tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178129962024-03-12T21:58:40.068-04:00Flosslady's BlogJuanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.comBlogger290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-84019363904317423902017-12-27T10:24:00.001-05:002017-12-27T10:24:57.317-05:00happy new year<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'>good morning Flosslady<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><a href="https://goo.gl/tBgqym">https://goo.gl/tBgqym</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Thanks!<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.1pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-78723605967334060342012-05-18T15:30:00.001-04:002012-05-18T15:30:46.367-04:00I've Moved!For assorted reasons, I've decided to change things up a bit with my blog. Recreating things here felt too much like forcing the square peg into the round hole, so I'm starting over. I do hope you will join me in my new cyber-home!
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<a href="http://mycraftedlife.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>My Crafted Life</b></span></a></div>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-17698719484251193562011-07-12T13:51:00.004-04:002011-07-15T11:59:32.712-04:00Two Days, Two FinishesThis summer is turning out to be very hectic, particularly July. Two family reunions and a wedding have combined to eat up every weekend of the month. In between, I've been spending countless hours outside working on various gardening chores. Gardening is one of those things that always starts well in the spring, but I quickly lose motivation to keep up with it when the temperature starts to rise. Seriously, it's about a million degrees outside now, and I really have to force myself to get out there. Afterward, I'm hot, miserable, and sore all over... not exactly prime time to be sewing.<br /><br />I figured that an easy knit top would be a good thing to work on. I decided to try a different view of M6326. Not too many pieces, and nearly instant gratification, right? That's how it was last time, when I made view D, but not this time. No... this time, I promptly sewed the upper back to the *bottom* of the upper front. Naturally, I was using the tiny zig-zag stitch for knits on my machine, which is extremely difficult to rip out. <br /><br />Lesson: Do NOT try to sew anything when you are tired and everything hurts from gardening.<br /><br />After some serious un-sewing, things got back on track pretty quickly. I was making View C, the one with the twist top. The only problem with the pattern as designed is the keyhole opening below the twist-- it's WAY too low as designed. I sewed it up a bit, but went too far and now you can't really see the opening when it's worn. The fabric probably looks familiar. That is because it's left over from the dress that I recently finished.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M6326.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M6326.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />I finished this yesterday, and promptly wore it out to run some errands. It's a cute top, but it doesn't wear nearly as well as view D. The twist top isn't very comfortable in really hot weather, and the back rides down just a bit, which is a problem if you're wearing a strapless bra with it (I was). I had already taken the top in quite a bit before wearing it, but it still slides a bit. <br /><br />Today's finish was McCall's 5391, the shorts that I started a week or so ago. I wasn't able to finish them because I ran out of thread for the topstitching. I finally remembered to pick some up, and it didn't take long to finish these. They were supposed to be View B, the cuffed version with the tabs, but I cut them off too short before hemming and decided not to cuff them. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5391.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5391.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />This is a lousy picture, but I can't get the stupid remote to work on my camera, and I was too lazy to try to put shorts on Wilma. So, there they are... flat on the cutting table. At any rate, I really like the shorts. I'm not crazy about the fabric (left over from last year's pants), but these were really intended as a wearable muslin. I wasn't too eager to buy fabric for shorts until I was sure I had a pattern that worked for me. <br /><br />I liked this pattern much better than the previous one I used (McCall's 5857). The waist band sits lower, but not too low. The fit of this pair is much closer to my favorite RTW shorts-- a pair from Lord & Taylor that I bought out of desperation because I couldn't find any shorts to fit me and I hadn't yet found a shorts pattern that worked for me. Now that I've tried this pattern, I'll definitely be making more of these.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-85446661312577822402011-07-03T16:35:00.002-04:002011-07-03T16:58:11.414-04:00Finally FinishedI don't know what it is about hemming/finishing that I dislike so badly, but it seems like I'll do nearly anything to avoid it. Take New Look 6429, for example. I'm not going to tell you exactly how long it hung in my sewing room waiting for the finishing touches. Let's just say it has been there for a while. The worst part is that it's sleeveless and required a narrow hem around the armscye. I probably should have just put sleeves on this dress. I would have been able to wear it sooner. Oh, well. It's done now. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6429.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6429.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />The pattern is New Look 6429. I selected it for the princess seams and interesting back detailing. I didn't take a photo, but the back bodice goes down into a little "v" shape where it joins the skirt. The princess seaming provides wonderful shaping and the pattern is very well drafted, making it exceptionally easy to put together. <br /><br />The only trouble I had with this dress (other than my own procrastination), was the facings. They don't want to lay properly. I'm sure the problem is with the fabric & interfacing that I used, and not the pattern. I doubt anyone other than me will notice, but the neckline wants to roll outward just a bit. <br /><br />My latest pair of shorts are nearly finished, but I've run out of thread for topstitching. They're meant as a wearable muslin. So far, they seem to be turning out pretty well. The fit is nice and, most importantly, the waistline isn't too high. I'll probably pick up some more suitable fabric for another pair soon.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-71277362733315304102011-06-28T14:57:00.003-04:002011-06-28T18:03:25.179-04:00New Projects, Old ProjectsNearly two years ago, I took a sock knitting class at a local yarn shop. I loved it, and a new addiction was born. I learned to knit as a kid but was never really "into" it... until I found socks. That first pair was pretty plain, knitted using a very forgiving sport weight sock yarn and size 4 or 5 needles. <br /><br />The ultra-boring 2 x 2 rib pattern and larger size needles kept things simple so that we could learn the basic principles of sock knitting. And learn them I did! :) The moment that first pair was finished, I immediately purchased more yarn, plus a couple of basic sock-knitting books. More yarn came home, and soon my laptop had multiple folders devoted to sock patterns that I had collected online. When I'm not sewing, or stitching, or gardening, or weaving baskets, or any of the other thousand things that I love to do, I'm knitting socks. But like so many things, I usually forget to take pictures. So, here are just a few that I've made in the last year...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Knitting/DSC_0488.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Knitting/DSC_0488.jpg" width=350 border=0></a></center><br /><br />A few days ago, I visited the local yarn shop to look for some of my favorite sock yarn (Bamboobaa, if you're wondering). I picked up these lovelies and, of course, promptly started knitting yet another pair of socks. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Knitting/Muscari.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Knitting/Muscari.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />On the sewing front, I'm working on a new pair of shorts from McCall's 5391. I picked up the pattern during one of the recent pattern sales at Joann. It's similar to the last pair I made (McCall's 5857), but the waist isn't so high and I was able to purchase the pattern in the correct size. So far, these seem to be working better than the other pattern. The fabric is left over from a pair of pants that I made last year. It's not the fabric I would choose, but it was good for a first run of this pattern. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5391wip.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5391wip.jpg" width=350 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Some good news about that last pair of shorts I made-- they're not as bad as I first thought. They aren't good... the waist is way too high and gives a definite "mom jeans" vibe... but they work well with some of my summer tops that aren't worn tucked in. The great news is that they are really comfortable to wear. So, I guess they weren't a tragic fail after all. I still won't be making that pattern again, though.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-67270024629832198652011-06-24T16:21:00.002-04:002011-06-24T16:55:20.370-04:00Catching up...Once again, I've been remiss in updating my blog. I have good intentions. Really, I do... but alas, I suffer from really poor follow-through. Again, my excuse is pictures and the fact that I can't seem to get the remote for my camera to work. Because I'm too lazy to figure out what's wrong, or just take the pictures using the timer, I've decided to renew Wilma's modelling contract. These clothes... the ones that turned out, anyway... look much better on a real person than they do on Wilma, but it's the best I can do at the moment.<br /><br />First up, Butterick 4789, the Maggie London twist top dress that so many have sewn. When I brought home this fabric (from the "red tag" section at Joann's), BF informed me that it looked like the seat cover for a 1975 Chevy Nova. But even he grudgingly admits that he likes this dress. The fit is just perfect, particularly at the neckline, and it has fisheye darts in the back for shaping. All in all, very flattering!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0478.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0478.jpg" float: "left" width=300 border=0></a></center> <br /><br />Next we have McCall's 6326. I can't tell you how much I love this top. It's sooooo comfortable and easy to wear, and so much nicer than a t-shirt. If it wasn't such a distinctive style, I'd probably make a bunch of these. As it is, I plan to try one of the other views. I even have the fabric picked out. Unfortunately, what I *don't* have is the pattern. Somehow, I have misplaced it. I'm sure it will turn up again... these things always do. I just hope it's still summer when it happens. I'd hate to have to wear one of these with a winter coat. LOL<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0479.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0479.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Last, and most certainly LEAST, is Vogue 8032. I love the design. Unfortunately, the finished top leaves much to be desired. The armscye on this is drafted so low that it was practically at my knees. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea. I tried a couple of different fixes, none of which fixed it enough to make it wearable. Someone on PatternReview had an excellent idea about adding contrast fabric to raise the armscye and treat it as a design feature. I just might try that... but probably not soon. Another member suggessted wearing it under a jacket, also a good idea and will probably save this from the trash bin in the end. I love the fabric, so finding some way to wear this would be nice. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0480.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0480.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />And in case you're wondering how bad the armscye still looks after my attempts to fix it...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0481.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/DSC_0481.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-50640345432812054312011-05-24T12:59:00.004-04:002011-05-24T13:22:24.794-04:00Better than expectedThere has been more sewing than blog posting lately. Mostly, that is because I'm soooo lazy about taking pictures, and the remote for my camera isn't working as it should, meaning that if I'm going to get any photos, I need to find someone else to take them. I hate to bother BF with it, so until the cats learn to use a camera, we'll just have to settle for Wilma as model. <br /><br />One as yet unposted finish is Simplicity 2936, a button-front top with raglan sleeves. This pattern has languished in my stash for AGES because, well... the photos are decidedly unappealing. So bad, in fact, that every time I pulled this pattern out I couldn't begin to figure out why I had purchased it. The photo gives it a decidedly "home made" look that made me think more of a craft project than a custom-created garment. Really not my style at all, and something that I'm afraid of accidentally creating. Those of you who sew can probably relate to this. LOL<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/2936front.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/2936front.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />After giving the technical drawings a closer look, I decided to give the pattern a chance. It had nice shaping, courtesy of tucks in the front and back, and the raglan sleeves are great. I went with the non-collared view and decided against adding trim (though I did purchase some and may add it later).<br /><br />Everything went together perfectly, and the tucks provided an opportunity to get a perfect fit through the waist. I loved the results and will probably make this again soon, in white. My ONLY complaint is the fabric that I chose. I used a cotton sateen. It would have been great for a different top, just not this one. It wrinkles badly in the wash, and the sleeves of this top are very difficult to iron properly. I've also had a hard time getting the neckline ironed just right. It was great when I first completed the top, but since washing.... well... just take a look at the photo, and you'll see what I mean.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S2936.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S2936.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Other than the issues with ironing, I was pleasantly surprised by this top. The full review is <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/63364">here</a>.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-72424429473486330182011-05-06T17:29:00.003-04:002011-05-06T17:58:24.015-04:00M5857... and a lack of clothesI've mostly been quiet about it, but... I've lost weight. Quite a bit of it, in fact. I felt like I was too heavy FOR ME and finally decided to do something about it at the end of July 2010. I'll admit, I was skeptical, not expecting much results. I have no will power and LOVE to eat, after all. Much to my surprise, it worked. Great news, but now, the warm weather is upon us again and I have no clothes. Literally. Until two days ago, I didn't even own a t-shirt in my current size. I'm at a point with my sewing where I'd prefer to make clothes rather than buy them, but there are only so many hours in a day for sewing, and I'm kind of slow. I purchased a couple pairs of capri pants and a few tops as a start, but I'm trying to fill in the rest of my wardrobe with my own creations as much as possible.<br /><br />This brings me to M5857, Misses' Shorts in 4 Lengths. I really need shorts for summer, and had great hopes of this pattern turning into a TNT. Sadly, that was not the case. For starters, I have the wrong size pattern (purchased when I needed a larger size). I took it in quite a bit all over, which helped, but I think it created some problems with the pockets. The pattern is now OOP, so re-purchasing in the correct size wasn't an option.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5857.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5857.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Even if I had the right size pattern to start with, I don't think it would have helped all that much. The waistband of these shorts is just too high for me, sitting just above my natural waist. This gives a decidedly unflattering look to the shorts, giving an odd "3 months pregnant" sort of look, which is only acceptable if one is indeed pregnant. I'm not. I also felt like it would have been much better with a 2-piece, curved waistband. It would have made fit adjustments in the waist a lot easier, and I think the fit would have been more flattering.<br /><br />The pockets don't lay perfectly flat. I think this is due to my down-sizing of the pattern. I didn't really do much adjustment for the pockets, and I think I should have. In all honestly, I could have taken the shorts apart and fixed it, but it's fairly minor, and I just don't like these well enough to spend any more time on them.<br /><br />I will wear these, partly because they are my ONLY pair of shorts at the moment. I'll never love them, but they'll be okay if I don't tuck my shirt into them.<br /><br />The full pattern review is <a href"http://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/62850">here</a>.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-57585597528031275282011-04-13T10:19:00.002-04:002011-04-13T10:54:25.345-04:00NL6807 RevisitedThis time, I have a really good excuse for my lapse in blog updates. I was on vacation! There were all the usual vacation preps (including some sewing mishaps), followed by the actual trip, and ending with the multi-day "vacation hangover" that is always waiting at home after being away. You know what I mean-- all the stuff that needs to be unpacked, laundered, etc., plus a pack of animals demanding attention. <br /><br /><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6807.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6807.jpg" border="0" /></a> I should have more sewing to share, but at the moment, all I can report on is New Look 6807. It's a top that I've made before, with good results, so I decided to try it again. There were a few bumps in the road this time, mostly caused by the fabric (I think). The fabric in question is a knit that I picked up on the sale table at Wal-Mart a couple of years ago. It's very thin, and very stretchy, but it was surprisingly easy to work with. And yet, there were issues... <br /><br />Having made this top before, I knew that it runs large. Very large. I also knew that the neck band was just narrow enough to make it a bit of a pain to sew on, so I decided to widen it a little. The trouble started after gathering the front and back, and sewing on the band. All was well; it fit together perfectly... and then I pressed the band before sewing it down. It seemed normal until I tried it on. The neck was HUGE, and I had lost all of my gathers. All I can think is that the steam on the iron caused the whole thing (neckband and all) to stretch out horribly. <br /><br />I fixed the front by adding an inverted pleat in the center, turning it into a "design feature". I very carefully sewed it in place by hand, making sure that everything aligned perfectly, in order to avoid removing the neckband. This fabric is so thin that I was able to get away with this without adding a lot of bulk. Next, I took a wedge out of the center back seam. (Note: this top is supposed to have a tie back, which I've eliminated on both versions that I made.) After these adjustments, the back neck was still a bit saggy. Not a lot, but it was enough to really bother me. I couldn't really afford to take it in any further at the CB seam without encountering bust fitting issues, so I simply inserted a piece of 1/4" elastic inside the back neck binding. Worked like a charm. :)<br /><br />I have another not-yet-reviewed top that made the trip, but I never got a chance to wear it, so I'm waiting until I have photos. I also hoped to take a new dress and another top, but that was not to be. I messed up the hem on the dress (Lesson: do not try to sew at the 11th hour the night before leaving on vacation, when you are most certainly tired), and the top had buttonhole issues. I'm getting a real backlog of projects that need to be photographed and reviewed. I hope to get to them soon, but life keeps getting in the way. *sigh*Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-84377748058646553132011-03-27T16:30:00.003-04:002011-03-27T16:56:44.498-04:00Bad BloggerEvery time I sign-in to update my blog, I'm surprised by how long it has been since my last post. It never feels like it has been so long, but the dates don't lie. Why is it that the weeks and months are passing by so fast? Maybe it's because there are too many things happening at once. The arrival of spring only makes it worse. Now I'm trying to balance my time between planting and yardwork, all of the sewing/stitching/knitting/etc. that I want to do, plus all of the regular stuff around the house. And now, on top of all of that, I'm trying to ready my condo for sale, while living nearly 100 miles away. I guess it's no wonder that the days are going by in a blur, while I'm not spending much time online. <br /><br /><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B4461.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B4461.jpg" border="0" /></a>At any rate, I have been sewing. I finished two tops yesterday. I don't have photos of either one yet, so those will come in a later post. I've also finished this skirt. Sorry there's no pic of me wearing this one. Believe it or not, I didn't have a single top to go with it. Well, none that fit, anyway. I fixed that with a quick shopping trip yesterday, but no updated photos... yet.<br /><br />The pattern is B4461, a simple a-line skirt with facings and back zipper. The pattern shows six variations-- all the same skirt, but with different trim options. I decided against any trim or embellishment since the fabric is so busy. I tend not to add trim to most things. I see lots of other sewists who have a real flair for choosing embellishments, but I don't trust my own judgement enough to do it myself. I'm always afraid that I'll end up with something that looks like "Crafters Gone Wild" rather than a stylish garment. That is probably due to the memory of some of the clothes that my mother sewed for me as a child. Her sewing skills were wonderful, but too often, the results were just too different from the clothes other children were wearing... and I just wanted to fit in.<br /><br />At any rate, I love the results I got from this pattern. I wanted something very simple, so that I could really show off the fabric, and this pattern was exactly the right thing. (I really need to take another photo-- the fabric is a much brighter blue than shown here. It really "pops" in real life.) As an added bonus, it is really fast to make, since it is so ridiculously simple. The only issue I had was the length. As drafted, the hem was going to hit right at the middle of my knee, which is not what I wanted. I opted to go just a bit longer by adding wide hem lace to the bottom edge. The resulting hem ended up exactly where I wanted it. :)<br /><br />The full review is <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=60903">here</a>.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-60246507381038275862011-02-24T16:57:00.003-05:002011-02-24T17:32:07.855-05:00TNTs & Cardi Wrap<a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S2603-B4737.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S2603-B4737.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I had a couple of sewing finishes this week, both from patterns that I've sewn before. After the great collar debacle, my sewing mojo was suffering badly, and I really needed something quick & fun. First up, S2603, the popular cardi-wrap that everyone under the sun (except me) seems to have made already. I made B4737, a sleeveless top, to go under it. As I was sewing the cardigan, I wasn't sure how much I'd like it, but I was happy with it when I wore it recently. Excuse the frightening "bad hair, no make-up" look... I'm so behind in documenting any of my sewing that I got lazy about the picture. Sorry. :(<br /><br />The cardigan went together quite easily, though hemming it was a pain. It has a LOT of edges to hem!! And I've never particularly enjoyed hemming knit fabrics. Amazingly, this fabric actually behaved with the iron, so the hemming wasn't too horrible, just tedious. The top underneath is ridiculously easy, not much to it at all... exactly what I needed to help get my sewing mojo back.<br /><br />It's hard to tell with this completely unstyled picture, but it actually works well with jeans. It would be great with dress pants, but at the moment, I don't have any that fit. :( Rather inexcusable, since I could just sew some, but I'm still losing weight and hate altering things after they're sewn. So, more pants are just going to have to wait.<br />as<br />Meanwhile, I am making plenty of pajama pants. I made one pair for BF recently (no photos yet) in some absolutely ridiculous juvenile fabric. This is what I made for me...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5248Owls.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5248Owls.jpg" width=200 border=0"></a> <a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/OwlPrint.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/OwlPrint.jpg" width=200 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Isn't the fabric great? The pattern is M5248, the same one I used for the pink butterly pajamas a few months ago. I liked those, but the fabric didn't hold up well at all in the wash. I guess that's what I get for using Wal-Mart flannel. LOL I made a second pair at Christmas using candy cane printed flannel from Joann's. Those did *MUCH* better in the wash, so I bought more during their last flannel sale. <br /><br />Last, but not least, is NL6735, another pattern that I've made before. I picked up this fabric at Wal-Mart. I was on the fence about the print... wasn't sure if it was awful or not. But I figured the gored skirt would help break up the pattern a bit, and the black top tones it all down a little. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6735-circles.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6735-circles.jpg" width=250 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Naturally, I couldn't finish all these projects without starting something new. ;) My latest WIP is M5523. I'm doing View A and LOVING working on this one!! It would be finished by now, but yesterday I realized that the dark color is NOT black. It's dark chocolate brown, and I don't have a zipper for it. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5523Start.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5523Start.jpg" width=250 border=0></a></center>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-68411995499982507452011-02-20T15:06:00.003-05:002011-02-20T15:43:35.110-05:00M5522... The Mojo Killer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PJauWw5ZT7_Xz6WRQCxFNxZYY69zOeCinBxASoCZNSj2E3AgysjVz0Petvha-3l3swy8Kc-OysZg-eyXZXC6yqMSEq77M2boMakK5BfOC4D8ZhjXRGk5aX1hAMtSPNUXen9Hqg/s1600/M5522+pattern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575871621262324626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PJauWw5ZT7_Xz6WRQCxFNxZYY69zOeCinBxASoCZNSj2E3AgysjVz0Petvha-3l3swy8Kc-OysZg-eyXZXC6yqMSEq77M2boMakK5BfOC4D8ZhjXRGk5aX1hAMtSPNUXen9Hqg/s200/M5522+pattern.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It might seem like I haven't done any sewing since Thanksgiving, but that isn't true. Some time ago, as in BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I started working on M5522 (I had some other things in the works, too). The pattern had been in my stash for a while, and I purchased some pretty red fabric for it. That's where the trouble began. First, the fabric was aggravating to work with. It fought me every step of the way. It was a nightmare to cut, and only slightly less troublesome to sew. Things were going pretty well, until I got to the collar and stand. The collar & stand weren't the problem-- they went together perfectly. The trouble happened when I pressed the collar. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but my iron ruined the collar. It wasn't a very good iron, and I should have replaced it long ago, but I had gotten by with it for so long that I hadn't bothered. (Okay, there was one ugly incident with a pair of pants prior to this... and I didn't get the hint.)<br /><br />After completely ruining the collar, I immediately ran out and replaced the iron. I picked up a Rowenta professional something-or-other, which I absolutely LOVE. After getting my spiffy new iron, I set to work on doing another collar & stand. That's when the final incident happened... I managed to follow the instructions for the wrong view of the shirt, and ended up with the band collar. You'd think I would have noticed that there was no collar attached to the stand, but nooooo.... of course not! At this point, I was so sick of the collar drama that I decided to just go with the band collar. That worked, until I tried to attach it, and nothing lined up correctly. I have no idea why, because it was at that point that I couldn't take any more, and I simply stopped working on it.<br /><br />I love the idea of the shirt so much (and it really is a great pattern!) that I haven't quite had the heart to doom it to wadder-dom, but I also haven't had the stomach to undertake making the collar for a THIRD time. So it sits in limbo.<br /><br /><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S4135.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S4135.jpg" style="float: left" width=200 border=0></a>Meanwhile, I have been sewing. I just haven't been very good about posting, or taking pictures. I tried to play catch-up today, but it didn't go so well. I started with S4135, a pair of pants that I loved when I made them. That was over a month ago. I've lost weight since then, and they no longer fit. I need to take them in all over, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I need to do a review of them, so I took a picture anyway. Ten pounds ago, they were *perfect*... not so much now. LOL<br /><br />I've also finished S2603, the cardi-wrap that everyone (except me) seems to have made in the last year. I made a sleeveless top to go under it, but not the one shown on the pattern. More on the pants and cardi later.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-72235636131796783902011-01-04T20:33:00.002-05:002011-01-04T20:47:32.048-05:00New Year, New ProjectSince 2000, I've been starting a new project every January 1. Even though I didn't stitch a lot in 2010, I kept with this tradition for another year. For 2011, I decided to start <i>Shell Collection</i>, a Dimensions kit that I picked up last year on a trip to NC. As a rule, I don't normally stitch from kits, but this one really spoke to me. I'm a sucker for seashells, so I decided that I simply HAD to have this. I can't stand stitching on aida, so I swapped the fabric for some 30 ct. cream (or was it ivory?) murano from my stash. Here's what I have stitched so far...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/2011%20WIPs/Shells-110104.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/2011%20WIPs/Shells-110104.jpg" width=350 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Last year's January 1 start was <i>Garden Verses</i>, which isn't finished, but I have made some progress on it. I've enjoyed working on this one and need to get back to it again.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/2011%20WIPs/GV-20110104.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/2011%20WIPs/GV-20110104.jpg" width=350 border=0></a></center><br /><br />I'll soon have more sewing to share. I got a bit sidetracked from it over the holidays, but will be getting back to it very soon. In fact, I have a pair of pants that are nearly finished-- just need to hem them. And of course, there are a bunch of other things in the works. Stay tuned...Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-35649620768761700382010-11-24T10:37:00.003-05:002010-11-24T11:01:55.555-05:00Sadie's Winter Coat<a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/s2695.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/s2695.jpg" border="0"></a>Just because my dog is a mutt (beagle/rat terrier mix, adopted from a local shelter), doesn't mean that she isn't a diva. She is, and with short hair, she gets cold in the winter months. Unfortunately, at 20 lbs., her size often prevents her from being able to fit into many of the cutest RTW doggie clothes. This year, instead of being frustrated at the selection of coats available in XS and S, I decided she should have her very own custom creation. <br /><br />The pattern is Simplicity 2695, which I did with very little deviation from the design instructions. The body of the coat is a single-sided pre-quilted nylon fabric; the contrast is ivory/pink leopard print minky. My only complaint about the pattern is the exposed edges. The instructions had the contrast binding simply folded in half and sewn on with topstitching, which would leave a raw edge all the way around. The minky doesn't really ravel, but it still seemed unfinished to me, so I did my own thing. I pinned the binding to the coat with right sides together and sewed the strip on, then folded over (leaving the unfinished edge on the inside), and topstitched down. MUCH better! I also added sparkly pink buttons to each side of the tab closure.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/s2695-2.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/s2695-2.jpg" width="200" border="0"></a>     <a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/s2695-1.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/s2695-1.jpg" align="top" width="300" border="0"></a></center>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-40439340936505513552010-11-14T23:11:00.003-05:002010-11-15T00:00:20.379-05:00Not thrilledI finished B5497 today, but I'm not terribly excited about it. The color is good. The fabric... not so much. This is the same type of fabric that I used for the purple top I made recently and there is something about the drape that I just don't love. It's a shame, because it comes in really great colors.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVRePxc-LyyS4obUd1lA5CAciSqAH8i___DOtTJQE-ZhQVLAP_cQjVijRYfCfCPXzRNHqqtmDWwDuXNNM5w19Hw4bD7pDhLtk_mHC0cAfsFZ9QrzqvcE4OamcJFj3smbBYbMKNQ/s1600/B5497.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539626335767528210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVRePxc-LyyS4obUd1lA5CAciSqAH8i___DOtTJQE-ZhQVLAP_cQjVijRYfCfCPXzRNHqqtmDWwDuXNNM5w19Hw4bD7pDhLtk_mHC0cAfsFZ9QrzqvcE4OamcJFj3smbBYbMKNQ/s200/B5497.jpg" border="0" /></a>I was in doubt over this pattern before I even cut it out. I think the sleeveless version might be okay, but it's November and that just wasn't an option. I was a bit concerned about the cut-in sleeves. Sometimes they work on me, but not always. My plan was to cut them off if they were a complete disaster. (Oh, how I wish that was my only issue with this top. LOL)</div><br /><div></div><div>First things first. The good... the pattern was very well-drafted and went together perfectly. The elastic insertion at the bodice seam was a little weird, though. It works, but I would do it differently if I ever tried it again. (Don't hold your breath!) </div><br /><div></div><div>Some of the issues in this photo are due to Wilma's poor modeling techniques. The shirring on the top of the sleeves is completely lost in the gap, and the draping is a little off because of the way the fabric sticks to the dress form. Those things aside, there are <a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5497.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5497.jpg" border="0" /></a>actually several things I would change if I was going to do this top again. First, I *hate* the way the neckline is finished. It's done with a narrow hem, something I never like on a round neck. I thought about doing a bound neckline, but followed the pattern instead. I really wish I had gone with my instinct-- it would have been so much better. </div><div> </div><div>I also don't really like the way the sleeves hang. Because they are cut-in rather than set, there is a seam that runs from the shoulder all the way down the sleeve and there is elastic at the shoulder to create shirring at the top of the sleeve. Sounds good in theory, but it shortens the sleeve on the top side, making the hem look odd. </div><div> </div><div>At the moment, I doubt I'll ever wear this for anything other than yard work. My plan is to let it sit for a little while and see if I feel any differently about it later. If my feelings about it change, I plan to fix the neckline (I screwed it up a bit when I was doing the narrow hem). And I might chop off the sleeves and have this as a summer top instead. </div><div> </div><div>On a brighter note, the pajama bottoms have been keeping me warm and comfy. :) There will definitely be more of those in my future, though I will make a couple of changes. For starters, they need pockets. And after looking at the photo, I realized that they aren't nearly as pink as they look here. The photo makes it look like they glow in the dark... they're not quite that bright. LOL </div><div> </div><div>Oh... and Julie... the top for the pajama bottoms were these tiny little spaghetti-strap things. Definitely NOT suitable for cold weather. Anyway, I usually wear t-shirts with my flannel bottoms. (Probably more than you wanted to know. LOL)</div></div>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-28634217692568792532010-11-05T12:34:00.004-04:002010-11-05T13:02:25.176-04:00Pink?I'm not generally a fan of pink. Fuschia is okay, but not little-girl pink. But when I decided that I needed some girly pajama bottoms, I went straight for the bolt of oh-so-girly, complete with butterflies, pink flannel. I'm glad I did-- they're too cute! :)<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5248-11052010-1.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5248-11052010-1.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />The pattern is McCall's 5248. Not much to tell, really. Pajama bottoms are unbelievably easy to put together... just four pieces and a tie. Not much fitting required other than getting the hem right. Speaking of the hem-- these ran LONG. I made the medium and shortened a little when I cut the pattern, but still ended up taking off another 1".<br /><br />I'll probably make more of these to replace the ugly men's flannel that I normally wear around the house. This will certainly be more cheerful during the dreary winter months.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-25456397852698165252010-11-04T11:50:00.002-04:002010-11-04T12:10:39.640-04:00S2451I seem to be on a purple kick lately. Or, I was. This is the third purple garment in a row that I've made. Yes, that last top was purple, even though it appeared blue in the pictures. (I really must remember to change the filters on my camera.) At any rate, the latest in my "purpler series" is this skirt. <br /><br />I was having a bad hair day, so you're getting this one on the hanger. LOL<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S2451.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S2451.jpg" width=300></a></center><br /><br />This pattern has lots of positive reviews on Pattern Review, and with good reason. It is well-drafted and goes together very easily. Lots of fun to make! My only complaint is the fabric I used. I absolutely love the color, especially for fall/winter, but my adoration of this fabric ends there. It wasn't bad to work with, but it seems to look rumpled pretty easily. It also attracts pet hair. BADLY. This is not a good thing in my household. :( Aside from that, there is also a nasty crease down the front of the skirt from where the fabric was folded on the bolt. I haven't washed it yet (yeah, I know... I should have done that before cutting & sewing), so I'm hoping it will come out eventually. Meanwhile, I've tried just about everything else. <br /><br />It's a rainy day here, which gives me a good excuse to stay at home and sew. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to make. I have two tops cut out already, and some pretty pink flannel that is going to be a pair of pajama pants. I also picked up a piece of "maybe" fabric recently. You know... the kind that *might* work for something... or *maybe* it will be a disaster. It really could go either way. But it was inexpensive enough that I just had to take a chance on it.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-59273217349337477372010-11-01T11:21:00.005-04:002010-11-02T15:48:11.355-04:00Halloween TreatsA big, big THANK YOU to Angela, who sent me a wonderful Halloween exchange package last week. (Well, she sent it way before then, but the mail was unusually slow.) She has been a dear friend over the years, so it was a special treat to receive something sent by her. She was also kind enough to let me "borrow" her photos of the exchange-- hers were much better than anything I came up with.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/HalloweenExchange1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/HalloweenExchange1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/HalloweenExchange2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/HalloweenExchange2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/HalloweenExchange3.jpg""><img style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/HalloweenExchange3.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br /><br />I really wish you could see these in person. They're all stitched over one and are just exquisite. The finishing on the tin is truly lovely. I had to confess to Angela that I always wanted one of these, but had never made one for myself because i've always been a little intimidated by the finishing. Now that I have such a nice example of one in my own two hands, I'm going to try to put one together.<br /><br />The exchange I sent hasn't arrived at its destination, so no pictures of it yet.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-90908660180716990312010-10-19T17:42:00.003-04:002010-10-19T18:12:20.806-04:00S4076<div>This is my 2nd completed project for the Pattern Stash Contest. I'm not nearly as prolific as some of the other sewists, but at least this is getting me to use some of the patterns that have been languishing in the pile. And really, isn't that the point? Well, it is for me, anyway. ;) I love the idea of using some of the patterns that have just been sitting around. After all, I wouldn't have purchased them if I didn't like them in the first place. I just tend to get distracted by the latest thing I've hauled home.<br /><br />My pattern stash isn't very large and most of it hasn't been around long enough to qualify for the contest anyway. So, my goals are modest. I'm hoping to complete 5 items from "old" patterns.<br /><br />I got a little lazy with this one and didn't do an FBA. I (stupidly) thought that the gathered neckline and knit fabric would provide enough extra room for my "extra" curves. Ummmm... not really. It looks better than the photograph shows, and I'm sure it will be just fine another -5 lbs. from now. There is something funny about the way this top shows in pictures. I'll need to remember *not* to wear it anywhere that a camera might be pointed in my direction.<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/S4076.jpg" border="0" /><br />I was surprised that I had to add 3" to the length of this top. I'm an average height and rarely need to alter the length, but this was drafted quite short. The sleeve length was fine, though, so I think this was just a "design feature"... just not one I liked. And of course, I had to remove some of the ease from the sleeve cap, about 3/8". </div><br /><div>At any rate, I'm extrememly happy with this top and will probably make it again someday. There are two other neckline variations for this pattern-- a v-neck cross-over style, and a twist front. I will probably try each of them as well.</div>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-46148254233061959382010-10-17T16:35:00.006-04:002010-10-17T17:35:13.430-04:00I am not a model!I really hate being in photos... and it shows. The bad hair day doesn't help, either. LOL Oh well. My latest sewing projects just didn't look that great on Wilma, so I had to step in.<br /><br /><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6375.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6375.jpg" border="0" /></a>First up is New Look 6375, a six-gored knit skirt. Since I stopped working, I don't have the occassion to wear many skirts. They always make me feel a bit overdressed, partly because we live in an area where most people dress casually and choose comfort over style. I hate feeling frumpy, so I've decided that a few skirts are in order.<br /><br />I chose this pattern for a couple of reasons. First, I've entered the stash contest at Pattern Review. The challenge is to sew patterns that have been in the stash pile for 6 months or more. This pattern definitely meets that criteria. I've had it for at least 2 or 3 years. The other deciding factor is that I've been on a diet (WW online, if anyone cares), and I am still shrinking. Six gores and an elastic waist make this a VERY easy skirt to take in later. ;)<br /><br />I wasn't sold on this skirt before I sewed it, mostly because it called for knit... and I haven't had great luck with knit skirts in the past. Then I fell in love with this poly-lycra knit at Joann's, and it was positively BEGGING to be made into this skirt. The fabric wasn't the greatest to work with-- it wanted to roll and made the casing and hem a real pain in the rear-- but the feel and drape of this stuff made it well worth the trouble.Now that it's finished, I absolutely love it. This will probably be a "go to" pattern in the future.<br /><br /><p align="right"><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5185.jpg"></a></p><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5185.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5185.jpg" border="0" /></a>My other recent finish is Butterick 5185. This top is assymetrical with a knotted front. It's a little tough to see these details in the picture, though. Because of the print, they just sort of blend in. It doesn't do this so much in real life, but I was too lazy to take better photos. Sorry about that!<br /><br />Anyway, the fabric is one that I ordered from Fabric Mart especially for this top. I loved the print and weight of the fabric, but wasn't crazy about the way it feels. Can't have it all, I guess. It feels okay on, so that's good... and it's such a distinctive top that I probably won't be able to wear it too often for fear of becoming "the woman who seems to have just that one top". LOL<br /><br />The only real trouble I had with the construction of this top was the sleeves. The pattern as drafted had WAY too much ease, which resulted in a puffy gathered mess around the shoulder... not really what I want in a knit top. The detailed review is here: <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=56312">http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=56312</a>.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-91716163562736150532010-09-27T21:22:00.002-04:002010-09-27T21:47:01.674-04:00B5495Last month, I was at Joann's during a Butterick sale and purchased only one pattern. I left feeling not-so-great about Butterick. Well, I might be having a change of heart. I was at Joann's again last week, during another Butterick sale, and decided to try again. This pattern and fabric were among my finds...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5495.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5495.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />The pattern envelope said "Fast & Easy", no naturally something had to go wrong. In this case, the side front extended about 1 1/2" beyond the center front. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5495-front.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5495-front.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />Normally, I would wonder if I accidentally cut two different sizes, but I was using the smallest one. I ended up laying the back onto the front and cutting off the excess. There was enough ease in the front to allow it to fit even after I removed the excess, but I'd still like to know what went wrong. <br /><br />I love the top... except for the sleeves. They're kimono style, rather than set-in. It's not bad, but that style of sleeve is not my favorite. If I make this again, I'll make the sleeveless version and draft a sleeve to go onto it. At any rate, this is what I'll be wearing for lunch with the girls tomorrow. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5495-finished.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/B5495-finished.jpg" width=300 border=0"></a></center>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-76371236043697896592010-09-21T20:45:00.002-04:002010-09-21T21:01:17.442-04:00NL6807My mojo is still missing, but I decided to do some sewing anyway. I needed a "short attention span" type of project and decided on New Look 6807. It was just four pattern pieces, with raglan sleeves... basically, a no-brainer. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6807-09212010.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/NL6807-09212010.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />The fabric was an embroidered poly-lycra blend from Fabric.com. It's one of those that really wants to curl along the edges, which made for a lot of fabric-fiddling, especially when it came to the neck band. Cutting it out wasn't a lot of fun, either. Come to think of it, I probably spent more time fiddling with the fabric than sewing. I do like the way it looks, though. <br /><br />The complete pattern review is here...<br /><br />http://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/55620Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-48189250107746327082010-09-16T13:13:00.002-04:002010-09-16T14:21:04.735-04:00Has anyone seen my mojo??My sewing/stitching/crafting mojo seems to have gone missing. I'm afraid it has been killed in a consipiracy between my floor and a sewing WIP. <br /><br />The floor in question is in my den. A few weeks ago, I got the bright idea to rip out the carpet, which I have always disliked, and install tile. Naturally, I did every bit of the work myself... and just finished yesterday. I didn't do any sewing or stitching while I was working on this project. I was just too tired and sore to think about it. <br /><br />Meanwhile, I also started this...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/1282071635.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/1282071635.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />It was going well until I got to the stupid yoke. It isn't particularly difficult, but for whatever reason, just doesn't want to attach properly. I really think it's because I've been tired and/or in the wrong frame of mind every time I've tried to work on it. At any rate, it has brought my sewing progress to a screeching halt. I'll probably put this top away for a while and work on something else. I'm not sure what that will be, though.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-40925410603890002992010-08-16T17:59:00.003-04:002010-08-16T18:12:25.190-04:00M5586 RevisitedYes, yes... I just completed View A of this top last week. But as I mentioned in the previous post, my original attempt at sewing this pattern was View B. Thanks to my handy-dandy new ruffler, I was finally able to finish this thing. Excuse the very poor photo-- I was (once again) too lazy to do it properly. I really do need to work on getting some better pictures, but I am too busy sewing/knitting/stitching/weaving baskets/etc., so this will have to do for now.<br /><br />This fabric wasn't really suitable for the v-neck version. It just didn't want to gather properly in the front. Using the ruffler fixed that, but if I had done it by basting and gathering, it would never have been finished. I'm amazed that I didn't simply throw it out, but I'm SO glad I let it hang around. <br /><br />As always, it looks much better on me than on the hanger. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5586-2-08162010.jpg"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/Sewing/M5586-2-08162010.jpg" width=300 border=0></a></center><br /><br />I've also completed S2369... details on that later. Oh, and I started knitting a new pair of socks, just for fun.Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17812996.post-39000684416137474742010-08-14T13:37:00.004-04:002010-08-14T14:04:15.998-04:00UnimpressedI visited Joann's yesterday. Again. Since getting back into sewing with a vengeance, I seem to be there a lot. Whenever I'm in the neighborhood (not often, since it's 35 miles away), I try to pick up a few patterns from whatever is on sale. This week, it was Butterick, and... well... I was unimpressed. There were a few possibilities, but in almost every case, I could think of another company's version that I liked much better. It was rather disappointing, but good for the pocketbook. I did manage to find one pattern-- 5185. My plan is to do the long-sleeve version, but I'll need to find a printed knit that I like first.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2uoxG0lW7q92kzg9I6VuaJIN1h4G6l_vwGpS6p6PyoYUGtrwFkaU0e1-RT7vnzuuTH1tWo6nwO8eisKtd6SnG5G24w7fmbXH3d2QqnXxR5mxnp3Ky8BLNvrj51EOThk71Xph3g/s1600/B5185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505324988091123410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2uoxG0lW7q92kzg9I6VuaJIN1h4G6l_vwGpS6p6PyoYUGtrwFkaU0e1-RT7vnzuuTH1tWo6nwO8eisKtd6SnG5G24w7fmbXH3d2QqnXxR5mxnp3Ky8BLNvrj51EOThk71Xph3g/s320/B5185.jpg" border="0" /></a> I've done a little bit of stitching lately, but not much. The summer heat seems to chase all of my stitching mojo away. I have a couple of exchanges that I need to work on, but for now, Garden Verses is still getting what little bit of attention I have. Excuse the poor photo... I took it with my new phone, which I have yet to completely figure out. It will never come close to my DSLR, but it's a lot more convenient since I can upload directly to Photobucket from my phone. </p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/flosslady/2010%20WIPs/5316d6db.jpg" border="0" /></p>Juanitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16300640647404729714noreply@blogger.com2