Second New Look 6352

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This is my second New Look 6352, completed this morning. The fabric is 100% cotton with a looser weave, giving it a linen feel.

New Project

I've done a lot of simple sewing recently. Pullover stuff requiring no zippers, no buttons and minimal darts. I'm ready to move on to more fitted (shapely) garments. Today I traced out and made some changes to the following pattern, McCalls 4346. I am making View C, the sleeveless version. I prefer no sleeves when it's hot and humid. I did an FBA (full bust adjustment) via the pivot and slide method and I shortened the back waist length for petite sizing even though I am not petite. I am short waisted and I think (I hope) this alteration will do the trick. Also, the finished length is too long - it would end up at my ankles. I shortened the dress about halfway between View A and Views B and C.

So far, I've cut out the dress front and back. I haven't cut out the facings yet because I suspect I may have to add darts at the back of the neck. If that's the case, then I will have to redraft the facings. It's all trial and error now and I am hopeful that I can make a wearable muslin.

I've chosen a fun cotton blend print for my muslin which cost me just under $12. Not a huge amount of money to lose if I mess up, but 12 bucks is 12 bucks. I think I've got to start scouring thrift shops for $2 sheets for trial garments.

Second and Final Simplicity 7181

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This is my second and final Simplicity 7181. Time to retire this pattern. I love the cotton print which I found in my stash. I probably bought the fabric in the last two or three years, and most certainly for next to nothing on sale. The cotton is tightly woven and light and has a silky feel to it. And if you look closely at the fabric swatch, you'll see tiny birds. This dress swooshes when I move.

My second New Look 6352 is about halfway finished. Then I've got to work on some cards that I will be selling at a local jazz festival next month. Lots to keep me busy.

New Look 6352

This pattern has been in the New Look catalogue since 2002. It’s a simple design which must be quite popular or else it wouldn’t still be available.

I made up View C a few years ago in a pale mauve polyester silk to wear to a wedding and I quite liked it. Unfortunately, I never wore it after the wedding and it ended up as a charity shop donation. Back then, I didn’t know as much about fitting as I do now. I had cut it out in a size that ended up too big around the shoulders, but I didn’t realize it at the time. I am much fussier about fit these days.

This style is loose to begin with. It’s a pullover with no zippers or buttons and it’s designed for woven fabrics which have no stretch. So you need a fair amount of ease just to get it on.

This time, I again made View C, the long, sleeveless version. I like this dress for a few reasons. One, it’s simple and quick to sew up – no need to refer to the instructions. Two, it’s open around the neck – very breezy for these hot, summer days. Three, it hides figure flaws if you have them (and I have them. Too many fat filled restaurant meals while I was on my trip has obscured my waist line).

I sewed this dress in a poly/cotton “seersucker” blend. It’s lightweight and cheerful and makes me feel the same. The necklace I am wearing was a present from my very thoughtful hubby.

Unless it turns out to be a real wadder, I tend to sew a pattern more than once. I think I’ll have another go at this one too before I put it away.

Simplicity 7181 Finished

I was not particularly happy with this dress when I finished it last night. It was huge on me and reminded me of a night gown. How could I wear a thing like that in public?

As I was lying in bed, I thought about how to fix this "mess". I decided the quickest solution was to make a long self tie belt and wear it just under the bust, the slimmest part of my anatomy. Well, what a difference a little belt makes. Now I love this dress and wore it proudly all day.

This has happened to me many times. I finish a project and I don't like it. Then I give it a day and see it in a whole new light.

As long as the pattern pieces are still out, I will definitely make one more and then move onto something else.

Red Calico Top

I stitched up another simple top from New Look pattern 6362, the same top I made before I left for my trip. The pattern pieces were still scattered on my sewing table so I thought before I put them away, I would make another one and then move on to a new project. I used a lightweight cotton calico from my stash.

Tomorrow I will be working on "Thank You" cards to send to all the folks who were so kind and generous to us while we were in Estonia and Scotland. And, if I have time, I may cut out a skirt.

Oops! Twice!

If you're working with a printed fabric, one of the first things to do before cutting out your pattern is to determine whether the fabric has a one way or two way design. I layed out the pieces so that the checkerboard stripes would line up at the side seams and did a pretty good job, or so I thought. Somehow, even after studying it closely, I failed to notice that my fabric has a one way design until AFTER I cut both front and back. Fortunately, the design is subtle. You would not notice the mistake unless you were looking for it. Can you see the problem in the top photo?

The second "oops" on this project was bound to catch up with me sooner or later. I ran my sewing machine at lightning speed around the bottom hem, sewing over all the straight pins, except one. I broke the needle and bent the pin in half. This left a nasty hole in the fabric. I should have known better. It's not as if this has never happened to me before.

I wasn't sure how to line up the checkerboard lines on the sleeves so I decided to cut them crosswise. I think the vertical stripes on the sleeves are a nice contrast to the horizontal stripes on the body.

Even with the goofs, I'm pleased with the final result. I like the brown. It's a much earthier shade,not as bright as in the photo.

So this is it - my last project until I get back from my trip. We are leaving tomorrow. If I get a chance to post on my blog while I'm away, I will.

Bon voyage to me.

Had Enough Of These Tank Tops?

Saturday's shopping trip was a bust. I went to Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada which is about a 45 minute drive from where we live. What a nightmare. I couldn't find a thing. Hubby was fortunate and managed to find a couple of pairs of trousers, some shorts and a couple of shirts to take on our holiday trip. Hubby was NOT in a shopping mood and cut our trip short after only a couple of hours. He promised me he would bring me back Sunday to resume my shopping.

Sunday, today, was another weary day. I spent four exhausting hours in the mall but at least I managed to find a few items of clothing. Let me tell you, it wasn't easy. I spotted a few tops that I really liked, but when I tried them on, they weren't working for me. Much too low cut with too much exposed cleavage. Or the dart was too low. Or there was gaping at the armscye. Or too tight at the waist and hips. All the more inspiration for sewing my own.

Anyway, here's another one of the tank tops, the last for a while.

Before we leave on Wednesday, I'm sure I have time to sew one more top (no, not another tank top). I did most of the preparation this morning and will be at it early tomorrow morning.

I think I am finally starting to get a bit excited about our trip.

Red Linen

I got up around 5:00 this morning, then decided it was far too early for any sane person to be awake and went back to bed. After 2 minutes I realized I wouldn't be able to sleep so instead I went into my studio and starting cutting out another quick and easy top. I have the neck and armscye facings done. Now I just need to make the front bust darts, sew back and front together, add the facings and hem

Pictured above is the red floral cotton that I'm using for this project. It has a linen look to it. This is another fabric that has been in my stash for at least ten years.

I'm in for a day of heavy duty shopping for my big trip. If I'm not too exhausted, I will try and do a little more sewing this evening and maybe model the new top for you tomorrow.

Boot Tank Top

I finally made the tank top out of the "boot" cotton fabric. It is so cool, meaning it feels comfortable in this heat. I'm not sure about the other kind of "cool", but I like it, I gotta wear it and that's what counts.

I did intend to sew brown piping around the neckline and armscye but didn't do so because I didn't think the piping I bought was a good match with the fabric. And in all honesty, the second reason for not doing it was because I would have had to hand baste it in place and I just wanted to get the thing done quickly.

The black floral top I made a couple of days ago was on the snug side so I decided to increase the pattern by 2 inches at the bust and the hips using my favourite Nancy Zieman pivot and slide method. I love that woman!

The check background of this fabric looks really retro. I am thinking 30s or 40s. Of course, the construction boots detract from that look. It really should have flowers or birds or fruit or something like that.

Before I put this pattern away, I think I'll make another couple of these tops and then move on to something else.

A word about the background in the photo. That is the door to my studio, custom built by my very good friend, master carpenter and artist, the late Mike Drane. What you see are holes drilled in the door. I remember the winter's day he and I were freezing in his workshop, cutting out paper circles and laying them out in various configurations to see which way looked the best. This door was the last thing that Mike made for me.

I am grateful that my house is filled with Mike's handiwork to always remind me of him. Mike and I shared a love of music, especially opera, and had many wonderful discussions about music. He was twenty years older than me. I often asked him if he would adopt me. Although he's been gone two years now, I still find it hard to accept.

Black Floral Top

The new tank top is finished and here I am modelling it. This is not my first go at this pattern. What I want to know is why the fit is tighter on the new top than on the previous one. My guess is that this fabric has a much tighter weave and not as much stretch.

The beautiful cotton print has a bit of a sheen. It has been in my stash for over ten years. I have enough left over for another top or a skirt.

Today I'm going do start another one, this time, using the boot fabric. The neck and armscye will be trimmed with piping which I hope I can figure out without too much trouble.

The "chick pea inspector" came (see yesterday's post) and has taken the evidence back to the lab. I'm not sure what can be accomplished by doing that but he did say that someone from the company will call me and most likely they'll give me some gift certificates for all my trouble. If that happens, I will use the certificates to buy lentils. By the way, for my Canadian readers, the company in question is Unico and I do applaud them for responding to my complaint. They make some very good products which I will continue to buy.

A Post For May

Today is the last day of May. I thought I had better post something to my blog lest I should lose my readers.

First, I have to show you a most beautiful Icicle Doll made by Dot of Dot's Life and Art, the creator of the Dotee Doll. I am happy to say I had a very small hand in this lovely creation. Dot set the silvery blue face I made for her in the most wonderful complimentary fabrics and embellished it with her exquisite beadwork. I just love it. I want to thank Dot for allowing me to use her photo.

In my previous post, a whole month ago, I had hoped to share my boot fabric tank top in a "few days". Well, I'm afraid to say that didn't happen - yet. I simply am not motivated to sew summer clothes when the weather is still too cold. Nor am I motivated to model them for you when my skin is still too pale. But today is looking promising. Finally, my kind of weather has arrived. It's warm and it's humid. Most everyone I know hates the humidity, but me and my skin embrace it. So let me try it again and say that I hope to be able to model the top for you in a few days. (Fingers crossed).

My efforts towards weight loss are paying off. Of course I wish the number on the scale was lower but I cannot deny that I am making progress and that last years' summer clothes are fitting me better than they were a month ago.

There are only 18 days left before I leave for my European trip and now I must pull out all the stops to make sure my clothes fit nicely. Provided I don't give in to rich foods on my vacation, I should be able to shape up further with all the walking and sight seeing. The good thing is that for the 10 days that we'll be in Scotland, we will be based in a bed and breakfast with a full kitchen. That way I will have better control over our meals. I don't want to have to rely on too many restaurant meals not only because of the expense, but because restaurants mostly serve you too much fat, sugar and salt. I haven't a clue what to expect in the way of food in Estonia, but hopefully I will be able to muddle through the 6 days without doing too much damage.

In case it sounds as if I obsess about food, I should mention that for personal health reasons, I eat a diet devoid of animal products and added fat. Mostly just whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables with the odd departure. Vacations can be hazardous to my health if I stray too far for too long (which is what happened to me last year. I became ill and it took me a month of extremely strict diet and rest to recover).

And now, before it starts to rain here, I must go outside and soak up some of that lovely humidity.