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!



No Pattern Batwing Top!

I needed a quickie project to get my mojo back.  I wanted something simple but rewarding.  Since I love tops and can't seem to get enough of them I thought a simple top would do the trick, and it did.  I had a yard and a half of Red Ponte Roma Knit (my drug of choice), and so I decided to make a quick top with it.  I used a Tshirt that fits me well and just traced it extending the arms to a length right above my elbow.

 

For some odd reason I have sewn a lot of red, so I need to get away from it a bit, but it is a great fall color that can go good with both light and dark colors well.

I love the fit.

 

 

Happy Sewing!

Printed Pants

I'm seeing printed pants everywhere.  Just recently I took a mini vacation to Amelia Island.  Amelia Island is located North of Jacksonville, Florida.  Its beautiful and I stayed at the Omni Resort at Amelia Island.  There was a cute little clothing shop on the island (can't remember the name), but they had the cutest printed pants, similar to these: 



I also like these wide leg version as well.

 

 

Here is my version of Simplicity 1699, printed pants.  The picture isn't the best but I will post a picture when I wear them out.   I tapered the legs a little to give me the look I wanted, but these were fairly simple to make.  I also used bias facing as suppose to the twill tape that the pattern called for  the waist.  I like how they came out.

Style Watching and Inspiration

I am not big on following the latest trends.  I have my own little quirky style. Its really not defined, I just like what I like.  If I see something someone is wearing that I like, celebrity or whomever, I go hey I like that.  I get my style inspiration from all sources.  I consider myself a classic chic. 

 

Recently, while pursing one of my many blogs I like to follow, I came across this picture of Kelly Rowland, and it caught my eye.  I just really love the stylish but casual fun look with just a pop of color (those darn pink shoes). 

 

 

 For those of you are not familiar with how she is, she's one of the RB Group Destiny's Child member, or better known as Beyoncés former group.  I have always loved Kelly's look.  She doesn't really conform to a particular style.  She has a really fun casual look that I really like. 

 

 

 

Just simple and cute when she about town.  

 

Florida - Not a Sewing Friendly State Among its other Problems

I  was born and raised in Florida, Orlando to be exact.  At 17 I left Orlando to join the U.S. Army and to serve my country and after 8 years of service I decided to get out of the military and move back home.  I was recently divorced and a single parent so I wanted to be close to my Mom and sisters. 

I often see my sewing sisters and friends with such beautiful fabric, from New York and California and even across the water.  Florida doesn't have these options, that I know of anyway.  We have Joanns, Hobby Lobby and a couple of Hancocks, and there is one specialty shop that I often visit and they do have a nice selection, but that is about it.  I just wish Florida had more places to purchase fabric, especially in Central Florida where I live. 

 

I do order fabric from:

 

• Fabricmartfabrics.com
• Fabric.com
• Lowpricefabric.com (Michael Levine's Fabric)
• Moodfabric.com
• Denverfabrics.com
• Fashionfabricsclub.com

 

I know there are many more places to buy fabric, so what online stores do you buy your fabric from? 

 

Happy sewing!

McCall's 6744 Done but not for the Wedding.

I was so excited about my cousins wedding this past weekend.  I picked a pattern Simplicity 2281

and fabric a few weeks ago and was ready to sew it up last week, but assisting my very ill sister kept me from getting it started.   So I chose another pattern that I thought would be quicker  M6744, but needless to say I did not get that finished either before I had to leave for South Carolina.  So I ended wearing a dress I made a few months ago, M6700. 

 

I got a lot of  compliments on my M6700 dress so I was pleased, though the shoes I initially chose to wear with the dress fell apart.  They were my favorite dressy dress shoes and they died on me after 10 long years.  Thank God I had a decent backup.  A little too casual but I had no choice, so they worked.

 

After returning from the wedding, I finished M6744 and I can't wait for an opportunity to wear it.  Here goes:

 

 

 

Side View

 

I am so very pleased at how it turned out.  I love this pattern. 

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!