January 2022 Monthly Recap

Januarys are usually a good month for me because I normally have time off during the holiday to sew.  Of course that sewing gets featured in January. Though in 2021 my sewing output was drastically reduced because I was still recovering from surgery.  Actually it seems like most of 2021 my sewing was reduced but the pandemic affected so many of us in so many different ways...

A few things ~

- I did have 10 amazing days to create at the end of December which was lovely.

- I've been living in my apartment for almost 18 months and have my creative space working well for me now.

- I spent weekends pre-cutting so all I would need to do is sew during my holiday break. A game changer that made me feel so productive.

- I finally feel like blogging again which is great since  I've become unenamoured with Instagram! 

- Most importantly I've set up my photography lamps in the Resource Room (though I've yet to use them) and figured out the spot I like to take photos in my home besides the Resource Room.

(I will take the table down when I'm ready to take pictures)

So what did I share this month ~

Share because some of these things were started or completed in December 2021 and some completed and finished in 2022.

1. The Floral Borderprint Simplicity 8658

2. The Housedress Chic Collection - (so named by my friend Wanett)

3. Vogue 9299 in stripes

Six garments in one month is MAJOR for me these days!  Next month will kick off the Borderprint Shirt Collection. I'm also taking a few days off around President's Day and will be sewing for my sanity. So more garments to come because I'm revamping my closet this year to reflect who I am now.

Going Forward in 2022 ~

There were also two great conversational posts this month.

This comment by Towanda from "Sewing to Save Money" really touched me and several other sewists.

"Most of the benefits of sewing can't be measured in terms of cost. Sewing allows me to use my problem-solving skills and keeps my brain busy. It is relaxing and serves as a therapy session. It soothes my soul during stressful times. Some people are alive and uninjured because I can retreat to my sewing room. There is a sense of satisfaction when an outfit that turns out how you envisioned it. I can't imagine not sewing."

I want to thank everyone who participated in the discussions on this and the other post. I love these conversations and hope to foster more of them in 2022. 

Finally I want to thank everyone who has hung in with me the last two years when posts were slower to post and share. I so appreciate your continual participation. My hope is to blog and sew more in 2022 especially since "Pandemic Times" has become our new normal.

...as always more later!

What I sewed in March 2021

I started March out like gangbusters.  My sewjo was firing on all cyclinders...

1. Pembroke Tops
2. Verona Maxidress
3. Vogue 9299 Tunic

...and then nuthin'. Absolutely nuthin... So March came in like a lion and definitely went out like a lamb for my sewjo.

I can attribute this to several factors ~

1. Work - I got new responsibilities so I was hyper focused on work

2. My cut pile - has two pieces in it.  I want to sew both but am not inspired to sew either without adding more to the cut pile.

3. I haven't felt like cutting out anything.

4. Taking pictures - truly the bane of my existence this year is taking pictures. I discussed this some in my last post. To make picture taking easier, i.e., by myself, I need to make changes to several things and purchase some more equipment. I've been dragging my feet on buying more stuff. 

Fabric ~

As you know I'm the owner of my own personal fabric collection and am loathe to add more tenants to the co-op.  However, Mood Fabrics is stalking me on IG. I succumbed to temptation and purchased the following:

Mood Exclusive Twilight Blue Le Muse Cotton Poplin

Tilted Blue Lillies and Lily White Printed Stretch

Now this purchase has done wonders for the sewjo so I want to spend a day cutting - both old and new fabric! BTW, both of these fabrics are AH-MAZ-ING! You should check them out.

Sewn but not Shared Garments ~

I really wanted to do a series of fall/winter/early spring Myosotis dresses so I cut out three.  Two of the three have been completed.  Instead of waiting for the third one, which was my original intent, I'm sharing the first two soon just in case I move the third one to fall sewing.

Again, sharing depends upon picture taking...*sigh*

Moving forward ~

My sewing list is still working for me...I just need to cut some things out so when I feel like sewing, everything will be there waiting. Oh and I want like four more Vogue 9299 tunics. I must wear this tunic once a week since it's been finished. So more of these will be coming to the blog this summer.

I'm looking forward to April because warmer weather, longer days and more sewing.

...as always more later!

What I Sewed in February 2021

While the weather was miserable for most of the month, my sewjo was on fire so I got a lot of sewing done.

I shared the following:

Denim Simplicity 8687 - finished February 1st

Style Arc Mildred Jumpsuit - finished January 30th

Dover Maxidress/Coat - finished middle of January

and 2 Pembrokes that were completed but haven't made it to the blog yet.

A black & white ponte Myosotis dress that also hasn't made it to the blog yet.

...and a half made shirt that needs more fabric to make it work.

A lot of this was accomplished because I took the week off after President's Day. I needed time to sew because ideas were flying out of my brain. I was so on fire, that I spent time cutting out several garments and have a full cut pile to work from going into March.

I bought quite a bit of fabric too.  I was at 44 yards until 16 more yards showed up from Fabric Mart yesterday. BTW, I've tracked my fabric intake/output for the last couple of years. I'm not doing it this year. One reason is because I do have more storage space now. The second reason is because since I can see ALL of my fabric, it's a natural deterrent to purchasing a lot more.  Now doesn't that last sentence make me sound like a liar.  However, I can say that quite a bit of what was purchased lately has already been cut and is waiting to be completed.

I'm not buying fabric just because it's cute. I need a purpose for it and two of the projects I cut needed 5 yard pieces which were not in the collection. I am, however, using collection fabric too so I'm calling it all good.

The blue collection sewing is proceeding and more of those pieces are being worked on now hopefully making it to the blog soon.  Weather and my pandemic mood is definitely playing a part in picture taking.

However, since my sewjo is back I wanted to document my sewing progress.

...as always more later!

Seven Weeks In...

It's Thursday again so it's time for a check-in and an update especially since this is the last day of April.  

Let's start with garments made ~

I've made five dresses.  Three have been blogged. The last two will probably be photographed this weekend because it's supposed to be sunny and warm all weekend. So blog posts next week.

My sewjo came roaring back and I made five versions of my hacked Myosotis dress.

This is what's I'm working on now ~

It's almost finished and may be completed in time to be photographed this weekend too. I hope so. That way I can clear the decks off because I have 3-4 more maxidresses I want to make, as well as a cardigan and shirt from my cut pile. 

Fabric In/Out Update ~
I was relatively good this month. I bought 15 yards of fabric supporting three online fabric stores - StyleMaker Fabrics, Sewing Studio and Fabric Mart.

My out total was 103 yards.  This number included my three latest dresses. Then I gave 90 yards to a sewing friend. She's relatively new to sewing and has no real stash.  All of the fabric stores here in NJ are closed. She was bemoaning that fact so we did a virtual tour. She picked some pieces out and drove over to pick them up while we practiced social distancing. 

Now y'all have seen photos of the fabric collection so it didn't really matter that she got serious yardage. I'm just happy she's going to be able to sew for awhile because here in NJ we still have no open date.

This makes my year in/out totals:
Fabric In: 36.5
Fabric Out: 138.5

Coronavirus Update ~
It's the end of April and I'm trying to stay positive and remain hopeful. I'm believing that we've turned a corner and are getting close to the end of this. I know things won't be the way they were before and that we're headed into a new "normal."  

I also realize that I'm lucky to have a job where I can work from home and still get paid. My heart goes out to those who have lost their jobs, have not yet received their stimulus checks or unemployment money.  I know these are challenging times for you.

I also mourn with anyone who has lost family members to this vicious disease. We've had several deaths of elderly family members too.  Some of my Mother's contemporaries, so this has been hard on her. It's sad that older people who are still living vibrant lives will no longer be with us to share their knowledge, be a bridge between the generations, and share love.

If you live in a state where the virus is not as prevalent, I would hope that you would say a prayer and have some compassion for those of us in states still going through. It's very surreal and believe me we want to go back to work as much as some of you do too. However, I'm thrilled that my Governor and the Governors in surrounding states are taking their time. I DON'T want to have to go through this again!

As I said previously, new makes are coming to the blog next week. Next week which is MAY! Next week which will begin my eighth week of quarantine...

...as always more later!

A Week in Review - Week Five

It's the end of the first week in March and Daylight Savings Time starts tomorrow! O-M-G! It's been such a mild winter here in the tri-state area that I'm so ready for spring! Sooooo ready! 

I can tell the weather is changing because my sewjo is low. I always seem to feel this way when the seasons change and I'm just riding with it. I had no plans to sew this weekend, was going to do a family thing, but coronavirus changed travel plans so I'm home in the sewing cave.

Another travel change due to coronavirus, I'm not heading to Europe in the spring. My travel companion and I have flexible vacation schedules so we decided to wait until fall to make the trip. I'm sure everything will be resolved by then and Europe will need my tourist dollars even more.

*********

Since it's cold here one day and warm the next, I've just been cutting out garments to sew for March and April.  Here's my cut pile:

There's a lot of blue in there! Which not only is the color of the year but is my favorite color.

********* 

February Totals ~
Now that I look back at February, it was a pretty busy month.  
      
      * I did the 2-day Sew-In at Urban Sewciety
      * Went to the Dapper Dan Talk at FIT with sewing friends
      * Had a family party
      * Saw the "Black Lives Matter" Display at FIT with the same sewing friends and 
         then again with a work friend.

An Ankara Suit that reminds me of something Beyonce would wear!

Madame CJ Walker display - Netflix series premieres on March 20th

A sewing section that featured designers, sewing machines and notions

Black dolls - that American Girl doll resided at my house in the 90s

Made from bottle caps - it was stunning!

I blogged a few makes from January.  I was sewing faster than I was taking pictures ~

My TNT shirts and my Tester Version of the Fuller Cardigan

Also blogged were my February Makes ~

A sleeveless Pembroke tunic with a coordinating Fuller Cardigan

A Lace Shirt and a Simplicity 8687

  

This of course brings me to my Fabric In and Out Totals ~
If I wanted to buy every piece of yardage that wasn't nailed down last year, I have no desire to do so this year. I just want to sew from my collection. I've even taken to deleting fabric emails without looking at them (no I don't want to get off their mailing lists), and I've set some personal goals regarding fabric buying.

February Fabric In:  
8 yards from Urban Sewciety
(In all honesty, I won a $40 gift certificate that I felt should be used that weekend! LOL!)

February Fabric Out:
10.5 yards for the garments pictured above

My YTD in total is 15 yards and my YTD out total is 14 yards. So I'm doing good but I can do better. I plan to do better!
 

**********

The Right Tool for the Job ~
While working on my lace shirt, I found cutting the fabric out to be challenging.  I went through several pairs of scissors to get the pair that made cutting the thick lace easiest.

I tried my Kai scissors which usually work for EVERYTHING! But in this instance had challenges getting through the heavy fabric. A lightweight pair of Ginghers, an older pair of Wise and finally touched my silver 8" Ginghers which did the job! Two weeks after the shirt was done, I was still sweeping up black lace bits.

That's my weekly and end of month update. Today I'm sitting in the sewing cave, getting ready to alter a pattern and cut out one more garment. I may or may not sew today...probably will tomorrow...so it's going to be a minute before a finished garment shows up here on the blog.


...as always more later!

Week in Review - Week Three

Yes, I finally put the buttons and buttonholes on the shirts and had some pictures taken.  The first shirt has already come to the blog.  The others will follow shortly.

I don't know why it takes me so long to make the buttonholes because it's not like I hand sew them. Or that my sewing machine doesn't make excellent buttonholes...I was just being lazy about it. But it's done now so next...

I also worked some more on Simplicity 8687 ~

...continuing on with my winter sewing. I haven't made a topper yet this winter and I wanted something a little unstructured and more top like. So far this is fitting the bill.

oooooooooo

I ordered Fabric last week and it arrived over the weekend. Five yards of this ltwt. polyester bubble crepe print. It was the deal of the day for $1.99 a yard from Fabric Mart. Even with shipping added for one piece, it made it $4 per yard. Still a great value. I want to use this fabric for a summer maxi dress. I may end up sewing it sooner rather than later. I want to wear it when the weather starts to turn warm instead of sewing it once the warm weather arrives.

Fabric In/Out Totals ~
I was restrained with fabric buying this month. Only purchasing this five yards plus 2 additional ones to finish the Purple Reign Shirt. Since all of the shirts I made were from the cut pile I assembled in December, my fabric out number is small.  

Just 3.5 yards - one yard for the Purple Reign Shirt and 2.5 yards for my next project. So 3.5 yards more in than out. I hope to do better next month.

I will still be using this fabric designation for tagging makes:
#deepstash - been in the collection more than 8 years
new - been in the stash less than 6 months 
collection - 1 to 7 years in the collection

Last year this time I bought 39 yards of fabric so I'd say I'm winning by only buying 7 yards this month with two of those yards needed to complete a garment.

I did complete 4 garments this month so at least there is that!

oooooooooo

In Sewing Community News this week, did you hear about the dust up with Tessuti Fabrics and the plus size sewing community?  Tessuti offered a pretty new skirt pattern that didn't have extended sizing. The plus size sewing community especially in Australia was upset because Tessuti has been promising to extend their sizing and it wasn't reflected in this pattern.

Here is what Tessuti had to say about their decision.

So what do I think?  I'd actually stopped purchasing fabric (yes I try to buy from everyone who sells fabric) when they extended some of their patterns but only had pdfs and a few hard copies to purchase. The shipping was a little expensive for a single pattern, so I walked away. There are other fabric stores in the US and pattern companies willing to make designs in my size that I don't need to chase an international company.

However, if this is the fabric store where you shop locally, I can see how you, as a plus size sewist is challenged by the situation. I understand why telling you that you should shop elsewhere for your pattern needs but oh don't stop buying our fabric is both annoying and an issue. I also understand why you don't want to give them any more of your money. Obviously, they don't believe they need your money to survive. Even more so, I understand how this hurts you.

What I really liked about the discussion, because I read ALL of the comments on both of Tessuti's and Sewverymuch's posts, was the support of sewists who could wear the patterns yet were standing with their plus size sewists. Here's the thing, I strongly believe that if a retailer doesn't cater to you, you should not spend your hard earned dollars there. If they believe they can survive and thrive without you buying fabric and/or patterns from them, then refuse to do so.

I'm a huge Lizzo fan and loved the interview she gave with Gayle King for her Grammy Special. When Gayle asked her why she wasn't on Twitter anymore Lizzo said that she doesn't go places where she's not wanted.  That's how I feel about pattern makers who don't want to extend their sizes. It is their right to run their business as they see fit, just like it's mine not to purchase their products or promote them.

So thoughts...cause y'all know I love a good discussion about what's going on in the sewing community.

Another shirt will be up next...

...as always more later!

September/End of Summer Sewing

I do these end of month updates mostly to remind myself of what I've sewn and to keep track of my fabric in/out totals.  I'm late this month because I haven't felt much like sewing or doing anything sewing related...and surprisingly I'm good with that.

I accomplished my summer goals of adding more maxi dresses and a couple of maxi skirts to my wardrobe. I was thrilled that I was able to use a TNT pattern to get the maxi dresses I wanted. And my Doctor changed my medication so that by the end of the summer, the swelling I was experiencing went away, I lost a few pounds, and I was finally able to wear some of the knee length dresses I'd made in summers past.

Overall a good summer of sewing. 

Now to September totals...
I did buy fabric in September though it was my intent NOT to do so.  

I bought 24 yards of fabric from Chic Fabrics (NYC), fabric.com and Fabric Mart.

I cut out 26.5 yards of fabric so while I had 2.5 more yards out than in, my YTD totals still need some work.

Total In YTD:   289 yds
Total Out YTD: 237.25 yds

The only good thing here is that those numbers are close. At the rate I'm going I'm not sure I'm closing the gap by the end of the year. It is what it is because honestly I love fabric and I'm thrilled that I'm being much more conscious about what I purchase instead of just purchasing everything.

Garments Made...
I made four garments in September and finally shared the Mysotsis Maxi Hack that I completed in August. A garment a week works out about right especially since I spent one weekend altering a pattern and cutting out pieces for future sewing.

I've made my list of items I want to sew for the fall/winter season wth a theme - "Comfortable and Warm!" I have a couple of new patterns to use, a couple of RTW garments to knock off, and a bunch of shirts to sew! I even plan on sewing some solid color shirts...y'know some basics.

Here's what's been hanging out on my dressform...

...it's almost finished 'cause like I said earlier my sewjo is on hiatus. I do have a cut pile for when it returns so I will be ready to dive in and continue making...


...as always more later!

End of August 2019

The end of August always brings mixed feelings. I know summer will be ending soon and the cold weather is coming. However, I try not to dwell on that so I can still enjoy the warm weather that will hang around until October.

My clothing needs change as the weather changes. Since it's been cooler this week, I've been thinking more about transitional garments especially since I'm off for five days for this Labor Day weekend. I do plan on spending that time sewing...new fabric purchases and the last garments from my cut pile are stimulating my sewjo.

Okay lets get to this month's sewn garments update ~
Six new garments were made this month...five were blogged. I've carted the last maxi dress around just haven't been in the mood to have pictures taken yet.

This month I made:
- Two Simplicity 8871 - both maxi versions of the short woven dress
- Another Katie tunic
- Three Myosotis dresses
   All maxi versions - 1 w/short sleeves, 1 w/o sleeves & 1 totally hacked 
   (this one that has yet to make it to the blog)

Blue/White Myosotis during construction

My sewjo was in full effect and I filled a major hole in my summer wardrobe by adding 5 more maxi dresses to the closet. I'm currently working on the last maxi dress from my cut pile ~ a new pattern. One of my goals for this sewing weekend is to develop a new cut pile. This system seems to be working for me so I'm carrying it forward into fall.

Fabric In & Out Update ~
I broke my fabric fast when I went to Zooks last weekend and purchased 10 yards. I'm not upset that I purchased fabric especially since Zooks fabric doesn't last long in my fabric collection. The top two pieces are already slated to become shirts and will be cut this weekend.

I also purchased another 9 yards from Fabric Mart. A Milly print I'd drooled over for weeks was getting low at FM and a scarf type print. This scarf type print was one I've been searching for, so another fabric off my "must find" list.  Neither of these fabrics will be sewn soon but again I'm good with that.

Actual totals ~
August MTD In: 19 yards
August MTD Out: 2.25 yards

YTD In:  265
YTD Out: 210.75

I'm still 54.25 yards more in than out. Honestly though I'm good with this. I have no plans to fabric shop in the upcoming months. I'm looking forward to putting my summer fabric away and pulling out some transitional/fall pieces.

End of the Quarter Update ~
As I said earlier I am moving into transitional sewing. So here's a recap of all my summer sewing ~

I have sewn 17 garments since the end of May. I'm looking forward to sewing some tops and shirts to wear over my jeans. Yes, I will still be wearing my maxi dresses and skirts for the rest of September but I know colder weather is coming.

So I will be sewing some this weekend and I hope you get the chance to sew too!


...as always more later! 

Some Thoughts and Some Totals

July was full of challenges.  I got really sick the 4th of July weekend and lost 5 days of sewing.  I got myself together along with gaining my sewjo back and started working through my summer sewing list. I made 3 garments this month and 2 are left over from Sew Camp in June.

Monthly Totals ~
I decided to participate in projectfabricfast to help curb my growing fabric collection. Not because my collection makes me feel guilty but because there are so many goodies in there that I really want to sew more of them rather than holding onto/collecting them. All of my makes this month came from the fabric collection with no new fabric purchases! 

Of course this helped reduce my in/out numbers for the month and the year. Especially if I only have fabric out and no fabric in. 31 days without a fabric purchase makes me happy. I only have 6 more weeks to meet my goal and I have faith that I'm going to hold out and get there!

Here are in my in/out totals for July:
In - zero yardage!!!
Out - 28 yards

YTD totals are:
In - 246 yards in
Out - 208.5 yards out

Dayum those are some large numbers of fabric moving in and out of my sewing cave!

I have 6-7 more weeks to sew for summer. I have a cut pile that reflects me spending quality time at my sewing machine...never mind that I also have a few social commitments for August.

A Few Thoughts ~
This spring/summer I made a to-sew list full of new sewing patterns I wanted to try.  I've realized that I like a woven dress more than I like a knit one.  So most of my Concord tee dresses have been donated. Well in truth, most of them don't fit anymore since I've gained back all the weight I lost.

I also really love sewing a pattern quite a few times.  No matter how much I try to sew it once and move on, the pattern kinda lodges in my brain and I do creative somersaults with it. It's also interesting to note that I think I'm becoming out of date/trend/season with this way of thinking/creating/sewing.

Now that the pattern companies are actively involved in social media it seems that the pressure is on to always sew the latest and greatest pattern. Even though we purchase so many of them from each pattern company, and have to fit making into our daily lives, which of course means that sometimes a pattern can sit in our stashes for several seasons or years. 

I understand that pattern companies are businesses that need to sell their new products, I just wish they celebrated the making of ALL their patterns (no matter the season or year) as much as they celebrate the shiny new ones. Especially since patterns can almost always be found on Etsy, eBay, Amazon or several internet sites that sell vintage and OOP patterns.

I've cut and sewn four new patterns this season ~ 

1. Vogue 9371
I've made 2 versions and I'm probably done with this pattern for the year.

2. Cashmerette's Holyoke Skirt
Three versions have been made of this skirt. Two have been blogged. I still have to blog the last one.

3. Simplicity 8871
Two have been made, both will be coming to the blog in August. But this pattern has me in a creative whirlwind. I have fabric set aside to make two more so the finished dresses will show up in August or September. I've worn one to work and it's everything I want in a summer dress. I'd truly love five of these, just don't have time to get them made! It's my pattern crush of this season just like Myosotis was last year.

4. McCalls 7774
Two versions of this dress are cut out and waiting to be sewn. One in a border print (another idea I've worked out this season) and one in a stripe.

Also I'm continuing my Myosotis Dress love. There are presently three versions cut out and laying on my cutting table.  All maxi length versions.  All hacked or using some type of embellishment.  All coming to the blog in August and September.  Because the Myosotis love continues!

That pretty much sums up the rest of my summer sewing. While I've made a good faith effort to use more of the new sewing patterns I've acquired, in actuality I LOVE the journey of a pattern. I love using different fabrics, embellishments and hacking it to see all the things a pattern can become. I'm really not into the shiny and new.

Last thing ~
I've also decided that I need to "Make Do" more. Participating in #projectfabricfast has allowed me to see how often I run to one of the trim stores in the garment district to purchase things. This is something that has gradually developed because I'm now working near the garment district.  When I worked uptown and couldn't make it to pick things up, I stashed ALOT of notions. I need to turn to that notions stash now and "Make it Work" instead of dreaming up new things to buy. 

With that in mind, I'm setting myself a two month goal of "Make Do." I will try my hardest to use a notion/trim/button that's already in my notions stash rather than run to Pacific or Joyce Trimmings to buy new. By not buying new, I've already challenged myself to make my own piping. The next Simplicity 8871 dress features this embellishment and will be coming to the blog soon.

That's all! (said in my best Miranda Priestly voice)  It's an all sewing weekend. My last for the month of August so I want to see how much I can get accomplished.  There is a new dress coming to the blog next!

...as always more later!

Just like that six months have passed...

It's the last day of June and so the first six months of 2019 is officially in the books. I didn't do a recap of May's sewing because it primarily consisted of The Event Sewing. Since I was neck deep in it, I passed knowing the info could be put into this post.

So this is a recap post of the last six months...

First: Items Made ~
4 Dover Jackets
5 Cashmerette Pembroke Tunics
4 Shirts from my TNT pattern
2 Vests (one TNT & one Sew Your View)
1 Cardigan
1 Cashmerette Holyoke Skirt
1 pair of wide legged pants from TNT pattern
2 McCalls 7858 fancy dresses for the granddaughters
1 Myosotis Dress for the Event
1 Midi Dress from Vogue 9371 (to be blogged)
1 Dover Maxidress (to be blogged)
Total:  23

Refashions:
The Roscoe Top
The Blk/White Rayon Skirt

Wadders:
Gray Ponte Simplicity Vest

23 makes and 2 refashions just not counting that wadder. LOL!  Not bad for the first six months!

Fabric Totals ~
Fabric accumulation is always a challenge for me since I LOVE it sooooooo much! I knew I was going to blow my totals up in June because - Sew Camp!!! I thought that the fabric I purchased in May would have been used for the Event dresses. However, I bought some that I ended up not using so that increased my unused totals...anyway here are the totals by month.

May Totals:
In - 30.5 yards 
Out - 17 yards

June Totals:
In - 74.75 yards 
(This was a combination of birthday fabric buys and Sew Camp purchases)
Out - 19 yards

YTD In:   246 yards
YTD Out: 180.5 yards

At the mid-point of the year I have 65.5 more yards in than out.  So much for that balancing act in April! However, I still have to do my yearly donation to the high school and I know I won't be purchasing fabric in July & August. I'd like to make it all the way through to the end of September but I will see.

I'm pretty fabric satisfied right now and just want to sew all the things. My wardrobe is changing again due to weight, health, and age situations. I will be doing a clothing donation at the end of the summer when I know what I wore and didn't wear this year. 

My sewing list for the rest of the summer is calling my name. We will see what fabrics actually make it from flat fold and into my closet!  

Next up on the blog is the Dover Maxidress. Spoiler Alert: I love it and will hopefully make another before the summer is over!

...as always more later!  

April 2019 ~ End of Month Recap

April is such an in-between month. It's not cold like January/February but it's not warm yet either. I mean you may have a day or two of warmth but it's not that settled in your bones warmth of late June or July. So my sewing always suffers during transition periods.

I've finished two garments this month. Both were cut out in late January/early February and I've just completed them.

I also cut off the Roscoe Dress Grace gave me and made it into a top. Just need a warm day to wear it out and about.

Monthly Fabric Update ~
My fabric buying tendencies were soooooo good this month. I only purchased 6 yards of fabric. Wow! After three months of serious fabric buying I guess I was fabric satisfied.

I also have a very small cut out pile this month - 3.5 yards for the Dover Jacket (which I'm presently working on) and 3 yds of a blue ltwt linen for a safari jacket (Vogue 8208). 

Due to a fabric donation, okay Dibs took 84 yards which means a total of 90.5 yards came out of the fabric collection. Finally some evening off - LOL! I'm putting together my yearly donation for the high school so next month I hope to have another large donation out of the collection.

I'm sure some of you reading are wondering why I do this. Some of it's because there are portions of my collection that I'm not using and I don't want it to sit here waiting to be used.  Some of it's because I want the space to add more fabrics. And some of it's because I remember those donation piles in high school and the couple of times I used them to sew from. I want those new sewists to experience sewing with great fabric choices without having to worry about where they were getting fabric.

MTD Totals ~                                YTD Totals ~
Fabric In:  6 yds                              Fabric In: 140.75 yds
Fabric Out: 90.5 yds                        Fabric Out: 144.5 yds

FINALLY this is leveling off.  Now to get ahead of this with more fabric out than in.

In May I'm working on a formal gown for myself and for the granddaughters for a black tie event our family is attending the first weekend in June. So my sewing is going to be all about that with some in-progress posts which in all honesty will be more for me than you. However, I hope you don't mind following along on this sewing journey.

June will be back to sewing pieces for my summer wardrobe. I have an idea of some things I want to add, some pieces I want to move out and donate, and I've already purchased a bunch of patterns to use.

...as always more later!