Sunday, December 22, 2013

The big shirt

The  big shirt is finished.  I've worn this once and I do like the shirt over leggings.  I decided not to make any more of these or to keep the pattern.  I made an 8 going out to a 12.  The finished shirt on me would look better in a 6 going out to a 10.  I just didn't care for the look in the mirror, but I will wear this one until summer.

The back of the shirt.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

December

December is very slow for sewing, but very busy for our family.  School and work is very busy.  We're trying to get some honeydo's off of our list for work around the house.

 We got our tree last night and the branches are relaxing.  I plan to decorate it on Saturday.
 Macy has been practicing her long winter's nap.

My next project, an old Butterick( 2001) pattern, 3198.  I'm using fabric scraps to try out my first run.  My son says it looks like something the mom Ellen in a TV show called Wishbone would wear.  She was a librarian.  I guess that's not so bad.  I'm going to wear it with leggings and skinny leg pants when it finally gets done. 

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Kwik Sew 3732


Sunday, November 17, 2013

 

 I really like this pattern and thought it would lend it self to a number of different looks with different fabrics. 
 For the first trial, I used a clearance fabric that I bought when you could get fabric for 1.95 at a large fabric store.  It changed hands and I don't think you can get it anymore at that price.  It's a double sided weather proof on one side and fleece on the other.  I bought it to experiment, then I got afraid of it.
 I thought this fabric might be perfect with the pattern.  The front.  I top stitched some of the seams down in the gray, and some were topstitched in orange.  I did that on purpose to minimize the horizontal lines on me.  I almost used soft gray buttons, but I was really happy JoAnns had the orange buttons for half off too.
 I decided to reinforce the buttons.  Might be too much, but this fabric and pattern were new to me.
The back view.  You can see the blue graduation gown peeking out.  One of my kids is graduating from college next month.  He really liked the smaller college and has mixed feelings on leaving it.  He can take a few courses that transfer into his degree plan this next semester, and than it's all up at State U for the finish.  I really think he will like the big college and I hear they have concerts and plays.  My youngest is trying high school and we've been to fashion shows and basket ball games. 

The pattern went together very well and I do plan on sewing it up again.  I'm very pleased with it. 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Pie

 Someone was cleaning out their pantry and gave me some Karo syrup and pecans that were gifted to them.  Not store bought pecans but picked from their trees.  We had to pull out the Texan pecan sheller we bought in West Texas 20 years ago.
Because of all the exciting storms and the small cold front that we had I made chocolate pecan pie.  I really just added 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the mix before pouring it into the shell.  I made the crust and my son did the fluting.  I thought it was perfect.  The pie was pretty good to.  Not much sewing.  I've been tracing patterns.  I did make a pair of pants for my mother.  I hope she likes them.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Kwik Sew 3765

I'm calling these skirts my summer patio skirts.  I bought this pattern on a Kwik Sew sale even when I had the Easy Sewing book.  These skirts had a back center seam instead of both being cut on the fold.  A really silly thing to do because I could have just added a seam and cut the pattern pieces out how I wanted to.  I cut the longest length from 2 pieces of $1.00 to $2.00 cotton fabric. 
Instead of using the center back seam for a walking vent, I did what the book suggested to do and did a right side seam walking vent.  I didn't go as far up, but I could have gone a little farther up than I did.  This is about 8 inches.  It just shows the front of my lower leg up past the ankle.  I wear these with sandals.
The vent from the outside.
The inside of the vent.  A quick and fast sew job.
The red skirt.
Frogs.


I bought some new summer t shirts and I've been wearing these around the house, soon to swim lessons and I really like them.  I'm working on a fall version in a lightweight fabric I forgot the name of.  It's cut out but I haven't been able to get back to it.  I think though with a sweater set and flat loafers or pumps, it will be a nice go out to dinner skirt, a change from pants.

Monday, May 13, 2013

McCalls 2101

 An OOP pattern that I have had for while. 
 I used some lightweight linen from Hancocks.  I had enough for the pants, but not for the optional pocket.
 Nice pants.  I'm keeping the pattern until the end of summer and then I will use another one that's probably very close to the same style.  That's my pattern stash problem.  I've bought pretty much the same thing over and over. 
My Mother's Day orchid.  I just love it.  I didn't think I'd like to own one.  I've been reading all over the internet about them.

I still need to take pictures of my other version of my Butterick nightgown.  I've been wearing it.  I've made 2 patio skirts, and I'm working on a skirt for fall from the patio skirt pattern.
 I used  a small piece of trim and made a little bow.
 
This has definitely been worn.  I was able to use a stash pattern and all of a piece of fabric I've had for awhile from stash and all of some trim that I've owned for a long time.  I'm keeping this pattern.  You never know when you need a pretty nightgown.
I tossed a bunch of t shirts and bought some new ones.  I tossed a few elastic waist skirts and my Dorothy Moore drafted skirt.  It was a wearable muslin and the fabric around the zipper was coming out too much to repair.

McCalls 6173


I just used the basic legging pattern and made a pair of black cotton spandex leggings.  The fabric was from Fabric com.  I didn't keep the pattern because I already have a several legging patterns.  I cut this one a little larger and it went together very nicely. 

I wished I had had these leggings this winter, so I'm glad to have them ready for the next season.  They are too hot to wear now.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Butterick 6838

 This is a 2001 pattern.  I made View D and have View C cut out.
 My current summer pj wardrobe.  The blue stripe/flower piece is a robe.  Pajama bottoms are nice when you are in the TV room with the family.  The T shirt is beefy.  They are also great when you are shopping closets for something to wear.  I store extra clothes in extra closets.  They don't make you feel very lady like though.
 So, I knew at least one pair of  pj bottoms was getting faded, and I'm currently going through my patterns and editing my fabric stash some, so this piece of cotton from Fabric Com seemed perfect together.  (Every so many months, I go through my books to see what my current homeschooled teen might benefit from.  I also clean out books no longer needed.  These piles will be edited and sold, read, or returned to the bookshelf.  I also moved one of my sewing machines back into my bedroom so I can stack some fabric on the floor of my sewing room to fully see what I have and what I might want to use this summer.)
 I have a long piece of apricot satin ribbon for some time in my stash and instead of purchasing any more lace or ribbon, I used a pleater and pleated the ribbon.  It's sewn with apricot thread in the needle and white thread in the bobbin.  The fabric was a cotton or part cotton part polyester from their clearance section.  I could have snipped a little more at the corners or been more aggressive pulling the fabric and ironing.  I didn't want any holes though.
 The pleats on the bottom.
I just made the 5/8's narrow hem.  Then while the sleeve was still in the flat stage, I sewed the ribbon on, and then the side seams, then put the sleeve into the gown.  Nice pattern and all the marks lined up.  I did serge the inside, and hand sewed the inside yoke facing down.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Pants

So, I've been going through my pants.  Keep in mind, I am a stay at home mom who drives her kids everywhere and doesn't really do groups or clubs away from home right now.  I have ventured in to city and school board, art and community theatre meetings where I could.  I never wanted to be a mom who was involved for hours outside my home.  I have acquaintances  who love to tell me all that they are involved in and I'm so happy for them, but I am also very happy I made the choices I made.  As my kids are getting older, I am getting interested in a few things outside my home.
 
 The black, blue and red are Kwik Sew pull on pants leftover from last year.  I love these, they wear like softly pleated or gathered pants from the top.  The royal blue is a Simplicity elastic waist and I made these last year and never wore them.  I wanted to try a different elastic waist pattern.  I threw these away after this picture.
 The white, navy, white is a Butterick pattern with a side zipper.  I have forgotten the pattern number.  I like these.
 I've got 3 (one is not shown) Kiwk Sew elastic waist denim, a Kwik Sew jean...
 
the Kwik Sew jean, a McCalls jean, and a Vogue jean.  The Kwik Sew and the McCalls are my favorite,  I even wear the McCalls muslin, the tan with the wedge sewn in above for yard pants.  The weeds love them.  They keep growing back to visit the wedges because I sewed them in with a flower stitch.
 A Burda magazine pair, a RTW shorts, an ancient denim trouser.
 A McCalls cargo, a RTW linen..
 a white and blue shirting lightweight elastic waist pant from Sew.
 My very favorite RTW jeans.  I want to copy these.
These RTW jeans.  They fit, but and I don't have to shop for another pair.  I really love the fact I can make jeans now.  I know I have a wool pair somewhere, and I have some cords from winter. 

I think seeing these laid out, I need a wool pair or two.  I have not gone through my t shirts, blouses, sweaters or jackets. 

More skirts

 
 
I forget which pattern company the tan came from.  The black is a Simplicity, and the brown cotton plaid a basic Kwik Sew that I've done in a denim and a plaid and a royal blue.  I've got some skirts that I haven't finished and a few that I've bought.  I may have a few hanging behind my boys clothing racks that I've forgotten to look.  This tells me I wear a lot of skirts.

 I got a comment from my first post of reposting and I blew it away.  As the page was loading I saw the comment and clicked it, and it just vanished.  I'm not sure if it's me, or Blogger does this sometimes.  Thank you for making a comment.  I wasn't feeling energetic enough to post this year, and my kids had schedules that included me driving them all over the metroplex and waiting for long waits.  I had reached my picture limit on Blogger, and really thought some of my posts were wasteful and I could go back and redo some things.  And, I really felt in some ways I had way too many clothes, patterns, fabrics, etc.  What do I have?  What do I wear?  What do I need? 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Summer skirts

It's been too long.  I feel like I am a beginner at blogging again.  My very busy year is progressing.  I was right.  It is proving to be a very busy year, and I keep adding things in to my calendar.  But on this cold rainy day, I pulled out my summer skirts and looked them over.
 
 If you don't remember, the red button on is a Butterick, the blue gingham from the Sew Easy Rupp book, the black and white knit (one of 2 actually), a Kwik Sew, the black gingham, and the navy gingham with the elastic waists are from the Kwik Sew Easy Blue book.
 The tan elastic waist (1 of 2), the darker tan with the print waistband, a drafted Dorthy Moore, the black knit, a recycle, the denim, new recently from the Kwik Sew blue book.
 The sailor blue a Kwik Sew skirt (3335).  The green rayon and the white twill are big 4's.  I think you've seen them, a flat yoke with an A line bottom and a back zipper.  It's a basic skirt I still see in the envelope drawings.
The tan, the plaid, and the denim are the basic A line (3877) from Kwik Sew.  I even have more, but they are for a different season.  I plan to wear these all summer.  I wear them with sandels, tennis shoes, loafers, flats, and low heels.  I really think I have enough, but I still think of whimsical summer prints, and long skirts.