Best of 2012 for me

It is that time again, the best sewing projects of 2012.  My first post will be the best sewing projects for me, then I will do one for my girls.
1.  Simplicity 2728 – I wear this quite a bit and get compliments every time.

2.  Hot Patterns - Riveria Jacket- My go-to jacket.



3. McCall;s 6163 – nice basic for my closet


4.  Butterick 5526 – love the gingham and the pattern



5. McCall's 6563 – an easy to sew shirt but looks great many different ways


6. McCall's 6512 – made twice and have fabric for one more.  I really, really like this top

and


7. Simplicity 2580 – my favorite thing made for me in 2012

8. Vogue 8831 – my most recent garment,and a winner


9.  New Look 6097 – wasn’t sure about this one but it has grown on me
 

10. Vogue 8747 - always need another basic white shirt

worn a couple different ways.


11.  Simplicity 1919- Ponte pants – these are great when I am not sure what to wear, they look great with several things.


12.  Simplicity 2584 – wonderful pattern, love how the yoke comes together

The big thing for me this year was co-coordinating with Lynne the Wardrobe Basic Sewalong

I do know after looking back at 2012’s blog posts, I did sew a lot of garments, quilts and bags but most were not for me.  I do need to change that a bit this year, I purchased more RTW this year than I have in a long time.  Now I know why.
Tomorrow’s post, Top 12 garments sewn for my daughters.  This will be hard to narrow it down to 12.

McCall’s 6512 with a Sweater

Here is my top as I get ready to leave for work


I really like my new top and the fit is wonderful.  I just love when the pattern-fabric combination is just right!

McCall’s 6512–3/4 sleeve

This pattern I first made in August and you can see the blogpost and pictures here.
It quickly became a favorite and I knew I wanted a 3/4 sleeve blouse.  A couple of weekends ago, I was at Paige’s and we went to her nice Joann’s.  I was able to touch and feel fabric, hurray! I found Paige found a couple nice fabrics, perfect for this pattern.
I finished the first one last night

I love how this pattern has natural shaping in the waist.  I debated and debated on buttons  The ones we bought were not good at all, then off-white shirt buttons looked horrible.  I found these nice black/gray buttons in my button box and they are perfect.  Plus with the ties, you do not see the buttons all that much.

I need to tie the knot a bit tighter. 
One change:  After my last version, I felt the low part of the high-low hem was too low and re-hemmed the blouse.  This time I just took off 1” the back while cutting the garment out.

McCall’s 6200

This pattern was a favorite of Erin’s, so I made it again.

Here is the first blog post and review

I did not make any changes since the pattern has plenty of ease.  It might be something she will wear after the baby, but I remember being sick of my maternity clothes!
The front of the dress, fabric from Joann’s, a knit with a bit of a sweater feel but not the thickness


Neckline


With the pillow on the dressform


I have been substitute teaching quite a bit since the start of school in Mid-August but this week no schedules days and I have not been called yet.  That is a good/bad thing.  Good – time to sew, clean, wash windows, etc.  Bad – no paycheck and I wanted to wear my new maxi-dress, maybe next week.

McCall’s 6563

Description:  Bias fitted pullover top that has draped front neckline and sleeve, front and hem variations
Sizes:  XS to XXL
Instructions:  They were good, this top is pretty quick to construct, finish the front drape, add bias tape to the back neckline, sew shoulder and side seams.  Then finish but sewing hems.
Changes:  I used fabric bias for back neckline.
Fabric:  Pattern suggests: satin, voile, jersey and faille.  I had some lightweight gingham which I had plans for a long sleeve blouse but Old Navy had too good a price on the same blouse.  I decided to use this gingham for the top.  I wasn’t out too much if I didn’t like it.
Conclusion:  At first when I put it on, I was unimpressed and thought well, so happy that didn’t take too long to make.  Then I put on a cardigan over the top and that really made a difference.  I will wear this and might make another one in the right fabric.  I might could have gone down a size in the hips, but didn’t want it too difficult to put on.  Also, with the cardigan, the top looks fine.
Another great top to make while I am waiting on my serger.  I think others will like it, just make sure your fabric has good drape.
Here it is pretty unspectacular:

I think the cardigan makes all the difference

McCall’s 6512

Pattern Description: Misses Loose fitting blouse with tie option, sleeve option and pockets.  Also, has a high-low hem option.
Sizing: 4 to 18, I made a 12.
Instructions:  I thought they were easy to follow.  Attaching the yoke to the front neckline and sleeve could be a bit tricky but McCall’s has such thorough instructions and illustrations.
Fitting instructions on this pattern are incredible.  This pattern is by Melissa Watson, daughter of Patti Palmer, so everything you know and love from the Palmer and Pletsch patterns is included in Ms. Watson’s pattern.  This includes instructions on the sheet and areas to alter printed on the pattern pieces.
Likes/Dislikes:  I like everything about the pattern.  I really wanted to make view B but did not have enough fabric, so A was my second choice.  I am actually thrilled with this version, in fact, the bow in the polka dot fabric might have gotten lost.  For this reason, I omitted the pockets.  I had them ready to put on the blouse and you just could not see the design detail.
Here is a close-up of the fabric:

Fabric:  A rayon from Fabric Mart (I believe), This fabric was wonderful to work with and has the perfect drape for the pattern.
Alterations:  I added 1” to the body and used the high-low hem from View B.
Conclusion:   I really, really like this top, it is one of those times  when the  pattern and fabric are perfect.    I will make this again in both View A and View B.  Also, I think Erin would like View A for the middle of her pregnancy  (oh, wow, that is neat to type!) 
I left of the tabs on the shoulders, liked how the sleeves looked on me without the tabs,  Do you have an opinion about the tabs?  I still have the pattern piece cut out so I can add them.

Here it is on the mannequin, not too impressive

It looks better on:


Now here is the high-low hem


Do you think it is too long, when you can see it through my legs?  Just asking, looks a bit weird to me.  So fashionistas, your input, please.  I am thinking of cutting off at least 1-2” of the back hem.
All those zinnias came up from last years zinnias.  I let them grow and grow since they flourished in our 90 to 105 degree weather.
My serger isn’t back yet but I sewed this like the pattern instructions indicated – with French seams and then the yoke is stitched twice and trim close to the second stitching.
Oh, so nice to be back on garment sewing!
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Jesse, son-in-law update, he has had two scans both came back clean!!  Thank you for the emails and prayers for him
Also, thanks for all the suggestions of baby patterns and maternity patterns.  I ordered three maternity patterns from Megan Nielson and a book titled, “Making Baby's Clothes: 25 Fun and Practical Projects for 0 - 3 Year Olds by Rob Merrit”  Also, pulled out all my old Ottobres to start looking through.  I won’t sew much for baby until after October 30th, then I will know boy or girl sewing.
Another thank you, I appreciate the nice comments about my purse pattern and those of you who have ordered it.  Thank you, hope you like it. 

McCall's 5525 - Leopard Metallic

Another version of my favorite trench coat, this time in leopard metallic twill from Fabric Mart and for Meredith.

Here is the blog post from a trench made earlier for Erin and a lightweight one for Erin back in 2008

As I was making this for Meredith, I just kept smiling and smiling.  Why?  The fabric is beautiful and so her.  Also, it reminds me of my favorite aunt, she loves fabric like this and it will make her smile knowing her style is being passed onto another generation.

Here it is on the dressform:

China silk lining in gold

a little shiny on the top, the fabric just bounces the light

Meredith styling in her fabulous new trench

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Now off to continue on the big prom day.  The girls are so excited and so am I, dinner here for 6 couples.  Exciting day.

McCall's 6163- Black Dress - Wardrobe Basic Sewalong

My last garment for the sewalong,  my black dress.  Let's hear a hurray for completing all the garments I had hoped to make.  This dress has been completed for quite some time but I had not photographed it until Friday. 


I made McCall's 6163 for my daughter back in November.  The blog post is here and the review is here, I made the same changes to my dress as I did the original.   The change is eliminating the collar. 

Fabric is modal knit from Fabric Mart.

another pose, looing rather silly but trying to change up the poses.

Tomorrow I will put up a post for the link party for the sewalong.  Hope to see you there.

Feeling Blue - Fabric that is

As I stated in an earlier post, I am taking a break from the Wardrobe Basic Sewalong to tackle a stack of fabric on my sewing room floor.  I was able to sew up two quick tops on Friday.  One for me and one for Erin.

First up is a tried and ture pattern for me and one of Erin's favorites, this time from a rayon-lycra knit.

You can find the post with information about my 5 previous garments from New Look 6648 and here is the review.

Continuing the blue theme, a top inspired by Erica's Minty Fresh, using McCall's 6078 for my version and a small piece of knit.  I have made this twice before and here is the review and post here.

I bought my lining for my camel skirt on Friday, so this week hope to make this for my sewalong project (my last one I believe)

McCall's 5464

Pattern Description: Jumper and dress have back zipper closures and back slits
Sizing: 4 to 18

Instructions: I thought they were very thorough.  Talked about easestitching, how to sew the dart and concise order for the steps.

Fabric:  Ponte from Fabric Mart.

Likes/Dislikes:  Very basic jumper, sheath or dress with sleeve options, great princess seaming for fitting.
This dislike is it short - take a look at the model (view A in middle).  Sometimes I can be totally oblivious to this type of thing and when Erin tried this on, oops totally inappropriate for a high school teacher.  Great for date night or a party but not school.

Changes:  My main change was something for the length.  Right away I thought of a band in another color of ponte.  I ordered gray from Fabric Mart and then the last minute ordered red.  The gray ponte had the look of a sweater knit, so the red was my choice by default.  I am so happy red won - take a look

The band is a total for 10" folded in half and sewn onto the bottom of the dress.

Conclusion:  This dress looks fabulous on Erin and she styled it with a cardigan and a belt.  I think this pattern is so versatile and you can have so many looks with one pattern.  It would be a great jumper but Erin prefers to wear it as a sheath-style dress. 

There is lots of colorblocking inspiration at Nordstrom

Wardrobe Planning -Black Ponte Pants

Time to plan your black pants, I am going with ponte fabric for this post and these pants.  Now the pants can be what is best for your body and your comfort level.  You can go with a legging, a skinny pant, straight leg, bootcut or flare.

To start let's get inspired from RTW.

From Kohl's bootcut ponte pants

Link to Kohl's pants 

Cabi bootlet -ponte

Cabi flare ponte pants

from net-a-porter - Michael Michael Kors skinny ponte pant

From Kohls,

Ralph Lauren skinny ponte pants

Vera Wang ponte pants from Kohls

Jennifer Lopez skinny ponte pants - Kohls



Then an entire selection at Neiman Marcus so take a look at all that ponte pant eye candy!

Then we need to talk patterns:

McCall's 6515

McCall's 6440

McCall's 6404

Butterick 5539

Kwik Sew 3807

Kwik Sew 3540

New Look 6977



Jalie 2561



Colette 1019

Burda 8341

New Look 6983

New Look 6082

New Look 6922

Style Arc - Elle Pant

Style Arc - Linda Stretch Pant

Now let's move onto fabric selections

Fabric Mart ponte

Gorgeous Fabric ponte (didn't see black here)

Fabric.com ponte

Hancock's ponte fabric

Marcy Titlon's ponte fabric

Emma One Sock black ponte

Fashion Fabric Club


You can Anne at Needle Nook Fabric for her ponte selection

Nancy Notions ponte fabric



Now if you have made it to the end of this blog post, I hope you find it helpful and not overwhelming.  This list of RTW inspiration pieces, patterns and fabric sources is in no way a complete list but a starting point for you to find the right style, pattern and fabric.

Good luck.  Please let me know what you find and what pattern you are using.