This is actually another dress that I made for my Mother. I had planned on finishing it for her in Vermont, but I left one sleeve in San Diego! The bright side to that....I got to wear it out to dinner last night. lol. Thank goodness Mothers are generous and have a sharing nature.
Pattern Review
Pattern Description: A-line, pullover dress, mid-knee has bodice front (fitted through the bust), raised front waistline, single-layered tie ends, below elbow sleeves and narrow hems. B: single-layer cowl. C: attached front overlays. I started out making version A and then added the cowl neck collar afterward. The neckline seemed a bit too exposed for my Mother, especially in Vermont.
Pattern Sizing: 8-10-12-14. I made the 14.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I think the gathering in the front is flattering and hides a tummy pretty well. This pic is after dinner at Red Lobster!
Fabric Used: I used 2 1/2 yards of a designer jersey knit called Nemesis Green purchased at Fabric.com for only $4.78/yard. It's a lightweight blend - 96% polyester/4% Lycra.
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I serged the entire dress with the exception of the gathering, which I did using my gathering foot on my Bernina. The directions might have called for lining the bodice, which I didn't do.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I think this dress came out very flattering. Since it's actually going to my Mother, I will definitely have to make another one for myself!
Conclusion: This came out a lot nicer than I expected. I think that reading the reviews helped, as it was a good decision to go down one size for a more fitted look.
Here is the dress that I made for my Mother for Christmas. It is Butterick 5173 using fabric that she picked out at Joann Fabrics. She looks soooo cute! I haven't confirmed whether or not she actually likes the dress, but I'll find out for sure.
Pattern Review
Pattern Description: Butterick 5173
Pattern Sizing: 14
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow? For the most part. There were some issues with the neck band, like many others mentioned in previous reviews.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I had some difficulty getting the thread used for the gathering at the bust to be hidden. Even though I was using my old Singer instead of my Bernina, I don't think it should have been as tricky as it was. Instead of one evening, I worked on this dress for 3 days.
Fabric Used: Polyester Knit with gold designs.
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: A few changes including omitting the interfacing and adding length to the dress by making a thicker hem. I also added extra material to the neckline to make it a bit more modest for my Mother to wear to Church.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes. I'd like to try this one for myself using my Bernina.
Conclusion: A really pretty design that seems to flatter multiple body types. I'm definitely up for trying my hand at it again in the future.
I still have three more FOs to show, but here are some pics of recently finished projects. I showed a pic of my Sister's dress on my dress form Sookie a while back, but I was nervous about the fit. From the pic you can see it fits well, with some room to spare. The joys of being skinny, I guess. LOL.
I made a second New Look 6735 top a while back, but never got a chance to show it off. My Sister is modeling it for me (even though my size is four times too big on her! lol) along with the new pants I made for her using New Look 6835. They are a really nice dark grey knit material that I purchased at Joann's while in Vermont for Christmas. The pants are my second attempt at making her a nice fitting pair, since my initial attempt using Butterick 5271 was a disaster! The crotch came down an extra 6 inches and no matter how hard I tried, it wasn't fixable. NL6856 was a perfect fit on the first attempt.
Finally, I'll leave you with a pic of my ever growing fabric stash. Not to mention that a few more orders came in after this pic, along with 10 pieces that I forgot about in my sewing bag, and new purchases while in Vermont. I am officially back on my fabric diet and will not order a thing until I've made another 10 pieces. My co-worker is seriously considering taking up sewing, so my punishment for falling off the wagon will be to give her a prized piece, should I cheat! Believe me - Carol is digging this plan.
As far as Christmas goes, it was a quick trip cut in half after storms caused mass cancellations for planes going into JFK airport. Instead of 8 days, I had to make due with only four! Short as it was, it was a great trip and the family all had a great time. I made a new dress for my Mother, which my Father has promised to email me before he goes to bed....
I'm planning on finishing another dress this evening which I'll post about in a few days. Back to work tomorrow with only a few days off for the new year.
Here is my finished wrap dress I mentioned in yesterday's post. This was my first Vogue pattern. While I felt like I was a little confused at times, it was actually a pretty easy pattern. Instead of soft pleats at the top, I opted for gathers. My boss and co-worker both commented on how that was one of the features that was really flattering to my frame! Nice. Of course I think I'm still a bit unsure of how to do soft pleats, but only a month back I was unsure of gathers. Things change and people grow. 
I started this at around 6 or 7 in the evening after work and finished up a little before 1 in the morning. With tv watching, company, dinner, and dishes - I'd call this a fast project! I would have loved to make up another one, but I'm trying to use more of my unused patterns. I also have another Vogue dress pattern (1027) that I'm looking forward to trying. It has the wrap dress shape, a longer length skirt, and pockets!
Well, this is my last day of work before leaving for Vermont for the Christmas holiday tomorrow. I'll be gone for a little over a week. I'll be bringing my Mother's sewing machine (my original machine before getting her Bernina as a gift) along with my serger. The family all wants clothes made during the holidays! I'm game.
Pattern Review:
Pattern Description: Wrap front dress has soft pleats, side tie, and sleeve.
Pattern Sizing: 16-22. I cut a straight 16.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The wrap shape is really flattering on a variety of body shapes, from thick to thin, small breasts to large.
Fabric Used: 3 yards of a Poly/Lycra Jersey Knit fabric from Gorgeous Fabrics. My first order from this store and I am not disappointed. Great quality and suits the style of the dress, just right!
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: Instead of soft pleats, I made gathers at the bust. The facing came out a bit wonky, so I made an additional piece using the left-over fabric to cover the neckline better. I also lengthened the skirt portion after reading numerous reviews about the slightly "too-short" length.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes. I would take another stab at this pattern for sure! It came highly recommended for good reason.
Conclusion: This was my first Vogue pattern. I feel good about the outcome and am packing it for my trip back east for the holidays.
On Monday I traced my pattern for the Vogue wrap dress that received so many positive reviews on the Pattern Review website. I cut the material, lengthening the skirt portion. Most of the reviews mentioned that the dress would look even more flattering with additional length. I'm wearing it to work and have received wonderful compliments. I'll take an FO pic to post tonight or tomorrow.
This will be a heavy photo post and a possible roomie duplicate. Brandi and I had a blast last night with the Infinite Knitters group. While it usually meets on Monday nights at the Starbucks on Genesee, I have my sewing class – which I opted to skip for the meet-up. Well Brandi invited the group for an at home adventure chez nous. It was such a great time. Margaret brought her spinning wheel, Nancy brought her knitting machine, and Liz brought some Lonesome Stone Fibers yarn. The vibe was so warm and friendly. The cats were just as excited to see new faces and to attempt some yarn/roving fondling of their own….lol 
It was great to get a little more knitting progress done on my Boutique Knits hat. I have completed the headband and ruffle portion and am onto picking up the stitches for the slouchy hat. Of course I’m going to have to figure out how to sew a complimentary…something to go with this FO, once it’s complete.
In sewing news – I am failing miserably at my fiber diet. I am constantly buying fabric from multiple sources online as well as Yardage Town and Joann’s. Last week I made 3 trips to Yardage Town, 2 trips to Joann’s, and made an online purchase at Gorgeous Fabrics, Fabric.com, and an online store search for Ermenegildo Zegna fabric, as well. STOP THE MADNESS! I am going to attempt to make a nice pair of slacks tonight with one of my purchases. 
My 34th birthday was on Sunday (yup, Pearl Harbor Day). I had a nice, but low-key weekend. I was a bit in the dumps earlier in the week and was treated to a fab Christmas tree from my roomie. Brandi and I decorated it on Friday. It’s a 6 footer and smells great. It’s on our porch where Scofield is unable to get at it and knock it over. Lol. A wise compromise to not having a live tree at all.
I went for sashimi on Saturday & watched a local game with my roomie later that evening. Created a birthday top with one of my fabric finds (not my favorite FO, but cute enough to wear again to work), and finally gave my dress form a name…..Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood a household fav. My running joke is that a successful FO gets a “Sookie Sookie now”. 
That’s it for now. Back on my raw food before the holidays and feeling good about how it’s going so far. I’m already down one pattern size for my new projects. Here’s hoping to going down a few more.
I saw this meme on Sknitty's blog and thought I'd give it a try.
Things I’ve Done (In Bold)
Things I Want to Do (In Italics)
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (violin)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (in FL and CA) - despite the fact that I live naer Disneyland, I've only been to DisneyWorld.
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight - every year on cabbage night (the night before Halloween) my sister and I had a pillow fight.
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - too little to remember, though.
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language (Chichewa, and African dialect)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied While more would be great - it's happiness that gives money it's value...I'm stealing from Plato's Republic, but really believe it.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud - even girly girls can enjoy gettin' dirty!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - Believe it or not, it was the banks error and everyone was refuned. This happened to me twice at two different banks!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - Kwikee Kuwala
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job - it was a legitimate reason, except my boss was mad that I helped out another non-profit organization. He later asked me to be on the Board of Director's!
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book - I'm sort of cheating here. My Masters' thesis got published.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible - Part of the Missionettes Program when I was younger.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox - gave it to my sister. She had it so bad the Doctor put it in his records as one of the worst cases in medical history.
89. Saved someone’s life - My girlfriend's mother tripped backwards and her head went through the glass at Church. She luckily didn't cut an artery, but I had to hold her ear in place to keep her from losing it until the ambulance came.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - Can't remember who now, but I know it happened.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person - On my last business trip during a nursing tradeshow
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - Bumble Bee to boot!
100. Rode an elephant
So I finally had a chance to get some quick snaps of my latest FOs from yesterday. Two more to show, but that'll be another day. The top is the very popular knit piece from New Look. I chose a vibrant, wild fabric from Yardage Town. The pants are from Butterick. It's another knit pattern, which I opted for a comfy t-shirt material on sale for $2.98 in the left-over section at Yardage Town. These were really easy to sew and I have been working comfortably in them all day! I actually cut and sewed the pants while watching a movie. It took only 45 minutes from start to finish! These will both be work staples.
In a complete failure at fabric dieting, I have purchased two more pieces of fabric from Yardage Town to make a couple of dresses. When I returned from lunch, my Fabric.com order came in with the four pieces I purchased last week! Oh - the options I have! Here's to a continued movement towards successful sewing projects. Both of these were completely serged with the exception of the top's gathering at the bottom. I actually managed to use my new Bernina gathering foot attachment. Thanks Robin for the email support. It worked!
Here's a pic of my new dress form. While my roomie helped wrap my body in duct tape to make a customized version, I have failed to stuff and mount it. Easy solution? Buy one! Actually it's an early birthday gift....perrrrrfect.
A semi-Christmas gift for my Sister. A Sew Easy Butterick pattern I completed when I first started sewing, but failed to hem it. Finished and ready for the holidays. No peaking Pam. lol. FYI, my Sister is so tiny that I couldn't zip up the dress on the dress form, which is for medium sizes. Ha! After 3 kids, she's still an x-small. What a cruel world we live in. *wink*
I have four sewing FOs to post! I finished one of the shirts last week, but managed another top and two pants during Thanksgiving vacation! I'm wearing one of the new tops and bottoms to work today. Very comfy and will be sewn again for sure. I'll post pics in the next few days for sure.
Here's the list of FOs:
- Butterick 5068 - cotton pants
- Butterick 4807 - knit pants
- New Look 6735 - knit top (this is the same version as my last pictured FO)
- New Look 6648 - knit top
UPS should be delivering my fabric.com order today, so I'll have even more material to play with. I think I'll try another dress, either McCall 5752 or Vogue 1027.
