front band and the edge of the dress.  I matched these points and now ready to serge the band to the dress.  I placed the dress on the feed dogs of the serger.  I like to be able to see the band and stretch it as I sew.  Also, if it looks like I will have too much dress fabric, I can adjust the differential feed to pull up some of the dress fabric.
  7. Gather up the right front, matched it to the left front.
  8. Sew the underarm sleeve seam and side seam all in one.
  9. Hem and done.
Fabric:  Nice knit from Joann's, we really liked the print and colors of this one. 

Conclusion:  I will sew this cute dress again, for me next time.  It is a quick, stylish dress with some nice sleeve variations.


Erin just bought a cute chunky sweater in the rusty-orange color and cute short brown boot, darling outfit.


I have asked her for pictures when she wears an outfit I made.  Just have a co-worker take a picture with her smart phone.  I don't know if she will do that, so we will see.

Monday, November 07, 2011

Vogue 8597

A quick top for Erin from a fabric I recently purchased at a fabric warehouse while at state softball.  A really nice knit for $1.59 a yard.  I have enough left to make myself a top.



I have made this top before and here is the blog post and the review.  I have a dress for her that needs to be hemmed.  She is on a dress kick, right now with about 3 more patterns picked out to be sewn up. 

Friday, November 04, 2011

Sandra Betzina

I just have to say......


I heart Sandra Betzina, she is my sewing hero of many years.  I fed my babies watching her show on HGTV, attended a workshop she held at Cy Rudnick's in Kansas City (she autographed my books, helped me pick out fabric), saw her at a Viking Husqvarna Convention and had the great pleasure to interview her for my podcast.

I have purchased her books, patterns, enjoyed her website, watched some videos and still need to check into her new series with Ron Collins.  Whenever I need help with my sewing, her books are the first ones I pull off the shelf.

I wore this today
Vogue 1197- Sandra Betzina pattern


Also, I am on her email list, which I received in my inbox today, including her twice-yearly  Fashion Forecast.  I have spent much time throughout the years reading over the Fashion Forecasts, helping to plan out my sewing for the season.

At the end of today's Fashion Forecast I read this paragraph (copied from her newsletter)

While I continue to design patterns for Vogue and teach classes, this will conclude many years writing the twice yearly fashion forecasts. If we have your e-mail, we will let you know about the just realized Today’s Fit patterns and new WebTV show topics, filmed by Ron Collins and myself. We are in the process of updating our website once again.


                                          Fondly,
                                          Sandra Betzina


So to this I say,  thank you, Sandra for all you do for the sewing community and for my sewing personally.  I will miss your Fashion Forecasts but will eagerly await each pattern and book and I am heading now to check out the WebTV shows.

Signed your very appreciative sewing student,


 




Tuesday, November 01, 2011

New Look 6648

Looks like I am making this pattern once a month.  First in August, the second time in September and the third time in October (just posting in November).  Fabric is from Fabric Mart, the band is the way the knit stretches but I didn't want the body of the top with the horizontal geometric print across my body.  This top is oversized and I didn't need the stretch (which is limited on this knit), so I ran the geometric print vertically.

I wore this to work today but totally forgot to take a picture, so you get the dressform shot. 


I am going to make this in November, this time for Erin in a bright pink knit.