Teaching Sewing
My niece spent the weekend and besides the two hours of Trick O’ Treating we did, we also did some sewing!
She made two pairs of leggings. This time, I only made the casing for the elastic- she did everything else. Of course, in the end, she really doesn’t like to sew. She would rather go shopping for clothes than make them. She just humors me about sewing. She would like to ‘play’ with the sewing machine sort of like ’surfing’ on the internet.
So now back to my own projects. I have quite a stack of unfinished projects waiting and waiting for me!
The Sewing Workshop – Trio T-Shirt, Top & Pants
I have finally finished the Trio pattern. I purchased this and some of the fabric at the ASG Conference in New Mexico.
Trio T-Shirt, Top & Pants
The fabric for the top is from the Project Sewing Workshop and is linen. Ugh! It was really difficult to work with. Also, it does not launder well – as you can see, it needs a good pressing. The buttons came from my stash. It is a cute top – sort of a lightweight jacket.
Trio Top and the Trio T-shirt
Would I make this top again? Not sure yet. I think I need to wear it a bit before I retire the pattern. The T-Shirt pattern is really nice. Fits well, too. It has raglan sleeves, which I usually don’t like because of my rounded back, but this pattern was (or is) well drafted. Had some problems with the neck edge. The pattern had some odd measurements, but I consulted my Easy Sewing Guide to Sewing Tops & T-Shirts, by Marcy Tilton, and I was able to get the neck edge. The fabric is some I purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics some time ago. The pattern is a little too loud for me, but I do like the T-Shirt and I really like the weight of this knit, unfortunately I have no idea what the fabric is.
Trio T-Shirt
And finally the pants, they fit really well. I made size medium and the length and the sizing is perfect. So what’s wrong? They are cute, but I don’t think I would make them again. They’re a sort of ‘cargo’ pant style. I took a class on pants from Linda Lee (who wrote/designed this pattern) at the ASG Conference. Her lecture was all about drape of pant fabric. If the fabric has a really good drape then the pants will be slimming (she wrote a Threads Magazine article about this, too). I felt the fabric I used (some from my stash) had nice ’slimming ‘ drape, however, this style of pant has this big pocket at the bottom and so the pants seem too heavy at the ankles – making me look shorter than I am. I did add some side pockets and I do like the waist band treatment. Would I make the pants again, no.
Sewing Workshop Trio T-Shirt, Top & Pants
Crafty some more!
Citrus Bracelet
Yes, I have not blog’d since June. Why? Well, busy with ASG, busy with the Museum and just busy with life. But I have been creating. I have several blouses I need to blog about, but I wanted to show my latest piece of jewelry. I made this bracelet – I call it the ‘Citrus bracelet’ a couple of weeks ago. I admit I have not worn it. It is a little too ‘jangle – jangle’ for me, but I did get it all done. Sometimes, done is good!
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.
Where have I been?
I’ve been missing from my blog for many reasons, but mostly, I’ve been busy. I’ve dropped the ‘ball’ on time management and have been racing to meet deadlines – even us ‘volunteers’ have deadlines. So here is a list of waht I have been doing since I last posted:
- Gave a presentation to the local Home Ec Club – the history of women’s underwear.
- Been to Fillmore a.k.a. Heritage Valley for the day – making arrangements for my father’s 76th birthday bash.
- Made a skirt for my niece – a hot, rad mini skirt (her words – not mine).
- Modeled my creation and my niece modeled, too, in the Cypress College Adult Ed Fashion Show – I actually don’t like to do this, but the instructor is fantastic and I have learned so much from her.
- Finished my report for the ASG Creativity Contest – of course, the outfit still needs the lining and I really am not pleased with how it turned out – more on that later.
- Spent two days at a John Deer Adorable Ideas Seminar on digizing software – fascinating seminar, too. I’m so glad I went. It was worth every penny although the sewing machine dealer gave me the HARD sell to buy yet another machine! I haven’t paid off the last embroidery machine I bought.
- Been to an Angel game – I know NOTHING about baseball but love to people watch and, of course, eat kettle corn.
- Filed my taxes – this year I goofed these up too.
- Saw the new Star Trek movie at the IMAX – Wow! It was great!
So that is where I have been and what I have been doing. Tires me out just thinking about it.
Cat Attack!
I wasn’t going to post ANYTHING about my cats, but I kept getting asked about them so here they are:
This is Darby II. No matter what I lay out on my cutting table the cats like to roll all over it. There are many flat comfortable surfaces through out the house, but my cutting table is the cat magnet!
This is my other cat, Fitzwilliam. I was tracing off a Marfy pattern and he, of course, needed to help, too.
Fitzwilliam is the older of the two and is a certifiable lap cat. He loves to curl up and sit in your lap and take a snooze. Darby, on the other hand, doesn’t mind being petted, but would rather chase a mouse, look for spiders or leap from one piece of furniture to the other. They were indoor/outdoor cats until a pack of coyotes made their home in our backyard – so now they are indoor cats. It was a little adjustment for them to stay indoors (more for me then them) but we are all living harmously now – except when they walk across my computer keyboard. And finally, after all is said and done. The cats take a nap.
Whittier City Banner Project
Well, here it is. For all of those who were waiting- Okay, maybe no one was, but it is done and turned in to the city. Let me give you a little background. The city sponsors a banner project where those who are chosen get a banner and the opportunity to paint their design. Not being an artist. Not being a designer. Not being a painter – I thought, why don’t I apply! So I did and I was picked! Looking forward to seeing it hanging along Mar Vista Street! On the 24th is the banner reception at the city and I am looking forward to seeing everybody elses banner, too.
Back up and Running!
My computer went down on Saturday (03/7th) and is just now, finally fixed. I was attacked by a VIRUS and, of course, had no idea how to remedy the situation, so I turned to my one and only DH for help. He got the computer back up and running and now I have re-entered the 21st Century! I’m thrilled. Truly, I am! But, back to sewing and life . . .
