It's Friday Night...

It's late...I just got in about an hour ago...not by my desires, oh no!  Traffic on the NJTurnpike s*cked!  It was bumper to bumper almost the entire way home...left work at 5:25; walked in the door at 8:30...not a good evening AT ALL!  *sigh*  But onto more pleasant things...

Did you know that Fabric Mart is having a sale? Yes, they are!  And it's a pretty awesome one too!  20% off the entire website AND if a category is already discounted, you get that discount plus the 20%.  They have some pretty awesome designer pieces at fantastic prices...I should know I bought several of them!  I know, I know just two weeks ago I was bemoaning my lack of space...but I've got a solution to that.  More on that later...back to the sale!  Yes, that lovely knit pictured to the right is coming to my house...isn't it awesome!?

I know you guys love free shipping but if you've got to pay shipping, I love that Fabric Mart has a flat $8 rate...which works to your advantage when you buy yard upon yard of fabric...*sigh*  I know...but I do have a storage solution in the works...

So what is my storage solution?  I had my Sewing Studio/Bedroom redesigned by a co-worker who is getting their degree in Interior Design.  He has decorated two of my co-workers rooms and the rooms are just amazing.  Since he needed a new challenge for a class project, enter my bedroom or as he has dubbed it, "The Sewing Studio/Bedroom"  I'm just giddy with glee, because sketches have been made...furniture has been selected...paint chips have been chosen...the only thing left is to choose fabric for curtains I need to make.  Ugggh ~ the only downer of this whole experience!  *LOL*  Suffice it to say that we've all been ooohhhhing and aaahhhing over his designs for my space and I am so thrilled with not only the layout but the STORAGE he has incorporated!

As I get more formal sketches, I will share...of course I will share! *LOL*  But I can't wait!  Great design advice from someone who understands my passion for sewing and more storage space for patterns and fabric...I am on Cloud Nine!!!

Lastly, sewing for the weekend will be to finish up TNT Dress #42 and the Simplicity jacket.  I also need to make a suit for my niece's American Girl doll to wear in a daughter/doll fashion show next Saturday.  Thank goodness I've made one of these before...so I just need to pull the pattern out and go from there!

Well that's it for tonight...I'm tired!  So I'm off to veg and watch some tv!

...more later!

What are you scared of?

Sewing-wise that is?  I was reading Karen's post on her blog, "Sewing by the Seat of my Pants" where she is reproducing a skirt that she saw on Andrea, one of her coworkers.  Now she has taken a design she saw, copied it, and reproduced it on her own skirt but she's scared of welt pockets.  That's quite a skill set she's using to make a skirt with but a sewing technique scares her.

Then I was reading an article in the new issue of Vogue Pattern Magazine and it hit me that there are probably others scared of techniques too.  I know what it's like to be afraid of a technique...for years I didn't use invisible zippers because I learned how to put in regular zippers and I had the application down to a science.  I even knew how long (30 minutes) that portion of the garment construction would take.  But with much fear and trepidation I learned how to insert invisible zippers and now put them into all my garments.  I'm not an expert by any means and still get a flutter or two when I begin the process but I'm not scared any more.

However, it's been years since I've done a welt pocket and the technique does cause anxiety.  This from a woman who will cut a pattern 9 ways into Sunday to get a new design.  So Karen is not alone in her fear of welt pockets.  How about you?  What sewing technique scares you?  Or what application do you avoid when constructing a garment because you can't adequately complete the task?  Let's discuss those fears and then develop a plan to conquer them...because they are just sewing techniques right?  And with some practice we can all become better at them!

This is my question of the day...so talk to me!  And if you have some great references for how to make welt pockets, please feel free to post them!  I'm gonna work on this technique for the remainder of the year so that I can start 2011 being able to make a wonderful welt pocket.

...more later!

My Sewing Theory

It's interesting to read your comments on various postings...some make me laugh (Rachelle), some make me think and some make me want to print them out and carry them around on little business cards to look at during the day! *LOL*  And to whomever wrote the comment, that I sew the best business clothing on all the blogs you visit ~ a very heartfelt thank you!  I've been hearing that comment in my head since you wrote it. 

See, sewing a wardrobe for me is a challenge.  I'm plus size, I love vibrant colors and prints and I work in a conservative environment where a corporate work wardrobe is required AND actually stated in the employee handbook.   So when I first started this job (four years ago this month and I can't believe I've lasted here that long!), my wardrobe was in no way up to the clothing requirements for the job.  I will admit that I took some wrong turns ~

A co-worker actually taunted me about this jacket...

And this outfit never really worked well...

However, I preservered and I believe that I now have a well rounded work wardrobe entirely sewn by me.  Seriously, I could never find these garments at a retail outlet in my size.  Although I am inspired by several internet sources, and quite a few catalogues and magazines.  So, if you need to make a wardrobe for a conservative workplace and value fashion, style and a little color, I would like to share my "go-to" sources for inspiration for my wardrobe.

1.  Style.com
Most of us know about style.com - we check it every season when the fashion shows occur.  But do you realize that the shows for each designer is on the site for several years?  And do you realize that after the season ends that they add many extras like upclose pictures of designer details?  I use a lot of the details in my garments to make them unique but still fit within the confines of my workplace requirements.

2.  Talbots
I love the Talbots site.  I loved it before they revamped it and lately it is one of the first places that I go when looking for new ideas!  It is primarily classics but lately they have upped the ante and added color and details that just make you want to look like the models...well, okay, I do!  *LOL*

3.  Dillards
Dillards is a chain store like Macy's that primarily services the southern United States.  But I love how they have great sections on store lines that I can bookmark and copy to my heart's content.  The Alex Marie line and the Antonio Melani line provides loads of inspiration when I'm hunting for a new way to make my TNT dress pattern sing.

4.  St. John's
I LOVE these designs!  I think my still unmet goal of sewing amazing pantsuits comes from the designs on this site.  Every season I'm inspired by what they show.  Sometimes I need to tone down their color and print combinations because these outfits are definitely for the ladies who lunch crowd but I love these garments...and you know that they don't do plus sizes! *LOL*

5.  Honorable Mentions
I always check these sites too but only when I'm digging deep for inspiration:

Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Chicos, JJill, Coldwater Creek - too much of their stuff is basic and I'm looking for that level that's just above basic.  However, I usually can find something that starts my creative juices flowing, so they are worth investigating.  Also, several of these sites are trying harder to attract women like me so the styles, the colors and materials have been updated...definitely worth spending some time checking them out.

I also love magazines and subscribe to all the fashion magazines ~ InStyle, Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, and Lucky.  I don't subscribe to Vogue anymore...just pick up the interesting issues from the newsstand.  Besides styles...I'm looking for interesting details, colors and combinations.

But the most valuable tip I can pass on is that I don't look at sizes.  Sizes mean nuthin to me since I can make just about anything.  What's important to me is the shape of the garment.  Does that shape look good on MY body?  Will the silhouette and proportions work for me?  If so, the picture gets cut out, or it gets saved to my computer and goes into the inspiration file.

I think there are two important elements here - knowing what works for you and knowing how to make it.  I learned how to do that from these two books ~ "Make it Your Own - Personalizing Patterns for Creative Design" by Lori Bottom and Ronda Chaney and "Making a Complete Wardrobe from 4 Basic Patterns" by Rusty Bensussen.  If you want to learn how to take a pattern from it's humble beginnings and imagine it into anything you can think of both of these books will teach you how to do it...and so much more! 

Finally don't be afraid to experiment...to try something out...to go in a different direction than you've gone in before.  Yes you may fail...and I've done so too but then again you might end up making the most amazing garment!  Something that you wouldn't have thought you could make...and believe me once you have one of those triumphs under your belt...it makes it much easier to climb out on that limb and take another chance.

I know not everyone requires the kind of work wardrobe that I need but the challenge of a TNT pattern or making a wardrobe is not just for me.  We all have to get dressed every day and need clothing that makes us feel good about ourselves.  I believe these principles can be applied to any lifestyle...just know what colors work for you, what fabrics make you feel good wearing them, what style you want to portray and be adventurous!  Isn't that why we sew, to get what we want?

Think about it and let me know...

...more later!

Dress No. 42 - Construction

Friday night after work I went out with the Significant Other and got in late Saturday morning...therefore there was no sewing here on Saturday.  Lots of sleeping and lazying around but no sewing!  Then I got a late start today.  I knew what I wanted to make, I just wasn't sure about the alterations to the pattern.  After dancing around the pattern a couple of times,  I finally settled down to work.

Let me start out by saying that the dress isn't finished.  I have the basic shell completed but the dress still needs sleeves, a lining (which I only decided upon after getting the shell done), and I may yet add a black band to the bottom of the dress.  It is still very much a work in progress.

The Ingredients

embroidered tropical wool, black wool crepe

mother of pearl flower buttons

Inspiration
I found this Out of Print (OOP) Vogue Pattern by Sandra Betzina in the collection while searching for another pattern. 

I loved this top when it came out and thought the details would work well on my TNT dress.  I didn't want the neckline but the sleeves with the band & button were very appealing.  I finally decided that I would make black colored bands at the neckline and the sleeve bands.  A search through the fabric closet yielded a medium weight black wool crepe that was the same weight as the tropical embroidered wool.

Pattern Alterations
Of course, I used my TNT dress pattern as my starting point.  The first alteration was to make the bands at the neckline on the front and back dress pieces.

front piece with yoke

back piece with yoke

My method for insuring that the plaids match...cut out the front piece and lay it on top of the fabric next to the back piece - matching the plaids to the key points on both pattern pieces.  This is similar to the single cut method but I like laying the pieces next to each other to insure that the plaids will match at the seamline.

Construction

The construction was pretty straight forward.  Each band was added to the bottom dress piece and pressed towards the band.  An invisible zipper was added to the back of the dress...

matching the plaids and the black bands

...then an embellishment was added to the neckband.  I really wanted the embellishment to be a rounded band with the button added to it...but I just couldn't get it to work.  So I cut the band down, twisted it and anchored it to the neckband with zigzagged bars and a few hand stitches.  Finally I stitched the button onto the top using a double strand of waxed thread. 

I'm liking this look and doesn't the button work well with the fabric?!  It's not quite how I imagined the dress when I started the process but it incorporates the buttons & bands from the inspiration piece. It's also unlike any dress presently in my wardrobe. 

So this is where it stands now:

I will work on it again next weekend...hopefully getting it finished, as well as, the Simplicity jacket...which now no longer works with this dress...but it will work with the pieces I made during my sewcation.

...as always, more later!

My favorite pattern

Every day I think about it a little more but it's crazy that I haven't sewn in two weekends and seriously I don't know how to live like this!  I have a small list of garments that I want to sew...I just need the time...and I'm definitely making time this weekend...

So I'm going to finish the black doubleknit Simplicity jacket first and in the meantime, I've thought of some changes to it that will, of course, make it different than the envelope cover...but then it wouldn't be my garment if I didn't change it up, right?

And I'm going to make one more version of my TNT dress out of the embroidered plaid tropical wool fabric...which inspired me to go back and put together a pictorial of all the dresses I've made using this pattern.  You can see them in this flickr album.  I was a little taken aback to realize that since 2004, I've made 40 dresses using this pattern and that's not including the ones that didn't work out.  Anyone remember "The Cheerleader Dress" and the colossial failure of The Architectural Dress?!  But most amazingly, all but 2 or 3 of these dresses is still in my wardrobe and still being worn!

Here is one of the very first dresses that I made using the new and improved pattern:

I bought the fabric from Paron Fabrics.  I remember that I paid $75 for 5 yards of vanilla wool crepe.  My thought was to make a dress and a jacket from the fabric.  I think I only made the dress...but I do remember that this was a huge chunk of my paycheck at the time...and the dress was very special to me! 

Next are my favorite top five dresses from this pattern:

The Chanel Dress

The Dior Dress

The Chadwicks Dress

Variation on a Theme Dress

The Macy's Dress

Honorable mention goes to the navy blue princess seamed dress from this year's SWAP...

Even though I've used my TNT dress pattern to knock off a few dresses, I love that it worked for these that are special just because of the fabric:

My Little Black Dress

The Museum Inspired Dress

The Black 'n White Dress

(or LindsayT's choice)

The Printed Pleated Dress

The Ralph Lauren Dress

I have sliced and diced this pattern.  I have made it from bright colors, prints, plaids, wools, silks, linens and cottons.  I have piped it, embellished it, lined it and sewn it as is.  But mostly I can't believe that I've made 40 dresses from this pattern...and after this weekend 41.

...as always, more later!

I love Dancing with the Stars - USA Version!

...and I watch it faithfully!  I love how they pick a variety of athletes, actors, comedians and actresses to dance.  They've had some interesting people dance ~ the guy from Jackass (SteveO), Kate Gosselin, George Hamilton...and I've rooted for several of the winners (Kristi Yamugichi, Nicole Scherzinger) and a few of the non-winners (Mya, Mario Lopez).  I've also been surprised by how light of foot quite a few of those huge football players (Jason Taylor, Emmitt Smith & Warren Sapp) have been!

Now I'd like to suggest a few participants for a "professional" season of Dancing with the Stars...

• Jennifer Lopez
• Janet Jackson
• Ciara
• Vanessa Williams
• Usher
• Justin Timberlake
• Justin Bieber
• and my personal favorite Snoop Dogg (seriously wouldn't it be funny to watch him Jive!)

Okay I know this has nothing to do with sewing unless I talk about the amazing costumes that they make for the stars each week... but if you like Dancing with the Stars ...who would you like to see dance on the show!?

BTW, I think Jennifer Gray has it in the bag for this season!

...more later!

What do you do with yours?

CarlaF in Atlanta asked that question in the comments section several posts back.  She was referring to her fabric scraps.  I wrote a post about this in March 2008 and have linked to it here.  But I have to tell you that was two years ago and in the meantime I've managed to accumulate two shopping bags of scraps that I just didn't have the heart to throw away.

There's a 1/2 yard of the Liberty of London print in there...some vanilla silk crepe scraps...and other pieces of fabric that are 1/2 yard to almost a yard of fabric that I just couldn't bring myself to throw out.  I know that it's two shopping bags full because during the great closet changeover, I found the first bag and added the second bag to the top of it.  Thinking to myself, that I would handle that during the next fabric changeover! *LOL*  Yeah right ~ there will probably be a third bag by then!

So the question of the day is, "What do you do with your scraps?"  Even though there were several great answers two years ago, I'm asking the question again because maybe like me your answer has changed.  Tell me what do you do with yours?

...more later!

Ten Things About Me...

Victoria, who authors the blog, Ten Thousand Hours of Sewing, nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger award. She said some really nice things about me and even though I no longer believe in passing on blogger awards, I thought I would share ten things about me anyway...

So here goes:

1.  I am AFRAID of snakes...deathly afraid!  When I was a small girl we use to go to my grandparent's farm in South Carolina and there were always snakes.  My grandmother would pull on her rubber boots, grab her hoe and stride out into the yard and chop the snakes head off...can we say nightmares...which leads me to item #2.

2.  I use to sleepwalk until I got to college.  I would sleepwalk after every snake killing incident and once in high school my Dad caught me trying to walk out of the house whilst sleeping.

3.  My mom paid me to read the dictionary when I was around 10/11 years old.  I read the thing from beginning to end and earned $100.  She also offered me money to read the encyclopedia from A to Z but I only made it to the C volume.  I think one of the reasons that I spell so well is that early foundation from reading the dictionary.

4.  I don't have a favorite color.  I'm attracted to bright, strong jewel toned colors but I don't have a favorite.

5.  I can't jump double dutch...never could.  Just couldn't get the hang of jumping in between the ropes.

6.  I LOVE television and can sing the theme song to almost any show that was on television while I was a child.  I don't understand people who think television is evil or a time waste.  Do you know the things you can learn while watching TV?  What experiences you can share?  How much fun it is to laugh at something totally stupid?  Yeah, I love TV and now is my time of the year - new episodes!  I'm happy as a pig in slop!  *LOL*

7.  I'm a indoors kinda girl.  Seriously, I like warm weather ONLY because the days are longer and the sun shines more...but I don't necessarily want to be out in it.  Give me some air conditioning and my a-p-t anyday!  And don't get me started on the cold and the snow...hate, hate, hate the snow!

8.  I have three daughters but I always wanted 4!  What is wrong with me?  Raising those three dayum near killed me!  *LOL*

9.  I look like my mother...which encourages me because my Mom looks fabulous and she's 71!

10.  I bought fabric today...yeap...8 yards of double knit from Kashi at Metro Textiles.  See I can't even keep a fabric pledge for more than a week!  *LOL*

Please feel free to share ten things about yourself on your blog...I won't call out any names...but I sure would love to know 10 things about you that you haven't shared before.  Just link back here so that I will know that you did it, okay?

*******************************************************

On the sewing front...I will finish the Simplicity Jacket this weekend along with either my TNT dress or the B5147 dress in the embroidered tropical weight plaid. 

Some of the double knit that I just purchased will be used to make a Maia Jacket as part of the Memorial Sew that is being discussed on Stitchers Guild.  I'm using a strong royal navy blue...something that passes the bright test but will actually be work appropriate.  Now that I've bought fabric (and no I didn't have anything in my collection to use!) I'm thinking through how to make this jacket fit so I'm sure there will be lots more about this later.

One of the things I love about commuting especially when the weather is nice is seeing what other women are wearing.  The other day I saw this woman wearing a glen plaid dress with black topstitching that looked exactly like the dress in the Simplicity 2958 pattern.  And I realized that I've only thought about that dress as a spring/summer garment when it will make an excellent fall dress.  During the great fabric changeover, I found (don't laugh) a glen plaid with a yellow plaid in it that would work great for this pattern, so I think that will be my next garment when these are finished.

Well that's it for tonight...more later!

So I peeked...

I didn't mean to...I really meant to mind my own business and keep it movin' but somehow during the great fabric changeover I ventured onto Style.com and all was lost...just lost I tell ya!

I did restrain myself enough that I only looked at a couple of of the spring collections, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrara, Chado Ralph Rucci and Michael Kors - you know all my go-to, would love to own my own personal piece of designers!

Of the ones that I did peek at I have to tell you that I loved the Spring 2011 Chado Ralph Rucci collection...loved, loved, loved it!

There's this dress which was my all time favorite!  I will find a way to do that type of embellishment on the front of one of my fall/winter dresses!

Love the kimono sleeves and sheer embellishment on this one!

What a different silhouette for a work suit!

A new way to do a safari pantsuit!

The detail on the jacket is beautiful and it's done in classic black & white colors!

If I was going out...this would be on the top of my list!

And this is red carpet at it's best! 

Style.com had this to say about Ralph's collection:

"Ralph Rucci skipped a proper show this season in favor of one-on-one appointments. That meant there was no Martha Stewart or Whoopi Goldberg to gawk at, but there was something better: the opportunity to examine the couture-quality workmanship that is this designer's calling card. Rucci admitted that despite his wealth of blue-chip clients, the recession has been difficult for his business. For Spring, he's made adjustments, turning out more pieces in less precious fabrications, including an on-trend cotton jumpsuit and an easy cotton and suede sleeveless shift with blousonlike volume on top.  On the other hand, Rucci has also kicked up the exquisite touches."

Peeking was so worth it to experience the awesomeness of the Chado Ralph Rucci line!  BTW, I also went back and looked at all my favs Fall 2010 collections for additional inspiration ideas...and I've got quite a few!  Look for them in some of my future fall/winter garments!

...as always, more later!

Sunday Evening...

Well as predicted, I got no sewing done.  This is the limit of the sewing I did this weekend:

I hemmed four pairs of school uniform pants for my 7 year old nephew.

I did get the fabric changed up...one bin in my bedroom (not as small a pile as I wanted):

and another bin and a shot of the cleaned up fabric closet in the corner of the living room:

Next...I would like to thank you for your support on the SABLE post.  I loved reading your replies and realizing that I'm not alone in possessing enough fabric to open my own little fabric store.  However, when I said overwhelmed I didn't mean paralyzed or wondering what to do.  I know the answer to that, stop buying for a minute and sew more!  *LOL*  I guess I'm really just amazed that I've maxed out my storage space.  I could figure out more storage but I'm not going to.  It's time to work with what I have...to challenge myself and to let my creativity flow.

Also, thanks for all the comments on the Sewing Conversation post.  Many of your responses touched me deeply and I'm thrilled that you understood what I was trying to say.

Finally there were some questions:

Shams asked:
"How do you sew so much with a little one?"
I'm sorry I guess I should post for the newer readers that the Little Prince is my second grandson.  He and his mother are living with me while his parents get their act together...though I will admit that I'm gonna miss him when they move out!

Harriet asked on Simplicity 2958 - The Jacket:
"How did you know this would fit?  Did you measure, tissue fit, or just sew it up and to see what would happen?"
Actually Harriet I have a set of finished measurements for garments...my actual measurements plus what I like in ease...and I compared them to the finished measurements printed on the pattern.  By that determination, I realized that I wouldn't need to alter the pattern.  I am a measurement girl all the way.  This generally works for me without too many issues because nothing is foolproof...but it's how I work.

Kathryn asked on Simplicity 2958 - The Jacket:
"How do I copy one pattern from the Burda one sheet master pattern?  Is it traced?  If so what do you use for tracing material?"
Yes, you have to trace the patterns and I use a tracing paper from Dick Blick recommended by Ann of Gorgeous Fabrics.  To determine what pattern to trace, the Burda instructions tell you what sheet to use and the pattern numbers.  In the older magazines, it even told you what color line to follow.  I don't know if this is still true since they've changed the format on the newer issues.

I have to tell you I wondered why after last year's sewcation, I didn't sew another garment until October ~ now I understand why.  The great fabric changeover takes an entire weekend and then social obligations probably ate into my sewing time.  Next Saturday I have a baby shower to attend and will only be able to sew on Sunday.  Hopefully I will be able to finish the S2958 jacket and the accompanying dress...to be made from a beautiful embroidered plaid that I found during the changeover.

Well tomorrow is work (and the beginning of Dancing with the Stars!) so I'm off to prepare...

...as always, more later!

SABLE

Stash Accumulation Beyond Life's Expectancy or UNCLE!

I've more than reached it by most people's standards but today as I pulled out a Rubbermaid bin to stand in the midst of the closet I realize that I've reached it even by my standards...

I'm officially overwhelmed by my fabric collection...well in all honesty I noticed it the week of my sewcation because there is ALOT of fabric in my apartment!  But today as I went about the annual fabric changeover, I realized that if you ask me if I have that fabric...I probably do!  I have about 12 yards of black wool crepe - so no need to buy any more of that any time soon! *LOL*

Need some gray in any fabrication...I've got that!  Need some beautiful silk crepes in bright colors or a solid black or gray...yeap I have some of that!  Need interesting knits in cotton/lycra, rayon/lycra or silk jersey?  Yeap I've got that too!  Pinstripes, plaids, floral prints, border prints, polyesters, linens, silks, cottons, wools (crepe, flannel, gabardine) yeap...I've got that!

On the one hand it's exhilarating!  I mean if I just shop my collection, I could make anything.  On the other hand, I have so much that as I sat in the living room with fabric covering every surface but the chair I was sitting on...I wondered how do I whittle down enough to put in a bin to take into my bedroom to work with next season?  And my other challenge is that everything else barely fits back into the closet!  *sigh*  It must go back into the closet so that I can access it when I get bored with what is already out.

I really want to be like Gigi, who keeps pulling these amazing pieces from her fabric collection to sew with because I realize that I have some gems in mine too.  Also, if I make 4 or 5 garments a month  for the next 4 months, I will only use about 60 yards of fabric...that is less than one of the many piles laying in my living room right now.

Yeah so I'm at SABLE.  I don't want to say that I'm not buying any more fabric because that will make me run to one of my favorite online fabric shops, throw some things into a cart and plunk down my credit card...no I only want to purchase something if it will be used right away...or if I need to make a garment and only after checking the collection to insure that I don't already own something like it...cause I probably will...

So this is how my living room looks now ~ fabric on the couch:

Fabric on the coffee table:

Fabric in the closet:

Unless I stop procrastinating and get right to it...I will end up not sewing at all this weekend because of the fabric that is just everywhere...*sigh*...and I mean everywhere.

...more later!

A Sewing Conversation

Most of my posts for the last week and a half have been about garments sewn or seen out and about and after reading Myrna's post for today, I thought about a post that I'd written during the week and then thought better of posting.  The post grew out of a comment that someone made to me about one of my garments.  It wasn't a harsh comment but I could hear the undertone...and what I heard wasn't pleasant.

The thing about blogging is that you are putting yourself right out there on front street and your joy over something you made can be met with a wide variety of feelings by the readers based upon where they are in their own journey...some celebrate with you over your accomplishments, some are envious of what you've made, to others it's an example of what they can do with their gift...and to a few you're just bragging.

I would like to state right here and now that my primary reason for blogging is to share my love of sewing with others.  The secondary reasons are to encourage others who are just starting out, to share amazing resources, to be an inspiration to others and mostly to talk about something that I am absolutely passionate about.

I've met some amazing women through blogging.  I've developed some wonderful friendships through sewing and blogging...and I've learned quite a bit sewing-wise, as well as, about myself through blogging.  I've been sewing since I was 11 years old...most of it in solitude so it is awesome to find a "circle" of women and men who love sewing as much as I do.

However, after 40 years of sewing...my sewing is ALL about challenging myself.  It's the nuances of exploring and learning a new technique...how a fabric handles in different situations...adding or using a new design detail...trying a pattern company that I haven't used before...participating in and sewing a SWAP wardrobe...meeting the challenge of following a proscribed set of instructions yet allowing my creativity to flourish within those constraints.

To me sewing isn't about just making clothes but also about pushing creative boundaries, learning and growing, making better choices and smarter decisions and trying new and different things.

I want you to know that I appreciate everyone who stops by to read about my adventures...who leaves a comment...who starts a conversation...who asks a question.  I so appreciate the ooohhs and aaahhhs over my garments (which are like my babies to me) and in most instances I even appreciate the suggestions you give! *smile*

And if I may, I would like to leave you with a few words of encouragement... Our sewing gift is a talent.  A talent that you should treasure and encourage to grow.  You should challenge yourself.  You should listen to your inner creative voice and feed it.  And if you aren't in a space where you can use it right now, you should nourish it and realize that you are inhabiting this place for just a moment.  Learn while you are here and use it later when you are in the space that you want to be creatively.

But never ever stop sewing!  Never stop using your talent.  It's what makes you special...it is your God given gift...because when I'm waiting to meet my maker I want to know that I didn't squander one of the best gifts HE ever gave me.

Hopefully you will continue to share my journeys...knowing that I just have a passion to sew and want to encourage you to love it as much as I do...

...more later!






*p.s. That's a picture of how I looked during my sewcation - a t-shirt and a pair of comfy rayon pants.

Simplicity 2958 - The Jacket

I've had this pattern in my collection for years because I've always wanted to make the dress. 

Every spring it goes on my "to sew" list usually with a piece of fabric from the collection attached to it.  Every fall both the pattern and the fabric get placed back into their respective piles to await another opportunity to be used.

After making the sewcation pieces, I kept feeling like they needed a jacket to finish off the wardrobe.  Something black...something short and flirty...just an easy little topper that would work with all of the pieces.  I thought I had 1.5 yards of the black double knit left and that I would be able to get the jacket out of it...but my first choice Vogue 1100 just wouldn't play along with me.

So I went hunting through the pattern stacks and my hand fell upon this pattern.  It had some of the elements that I was looking for and it seemed like it would be quick and easy.  It also fit on the scraps of fabric I had left to use!  If I had procrastinated a little less Monday evening I would have finished it up, that's how quickly and easily it went together.  This is where it stands right now:

Don't you hate black because you can't see any details!

I like this pattern for a couple of reasons ~ the little peter pan collar, the raglan sleeves and even the faux welt pockets could be amazing if done right.  True it doesn't have a lining but I could put one in anyway.  

But what really won me over is that as I started sewing the jacket, idea upon idea started to come to me about things I could do with this jacket...lengthen it, add a lining, add a pleat in the back, pipe the collar and faux pockets, bind the entire thing...  It also didn't hurt that the pattern fit right out of the envelope.  No sleeve bicep adjustments, no enlarging it to cover my tummy...it just worked.

So I will be finishing this one up over the weekend and probably starting another one using one of those aforementioned ideas!  I love a pattern that speaks loudly and lovingly to me when I start using it!

...more later!

I screamed...

First Erica left me the link to this picture in the comments:

and then I went in search of my own picture and found this:

ESSENCE Magazine’s Fierce and Fabulous luncheon in New York City.

I sent the first link to everyone in my office and we were all screaming!!! Because the Hearst offices are one block from mine, people in my office have seen Gayle every now and then going into her office! 

My boss (the one who took the SWAP pictures for me) was walking around talking about my peeps got skillz! *LOL*  BTW, THAT is the dress I wore today...so it was especially apropo!

Thanks Erica for sending me the link!   It made my day!

...more later!

Black, White & Red ~ Totally Work Ready!

It's Sunday afternoon and I've finally gotten the pictures taken of the last two dresses.  I have to admit that I was slow rolling with the Burda WOF dress...it just seemed to take me forever to get motivated to cut out and sew in the lining, add the sleeves and hem the thing.  But it's done and on Day 9 or the last day of my vacation, I find that I have no desire left to sew.  In all honesty, that started to occur about mid-afternoon yesterday!

You want pictures, dontcha, well that's for the few that haven't already scrolled ahead to see both dresses! *LOL*  Let's start with the Macy's Color Blocked Dress:

Some stats:
Pattern:
TNT dress pattern cut to reflect the color blocking of the original dress

Fabric:
1.5 yards black doubleknit purchased from Metro Textiles
.5 yard red doubleknit purchased from Metro Textiles
.25 yard beige/nude Sophia knit purchased from fabric.com

Notions:
22" invisible zipper
3 yards black knit bias binding

Some additional information:
Originally, I was going to add short sleeves to this dress.  But after letting it hang overnight, I decided to keep it true to the original inspiration photo.  Since I did not plan to line the dress, I added black knit bias binding to the armholes and the neckline.

Due to the fabric, this dress hangs a little closer to my body than my original TNT dress does.  My DD thinks it looks good this way, and you know me...I like the illusion of close-fitting, not a dress that is actually close-fitting!  So I will probably wear it with a black doubleknit Burda cardigan that I made about five years ago.

I am very happy with how the dress turned out.  It was relatively simple to duplicate and even though the dress can be purchased (and in a plus size too) it was fun to make this journey.

One more shot...

Next up is the Burda 09-2005-115 Dress

This dress was a lot of pattern work!  The actual sewing was simple but...well we all know how I feel about tracing patterns, so let's not rehash that, okay! *LOL*  We took a lot of pictures but it's really hard to get those seamlines upclose on my point and shoot...and this just emphasizes my thoughts when I was making the dress...that the seaming is so subtle, you will need to be right up on me to actually see it.  However, it was an interesting sewing challenge to grade the pattern pieces from a size 36-44 up to my size which is a Burda 50/52.

Stats:
Pattern:
My TNT dress pattern was the starting point along with the pattern pieces from the Sept. 2005 issue of Burda World of Fashion.  This was a hand-in-hand partnership.  There would be no finished dress without either pattern.

Fabric:
2 yards of raspberry light-midweight doubleknit fabric purchased from fabric.com
2 yards of raisin lining fabric from the collection

Notions:
22" invisible zipper

Additional construction information:
I did add the short sleeves to this dress.  I used the sleeve pattern from my TNT dress cutting it with a center seamline and leaving a 3" opening at the bottom to add a little interest to the sleeve.  I also topstitched both sides of the sleeve and the hem.

I added the sleeves because I want to be able to wear the dress either alone or with a cardigan. 

Like the original pattern, this dress is lined but only the body of the dress not the sleeves.  It's a really pretty dress and works well with the last Burda cardigan that I made.  It will work with quite a few other cardigans and jackets in my wardrobe, too.

Here's a photo of everything I made during my sewcation:

3 dresses, 1 top, 1 cardigan and a pair of pants.  Not as much as last year but then this time I wasn't going for quantity, I was sewing what interested me.  All pictures can be seen here.  There does appear to be a theme to these pieces, that was totally unintended.  Black, white & red ~ totally work ready!

Melissa had this question:
"Where do you get your tracing paper? The last batch I got from Nancy's Notions and it's thicker/heavier than I would like, especially for fitting."

The tracing paper is from Dick Blick.  I bought it upon Ann's recommendation.  Follow the link's on her post and you can order some too.  I bought two rolls of the tracing paper and boy am I glad that I did.  I went through a lot of it this week and it was wonderful to use.

One last piece of business and I'm out to veg on the couch and watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy on TNT...Denise who authors the blog, The Blue Gardenia, is doing a sewing book giveaway.  Surf over and see which one of her favorite bloggers book she is giving away!

Well that's it for me...hope you made it this far!  Cause I have a parting shot to share...me and The Little Prince who will be 18 months old this week!

...as always, more later!