Butterick 5778

I'm nearly complete with another knit dress.  No surprise there, I sure do love my knits.  I'm not sure about this dress however. 

For this dress, I used Butterick 5778:
 

See how nicely the shoulders fit on her?  On me they are way too long and fall over my shoulder.  I was thinking of fixing that by gathering the shoulder edge and restitching.  It's going to be a guessing game because I haven't done that before and I'm not 100% how to - but I'm sure I can figure that out.  Or maybe fix it some other way, I'd like ideas but haven't found any on the 'net.

Also, the bodice is a bit big but that's okay - at least it's not ridiculously tight around my chest.  It looks modest and I prefer that. 

Here's a poor quality photo:

Don't mind that mess back there - my "creative" space is totally messy!

See that little camera I'm taking photos with?  Well, I'm saving for a new one but until then - I hope you don't mind the photo quality too much.  

So there's the dress on me.  I like the style of the dress but I'm not so sure I like the fabric.

It's a two-way stretch knit that I purchased from Fabric Mart (online) and it's sort of thin.   I thought of lining it but I figure I can wear a slip underneath.   I wish I could point out that droopy shoulder in the first picture but it's not too hard to see.  See on my shoulder there, how the fabric hangs over?  Huh?  Wth?  I've got to fix that before I can wear this out.  

Here's another dark pic.  Now that I think about it, I need a tripod too (let me put that on my Christmas list right now) - then I can take pictures outside with sunlight. 

I still need to add the belt and hem the skirt portion. 

Meh

Well, that's the back of the dress.  I think it definitely needs the belt and I'll wear it with a full slip (I tried it on with a half slip).  I'll take another pic when it's done and update this post at a later time.

Two Skirts, Two Dresses

I hope everyone's doing well after HS hit the north east.  That was a nasty one.  I used to live very close to the Rockaways so it was hard to see what happened on TV and on the news.  Thankfully, my friends were okay even though they lost power for a long while.  

Well, in between working and life keeping me busy, I was trying to destress (I don't think that's a word) by sewing a little.  Here's some new stuff I've made:

One: this is a simple dress made of challis:

It has a tie belt but it's hard to see against the print.  I can't remember which pattern I used since I made it a few weeks ago.  I still need to hem the skirt and finish the arm holes.  I'm not going to wear it until next summer so I'm not in a rush to finish it now.  As soon as I remember which pattern it is I'll update (can't believe I forgot!) 

I liked working with challis - it wasn't difficult at all and I didn't starch it or anything.  It was a very quick project.  

Two: I read a lot of sewing blogs and I'm really inspired by what so many of you make.  I hope one day to be just as good.  This skirt was inspired by Sunni and her denim Lonsdale skirt:

I really loved her skirt - and I wanted to test my skills at making one and then figuring out a waistband.  

It was my first time using my Sewaholic Lonsdale dress pattern and I have to say I LOVE this pattern.  The instructions are so easy!  I can totally see myself making the skirt portion a billion times over.  At some point I'll make the whole dress. 

Overall I'm happy with my skirt.  As you can see - the skirt still needs to be hemmed.  I've hemmed it twice already and I haven't been happy with the final result.  Now I've got the skirt pinned all around and I think I'll add hem tape to the bottom.  Or should I try a blind hem stitch?  (I just learned how to do that - yay for me!)  

I put an invisible zipper in the back and added a hook and eye to the waistband.  It's not perfect but no one is going to see that.  I always wear my tops over my waistband (I think a cowl neck Renfrew will look nice with this skirt).

I finished most of the inside seams with my serger and then sewed them down.  Is that called a faux French seam?  I think it is - I like the way it looks.  For the zipper seam, I used bias tape - just to see if I liked that method of finishing a seam and to use up some of my stash. 

I'm really happy with this pattern - I'm going to use it again and again.

Three:  I made a self-drafted pencil skirt.  I used Sew What! Skirts to complete my waistband. 

Look at that corner! 

Understitching

Finished skirt with a blind hem stitch

 I'm pleased with the skirt - even though the print is really loud.  It's louder than I am used to but if I wear a black top (another Renfrew? maybe an Alma?) and black knee high boots - it should look fine.  I hope!

Four:
I used Simplicity 2054 to make this double knit dress: 

I cut my head off on purpose

It's a very comfy dress - I like the double knit.  It doesn't cling and it has some thickness to it and it's warm, which I need in my cold Artic office.  This is version C with version B sleeves.  I'm going to make this again with the cowl neck version and with longer sleeves.  This dress was soooo easy to make.  

I've got another dress on my cutting table and I'm working with StephC on fitting those Clovers - I've got to send her more pics on my latest take on them! And the Tiramisu is being shipped soon ~ can't wait!!!

Ciao!

Another US apparel manufacturer closing....

I just read the news that a U.S. apparel manufacturer is closing.  It's one of the few left.  How many are left?  Who is left?  I'd like to find out more about apparel manufacturers in the U.S.  This particular company was around for 112 years. 

Here's the link if you're interested in reading the article 112-year-old Pennsylvania apparel....

Quick review of some new Vogue Patterns

While looking at my emails this morning, I found an email from Vogue ~ NEW sewing patterns!  YAY! 
I went to the website right away to review them.

Good thing I wasn't drinking coffee when I saw this one, it would have sprayed all over my keyboard:



Why would I want squares over my nips?  To highlight them?  HA
And why have a line going down from the middle of the nip to the bottom of the blouse?  I don't want to insult anyone but bleh!  Makes no sense!

Are you looking for a gift for that crazy relative/friend of yours?  I've got a suggestion for you - a boxy straight jacket!    (why are the arms so big?) 




An oval/ egg shaped jacket?! This makes me think of a bug - all it needs are antennas! I want to step on it! Ack!!!



Hmmm, I don't love it....  the style of the jacket isn't too bad but there's something about those ovals I really don't like....


But I do like this (even though it's been seen many, many, many  times before):


and this (even though this style is pretty classic and there's more than a few versions of it out there):


There were some other new patterns but I think I'll stick to my pattern stash for now.  What did you think of the new Vogue patterns? 

A lil' dress fail :( ....

Hello!
I wanted one last summer dress (it's still in the 80's here) and I decided on Vogue 1225.  I love this type of dress.  They are so easy to fit and wear. 


I measured and cut my fabric using my rotary cutter. It was getting late so I neatly stacked the fabric with its corresponding pattern piece.  When I came back the next evening to sew it - I realized that some of the pieces of fabric had shrunk!  Some of the pieces were about an inch smaller than the tissue pattern.  What happened?  I have no idea.  I know I didn't stretch the fabric while I cut it, maybe the fabric was poor quality?  Have you ever experienced this? 
 I'm bummed about it because it was the last stash of jersey knit I had and there were so many pieces to cut out - Ugh! 
So it's all in a bag right now - sadly, I do not have that pretty dress to show you.  I'm not sure if I'll go back to it, at least not right now.

In the meantime, I've got lots that I'm planning on doing.  I focus most of my garment-making on things I can wear to work (which unfortunately excludes denim pants or skirts- WAAAA). 

My list includes: the Anise jacket, Steph's Tiramisu (which should be delivered soon ~ can't wait!), I may try the Juniper pants (not sure yet), the Alma blouse, more Renfrews (a cowl neck version would be great!), a Lonsdale skirt  and shirtdress as inspired by Sunni of A Fashionable Stitch  (check out the links to those dresses on her blog - OMG, they are awesome).  

On the cutting table right now is a self-drafted flower pencil skirt.  I will take photos and show you that once I'm done with the fitting.  I still have to add the waistband and hem it.  I should be done with it this weekend.

Hopefully, I can get the muslin for the Anise done (with alterations) and finish up my pencil skirt.  What are your plans this weekend? 

Knit Dress and Renfrew

Clover update - to be continued....

In the meantime....

A knit dress!  Vogue 1224


My version:

I made my dress a little longer so I could wear it work.  I also made a fuller skirt.  This dress was so easy to sew together - there are no closures to worry about.  There's elastic around the neckline which makes it gather really nicely.  I also put in elastic around the waist but it's a little too big.  I should've made the elastic a little tighter.  oh well, it still works.  I'm going to have to look for more print knits to make a few more.

I also made a Renfrew:

I LOVE it!  It's the first one I've made even though I've had the pattern for a while.  It's so comfy and soft - I definitely want a cowl neck/long sleeve one.

and now....back to the Clovers.....

Happy Sewing!

Clover: Part ....4 (skipped 2 and 3)

It's been a while since my last post.  Apologies for that.  I could tell you the reasons why but they're not terribly exciting or happy/positive so I'll just talk about the sewing.  But it's a good thing that I'm sewing again :)

Clovers:
Maybe it's just that I've never done a pair of pants before and I'm still adjusting to my "curves" (to put it nicely), but these pants make me want to pull my hair out!  Or flip a table or curse someone out.  Argh!!   I have so far worked on 3 muslins - each with a different adjustment. Not one adjustment has worked so far (grrrrrrrr).

As of this weekend, I decided to start from scratch (no adjustments) and just sew it up.  I purchased some fabric from Joann's (I know, I know but that's the only reasonably priced fabric place around me) with 97% cotton and  3% spandex.  I figured a little stretch would be good, especially for my hips.  I also decided to experiment with finishing the seams.  I used a mock flat fell seam using my serger to finish one end and my sewing machine to finish it off.  Click here for a tutorial for the mock flat fell seam

A serged seam (not a mock flat fell seam)  I LOVE my serger :)

  I do like the way it looks. In hindsight though I should've kept it simple while I was still fitting.  Oopsie oh well.

So for my 4th version of these *&^*ing pants there are a few issues which I'm not sure how to resolve.
1. The front sits higher than the back making the back of the pants sit a little low.  I feel like it looks like I have a wedgie. Ew.  Not sure how to straighten that out. 
2. The pant legs are too wide ~ which means I have to take them in now but I'm worried about how that will affect the crotch area.  Well that's not too bad, at least they're not too tight!
3. The crotch is a little baggy.  The bagginess goes away when I pull the pants way up high on my waist. um yeah, no.
Sorry no pics for the fitting of these pants.  I'm not brave/courageous enough.

On the good side:
1. I put in an invisible zipper with my metal invisible zipper foot and attached a facing to the waistband ~ yay!  That's an accomplishment for me.  I used this tutorial to help me
2. Uh, can't think of another, except I'm glad to be sewing again.  I missed it.
 
So if I really want to get these Clover's right ~ another version it will be.  I'll work on that. Sigh


In the meantime, I needed a sense of accomplishment so I sewed this easy dress up:

 Ugh, it looks like a sack.  Then again, when I put it on (right after I finish sewing that right sleeve in.  I had to take it out after I realized I put it in all wrong *rolling eyes*) it looks different.  Thankfully, my hips give it more shape.  This is Simplicity 2054 version B:

I used a double knit which is so comfy.  I'll probably wear this when it gets cooler out and with booties. Maybe I'll take a pic when I finally wear it.  It's too hot for 89 degree weather!

I learned how to alter a pattern with this dress because my hips needed a larger size.  The larger size is on another envelope so I used this book to help me:

Since the dress is a one piece design, this book helped a lot by using the pivot method.  It worked for me!
I also have a couple of other books that I'm going to read (especially the pant fitting section).  One is Perfect Fitting by Sarah Veblen and The Classic Guide to Altering Patterns: The Perfect Fit.  I'll share photos next time. 

So that's it for now.  Still working on the Clover's and I've got to read my two new books to see if any of them can help me with those pants.

Happy Sewing :)