Projects merely waiting for a needle. . .

Dear readers,

You're probably asking yourself is this blogger ever post about completed projects ever again!  Answer:  I hope so!  I am at home (not traveling for work) for the next six weeks.

Here are my projects cut out (one for muslin and one in fashion fabric) and ready for the machine and/or needle - I just haven't had time to set up my machines, get out my supplies and complete them!  Darn it!

Kwik Sew shorts (I'm dying to finish these):

I intend to make View B with this fabric below (I don't love the fabric but for summer - it's a good test fabric. . . .) I am making a muslin so that I can craft the "perfect shorts."

Fun tunic:

View A, with this fabric:

I literally am sick of seeing these projects laying around, unfinished, glaring at me to finish them.   I especially want to make the shorts - after the red fabric, if I like them I have some high-tech fabric for hiking I want to use that I scored when I visited Seattle Fabrics.

Pam

Stylish Blogger Award (and what I've been up to!)

Dear Readers,

Why haven't I posted?  Well, I've gotten a promotion and we're down one person.  As a result, I have been traveling a heck of a lot more (for example, I was in Florida and DC the last two and a half weeks!).  That, and the fact that I don't have a sewing room permanently set up has slowed my progress considerably!  I do have two projects cut out and waiting to come together. . . (I'll show on my next post)! BTW, I actually wrote this post before my recent travels and am JUST now posting it (took some time for the links below).

I do become free from teaching and traveling this summer - so hopefully, I can spend the summer sewing, sewing, and sewing, among other relaxing activities. 

At the beginning of the year, the wonderful Sue from www.sew-misunderstood.blogspot.com nominated me for the stylish blogger award.  She's a fantastic home seamstress (who's quite the producer of beautiful and funky items), and a great singer and rocker.  The conditions of this award are:


1)Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2)Share 7 things about yourself
3)Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers.
4)Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award


I am just now finally getting around to it - here we go:

(1) I've picked up sewing as a hobby and I can see continuing it for life - I'm thrilled with my choice!  I lean toward sports  - who knew that I would fall in love with sewing.  I did not sew as a child or teen.  I did some quilting and rather easy (but unfitted) garment sewing in the mid-nineties (pre-internet).

(2)  I've always wanted to learn guitar (but have never had the time to take "lessons.")  I live with a musician, have easy access to lessons, yet, have never taken them - talk about slacking.

(3)  I am a fourth generation Floridian living in the Los Angeles area (and I do have some really wonderful Florida cracker cousins (who I hope never read this entry!) that live in inland Florida).  I love the area I live in - so much creativity, wonderful weather and geography and plenty of adventures to be had.

(4)  I dislike immensely when people try to categorize everyone in a box.  Two weeks ago, my mother's gardener (my age) approaches me and says, "I hear you a career woman."  And, I am thinking, "really, you had to say that, really?"  I am not a "career woman."  I am merely a woman who has a career.   Thank you.

(5)  I am petrified of rattlesnakes (yes, I live in the west). I have had encounters.  I'll leave it at that.  Seriously, petrified.    Sharks, no problems.  Spiders, don't love um but ok.  Snakes, no way, I am out.

(6)  I wish I was born in this generation with the internet.  I would have loved the access to information.  I know many vintage bloggers feel they wish they could have been born in the 40s, 50s, etc.  Not me.  Right now would be fine with me!

(7)  I was one of the first children bussed an hour across town in Orlando for desegregation.  I went to an all-minority school, in a lower economic neighborhood - with very good results.  I think today many parents wouldn't send their children an hour on the bus to support desegregation, despite how socially responsible they are.

10 recently discovered great bloggers (I do list SOME of my favorite bloggers, although perhaps not *recently* discovered), in no particular order:

(1)  Eugenia (really I am just waiting for her to do a post about the Royal wedding, since she lives "across the pond.") from Eugenia's (fabulous) world of sewing.
(2)  Sister from Living La Vida Loca.
(3)  Katie from Kadididdlehopper.
(4) Lindsay from Lindsay T sews.
(5) Amanda from Amanda's Adventures in Sewing.
(6) Christina from Assorted Notions. (Welcome Back!!)
(7) Erika B from DIY Style.
(8)  Patty from The Snug Bug.
(9) Peter from Male Pattern Boldness.
(10) Dawn from Two on, Two off.
(11) Kay from The Sewing Lawyer.
and finally, the missing in action mistress of the sarcastic skeptic:
(12) Elaine, from The Selfish Seamstress.

Have a great Saturday!

Glad to be finally back blogging, Pam

Burda 07-2010-127 Sew Along Pants

Dear Readers!

Finally, I finished my Burda 07-2010-127 Sew-Along Pants.  Normally, it is not a style I would have chosen as it has pleats.   I am a complete rectangle and fit Vogue and Kwik-Sew out of the box (no alterations, normally) and shun pleats.  But I couldn't resist the allure of the sew-along and learning pants alterations (which I did, thanks Sunni!).

By the way, I wanted to wear a different set of oxfords, but the little "P" you see in the picture there ate a strap off my Mary Jane Oxfords so I am off to see the cobbler in my saddle shoes. 

These pants were tall - and had quite a bit of ease - so I did two muslins and some significant alterations - they fit almost perfect for the pattern.  I also hand-picked a back zipper (instead of a side zipper, which always irritates me for some reason).    The following pictures are over-exposed so you can see the fabric a bit more closely:

Another,

The waistband for me was most troublesome - I made two (in addition to the two muslins (so four total) and ended up taking darts in the final waistband.   The picture below shows the fabric I finished the insides and the pockets with.  

With regards to the waistband, I don't know what I did wrong. . . maybe I applied it up side down.   I did cut it on the bias - and it turned out huge - I ran out of fabric finally and went with what I had. 

The handpicked zipper below:

Typical me, I serged a hole in the waistband and ended up using applique to attach a butterfly, which actually is a nice touch!

The end result was a nice fitting, inexpensive (less than 12.00 in material - the material is a medium canvas duck - slightly stretchy), super comfy pants and I learned quite a bit.  I may make these again - since I did all this fitting, but I am going to fit the waistband better next time - and chose a much lighter material - such as linen!

Victory! In other words, user error.

Dear Readers,

Hurray!  I figured out what I was doing wrong with the threading - user error.

 I used the wrong needles (I was told that the serger could use "any" sewing machine needle.  Well, I checked the manual and it clearly specifies the needle system number (130/705 H household) and range of size of needles (70 - 90) - I was using jeans and topstitching needles...oops.  Also, I was using cotton thread - the manual specifies the types of thread (polyester, synthetic, darning, wooly nylon) and thread size - and cotton is not mentioned. . . so back to cheap serger thread that works perfectly!

During my sewing downtime, I was lusting after some Hotpatterns - please see below . . . I'd love to make a sharp jacket and jeans slacks. . .

I don't mind this satchel, either:

Pretty sharp - don't you think.  I've got a tons of projects waiting - my next two - I need some quick and easy fixes. . . 

Thanks for hanging in there with me . . . 

Trying to sew!

Dear readers,

I apologize for my absence - I am waiting to finish my Burda Sew-Along pants after two muslins - here are the pictures: first, the fabric (waiting patiently on the ironing board), and second, my second Muslin.

To be honest, I have been ridiculously busy at work (traveling) but the real reason for my long-awaited UFOs (now!) is that I cannot thread my serger!  Yes,  in the middle of my Pants Sew-Along - I tried to change the thread, but gasp - could not!  I am going to retry tomorrow after waiting a week and acquiring some other thread - but it is very frustrating - I was ready to run out and buy a babylock after those five precious hours of fiddlin' with my Vintage Bernette 334D.  Any suggestions are appreciated.

My Janome has also been skipping stiches and I believe, need to be adjusted as well.  Of course!

In the meantime I have been:

(1) Visiting the 19th Academy of Motion Pictures Costume Design exhibit at FIDM!  Really fun - and pretty quick visit!!  My favorites were the Alice in Wonderland costumes, True Grit, and Wall Street (of all things!). . . They also had the Burlesque costumes - whew - Christina Aguilera is really tiny (as well as Shia LeBouf and Ellen Page).

(2) Checking out the new Rodarte exhibit at MOCA in LA.   Rodarte (the Mulleavy sisters) had a hand in the costumes in Black Swan.

(3)  Oiling my scissors.  When I bought my dog grooming scissors at the Eukanuba Dog Show in Long Beach - they gave me some oil - and each year - they give me new oil when I have them sharpened.  I used to to oil my sewing scissors - (where the scissors meet at the base not on the blades) and wow!  They are sharp and quiet again! A picture of the oil syringe below.

Hopefully, I can figure out this threading issue!  More to follow, dear readers!

Vogue 8667 Finally Finished:)

Dear Readers,

Ok, I'm only two weeks late on the publishing of this finished dress.  My second, and it's a much better fit.  I worked hard on the bodice with the princess seams.

Here's the back view - which is a better fit than what this picture suggests.

''

Whew!  Boy I need a haircut.  

I've reviewed this pattern before so, here we go:

What I liked:  Fun, easy, princess-seam pattern with retro good looks in a variety of styles.  I love the two-tone - which Eugenia ingeniously concocted in one of her dresses.  Great fit.  I added the selvage flowers and pockets which match the bodice. . . 

Peek-a-boo

 Flowers - my big design element.

My challenges:  The bodice fit - which I blogged about last post.  I wish I could add the collar to this version - I ran out of tropical material.  I lined it - which was challenging considering the double knit material I used on the skirt and somewhat skewed the absolutely perfect fit I had going on previously.  

I also handpicked the zipper and used a variety of couture techniques. . . fell stitching on the armholes and to finish the lining.  

Hand-picked Zipper.  My favorite.

Next up:  I'm in the middle of the pants sew-a-long by Sunni, The Cupcake Goddess, working on my muslin fit.  I am taking a cloning class by Kenneth King, and I've been shout out by Sue of Sew-Misunderstood!  Thanks - the posts are forthcoming.

This dress should work wonderfully  -  I'm headed to Hawaii in a week for two weeks for a work trip - although I planned to make a new bathing suit - that project has now been delayed. .  . Pattern review on this dress to follow. 

Vogue 8667 Version 2 Almost!

Dear readers,

I've almost finished Vogue 8667 version 2.  The dress is pictured below - it needs some finishing - which I will do upon my return from a trip east later this week:


First, I must thank (profusely) Eugenia from Eugenia's (Fabulous) World of Fashion, who gave me the idea of the two tone ensemble when my fabric selection for the bodice was insufficient in terms of amount of material.

She constructed the same dress in this method and its a knock out.

I have also constructed two deconstructed flowers to attach to the dress - in the shoulder/bodice area, I think. . 

I will model the dress next weekend  - however, I did two processes I may not choose to do again on this dress.  First, I lined the dress with cotton voile - I think that affected the fit a bit - although it's a great fit so far - it actually felt better without the lining (I'll explain that in the next post).

Second, I added pockets and looking at the silhouette I believe this changed the lines of the skirt.

By the way, if you don't know - Auburn is playing in the BCS National Championship in Arizona (I'm on a last minute trip and missing the game).  However, as sewing inspriration - I'd like to give a shout out to Sister at
Living La VIda Loca! - who has sewn, and perfected, the perfect Kwik Sew polar fleece jacket.  War Eagle!!