Vogue 7264

Pictures to be posted after my photographer returns home! (He's home!)

I finished my first project for the dreaded sales meeting.

Pattern: Vogue 7264; This is a Sandra Betzina Today's Fit pattern.
Sizes: A-J; (I cut an E but see the adjustments below.)
Fabric: A moderate stretch knit from The Stash. It was 2-sided, light gray/dark gray and I thought I would be able to take advantage of that fact, but I have decided that color blocking just doesn't look good on me.
Description: (from the pattern envelope) "Close-fitting, pullover top has neckline variations, optional shoulder pads and below elbow or long sleeves. Narrow hem. Close-fitting, straight or slightly tapered, mock wrap skirt, below mid-knee or above ankle, has elastic waist casing and shaped front overlay."
Comments: I really liked this pattern. Based on the measurements I cut a size E, but took in the skirt at least 2-1/2". However, the top fits great. I usually have to shorten the lengths of all my garments and I did this to the sleeves. They ended up being almost too short. When I make these garments again (and I really think I will) I will actually add 1/2" to the sleeves just for a little safe guarding. Also, I made the skirt the length I have been wearing for the last couple of years, but I think this would look better if it was just below my knees. I didn't have enough length for that option so again, I think I will add some length to check that out.
My cowl neck doesn't fall quite as softly as I had hoped but it's o.k.
Will You Make This Again?: Definitely. I like the way the top and skirt fit and they are easy to construct.

A Little This & That

Wow! Did you see the Fall/Winter 2008 Silhouette Patterns Magazine? I really liked the presentation of the patterns shown on more realistic looking women. Not the typical emaciated, 14-yo model type you usually see in magazines. The clothes also had realness to them. I could see myself wearing a lot of what was shown.

I have only made one Silhouette pattern. It was a reversible jacket and I'm not sure the pattern is available anymore. I don't need the different cup size measurements like so many women do, so I guess that's why I haven't explored this pattern line. I did meet & talk with Peggy Sager (the designer behind the Silhouette name) at Puyallup one year. She is awesome!

I really liked Valerie's Top & the Wrap Around Skirt on pg. 10. Anne's Top on pg. 13 was reviewed by Ann on her blog, Gorgeous Things. The Betsy's Jacket on pg. 23 is a dead ringer for a black jacket I have and love which is looking really worn and needs to go. Those are my top favorites.

My sewing for the dreaded sales meeting is coming along pretty much on schedule. The black pants are almost finished. I just have some hand stitching to do on the waistband. The skirt and top are cut out and the skirt is about 1/3 complete. A lot of the pre-sewing work is done on the jacket. The pattern pieces are cut out and tissue alterations complete. I have finished pre-shrinking the fabric. So I'm ready to cut out the jacket I think.

I can't figure out how to update my Shelfari link. I read a lot and I visit the Shelfari website and update my reading lists there, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to get it to update over here on my blog. It's pretty frustrating since I tend to be anal about those kinds of things.
I hope every legally registered American voter takes time to vote today!

Those Lazy Days of Summer

Number 1 on my November sewing plan was to clean up my sewing room so I could actually starting sewing on the black pants et al. It wasn't a huge job. I'm a pretty neat seamstress. I'm one of those everything-has-place-and-everything-in-its-place kind of people. But I did have some fabric scraps laying around from summer projects, patterns that needed to be filed--that sort of stuff.

So before I file this pattern away I decided to post a picture of my creation, mostly because I just love this dress. I love the styling, the fabric, the way I feel when I wear it, the way The Love of My Life looks at me when I wear it--just everything about it.

Pattern: Vogue 1027

Sizes: Misses 6-22

Fabric: A soft 4-way stretch knit from Textile Studios; pink and black geometric print.

Description: (from the pattern envelope) "Calf length dress has semi-fitted, pleated and lapped bodice, bias skirt with inseam pockets and stitched hems."

I didn't put the pockets in because I knew I would end up putting my hands in them and that would spoil the look. The description doesn't mention the tie belt at the raised waist (both of which are easily seen on the pattern photos). I didn't think I would like the belt and I didn't think I would need the design interest with the print, but I was wrong. I ended up hand stitching the belt in place. However, I wish I had had enough fabric to make the belt double sided. The pattern calls for just turning the edges and stitching.

Would You Make This Again?: Yes, definitely. I would love to find another great soft knit like this and make a solid color version. And if I could figure out a way to make the sleeves longer, it would be awesome in the winter!

I Just Can't Take Any More!

While talking to a friend the other day he commented about how uptight and anxious and I seemed. "Yes," I replied. "I am very concerned about the state of politics right now. It is just so hate-filled! As much as I love following politics, I think I've OD'd on it."


"Well," he said, "You can always quit watching the news and listening to talk radio. Why don't you spend that time sewing?"

Well, duh! Now that's a thought!

So I immediately quit watching TV, turned off the talk radio and promptly spent 12 hours Saturday doing techy, geeky stuff in my office (with the pleasant, reliable help of my techy and ever-so-smart DS). I spent Sunday with The Love of My Life. Monday was a 12-hour day at work, but I did spend 10 minutes doing some thinking-and-planning-about-sewing in my head.


I have a 1-1/2 day meeting in mid-November that I'm dreading. So, I reasoned to myself, why not look fabulous while wasting, I mean, spending, time at these dulls meetings? Seems very reasonable to me. Here's what I came up with.




I have some black slacks under construction from this pattern.


I found some plum herringbone wool for the jacket in my stash. Since purple is all the rage this fall/winter. I figure it will work great.



I tried taking pictures of the fabric, but haven't mastered the technique of photographing textiles yet.





For the second outfit, I choose this pattern and will use a wool double knit from my stash. It is a reversible knit (grey/charcoal) which I think I will be able to use effectively in the front skirt panel and also possibly the sleeves.


The meetings begin one afternoon, followed by dinner. The 2nd day starts in the morning, then a working lunch and wraps up late afternoon. The plan is to wear the knit top/skirt the first afternoon and out to dinner; the pant suit the second day.


This plan is going to require sewing way more than 10 minutes a day. But I'm very excited about these choices. By this evening I'll have a sewing plan on paper to accomplish my goal.

Does Absence Really Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

It's funny how time slips away, little by little, until whoa! Months are gone and everyone is saying, "I can't believe it's October already. Pretty soon Christmas will be here." Another frequently heard comment is, "Can you believe 2008 is almost over?" But I love it most when my children tell me how close they are to 30. Just this past weekend my handsome son in his almost-late 20's was lamenting to me that he was "almost 30 and ya' know what that means". Well, I'm not sure at all what he means, but I do know that way too much time has passed without posting here.

So the Cliff Notes version of the last 3-4 months is this: Early summer brought me some really tough personal issues to confront. That done, I realized that half the summer was gone so I quickly sewed some summer clothes. In my hurry I figured I would blog about each item "later". If its and buts were candy & nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas! So here it is October. No blogging and no pictures of the cute summer clothes.

My latest excuse is the crazy hot weather we had this Fall. As it continued to heat up every day late into August and then into September and even lingering into October, I just couldn't get into sewing for colder days and my sewing mojo took a leave of absence. Now I am behind in sewing the Fall/Winter wardrobe.

But alas, absence from the sewing room has made me yearn to sew again! So I plunged right in this past weekend. I spent the weekend with my daughter and grandchildren creating a flying squirrel Halloween costume for my 11-yo DGS. It is complete except for the tail. No picture yet but I'm sure his mom will supply me with a picture to post.

Tonight I hemmed 3 pairs of jeans using this method from SewNews. Since I have to shorten all my jeans, this allows me to keep the original hem which looks really nice. I have used this technique numerous times, always with great results! I have 2 pairs of slacks that need to be shortened also. But they are lined and will take a little bit more time.

So one thing I am doing to boost my sewing mojo is to sew for a minimum of 10 minutes every day. I remember reading this tip a long time ago, that if you sew 10 minutes a day every single day you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. So that is my goal--10 minutes a day, every single day. Not 2 or 3 days a week, or most days of the week, but every single day!

The other thing I am doing to boost the mojo is posting here! Watch for more frequent posts!

Is This Too "Young" for Me? - Pattern Review

I saw this jacket over on http://sew-4-fun.blogspot.com/2008/04/project-runway-jacket_21.html and just really really liked it. So I decided to give it a try.

I had this reversible cotton in my stash and used it for the contrast yoke and sleeve band. (The sleeve band was not part of the pattern. I added it to take advantage of the fabric.) So here are the details:

Pattern: Simplicity 3538 Inspired by Project Runway

Fabric: Reversible medium weight cotton

Description: Misses jacket in two lengths with yoke, collar and sleeve variations.

I think this is a cute fun jacket. But I wonder if it is too young-looking for me. I've worn it with jeans and shorts and black slacks and received compliments every time.

I don't think I will make it again. However, because it is a Project Runway pattern all the variations are independent of each other so it will be easy to mix them with other patterns. Also the pattern directions are very detailed. While this isn't an "easy" pattern, it would be excellent as a teaching pattern for a second garment.

For a one season, trendy garment, I like this!

Casual Skirt-Pattern Review

I made this great casual skirt from some reversible cotton lightweight denim.

It is Kwik-Sew 3098, an oldy-but-goody pattern. I topstitched with khaki thread to match the pockets. A center back zipper. What else could be quicker to make and cool & casual to wear all summer long.