MYSTYLE: MCCALLS 6078 - SUMMER WORK WEAR

When I say easy peasy.  I mean from cut to hem and finishing an hour tops.   This is as simple as it gets.  Oh please disregard the freaking band aid on my arm.  I had to give blood on this particular day and didn't realize before my photo I didn't take the darn thing off.  

The fabric is a remnant, and I think I only had about a yard and a half from The Sewing Studio here in Maitland, FL.   It has sat in my stash for a couple of years, and I originally purchased it to make an infinity scarf.  I needed something to wear to work one morning so I whipped this baby up in about 30 minutes.  The pattern had already been cut, since I have used this pattern several times its one of my favorite TNT's.  

The Pants I made some time ago.  They are made of a Linen Blend and just a simple pair of pants with elastic waist, and strawstring.  

Happy Sewing!

MYSTYLE: McCalls 9147 and Simplicity 1104 - Summer Work Wear

As some of you may know I am a Florida girl born and raised.  Though being in the Military afforded me an opportunity to live in some very interesting places, to me there is really no place like home. Florida weather especially summers can be HELL on earth, I love that I can wear cute tops and sandals almost year round. But for office wear I need cute tops that I can transition into every day life. 

I was working on making myself some tops because of course you can never ever ever have enough of them.  I also made the pants and paired them with these cute pair of orange pumps for a pop of color.

Happy Sewing!

Burda 6838: Cross Body Long Sleeve Blouse.

I have always had a fear of Burda Patterns, they've always intimidated me.  I've made several Burda garments, but I always had the fear of messing them up.  Just the way their pattern instructions are written seem to stump me. I usually can look at pattern and go straight to construction without looking at the instructions.  Sometimes I just peruse instructions to see if anything is funky, but Burda always seem to go into very unnecessary steps to get to the end product.   So I made a pledge to dive into them and conquer my fear.  I am not the type of person to let anything stump me for long. 

Here is Burda 6838:



Happy Sewing!

Butterick 5562 - Yeah No Bathroom Selfie

So finally I got a picture of myself wearing something I made.  I didn't have to run to the ladies room.  I love it.   

Happy Sewing!

Good Morning and Happy Hump Day! - Butterick 5562

I'm starting to feel like the old me again.  I go straight home after my workouts, make sure my family is fed and my home duties are performed and straight to my sewing room.  I have my mojo back, so while I am on this sewing rampage, I decided to pull out one of my Out of Print Patterns I have been wanting to make for a awhile.

The fabric is from Fabricmart and its a textured double knit.  It has a great bit of stretch so I contoured it a little to give it more of a fitted look.  I think I cut the medium.

Happy Sewing!

McCalls 6497 - Hi-Low Empire Waist Top!

 This top originally started out as a muslin.  I love the top at first glance but was not sure how it would look on me.  So, I decided to use some cotton (very thin) fabric that I got from Walmart for $1.50 per yard.  I like the fabric when I saw it but I knew it would not be used for anything significant, and I couldn't snub my nose at $1.50 per yard of anything that was half way cute. 

 

Immediately upon completion I love it (still not hemmed), but again, me being overly happy to share.  I pulled out some pretty bright yellow Ponte Roma Knit, and I can't wait to make it in the knit. 

 

Of course my picture sucks.  Still working on that.  I bought a Canon Rebel yadda yadda yadda and a tripod, that I have no idea how to use. But that is another post all together. 

 

My version of M6497

 

Their version

 

 

 

Quick Pattern Review:

 

Pattern Sizing: xs-s-med-Lrg

 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.

 

Were the instructions easy to follow?  Yes, very easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I dislike nothing; I love the high-low back, and the Empire waist.  It is really slimming on me.

Fabric Used: Cotton (bought to use as muslin from Walmart at $1.50 per yard. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn’t slipstitch the inside lining of midsection.  I used stitchery witchery to hold it in place.

Would you sew it again? Yes, I have another already cut and ready to go. 

Happy Sewing!



Tops, Tops, Tops, and more Tops!

When I find a pattern I love, boy do I make use of it.  I absolutely love McCall's 6752.  Every variation, this would be my third and I have another cut out and ready to be sewn up.   Not sure where I got the fabric, its a couple of years old. It is a very soft Jersey knit with a little shine to it. 

 

 

This top actually took me a little longer than it should have.  I have such a time hemming knits and I took out the hem about 3 times.  I even nicked it a couple of times and had to use some stitchery witchery to fix it.  But all in all I am pleased, and I got several compliments when I wore it to the office.  

 

 

With each garment I complete, my confidence level grows.  I am so excited about moving on to the next.

 

Happy Creating!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh! Sewing Silks and Slinky Fabrics.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh.  And again, I say "Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Remember that episode of the Cosby Show when Denise made Theo a designer shirt.  The infamous Gordon Cottrell (may not be spelled correctly), yep that is what envision every time I attempt to sew something silky.  

 

I am not happy right now, it’s the end of my month of sewing Tops/Blouses, and I have only completed (hemmed and wearable), three tops. Actually that is good for me considering the month that I have had and the little sewing time that I was able to take advantage of this month.   My goal was 5, so of course I want to rush and try to finish these two I have on my table.  I am OCD, so I must get them done by tomorrow or I will turn into a pumpkin.

This post is about my inability to sew a straight line and or have a decent hem on anything silky and or slinky.  I have watched the videos, read the books and practiced (boy I need more practice).  I have not yet mastered this concept.  I have a closet full of knit tops, nothing silky or slinky because I am deathly afraid of what the outcome will be once I get on the hemming end. 

I have a Janome 6600 Professional that came with a walking foot.  I use it every time I sew something silky and it still comes out wonky.    I am determined to get this even if I have to glue my butt to my chair and sew silk remnants until my freaking fingers bleed (no not really), but I let nothing conquer me. 

Help please!, LOL, “NO I MEAN IT”. 

Vogue 8907 - For the Love Ponte Roma

I'll make everything in Ponte Roma Knit if I could.  As I have mentioned before, I am a Ponte Roma addict.  So when I saw the top made by Erica Bunker, I new I had to make it in the Red and my beloved Ponte Roma.

 

I rarely take pictures in the clothing I make.  First because I don't ever have anyone too take pictures of me, and secondly I just don't like take pictures.  But I felt like my dress form did this top no justice, and I had to wear it so you could get an example of how it fell on the body.  I really am pleased with how it come out.  I do plan to make another.

 

 

Quickie Pattern Review:

Pattern:   Vogue 8907 (View A)

Sizes:     14-20 -  I cut the 14 my RTW is a 10.

Directions:   Scale of 1-10 on difficulty, I would give it a 7. 

Fabric:   Red Ponte Roma Knit.

Changes:   I didn't make any changes, but I did have to adjust a little/  For some odd reason, once my top was together, the front and back was not even.  I think my drape overlapped on my shoulders a little too much.  I didn't interface the neck and arm facings.  The fabric has enough stability I thought, and it worked out well. 

Would I make it again:  Yes, I plan too, its already cut.

Happy creating.

July - Top/Blouse Emphasis Month: Butterick 5497

I am really pleased at how this top turned out.  Its a little snug in the waist, but I plan to take it out and readjust the seams a little to make it work.  I was a little concerned with the top portion because while cutting it out it didn't seam it would fit over my "D's", but it fit just right.   The color is amazing and even prettier than I thought when I first picked it up.  I bought the fabric from a thrift store, and it was tubed, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it when I purchased it.  A few yards for a $1.00 I couldn't turn it down. 

 



Quickie Pattern Review:

Pattern:   Butterick 5497 (View B)

Sizes:     14-20 -  I cut the 14 my RTW is a 10.

Directions:   Super easy and straight forward, scale of 1-10 on difficulty, I would give it a 2.

Changes:   I omitted the elastic in the waist or empire seam.  After I put it on it really wasn’t needed and I think it would have just given me extra bulk in that ear. I read over the pattern before starting and I had to refer back to it a couple of times due when I got to putting in the back neck binding.  Other than that, it was pretty easy to do and straight forward.

Would I make it again:  Yes, in a couple of colors or prints, I like it enough.

Happy creating.

Another Top, Simplicity 1920 View "A".

This top was not on my list, but I needed a quickie project for this evening. This quickie top gave me the little fix I needed to accomplish something, anything.  It actually came out lovely for something i really didn't plan or had no intentions on making today!

I'm trying to think about what I want and need before just making items I end up shoving in the back of my closet.  My plan is to have a functional wardrobe. 

Happy creating!

B5420 - View "B" - Review

Another wardrobe builder top.  Its Butterick 5420.  Really simple, from cut to sew up it too me 2 hours.  It could have been less, but I had to seam rip a whole side, not paying attention, and trying to rush through completion.  I love the color though it doesn't look as purple as it really is.  My picture gives it a more of blue tint to it. 

Here is a quick Review. 

Pattern Description: Misses Top – View “B”.

 Pattern Sizing: 8-22.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes it did.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy, didn’t really follow them completely. The pattern was self-explanatory for the most part. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like everything.

Fabric Used: Polyester Stretch Knit

 Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No modifications made

 Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I plan to make a couple of the other variations provided.

Conclusion: Very early, maybe a couple of hours from cut to finish. It’s a great wardrobe builder.

Finished WP, Simplicity 2369

I finished 2369.  It really came out better than I expected.  I had a little screw up on  one of the sleeve sat the shoulder, but it not really recognizable.  I hate that I am a perfectionist, it really kills me buzz sometime. I can definitely see myself make several more of these, especially the Maxi in a funky geometric pattern.

 

 

Have a great day!
 

A Quick Top

It was pretty ugly today and rainy in Orlando, so after cooking dinner I thought why not sew up something quick.  Just something quick to throw on when Hubby and I go out for  dinner or to the movies.  Something sexy but that I could wear with Jeans or some lightweight linen wide leg pants.  Wow, say that twice.  LOL

Its not finished and or hemmed.  I'm going to play with a little more, maybe add a little fabric in the seams to loosen it up.  What do you think?