I'm Stalling

I know I should be in the sewing nook working on the Simplicity 3631 jacket...but I don't want to start assembling it and have to wait for lining fabric...well that's not really true... What I don't want is to have to go with my back-up lining choice. See Fabric Mart shipped my lining fabrics on Wednesday and technically it should be here this afternoon, if UPS is delivering on time. Now while I want to start sewing the jacket, I really just don't want to stop. I am home for three days with no plans so I can just sew on and off for the next 72 hours...and that's what I really want to do...so I'm stalling!

Anyway, as I was putting the closet back together yesterday before heading out for Thanksgiving dinner, I found a 3-ring binder that I had placed old Sew News articles in. Articles that I had cut from the magazine because I thought they were interesting but didn't want to keep the entire magazine...I would be drowning in old sewing magazines if I didn't find someway to manage the process! *LOL* And I need to do that again because the magazines are taking over the bookshelf! But I digress, because look what I found!

It's an article on cluster sewing called, "Don't be Cluster-phobic" published in Sew News in October 2001. For anyone interested in SWAPping but you don't have the time or desire to sew 11 pieces, this article advises sewing just five to eight pieces. The five piece combo recommends three tops and two bottoms to create 12 different outfits. The eight piece combo suggests five tops and four bottoms. An interesting and very doable concept if you want to start small with wardrobe sewing.

The second piece I found has really started my creative juices flowing ~ it is an old ad for a McCall's shift dress ~ 2114. It is OOP and not in my pattern collection, though McCalls does have several others on their website like (M5464, M5180, M4768, M2401, M8107) that could be used as substitutes. I probably just liked the embellishment technique and I can pretty much figure this out without a pattern's assistance. I am seriously thinking about trying this on my black wool crepe Simplicity 3631 dress. Wouldn't that be some WOW underneath the jacket, especially if I don't take the jacket off during the day and you just get a peek at it! Ohlalala baby! *LOL*

There were several others that intrigued me and will probably show up in future posts...but I guess enough stalling. I could cut out the other pieces that I'm making, right? Make some bobbins, turn my sewing machines on...y'know all the prep work that would allow me to just keep sewing once I start!

So what are you working on this weekend?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
I love this holiday because our family gathers together and to me it is a special day to count your blessings...through the daily trials and tribulations, I realize that my family and I are very blessed indeed!

If you celebrate or if you don't, today I am wishing many blessings for you and yours!

Back to sewing tomorrow! Enjoy your holiday!

I sewed something...

I did manage to sew today but not before I did this...

See my apartment complex has decided that they need Verizon to come in and install Vios lines. So I had to empty out part of my fabric closet...the part that held the coats and miscellaneous stuff so that the repairman can access the attic.

And this is how my fabric closet looks now...see 'cause I don't trust them to understand the value of the fabric contained within it! Especially since I am perfectly happy with my cable internet service and don't even want no stinkin' DSL line....*sigh*

Two more pieces are completed in the CC Inspirational Wardrobe...the Sewing Workshop Mission Tank (a serious TNT) made from the brown sueded silk and the brown/beige paisley jersey knit print with a ruffled brown elastic trim at the neckline. Both fabrics are from Fabric Mart.

I am now so totally tired of sewing this wardrobe that I am moving onto other non-SWAP pieces. I know that I said I would do dresses next but with more meetings, more suit type outfits are needed in my work future so I have decided to work on my version of Simplicity 3631.

I want to make the jacket but not with the batwings...I am losing some of the sleeve width ala the Sew Stylish magazine piece and used the longer sleeve pattern minus the band. I am also going to make the dress again...what can I say, I'm a sucker for punishment! *smile* Hopefully the dress won't be as "challenging" since I have made it once. After having worn it to work, I do need this in the black and gray that I originally imagined it in because it passed the wearability test with flying colors.

My fabric is two different black wool crepes from Fabric Mart...the jacket piece is a little heavier with more texture than the fabric I will use for the dress. The dress fabric is a smooth wool crepe I bought from the last wool fabric sale and I have some great black patent leather trim that I've been waiting to use on something. This trim will give a "perfectly good" corporate outfit a trendy little twist!

Since this is a holiday week hopefully I will get more time to sew!

Lastly, my baby girl and personal photographer turned 18 yesterday...my last child is a legal adult ~ yeah, right! *LOL*

That's her and her sister (my 19 yr. old) as we headed into New York yesterday for a day of shopping and fun.

I have a few more hours of good sewing time left so I'm off to make some more progress.

Never throw out your SM's instruction manual!

It's Friday night and I have a full weekend. I am sitting here wondering how I am gonna jam some sewing into it...it might and then again it might not happen...

So I have a little funny to share with you...yes, it's sewing related!

As I have said before I hate the finishing aspects of a garment. Sometimes I am really good and I will hem, make buttonholes and sew buttons on the garment right away...but other times the garment will sit with one, two or all three of these items incomplete until I am ready to wear it. Then the night before I want to wear it there is a flurry of activity as I try to get it completed. That's what happened to me one night this week...

When I finished the Jackie O Retro suit, I was waiting for buttons to come in. The buttons on the suit jacket in the pictures were just taped on...but I was just so thrilled that the idea worked and there was just those pesky little finishing details left so I considered it done. Well I finally decided to wear it this week...weeks after the buttons showed up...I actually had to look for them! I mean seriously look for them! Yes I know, what was I waiting for to wear it but I have ALOT of clothes! *LOL* So I sit down to make the buttonholes and miracles upon miracles, I learned something new about my machine.

I have had my machine for a decade and when I got it, there was such a step up from my old machine to this one. So I watched the video that came with it and read the instruction book from cover to cover, practiced on the sewing machine and everything! I mean I had it on this little card table and I spent days just making stitches and putting that machine through its paces...so how in the world did I learn something new a decade later!

Now I know you are dying to know what I learned right? *LOL* You are probably going to think its stupid and something I should've known but hey I didn't alright!

I learned that I could change the density of my buttonholes.

Now how did I happen upon this particular knowledge...well, the fabric in that jacket is a boucle and I was thinking about making corded buttonholes so that they would stand out a little better on the jacket front. See I can never remember if I am suppose to stick the little cord thingy's through the back of the buttonhole foot or around the little dohikey on the front of the buttonhole foot...anyway I needed some refreshing.

I'm reading the instruction manual, have my "aha moment" about the cording (I use embroidery floss by the way instead of cord) and notice this paragraph about changing the density of the buttonholes...I almost fell off my chair. Seriously...no joke! *LOL* I couldn't believe that I had been "making it work" all these years when with two little touches on the touch screen of my sewing machine and I had fuller, denser buttonholes. Coulda knocked me up side the head with a shoe!

So, has this ever happened to you? Have you been sewing along "making it work" and then learned something amazingly simple that just turned your world around? And did it totally change the way you did this task in the future? 'Cause let me tell you, my machine makes seven different kinds of buttonholes and I'm gonna be fiddling with those dials from now on!

And the moral of this tale..."Never throw out your sewing machine's instruction manual!" Always, always keep it close to your machine! *LOL*

One More Instant Replay...

I know, I know....I promised not to do any more instant replays or retread posts but after proudly displaying pictures of my fabric closet and reading the comments about it (I think I could sell tickets to come see my fabric closet! *LOL* And it really ain't that big y'all just dedicated!)

The following post which was written in March of 2006 just seemed an appropriate follow-up to Cidell & Trena's visit. Now I could try to restate the items I addressed in this post or I could just let the original speak for itself. I decided to let the original speak for itself... oh and before you click out thinking there she goes again retreading, there is a post script so stay tuned....

"Are You Ashamed of Your Fabric Collection?"

I need to ask this question because it seems no matter what sewing board I go to someone is discussing their stash and how overwhelming it is! I have to admit that I don't understand this position. I don't understand why you would feel a need to explain your fabric collection to others or even to yourself. I don't understand why you can't have a collection of fabric from which to create. I don't understand why someone would complain, worry or diss the collection that they have taken so much time, effort and money to compile. I don't understand?!

I love my fabric collection. I have taken the time to carefully store it and categorize it. I have lovingly purchased each piece. I have hopes and dreams of wonderful garments to be made from these pieces. And I get so much joy each time I open the door of my closet and stand inside it. I can actually hear it singing lovely songs to me. Am I crazy? Maybe...definitely crazy about fabric.

I love the color and feel of the textures. I love how it handles. I love sewing it and I love owning it. It is one of the best parts of sewing ~ turning a flat piece of fabric into an awesome three-dimensional garment.

Previously, I have likened owning fabric to the paintbrushes and paint that an artist uses to paint an amazing picture or portrait. Or the gardening tools that a gardener uses to till and grow a beautiful garden. Or even the pages and computer that an author uses to create an imaginery world that we all want to journey to. I mean we all create things, right?! So why wouldn't you have many different pieces of fabric, thread, notions and patterns to use to fashion your own wearable fantasies!

Okay, I admit that owning a lot of anything can be overwhelming. But how have you stored your precious treasures? Are they just out and laying about shouting to you and interrupting your creative flow? Are they stored in a dark and dingy place and treated like second class citizens? Or are they treated like the precious tools that they are? So are you ashamed of your collection? Or are you invigorated, challenged and deliriously happy about it?

And as a postscript, I truly don't like the word stash as applied to my fabric collection. A stash is something hidden away like a dirty little secret and a collection is something that has been assembled to reflect a taste, a value, things deliberately gathered.

If there was one word that I could change in a sewist's vocabulary it would be the word stash! Our fabric is one of the main tools that we work with and as such it should be appreciated and celebrated. Okay, I am climbing down off my soap box...*LOL*

Seriously, go pet your collection and for those of you who are only beginning to collect...do so with purpose and joy! Because a good collection will challenge you to grow as a sewist, it will help you out in the middle of the night when you need that one last piece of fabric to complete a garment, and when a good friend is it need it just might provide the answer!

So sewists go forth and collect! *LOL*

Pay It Forward

"Likewise teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women..."

Titus 2:3-4

I am sure that as you are reading this you are wondering what the title and the Bible Scripture have to do with each other. Well picture this:

That is Trena (Nicegirl on PR/Slapdash Sewist) and Cidell (Miss Cellie's Pants) looking around in my fabric closet. Yes, they were actually here today at my house, looking at fabric, picking through buttons and talking SWAP fabrics.

And to tie this all together, I truly believe that sewists that have been in the game for awhile should take younger women or beginning sewers under their wings and share their sewing knowledge...share their sewing trials and tribulations...share their sewing triumphs and their low points...and when necessary share their fabric and accoutrements. Someone did this for me several years ago and I feel obliged to "pay it forward."

But today was about so much more than paying it forward...it was about meeting two young women whose love for sewing I so admire. It was about encouraging that love and fanning its flames. And it was about spending time with someone else who understands one of my greatest joys in life...but mostly the 2 hours that I spent with Trena and Cidell were fun! So much fun! We laughed and talked while they foraged around my fabric closet and in my button collection. We worked out some alternatives for Cidell's SWAP purchases...and yes baby you can SWAP...just remember one piece at a time. *LOL*

I would like to thank you both for stopping by and showing me your purchases from PR Weekend, sharing your love of sewing and for making me laugh...I am honored!!!

One of all of us in my fabric closet for the road....

And Trena I hope you made it home in time to make the Metro! Thanks again for stopping by!

BTW, I didn't sew one stitch this weekend but it was wonderful just the same! *LOL*





P.S. Cidell - this is for you:

accoutrements
1549, from M.Fr. accoustrement, from accoustrer, probably from O.Fr. acostrer "arrange," originally "sew up," from *consutura "a sewing," from L. consutus, pp. of consuere "to sew together," from con- + suere "to sew" (see suture).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

Name Dropping

ETA ~ Spoiler Alert: I DID NOT buy anything! *LOL*

Okay, I have debated several times about posting this but I am going to go ahead and do it....

I am going to Name Drop. And I am going to do it for a perfectly selfish reason! *LOL* Because I just had such a wonderful time with them and it just made my day yesterday so here goes...

For all the Patternreview readers, you know that it is PR Weekend in New York City this weekend. As I type, about 30 women have descended upon New York City's garment district to empty the remaining fabric stores of all their goodies. Previously, I had made plans to meet Cidell of Miss Cellie's Pants and Nicegirl or Trena as I call her of The Slapdash Sewist at Kashi's (Metro Textiles) Friday afternoon. Originally I had planned to take Friday afternoon off and spend it with them but you know my day job...it ALWAYS interferes with my life plans!

However, I did manage to dash down to Kashi's on the subway around lunchtime and I had the best hour and a half possible. My day job was making me miserable yesterday and I almost didn't head down...but boy, oh boy am I glad that I did! When I walked into Metro Textiles the first person I saw was JodiB! Now I have talked to Jodi on the boards and a private email or two but it was so great to see her in person! I also saw Cindy whose PR name is Cindy-lou, Connie - PR name ConnieB, Nikki and of course, Cidell and Trena.

That was the fastest hour and a half of my life! Choosing fabrics, saying hello, remembering garments posted on PR, talking blogs and talking SWAP and choosing fabrics...it went by way to fast! And at the end of my visit there was a flurry of picture taking and hugs and promises to keep in touch...but Ladies I just want you to know that you made my day...heck, my weekend! I am still smiling thinking about it! I hope you find or found many wonderful bargains, some amazing fabrics and that you have a great time with each other during this weekend!

Because hey, you guys have already made mine!

I'm A Gadget Girl

This came today!

Now I have to warn you that I am not really a gadget girl. I don't even own a complete set of french curve rulers. I make do a lot! But my poor sewing machine has been back to the repair shop twice because the bobbin winder keeps going. Everything else works fine but not the bobbin winder.

After the last trip, the dealer was quite frank with me. I could purchase a new motor for the bobbin winder (several hundred dollars with parts and labor) or I could buy a new machine. He, of course, is recommending the new machine since my Janome is about 20 years old and I am its second owner. Well, I'm not quite ready to pick out another machine...its just too traumatic. I have set a goal for myself that I will get a new one right after the New Year once Christmas has passed and things have slowed down. But until then I need to sew.

When I saw this little gadget on Simplicity's site, I thought this might do the trick to help me through these perilous times! So I bought it. It's all plastic and I am sure that it won't stand up to any real abuse but I have made a bobbin with it using some double AA batteries and I am thrilled. It's compact so it can sit on my sewing table and with the batteries it doesn't need to be plugged in.

So tonight, I'm a gadget girl!

An Answer or Two...

A few answers to questions that have been posted in the comments section lately:

1. Toy asked, "where do you buy your wool crepe?"
Fabric Mart is probably my favorite source for wool crepe. But I have bought wool crepe from Fashions Fabrics Club and fabric.com. To me these are great sources for a high quality product without a high cost. However, Candlelight Valley Fabrics and SawyerBrook fabrics also offer wool crepe in excellent quality but with a higher per yard cost. I think you would be happy with any of these sources.

2. Mary Sarah asked, "What would be a good fabric staple for pants, jackets, etc.?"
I always think seasonal when asked these type of questions....but I guess a linen blend for summer and a wool blend for fall/winter...I guess I should have a better idea of what to suggest but I also think in life styles.

3. On wool crepe prep, this question, "Do you steam the fabric in a single layer?"
No...I double the fabric and am careful not to press a crease into the fold.

3b. "Do you have a regular size ironing board or a larger 'padded board' used for this purpose?"
I use my regular ironing board.

4. Barriehaywood asked, "Have you ever tried using a professional clothes steamer instead of a steam iron? Do you think that fully steaming using a clothes steamer would work well?"
The purpose of the water and the steam in my method is to shrink the fabric. I don't think you can guarantee that the fabric won't continue to shrink if you just steam it. To that end, I question the use of a professional steamer to adequately pretreat the fabric. But not having actually used one, I am only giving you my opinion without any experience to back it up!

5. Elaray asked, "Does your daughter still act as your photographer? Mine quit on me months ago! I wish I knew how you get yours to cooperate!"
Yes, my youngest DD is still taking the pictures. I think she takes the pictures for two reasons, one she likes to take pictures and two, my DDs have this theory just do what Mommy wants and she goes away and leaves you alone...and it works! *LOL*

I hope I didn't miss anyone's question. Mary Sarah I know that I was less than helpful because I am sure you were looking for a certain type of fabric to use, I just think there are too many variables to answer your question. Maybe you could send me an email and I could share some additional information!

And good news last night I sewed a little on the chocolate sueded silk top that I cut out on Sunday evening...maybe I will actually get some real sewing done this weekend...one can always hope!

Finally thanks everyone for your kind comments on my latest pieces!

Picture This...

Okay to substitute for the fact that I did next to no sewing this weekend, I took pictures of some of the combos of the "CC Inspired Wardrobe". We have a series of important meetings in the office this week, so this and the Jackie O Retro Suit will finally make their debuts!

This is what I will wear tomorrow ~ The cardigan and dress.

The dress is of course Simplicity 3631 and the cardigan has been in my wardrobe for several years. I went through a huge phase where I was sewing a lot of twinsets about three years ago. This cardigan was made from a wool/lycra jersey purchased from JoMars and I used Burda 8869 which is OOP and a TNT pattern.

The dress and jacket

The jacket is made from a tweed fabric from Ebad Fabrics in NYC. I got four yards of this out of one of his bargain boxes. I used Vogue 2285 for the jacket. I have of course modified and changed the pattern which is now OOP.

The jacket, skirt and purchased top

I bought this cowl neck top during my snoop shopping at Macy's Herald Square during the summer. It works wonderfully with the jacket and skirt. The skirt is my 4 gore TNT skirt. I love this skirt pattern because it just works so well in my wardrobe. This has to be its 10th or 11th incarnation. When I say TNT, I mean TNT! *LOL*

Love the way the top looks with the skirt and my daughter did such a good job with the photo shoot that I had to include this one!

The cardigan, embellished tank top and pants

The embellished tank top is from Simplicity 3631 from the same tan tropical wool that was used in the dress. The lace was bought from my favorite NYC trim store - Daytona Trimmings and is probably the most expensive part of the outfit! The pants are from worsted wool crepe from Fabric Mart. I am actually proud of the fact that this fabric went from the box to the cutting table instead of languishing in my fabric closet! My pants are from my TNT pants pattern - the slimmer leg version.

I cut out two more tops for this wardrobe this weekend both from the Sewing Workshop Mission Tank pattern ~ one from the tan/brown knit print and one from the brown sueded silk. I also cut out the straight skirt from the tan tropical wool so whenever the mood strikes me to sew again at least those steps will be done.

Hopefully I will be inspired to work on one of the dresses relatively soon since the temperatures are only dropping lower...*sigh* Hope you enjoy the pictures! And as always more shots can be found in my Flickr album.

Have you ever?

Have you ever wanted to sew something so bad that it paralyzes you? Have you ever had so many ideas, things floating around in your mind that needed releasing that you felt blocked? Have you ever set aside time to sew and then wasted it watching movies, running errands, reading a book, spending time with your kids, husband, family because you couldn't move that block? That's me right now.

More than anything I want to make some of my ideas reality. And more than anything I want to turn some of those amazing pieces of fabric into garments...but what have I done ~ nothing. I can't seem to get pass that first step. I opened a pattern and looked at it...a seemingly easy pattern something that I should be able to sew up in a minute. But after looking at the finished measurements on the pattern piece I realized that I would have to do some pattern alterations, so there went fast and easy.

I thought if I just finished up the last details on my CC Inspired Pants that the sewing would just flow...but it isn't...and I feel blocked...and now frustration is setting in. I only get two days a week to sew...two days to let some of the creative energy that has been pent up all week to be released...and here I sit on Sunday morning with nothing completed. Heck, completed, I would even settled for started...

So no questions this morning my friends...no inquiries for suggestions...just a lamenting cry..."Have you ever?!"

Prepping Wool Crepe

I have several types of fabric that I love to work with...during the summer my hands down favorite is linen...and during the winter it's wool crepe. The things that I love about wool crepe are ~ that the fibers take dye so well. This fabric can be found in vibrant oranges, reds and deep purples or pretty pastels. The second thing I love is the hand - there is such a wonderful drape to this fabric especially when you purchase a high quality wool crepe. The third thing is the way the fabric holds a stitch...when you are sewing the fabric it allows the stitches to sink into the fabric...they are enfolded into the garment without any effort on your part...This fabric is just a joy to sew.


Wool crepe just has one drawback! You absolutely positively must pre-wash, pre-treat, pre-something the length that you work with because if you don't your finished garment will shrink. It might not shrink much the first time you clean it but it will definitely shrink in degrees over its lifespan. And it could end up being a very short lifespan if you don't pretreat it.

Now there are four methods generally used to pretreat this fabric:

1. The London Shrink Method
This method involves getting your entire piece wet, well damp and then rolling it up between two sheets and letting it dry naturally and checking it over time to see if its dry, rerolling it, maybe dampening it again...can I state again that its very involved and you need a lot of space if you have a lengthy piece!

2. Drycleaning
Probably the easiest and most costliest method...you take it to the dry cleaners and they steam press your fabric.

3. Washing and Drying
Let me caution you here that whenever you wash & dry a length of wool crepe not only will you have shrinkage but you may also have some felting (melding of the fibers). So unless your intent is to manipulate the fibers, I would not suggest this as a pretreatment method. However, if manipulation is what you are after, you get the best results by washing and drying the fabric multiple times (at least 3 in my experience).

4. Steam the heck out of it
This is my preferred method of pretreatment cause I'm too lazy to London Shrink and to time challenged to lug it to the dry cleaners. Even though I have a great dry cleaners that picks up and delivers my clothing but that is another post! The steps I use when doing "the steam the heck out of it method" are pretty simple.

First - you need a good size bowl of water and two cotton batiste press cloths. I like two because one is always in the damp water ready to be used. And my cloths are usually 45" wide and about 12-14" long. These dimensions are good for me because they cover more of the fabric when pressing.

Two - you need a good steam iron and alot of water for your iron especially if you are pressing a long length of fabric.

Three - I like to cover the floor around my ironing board with an old sheet. This way my fabric can hit the floor and I don't have to worry about dirt/dust etc.

Then I use the highest setting on my iron which I think is the silk setting. Don't worry you won't burn or scorch the fabric because the press cloth will be between the fabric and the iron. I wring out one of the press cloths and lay it flat on the fabric. Next I "press" the press cloth until it is dry creating a lot of steam.

Press not iron - picking the iron up and placing it down in the next position, not gliding it from place to place. There should be clouds of steam arising around you when you are doing this. When the press cloth is relatively dry, I remove it and place it back in the bowl of water.

This next step is real important, I do not move the fabric for at least 2 minutes to allow it to dry and all of the steam to pass through the fabric. Only after that do I move that section and start the process all over again in a new section. Now if you have a vacuum pressing table and a steam generator iron this process goes a lot faster...I have the steam generator iron but not the pressing table so my 2 minute rule is hard and fast!

This is a very time-consuming process...yes, I know I stated earlier that I'm lazy, however, I love this process. I usually pre-treat 2 or 3 pieces at one time because of the time factor and I want to have them needle ready when I'm inspired to use the fabric for a garment. I usually do this with the TV on and a good movie going. And I use ALOT of steam!!!!

I have been using this method for pretreating wool crepe for years and I have never had a garment shrink after being dry cleaned. So this is what I will be doing tomorrow morning...pretreating a few lengths of wool crepe in preparation for making a new dress.

Sew Something Already

Alright, alright...enough with the throwback posts, the fabric acquisition posts, the pattern posts, I am gonna sew something okay! *LOL* It's just that the epicness of the last couple of pieces have been weighing me down and taking up my valuable sewing time...so I have decided to take a page from Shannon and make some "easy to sew" stuff and then when I'm done, I'll return to the epicness of the "CC Inspired Wardrobe" pieces.

Today is November 1st and I will really only wear a dress or skirt outfit for about five more weeks...God how I hate standing out on the corner at 6:30 in the morning in the bitter cold with the wind blowing up my skirt! So since I have about five weeks before skirts and dresses get relegated to the back of my closet, I have decided that I have several dresses circling around my brain ~ actually they have my brain cells in a vise ~ and I need to get them out and onto my body.

I mean, I already own more than enough fabric...*stop laughing* and I know the dresses I want to make so I should just get to it! In no particular order here is my plan:

The first dress is from Tory Burch and is inspiring me to make something like it...I am finding that I have a real thing for her dresses. I like the clean styling and lines of her dresses and they work well in my corporate environment. I am going to use a wool crepe from the collection for this dress. I will add bracelet length sleeves but the picture below is the inspirational jumping off point...

The next dress is Butterick 5100. This pattern has made it onto alot of sewists must sew lists for fall. I had originally dismissed the pattern but I saw this sweater coat from Silhouette and thought that a cabled version of this would be too cool. I actually have a cabled knit fabric in the collection and what a quick and easy version this would be ~ great for a casual Friday.

Plaid is everywhere this fall and if you don't add some to your wardrobe are you or aren't you trendy? Since I try to add one trendy but classic piece every season...something that speaks to the essence of the season but will hang around longer than that! I will interpret one of these jumpers using my TNT dress/jumper pattern.

Of course since I have already assembled all of the pieces to make McCalls 5555, I want to make it up and wear it sooner rather than later so it's definitely on my list.

The final dress is one I found in a magazine on another actress! (Shades of the Chanel dress here) Though I actually see it as a take off of my SWAP dress. A little pintucking, a rounder neck and some short sleeves all served up in the new light green wool crepe I just acquired and I will have an amazing dress for work.

This is what I will concentrate on for the next few weekends. I will take some pics of me wearing the completed pieces of the "CC Inspired Wardrobe" very soon so you can see how far I have progressed...gonna have to get the teenage photographer a treat to bribe her into taking some shots! *LOL* And I will post them here.

Finally I promise only sewing posts for the foreseeable future, no more taking it back! *LOL*

Who Inspires You?

Do you realize that tomorrow is the last day of October and that there are only two months to this year left? 2007 where did you go?

At the beginning of the year I was doing end of the month stats. Halfway through I abandoned those posts because the stats were holding me back and making me feel as if I wasn't accomplishing much. I mean I can only sew what I can sew and no matter how much I don't want to become "the house where the fabric lady lives", I will continue to purchase fabric. Afterall, I am an unrepentant fabricaholic...*LOL*

However, as the end of the year draws near, I am starting to review what I want to accomplish before December 31st. Am I going to share it with you? Probably sooner or later but not today...instead today I want to throw it back.

Last year I wrote a series of posts about women who sew that inspire me. I have decided to consolidate and update this list because some of the links are outdated, some of the blogs have been moved or changed, etc. So without further ado and in no particular order, my list:

Kathryn who logs in on Stitchers Guild as fzxdoc. Yesterday she posted the most amazing little black dress! This ain't your mama's little black dress and most designers would try to duplicate it. I can just see Allan B. Schwartz (you know the guy who knocks off the Golden Globe and Academy Award dresses) out there sketching his version of the dress for only $199. But it is not just the clothing she makes, it is how freely she shares her sewing knowledge, her ability to always be kind to everyone via cyberspace (harder to do than you think sometimes!), how she gets so excited and inspired over other's creations and she gets it! She understands the need to put fabric and thread together to come up with a delectable 3D creation!

Liana logs into Stitchers Guild as Liana. Liana knits, sews, gardens and has the coolest embellishing machine on the planet. Okay, I know others of you own the machine but Liana really works that thing! Just look at her photo albums and you can see how much she likes to play when she creates but it is all done with such quality! The other thing is that Liana is as obsessed as I am about fashion as evidenced by her fashion blog, aptly named Fashioned. I know that in the middle of the night when I am up watching Fashiontrance on the Style network that somewhere in the west, Liana is up watching it with me!

The next inspiring woman is one of the Sewing Divas...Gigi! I can't call Gigi a friend but I would like to! Gigi's spot is full of kewl clothes that women would wear everyday! I love how she takes a simple pattern and reinvents it four or five times using different materials and notions to get a different effect with each garment. Visit her site and see how she works a Loes Hinse pattern like nobody's business. Again someone who is kind and willing to share and has a love of what she does!

I called these next three women, my old school inspirations because I met all of them on a sewing list on Quiltropolis that was later spun off into an email list called Sewing Circle. I experienced some major fabric shopping trips with them and whenever I think of where I've come from sewing-wise...these names always fall from my lips.

Colleen Jones is one of my sheros! Many of you that have been members of Patternreview for several years will remember Colleen since she and her partner Lisa Tarunto taught the first internet sewing classes there. Colleen is a wonderful sewing teacher. She is patient and kind and has a true love of sewing that she wants to impart to everyone! She encourages you to continue sewing no matter what your sewing level, knowing that you will learn the techniques and get better and she just emanates joy when you are discussing sewing! Colleen was doing full bust adjustments with her pie example long before they became the rage. But mostly Collen encouraged me to collect beautiful fabrics! She shared unselfishly of her own fabric, pattern and sewing book collections with me at a time when my fabric stash had been taken from me. But mostly she was there for me ~ sewing and otherwise. To me, Colleen is the Goddess of Fit!

Lynn Cope Conroy...Lynn dyes, quilts and sews from a beautiful sewing room on the West Coast. Lynn exposed me to my first Sewing Workshop patterns, to felting wool jersey and to Christine Jonson patterns. She makes beautiful quilts that have been displayed in coffee shops in her local neighborhood. She was the first woman I met that collected fabric in a specific color and yardage to turn out wonderful wearable garments that were made just for her! She encouraged me to sew when my personal life was in great upheaval. She listened to me and loved my long rambling email posts about what I wanted to make and she encouraged me to capsule sew. Lynn, thank you for helping me through the drama and for taking me fabric shopping in San Francisco!

My friend, Lisa Kennedy! I met her on an internet sewing list and we became road dogs! Lisa will drive anywhere for fabric! Many of my excursions to Fabric Mart, Jomars in Philadelphia and GStreet in Maryland were done by Lisa's side! Her enthusiasm for sewing things, fabric and patterns knows no bounds. And she is the most generous person...when the Joann's near her closed down and all the patterns were 50 cents apiece she bought an entire cabinet worth of patterns and shared them with her friends! Bags and boxes of patterns were left in her living and dining rooms and you were allowed to go through and just pick what you wanted. It was one of my kewlest sewing experiences of my life ever!!!! Even to this day if you mention road trip, Lisa's eyes light up with a sparkle, she gets out her blackberry to put in the date and she starts to wax poetic about what we could possibly find! And thanks to Lisa, I now can put in a much better invisible zipper! Thanks Lisa for giving up your weekend to teach me what I was doing wrong!

I have had some of the best times in the company of my best friend sorting through fabrics, patterns and making sewing dreams come true! Since I am on a roll here, I would like to add just a few more names! Sandra Coleman, Christine Adams, Julie McFann, Dawn Earl and all the women of the Sewing Circle - thank you for all the good times, the information shared, the fabric bought and the inspiration!

This last grouping of women just inspire me...ohmygosh! When I open a patternreview digest and their names are listed, I automatically click on their review to see what they've created! Talk about eye candy for the sewist's soul, these women provide it in droves...

Debra H. is first...I noticed her reviews about two years ago on Patternreview. And the reason that I noticed them was that she used color! Lots of color and interesting fabrics! Wow! Those are two primary inspiration triggers for me! She sews out of North Carolina and makes the kewlest things. Here is a link to her reviews on patternreview. There are 142 of them! Get a cup of coffee, get comfortable and be amazed at some of the wonderful garments she has produced. Thank you for always providing inspiration through your use of color and fabrics which you use so amazingly to create some awesome garments!

Ann Smith is next, I am totally in awe at what Ann creates in beautiful California. She sews from all the pattern companies, making things that I think look like garbage on the pattern envelope and turning them into true works of art. I know that she has exhibited some of her garments at the Quilt Show and I understand why she was asked because her clothing is like candy for the eyes! I love her sense of adventure in her sewing and always get excited when her name appears next to a review at Patternreview. Ann now has a blog called, "Stitch Me Up" where you can see all of her work ~ past and present. And if you just want eye candy go to her Flickr Album and just browse. Ann also has pictures of her sewing room in her Flickr album. I could see myself sitting with Ann there talking about what makes her sew and why. Ann, thank you for always bringing joy to me when I see your reviews!

Barbara Elfman Bell ~ when I first got internet access I was surfing and looking at all of the websites and picture galleries. Barbara's is called Cat Fur Studio (http://mysite.verizon.net/Cat_Fur_Studio/). What made me really take notice of Barbara's garments were two things. One she worked in a corporate type setting, same as me, so her garments really spoke to the way I dress daily. But most importantly, she shops at one of my all time favorite fabric warehouses ~ Jomars! I will not turn this into a breathy salute to Jomars but suffice it to say that I know Barbara has access to some very kewl fabrics. And anyone who can have that much fabric inspiration and turn out such wonderful workwear deserves a shout out in my book. Barbara has quite a few reviews at Patternreview and she sews a lot of Christine Jonson patterns. I love how Barbara uses CJ's patterns with their clean, simple lines to create amazing workwear. And in the year that has passed, I have had the great honor to fabric shop with her and believe me her taste is amazing! Barbara ~ we are still going to get to Jomars together I promise! *LOL*

Finally, now there are even more women that inspire me and encourage me daily...many of you visit my blog on the regular. Please realize that if I didn't mention your name it isn't that you don't touch, inspire, or encourage me on a regular basis...I was just throwing it back to people who I called out last year.

Now if any of these women inspire you or if there is someone I haven't named and you would like to pay homage to, please feel free! I truly believe that we are all better by naming the people who came before us and showed us the way...so shout back at me!

More Fabric Dreams

Well it's finally Friday! And waiting for me when I got home was another box from FabricMart. That's right, I succumbed to the sale, yet again. Now over at Fabricaholics Anonymous ~ one of the twelve steps is to admit that you have a problem...

So I'm admitting that I have a big one...'cause I am gleefully and happily showing you what came today. However, I am now banned from the site. Yeap, can't visit it again until the sale is over! When the banner advertising the $4.99 a yard wool and the Anna Sui silks that are on sale comes down, will someone pleeeezzzee tell me! *LOL*

Here's what came:

The Anna Sui purple print wool challis followed me home because Barbara of Cat Fur Studio She wrote about it and then showed the picture from Anna's Fall 2006 show. Yeah, I needed that. Then I saw the seafoam green wool crepe...seafoam green, y'all for a great dress during the middle of the dreary and cold Northeast winter. At $4.99 a yard, I needed some of that too! *LOL* Finally the brown doubleknit was in the new arrivals section last week and I couldn't believe the price, $6.99 per yard. Yeap, needed some of that too...so 12 more yards of fabric bliss arrived today. But now, I must, I must sew something and stop buying....

This also came in the mail today:

More patterns from my people's...now how did I end up with so many McCall's patterns after ranting about them folks....

But I did find this great herringbone in the fabric closet that will work with McCall's 5479 or McCalls 5480...haven't decided yet which pattern. BTW, the fabric is a silk/wool blend from...yeap...Fabric Mart! Any thoughts, comments or suggestions on the pattern or fabric would be appreciated.

I only have one day to sew this weekend...(I have college stuff to do with my baby on Sunday! My baby who will be 18 next month...ohmygosh time is flying!) and I have to decide whether to keep working on the SWAP pieces or divert and work on another idea I have percolating... I will definitely let you know what I decide!

Instant Replay

This is one of my favorite posts and since Toya has highlighted it in the podcast...I decided to do an "Instant Replay." So for those of you who have just started to read my blog or if you have been reading it for awhile...here is an Instant Replay...enjoy!

Quality Sewing
January 10, 2006

I have just come in from my day job - you know the time I spend away from my sewing machine so that I can support the upkeep of my machine, my fabric collection, notions stash, etc! And for the last few days I have been musing on something my daughter kept saying to me ~ quality sewing.

Now, how did the daughter I taught to sew say "quality sewing" back to me.....well, I was working on my Pinstripe Magic Collection (otherwise known as SWAP sewing) and I was debating whether or not to add rayon seam binding to the bottom of a hem on my skirt. Now in my head I knew that this would give the garment a more finished look but I wanted to wear the skirt the next day. It was getting late in the evening and every extra step meant more time that I didn't necessarily have.

Having my daughter say "quality sewing" became like a mantra in my head. Of course, I added the rayon seam binding to the bottom hem, not just sewn on and hemmed down but folded in half, ironed, sewn by machine and then hand stitched. Lots of extra time but definitely worth it when I wore the skirt.

But the term quality sewing hasn't left my head since. So like Carrie Bradshaw in "Sex in the City" I want to ask a question. How long can you keep sewing without wanting to do quality sewing? And exactly what is quality sewing?

Well, to me, it is the fine little details that insure that your garment is made with the best construction techniques. You know all of those details that cause a garment's completion date to be pushed back!!!! *LOL* Underlining, putting more than one row of stitching in a hem, Hong Kong finishing seams and not just serger finishing them, hand stitching a lining instead of bagging it. Anything that takes time and shows a respect for the construction of the garment ~ quality sewing.

Now how many of us engage in quality sewing? How many of us take the time to enjoy the process? How many of us enjoy knowing that the garments we are wearing have those quality details in them that others can't sew or begin to guess at? And is it truly worth our time and effort?

I remember this article that was written in Threads. It showed a dress made straight out of the pattern following the pattern instructions and another version made that added all of those extra details (quality sewing). You could definitely tell that there was a difference in those two dresses. One just looked finer than the other.

So I guess that is what I am going for....the finer looking garment and why I will continue to succumb to the mantra of "quality sewing!"

Do you really wanna know how my mind works?

I'm starting with a picture tonight so that you can see what is hanging outside my fabric closet. This is my Coldwater Creek collection so far. Now why is it hanging? So that I can get a visual and turn what I see in my mind's eye into what everyone can see as I go about my day.

In almost all SWAP conversations, the storyboard is emphasized as the starting point. And it's used as a guide for the person sewing the SWAP. I, on the other hand have never used a storyboard. I don't know if its because I need the flexibility so that I can keep the concept fresh in my mind or if its because I can actually "see" the pieces so there is no need for drawings and fabric swatches on a piece of paper. I generally sew SWAP with a list of garments and a few digital pictures to keep track.

So that's what this opening picture is all about...the pieces I've created so far with additional pieces of fabric included to see if they work and if they will take me in the direction that I want to go. Now here is the lovely thing...those pieces will hang there and inspire me until I finish or wear something first! *LOL* No, seriously...the hanging garments inspire me and allow me to "see" where I need to go, if there are any holes in my plan and what garments and/or color schemes need to be added to round the collection out.

After I hung these pieces together, I realized two things...one, that I forgot to hang the brown sueded silk and two that I need a pop of color. I am now contemplating adding a shell from a blue silk crepe fabric that is hanging out in my fabric closet.

Here is where I'm at right now...

The jacket and skirt are finished. I am including the twinset in the collection but there is the possibility that I will shorten the jacket. The brown sueded silk will definitely become the shirt jacket and tank top. I don't know what the print will become but it definitely belongs in this grouping. The tank with the lace is done but I am wondering about its length...I've gotta see it with a few more pieces first to check its versatility and wearability...the TNT lined pants are in progress.

This is how my mind is presently wrapping itself around my collection...all of this is subject to change...

Carolyn Speaks

Last Tuesday I had the honor of spending a few hours chatting about sewing with Toya who authors the blog, "Life Happens be Positive". If you want to eavesdrop in on our conversation, click here. It was a lot of fun to talk about sewing, what inspires me, how I learned and who I want to be when I grow up! *LOL*


Thanks Toya for spending time with me and for asking such interesting questions!

Photos...

It has been mentioned several times that some of my pictures don't click into the humogous size. This is due to the blog owner's ignorance in all things HTML! *LOL* It can also probably be chalked up to the fact that I am using a pretty big computer screen at home and can see the large pictures quite clearly in my posts.

Now since I probably won't be learning HTML any time soon ~ I will admit that I have limited time and even more limited interest ~ I am posting a link to my Flickr album. I have also included this link in my profile...most times when I post a picture in my blog, I also save it to my Flickr Album. Flickr is a lovely online photo site because it will let you view my pictures in the humogous size, thereby seeing every nick, thread, mistake, etc. in my outfits! *LOL*

I also post way more pictures of my sewing process there since Blogger does have a space limitation on photos. Oh and since I pay Flickr to keep my photos safe, you should drop by my photo albums, sit down with a cup of coffee or Mountain Dew and visit awhile...I've got quite a few sets there...

Finally if any poor soul wishes to explain HTML to me in easy, easier, easiest terms, please feel free to drop me a line at my email addy!

I'm out and thanks for coming by even though I am a lousy HTML writer! *smile* Hey, a girl can't be great in EVERYTHING!

Coldwater Creek Inspiration Wardrobe - Update #1

Okay, I am going to admit it right up front! I'm a SWAP girl. I can't help myself. It's in my blood and I've been indoctrinated...I am a card carrying, fabric collection buying, always matching my pieces together SWAP girl.

Now why am I making this admission? Because what started as a simple jacket/dress combo for my work wardrobe has morphed into a SWAP - 11 garments that work together to give you as much flexibilty when getting dressed as possible. How did this happen? Well one reason is because I am an U-N-R-E-P-E-N-T-E-N-T Fabricaholic...I loves me some fabric! The second reason is because being such a fabric addict (almost said ho! *LOL* and the good Rev. Al Sharpton says I shouldn't use that word no mo'...) I tend to purchase fabric in the same colorways. Which makes mixing and matching fabrics, a very easy thing to do!

Y'all know that I have recently acquired some new fabrics...and y'all know that there was some brown wool crepe in the mix. So enterprising seamstress that I am I held that piece up to my fabrics and woohoo they C-O-O-R-D-I-N-A-T-E-D! I mean these pieces looked GOOD together...so good, how good...so good that I decided I needed to make some more pieces! And then before you knew it I had a SWAP going. *LOL*

Yeap it kinda just happened to me....yeah right! I know I'm a SWAP girl...So here's a shot of the almost finished pieces...well actually ~ the dress, the jacket, and the top are done...complete...finito! The skirt needs to be hemmed and the elastic added to the waist and then it too moves to the finished side. Also pictured is a creamy vanilla wool/lycra sweater knit that I used to make a twinset several years ago. It works perfectly with these pieces and they make garments number 10 and a 11...a true SWAP complement!

I want to make 5 more pieces...from the brown wool crepe a pair of lined pants, from the dark chocolate sueded silk a tank top and v-neck shirt jacket, from the leftover (absolute last scraps) of the tan tropical wool ~ which started this journey off ~ a lined straight skirt...and the final piece a princess seamed jacket with collar from the brown wool crepe. I am going to be working with these fabrics just a little bit longer.

I think I may need to add another top. I'm not sure if it will be something that is already in my closet or if I will whip up another one, but you and I both know that I will definitely keep you informed.

However, I will slip the McCall's paisley print dress into the sewing rotation because it is still singing its siren song to me ~ very loudly! Well, that's my first update on the new Coldwater Creek Inspiration Wardrobe...and hey I am a SWAP girl!

Thank You!

To everyone who took the time to write such heartfelt and wonderful messages about your sewing inspiration(s), thank you! Thank you also to all the lurkers who shouted back at me with your location. I appreciated it and I appreciate you for always stopping by and checking out my ramblings. I still have no clue who's visiting from India, Singapore, Japan and South Africa but I am glad that you come on by. And I really hope that I continue to inspire, encourage and entertain you with my sewing projects! *smile*

Saturday Morning Shout-Out

When I first started this blog, over a series of weeks I did Saturday Morning Shout-Outs. They were based upon women who inspired my sewing both now and in the recent past.

However, this week I want to turn the tables. If you read my blog, I would like you to shout-out and tell me where you are located AND name one person who is inspirational to you, sewing-wise. It doesn't have to be someone famous or well-known, it can just be someone who inspires you to continue to sew or who taught you to sew or whom you would like your sewing to emulate.

So all of you lurkers out there, step up and talk to me! I will be away for a little this weekend, have some personal things to attend to but I sure would like to know who's reading my blog in India, South Africa, Japan and Europe! That's not to say that I don't want to know who's reading it in the good ole USA but sometimes seeing the World Map lit up on Sitemeter is amazing.

Okay, enough babbling, so shout back at me!

Fabric Therapy...

Today was a looong day at work...non-stop moving, lunch at 3 pm, didn't leave the office until 7:15 pm...got on a bus home at 8:00 pm and finally walked in the door at 9:15 pm.

So what kept me sane today during this extra hectic day...knowing that fabric was suppose to arrive today. It hit me about 1:00 pm when I was seriously thinking about doing some bodily harm to a co-worker, that fabric was coming, fabric was coming! And immediately those murderous thoughts left me and a peace descended upon me...thank God 'cause that girl was dead y'all! *LOL*

Here's what came:

From Fashionista Fabrics:

3 yards Paisley Wool Challis

3 yards Crochet Paisley

From FabricMart Fabrics:

4.5 yards Chocolate Wool Crepe (I ordered 9 but the website's counter must have been off!)

3 yards Ivory wool/blend coat weight

4 yards of silk charmeuse (one of the Anna Sui's)

8 yards of Navy Wool Crepe

Now you would think I would be in heaven right??? Well sort of...Fabric Mart was sold out of the black/white wool blend which I really wanted. I was seriously thinking of a Stage 2 to my Timmel SWAP and this would have made a great jacket that would have played well with many of my original pieces...and a wrong piece was included instead of...and hopefully if its not sold out. I am sure that my peps at Fabric Mart will make it right.

However, I must tell you that the two pieces from Fashionista Fabrics were so much better than I imagined them to be. I am in love with the crocheted piece and that's not the one I was looking forward to receiving! *LOL* But fabric therapy did work today because my co-worker doesn't know how close she came to be vaporized! ROTFLOL!

Now two picture peeks and I'm off to bed...gotta get some sleep before I haul myself back to work tomorrow to make some more fabric money!

Me in the black jacket (I don't know why I didn't post this before!)

And a sneak peek of the CC Inspirational Jacket wardrobe. More details will be coming soon...I promise. I just thought you should actually see how far along I am since I keep "promising" to share something with you!


Oh, and swing by Cidell's blog, "Miss Cellie's Pants" and listen to her being interviewed on Toya's "Life Happens be positive" podcast!

I'm off to bed!

Assembling the Pieces

As many of you know, I am a planner. Many of my garments are planned out well in advance so that when I am ready to sew them, all I have to do is sit down and go for it.

I really want to make View D of McCalls 5555:

I think this will be a pretty fall dress that will work nicely in my corporate environment. So I have spent the week purchasing all of the pieces to make my "vision" of the dress work.

From Fashionista Fabrics, I got three yards of this beautiful paisley wool challis:

Then from Nancy's Notions, I ordered a crib size sheet of wool batting and a blue varigated silk thread because in my mind I see the yoked neckline and sleeves with a "trapunto" style embellishment. Nothing fancy or ornate just a little something to give it some zing. I have a silky blue lining fabric in my stash that I will use in this dress and several sparkly blue glass buttons that I will add to the back yoke.

I also want to try out a tip that I learned from Kathryn (fzxdoc on Stitchers Guild) - using elastic hair pieces as button loops. Note to self, need to get a pack of those from Duane Reade tomorrow!

So while I am finishing up the CC Inspiration Jacket and corresponding pieces, I am plotting my next project...something that won't take as long to emerge from my sewing machine but still be a vital part of my work wardrobe.