Working on Vogue 7903 Sandra Betzina’s Today’s Fit
I have ‘heard’ and seen much success with Sandra Betzina’s Today’s Fit pattens from Vogue – so, in need of some blouses, I thought I would try one:
But, I have found that I need to make some major adjustments to the bust area. The bust darts are pointing some where other than where they should be:
You may not be able to see the bust darts, but I had to shorten them by about two inches. I am hoping this will fix the problem, but in the meantime -
I was getting ‘too much help form the cats’ so I gave up and will begin again tomorrow night.
Pencil Skirt Success
I came of age in the ’80’s - and over the years I’ve given up the big hair, the big shoulder pads in jackets, but I still love a good pencil skirt and this is it: I recently made two of these. This one is from home dec fabric I purchased at M&L Fabrics in Anaheim.
The pattern is very easy and I purchased it through Lanetzliving.net, which is a great website for fininding out-of-print patterns. The pattern is Butterick 5390.
I installed a lapped zipper:
I used Kenneth King’s lapped zipper method from his book. I know there are LOTS of sewing books to show the lapped zipper, but I wanted to try the ‘King’ method.
ASG Creative Contest Outfit – Simplicity 2958
I have ‘lots’ of items to ‘blog’ about, but rather than just dumping it all at once, I will take it one-step-at-a-time. First off: Simplicity 2958 is the pattern I chose for the American Sewing Guild Creativity Contest. I didn’t place, but they did ask to ’see’ the outfit. So, I sent it to New York to the Simplicity office. It was sent back with no comment – I guess they didn’t like it. For a sewer like me – mosty self taught- with lots of classes under her ’sewing belt’ I feel that Idid pretty good if they wanted to see it.
I changed the pattern, too. First I eliminated the sleeve seam (it as a two piece seam) and made the seam into a very large dart. This was a little tricky, but actually worked really well and I think gave a better fit, too.
I also added bias cuffs and a bias band at the bottom of the jacket, too.
The dress I used a hand-picked zipper and I moved the darts, deleted the pockets – ugh – they were right on my tummy – Who needs a pocket there?! Now, that I have received my dress back I can REALLY state what I think about this pattern – ugh! I would have passed it over if it hadn’t been designated for the ASG Creativity Contest. Since this is the ONLY chance I will have to go to an ASG conference I decided to participate as in as many things as I could. I think if ASG and Simplicity want to encourage new sewers they should really update their view on these patterns.
Next sewing project
Of course, I have several unfinished projects, but I am eager to make some pants. So I started on this pattern on sunday- I glanced through the reviews on Pattern Review and saw what others had done with it. I will be adding pockets, but other than that no other major pattern alterations- the muslin fit fine. So I am sewing View B. More on this later – Stay tuned.
