SewWest

A Milestone

2012-01-17T19:42:00.001-07:00

I was just peeking at my blog and noticed that I now have 100 Followers! I really don't write for the purpose of gaining a following; however, it is nice to have seen steady growth in my "official" readership!

Thanks for reading my musings on what's happening in my life--I really appreciate it!

Where Did the Weekend Go?

2012-01-16T18:10:00.002-07:00

Busy times continue here at Casa DaQ. At some point, I'll get into details but I've been asked to keep them quiet at this time at DH's request. Anyway, last week was a blur.

Today has been a much-needed lounging day, which included time in the Sewing Cave. No real sewing as yet (repairs to a bath towel don't count!), although I cut out 3 more pairs of the McCall's 2476 pj pants, laundered the new knits that came from Casual Elegance, and traced off the new TSW Ann's Cardigan pattern. It was so nice to get some creative time to myself after such a hectic period.

I hope to have some new sewing projects to report on soon! I now have several items in various stages of production, so it's time to fire up the machines and make something!

Oy Vey

2012-01-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

The new year has been incredibly busy so far, so no sewing projects thus far in 2012. I did do some post Christmas shopping, however. Most of it was via the internet but I also dipped a toe into the consignment shopping pool.

First up, some new fabrics from Casual Elegance, both are knits:

Both of them appeared on the site last fall but I've been trying to restrain myself. When I noticed that they were in the remnant section, I could no longer resist! The top one is much prettier in person, with little raised gold dots on a nice taupe shade. The second one is a burnout knit with a few splashes of silver. 2 yards of each. I'm really looking forward to playing around with these.

Next up, another internet purchase from 6pm.com, which is Zappo's clearance site. They don't have as great of a return policy as the main site but it was the year end clearance and free shipping, so I took a chance.

I lightened the picture a bit so you could see a little more detail, but these are dark black suede in real life. This is the second pair of Naya that I've purchased and they're really comfortable and well made. They'll be great to wear at work.

As I mentioned, a little consignment shopping. 2 Time Couture is located a couple of freeway exits from my office in downtown so I stopped by on my way home from work for their post holiday sale. And I bought these:

I know, "eww, used shoes, what are you thinking?" But folks, these had minimal wear, maybe worn once. I've bought "new" shoes that had more wear on them from try ons. Leopard hair calf with dark brown patent leather accents! How fun! The heels are a little high but quite stable.

I also bought some underthings at Soma's sale but pardon me if I don't post them here. You know what undies look like and besides, they're in the laundry.

My sister in law is flying in from New Jersey tomorrow, so I'll be cleaning instead of sewing today. And I'm being totally lax, but the Christmas stuff is staying up for a little while longer. I just don't have the energy to take down the decor before she arrives. It's a relatively modest display anyway, and somebody should see the tree besides DH, me and the cat.

December Wrap Up

2011-12-31T10:58:00.002-07:00

Yes, I'm still here and finally coming up for some air now that the holidays are almost over. I've been crazy busy at work since a lot of people took time off between Christmas and New Year's. Reminder to self: be one of those people in 2012!!

I haven't been a total drone, oh no. DH and I escaped to Las Vegas last weekend for dining and a show, specifically "Jersey Boys" at the Palazzo. It's a fun musical biography of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Do go see it if you can, especially if you like 1960s rock and roll. Amazingly enough, the trip was less expensive than a trip to Santa Fe--yes, including air fare. The hotels have crazy deals at Christmas--we stayed at the Mirage and the room cost $65 Friday night, and $85 Saturday. Plus resort fee of course, but that's still quite a deal!

My big splurge over the weekend was a new iPhone, purchased at the Fashion Show Mall, which has every major department store from Dillard's and Macy's to Saks, Nieman's, and Nordstrom. Amazing place. We even saw a Christmas ~~floor show~~ pageant, complete with Santa and his very svelte showgirl elves. Anyway, I'm all set up with the new 4S. Siri and I are trying to reach an accommodation; the girl has attitude.

And of course, I managed some sewing between the last post and this one.

Like many others, I made Shams' famous TableCloth skirt. However, I ended up making some alterations to it after its first wearing. I have hips about 3-4" below my waist and carry most of my (excess) weight there as well. So for me, the original pattern just had too much fabric in that area, and I felt very wide. I ended up taking off the waistband and making darts at each corner of the original square to eliminate some of the volume. I think it helps but I have to confess that I've had the revised version on around the house but haven't actually "worn" it yet. I hope it works out in a real wearing, as I really like the fabric and the asymmetrical hem. If I like the revised skirt and want to make another one, I'll convert the square into 4 trapezoid-like pieces rather than making darts. It's worth playing around with, and a warm-weather version would be nice to have.

I also made yet another Loes Hinse Cowl Top, finishing it up last night. I love this pattern--it goes together so quickly and is comfortable and flattering to wear in both the short and tunic lengths. This version is an acrylic blend sweater knit that I ran across at Hancock's Fabrics last fall. This is a revival of the same fabric as the vintage cardigan that I made from stashed sweater knit. It's very soft and feels very much like real wool. I think I'll wear it a lot this winter, with jeans and more dressed up clothes. I have another piece of it in the Sewing Cave, so I may make another version soon.

I'm not big on year end wrap ups for myself nor lots of resolutions. I've tried both in past years and I'm just kind of "meh" about doing it again. 2011 was a mixed year for me, but I'm hoping (as always) that 2012 will be better.

As far as sewing goes, I want to continue to make it a priority, but I think I'll lay off the sewalongs in 2012. I did garment-a-month and jacket-a-month this year and was relatively successful. I made at least one garment every month in 2011 and ended up with 8 jackets. I think challenges and sewalongs can be helpful in kickstarting sewing mojo, but they can also become production for production's sake. I'm planning to continue to sew down my stash in 2012, but with a few well chosen fabric acquisitions too. I want to keep sewing fun. For me, new fabric is part of my sewing enjoyment so I don't see myself stopping the acquisitions altogether.

Have a joyous and safe New Year!! See you in 2012!

Jewelry Exchange 2: Another Sackful

2011-12-10T12:33:00.001-07:00

My church is still raising money for the new wing. Since we enjoyed the last one so much and still have that pesky debt to repay, we held another Jewelry Exchange last night. I took another bag of jewelry in and carried out some more treasures:

Most of these will be staying with me, but I've set aside a few pieces for a friend at work who couldn't come last night. Once again some real silver, as well as Native American pieces. I'll be remodeling some of the pieces too, like the gold chains in the second picture. I wasn't a big fan of the pendants on either one, but the chains are nice and always come in handy for something.

Everyone had an opportunity to take whatever they wanted, and there was plenty to share. I left a generous donation again this time as did the other attendees. Best of all, everyone seemed to have a good time visiting and playing with the baubles.

Stella is Done!

2011-12-04T15:38:00.001-07:00

I love this top! It was a lot of fun to make, I solved the dye issue, and I've got something new to wear for the holidays. I'm even looking forward to making more.

I did make a couple of changes from the pattern--not that there's anything wrong with the pattern. These were just modifications that suit my own personal preferences. I narrowed the sleeves to a smaller circumference, better with a knit and my small wrists. I also shortened the top 2", a better length for my short-waisted self.

The dye issue appears to have been solved with a wash in Synthrapol followed by another complete wash cycle in plain water after that. No dye on my hands during the final stages of sewing, hooray!! Now I can wear it without worrying about turning my skin a different color.

A couple of other things-- the sleeves appear to be bracelet length on the pattern illustration, but they're full length on me. And that's fine. Just something to remember if you're a shorter person (I'm 5'4"). I also cut out the cowl on grain since I used a knit, and I increased the depth of the neck's facing/hem. I would have cut it double but didn't have enough fabric. I think Terri K. was the one who made both of these changes on a knit dress she made from this pattern, but darned if I can find the post!

I can easily see making this again. It's a great top, but it would also be great as a tunic to wear with leggings or as a dress.

A Work In Progress and a Recent Completion

2011-12-02T16:11:00.001-07:00

Thanks everybody--I appreciate all the lovely comments on the Fail. I got back on the horse today, so to speak, and started another garment I traced and cut out at Material Girls last Sunday.

This one is another Sewing Workshop pattern called the Stella Top, the one on the left below.

I believe it's the newest of the printed patterns in this line, and it's a re-do of one of a circa 80s pattern. It's been resized and there's another cowl pattern in the envelope as well called the Luna Top, the yellow one on the right.

Another stash project because I used some stretch velvet that I've had for about a decade. The base fabric is black, then it was embellished with what appears to be gold spray paint. I got pretty far with it this morning. All that's left to do in the Sewing Cave is attach the sleeves, sew the side seams, and hem. Then I'm planning a wash in Synthrapol to (hopefully) pull off the excess dye. It's been staining my fingers as I work with the fabric but washes off easily. No crocking onto anything else, a good sign (I think).I just pinned the sides to the dress form to give some idea of what Stella looks like. So don't judge the final fit by this.

I also wanted to share a recently completed project. Yes, it's the Smudge Vest! This one I made of some white faux fur that I got for free from an ASG giveaway.

The pattern I used was Butterick 3257, circa 2001. I made View C:

This pattern is out of print, but I think it's one of those BMV patterns that returns from time to time with different envelope art, company, and number. I know there was a Vogue version of this as well.

The lining came from Gorgeous Fabrics, a really pretty poly charmeuse.

I love the colors and print; the tropical design is a perfect counterpoint to the faux fur. I couldn't get a really good picture of it even without flash, as the charmeuse is very shiny. I used a gray zipper mostly because of the gray markings on Smudge's head; also, it just looked better than cream or white.

Disappointment

2011-12-01T15:15:00.001-07:00

This pile of nothing is the wool and rayon jersey that I paid too much money for in Santa Fe. I'm done with it, enough is enough.

I washed it in preparation for cutting...and the grain got wonky.

And yet, I soldiered on. I decided it was too thin for my original project. OK, fine. And I picked an alternate pattern.

...which took just a wee bit more fabric than I had. But still, I kept going and made it work.

Then I sat down at the serger and could not thread the lower looper. The BabyLock air-jet threading had gone kaput at that setting...

Yet I still kept going, and figured out an alternate way to thread it (note to self, remember to always check the accessory pack for your machine). That long wire with the loop on the end? Guess what that's for!

I'm at the machine, making samples. So far so good, they look great. I pick up the front pattern piece to start sewing...

And discover 2 holes at the center front of the top. I considered mending them for about 30 seconds before giving up.

Enough is enough. I'm done. This fabric is beautiful but cursed, and I will not waste any more of my time with it.

I know there are those of you out there who'll try to come up with ways for me to salvage this project. I appreciate it, but please don't. I will not feel comfortable wearing this garment given the condition of the fabric, so I'll trash it and move on. After all, it's not like I don't have other fabrics to work with. And I have 2 other projects cut out and ready to go, courtesy of last Sunday's Material Girls gathering.

Live and learn...

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T18:25:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, no photos today but there has been Thanksgiving sewing. I've been working on the Smudge Vest today. All has gone well except I'm not liking the instructions for completing the side seams and lining. I think I'll rip out the lower edge, so I'll have more room for working on this faux fur garment. Since I can't press this stuff, I've been tacking down the seam allowances, and working with stupid 2" seam openings just isn't working for me. Geez. I hate stupid instructions like this.

DH says the vest makes me look like Mrs. Santa Claus. Hopefully, only because it's white faux fur.

We're heading out for Thanksgiving dinner in a few minutes. With just the two of us, and me working tomorrow, this just makes more sense.

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving!! We all have a lot to be thankful for.

JAM 7: Simplicity 2154 is Done!

2011-11-12T13:10:00.001-07:00

I finished up the retro cardi yesterday with minimal drama.

I made the vertical buttonholes with Babylock Audrey's automatic buttonhole function--just straight onto the fabric, no stabilizer required. I think the grosgrain ribbon facing really helped in that respect. I made the top buttonhole manually with zigzag stitching. It's not perfect by any means, but it's functional and the the stitches blend into the animal print so it looks ok at a glance. I couldn't use the buttonhole function because of the neckband seam. I made a bunch of samples and couldn't come up with a way to make it work. I'm going to experiment with this technique some more so I can use it on other garments--this happens a lot with machine buttonholes, so it would be worth having another option. I wouldn't want to manually make a whole set, sometimes you need another way for the occasional buttonhole near an edge or a seam.

The sweater came out pretty well for a prototype; I'm happy with the style and fit. I wear a lot of gray so I'll have plenty of opportunities to wear it. I also feel comfortable using this pattern for the expensive wool and rayon sweater knit. Mission accomplished!

The fabric is an acrylic and rayon blend sweater knit that I've had in the stash for several years. I think it came from Jo-Ann's. I was in Hancock's Friday, and it turns out they had some so it's back in production again. Since this project was working out so well, I bought a couple of pieces for future knit projects in green and purple prints.

BTW, my camera's battery was running very low, so bear with me on using this quick snapshot of the corner of the Sewing Cave. I think I owe you all a couple of "styled" photos of recent garments, and hopefully can do something about that soon.

Home Improvements

2011-11-08T17:39:00.001-07:00

This fall has been a time of home improvement projects. We had new windows installed last month.

The windows are great! The old metal ones were the same age as the house (circa 1993), leaky and difficult to open and shut. Here's a side-by-side comparison I took during the installation:

This view of the house is the back yard by the master bath and bedroom Granted, the old window looks a little bit worse than normal, since the workmen had already sawed around its perimeter. The new window is on the right.

Here's a picture I took this morning as I was getting ready for work. This was taken from the sink area, looking out through the upper part of the bathroom windows. The left window is in the same position as the old window in the picture above.

The shades are about halfway open--still have to have privacy. I took this picture without flash on my cell phone, I just thought the view was fabulous. In real life the shades and walls are a much paler creamy shade.

We are seeing results already with the approach of winter. The house is much more comfortable even with the thermostat turned back a few extra degrees.

This month's project is the building of new walls around our house. Our lot is near the end of a cul-de-sac, so it's shaped like a pie wedge. The builder put the walls way toward the back of the house, which means our back yard is wide but not very deep. Placing additional walls at the sides of our house gives us more backyard space, privacy and security. This view is from the Sewing Cave:

So far, it's not very impressive, but I think it'll be nice to have a private space right outside my sewing area. I'd put a bird bath out there, but that's probably not a great idea with a cat who hunts. Well, perhaps a seating arrangement instead.

Stitchology

2011-11-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went to the grand opening of an ASG friend's new business venture. Stitchology is a sewing parlor and fabric boutique that will offer a variety of sewing classes. It also carries independent patterns, such as Colette and Sewaholic, as has a select group of fabrics.

The proprietor, Melissa, is an Albuquerquean who returned to town after earning her degree at Indiana University. She was in the fashion program there, and spent the last few years custom designing and making custom clothing while also teaching sewing. Now she's decided to be her own boss.

The shop is charming, with vintage touches and pops of Tiffany blue. She has a great location in the North Valley that's just a hop and skip from Old Town and I-40. She's pretty close to my house, so I know I'll be visiting often, especially with La Montanita, our locally owned food co-op, in the same shopping center. How simple--sewing and food in one place!

I'm considering the class on making a special occasion dress using the Peony pattern from Collette--I could use some help fitting a sheath dress and haven't yet tried this pattern line. And of course, I've already bought some fabric--

Congratulations on your new venture, Melissa! I hope your business is wildly successful for years to come!

And thanks for your hospitality! The grand opening was a lovely opportunity to preview your new place and celebrate. Aren't these sewing oriented mini cupcakes cute, by the way? Needles and thread, and the others are spools. And the chocolate requires no design, just sprinkles.

******************

On the home front, no sewing since last weekend. Halloween and DH's birthday on November 1st took two evenings out of the beginning of the week and I never got caught up. DH is taking a leave of absence from work, so he's around every evening when I get home. Which is good, but on the other hand--let's just say it's like a preview of his retirement.

As a result, the cardi is still waiting to be finished. Perhaps I'll set up the buttonhole machine this afternoon and at least do some testing of buttonholes.

Also, I appreciate the concern over my foot issues. I am under a podiatrist's care and she has given me the go-ahead on limited heel wearing if I feel up to it. Most days, it's some variety of "comfort" shoe--Born, Clark's or Sofft--and now that the weather's cooler, I can add boots and clogs to the mix.

In Progress: Simplicity 2154

2011-10-30T19:41:00.003-06:00

This pattern is my latest project. I'm making the cardigan, shown in orange in the large envelope photo. I selected this because I wanted a cardigan that had features similar to a lot of ready to wear that I'm seeing right now--crew neck, straight front opening, etc. This 1960's retro pattern really fit the bill. It even calls for a grosgrain ribbon facing, which I've noticed in several recent cardigans that I've bought. And I'm also old enough to remember when that's how all cardigans were done.

In addition to that, the sleeve has a fairly high cap. It's installed in the round because side seam is drafted about 2" toward the back of the cardigan. I was going to change it but I like this detail, as it reduces some of the bulk that can happen with intersecting seams.

I'm making a test version from some sweater knit that's been aging in my stash since 2002. It's a gray cheetah print that looks great, but unfortunately, it hides most of the pattern details. It's a test run of this pattern for some nicer sweater knit that I was unwilling to sacrifice to the unknown. So far it's a success, but I still need to make buttonholes for it-eek!! I spent some time this afternoon making sample front openings to experiment with but I don't want to start on buttonholes until I'm fresh. So I probably won't finish this one until next weekend, but that's ok.

After the sweater samples, I made a few seam samples for the next project after this one, a faux fur vest that I've christened The Smudge Vest. It's another test, using a remnant I acquired through ASG. It's white and resembles my cat's coat, hence the name.

I've had some questions about the booties I wore with the TSW outfit from a couple of weeks ago. I confess, I haven't really worn them in real life since winter 2010 when I was still in banking. At that time, they were surprisingly easy to wear, probably due to the extra leather and elastic fabric on the upper combined with the insoles I put in just about every pair of footwear I own. But all that was pre-neuroma. I'm being reasonably cautious about going back to heels especially since I don't have to wear them at my current job. I hope I can make them work eventually--they're a lovely pair of shoes, espresso croc-embossed leather from Talbot's.

JAM 6: Loes HInse Bergman Jacket (Work in Progress)

2011-10-17T06:57:00.001-06:00

This one is still a work in progress. Instructions for how to make this "tweak" were published in Loes Hinse's newsletter last spring when Sharon of Casual Elegance, her fabric partner, acquired some chenille. Well, I was intrigued so I bought some of each color, traced off the pattern, and even made a test garment of the blouse!

...And then it got hot, and I lost all interest in making any sort of jacket whatsoever.

Fast forward to October, still warm but with an occasional nip in the air, so I'm looking about for jackets, sweaters, vests, etc. to sew for colder weather. And the Bergman Jacket worked its way back into my consciousness.

This one is a bit of a leap of faith to make because you have to make the jacket first, then throw it in the laundry where it shrinks to a more form-fitting shape.

Loes' instructions don't call for you to make the pattern a size larger or anything either. But it just made sense to me that a jacket would need to be a little larger than a blouse (which is what the original design was), so I added some "fit insurance" to the vertical edges of the pieces when cutting out. 1/4" to each princess seam and 1/2" to the side and sleeve seams. I figured I could always trim down later if necessary.

Another change I made was to lower the neckline more than the 1 1/2" specified. The photo of the finished neckline was much lower than that, so I assumed a typo and lowered mine by 10 1/2".

And I was concerned when I tried on the completed jacket after sewing it all together but before laundering. It was dowdy, folks. But I took my leap of faith and threw it in a delicate warm water wash as directed.

And this was the result as of last evening, right after retrieving it from the washing machine:

I'm really glad for the extra circumference, because this chenille really drew up a lot when washed! I'm thinking it will go back to the original color when dry, which is more like this:

This is the fabric as it came from the bolt. Hard to tell from the photo, but it has the slightest hint of pink-ness to it.

As of this morning, it's still a bit damp, especially around the hem. The tweak has a double hem, so there are many layers of chenille in some places.

More on this one later. I still need to make buttonholes, attach buttons and put in some shoulder pads before I can call it done.

TSW Now Shirt and Quincy Pant Photos

2011-10-14T16:10:00.001-06:00

Hot off the press, so to speak! I took these just minutes ago with the self timer and tripod, just after getting home from work. I wore the Now Shirt with jeans to the office today and switched into the Quincy Pants and killer booties after getting home.

In Search of Dark Green Pants

2011-10-10T18:00:00.000-06:00

I've recently made two different pairs of pants from the same fabric. I've concluded that I have a lot of green tops in my wardrobe and need something to coordinate with them. Both pairs were made from Sewing Workshop Patterns; I've had decent luck with their pants in the past.

The first pair was made from the Mimosa Pants pattern.

They came out all right, but not my favorite. I think the time for this style has passed for now. I found the legs too wide for my taste.

I'll keep them for a while though, and maybe I'll like them better next time I wear them. If not, then they'll go to the donation pile. Life is too short, you know? One good thing--I really liked the instructions for installing the invisible zipper, so I'll use them as a reference. I also had a chance to use a Bernina invisible zipper foot that I've had for over a year--such an improvement over the plastic ones!

I still had plenty of the fabric left over after completing the Mimosa Pants, so I decided to use it to try out the new Quincy Pants pattern.

Now, these I love! Although they're elastic waist pants, they have a slim fit. The hanger shot is a little wonky, but they hang nicely when on. The drawing is fairly representative of how they hang on a person.

I cut and sewed a size smaller than my current measurements but they worked out fine. I included the loop and button feature on the side seams, but it would be pretty simple to leave them off. Just redraw the lower edge of the pants so they're perpendicular to the grain. I think I'll be making more from this pattern, as they'll be perfect with tunics and sweaters. I rarely wear a tucked in shirt anyway.

The fabric is a very dark shade of green. Even with lightening the photos, I'm not sure if you can see much detail due to the color. However, we haven't switched from swamp cooling to heat yet and the house is cold. I'm minimizing clothing changes as much as possible since temperatures are in the low 60's in here.

The fabric is a rayon/tencel blend that I bought from the Fashion Fabrics Club in 2003. Nicely aged.

TSW Now Shirt

2011-10-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've been on a TNT TSW trend lately, and this project is the latest. I've made the Now Shirt a couple of times before, but the sleeves always felt a bit floppy to me thanks to my bird-wrists.

You can even see a bit of that in the drawing. The Now Shirt is the one on the right. So this time, I tapered the lower sleeve to refine the fit. I also lengthened the body of the shirt 2". The last one was wearable but the longer length is more versatile.

I used a cotton/rayon blend that I bought from Marcy Tilton at the 2009 ASG Conference in Albuquerque. Practically new, considering the size of my stash!

It's a little rumpled, not as much as it looks in the picture but a bit. Of course, my iron decided to spit something on the front of the shirt when I was touching it up for pictures, so I had to launder it...and I didn't want to risk pressing it before taking a picture.

JAM 5: Another TSW eShrug

2011-10-08T16:03:00.003-06:00

I've really enjoyed wearing the black eShrug I made earlier this year. It's the perfect little cover-up when traveling and has gone on several trips with me.

Incredibly, I recently found a pretty print sweater knit in Joann's bargain section. I bought it to prototype with since the wool/rayon I bought at Santa Fe Fabrics last winter was too pricy to use with an untried pattern. Well, it didn't work out that way, because I ended up using the Joann's knit for another eShrug instead.

I'm still getting used to seeing the reverse side due to the drapey lapels, but I have a lot of purples and greens I can wear this with now that it's cooler. I've been sitting on this one since September 11, when I made it as a respite from the unending 10th anniversary coverage but it's been too hot for it until recently.

Bad Blogger!

2011-09-30T17:46:00.003-06:00

...meaning yours truly, not the Blogger platform. I seem to be one of the few that seldom has any issues with it. I think it's due to having an Apple. Anyway, yes, it is me who's been a bad blogger this month. Only 4 posts, and mighty slim on pictures.

Sometimes it's just that way, folks. September and October are busy months in ABQ, even though I didn't attend the State Fair or Fiesta de Santa Fe, and it's unlikely that I'll be at Balloon Fiesta. I was out of town this month at DH's army reunion in Las Vegas and I've had weekend classes. You know about the ribbon class, but DH also signed me up for a women's gun safety class. He's still working on me to take a motorcycle class--that would be a no, sweetie.

I actually did sew something this month, TSW Mimosa Pants. I even wore them to work. Meh. Not my favorite so I'll be setting them aside. I have a pair of TSW Quincy Pants cut and ready to go--I think the styling is a bit more current than the Mimosa, with narrower legs. So hopefully, results on that soon.

The container garden is still putting forth tomatoes, basil and mint although all of the plants are looking rather worse for wear. Especially the tomato plant, which looks like a weed. However, it does have 5 or 6 tomatoes on it so I'll keep watering it as long as it keeps producing.

OK that's about it for now. Thanks for reading and I'll try to be a better blogger going forward.

Seasonal Changes

2011-09-13T20:30:00.001-06:00

The cooling trend continues, and my little container garden actually seems to enjoy the cooler and slightly wetter weather we're having lately. There are several little tomatoes on the vine, not enough to preserve in any way but they're nice snacks. The beans are coming back slightly too. And of course, I continue to enjoy the basil and the mint. Not a particularly successful garden debut, but everyone is saying what an oddball year it has been. So I'll accept what it is and hope for better next year. Meanwhile, I have at least another month or so before there's frost, so garden goodness till then.

The seasons are also changing in the Girl Cave. I made my first fall project last weekend, another long sleeved TSW eShrug from some sweater knit I found at JoAnn's last week. Yep, a quick turnaround project. I'll put up pictures soon, I promise.

And tonight, I cut out a pair of TSW Mimosa Pants. These are pretty conservative for Sewing Workshop, but I think they'll be great for the workplace, with their faced waist and invisible side zip. I'm making them from a 50/50 blend of tencel and rayon that's been in the stash for a very long time. So here's hoping they'll go together quickly and well so I can share those too.

I've also been doing some reorganizing of my space. Nothing major, but it's time to put away the summer patterns and put the cool weather patterns front and center. There will be jackets, and soon.

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-05T10:17:00.000-06:00

This weekend has been relaxing and enjoyable so far, particularly since the weather has cooled a bit. I recall seeing 100 degrees on the car thermometer last weekend while running around. This weekend, it's in the 80s and much more moderate after all the heat we've been having.

No sewing this weekend, although I stopped back at the liquidating JoAnn's Friday afternoon. What a difference a week makes! The place looks like locusts have been through it. No Coats and Clark threads left (although a good bit of Gutermann, figure that one out!). The pattern cabinets are empty, except for a few Burda and Simplicity patterns. They'll go fast at $2 each, now that the 4/$1 patterns are gone. As for me, I bought zippers. I want to make a TSW Quincy Top for fall and it requires a separating zipper for the closure. It seems that I never have the right one when I want to make a zippered project, so why not stock up now? The cashier called me the Zipper Queen. Oh honey, if you only knew...

I also took some time out to do some clearing in the Girl Cave. It had become something of a dumping ground with all the free fabric acquisitions and other flotsam that found its way in there. I guess I was in the right mood, because it was actually kind of enjoyable.

I have been working on jewelry this weekend. Not anything wildly creative, mostly just repairs and refashioning. Working on stuff like that is a good way to see how things are put together in case I decide to create from scratch. Plus, it's like getting new stuff! I can definitely see jewelry-making becoming another crafty activity. I like wearing baubles, and it's almost instant gratification. These are some that I worked on, using some jewelry I had and some stash items that I uncovered during my cleaning.

Alas, not very good detail, but the one on the left is a carved monkey bead that I kept very simple. A small bead on the bottom to hold a wire in place, loop at the top of the wire, then a thin leather cord. The earrings are a re-styling job, just the carved bone beads on wires. The original pair was way over the top--beads, plus a woven knot and tassel. Step away from the chinoiserie! The necklace on the right is a fancy reverse-painted bead that has dragons on each side. I used a discarded knot and tassel from the earrings at the bottom to secure the wire, a spacer at the top, and made a loop to attached the silk cord. This one is still a work in process; I'm not totally happy with how the spacer sits at the top of the bead. I'll wear it until I figure out how I want to change it.

Busy Sunday

2011-09-03T13:21:00.000-06:00

I hope you'll indulge me with a catch-up post. Weekdays are busy and weekends can be, too. That being said, I've got a little bit of a breather to talk about last Sunday's activities.

I dropped of the vestments at church, which also happened to be a farewell to the associate rector, who took a rector's position at another church. Fortunately, it's also in Albuquerque so I'll be seeing him soon. The church was very full, as you might expect, and I could do little more than drop off the bag with one of the acolytes before I had to leave for my next activity...

...an ASG class. It was out of my comfort zone, since I'm not much of a hand sewer nor do I make or wear a lot of frou frou. Here I am, working away. Obviously, this was a candid shot!

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the ribbonwork class and had the project 90% complete at the end of the class. Just a little more finishing work on it while watching TV in the evening, and it was done.

It's a pin, so it can go on a garment, bag or hat. Still debating what, so it may just end up as a sample piece. However, I did see this cardigan in a catalog recently, and it's a different way of looking at the technique:

I like the tone on tone embellishment and it would be a nice way to dress up a plain cardigan. I'd probably make the flowers as pins so they could be removed for laundering. I'd hate to see my efforts ruined by washing or dry cleaning. This example came from Soft Surroundings.

So anyway, I went shopping after class since I was already in a part of town with two liquidation sales I wanted to check out. One of the local JoAnn's stores is closing, it's smaller than their newer stores and the strip mall where it's located has become run-down so not worth an expansion. I picked up some tools for the sewing room, some supplies, and some patterns. They had BMV on sale 4 for a dollar, so how could I resist?

Vogue 1250: yes, late to the party for this one. But it's been very popular on the blogosphere so I had to nab it.

Vogue 1244: you know, I like Koos in concept but I often find the execution bizarre. I can't say I'm wild about the envelope styling but the basic "bones" of the pattern are good. Love the cowl shell. I think it could be quite elegant in a different fabric. Same with the skirt--not loving the piecing but the shape could be nice. We'll see. For a quarter, it was worth taking a chance.

McCall's 6112: a simple little knit dress that might work for an upcoming event.

Vogue 8722: is a belt pattern. I can never seem to find RTW belts that I like so I might try my hand at custom.

Butterick 5144: a classic vintage style jacket. I love the draping in the back.

Vogue 8486: a basic little dress with pleat details.

The pattern area was busy, so excuse me for a little ranting here. When at a liquidation sale, do not linger, grab what you're interested and go. You can always put back later. Yes, I got behind one of "those" people, and it was annoying. She lingered over each drawer and positioned herself so no one else could look with her--on each of 4 drawers in the cabinet. Some people.

I went to Borders' liquidation after that, but it was depressing. I didn't have the heart to seriously pick the bones. I ended up with a few magazines, a couple of candle jars, and a 2012 calendar. And checkout person, you don't have to tell me 4 times that all sales are final. Your employer's troubles have been all over the news, and there are big LIQUIDATION--ALL SALES FINAL signs all over the store. It's obvious, ok?

I had more plans after leaving Borders but it was so hot that I headed home. What a runaround day! I'm glad I don't over-schedule like that on a regular basis.

Sewing for a Higher Power, Part Five

2011-08-27T16:54:00.001-06:00

August has been the month of liturgical sewing. I've been working on the stoles for the red gold set this month, consisting of 3 priest stoles and a Byzantine stole for the deacon. I'm happy to report that they're all done and I'll be delivering them tomorrow!!

I've been asked to do some documentation on this project in case someone wants to attempt this project in the future. There are also bills to submit. But then I'm done, and hopefully out of the vestment business.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not sorry I took on this project and I've learned a lot about sewing silk dupioni. But making 2 sets of vestments is a major project. Each set consists of 3 priest stoles, a Byzantine (deacon) stole, and a chasuble--that's sewing 10 items and all that entails. Plus, I drafted patterns, made a prototype of the chasuble, calculated layouts, and sourced fabrics. It's a lot of work. Now that I've typed it all out, I don't feel bad that this project has taken more than a year(!) to complete.

After all that, here are some results. This round, I was working on the red-gold set. I made the matching chasuble last fall, so these are the remaining pieces. The priest stoles are all the same and look like this:

They are exactly the same style as the green silk ones I made before.

The deacon's stole is the same style but a different pattern than the green one. As I mentioned recently, she didn't like the fit of the green one so I made a new pattern from this stole:

It's a gorgeous piece from our Lenten set, made from hand woven wool ikat with a lightweight wool lining. It was made in France by this company:

I'm not sure if they have a web site, the rector actually found this place by accident on a trip. My version looks like this:

I'll have a few more posts in this series with more details on this stole vs. the green one, some sewing techniques, and a summary of all the pieces.

For my East Coast readers, stay safe and may any property damage be limited.

I'm Still Around, or Still Sewing for a Higher Power

2011-08-22T18:09:00.000-06:00

I've just been busy with the gold vestments. And I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 2 of the 3 priests' stoles are done, and the third just needs a little more poking and prodding to refine the corners before finishing it up.

I also got some feedback from the deacon on her stole. Seems the original version makes her look "hippy", as in "my hips look big" not "I look like I'm from the 60's." So I borrowed a French stole we use for Lent and will make a new pattern from it before proceeding with her stole. Leave it to the French, even their vestments are chic and slimming!!

I'm enjoying working with this project's fabrics. It's hard not to like natural fibers that yield under the sewing machine and iron. More on all that later, but I'm using dupioni silk underlined with flannel and lined with hand-dyed cotton. I'll have to make something for myself soon using the same combination.

My View from the Kitchen Sink

2011-08-14T16:38:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, hostess of the humble bungalow shared some still shots of her kitchen sink and invited her readers to share their views. Lately, my views have been nonexistent since we've been keeping the blinds closed in attempt to cool the house. One recent morning, I pulled them up so you could see what I normally see when the weather is more temperate.

The side yard is in some disarray right now, since last winter's extended cold wiped out all of my Mexican bird of paradise trees. They're putting out new growth but the established trees died and will have to be removed. You can also see a bit of my neighbor's house. Occasionally, wild life will be on top of the wall--I've seen several roadrunners, quail, doves, and even a hawk perched there at various times.

The wine bottles are the D'Aquino wine assortment, DH's family name before being slightly modified. The wine maker is actually a distant relative. The wine isn't expensive, but the bottles are pretty to look at. The family crest is even embossed on several of the bottles.

The figurine to the right of the bottles is a madonna from South America. She's made of recycled soda bottles. I bought her several years ago from a local fair trade store as Christmas decor, but I like her so much that she stays on the windowsill year round.

There's a Mexican ceramic cross to the left of the window. I bought it on a trip to San Antonio. The design features chiles so it's perfect for Albuquerque. Below the window is a tinwork retablo of San Pascual, the patron saint of the kitchen. The picture above was taken with the natural morning light, so the interior details are dark.

This one was taken with flash, not as aesthetically pleasing but what are you gonna do?

This shot also captures the crystal collection that hangs from the sink's overhead light fixture. The largest one is a water prism that shoots rainbows all over the room.

It's a pleasant kitchen with lots of light and counter space. This part of the house has an open floor plan so whoever's cooking isn't isolated.

Sundaze

2011-08-07T14:59:00.000-06:00

Another weekend almost over already!

And another hot day. Bleh, August.

Smudge agrees. Here he is, trying to catch a breeze on the patio.

Anyway, not much going on here at Casa DaQ. I should be working on the final vestment project but I'm not feeling it at the moment. I cut out a tank top from the Loes Hinse Tank pattern last night, so it's more likely that it will be today's project. The stoles will be done by end of the month, I just don't feel like starting A Major Project this afternoon, know what I mean?

But first, I plan to relax in the office for a while. A church friend gave me several sewing-related magazines today that I'm planning to look over before doing anything productive.

A big thank you to everyone who left comments about recent projects here and at Stitcher's Guild about my recent projects! Honestly, I never dreamed that they would attract so much attention and praise.

Another gratuitous photo of Smudge before I go flop on the loveseat...

More Loes Hinse Tank Dresses

2011-07-31T07:52:00.001-06:00

It's still hot as blazes here, plus our local "monsoon" season has begun. The rain is welcome, but the moisture is making things a little sticky around here.

As a result, I'm trying to dress for the heat with a couple more dresses from the Loes Hinse Tank Dress pattern. It goes together so easily and it's cut so that bra straps don't show.

It's also a great stash buster, especially now that I've modified the dress to knee length. I can cut a dress out of 2 1/3 yards of 44" wide fabric. That's minimal, and I'm able to use cuts of fabric that I've loved collecting but are a little too short to use for other projects. So far, I've used rayon (see this post), a mystery poly/cotton blend,

and cotton.

(These were really quick shots that I took just as it started to rain, so I didn't get them on Ms. Acme as well as I would have liked.)

Although I sew and wear synthetics, I'm avoiding them for now since I'm going for breezy comfort.

Each dress has fit a bit differently, depending on fabric weight and fiber content. The basic style lines also allow details to be changed, eliminating the "cookie cutter" look. My favorite of the three is the yellow one due to the elastic placement and drape of the fabric. In spite of some poly, it's very comfortable to wear. The cotton is a little stiff for this pattern but good quality and looks better on me than on the dress form.

I think I'm going to stop with dresses for now and move on to the tank top portion of this marathon. I can fill in some of the holes in my summer wardrobe while it's still warm enough to wear them.

~~Then I'm taking a brief hiatus from personal sewing so I can do the final stage of the vestments project--the gold stoles. My goal is to have them completed by the first week of September.~~ Who am I kidding? I'll be sewing stuff for me while working on the vestments. But I do need to finish them by September.

Butterick 5362, a Different Type of Tank Dress

2011-07-30T21:21:00.001-06:00

Saturday's project was a dress that I've had on my To Do list for quite a while. Long enough that I actually dreamed about it last night. Long enough that when I opened the envelope, the pieces were already cut out, and the dart had a FBA that was moved to the correct place! I think I must have had it ready to go, then ran out of time last summer.

This is the pattern. I made View C, the red one in the drawing.

I'm not sure if it's even still in print. The copyright is 2009. The dress consists of a front and a back, and has an unusual shape, with the side seams flaring out to a wide skirt.

I remember some discussion about this dress when the pattern came out, along the lines of its potential emphasis on the hip area. Well, yeah, there is that concern. To me it seemed like it really needed a drapey yet weighty fabric to look its best.

I used some more herringbone weave rayon from JoAnn's. Nice, weighty stuff that cost the princely sum of 99 cents a yard. I never saw it at full price so it must have been hidden in the warehouse or something. Anyway, it was a dream to sew.

My version looks like this:

The upper part of the dress has a nice fit that lays nicely on the upper body. The neckline is open but not too low and the armholes don't show bra straps. Then it tapers out to the skirt and the lower part is quite loose. It's longer on me than on the pattern, but not really a problem. I cut my usual Small/Medium mix and that worked well for me.

It took the afternoon to make, including laying out the fabric and cutting. I made a few slight changes from the pattern instructions, which called for bias binding the neck and armholes. I just serged the raw edges, turned them under and topstitched, a la Loes Hinse. Worked fine, and a heck of a lot faster. I also serged the upper side seams.

All in all, a nice dress with a beach vibe. I'm going to try wearing it tomorrow with a pair of high wedge sandals and a couple of long chains.

Dupioni Silk Part 3

2011-07-23T12:05:00.035-06:00

In this post, I'm sharing some of the helpful dupioni comments I've received. I know it can be difficult to keep up with blog posts, not to mention the comments! So, in case you missed them:

Pam~Off The Cuff ~ is a fabulous sewist, blogger, and merchant. She shared this comment and link:

I wash the living "heck" out of all the dupionni I use both for my custom shirts, and garments for me too...I love what water does to silk! Here's the method I've used for over 10 years...
"Distressing" Silk Dupionni ...surely not the only way, just another way :)

Lindsay T prowls and blogs about the Garment District in addition to her own personal blog. Her recommendation:

Try Mood Fabrics. Their online site is run separately from the store, and they specialize in stocking loads of colors in their silk fabrics. That's where I would go if I was doing a color-specific search.

The Mood site looks promising. The listing is Shantung/dupioni, and there are 5 pages to choose from.

My Canadian friend Duchesse provided a recommendation:

I've spilled wine on my silk, too. there is a marvelous product sold here (Canada) called Wine-Away; works on silk.

I'll need to check that out. Good stain removal products are always worth adding to the laundry room!

A couple of differing opinions about Silk Baron. I'm not trying to create controversy by passing along either experience, I just felt like people needed to know both the good and the bad. The jury's out IMO, but I may try a test order or two and see what happens.

Pretty Kitty had a positive experience:

I first heard about Silk Baron from Cynthia Guffey. She had samples of clothes made up using her patterns and I commented on the dupionni fabric. She highly recommended Silk Baron. They have a sale or maybe two sales a year on all the roll ends. You have to sign your email up in advance with them to receive a special invite to their sales, but they don't spam you with lots of info. The sale yardage is small, but good for small projects. You may only get a 1/2 yard or a 1 yard piece of 45" fabric, but the quality is superb. The colors are to die for.... or is that to dye for!

However, Karen didn't:

Not sure if I should post this publicly but my experience with Silk Baron was not good. I bought several yards for an evening suit and it was badly flawed. I was in a time crunch so had no choice but to make the outfit. I made the owner aware of the problem and got no satisfactory response. Actually, the silence was deafening. Leads me to believe they sell an inferior product, hence the low price(s).

Karen, I think you should share if that was your experience. You presented your situation in a "just the facts" manner which I appreciate.

I hope these comments are useful. Silk dupioni is fun to sew and wear, and relatively easy to care for. I hope you'll try it.

Minty Goodness

2011-07-22T19:00:00.002-06:00

There's a reason I'm growing mint in my little patio garden, and this is it:

Mmmm, homemade mojitos! Here's the recipe, as Bacardi recommends:

1 1/2 Oz. Bacardi Superior Rum
Club Soda
12 Mint Leaves (I just use a good size sprig and don't remove the leaves from the stem)
1/2 Lime
2 Tbsp. Simple Syrup or 1 Tbsp. Sugar

Muddle 12 fresh mint leaves and 1/2 a lime. Cover with 2 Tbsp. of simple syrup or 1 Tbsp. of sugar and top with ice. Add 1 1/2 oz of BACARDI Superior Rum and top with Club Soda. Stir well and garnish with a lime wedge and sprig of mint.

The chocolate mint that I'm growing is rather mild, so I use more mint than the recipe calls for. Otherwise, that's it. A refreshing beverage for a summer evening. I bet it would even be good without any rum in it.

Loes Hinse Tank Dress, Version 1

2011-07-21T19:00:00.003-06:00

I've been mad for tank tops this summer, but I also wanted a simple dress that I could wear in the heat and be comfortable, yet somewhat put together.

My solution is the Loes Hinse Tank Dress Group. It's been out for a number of years, but I just got around to tracing it recently. I sewed it up Saturday and wore it around the house afterwards. I liked wearing it so much that I retraced an improved version and cut out a second dress that night before going to bed. Hopefully, you'll be seeing that one soon.

The first tracing was my usual for Loes Hinse, Medium from neck through armsyces, then Large the rest of the way. It looked a little long in the torso, so I folded out 1" in the chest . When I cut into the fabric, I allowed an additional 1" at the side seams for "insurance." This is an old Sandra Betzina trick, and I did it for a couple of reasons. I'm short waisted and my "hip area" falls higher on me than pattern drafting standards, even for petites. Also, Loes designs with a European fit, so sometimes her patterns don't allow quite as much ease as I feel comfortable with. Nobody needs to know what size I'm sewing anyway--whatever works for me is right...for me, that is. Isn't that part of why we sew? For what it's worth, I wear a 10 or Medium in most RTW.

It was wearable sewn per the original pattern, but I little snug for casual wearing in the desert heat, meaning no shapewear, no pantyhose, just the bare essentials. As a result, I ended up using 1/4" of my seam insurance at each seam (1" total). I also cut off about 10 1/2" of length so it falls right above the knee. I noticed that the neckline was a bit high and tight fitting over the head, but that was my fault. I traced the view with the crew neck, when what I really wanted was the scoop neck. My bad. I also felt that the elastic shirring could be a little higher on my body even though I'd already made that 1" torso length adjustment. My revised tracing takes all of these tweaks into account, plus a little additional shaping in the bust area. I also marked the tank top length so I can use the pattern for those as well.

The fabric is faux batik rayon from JoAnn's. I don't remember when I bought it, but I'm amazed at how nice it is. Nice weight, very drapy, and it has a herringbone weave like Tommy Bahama clothing. I wish JoAnn's had quality like this all the time; it's lovely stuff.

Here's a close up of the necklace. It's one that I made a few years back. Despite its simplicity, it's a favorite and gets worn a lot. You can also see the weave of the fabric.

Dupioni Silk, Part 2

2011-07-19T19:00:00.003-06:00

The vestment project has involved a lot of shopping for fabric since there wasn't enough yardage to make 2 complete sets. I've done a lot of sourcing as a result.

The original fabrics came from Satin Moon Fabrics in San Francisco, and that's where I ultimately bought the rest of the dark green for the chasuble I completed recently. As shams noted, this isn't the first place to consider when buying dupioni. I so agree! But I didn't make the original purchase and sometimes you have to play the hand you're dealt. Although they're not really set up for off-site purchasing, they were really great to work with once I was able to reach them by phone. They suggested I mail them a swatch of the original fabric, and then they called me back the same day they received it, a Saturday afternoon. The package was mailed out on Monday and I was able to get the project finished by the following Saturday.

Because I wasn't sure I'd be able to get the right green from Satin Moon, I had also sourced a few other places. Do you know how many colors of green dupioni there are? 100s, I tell you.

I started with an internet search of all the usual suspects: Thai Silks, Gorgeous Fabrics, Waechter's, and Emma OneSock among others. These are all great fabric sources but didn't have what I was looking for this time.

I also tried some brick and mortar stores when I was in Chicago this spring and was able to find the chartreuse at Fishman's. It washed up exactly like the piece from Satin Moon so that was easy. But unfortunately, they didn't have a suitable green.

I also looked into a couple of new sources, Silk Baron and New York Fashion Center Fabrics.

Silk Baron came highly recommended by Patti F., who had purchased from them before. Great selection of colors and a well organized web site. Andrew, the owner, also provided wonderful personal service on the phone and email. Although I didn't get the dupioni from him this time, Silk Baron is definitely on my short list for a future purchase.

New York Fashion Center Fabrics was sourced through Google, and a resource that I'll need to try again. They carry a broad selection of dupioni and lots of other fabrics too. They responded super quickly to my swatch request and had a couple of colors that were extremely close to what I was looking for.

By the way, Pam Erny of Fashion Sewing Supply sent me a link to her blog on how she launders silk dupioni. It originally appeared on August 10, 2010. Pam posts some great tutorials, and this one is no exception.

Oh yeah, another addition to yesterday's post. I'm pretty sure the church will be dry cleaning from here on out. That's fine IMO, because you can't ever tell how people will do laundry. For example, DH believes that clothes aren't really clean unless bleach and hot water are involved. Needless to say, we each launder our own clothes!! But back to church. One of the priests told me that the first time he wore the gold chasuble, wine was spilled on it. No stain because of the prewashing, though. So consider running the yardage through the wash even if the final garment is something you'll dry clean. It may save you a lot of grief.

Dupioni Silk, Part 1

2011-07-18T19:00:00.001-06:00

I love sewing with dupioni silk. It sews up easily because it's not as slick as many silks tend to be. And it's just plain nice to touch and handle.

I've washed every dupioni I've worked with. This accomplishes a couple of things--it eliminates the chance of water spotting when sewing or wearing the the garment, and it results in a more "quiet" sheen while still retaining the shimmer of the fiber. IMO, it also provides a more luxurious hand--the texture of unwashed dupioni can be a bit crispy while the washed has more drape.

Of course, you can always have a surprise when washing it. Remember the color shift I experienced when washing these?

The pale chartreuse piece on the right became orange-gold. I'd rather have this happen before making and wearing the garment instead of after!

I wash and dry my yardage by machine after serging the raw edges to prevent fraying. I have a front loader, but other than that, I really don't baby it much. Normal cycle, cold water (I wash almost everything with cold), liquid Tide, Downy Free. And a Color Catcher to pick up any loose dye molecules in the water. Once washed, I throw it in the dryer, normal cycle. I press the yardage after it's dry to smooth it out, then it's ready for cutting.

My Jewelry Exchange Experience

2011-07-17T14:03:00.000-06:00

My church recently held a fund-raiser for the new wing that was completed last year. We're still raising money to pay off the construction loan, and a couple of the parishioners came up with the idea of a jewelry exchange. Clear out the jewelry box of things you no longer want, bring it to the event, and pick up other things that are new to you. Also wine and potluck snacks while you shop. All this for a donation to the building fund.

I brought a sack full of items, including loose beads, earrings, necklaces, and some books on jewelry-making.

I ended up bringing home a sack full of new things.

Necklaces:

Bracelets and a watch:

I've been wanting an antique gold/brass watch. Yay!

Pins:

It's obvious I'm a cat person, isn't it?

Earrings and charms:

Yes, lots of crosses. But what do you expect at a church event? I got several sterling pieces, always popular here in the Southwest. Also jade, cloisonne and some brand names as well. I gathered up quite a bit, but there was plenty to go around for everyone. The leftover pieces were donated to the local humane society thrift store.

I hope the fundraiser was successful. I know I was generous because I was able to pick up so many nice things and had such a fun time socializing.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

2011-07-10T17:01:00.000-06:00

It's cooled down and breezy enough to write out here on the back patio this afternoon. 91 degrees is positively temperate compared with the triple digits we've been experiencing lately. Yes, it's a dry heat and all that, but enough is enough. Supposedly there will be storms tonight, a rare event for us. Let's hope so. We've been enjoying the patio in the evenings once the sun starts setting. Computers and iPads are very convenient for enjoying music and twilight reading outside. We'll be adding some solar lights soon so we can use even more of our outdoor space. And for the fall, a fire pit--once I borrow a truck so I can get it over here. Sometimes I really miss my little Hyundai Santa Fe.

I had a chance to spend several productive hours in the Sewing Cave this weekend. I made another version of Louise Cutting's Pure and Simple Shell, remade a failed sundress into a skirt, and even traced off Loes Hinse's Tank Dress pattern.

Here's the shell. The colors will work for different seasons. I have a few cardigans that'll coordinate nicely with it, so this one is mainly for the office. I do need an olive pair of pants, though.

And the skirt.

This one was originally a sundress that I made for last winter's trip to Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, I hated it and was tired of trying to make it work as a dress. So yesterday, I removed the elastic, cut it off at the armholes and converted it into a longish summer skirt. And of course, it took longer to remake than to make it from scratch, but that's the nature of remakes, isn't it? That stupid dress had an incredible amount of ease even with my previous efforts at narrowing it down. I ended up taking out another 2 3/4" of ease, and it's still has a flowy fit. But at least I have something I can wear now, because I do like the fabric. I eventually want to make another dress in this style, but I have other patterns that'll work better, including a favorite nightgown (!) pattern that I could modify. Butterick 5225, you are dead to me.

The container garden is doing well. I'm watering just about every day. Several tomatoes have developed, still green though. You can see peek of them with the Pure and Simple Shell, above. The basil and the mint are ready for sampling. I also acquired squash and bean plants from a neighbor who's in the process of moving to South Carolina next month. Talk about hot!

A Long Weekend and a Wadder

2011-07-04T12:00:00.005-06:00

Independence day weekend is here, and an extra day off comes with it! DH and I are staying in town, what with fires up North. I've been sewing a bit, although the ending of the Casey Anthony trial has sucked us both in.

First up was another pair of linen TSW Hudson Pants that I cut out last Sunday at Material Girls. This pair was made of beige linen and a bit shorter than the others. When I laid out the pattern, I didn't have quite enough fabric. I was able to "make it work" by folding out 4" of length, so these are more like capri pants than the others. I got them finished Saturday afternoon. Then I wore them Sunday and hated them--much baggier looking than previous pairs. Even after tweaking the fit Sunday afternoon, I still don't like how they look. Into the donation bag they go!

So here's the lesson learned--fabric choice. I used a linen, which I've used before for this pattern. However, this particular piece was heavier and stiffer than the others, causing it to be a bad choice for this style of pant. Oh well. At least I know what not to do with the other, similar piece I have. It will be used for table linens vs. garments. DH loves heavy cloth napkins, and they'll be perfect for that. I hate having a wadder, but the fabric was an ASG acquisition, meaning free or near free. It still bugs to have nothing to show for limited sewing time, though. KWIM?

I think I'll give the pattern a little rest, although I'll continue making warm weather clothes for a while yet. The weather doesn't seriously cool down until late October and sometimes later. Next up is another version of the Cutting Line Designs Pure and Simple Shell. This will be the third one I've made. I also cut it out at Material Girls.

Sewing for a Higher Power, Part Four

2011-06-26T09:55:00.001-06:00

Yay, sewing this weekend! I finished another chasuble yesterday; this one matches all of the green stoles I made last fall. This one was a quick project: I ordered the silk dupioni last Saturday, received it Thursday, laundered and cut it on Friday, then sewed it up on Saturday.

It'll be worn today as St. Michael's returns to "ordinary time" on the liturgical calendar. This one, and the orange/gold one, are designed for New Mexico--natural fiber and no lining to mitigate our desert heat. The wrong side is finished with French seams and the neck is faced with cotton. The hem was just double turned and topstitched.

I ended up buying this second piece of silk from Satin Moon, the same place that the stole fabric came from. It's an exact match, a feat when you consider that this project began last July. They're definitely not an internet store, but once I got them on the phone they did an excellent job. I'll be writing another post soon about my dupioni research. I've ordered many swatches from several sources, so maybe my efforts will be useful to someone else.

I still have some stoles to make from the orange/gold silk, but I have a couple of months until they'll be needed. I'll post on them when I get back in vestment production mode in August. In the meantime, I'll be sewing stuff for me! The Material Girls group is meeting this afternoon, so I'm taking more projects to lay out and cut.

The tomato plant is still valiantly surviving after being beaten about by a windstorm and dealing with the dry, hot weather we've been having. It even has one tiny tomato so far:

I think there will be others soon, the plant developed several flowers all at once. But look at how crispy some of those leaves are!

Garden Update

2011-06-12T18:08:00.001-06:00

Here's how it looks after a month+. Today I moved the pots to a sunnier location in hopes of some additional growth. I think the Arizona fires have slowed things down a bit here in Albuquerque. We're losing a lot of our afternoon sun as the wind shifts and the smoke plume drifts eastward.

I did a little bit of sewing this weekend, a dark blue linen pair of TSW Hudson Pants. This time I skipped the leg darts, so these have a wider profile at the hem than before. I'm thinking this pattern would be great as a regular pair of pull-on pants if lengthened just a bit to full length. They're not excessively roomy and wide-legged as so many pull-on pant patterns tend to be.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. I've worn the latest TSW Mixit and Loes Hinse Tango skirt, and both were fine after 8+ hours of wear.

Another Weekend Getaway and Some Sewing

2011-06-05T13:18:00.001-06:00

Normally, we wouldn't take two getaways so close together, but DH got 3rd row tickets to Jay Leno for my birthday. The show was at the newest of the luxury Indian casinos in the area, Buffalo Thunder, so we were on the road for a quick overnight visit. Buffalo Thunder is just north of Santa Fe in Pojoaque, one of the major pueblos in the area. Very nice! The casino part was actually tucked away from the restaurants and ballroom, so minimal smoke and clanging bells, a nice improvement IMO. In addition to the show, we had dinner at a wonderful restaurant on the property, Red Sage. The resort is full of Native American art from all the tribes in the area, with many contemporary and traditional pieces.

Because we didn't leave until Saturday afternoon, I had some time to do some sewing! Both projects were cut during the last Material Girls meeting in May--so you see, I actually do stuff other than collect fabrics there!

I made the Loes Hinse Tango Skirt Friday evening. It was my first project ever with Slinky. Yeah, I realize that particular fabric fad is over, but I love the colors in this print from Emma Seabrooke. It wasn't really hard to sew with, just weird. I've made this pattern a bunch of times so it's an easy one for me. I ended up shortening it from the top about 3" after trying it on, so it hits me right below the knee. No hemming on this one, just a raw edge at the hem.

Saturday morning's garment was another TSW Mixit Tank. I made it from some polyester that was left over from another project I made several years ago.

The original garment is long gone, but I still have the cardigan that went with it. Now I have a sort-of twin set that I can wear to work.

Sorry for the hanger pictures, but I'm not photo-ready right now and Ms. Acme is on loan to the ASG. She was used at the Fiber Art Fiesta last weekend for display purposes.

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-30T17:28:00.001-06:00

We literally headed for the hills this weekend with a getaway to Taos in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. DH booked us a room at Hotel La Fonda de Taos, a historic hotel located right on the Plaza. The rooms were recently renovated, and just charming. Our room was on the second floor on the far right, with 3 working windows to provide plenty of fresh air.

...And some noise. Fortunately, the Plaza wasn't too loud in the evenings since most of the immediate area consists of retail shops that are closed in the evening. But this weekend was the big motorcycle rally in nearby Red River, which meant a lot of bikers around. They were nice but most of their rides were pretty loud. Good thing we were out and about during the days.

Taos is a foodie town, probably more so than Santa Fe, so we spent a lot of our time eating out. A couple of new (to us) places that we tried were Graham's Grill and The Gorge. We liked Graham's so much that we ate breakfast there twice and are looking forward to going back for dinner or lunch another time. The Gorge is more of a bar although the food was pretty good, too. It's located in the space formerly occupied by Oglevie's for many years. Old favorites revisited included Lambert's and Doc Martin's, both of which served us excellent dinners.

We also did a bit of shopping. It's a tourist area after all, so there are plenty of little shops to visit. There were several featuring the fiber arts, including a yarn shop and a weaving place. There were also a couple of fabric stores. One, Common Thread, I knew about already.

It's been in business for many years. Its focus has been garment fabrics, but home dec and quilt fabrics seem to be making inroads, as well as accessories like handbags and such. I realize business is hard in this economy, so you have to carry what'll sell. But still, I was a wee bit disappointed so not much buying there. I picked up a 7/8 yard remnant of Kaffe Fasset fabric that will become a little summer top or trim on a shirt, also an interesting button that will likely become a necklace or brooch:

I also discovered a new-to-me quilt shop called Taos Adobe Quilting.

Tiny shop, but an excellent collection of cottons, including several bolts with designs by a local artist, Terrie Mangat. I realize that I just complained a little bit about quilting fabrics in the last paragraph--I suppose the difference is expectations! Anyway, this store does not carry the stiff, dull looking stuff you find at chain stores. Nope, this is the higher grade, silky soft quilt cotton that you can actually use for clothing. I bought a few yards of a design inspired by the Rio Grande. I hope to use it for a shirt:

Although most of our time was spent relaxing and exploring the Plaza area, we did make a couple of side trips. We drove up to the ski valley yesterday, a beautiful trip through the forest. It's always quiet up there in the off-season, probably now more than in the past.

Yes, there's still a little bit of snow at the top, but the water is running. As we drove home today, we saw several rafters out enjoying the white water while it lasts.

On the way home, we also took a small side trip into Ranchos de Taos to visit Dennis Hopper's grave. We found the cemetery, not the grave, but it was still a moving experience. It's an old Hispanic cemetery, very humble. No photos today out of respect for the families who were visiting their relatives for Memorial Day. After all, that's what the holiday is really about.

More on the Haul from Material Girls

2011-05-23T18:37:00.000-06:00

You wanted pictures? Are you sure?

Well, here goes....

They're not the tidiest shots, but I think they'll give you some idea of what's there.

This first set is mostly in the washing machine right now. Even with a Color Catcher, I thought it best to hold back a few of the lighter colored pieces.

The next group consists of wool, viyella, velvet, faux fur, ultrasuede, etc.

These are children's fabrics. I grabbed these because it's my understanding that my workplace is involved with the school system's clothing bank for homeless children. I've already talked about not liking charitable sewing, but anything made from these would be at my own pace, rather than an event with a definite place and deadline. We'll see what happens.

The fabrics are mostly cottons and cotton blends.

Patterns. I'll probably cull these down but there were some nice classics in there

I find it very difficult to ever pass up a free zipper, so these came home with me too.

So there's the haul to end all hauls. I really would like to use some of it--there's some quality stuff in there!

Material Girls, May 22

2011-05-22T19:06:00.000-06:00

Oh crap, more stuff!!

You recall my mention of the ASG sale a couple of weeks ago, right? The one where I purchased several lovely pieces of fabric and patterns? And was so proud of my restraint?

Well, today was ASG Fundraiser Part II, the Leftovers. The Prez brought all the fabrics, patterns, and books that didn't sell to our humble Neighborhood Group/Stitch n Bitch this afternoon. All free, before she took it away to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

I think an OMG is in order here. I have 2 cartons of fabric, notions and patterns sitting in the trunk of my car. Included are Ultrasuede, wool, linen, velvet, corduroy, cotton, faux fur, zippers and Vogue designer patterns. Somehow I'll absorb all of this, but I don't think I'll be buying much anytime soon.

On the production side, I cut out a couple of TNT projects--another TSW Mixit Tank to coordinate with a RTW cardigan and a Loes Hinse Tango Skirt from Slinky. It doesn't come close to matching the input of new stuff, but at least something is on its way out of the Sewing Cave!

ASG Sale Patterns

2011-05-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

I got patterns, too. My tastes are very similar to whoever assembled this stash. Again, I could have gone crazy with pattern buying but controlled myself. I'm actually trying to cull some of my collection! My purchases were limited to just a few that really "called out" to me.

This Marcy Tilton is one of the first Vogue issued. As I recall, the guide sheets had several techniques for fabric manipulation.

This copyright 1995 Vogue was a new one to me. I'd never wear the whole ensemble together, but the individual pieces are appealing. I was drawn to the culottes (!), thinking they were a skirt. I'd make them from a drapier fabric, though. They reminded me of an Issey Miyake skirt that I'd love to make if I could ever find the pattern for a decent price. In the meantime, these Montana culottes will work.

This one is copyright 1987, but I've been noticing similar pieces in RTW lately. Yes, the 80's are back but hopefully in a good way. Can anyone tell me about Carol Horn? Her name is vaguely familiar but other than that, nothing. I feel like she's a name I should know.

All of the above cost $2 each, and there were many others at that price. There were also many for $1 each. I think all of them were unused.

Now indulge me, because I'm going to take a moment to vent. My complaint is not about the sale but about behavior. This sale was a fundraiser for the ASG and all the items, 2 rooms worth, were contributed by an estate. It was organized by the officers and members, all of whom are volunteers.

And yet certain member(s) felt it was necessary to comment about how the sale was conducted, believing that the items should have been photographed and posted on the chapter website. Yes, really. In addition, there was a complaint that items should have been priced even lower, like at giveaway prices. I was appalled!

I've been an officer and know how much time and effort it takes to organize an event like this. Also, the point of a fundraiser is to raise money for chapter activities. Finally, there is a responsibility to the donor.

Of course, the comments came from those who seldom volunteer but are always eager to critique those who do. Get.Over.Yourself.

There, I've said it. And lest anyone think I'm being unfair, this is something I've already said in person in the past and I'd do it again.

ASG Sale Fabrics

2011-05-14T17:00:00.000-06:00

I had time for photos because DH took my car to the carwash. It's not that I'm trying to hide anything, but he doesn't get fabric/pattern/blogging. Throwing stuff on the floor beneath the skylight and taking pictures doesn't make a lot of sense to him. It's easier to do it when I'm home alone.

Anyway, here goes. This first one is cream with woven dots. I think it's linen but I haven't done a burn test on any of these yet.

This one is either rayon challis or viyella. I'll be holding off on working this one at least until fall.

This one is definitely silk. It's blouse weight and has a great hand. I'm still collecting black/cream/khaki fabrics to coordinate, so this one will be a good one to add to that wardrobe.

Another one for the black/cream/khaki collection. The color is richer in real life. I don't know if you can tell, but the roses and plaid are woven into the fabric, not printed. My guess is rayon. It's fairly heavy, but quite drapy.

This one is cotton gauze and lightweight. The width is narrow, so probably Indian hand-lomed. It'll be perfect for summertime.

All of the above fabrics except the gauze were $4 per yard. The gauze was $2 per yard. I was tempted to buy more but held back since the Sewing Cave is already full of fabric.

Another Week...

2011-05-14T10:42:00.000-06:00

Ahh, Saturday! A chance to relax and recuperate after another week of training and spreadsheets. I swear, I'm going to be the Queen of Excel before long!

Somehow I mostly missed the big Blogger outage/outrage of the week. Yay for going to an occasional meeting of actual human beings. My local ASG chapter met Thursday evening and it was great fun, especially due to a fabric estate sale that was held as a fundraiser. I was able to buy some beautiful patterns and fabrics at amazing prices while making a donation. Of course I'll blog about my goodies, but I haven't had much of a chance to unpack everything.

You probably noticed that I made some updates to SewWest's appearance at long last. I was having problems accessing the design functions of Blogger until DH loaded Chrome (and put Safari on my Mac's dock). Blogger played much more nicely with Chrome, another Google product, and cooperated in opening up all of its design options. And so, new colors!! I hope the yellow isn't too much, but it seemed appropriate for summer and went well with my banner photo. I plan on changing things around seasonally, so there will be different colors and pictures later on.

Update, Q and A, and a Big Thank You!

2011-05-08T16:51:00.000-06:00

I've completed 2 weeks at my new job. It's mentally exhausting learning all the new systems, but I like the company. One advantage of starting a new job with a class is that we can teach each other as we learn, and I can see some close bonds developing. Several of my team members are really young, as in right out of college. And then there are the rest of us, umm, "experienced" people. There are 14 people on the team, plus a team lead, analyst, and manager who transferred here from North Carolina.

I've even found bits of time for sewing. You've already seen my latest skirt in the last post, but I also made another pair of TSW Hudson Pants from the green Santa Fe cotton. I wore them out to dinner last night. I love this pattern and foresee future versions with variations. However, my next project will probably be more vestments. I got some of the matching fabric I needed while in Chicago, so I'll be making some gold stoles similar to the green ones I made last fall.

The weather has finally decided to be hot after a late freeze last weekend, so I've also made a minor attempt at culinary gardening:

I'm using containers, along with terra cotta ollas for irrigation. I planted 3 plants: tomato, basil, and mint. I planted basil (left) last year using the same system, and it did pretty well. Mint (front) is easy, so no worries there. I've never had much success with tomatoes (right), but we'll see. Even a few would be nice. Note to self: get a support for that tomato plant!

Laney asked if the new Simplicity 9570 skirt is something I can wear to work.

Actually, it is! The new workplace is business casual, and I'm not seeing many skirts. But I see no reason not to wear it, especially now that summer heat has arrived. I will have to be diligent in wearing the fake tan stuff and maintaining my pedicure, as panty hose aren't required and sandals are ok.

Jules asked about the Michael Miller Italian fabric and asked for details.

This is the fabric she's asking about:

I bought it at Fishman's in Chicago, but it's currently on several fabric websites including eQuilter and Fabric Depot. It's a current Michael Miller fabric called "Parole Italiano". It also comes with a black background.

judidarling commented on my new header with the cacti blossoms.

I took that picture last year or the year before. Unfortunately, that particular stand of cacti is gone due to some landscaping we had done. There are several other specimens around the property. We have some other varieties of cacti, too, but the orange ones are always the first to open up.

Several of you mentioned the rattlesnake statue, so I'll expand on that a little. Albuquerque has a program called 1% for Art, which means that part of the development budget on large projects has to be spent on artwork. In addition to the snakes, the program has resulted in some other interesting pieces around town, including the quirky "Chevy on a Stick" and many others.

Lastly, thank you very much for all the words of encouragement that you've left for me! I appreciate your support and kind wishes!!!

Simplicity 9570 Skirt: Finally Completed!

2011-04-23T11:39:00.000-06:00

This project has been on the back burner for a long time. I originally blogged about starting this skirt a year ago. I covered the pattern details pretty well then so I'm not going to repeat them here; I hope that's ok. I have no idea why I delayed this one over a year. After all, I've used this pattern many times and I love the fabric. Life just got in the way, I guess.

The fabric is a polyester from JoAnn's that dates back to 2006. Proof that even they get it right sometimes! Nice print, good colors, no sequins or glitter. The base fabric is more substantial than is typical for JoAnn's chiffon/georgette types and has a twill weave. Unfortunately, it appears to be a one-off, as I haven't seen another bolt of anything similar.

I added a lining even though the fabric didn't seem especially sheer. For that, I just cut the front and back skirt pieces from the lining fabric and basted the assembled pieces to the fold of the casing. I trimmed the excess lining near and pressed the casing down. I edgestitched at the fold to keep the lining in place, then completed the casing as normal. The lining is hemmed with the chiffon hem from Claire Shaeffer's book, High Fashion Sewing Secrets. I wish I had done the same for the flounce hem, but it's acceptable, and I'm not ripping it out at this point for a relatively minor adjustment. However, I'll need to remember for next time since it's such a nice finish.

I'm a Little Superstitious...

2011-04-18T08:00:00.007-06:00

photo courtesy City-Data.com

...So that's why I haven't commented about an upcoming life change. I'm starting a new job today!!!

I'll be working at a company located at Albuquerque's Mesa Del Sol. The pay is not anywhere near what I was making at The Big Red Square, but on the other hand, the aggravation should be a lot less.

The site is interesting. It's just south of downtown and the airport, but looks like the middle of the desert. The commute is longer than before but not by much. One of the major occupants is the studio that produces Breaking Bad, so I'm hoping for the opportunity to see some filming.

And the photo above? A major feature at Mesa Del Sol is the rattlesnake sculptures as you enter. There are two of them, and they're enormous!

I'll still be blogging, posting, and Facebooking, but on a reduced basis. I'm sure you understand.

Crazy Feet

2011-04-14T08:00:00.004-06:00

Are you familiar with 6pm.com? It's the outlet division of Zappos. Through the wonders of e-commerce, they send a daily email. Usually I click it right into the Trash file, but I saw these on sale last week:

And those were a pretty close copy of these Kork-Ease that I'd been coveting:

At a price of $24 vs. $150, I clicked to buy. They arrived at my house on Tuesday. Hoo boy, I like them but they're a bit more extreme than I was expecting. They're tall--1 5/8" in front, rising to 4 1/4" at the heel. In spite of all that, they're surprisingly comfortable because the foot itself isn't bent into a Barbie doll angle. Yes, I wore platforms the first time around in the 70s and the time after that, so I guess I'm not a believer in the adage that you shouldn't wear a trend again if you wore it the first time.

The other pair was more reasonable:

These are Clarks and the second pair I've bought in this style. They'll look fine with trousers and skirts, are walkable, and are not overly "comfort shoe" looking. I had a neuroma in my left foot last year, and although I'm hanging onto my business banking heels for now, I'm trying to spend most of my time in shoes that don't crowd my toes or force them forward. That means wearing shoes that are somewhat sensible, even though I may veer into crazy platforms from time to time.

The podiatrist has signed off on this, probably because she knows I'll comply better with fewer restrictions. Yes, she understands how I am.

Chicago Fabric Shopping

2011-04-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

As previously noted, we visited two fabulous fabric stores during the Chicago Weekend. Or at least I was there for two stores, as the early arrivals and late departures got to visit a second location of Vogue Fabrics and a Chicagoland outpost of JoAnn's.

At any rate, here are my spoils from our Saturday expedition. The first two selections are from Fishman's:

Cotton by Michael Miller. Love this design!

Cotton batiste. Ann spotted this one and I couldn't resist those colors!

I also bought some chartruese cross-weave silk dupioni for the long-delayed vestment project, but that's nothing new. On to Vogue Fabrics:

Wool and cotton blend challis-type

Wool gauze, an Anna Sui print. Yes, safety pins!

Cotton retro-style print. Louise Cutting brought this fabric (in pink) around to the sewing expeditions a few years ago.

So what am I going to make with this? As usual, I don't buy for a particular project but I do keep a general idea in mind.

The Italian print is crying out to be a shirt of some kind.
The floral batiste will likely be a little summer blouse or tank top.
Same with the green, gray and white bow print.
The scribble print could be a shirt-jacket or even a skirt. The weight would be fine either way.
The wool gauze safety pin print will probably be a TSW Now Shirt.

I would be in real trouble if I lived in Chicago. On the other hand, maybe not. Perhaps I'd let the stores hold my stash instead of bringing it home. Still thinking of some of the ones I left behind, but I can always come back...

TSW eShrug Sleeve Tutorial

2011-04-12T13:21:00.000-06:00

I've had a couple of requests for more information on lengthening the sleeve on the eShrug, so here goes.

First, a bit about the pattern. The original eShrug pattern comes with a separate sleeve (good) that's cap length (not my favorite). It fits into an armhole formed by sewing together the shoulder seams; there is no side seam. As a result, the sleeve is sewn in the round vs. flat. Select the shrug size you want. I found the size range to be roughly that of the "Shapes" patterns at the TSW and Louise Cutting web pages. This isn't a fitted garment and is forgiving in shape. I recommend a knit with a floppy hand for the best result.

For this tutorial, I'm using a leftover scrap of knit from this project. I'm also using markers so you can see what's going on. You'll want to use chalk or similar, OK?

On the armsye (top) of the sleeve pattern, mark 5/8" on each side.

Then fold the arm seam below the marks out of the way.

Lay out your fabric (2 layers, like sides together) and pin the pattern in place, leaving room for additional sleeve length.

Then I laid a TNT long sleeve pattern piece over, just to get an idea of the length I'd need. This one is from a t-shirt pattern that I use all the time. You can also measure from a RTW sleeve, but it's probably best to compare knits with knits. Notice that the pattern pieces vary in width, but the location of the seams under the arm align.

Mark a small horizontal line at your desired length. My sleeves have a raw edge, so the line is at the desired length; there is no hem allowance. Remember to add one if you're going to hem the sleeve.

Using the armscye dot on the pattern as your guide, make a small vertical mark on the line you just made. This is the center of the sleeve.

Then figure the desired circumference around the wrist. Mine is 8".

You can take this from an existing (knit) garment or just measure around your wrist.

Divide that number in half, add 5/8", then mark the result on either side of the center mark. Following my example: half of the wrist measurement is 4" so I'd draw a 4 5/8" line from either side of the center mark (4" lines in pink, seam allowances in purple).

Draw a chalk line from the ends two wrist lines to the armscye lines you made on the pattern (green ink).

And here are the sleeves, ready to be cut out. You did remember to lay out your fabric double, didn't you?

And remember you can always cut off a sleeve that's too long but you can't lengthen--if in doubt, be generous. Same with sleeve width, you can always re-sew and trim off if the sleeve is too wide but it's harder to repair a sleeve that's too narrow.

This is a quick and dirty, on-the-fly method. I chose not to invest a lot of time in getting it "right". And it worked for me. If you want to use a French curve or work it out on paper first, go for it, but you don't have to.

Chicago Weekend

2011-04-12T08:21:00.002-06:00

I spent last weekend in the company of several sewists I knew through the internet--Ann, Kay (and husband Don), Liana, and our host Patti (and husband Norm). We also had the opportunity to spend time with Chicago sewist and blogger Cennetta.

I arrived Friday afternoon from Albuquerque. Patti met me at the airport and escorted me to Evanston on the train. From there, the weekend became a whirlwind of activity. As soon as I checked in and dropped my bags at the room, we were off to dinner at Addis Abeba. The cuisine was a new experience for me, since I'd never had Ethiopian food before. It was delicious and I'll definitely try it again!

Saturday, we went in search of fabrics, with stops at Fishman's and Vogue Fabrics. After making our purchases, we headed to Manny's. OMG, massive deli sandwiches! We each divided one and they were still enormous. Cennetta joined us for the morning, and it was so nice getting to know her.

Ann, Liana and Kay

Liana and Kay

Cennetta and Ann

Thanks Fishman's and Vogue! Of course, I got some fabric, and I'll be posting the pieces later on. It must be wonderful to have access to such great sewing resources.

We headed downtown for the afternoon and an architectural tour through the Chicago Architectural Foundation. This was the perfect way to see many landmark buildings up close and learn why they were significant. Our docent, Harry, was very knowledgable and energetic, obviously loving what he does. Here's Harry with the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in the background:

And then Tapas Barcelona for dinner, another new dining experience that I'd like to repeat! I just hope there's a tapas place in Albuquerque that I can go to--you'd think so, but various Mexican venues rule the day here. But I digress. We continued our evening with cocktails and conversation at the hotel's lounge.

The next morning, we set off to experience the Haute Couture Club of Chicago's annual extravaganza at the Merchandise Mart. Cennetta joined our table for lunch and had several ensembles in the fashion show. Patti also introduced us to Rhonda Buss, another sewing fashionista who appeared numerous times in the show. Lots of talent in that group!

I brought my luggage to the show and cabbed it to Midway with minimal drama. Gotta love these big city cabbies--they get it done.

It was all over too soon, but it was a wonderful time. I enjoyed being with each and every one who could come. Thanks Patti, for organizing our visit and schlepping us about. And another thank you to her husband, Norm, who also spent a lot of time driving us around and listening to a lot of sewing chatter. I'm sorry that Linda was unable to make it, but hopefully next time.

JAM 4: TSW eShrug Version 2

2011-04-05T09:10:00.000-06:00

...and this one's a keeper!

After posting the first one, Terri K and Jane M suggested that fleece might not be the best choice and to try again with a different knit. Since my choices in Albuquerque are limited, I headed to another JoAnn's near Cottonwood Mall. No skull knits there, but they did have an assortment of "mohair" sweater knit in the red tag section. Most of the colors were cheap-looking, and it was obviously not from nature. However, it felt soft and there was black, so I brought some home. It's heathered, with little white fibers among the black, so white cat fur will not show! It only looks gray because I lightened the photo to show detail.

After prewashing and drying, I laid the fabric out Sunday afternoon. It was only 58" wide, just a touch too narrow for the main pattern piece. Don't you hate it when that happens? As it happened, I had read a tutorial about cutting knits crosswise earlier that day, so that's what I did. And it worked! Thanks, Marcy Tilton! The pattern piece also suggested this solution, since two grain lines were provided.

I also changed the sleeve from cap to full length. It suited the fabric and will work better for an upcoming visit to Chicago this weekend. I basically winged it by pinning the original sleeve in place, laying my TNT t-shirt sleeve over to gauge the length, then chalking the new cutting lines right onto the fabric. No pictures since I was working on black in the evening, but if you all want me to, I can work up a little tutorial. What do you think?

As before, the sewing was quick and easy, just shoulders and sleeves. I left the edges raw. Technically, this "mohair" is knitted like french terry; it has a stockinette side and a looped side. There was some shedding around the edges where loops were cut. I ran the shrug through the laundry again after completion, which has solved the problem.

This One's for Peace Bang

2011-04-03T08:00:00.001-06:00

I follow a blog called Beauty Tips for Ministers. I'm not a minister, not in the least, but I enjoy the writer's take on fashion and style. Recently, she posted about shoes, I remarked on a favorite pair of mine, and she asked for a picture.

So Peace Bang, here you are, a picture of my favorite pair of peep toe tan suede platforms:

They came from Nordstrom's in Portland OR circa 2003 or so. They're extremely comfortable, having been the only pair of decent shoes I could wear at work when I suffered a severe ankle sprain a few years ago. They dress up or down, so I expect to have and wear them for several more years. At the time, they were the most expensive pair of shoes I'd ever bought (Full price! Nordstom's!!) but they were worth the money.

Another Small Fabric Purchase

2011-04-02T07:30:00.001-06:00

I've been trying to be good since becoming job-free several months ago, and generally I've succeeded. Yes, I've added to stash but much more slowly than my typical rate in past years. However, I do occasionally succumb to the call of fabric.

I found this little cutie at JoAnn's, of all places.

I love how it looks like an innocent floral, until...until...until you look a little closer and notice that those petals are not what they seem. Yes, I'm a little crazy sometimes, or maybe it's just that regional fascination with Dia de los Muertos.

And actually, the fabric isn't bad. It's rayon jersey, which I was surprised to find there. You will see this again when it becomes a t-shirt. Hopefully soon.

TSW eShrug

2011-04-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd posted this already, but not even a draft exists on Blogger. So this one is a little late.

The eShrug is the latest pattern offering from the Sewing Workshop, and its first downloadable pattern. It was introduced at the recent Puyallup WA sewing expo.

There's always a flurry of activity in certain circles whenever a new TSW comes out and this one was no exception. This is a fairly modest offering for the line; looks to me like Linda & Co. are dipping their toes in the water to test the e-concept. Basically, it's just a little cardi to throw on when you need or want another layer. Very simple--no side seams, no edge finishes.

Of course I got the download. It was pretty easy to print out and assemble once I found the borderless setting on my HP. I whipped it up in fits and starts, probably no more than a half hour or so altogether.

I can't say I'm totally wild about it, but I think it's more a function of the fabric than anything else. I used a mystery piece from stash that I'd describe as a lightweight fleece. The colors are a little blah and the edges neither lay flat nor roll nicely. It also has a velcro-ish tendency to grab the layer beneath. I'm planning to make another as soon as I can figure out what to use and how to lay it out. The main pattern piece is almost 60" wide and will require a crossgrain layout on most fabrics unless I decide to add some seams. We'll see.

Simplicity 9505 View C Nightgown

2011-03-31T10:26:00.000-06:00

I finished 2 of these peasant-style nightgowns since posting about this pattern on Tuesday. Like the other views I've made with this pattern, they were easy to make. I did change the construction order to facilitate construction. Um, why completely make the sleeves (including casings), and then attach them to the assembled body of the garment? They're raglan after all, and it's much simpler to assemble all the pieces before sewing up the sides. I also prefer doing all similar operations at the same time, so that's what I did with casings and elastic. Silly instructions like that make no sense, and I feel free to ignore them for a better way. If you sew, I hope feel confident enough to do the same. It'll save you a lot of grief.

Anyway, back to the gowns. I used basic cotton fabric from the stash, so these will be comfortable to wear through the summer. Although I love the sleeveless drawstring style from the pattern, it's a little too bare for this time of year. The short sleeved peasant style is perfect for cool spring mornings.

I wore the pink one to bed last night and was very pleased with it. I think I'll save the blue for an upcoming weekend trip.

Duchesse commented on the caftan version on the pattern envelope: I like the caftan shape and can see it in interesting fabrics worn as at-home wear (not just for sleeping).

I agree! I've made it a couple of times for sleepwear, but an "at-home" version in either length would be perfect for casual living. Why recreate the wheel?

I also noticed that the drawstring nightgown from this pattern has a more flattering fit than that Butterick disaster I made for Puerto Rico, so I may revisit it for use as an actual dress.

Simplicity 9505 View C, a Different Nightgown

2011-03-29T10:07:00.002-06:00

Once again, it's back to this collection of sleepwear. I've really gotten my money's worth out of this pattern, having made several of the drawstring and tunic style nightgowns already. This time, I'm making the peasant style nightgown; time for something light but with a little more coverage than the drawstring style.

I stacked and cut two cottons at the same time, but since I'm working out the fit, I'm sewing each one separately instead of working assembly-line style. As is often true of the Big pattern companies, sleepwear patterns are drafted with a lot of ease. This one is no exception. In addition, I'm not certain that the sizing is consistent between views. A minor quibble because I like this pattern so much, but worth keeping in mind if you want to sew sleepwear.

The first nightgown is coming together easily, but I had to stop because I need to buy some 1/4" elastic. I have every other size except that and I forgot to allow for 3/8" elastic when I was serging the upper edge to prepare the casing. Oh well.

Fabric Shopping, Meet-up, Retreat in Northern NM

2011-03-29T10:01:00.000-06:00

I was on the road last weekend in Northern New Mexico, primarily for the annual Vestry retreat at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu. Beautiful place, but no cell phone or internet access. Yes, a few such places still exist!

The trip started on Friday morning. After throwing some clothes into my wheelie bag and stopping by the supermarket to pick up supplies for Saturday's breakfast, I hit the road up to Santa Fe and a visit to Santa Fe Fabrics. I've been meaning to visit for the past year or so, but didn't have the chance until this time. Nice shop, good fabrics, friendly staff, and tiny. They will be moving to a larger space in the same strip center soon according to the ladies cutting my order. It's nice to see that they're doing well. All the fabric stores I used to visit in Santa Fe are gone and there was a hole in the market that needed filling. These are premium fabrics, so the prices reflect that. However, I'm willing to pay for quality natural fiber fabric--beautiful stuff and a pleasure to work with.

I bought two pieces, green cotton with an interesting weave and a lightweight wool/rayon blend jersey. The cotton will become another pair of TSW Hudson Pants, while the jersey will become a long or 3/4 sleeved t-shirt.

After shopping, I headed up to Los Alamos for lunch with Wendy H, a cyber friend from Pattern Review and Stitcher's Guild. It was nice to meet her in person for the first time, although we already knew each other through message boards. It was a lovely time, but I wish I had remembered to take a picture! Maybe next time...hopefully soon.

Then up to Abiquiu for the Vestry. Although our group is the governing body of our parish, most of our time was spent getting to know each other so we can better work together as a team. We also had several sessions to discuss An Altar in the World, the book St. Michael's is studying and reading as part of Lent. Once again, I neglected photography this time. But these pictures from last year will give you an idea of what the surroundings were like. No wonder Georgia O'Keeffe was enchanted by this area.

Stitch Magazine

2011-03-21T14:57:00.001-06:00

I recently won a year's free subscription to Stitch Magazine from PatternReview, just for "liking" a comment on its Facebook page. Cool! I wasn't familiar with this magazine, but who doesn't love a prize?

This description is from their website, and it says what they're about a lot more eloquently than I can:

Stitch is a quarterly special issue sewing magazine all about creating with fabric and thread. Whether you are new to sewing, have been sewing for years, or are returning to sewing after a long hiatus, Stitch will give you a fresh perspective on sewing.

It is packed to the brim with original projects by innovative designers including:
• Wearables
• Home décor
• Fabric gifts

Stitch also brings you the latest from the sewing world:
• News
• Trends
• Products
• Designer profiles
• Inspiration from the exciting world of sewing and textile

From Japanese craft books and Project Runway to classic designer fashion and modern home décor trends, from fiber art to Etsy.com, vintage to fashion-forward—our focus is on contemporary sewing that celebrates the handmade lifestyle.

It's published by Interweave Press, a quality publisher of craft books and magazines. I'm familiar with them through their publication Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, which is an enjoyable read, full of eye candy.

Anyway, about Stitch. It's oriented toward a younger, less experienced sewer than me. Based on the projects and articles, I'd say they're aiming for a 20s-30s woman who wants to sew but doesn't have a whole lot of experience. And that's great, anything to encourage the next generation of sewists so that fabric, thread, and notions continue to be made and sold! I thought the article on the Top 10 sewing challenges was an excellent primer on common techniques that sewists have, such as setting a sleeve, pressing a curved seam, adjusting thread tension, etc.

The heart of the magazine is the projects, and there are plenty. My favorite is a wool pencil skirt with faux suede embellishment. It's very attractive and doesn't suffer from cuteness overload like some of the other projects (chipmunk hotpad, I'm looking at you!) I was a little dismayed when I flipped back to the directions and found an instruction to download the pattern. However, I soldiered on and was delighted to find that it was free and included the skirt as well as the embellishments. I haven't printed and assembled it yet but plan to very soon. A good pencil skirt is worth it!

What other projects did I like? I actually liked a little dress called the Easy-Fit Babydoll Dress so I downloaded it. I wouldn't consider it a true babydoll, which is why I'm going to give it a try. I also liked the look of Felt Confetti Pillow, but wow, it has a lot of hand sewing for a decorative pillow! For that reason, I probably won't make it. Unfortunately, the garment I liked most wasn't a project unless I care to reverse-engineer the knit jacket with the ruffled edge on page 64. Help me out, Stitch! It's a really cute item.

The magazine includes 2 pull out pages with full-sized patterns to trace off. They're laid out well, unlike the road maps that Burda prints. In addition, the companion website has a bunch of downloads, including these free projects in addition to the magazine patterns. Frankly, those are free too, but are meant to be used with the magazine since they don't include any instructions (you could wing them if you're an experienced sewist, just sayin'...) It looks like Interweave Press is making a strong effort to integrate print and electronic media, and that's to be applauded.

One caveat, this isn't an inexpensive magazine. The newsstand price is $14.99 an issue. However, the value is there IF you make projects from it and use the downloads. Also, consider the web support as part of what you're paying to support.

Right now, I'll give Stitch a B, but I'll update when I've received more issues and made a project or two.

Loes Hinse Bergman Blouse

2011-03-12T11:40:00.001-07:00

I mentioned in the Casual Elegance post that I've become enamored with Loes Hinse's jacket tweak of this pattern. I decided to make a blouse first, rather than jump in and start cutting my lovely chenille without a clue of how the pattern fits. No, I haven't made it before.

I used some inexpensive lightweight poly faille from Hancock's for the blouse. So inexpensive, it wouldn't matter if it was a disaster, plus there was plenty left for recutting if needed. In other words, no psychic cost.

Fortunately, the blouse came out well and it fits! The print coordinates well with denim, navy, red, pink, and green. Even orange works! I wore it to jury duty with an orange tweed Talbot's jacket (photo here) and this navy pair of TSW Urban pants. It was comfortable to wear throughout the long day of sitting and waiting.

Based on the blouse sample, I've decided to add 1" to each of the jacket side seams as "seam insurance," a total of 4" around the circumference. Easy enough to whack off if I don't need it, but there just in case I do. I'm really looking forward to working with the chenille. Both pieces are beautiful and soft.

Casual Elegance Order

2011-03-08T08:00:00.001-07:00

My order arrived Saturday, which is amazing considering that I ordered on Thursday. Here's what I got:

Green rayon chenille

Cream rayon chenille

Tropical print rayon challis

I'm planning on making a jacket based on the Bergman Blouse tweak that Loes Hinse and Sharon Lyon recently emailed. One of the rayon chenilles will be used for that, probably the green. But first, an actual Bergman Blouse--you see, I haven't actually made this pattern up yet, and I want to give it a try before cutting into the good stuff.

The other one, I'm not sure yet. I'm thinking of the short version of Loes Hinse's Swing Skirt pattern for the challis.

JAM 3: Vogue 8430 by Marcy Tilton

2011-03-07T09:26:00.001-07:00

I made this jacket because I had this big piece of polarfleece laying on the Sewing Cave floor, and I didn't even want to attempt to stuff it back into the fabric closet. It's another that I've had in the stash for a while, dating from 2003. It has a base of solid black fleece, but one side has sage green pine trees, stars, swirls, and dots. I'm guessing it's some sort of stencil, because the motifs have a painted texture. Regardless of how it was done, this is the only piece like this I've ever seen.

Because each side of the fleece can stand on its own, I decided to make this a reversible garment by sewing what I call a Raw Edge Flat Fell Seam. Basically, you make it like a normal flat fell seam by sewing the seam edges right sides together and trimming one edge close to the stitching. But instead of folding the wide side under and stitching it in place, I just stitched the wide side down 1/4" from the first line of stitching, then trimmed. It works because the fleece will not ravel and saves bulk on a thick fabric. I used sage thread for the second stitching. It doesn't show up as much as I'd like on the black side, but it does blend nicely on the printed side. I also used sage thread for the sleeve dart and on the zigzag stitching I added around the edge "just because."

It's a little late in the season for polarfleece, but it should be perfect for a retreat I'm taking in Northern New Mexico at the end of the month. I envision it as an extra layer I can throw on in case the lodge is chilly.

I'm not sure I mentioned it when I made the last one, but I lengthened the 2 fronts so they're the same length as the jacket back. This time, I also lengthened the sleeves by 2", short enough to leave as is but also long enough to turn up cuffs if desired.

I wore the jacket to church on Sunday and made an interesting discovery--it glows in the dark!! That is, the sage green portions do, which makes the fabric even weirder, but that's cool. I wish I knew why it was manufactured this way, and for what purpose. At any rate, the jacket was nice for today's weather in the 50s (Fahrenheit). DH also gave it an unsolicited compliment and since he's not a Fashion guy, that means it looks good on me!

Puerto Rico Wardrobe: Pattern Assessment

2011-02-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Holy shades of worklife, Batman!

Assessment is not a word I've used much since leaving The Big Red Bank last July, assessing and deploying being two of my former manager's most favorite phrases. However, assessment seems to be an appropriate term now since I used some new patterns for my vacation wardrobe.

As usual, I packed too much stuff. However, it all fit into a single wheeled carry-on so I suppose it's not a big deal. The excess gave me a margin for error, and there were some. But first, the new pattern highlights of the week:

Loved, loved, loved the black linen TSW Hudson Pants! I wore these over and over again during the week. I made them straight off the pattern, and my only complaint is there were no pockets. Easy enough to change next time, though. I see this pattern as a nice basic that can be changed up in many ways--add various pockets, omit leg darts, lengthen, shorten, add tabs, etc. Best new pattern of the trip.

Butterick 5211, the fuschia chemise I struggled with so much. It was ok, although the boatneck was a little high in front. If I decide to make this again, I'll drop the neckline about an inch, an easy fix.

Butterick 5225, the print dress. I tried it on one night, but couldn't stand the way it looked so it didn't make it out of the room. A baggy sack that does me no favors. I love the fabric though, so I'll likely be remaking it as a casual summer skirt. If I decide that I want to play around with this styling in the future, I'll use my TNT nightgown pattern (Simplicity 9505) that's much more flattering.

Both the TSW Mixit Tank and Cutting Line Pure and Simple Shell performed well. I preferred the Mixit Tank though, due to the fabric. Umm, cotton lawn. Must get more. I'll definitely continue to use these patterns in the future.

Home, Home Again...

2011-02-28T10:29:00.001-07:00

Back to New Mexico and normalcy after a week in Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico! We had an oceanfront room in the Marriott, small but nice. And the view was hard to beat. This was the view from our balcony:

It was so nice to get away. The weather was perfect--consistently in the 80s and only a couple of sun showers. We didn't do as much sightseeing as we anticipated--I got some inner ear "thing" and spent Monday and Tuesday feeling a bit under the weather, so I mostly hung out by the pool. Yes, life is rough! ;) My equilibrium is still a little off but manageable. DH was ok with hanging out as he wanted to spend time relaxing and de-stressing from his job.

We did go to the Bacardi factory:

And yes, they gave samples after the tour.

We tried the Select version on the rocks. Wow, good stuff! It was aged for 8 years and was so smooth. A sipper, not a mixer.

Afterwards we visited the colonial fort in Old San Juan. It was enormous! Being there really helped me appreciate how important Puerto Rico was for the Spanish Empire.

We had some delicious meals while there, too! Unfortunately, it was all over too soon, and we had a long day of flying on Friday. Ugghh, making connections in Atlanta was no fun. We got in late Friday night and I still haven't finished unpacking even though I only brought a carry on roller bag and small backpack. Lack of motivation since those clothes aren't needed yet.

Puerto Rico Wardrobe, Butterick 5211 and 5225 (Part 8)

2011-02-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

I finished this dress last night. It was fairly easy to sew but nowhere near the 2 hours claimed by Butterick. I've said my piece on this topic already. But let me assure you, the Fashion Express line is consistent, with instructions on this one as dumbed down as the last pattern. Of course, I made modifications that added time, such as a rayon challis lining to prevent show-through. But there's no way you can sew this up in 2 hours with all the pressing of drawstrings and casings involved.

In addition, I had to go back and re-sew the side seams. There is an incredible amount of ease in this pattern. While I usually at least consider the measurements printed on the pattern, I didn't for whatever reason this time. So I cut out a 14 based on my measurements and thentook out an additional 2 1/2"! This puts the size somewhere between a 10 and a 12. I could have cut out a straight size 10 (or even smaller) and it still would have been fine. This pattern recently went OOP, but really Butterick, what were you thinking?

Another change I made to the pattern was to eliminate the whole waist drawstring thing. I know how I am, and having a string tied around my waist would make me nuts. I'd always be playing with it, adjusting and re-tying again and again. So I inserted elastic instead and sewed a fake drawstring at center front. Simpler, faster, easier!

I also made a real hem instead of the 5/8" narrow hem specified. I had enough fabric since I'm shorter than BMV's fit model so it was easy enough to do.

Would I make this again? Possibly, but I'll consider making an 8. If I can work it out, it would be a fast little summer dress to have in my repertoire.

I also finished topstitching on Butterick 5211, so it's also complete. I used 2 strands of Coats and Clark poly embroidery thread through the needle and increased the stitch length, so that it would resemble the decorative embroidery that the fabric came with. I would have used Sulky, but the CC was a better color match.

Now that the 2 dresses are finished, the Puerto Rico wardrobe is complete in time for tomorrow's departure. Here are the rest, the tops and the cropped pants:

Arggh, what a goofy set of pictures. I was in a hurry this morning, so didn't really get it together as I should have. Oh well.

Anyway, 5 garments this month, which amazes me! True, they're simple pieces but I can't remember when I've been this prolific in such a short period. And no, I didn't spend all my time in the sewing cave.

Puerto Rico Wardrobe, Butterick 5211 and 5225 (Part 7)

2011-02-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

I decided to go ahead and make this dress in spite of receiving a warning about it. The chemise style appealed to me as something comfortable for vacation wear. I chose the embroidered fuschia linen-look I recently bought at Hancock's:

However, I tweaked the pattern as a result, and I think the changes improved it a lot. In addition to my usual habit of cutting the neck and shoulders size 10 and the rest size 14, I did the following: added a FBA, decreased the width of the neckline opening, eliminated the center back seam and neck opening, and pegged the lower edge. A lot of changes to a simple dress, but needed since I'm not built like a coat hanger (yay!).

And I eliminated the inseam pockets. In a chemise dress? Really? IMO, nothing but a source of distortion waiting to happen.

I also added a facing and lining combination to protect the back side of the embroidery from snags. I also think a lining generally improves the way a garment hangs and wears. In addition to the neckline, the lining is attached at the sleeve edges but the rest hangs free. The lining is plain rayon challis, which is also in the picture above.

Overall, I'm pleased although I think labeling the dress with a "1 Hour" label was totally misleading. Granted, the label refers only to sewing time, but it leads inexperienced sewists astray as they equate "fast" with "easy." The pattern instructions leave out several steps that would result in a better finished garment, such as staystitching the neckline, underlining the neck facing, and reinforcing the curved underarm seams that have to be severely clipped to lay flat. The pattern also referenced markings that didn't exist. I've got years and years of sewing experience under my belt, so I wasn't phased by these omissions. I really have no problem calling this a "Fast and Easy" or "Fashion Express" pattern, but dumbing down instructions to make them fit an artificially short sewing time ends up frustrating and discouraging inexperienced sewers who may not realize that extra steps are needed to obtain the best results.

No pictures yet, because I still need to complete the final step of topstitching the neck and sleeve edges. I'm going to see if I can locate some rayon thread that'll match the decorative embroidery on the fabric. It'll look better as a finish than plain sewing thread.

Meanwhile, I started cutting out the next project for the Puerto Rico Wardrobe, the Butterick 5225 dress. This one is another Fashion Express pattern with a "2 Hour" estimate. I dunno, it looks very simple, but I already know to take the guidesheet with a generous grain of salt!

I'm using this rayon print:

Puerto Rico Wardrobe, TSW Hudson Pants (Part 6)

2011-02-09T12:53:00.001-07:00

Well, that was quick! I finished the pants yesterday from start to finish. For this project, I used some JoAnn's linen that was left over from TSW Trio Pants I made a couple of years ago. They're a cute cropped length and will go well with the other items I'm packing. I realize a hanger shot isn't the best. However, I'm still in winter mode here--in other words, no pale, dry, unshaven legs will be displayed, so this will have to do. I lightened to show detail but in real life, the color is dark black.

I made a size Small based on a comparison of flat pattern measurements with a TNT, TSW's Urban Pant. I could probably use another 1/2" or so of ease and may yet alter them, but they're wearable as-is. I definitely think the Medium would have been too baggy for my tastes.

I'll be making more of these when the weather warms up. A nice basic that will lend itself to plenty of variations.

Puerto Rico Wardrobe, TSW Mixit Tank & CLD Pure and Simple Shell (Part 5)

2011-02-07T11:47:00.001-07:00

Woo hoo, I completed the first sewn item for the Puerto Rico Wardrobe Saturday afternoon! This is the Sewing Workshop Mixit Tank that I've already a couple of other times: a green linen one that was basically a wearable muslin and a fuschia cotton/linen one that was modified by shortening it through the bodice body to create a flared silhouette.

I used a wonderful piece of cotton lawn that I bought from Louise Cutting a couple of years ago for this version. Beautiful stuff, very soft, very thin, semi-sheer.

I had tweaked the pattern slightly after making the green one--lowered the neckline a touch and narrowed the front armscye by removing a tiny wedge at the top of the side seam. I used the same version this time, except shortened by 3" since I'm short waisted. I plan to make any future versions this length as well.

I also completed the second item last night after the Super Bowl--the Pure and Simple Shell by Louise Cutting's Cutting Line Designs.

I've also made this pattern before, so it went together relatively quickly. It would have been faster but I decided to use silk organza for the facings as I was worried about shadowing. The sheer organza was great for that--it virtually disappeared behind the white linen and was firm enough that I could eliminate interfacing. However, it became tempermental when turning the edges, especially on the neckline. But I was able to Make It Work, and I'm pleased with the finished result.

Here's a detail shot of the shell's reverse side, showing the organza facing:

Oh and speaking of shadowing, I experimented with the rayon print's lining this morning. The photo below shows the print fabric folded with white challis in between.

I'll throw the combination over Ms. Acme today for further consideration, but I think the combination of the two fabrics will work well.

We're leaving in less than two weeks for vacation. At this pace, I might be able to get three more garments done but I don't plan to kill myself like I did for the wedding and Kauai. My plan is to take a rest from brightly colored semi sheer prints and make the black linen TSW Hudson pants next, then the dresses. I have a TNT for one of them, the Hearts Fluttering in Vogue morph and I'm still figuring out the other.

Puerto Rico Wardrobe, Part 4

2011-02-05T09:00:00.006-07:00

This is the part where I go fabric shopping.

I had hoped to get through this project with stash and existing RTW, with the exception of shoes of course.

After yesterday's post, I decided that I needed something like a lightweight batiste for a lining, so I added JoAnn's to my list of stops on yesterday's expedition. It's been incredibly cold here but by afternoon, it was sunny with temperatures in the 20's. What could go wrong?

Well, I drove to JoAnn's and it was closed. Handwritten signs on all the doors stating they were shut down for at least two days. Condensation on the windows--oh, oh. Looks like somebody had a roof leak or burst pipe. Fortunately, there's a Hancock's down the street!

No batiste to be had, but they did have plain rayon challis. Unfortunately only 2 1/4 yards of white, so I couldn't stock up for spring and summer on this trip. Oh well, maybe I can find more at the other Hancocks if I can get over there soon.

Anyway, I got to thinking about the rayon print I posted. While it's beautiful, maybe it's more suitable for something else like a flowy skirt or a top. I could underline the pieces, but it's better not to force the fabric to behave too much against its nature. Over to the linen section, where I found this fuschia embellished linen-like rayon poly blend (how's that for a description?).

It's opaque and has more body, but still nice and soft. And there was plain rayon challis to match for a lining!

Problem solved, even though I ended up buying more fabric because there's always That Other Piece. In this case, it was this rayon/linen with purple, orange, and charcoal swirls. It doesn't go with the vacation stuff at all but I like it and will use it for something.

All in all I ended up with fabric for a dress, a back up lining fabric for summer (the white challis), and the piece bought on spec. Not too bad, considering.

Puerto Rico Wardrobe, Part 3, More RTW

2011-02-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Following are some more RTW items that I plan to bring on the Puerto Rico trip.

These cotton T's are from Talbot's. The floor shot makes them look boxy but they're actually fitted. Yes, I get into buying multiples of the same thing.

These white cotton crops came from TJ Maxx. It's a neat garment with some interesting features that might be fun to copy in the future. The belt is actually built into the pants, consisting of a piece of black elastic threaded through belt loops and pockets. The last set of openings are actually small vertical welts. And, one end of the elastic was attached before completing the fly front and waistband.

Of course, more ~~shoes~~ sandals. Although it's hard to tell from the camera angle, both pairs have heels; the Borns are a bit higher. I haven't decided whether to bring both pairs or just one but there's plenty of time to decide.

Puerto Rico Wardrobe, Part 2

2011-02-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some more items that might make it into the sewn portion of the Puerto Rico Wardrobe.

I think I need a dress, and I have two in mind. The first one is this OOP Butterick Fashion Express, very similar to a Vera Wang dress that TerriK pointed out. Sorry, the pattern is no longer on the website, but dresses similar to this pop up all the time as BMV and Simplicity offerings.

My other option is this little dress from Butterick 5225. It recently went OOP but is still on Butterick's website.

A complicating factor is that the fabric I want to use is this:

It's a very pale cream rayon, so see through will be an issue as you can tell from the photo. Lining is a must, and I'm thinking that will be simpler with the second dress. On the other hand, the second dress requires a strapless bra. I have one, but they aren't the most comfortable thing to wear, are they? I need to figure this one out or go fabric shopping. :)

Cropped pants. I have a RTW white pair that fits but I'd also like to bring a black pair. I have some linen left over from this project, so I'm considering a pair of TSW Hudson pants:

I'll let you know what I decide as I continue working on the items I'm sure of. I'll also post photos of more of the RTW items soon. In the meantime, here are the new sandals I bought for the trip. They're both adorable and comfortable. I got them from 6pm.com; the price was right too.

Puerto Rico Wardrobe

2011-02-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

DH and I will be heading to the sunny and warm island of Puerto Rico later this month, so of course I have sewing and wardrobe plans to share. I've selected a "theme" fabric from the stash here at Casa DaQ, this floral linen:

However, most of the clothes I'm taking are RTW. And here are some quick on-the-bed pictures of those items:

These two skirts are from Garnet Hill and are made of modal/cotton jersey. They're darker in real life but I lightened the photo to show the detail of the charcoal gray and black skirts.

I bought this sweater ages ago during the ASG Convention at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Rhinestone zipper, y'all.

This cardi is from the late Casual Corner chain, a workhorse in black crochet. This picture was also lightened to show detail.

These pants came from TJ Maxx and are the perfect gray to go with the print.

Since laying these out, my closet yielded some other items that I haven't photographed yet--white cropped pants, T-shirts, etc. I'll put them in another post.

Getting back to that linen, it's going to be a Pure and Simple Shell, one of Louise Cutting's designs that I've made before. I also making a TSW Mixit Tank from a floral cotton lawn in the same colorway:

I'm hoping to get a couple more items made but those two are the ones that are ready to go now; hence, the most likely to make the trip.

Lagniappe: Scarf Ring

2011-01-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

For this project, I revisited the olive diamond patterned knit I used to make a Loes Hinse Cowl Top. I didn't have a lot of fabric left, but there was an 18" piece at the end that was the full width. Not much, but more than I'd want to just toss. What to do with such a small piece?

My inspiration was a recent J. Jill catalog that featured a couple of sweaters with removable cowls, the perfect way to make my top more versatile and use that remnant.

J. Jill So-Simple Dress

J. Jill So-Simple Pullover

I've been seeing scarves like this on lots of sewing sites and in RTW. The NY Times has gone so far as to declare convertible clothing a trend.

It would have been simple enough to wing it, but I used directions from a recent Vogue Patterns Magazine since I had them. Basically, sew a tube, beginning and ending the stitching about 4" from the ends of the fabric. Turn right side out and sew the ends of the tube together. Hand stitch the opening closed. Done! This quick shot shows what it looks like with the original garment:

My scarf ended up 64" in circumference and 8 1/2" wide, a generously sized scarf. While I first envisioned just a cowl neck, this is a good bit larger. It needs to be looped twice around the neck to look like a cowl. I'm sure there are other configurations that I'll discover as I wear it. The scarf will also go with other items in my closet.

I'm never going to be one of those sewists who feels that she has to use every inch of fabric left over from a project. However, playing with remnants is a low-stress way to play around and think a little bit out of the box.

Stashing the Extras

2011-01-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Carolyn at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic recently posed some questions about notions and buttons stashing on her blog:

I'm pretty sure that if you are a stasher/collector of fabric, you probably stash the extra stuff too...and that if you purchase a piece or two at a time that you probably purchase all of your extra stuff that way too. Now I'm wondering which way is more effective...

Which caused me to ponder on whether or not having such a large collection of buttons and trims helps or hinders my projects?

Of course I responded, but it also got me to thinking that this was a pretty good topic for my own blog post. So I'm going to expand on my responses. Should be interesting, at least to me!

So the question of the day is, Do you collect/stash the extra stuff? If you do, why do you?

I stash the extra stuff too! Here are my reasons why:

My local resources are limited, so I can't get whatever I want when I want it.
I'll buy for a specific project, and the project morphs. The items I bought at the beginning of the project then get stashed away. While I don't mind modifying projects as I go, it does result in a lot of extra stuff.
I've acquired a lot of my stuff through other ASG members purging their sewing rooms, so I've gotten things like zippers, buttons, and fabrics at very low prices or sometimes even free.
Our chapter built a relationship with a couple of sewing factories several years ago, so I got bunches of stuff from them as well. That's where a lot of the buttons came from for my Holiday Giveaway. Sadly, those resources are mostly gone now since production has moved to Asia.
Other people know I sew and they give me things. For example, my sister bought a large ziploc baggie of vintage buttons when she was travelling in Kentucky that I later got as a Christmas gift. Great present!!
I also recycle interesting buttons from old garments. I'm talking about you, J. Jill!
Shows. I've been to a few ASG Conferences, and Albuquerque has its Fiber Arts Fiesta every other year. Both have had vendor booths with unusual things, so interesting buttons, trims, and notions always find their way home with me.

Does it help or speed along the sewing process? Or does it hinder the process?

Like so much in sewing, the answer is "Sometimes." I have some great buttons and trims stashed--many of them are "go to" whenever I need something of that style. Others I haven't used yet but they'll be there for the right project.

On the other hand, sometimes I don't have exactly what I want--I've run into that problem several times lately. For instance, both of the Marcy Tilton jackets I made this month, and the Now Shirt I made in December. Obviously I need to stock up on matte black buttons! However, going shopping is no guarantee that I'll find what I want. And I'm not a bargain shopper, but have you priced buttons lately? Even I pause when I see a single (plastic) button priced at over $4!

I may be delusional but I do think a lot of the "other" stash will get used. I regularly pull items out when planning a project, so I do generally know what I have on hand. Eventually, those great items will make the cut, and provide just the right accent for a project.

I also gift supplies to other sewists and provide stuff for ASG door prizes and such. After all, how much faux suede fringe does one person need, even in New Mexico? It's fun to see what happens after those things have gone to somebody else.

Lagniappe

2011-01-18T18:25:00.001-07:00

I used to hear this word all the time back when I lived in Mobile, Alabama. It meant "a little something extra", a little surprise gift.

Well, this pincushion is my lagniappe from the second Vogue 8676 jacket.

I had several little scraps of the wool jersey on the table, as well as my pinking rotary cutter and acrylic ruler, and I started thinking of those felted wool pincushions that I've seen amongst fiber people at sewing workshops. The wool is supposed to be good for the needles and pins.

Hmm, even if the fabric didn't mat when washed, it's still wool, and the scraps are small and going into the wastebasket anyway, and...

The next thing I knew, I had cut several strips that I began tightly rolling together. A few stitches later to secure the end of the last strip, and I had a pincushion. A nice, but very plain pincushion. Then I remembered that I had some "cell phone charms" that I'd bought at Rami Kim's workshop a few years ago. I threaded the loop onto a large darning needle, inserted it into the center of the roll, and secured the loop with a few more stitches on the bottom side. Of course, I could have rolled the end of the charm into the pincushion when I started the project, but I had to insert it later since I was improvising.

Before the Header...

2011-01-17T22:14:00.003-07:00

DH and I were taking pictures of ourselves for the BMW Owners Club in front of the house. He thought it would be a good idea to share a photo of ourselves before I tripped all over myself. Of course you'll understand why I'm not posting an after picture!

Just to be clear, DH drives the white roadster and motorcycle. The graphite sedan is mine.

JAM 2: Vogue 8676, Sort of View A

2011-01-17T13:28:00.001-07:00

Front

Back

This is the second time I've used this pattern, a modified version of View A for this version. The fabric I used was a double faced merino wool jersey that I bought from Fabric Mart a couple of years ago. Nice stuff, buy it if they still sell it! This piece has been washed and although it generated a ton of fluff in the dryer, there was very little fulling. I'd been searching for the right pattern for this fabric for a while because I wanted to take advantage of contrasting colors of both sides.

Marcy Tilton's notes on the pattern guide sheet recommended using the plain (View B) collar if the fabric doesn't roll when cut. The jersey I used has very little roll, so I took her suggestion. I also changed the sleeve and cuff to View B because I had a short cut (the pattern calls for 2 fabrics for View A), and I was afraid I wouldn't have enough to cut all the little strips cross grain as directed. I also substituted buttons for the fabric "buttons" of the pattern--just a little too-too for me.

Threads published a tutorial by Kenneth King on its website last week which was very timely, since he discussed using a rotary cutter with a pinking blade to finish exposed seams on a sweater knit. I decided to do the same thing on this jacket, as you'll see in the detail shots below:

Sleeve and cuff--per the pattern instructions, the cuff's lower edge was cut on the selvedge, then joined to the sleeve by lapping the raw edges. I reversed the cuff to show the contrasting black side.

Collar and shoulder seam--per the pattern instructions, the collar has raw edges and was attached to the jacket with a lapped seam. I added the pinked edges. I changed the sewing of the shoulder seam to show the black, pinked reverse of the fabric.

One of the most striking features of this view is the use of circular motifs, a perfect way to take advantage of the fabric. They were sewn to the jacket by edgestitching the raw edges of the motifs. The accent lines are raw edged cross grain strips that I pinked before sewing down.

Pocket detail

Back detail

Both jackets were really fun to make due to the unusual sewing techniques used. The jacket itself is a fairly basic shape that's flattering to wear, so I'll hang onto this pattern. It will be easy to modify further--maybe next time, I'll make it with traditional sewing techniques!

Owww

2011-01-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

I had plans to pose for pictures in the Marcy Tilton jackets today, but umm, change of plans. DH and I were using the tripod to take a self portrait with our cars (long story), and when we were done, I somehow tripped and took a face plant onto the pavement! I have scrapes on my nose, cheekbone, forehead and hands. Thankfully, no serious damage!!

Needless to say, I'd rather heal up a little! So I'll take some pictures of the new coat on Ms. Acme over the weekend. It came out really cute.

JAM 1, Vogue 8676, View B--Complete!

2011-01-10T17:29:00.003-07:00

I put the finishing touches on this jacket today, so I thought I'd share some quick photos. Rest assured, I'll be modeling it in a future blog post so you can see what it looks like on a person. However, it turned darn cold here in New Mexico overnight, so I was in no mood for modeling today.

If I do say so myself, I did an awesome job of pattern matching across the front. You can barely see the center opening. The pattern called for functioning buttons and buttonholes, but I didn't want to take that on, especially with a bulky collar right above the first one. Which is not to say you can't sew buttonholes in fleece--I've done it before, just chose not to this time. So there are large snaps underneath the buttons. I also added a fourth closure to the front. The pattern only specifies 3, with the last one hitting at waist level. Really? That doesn't make much sense to me.

Like most of Marcy Tilton's designs, this one features some atypical sewing techniques. For example, the cuffs feature the raw selvedges of the fabric. The sleeve overlaps a portion of the cuff piece, then both sides of the overlap are edgestitched together.

The pattern instructions specify a raw edge for the sleeve edge. I don't particularly like the raw edges of fleece, so I finished it off with 3 thread serging.

I also used 3 thread serging to finish off the collar. The instructions tell you to spray baste the 2 collar pieces together, then stitch 1/2" from the edges all the way around. Again, I don't like those raw fleece edges.



Once the collar is assembled, its edges are lapped over the neck seam, then you sew a line of stitching 1/2" from the lower collar edge.

Even though it's another black garment, I agree with sdBev-JoplinJacket, who commented:

: grey and black are the colors we use when projecting sophistication or a certain sexy something. Enjoy your greys. They can say more about you.
It does look sophisticated, and even kind of cheerful with the art nouveau poppies. I did enjoy making this pattern, enough that I pulled out another piece of the double faced wool jersey that I used for these projects last winter. The piece I'll use for that version is ~~turquoise~~ aqua and black.

Vogue 8676, View B, Marcy Tilton Jacket

2011-01-07T11:00:00.001-07:00

I finally got started on my first jacket for the Jacket a Month Sewalong on Stitcher's Guild. I'm working on View B, which is the one without the circular motifs.

As it happened, I had a piece of polar fleece that I've been saving for quite a while (2003!), and it's perfect for the pattern. It's a floral, like on the pattern envelope, but neutral colors of black, gray and cream. It seems like I'm sewing and wearing a lot from that color palette lately--probably reflects my mood these days. Hmm.

Like many of Marcy's patterns, the sewing techniques are "different"--lapped seams, raw edges and exposed selvedges. While remaining true to the spirit of the jacket, I've finished it off a little bit more than she specifies, basically because I don't think raw edges on fleece are all that attractive. However, the jacket is easy sewing. Between last night and a little time this morning, it's almost done.

Santa Fe Shopping

2011-01-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

I did quite of bit of shopping while in Santa Fe. I found out about a boutique that was closing by year end, so decided to check it out since it was in Plaza Mercado off the Plaza. I wore this skirt to dinner on Christmas night with a royal blue cashmere pullover and black cowboy boots:

The next 2 pictures are a black and silver metallic knit cardigan, accented with silver and gold nailheads and knotted knit cords. The cardigan closed with a fancy gold, silver and rhinestone kilt pin (not photographed). I wore this sweater New Year's Eve with a black mock neck shell from Coldwater Creek, shown in the above photo and under the cardigan in the photos below:

Front

Back

I haven't worn these two yet, but the black skirt will be going to Puerto Rico with me:

This top reminded me a little of the Sewing Workshop's Liberty Shirt:

This last item came from a little shop, Passementerie, located right outside the hotel:

The set can be worn as a bolo (shown) or belt. In addition, the flower and neckpiece can be worn separately. The pieces are made of silk and have lots of little details such as beads and yoyos. I got a second set for my sister in law, who admired it when she visited in October.

Carole asked if I could post some more pictures of Santa Fe, but unfortunately, all the shots of the Christmas lights turned out all blurry, and I often forget about tourist photos. I'll try again next trip! I loved your reminicense about LaFonda--I'm guessing the dances were in the central courtyard, which was changed into an atrium and is now LaPlazuela restaurant.

Loes Hinse Cowl Tops: Last Garment of 2010 and First Garment of 2011

2011-01-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

I talked about this pattern the other day and got around to a quick photo shoot this morning. Really quick, because my camera really needed immediate recharging!

I made the blue one per View A out of a beefy rayon blend knit from the late Lucy's Fabrics. I think Gorgeous Fabrics may have something similar. Nice weight, and cosy to wear.

I made the olive green one on New Year's Day. It's View A without the cowl. The fabric is a acrylic/cotton knit blend I got several years ago from Fashion Fabrics Club. The fabric is 2 layers--the face layer has a sweatery feel and is knitted to the back layer in a diamond pattern, forming the quilted texture. I omitted the cowl, feeling that it would be too many thick layers at the neck.

I lengthened both tunics by 2"; when I made this pattern last year, I felt like the length was just a skoash too short when worn with skinny pants. The extra length also allows me to add a belt if I want to.

At Last, Holiday Giveaway 4 Concludes

2011-01-03T06:50:00.006-07:00

We have a winner, and it's ... Joyce in NC! I ran the entries through Random.org and to my surprise (and yours I'm sure), your number came up! I guess it's true what they say, "you can't win if you don't enter."

I already have your address from before, so I'll be sending your package of Threads magazines and buttons today or tomorrow.

A big Thank You to everybody who participated in the Holiday Giveaway project. It was fun for me; I hope it was for you, too. I'm glad I could de-stash even a little, and get those sewing items back into circulation. Please share if you make something from your prizes. I'd love to see what you made, and I think other SewWest readers would enjoy it too.

Welcome 2011!

2011-01-01T09:03:00.001-07:00

I had not intended to disappear this week, but DH has been on vacation, and well, you know how that goes...I did do some sewing, one project successful and one more of a learning experience.

The successful one was a tunic from Loes Hinse's Cowl Top pattern. I've made this one before, and it's a great top to wear with skinny legged pants. This time I used some beefy rayon knit from Lucy's--too bad she's not selling fabric anymore because this is nice stuff. I'm planning on making another Cowl Top this weekend from an olive knit I unearthed the other day.

The other project was from my TNT T shirt pattern, Kwik Sew 2565. I had updated my copy of it last fall and wanted to make it up to test the fit. And the good news is, the new version fits and needs only a couple of minor tweaks. The bad news is, no wearable muslin this round. I'm not sure exactly what happened but the actual sewing was a nightmare and not something I'd want to be seen in so I trashed it. I think I'll take my serger in for a much needed tuneup before I attempt it again.

I made minor progress towards deciding what I want to sew for our upcoming trip to Puerto Rico. I pulled a couple of prints that'll go well with items already in my closet for kind of a mini capsule. More on that later.

I'm not planning any major resolutions for 2011, but I do have a theme that arose from a response to a Facebook question: More Doing, Less Planning. I do have a tendency to have analysis paralysis from time to time, so my desire is to break through that by moving forward even if I haven't fully developed the idea. Maybe this will get more projects out of my head and onto my body. Anyway, that's what I'm going with.

I hope your new year is starting out well, and don't forget to enter the last of the giveaways. Tomorrow's the last day to sign up and I'll draw on Monday.

Happy Holidays and a Modification to Holiday Giveaway 4

2010-12-26T18:41:00.001-07:00

photo by Thom Andrewz

Hi everyone, I'm back from our trip to Santa Fe. We had a lovely weekend getaway; even though Santa Fe is only an hour away, it's very different from Albuquerque! We stayed at the historic La Fonda hotel, which occupies a city block between the Plaza and Cathedral. More on that later, we're still settling in and unpacking.

I did notice an error when reviewing the Holiday Giveaway 4 post. I don't know why I decided to cut off entries on December 27, then not draw until January 3! It makes no sense, did I confuse everyone? So here's what I'm going to do--I'm extending the cutoff until January 2, 2011 which is next Sunday. Then I'll draw on January 3, as previously stated. Hope that's ok with everyone! So go to the post and make a comment!

The Winner for Holiday Giveaway 3

2010-12-19T15:10:00.001-07:00

... is Joyce in NC! To claim your prize, ~~please email your name and address to me at feralito at msn dot com. I will be out of pocket from December 23-26; if I don't get your address in time I'll mail your prize after Christmas.~~ Joyce, thank you for your address. The package when out in the mail on 12/20 and you should have your prize by the end of the week.

Thanks to everybody for entering! One more change to win! Holiday Giveaway 4 has been posted, with an extended deadline due to the holiday.

Holiday Giveaway 4

2010-12-19T15:00:00.002-07:00

This week's giveaway features Threads Magazine. I always look forward to receiving the newest copy of Threads in my mailbox--it's the best sewing magazine!

Issue 141 is from March 2009, featuring articles on creating a reversible evening coat, the golden rule of proportions, and French draping techniques.
Issue 145 is from November 2009, with articles on creating a hidden support for a strapless dress, blind stitches, and 5 essential sewing skills.

Also included is another set of professionally covered buttons from Silverado in shades of blue, green and black.

The rules have been slightly amended due to the holiday. Hopefully this works for everyone and makes it a little easier to participate.

Leave a comment on this post by ~~12/27/10, next Monday~~ Sunday January 2, 2011. As usual, I'll accept Anonymous responses, but please leave your name somewhere in your comment so I know who you are and can acknowledge you! One entry per person. I'll randomly draw the winner on Monday, 1/3/11, and post it on the blog.

This will be the last of the holiday giveaways. I hope they were as fun for you as they were for me!

Last Day to Enter Holiday Giveaway 3

2010-12-18T08:00:00.003-07:00

It's Saturday, so make a comment on Holiday Giveaway 3 if you've been thinking of entering. Today is the last day to enter!

The rules:

Leave a comment on the Holiday Giveaway 3 post by 12/18/10, today. I'll accept Anonymous responses, but please leave your name somewhere in your comment. One entry per person. I'll randomly draw the winner on Sunday, 12/19/10, and post it on the blog.

Playing with Dolls

2010-12-17T07:59:00.001-07:00

I loved playing with Barbies as a child. I think I got my first one when I was around two years old--there are several old snapshots of me in family albums with me toddling around clutching a blond ponytailed Barbie in her black and white striped maillot. Yes, that iconic one. I had a lot of other dolls too, but Barbie and her friends were always my favorites. Like many sewists, Barbie was an early muse and a inspiration to start sewing. Chatty Cathy didn't have a chance even with the ability to speak.

In the early 2000s, my ASG chapter ran several fundraisers featuring the raffle of a doll with a complete wardrobe made by members. After some American Girl fundraisers, we decided to have one featuring the Gene doll in 2001. Gene is a collectible fashion doll whose narrative was that of a movie star of the 1940s and 1950s. As a result, lots of glamorous vintage-inspired gowns, ensembles, and costumes! Eventually, other dolls were added to the line before it was retired this year.

I remember making an outfit for our fundraiser on 9/11--making it helped me stay calm during that horrible day. It was based on this pattern:

I always had fond feelings towards Gene for so many reasons. She was pretty, detailed, a bit larger than Barbie, and what a backstory! Long story short, I've been wanting one for quite a while. I recently bid on a used Gene on eBay and brought her home. She came with the teal "Destiny" ensemble--the gown, earrings, gloves (which I can't get on her), stockings (!) and shoes.

I also bid on an outfit so I could see how the clothes were made--and face it, so I could play with her. I'm not one of those people who'll keep something unused in the box for collector value. No point in that.

This outfit is incomplete so I was able to pick it up for a semi-reasonable price. The ensemble is called "Gene's Day Off," or something like that. I guess even a movie star can't wear gowns all the time.

I realize this is totally frivolous and silly, but I have a long history with fashion dolls and their little wardrobes so they occupy a soft spot in my heart. I'm sure I'll have fun dressing and wardrobing Miss Gene. I have several patterns from back when we did the fundraiser so I'm ready to go.

Well, There's Green Thread in Both Machines...

2010-12-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

So I did another set of pillowcases. Here they are, folded, after completion.

I made these from some quilting cotton I got from Ann Silva's last year. The print is gorgeous but large scale, difficult to use for clothing.

These are the standard pillowcases I always make to protect our bed pillows from cat hair. I posted a tutorial about making them here. A simple and fast project, especially after making so many, and a good way to use those exuberant prints that are so pretty but "too much" for clothes.

Kwik Sew 2948 Cardigan and Shell: Pictures

2010-12-14T13:49:00.001-07:00

I made a shell to go with the cardigan since I still had plenty of fabric left over. The fit of the shell took some tweaking, but was super easy to make. The cardigan could probably use a tiny set of shoulder pads, but overall I'm pretty happy with it. I originally started this project in February of this year, so it's nice to have a UFO completed!

ETA: I looked at this picture again and thought I should mention that I usually don't button the cardigan in twin sets like this. So, it looks better as I actually wear it than in the photo, but I wanted to show off my buttonholes! I've been wearing the set all afternoon. It's comfortable and requires a minimum of fidgeting--always pluses in my opinion.

TSW Now Shirt: Photos and More

2010-12-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

Today I got a chance to wear the new TSW Now Shirt. And here it is!

I also got word through Facebook that the fabric I won from Club BMV is on its way. Didn't they do a nice job of bundling it for shipping?

Holiday Giveaway 3

2010-12-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

This giveaway is for the pursemakers among you, consisting of Vogue 8590 designed by Marcy Tilton and Amy Butler's Madison Bag pattern. The Amy Butler pattern has been partially cut but appears to be complete. The Vogue has not been cut. This week's prize also includes a set of leopard print buttons. They were professionally covered for Silverado, a local manufacturer here in Albuquerque.

Only one winner this week!

The rules:

Leave a comment on this post by 12/18/10, next Saturday. I'll accept Anonymous responses, but please leave your name somewhere in your comment. Otherwise, it's too difficult to identify who's who. One entry per person. I'll randomly draw the winner on Sunday, 12/19/10, and post it on the blog.

This Week's Winner Is...

2010-12-12T11:12:00.002-07:00

Dilliander, from Australia! I'll send you the following items once I know where to send them.

~~To claim your prize, please email your name and address to me at feralito at msn dot com.~~ I've received the address; the package was mailed on 12/13/10. Thanks Sandra (aka Dilliander)!

Thanks to everybody for entering. I'll post the next giveaway later today.

Holiday Giveaway 2: Last Call for Entries

2010-12-11T14:46:00.003-07:00

Today is the last day to enter Holiday Giveaway 2 for the Textile Studios patterns. Be sure to go to that post and make your comment so you have a chance at this prize. Tomorrow, I'll choose the winner out of all entries submitted by today, December 11.

A recap of the rules:

Leave a comment on the Holiday Giveaway 2 post by 12/11/10 (today). I'll accept Anonymous responses, but please leave your name somewhere in your comment. Otherwise, it's too difficult to identify who's who. One entry per person. I'll randomly draw the winner on Sunday, 12/12/10, and post it on the blog.

Only one winner this time. Good luck!!

TSW Now Shirt and Kwik Sew Cardigan: Done at Last!

2010-12-07T11:22:00.001-07:00

A partially frustrating day yesterday--I pulled out the Christmas decorations and discovered that the "pre-lit" Christmas tree would not light. And on top of that, I ended up with several scratches on my hands and forearms from wrestling with the stupid thing. Ultimately, I decided there would be no tree this year. In the future, yes, but not in 2010. DH isn't a big "tree" person, and I don't feel like spending the money on it because I'm still not working. As a result, the old tree is in its box on the curb waiting for today's charity pickup. The house still looks festive for the season with the remaining decorations, so no worries there.

DH came home exhausted from work and decided to go to bed early, giving me the opportunity to work on the Now Shirt and Kwik Sew cardigan. I had made the buttonholes over the weekend--thanks for your encouragement for helping me to power through!! Many samples later, I used the automatic buttonholer on the BabyLock Audrey. It worked surprisingly well for both garments, considering that it's a relatively inexpensive little machine and the fabrics were so different. Last night, I cut open the buttonholes and attached the buttons--there are 5 on the cardigan and 5 on the shirt, so a lot of button sewing! Well, that's one of the reasons we have TV, right?

Photos later--

Holiday Giveaway 2

2010-12-05T15:39:00.002-07:00

This week's prize is a selection of 2 Textile Studios patterns designed by Loes Hinse and a set of holiday snowman buttons. The patterns are:

Shawl Collar Jacket, an easy fitting jacket in two lengths with drop shoulder and shoulder pads. Optional dart for shaping. Sizes XS-XXL, uncut and factory folds. Copyright 1997.
Basic Top, an easy fitting, slimming silhouette with 2 bodice lengths and 3 sleeve lengths. Sizes 34" to 44" bust, uncut and factory folds. Copyright 1998.

This is a package deal, so only one winner this week!

The rules:

Leave a comment on this post by 12/11/10, next Saturday. I'll accept Anonymous responses, but please leave your name somewhere in your comment. Otherwise, it's too difficult to identify who's who. One entry per person. I'll randomly draw the winner on Sunday, 12/12/10, and post it on the blog.

Thanks for playing!

Holiday Giveaway 1: We Have Winners!

2010-12-05T09:31:00.002-07:00

I made a list of responses this morning, assigned a number to each, then used Random.org to determine the winners. The first winner is Izzie, of Love 2 Sew 4 Fun. The second winner is Sewing Daisy.

Since neither stated a preference, I'm awarding Prize A with the Spring Street Shirt to Izzie

and Prize B with the Era Jacket to Sewing Daisy.

~~Ladies, please email me with your name and address so I can put your prizes in the mail. My addy is feralito at msn dot com.~~ Sewing Daisy, I mailed your package on 12/10/10. Izzie, I'm planning to mail yours on 12/13/10. Thanks to both of you for sending your addresses!

This week's giveaway will be posted later today, so check back to see what you could win next Sunday!

Holiday Giveaway 1: the Deadline Approaches

2010-12-04T10:27:00.001-07:00

Don't forget, today is the deadline to enter the 1st Holiday Giveaway!

Here's a re-cap of the rules:

If you want to play, leave a comment on the Holiday Giveaway 1 post by 12/4/10 (today!). ~~Be sure to write "Sewing Giveaway 1" somewhere in your comment~~*, and let me know if you have a preference for the Spring Street Shirt or the Era Jacket. The first person selected will get their choice if it's noted. The Sandra Betzina pattern and the buttons are in both prizes. One entry per person. I'll randomly draw the 2 winners on Sunday and post their names on the blog.

Remember, there are 2 winners for this Giveaway so the odds are good. I'll post the winners tomorrow, also the 2nd Holiday Giveaway.

*dropping this requirement because (duh), all comments appear under the Holiday Giveaway 1 comment feed anyway. So it's kind of obvious. Sorry about any confusion.