Sojo Shorts

Dear readers!

My sewing mojo ("sojo") continues. . . . I finally finished my Kwik Sew shorts this weekend!  I lost one of the buttons for the final finish but luckily J. found it vacuuming on Monday morning!  I present to you Kwik Sew 3854 View B:

 Here is a view of the waistband - it's a bit high but I lowered it an inch as an alternation:

Other changes:  Took out at least 5/8 inch out of both sides (and I think I can take the buttons over a half of an inch).  I always seem to make my clothes slightly too loose!  Do you?

The obligatory booty shot:

My other alterations include I carved out the crotch seam deeper in the back of the short - J. Stern suggests this in her jean tutorials - and she states that jean designers do the same - I always wondered why my RTW jeans fit so well.   By the way, her website is JSterns Designs.  Her jeans tutorials start around April 2009 and go to Fall 2010.

Although I don't show it the insides have a clean serged finish, and I lined the pockets with red/white butterfly fabric.

Here's the package view:

I don't love this material - I picked it up on my travels for 1.99 a yard at Joann's in Brandon, Florida.  I made a muslin for these shorts and consider this to be a second muslin before cutting into some expensive technical fabric for hiking - I love the shorts and plan to make another pair.  No zippers!! Gotta love it.  I am going to Newport to teach a class and plan to take these (but not to teach in:)).  More for clam chowder after class.

This is not my style Icon (preppy Andy from The Office in his red pants):

I think my style is more laid-back skateboarder meets rock chick meets mad men styling meets backcountry hiker.  Ok, whatever that is, right?  How do you define your style?

Mojo is back!

Finally dear readers,

I embarked upon some irresponsible serging and I am happy to report my mojo is back with New Look 6939.  I started late this afternoon and wore the top on my way to sushi -

The New Look top runs very large.  I have had it cut out for about 8 weeks.
I actually ran out of fabric cutting it out and added some white jersey for an additional flounce.  I cut a 16 (38 chest) and have linebacker shoulders.  Yet, I didn't fit it - merely started serging!  My bad - it hangs off one shoulder.  I bought the fabric - a jersey knit from Mood.

Here it is on the dressform:

I ran out of flounce fabric - so I picked some white jersey knit and I think it adds some interest:

At sushi:

Would I make this again?  Perhaps - it's super easy - it's not form fitting at all (just like the picture) - but I would cut a 10 I believe to ensure a better yoke fit.  Again, I wanted to get my mojo back.  Here is a picture of the pattern below:

It's wearable with a tank underneath - but this pattern has quite a bit of ease!

One question for readers:  do you press your knits as you go along?  I did the yoke (I can tell that made a difference) but couldn't tell the difference for any seams (and I serged this).

Next up:  Shorts - and some alterations and I'll be caught up on past due projects!!

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!