Monday, October 6, 2008

NL 6826 - New TNT pattern.

Well, I've found me a new TNT Pattern. Its New Look Jumper 6826. I wanted something easy to make that I could wear with a Turtleneck and tights now that the cold weather is approaching. I've made it twice now (both out of a light weight wool). One is a houndstooth print.

This is from my fabric stash. I took about two yards. I had to make the following changes to the pattern:
  1. Added 2 1/2 inches to the overall length.
  2. I made a size 14 but altered it to a larger width at the full hip (specifically in the back); which meant I had to redistribute the pleats.
  3. Added 1/2 inch to length of bodice (yoke) piece.
























I made the dress in a solid grey wool the first time I made it. I did it specifically by the pattern, although it was quick; I really didn't like the finishing on the inside. I wanted a lot cleaner finish on the inside, so I sewed the zipper and straps in place before adding the yoke lining. I also used a centered invisible zipper; the pattern called for an overlapped zipper.

Below, a picture of the houndstooth dress, the zippers edges are not exposed as they are in the first version of the dress (the grey). The ends of the dress-straps are sewing with in the facing on the houndstooth version, in contrast to the grey version,where the straps were hand sewn to the bodice. I like the houndstooth version of the dress inside so much better


















If you're a beginning sewing, definitely give this pattern a try.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Lisa at The Hemline, my first tag! Here are seven facts about me.
  1. I got married at the age of 19 to a guy I had known for only 3 months before becomming engaged. 27 years and 3 kids later we are still together!
  2. I'm a professional storyteller (in addition to my sewing). I tell historical stories and personal stories. I call them, "Stories of Wisdom, Stories of Truth. I want my stories to make people think and question.
  3. My youngest and only daughter will be heading off to college next year! (The older two are boys ages 25 and 22). This is the moment I've been waiting for, and now that its right around the corner, I tell myself I need to find a new life, and decide what I really want to be when I grow up - SMILE!
  4. Even at the age of 40+, I am still my dad's little girl. That's something you never grow out of. When I go to visit he and I just sit and talk about anything and everything. My parents say I am the female version of my father.
  5. In addition to sewing, I'm an avid scrapbooker. We won't even talk about that hobby! Let's just say I wish I had discovered it when my boys were little. I'm playing catch up on my photos.
  6. When I get down or am going thru a tough moment, I go sit in the park. I admire all the beauty exists in this world. Besides, when you're going "thru" in life, its nothing like watching two squirrels fight over a nut, to put things in perspective.
  7. I grew up very introverted and quiet. Caught a lot of teasing because of my height (6 ft). I was 30 before I was comfortable with my height. I'd always pray that I'd go somewhere and not be the tallest woman in the room. I tell folks God has a sense of humor, he answered my prayers, and made that room my house! My husband and I are the shortest in the house at 6 ft. My children are all 6' 5", 6' 1", and 6".
Well hopefully I haven't bored you with my 7 tidbits.
I've tagged the folks above, as we said when we were children "Tag you're it!"

Tag Rules:

1. Link to your Tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a post on their blog.




Friday, September 26, 2008

My Yoga Mat Tote

I found a pattern for a yoga mat tote from Meream at http://boredandcrafty.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/yoga-mat-bag-tutorial/


I decided to use the log cabin block quilt pattern to make my cover. It was very simple and quick to make. See my review on http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=32604.
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

A Vintage kind of day, and other surprises

Remember the vintage patterns that my Mom gave me back in May. Well I finally did one of them. It is a Butterick 8213. I'm not sure when it was in-print, but the original cost of the pattern was only 50 cents. It was very simple. Sewing instructions back then were written very SPARSELY to say the least. But I love the fit of the dress.



I also got a chance to use some of my fabric stash for it, so that was really great. Sorry for the picture, maybe tomorrow when the sun is out, I'll have my husband take one outside. I find it very difficult to do self portraits.


This weekend I also got the first of the three more boxes of vintage patterns from my Mom, and a box of zippers!


I've signed up for the stash contest on sewing.patternreview.com, so on to the next project.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Organizing my Patterns

Well, I've been away for a while, but I can say I've been busy.
  • My daughter decided on a college (she's decided to do pharmacy)
  • traveled home to see my parents (actually went fabric/pattern shopping crazy with my Mom)
  • found a store called "dirt cheap" on my trip home, yes that's right - for another post!
  • started teaching part-time at a local college
  • bought an adjustable height table for my sewing room to do cutting
  • got a stash of vintage patterns from my Mom
  • used some of my sewing stash (& bought replacement fabric - LOL)
  • organized my patterns
First things first though, the pattern organization. I decided to make an album of all of my patterns with 5x8 index cards, so that I can use when I'm shopping. Here's a picture of my book:
For my newer patterns I have a word template that I use. Then I go to the pattern company's website and cut and past the information that I need, such as a picture, pattern description, yardages, front/back line drawing:
I've left areas to add notes such as fabrics used, alterations made, etc.

For my older patterns, I copy the pattern envelope (front and back) by reducing it to a 5x8 card without borders. (My 4 in 1 printer has a copy function that allows me to reduce).
When I go shopping I just take the card out of my notebook and place in my purse. When I pick out fabric for a particular pattern, I clip a piece of the fabric and pin to the card. It makes it easier to pick out notions etc. since I have the card with the fabric sample attached.

Well needless to say I have discovered that I have a LOT of patterns to say the least. We won't say how many though - SMILE! And they've just increased by another 100 or so because of my Mom's gift of some vintage patterns. I had to send those by UPS, since the planes won't let you carry baggage for free anymore. I'll take pix when they arrive.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Portland, BasketBall, & Sewing

As I've stated my daughter is a basketball player, and is planning to play ball in college. So we are all spending 4 days in Oregon to visit one of the universities in the area.

We flew into Portland OR on Wednesday morning. We got in at around 10:30 AM. And after getting our rental car headed to find something to eat at a restaurant called "TODAI" located in Pioneer Square in downtown Portland.

Then we headed to the hotel to spend our first night and try to get some overdue sleep (since we left home at 3:30 am that morning.) Well needless to say while my husband and daughter slept, I went off to Fabric Depot in Portland!

Can you believe when I got there, a 30% off of everything sale was going on! I wanted so badly to buy fabrics (but this whole airline thing is really playing havoc with my purchasing ability because I don't like to ship stuff back home, I want to carry it with me. I flew USAir and had to pay $15 for the first bag checked - can you believe it!). Besides, I'm trying to cut down on my stash - Hey at least I can dream. I did however purchase 3 books.

They had an outdoor sale, so off I went. I found quite a few notions, etc. ( 1/8" elastic for my heirloom sewing; bra extenders; self-cover belt kits - been looking for those to make matching belts for my vintage/retro patterns).

On Thursday we headed to the school. We'll be touring some of the campus and meeting with the team on Thurs. and Fri. In the meantime I spotted a little quilting shop I want to check out - picture me with a big SMILE. Maybe I'll get a chance to visit the Mill End store and Josephine's Dry Goods when we head back home on Saturday.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Fabric Stash & Butterick 5216

(I had to take my own pictures, my photographer decided to go to a Rockies game - SMILE).

Well, here's another one from my fabric stash. This was a border print that I purchased a couple of years ago for about 50 cents a yard. It took 4 yards, because the border was actually crosswise (printed like panels); so it only costs me $2 in fabric. You can't buy a top that cheaply from the store.

I just wanted a quick little top to wear with jeans, and it definitely was quick, took maybe 2 hours to make.

The neckline was plunging to say the least. More, than I needed to show, so I took one of the diamond motifs and placed in the opening.

I'll probably make it again in a solid print and use a piece of lace for the inset (no way am I wearing this top without an inset!)

Next blog, a vintage dress I made from a pattern given to me by my mom!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

5 days in Chicago

Well, I just spent 5 days in Chi-town (Chicago). My daughter's basketball team played in the Nike Tournament there. They managed to place 3rd in their bracket, which was very good.

For those of you that are really into the Girl's basketball, they loss to a team out of Dallas, (that team went on to win the tournament), one of the nations top recruits for 2009 was on the team.

It was so amazing, and I felt truly in my element, nothing but young girls 6 feet tall and over (where were these girls when I was growing up!). BTW, I'm 6 ft, my daughter is 6'1", and my daughter has a teammate that is 6'6".

Here's a couple of pictures:
My daughter's team (in white) during a game


My daughter during a game (in red uniform)

While I was in Chicago, I had to go visit at least one fabric store ( I know I was supposed to be there to support my daughter, but hey I needed a side trip; besides I took my daughter to the Nike store after the tournament). I decided to go to the Vogue Fabrics flagship store in Evanston. Imagine my good luck to arrive right before the ASG (American Sewing Guild) bus tour did. I was lucky that I had my ASG card on me, so I was able to get the discounts that the Conference members got (Yes Sandy, there is a God!). Overwhelming, is an understatement. I wish they had something even close to this in the Colorado area. In talking with some of the women I found out that next years conference is scheduled for Albuquerque NM (my backyard & only a 6 hour drive), so I'm definitely making plans to attend.

Inside Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, IL and the women of ASG


I overheard one of the ladies coming into the store say "My God, I've died and gone to heaven", I knew exactly how she felt. One of the more interesting things that I saw was the dress forms available for rental:
Anyway, needless to say after about an hour of grazing thru the fabrics (I had to be back to meet my daughter for her next game - oh well). I did get to pick up some fabrics. It helps that you can't take a 2nd bag on the planes for free now - sort of helped me keep my spending down. I just couldn't accept the idea of sending my purchases back by mail. I ended up buying 5 pieces of fabric: 1 piece of lawn/voile fabric in a lime&brown with a border, a piece of chiffon, 2 pieces of silk dupionni (burgundy and sage), and 1 piece of cotton lycra in a soft lime green.
The colors don't show up too good in the picture.

Now I'm thinking of reasons to go and visit my sister who lives downtown Chicago, just so I can go to the fabric stores in the area. Next time I'll hit Fisherman.

Hey maybe I can convince my daughter to go to Northwestern for college next year! Oh well, after writing this, I really need to make a confession:

"Hi my name is Sandy, and I have an addiction to anything related to sewing!".

Friday, July 4, 2008

Butterick 5033 and my fabric stash


Well I went thru my stash, and found a nice piece of fabric to make Butterick 5033 vintage dress from.

It was a very easy dress and I am loving the flowiness of the skirt. The fabric I made it from was in my stash, so not really sure what the content is (purchased before I got wise enough to start recording the fabrics in my stash - SMILE). Its a very lightweight fabric, and the skirt hangs beautifully.


Monday, June 9, 2008

Mom and Vintage Patterns

My youngest son just graduated from college this weekend, and pretty much my entire family came to witness the graduation and celebrate. Well my mom and dad bought an extra suitcase, and my mom blessed me with a suitcase full of vintage patterns! There were over 30 patterns in the suitcase. A lady gave them to her; she knew that my mom sewed, and told her to do whatever she liked with them. Well needless to say she thought of me, her eldest!

Here's a picture of a few of them.






Most were in my bust size, can you believe it! I don't know where to start. So many fabrics, ideas, patterns, but so little time.

All I could do was hug her over and over again (My Dad couldn't figure out why I was so excited about a "box of old patterns"). I knew God put that woman in my life for a reason, if only to bring me a suitcase full of vintage patterns. I always knew she was the perfect mom, but now she has taken perfection to a whole new level.

Oh well, time for me to stop ranting about my mom and start sewing.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

What does LOVE look like 25 years later - A sewing story

I know for a fact that sewing for anyone is nothing less than an act of love.

When my sister was a little girl, the cabbage-patch dolls had just come out. She of course wanted one but my Mom told here no. Now mind you I am 15 years older than my little sister, and of course she came to her big sister (that's what we are here for!).

Since I couldn't go against my parents wishes, I had to find an alternative. At the time Butterick had just posted a pattern for "soft-sculptured" dolls. So off I went to the fabric store to complete my first doll. I finished her and gave her to my sister. She took that doll with her everywhere she went. This doll was loved beyond love!

Now fast foward to over 25 years later. My sister is now 31 years old and an attorney:

(My Sister)

She no longer carries the doll with her everywhere. If you are wondering what happened to the doll?

Well I recently returned home and my mother had a surprise for me. That little doll that was "homemade" with love was sitting on the bed in one of her rooms. She had on a new dress, and new socks purchased by my Mom. I think she is more beautiful today than she was 25 years ago.

My mom says all she could think of was the love that this little doll reminded her of. Even though her head is a little wobbly now, she's loved more now than she was in her first year.

So if you're wondering what love looks like as it grows old, well words can't describe it, only a picture will do it justice.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Vogue 8491 Completed and On to Vintage

Well its done! And I'm really pleased with how it turned out. (Forgive me not smiling, but I never liked to take pix - As I learn to use the self-portrait timer on my camera, I now know why my husband and kids are always complaining about how hard it is to get a picture of me smiling)

I'm going to add a little weight at the hem in the back near the bottom of the slit, I think that will make it hang so much better. I could have placed the center back such that the design didn't fall so close to the seam line on both sides. I was so focused on the design direction (nap). There are no regrets on this one and I am loving the fit! I will definitely be making this again!


The pattern was very simple to. Its fully lined. I was given a label with the fabric so of course I had to put that in with my own label:


Also another thing that I have started doing is putting the "eye" portion of a hook & eye set at the top of slit openings that are on a seam. It helps cut down on the stress at the seam.

Now on to my next project, I just bought my first vintage pattern.

I've got a piece of red linen that I think would look really nice in this.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

sewing and half.com

Well recently I had checked out a book from the library on fitting: "Every Sewers Guide To Perfect Fit" and really liked it, but had to return it. So after looking at one of the many blogs I peruse (Cellie's Pants, to be specific), I read about half.com.

Needless to say, off I went, and have just order the following:

They have already shipped. It came to about $6 per book with postage. So guess what I'll be doing over the Memorial day week (in addition to sewing) - I'll be reading about sewing. What a way to spend a weekend

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The dress muslin

I began my work on Vogue 8491. I got the initial paper pattern marked up. I'm doing a muslin. The initial pass was rather loose thru the hips, I had to go back and taper it some:


I've still got some more fine tuning to do, but am pretty pleased with it. I raised the armhole by 1 inch but I'm going to lower it back, and will add a little more ease thru the waist. Well I guess enough sewing on the muslin for the night.

I'm looking forward to the extended weekend so that I can sew.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Skirt pattern alterations done!

Well as part of this fitting class, I've also fitted a skirt. This method of using a different pattern size for the back piece worked amazingly well for the skirt. I just had to add a dart in the back pattern piece, and take the pattern in at the waist. I also added 2 inches to the length.

The pattern that I altered is:



The fabric I'm using is a piece I purchased from Vogue Fabrics Store in Chicago, IL:

I had a difficult time deciding which side to use the right or wrong side. (I liked the green color on the wrong side). But finally decided to go with the black/white-stripes. Turns out the stripes were on the cross-wise rather than length-wise, but don't like the thought of cross-wise stripes.

I just finished cutting out the skirt, and should have the skirt made by the end of the week. I'm contemplating putting a lining in the skirt (although the pattern doesn't call for one).

I also got a muslin done for the dress in my previous post (Vogue 8491). I ended up grading from a small upper body to the larger lower body back piece. I purchased a piece of designer fabric, Carnet de Mode, to make the dress out of:











Then it's on to my first set of pants done from the pants muslin alterations.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

International Magazines Arrived

Last week I ordered 3 international magazines: Patrones #266, KnipMode - May 2008; Moden Diana, #27. I already have a dress in the Patrones, a top and suit in the KnipMode chosen to make.

Just more things to feed my addition to sewing!
Oh well, its back to my pants muslin for now.

Friday, April 18, 2008

The Pants Muslin Journey - Part 1

Well we did a first pass of my pants muslin. The muslin was cut to my altered pattern piece; the black lines are the alterations done to the muslin.

For the front piece I wound up with a size 14, and we removed the dart. We also had to bring it in considerably at the waistline.


The next part was the pant back which I ended up with a size 20. We had to add a dart, and
then taper the seam in at the center back to handle the waist:


The fit was totally awesome (sorry I didn't take pix with the muslin on). I'm currently making a new muslin to the new stitching lines. I'm having to add about 3 inches at the back waistline so we can check the fit thru the back when seated. I'll be sure and take pictures then.