Knitters Delight

Happy New Year! What I Wore and New FO...a Knit

2013-01-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

I am so sorry for the long pause in blogging. This community has meant so much to me that when I step away, I feel like I'm actually betraying a friend. With that being said, I have been going through a major change in my life....my boss of 6 1/2 years sold the company that I worked for right before Thanksgiving. There has been a lot of transition with that change, mostly good, but still change none-the-less. With this major adjustment, I just didn't have it in me to blog. There are several items from 2012 that I never even managed to photograph, including the fabulous Tasia's Cordova Jacket. I'm actually almost finished my SECOND version and have blogged about zero of it! Major fail [sigh].

Well on a positive note, I have had some knitting mojo of old return. I managed to complete (blocking include) a cute hooded cardi for my little one after seeing Hilary's gorgeous "grandpa" version. This was a quick knit that I mostly did during my Saturday knitting meet-up at Panera Bread on Balboa.

I have also started Miette for myself. A cute cropped cardigan on Ravelry. It's a free pattern and will use up my remaining Cascade Rustic yarn that I used on Nilah's cardi.

As to not forget my past projects, I took pictures of what I wore yesterday to work. The Tomato top was knit in December 2007/January 2008 and the Butterick 4995 Side Button Pants were sewn up December 2009. It was a perfect, easy outfit to wear for a casual work meeting with the new Sales & Marketing Director. Go me!

That's it for now. In other news, I am working out with a trainer as I prepare for a half-marathon and the Tough Mudder mud run. I have a ways to go, but am starting off with a bang. I am also going natural hair wise (meaning I will not chemically relax/straighten my hair anymore). I am 7-months post relaxer and will transition for another 17 months before chopping off the relaxed ends. I may start documenting that process also, but have not decided yet. Either way, please stay tuned.....

A Thin Line Between Sew & Hate

2012-10-31T10:38:00.002-07:00

I have completed the ETAC challenge and will try to post pictures. Unfortunately my friend's camera wasn't working too well and I didn't bring mine, so I have to reshoot all of the items I made. That aside, sewing as not been my friend these days. I seem to have sewer's block or something. Very little is working out and I am not motivated to finish projects that I start. At least I was able to whip up a quick dress using Pattern Runway's Kimono Dress for Latrice's birthday dinner. She was making the same dress so I decided for us to be pattern twins. (Yes, I am a dork, but proud of it).

I just purchased some new notions, a fabulous fit system to add to my next mannequin, and some new Vogue patterns during their recent sale. I even managed to get in a few of the new patterns, although there wasn't too many that I felt I really HAD to buy. Hopefully my sewing slump will come to an end....

Edited to add: The fabric was purchased at the National City Swap Meet for $2.00/yard. Score!

What the heck are you up to...?

2012-09-30T21:38:00.003-07:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post. This is soooo unlike me. I am sitting here trying to remember all that I have done in a month. Unfortunately, it's too much to recount. I'll just say that after going to my 20-year high school reunion I have continued to try to work out, run after my little one, while still sewing. I have a lot of muslins that I have made for my etac conference. I'll show you one pair of paints that I have made along with a pair of leggings. The leggings and pants are Silhouette patterns. My friend Latrice helped me cut out patterns and muslin fabric as well as make runs out to yardage town for supplies. It has been a productive yet frustrating time.

In more fun news, my Sister visited me for her 40th birthday. We had such a blast. We ate, drank, shopped, worked out, did karaoke, danced, and just had an awesome time. I made her two maxi dresses (McCall's 6559), one that I doubt she will ever get around to sharing a pic with me. At least I know that she has been wearing them both and enjoying them (including receiving a ton of compliments).

I'll stop rambling. I can't remember if I mentioned that I'm taking a dress making class and pants making class which has me pretty busy. I know I'm in for a long semester but feel like it will really help my skills. Next up? More ETAC sewing contest work and my school projects. After that, I hope I'll get some time for fun sewing, including a yellow pair Clovers. Here's to hoping....

FO New Look 6856 - Cherry Red Pants

2012-08-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

So I have made these pants in multiple colors. The thing is, my Mom loved them and so I gave them to her. This is now my first pair to keep. The cherry red color is beautiful and fun, while the gauzy fabric is perfect for the crazy 90 degree weather we've been having in San Diego. This is a 45-1 hr project so it's instant gratification for sure.

While this isn't a huge complaint, I have found that I have very little to wear these days. I have lost additional inches over top of my recent weight loss. I am going to have to go through my closet and make a few trips to Salvation Army, since most of my items are now too big to get away with wearing. Now I need to carve out some time to bulk up my wardrobe in both work and weekend appropriate looks for this weather, while I also work on my eTAC sewing challenge that's happening in October. Time to get moving....or at least tracing. LOL

20-year High School Reunion Dress - McCall's 6460

2012-08-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

So two of the dresses that I attempted to make did not work out for my reunion. I ended up making McCall's 6460 and it was a winner! I was planning on making this dress for my cruise last February, but ran out of time. So, when I was feeling the pressure to make my dress the night before my trip, I did a quick check on Pattern Review. All but one review was positive, but Carolyn was the one that considered it to be mediocre. She is a sewing genius, so I was immediately nervous, until I went back to her post. Her dress looked AMAZING on her, even if she didn't like it, so I went ahead and made it. Well, it was a good decision, since I really love the end result. I do think that the other reviewers are correct in that the fabric choices are what can make or break this dress. Thankfully, I picked well as I already had the fabric from my cruise fabric for the pattern.

All-in-all, it was a fun night and I felt comfortable and pretty at the same time. I made the dress in a size 10 and omitted the back zipper, since I was able to slide it off over my head. I may try this again down the road as a color-blocked shirt....Up next, outfits for the ETAC contest. The five fabrics came in, so now the planning starts.

FO - McCall's 6559 version 7

2012-07-31T00:20:00.000-07:00

Oh my stars and stripes, I've made another McCall's Maxi. Well, just the stripes, I guess. I didn't like how the large start looked on me, so I removed it.

This is a very comfy jersey knit that I picked up a few months back at the National City swap meet.

On a different note, the dress I was making for my HS reunion turned out to be a bust so I will need to cut a new dress pattern and fabric to sew up an alternative before I head out on Friday. Wish me luck....

Two FOs - McCall's 5845 and Vogue 8815

2012-07-27T01:47:00.001-07:00

I have two FOs to share -an African-inspired peplum top and my three years in the making graffiti dress. I made my peplum top using the summer Vogue pattern line. I have seen some fabulous tops using Vogue 8815 and mine is no exception. My only issues were with not having the right zipper for the back. I improvised by cutting the back on the fold and putting an invisible zipper on the side. After hemming and hawing and moving the zipper to the side, I actually realized that I didn't need a zipper at all. It slides right over my head. LOL. Oh, well. The top still looks fabulous. I'm pairing it with my Colette Pattern Clover pants, which are just a tad too large now. I felt pretty and wild all day and got compliments from everyone, including strangers. Can't beat that. I will be making this one again, just in a smaller size.

So I started making my McCall's dress over three years ago, but came across too many fitting issues. I folded it up and put it into one of my fabric bins and forgot about it. Well, while looking for some fabric, I saw it and decided to try it on. Low and behold, it mostly fit. So with a zipper, hem, and shoulder seam to go, I finished it on Saturday evening. This dress is in a fabric that I fell in love with at Discount Fabrics in North Park. I really wanted to make it work, so it is so amazing to finally have it on and to have already worn it TWICE since Saturday.

FO - Vogue 8805

2012-07-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

I finished this dress on Wednesday and wore it to work on Friday. It is a nice, work appropriate piece that should get descent wear. It came together fairly quickly, although I did fiddle with the neckline a bit. All of the fabric was purchased for one or two bucks at the National City Swap meet a few month back. The fabric on the top portion was used to make my McCall's two-toned polka-dotted dress. I hope I have enough fabric to use it for one more color-block project. We will see.

So I have yet to finish working on my body double. It has cured enough where I can start reinforcing it, but I have just sat it aside instead. I am going to have to get a jump on this since I am doing the sewing competition with three other women for ETA Sewing Expo with Peggy Sagers. I hope I'll stop procrastinating by tomorrow. LOL. We will see.

What's on my sewing table now? Another McCall's maxi-dress of course. I hope to wear this to work tomorrow, so I better get off of this computer and start sewing. Ahhh, procrastination is no good.

FO - Salme Pleated Dress

2012-07-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

So this was a quickie that I did last while watching t.v. at home. Sorry about the wrinkles. I don't think cotton and I get along too well. This was stash fabric that I pulled from my storage unit. Yes, I have so much fabric and patterns that I have a storage unit. I'm working on changing this!

I think this is a nice pattern that sews up fairly quickly. It is appropriate for a beginner, although I think pleats can be a bit intimidating for real newbies.

In other news, I started making my body double mannequin this weekend with some friends from my sewing class. It was made using Jan Bone's tape and book. Let's just say I blacked out for a bit due to the heat, lack of food, and 1 1/2 workout in the morning. Yikes! This was not my best weekend. It was worth it in the end, though. I will let it cure for a week and start the reinforcements.

I wanted a good mannequin to use for my 20-year HS reunion dress and for the eTAC challenge I'm doing in October. It's crazy to compare the store bought version and the one that we made.

Stay tuned....

McCall's 6559 - version six

2012-07-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

I promise I'll stop counting these maxi dresses, after I make version number ten. I just love the ease of this pattern, so I won't stop making them. LOL.

I bought this material with a girlfriend of mine at one of our trips to the National City Swap Meet. This bad boy cost me all of $4.00 including the additional cost of the fold-over-elastic (FOE) I used at the neckline and armhole edges.

A few of you have already commented, but yes I have been losing weight. I am exactly ONE POUND AWAY from my pre-pregnancy weight. Many family members and friends have suggested that I look even smaller than that, but it is probably due to the fact that my current weight loss regimen included EXERCISE in addition to food restriction. Shocking, I know. LOL. Let's see - Jenny Craig and smoothies for food and an extensive workout plan: During the workweek I will either walk with my co-worker wearing a 20-pound weighted vest for 1/2 hour or go to Curves and do the circuit for 30 minutes. In addition to this four-day program, I make it to 24-hour fitness twice a week for 1-1/2 hour class workouts. Nilah just turned 19 months old a few days ago, so it took longer than my goal of 1 year, but has been very successful either way. Slow and steady wins the race after all, right?

Stay tuned as I start working on my bombshell dress for my 20th year high school reunion that takes place early August. Now that I'm down to the size I want, I have to get to it and fast.

McCall's 6559 - version five....not a maxi. LOL

2012-06-23T14:12:00.001-07:00

Here is my fifth, but not my final version of this dress. Here is a shorter cut using the same maxi pattern. It is cute and comfy and only cost me $1.50 worth of fabric from the National City Swap meet.

Sorry I have been absent lately, but my parents came to visit for two weeks. I managed to make my Mother a skirt and dress but will need to see if she manages to snap some pics for me so I can post them.

I have also been taking a pattern making class that has been outstanding. I hope the same instructor will be available in the evenings this fall for the 17-week course. We shall see.

I do have some projects in the works, but probably nothing to share anytime soon, unless I post progress pics. My 20-year high school reunion is the first weekend in August and I want to make the bombshell dress from Gerti's Craftsy course. I heard it's a bear to make, but worth it, so I am giving myself a month to make it without any other projects, besides one more maxi dress (I know, I am hooked).

Stay tuned.

FO - McCall's 6559 version 4 and New Look 6040

2012-06-02T22:25:00.001-07:00

There isn't too much to say about this dress, since it is my fourth version of this pattern... except I am still in love with every one. Each version still feels unique and lets the fabric do the talking. It is really a nice pattern for busy fabrics which I gravitate towards. LOL. For this version, I sewed a size 10 and added fold-over elastic to the neckline and armholes. It is a perfect fit and the neckline detail gives it a nice finished touch.

In addition to this dress, I also made New Look 6040 for my little one. I have to say that I am not a fan of sewing tiny patterns. It was so stressful and I hated every minute. I'm just glad it came out in the end. I made the smallest size, added lining, lowered the neckline, added lace to the neckline, and sewed on butterflies.

Final Me-Made-May 2012 Post with FOs

2012-06-01T01:56:00.000-07:00

My outfits going clockwise:
* White kimono tee by MariaDenmark worn under store-bought sherbert colored cardi and self-drafted midi-length knit "wave" skirt. (I made both of these for my new Me-Made items).
* McCall's 6551 color-blocked dress with piping detail. I feel this is a stretch from my normal style choices, but I love the overall looks. From the longer back detail to the piping and color-blocking. Not to mention that I got both pieces of fabric for less than $5.00 at the National City swap meet....score!
* Simplicity 2365 pin-tuck tunic. This gets a lot of wear and always gathers compliments.
* New Look 6735 brown plaid, knit pants.
* New Look 6470 side tie - knit floral top.

This was a good week for Me-Made items and my color-blocked dress was the perfect end for my Me-Made journey. I managed to wear different items every day without any repeats (not counting store-bought RTW items). Hopefully the next time I will be able to wear 100% Me-Made. We will see.

Just for fun....here's the entire line-up in a collage.

Me-May-May Week 4 and only a day remaining

2012-05-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

I'm late posting week four for Me-Made-May as tomorrow is the last day. I do have my four outfits from this week ready to go for tomorrow, so there will be back-to-back MMM posts this week. Here is the rundown:

* Butterick black and red knit dress. This is a fav from 2010 that gets decent wardrobe rotation as a dress or tunic.
* Red Mission Maxi by Jamie Christina
* Burda 05-2010-105 Jersey Dress. This may be my all-time favorite dress. It's my go to item where I can be comfortable and still look great.
* Simplicity 4020 knit top worn under store-bought grandpa cardigan. (Yes, this has made it into every weekly MMM post this month).
* Butterick 5496 in a tie-dye print gifted to me by a fabulous blogger.
* Vogue 1179 t-shirt knit dress worn under store bought sherbert orange cardigan.
* Vogue 8790 black and white print knit wrap top.

So that was my week. I felt more excited by this roundup than last week. Even with no new items making it in this week, I sewed for this coming week.....Stay tuned.

Me-Made-May 2012 Week 3 Review (4 FOS)

2012-05-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

Me-Made-May Week 3 Breakdown (clockwise):
* Green Kimono Tee using free MariaDenmark Pattern
* Simplicity 2187 jumper dress (worn on Mother's day with my LO)
* Blue watercolor Colette pattern Iris shorts
* Green tiger print McCall's 6559 maxi dress
* Black and white swirl Butterick 5495 knotted top
* Gray kimono tee with taupe Simplicity 7092 pants
* Gray Vogue 8742 ruched dress
* Purple Butterick 5496 top with Butterick 4995 side button pants

So I know I am late on my week 3 roundup for Me-Made-May, but "better late than never" I say. LOL. I actually made four FOs for this week. Overall, I was pleased with my new items, but didn't feel that I looked overly stunning at the same time. Might just be all the working out talking, but I think I was feeling last week's looks better. Well, I think it is more how I put the outfits together this week. That's okay, it happens.

Here are my two Kimono tees that I made using this pattern from Maria Denmark. It is the perfect wardrobe builder. Hence, I made three so far and have fabric already cut for a couple more....stay tuned on that one. Here I'm wearing the green and gray versions. The gray version is in a shiny material that might not be the most flattering so I'll have to make another gray version that is in a more comfy knit fabric.

Here is my debut for my Iris shorts from Colette Patterns. This was a great pattern, but I have to admit that I had a problem that has occurred several times for me now....ummmm....my side zippers (invisible) keep splitting. At first I thought it was Yardage Town's older zippers, but this time I used Joann's zipper. Does anyone else have this problem? PLEASE HELP. It is always a little "tough" or stiff where the waistband meets the top of the pants/shorts where the zipper goes. I try to grade, but by the end of the day, the zipper busts. I am going to try to skip ironing the invisible zipper next time, but hate putting in all the effort of making bottoms only to get less than 9 hours of wear.

Last but not least is my third version of McCall's 6559 maxi dress pattern. Still love it!

So this week I am keeping up with my casual wear, but am hoping to spruce things up a bit in the next few days....we will see.

Happy Mother's Day to All

2012-05-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

Me-Made-May 2012 Week 2 with many FOs

2012-05-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

So my first week of Me-Made-May was all about wearing items that I have already made. Week two was apparently about sewing mojo and making making multiple clothes from favorite patterns (new and old favorites).

Here is the breakdown starting from the top left hand corner:

* My tried and true colorful Simplicity 2594 tie-dye looking print top made in 2009. I am pairing it with my new purple cotton gauze pants made with New Look 6856.
* A tan and black floral maxi dress made using the new favorite pattern - McCall's 6559.
* My colorful striped maxi using McCall's 6559.
* Another Renfrew - this time in a cotton candy colored striped knit fabric. I am pairing it with my new Simplicity 3566 mauve/pink trousers.
* New black cotton gauze pants and purple and gold top both using New Look 6856.

Here are some close ups of the two maxis, which are my favorites items from the week as well as my New Look pants/top combo.

The maxi dress is simply two pieces and can be made in less than an hour. You can't beat having a well-fitting item like that with such a small time commitment. I would caution you on the neckline though. I raised the shoulder straps considerably as well as raised the neckline in order to keep it decent. Not a difficult adjustment, though. Completely worth it.

This New Look pattern is for stretch knits only, but the pants are roomy enough to use a cotton gauze fabric. I felt dressed up enough for work, while enjoying the summer breeziness of the cotton gauze and the comfort of an elastic waistband.

What's next? Well, one more maxi dress to wear to a get together tomorrow and then I'll get back to work on my Colette shorts. They will be perfect for summer....

Me-Made-May 2012 Week 1 Review

2012-05-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Week One of Me-Made-May has officially ended and it was very successful for me. I managed to refashion a dress into a top, wear my new Sewaholic Cambie dress, and debut my latest Renfrew. Since this MMM12 is not just about wearing newly made items, I'm working hard to switch things up through styling and how I put together my pieces. So far so good.

Here's the breakdown of my outfits going clockwise starting at bottom left:
* Purple striped Renfrew (Sewaholic Pattern) worn with RTW gray knit skirt.
* Black floral stretch Clover Pants (Colette Pattern) and McCall's 6400 black gauze knit fabric.
* Missoni inspired Mission Maxi (Jamie Christina Pattern) worn with RTW machine knit wrap.
* Vogue 1250 dress serged into a top and Simplicity 3566 crayon colored stretch cotton skirt work with RTW grand-pa sweater.
* Cambie rayon georgette crepe dress (Sewaholic Pattern).
* White knit Butterick 5497 top and McCall's 5497 navy floral knickers.

So that's nine pieces in seven days with refashioned, new, and tried-and-true pieces all mixed together. Not to shabby. Stay tuned....

Me-Made-May Day 4 with New Cambie Dress

2012-05-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to show off my new Cambie dress. Yes, I was one of Tasia's pattern testers for this AMAZING pattern. It was very straight forward to sew and fit my body type, even though I am not pear-shaped.

Here are some details:
I made a size 12 with the full-skirt and added adjusted for my full-bust. Because of the heart shaped bodice design, I decided to make a muslin for this portion only. I ended up adding 1/2" to the side seams and 1 1'2" to the bodice length to fit my bust size. While this isn't a true FBA, it made the fit spot-on perfect.

Since I'm not a person with a large hip issue, I'm always a fan of pockets. This dress was no exception. This is also fully lined with a light-weight polyester lining. The main fabric is a rayon georgette fabric that I picked up at Yardage Town. I will be making the other skirt version as well. This is a great dress! I wore it to Easter service and am wearing it to work under my "grandpa sweater" at work today. I feel pretty without being overdressed. This is a winner! Go get your pattern ladies.

Me-Made-May Day 1

2012-05-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of Me-Made-May 2012. Rather than wear one of the two new Renfrews that I have made, I chose to wear a refashioned item. The top was previously a dress, specifically Vogue 1250. First off, I love the many renditions of this dress that are all over the blogosphere. Despite that, my version was never a va-va-voom for me. I made it while I was still nursing my little one and I have lost about 40 pounds since creating and wearing it. I only wore it twice since making it. For my refashion job, I made the dress into a shirt and took several inches off of the sides. I paired it with a store-bought cardigan from Sears and my Simplicity 3566 skirt. I plan on only posting only new FOs here on out. Other outfits will be posted in a weekly collage. Stay tuned....

Pattern Review RTW Challenge - the Mondo Dress

2012-04-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

So I entered the Pattern Review RTW Challenge. Initially I was inspired by both Victoria Beckham's dress and Project Runway's All Star winner Mondo's dress. As I ventured further into the contest, I desired that I really wanted to go with Mondo's version as it seemed more flattering to my body shape.

So once I had my inspiration dress I went online to look for appropriate fabric. In the end I found just what I needed right at my local Yardage Town! Score.

Pattern Description:
Close-fitting, straight dresses A, B, C, above mid-knee, have princess seams, contrast front and back, back zipper and optional topstitching. A: sleeveless. B: contrast, self-lined cap sleeves with pleats. C: long sleeves. I made version C with longer sleeves.

Pattern Sizing:
8-14 & 16-22. I made a size 14.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Very much so, although I made some design changes to match my inspiration, which was from Project Runway All Stars - Mondo's knit dress with Rorshach inspired blotches.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I didn't really need to follow the instruction on this one,since it was so easy. Of course the pattern is a quick and easy Butterick pattern which held up to its name.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
This was a great pattern to modify. I was able to cut out the fabric and sew the sleeveless version of this dress to wear out to dinner with girlfriends in under three hours. I completed the sleeves on a separate evening after procrastinating the final step. Still, the dress is simple, slimming, and quick to make. No real dislikes to speak about.

Fabric Used:
Slinky jersey from Yardage Town on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. in San Diego.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I lengthened my dress, added a two way zipper to the back like my inspiration piece, and accented the sleeves with red fabric.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I do plan on sewing this one again, but this time it will be following the pattern completely. I do recommend this pattern and am even helping a co-worker make a version of it for herself.

Conclusion:
This was a great dress to make for my RTW challenge. I really enjoyed watching PR's all star season and was excited to copy one of Mondo's finale dresses.

Photo Dump - LA to What I Wore Today

2012-04-25T16:21:00.001-07:00

Hello all! I am heading off to my sewing class, but wanted to do a quick photo dump. I never posted my LA pics or shared that I got to hang out with Elizabeth from the Sewn blog who was visiting from NYC. My little one and I even had dinner with her San Diego family.

I made this Mission Maxi for my cruise. I wore it to work today under a cardigan. VERY comfy while still looking slightly dressy.

The LA pics is from my fandango with several of the SDCE sewing classes. The photo is at Michael Levine's warehouse. Woo-eee, look at all that fabric. So much inspiration, so little time.....

Up next, another Renfrew, a quick pair of pants, and a pair of Colette pattern shorts....stay tuned....

Oh - and I almost forgot....I already ordered my favorite picks from Vogue's new patterns that just came out. Thankfully, I got them for $3.99/each with my BMV discount club card. Score! I cannot wait to get them in the mail....

Colette Challenge - Spring Moodboard

2012-04-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

Colette Spring 2012 Moodboard by susan294 featuring diesel t shirts

Here is my moodboard for Colette's Spring Challenge. I went to LA this weekend with some sewing friends and man did we shop! I have POUNDS of new fabric. Yummy florals, festive stripes, and sumptuous knits for color blocking. Here's to hoping I can manage to make my outfits.

As for the patterns, I am planning on using the Renfrew top by Sewaholic Patterns, the new shorts from Colette Patterns for my white lace inspiration, Valerie's Top by Silhouettes Patterns, the new pencil skirt by Burda, two dresses by Vogue patterns (V1209 & V1102), McCall's 6243 for the color-blocked knit dress, and Simplicity 2659 for the floral shorts. That is a total of 8 pieces. It sounds like a lot, but is very doable. The only pattern that I have to purchase is the pencil skirt and that's a download on the Burdastyle website. I have all of the fabric except for the white lace fabric and I am going to work on that once my Colette shorts pattern arrives. Stay tuned - I have to start washing fabric and cutting out patterns.

Everybody, Everywhere - Pastels (What I Wore Today)

2012-04-10T12:32:00.003-07:00

As part of the Everybody, Everywhere challenge, I wore my Vogue 1179 t-shirt dress that I made April 2010. I'm pairing it with a RTW cardigan that I bought many moons before.

In other news, Colette patterns announced their three new patterns today. I am picking up two - one dress with border print options and the shorts. They are both quick sews that I hope will update my wardrobe. Stay tuned.

Happy Resurrection Sunday! FO Renfrew Tee

2012-04-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

So while things have been quiet here, I have been working. I am going to a sock knitting group in PB on Tuesdays and am still taking my advanced knits sewing class on Wednesdays. I spent the first half of the semester making alterations to my Renfrew pattern. I did a 1/2" wide back adjustment and a 5" Y-bust adjustment. When I originally traced the pattern, I traced a 10, but after getting back from the cruise got nervous that my little bit of weight gain would have it too tight. So I traced the 12 and added the needed adjustments (mentioned above). Well, in the end, the top is a bit loose. I have actually lost 9 lbs in the last two weeks, so I could have kept the 10. Not to worry, I saved that traced piece, so I will finish the 4" y-bust adjustment and cut out my white version in the next few days. I think that will be a perfect fit.

Either way, I still love the outcome. It is comfy while still being stylish. I put it on after Church, pairing it with my Vogue8774 jeans that I made late last year and took a stroll around my neighborhood. I have had a lot of success with Sewaholic patterns to date. So far I have made her Pendrell blouse and the Minoru jacket. There will be more of both of these and I have at least two more renfrew's planned. Perfect timing for Me-Made-May 12 with Sew Zo.