Without further ado.....Vogue 1027. I really like how this came out. While I originally planned this to be my test run, it is an actual, wearable FO. Originally, I wasn't sure about the Sicilian's choice in picking this fabric when we went to LA last month, but he really nailed it! I think it's very Tropical...(my co-worker among other "I Love Ray-J" watchers will understand this reference...don't spoil the ending, though - I have it taped to watch with my Sister tonight)....
As I mentioned in my previous post, this had a lot of firsts in sewing for me. This was my first go at pockets. It was a success. Even though a lot of people choice to omit this part of the pattern, I really love it. My hips sit a bit higher than where the pockets are, so it isn't really adding any bulk for me. I also made my first set of pleats for the bodice. Usually I pick patterns with gathers, but this was a nice change. The final, first is that this was a bias cut pattern, so I had to wait 24 hours to finish the hem, which I coverstitched on my BabyLock machine. The bias cut skirt has a lot of movement and I enjoyed throwing in a twirl as my co-worker Carol took snaps of me outside the office on break. 
If I do make this one again, I'll go down one more size for the bodice portion and then elongate the bodice just a hair. I like the overall look, but for general shape preference, these tweaks would put it to the next level for me.
The only modifications I made were to fold over the waist ties in half (like many Pattern Reviewers mentioned before me) so the wrong side of the fabric won't show when folder. I also sewed the ties to the back instead of the front in order to allow some hanging on the ties. My ties were not long enough to wrap around my body twice. lol. Voila, a new FO!
There are several "so close I can smell it" scenarios happening. My Sister is coming to visit tomorrow evening from Vermont! She is coming solo, without her 3 boys - so you can guess that it's a much needed vay-ka for the Special Educator/Mom.
While the Sicilian and I were unable to make it to Los Angeles this weekend (we made two attempts, too!) to pick up fabric, I was able to complete most of my Vogue 1027 dress. Actually, the Sicilian is the one who picked out the fabric for this piece during our last LA fabric shopping trip. It's my first time using sleeve facings, making pockets, and the cutting material on the bias. Since this full skirt is cut on the bias, the directions call for hanging it up for 24 hours before hemming. Being an obedient sewer (this time) I am following the letter of the law - I'll have this puppy finished tonight....in time to wear it to my last day of work before my mini-vacation with my Sis and my sewing class. Yeesssss!!!!! Here's a sneak peak of my dress pre-hemming. I'll be taking pictures twirling in it tomorrow...promise!
I also managed to finish the grant for my Mother. I stayed at work for an extra 5 1/2 hours after it closed every night. Yup, that means I worked from 7:30 to 4:00 for my boss and then worked from 4:00 to 9:30 pm for my Mom. Am I tired! Still, it was so worth it. The grant came out great and was received a day early to the grantees. Keep it in prayer for a quick "YOU'VE BEEN FUNDED Award letter".
I am also almost finished with my black and white skirt from last week. I haven't worked on it since last Tuesday, but will finish the waistband this evening. After all - I'll need something to do in between laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning up before my Sisters arrival.....
....I almost forgot. Now that my dress is basically complete, I am starting to work on my niece's prom dress. I am currently on lunch and am about to trace the Simplicity dress on drawing paper. I'll make a muslin for her in the next few days and send it to her, so she can tell me where I'll need to make adjustments. The material is suppose to arrive in the next couple of days, so I need to get a move on!
Sis pics and FO pics to come!!!!!
I am still around. Sorry not much to post. I was not able to finish my dress for Easter. Uggh. I know - I usually am Speedy Gonzalas, but Church service was Saturday evening and I got called into work for a catalog production "emergency". Ahem....I have all of the pieces cut out and have made my first set of pleats on the boddice (Vogue 1027). Yay to me! I started a simple skirt (Butterick See & Sew - 4710) that uses a stretch cotton (my first time using this material). I just have to understitch the waistband and voila.
In other news........my niece, who recently turned 18 on the 4th has asked me to make her prom dress! Yup - I am skurrred. lol. She liked the brown dress I posted from the Hispanic fashion show, but wants one strap going over the shoulder. I have picked Simplicity 2692.
Of course, Joann Fabric's Simplicity sale was last week, so I'm stuck finding a coupon to reduce the cost to $8.98 instead of the 99 cents it was through Saturday. I have already purchased the fabric from Fabric.com. I'm using a dark blue satin with crepe back. Kim wants the waistband to be black, so I might add black lace tulle to cover the bottom of the dress, too. I am going to add a bit of bling to the bodice top as well. Any suggestions....this is her Senior prom after all!
I am working hard to make my Easter dress (Vogue 1027) to wear tomorrow. Everyone, have a blessed Easter weekend!
So I made this top last year before Christmas, but never got a chance to take a pic wearing it. I made these pants on Saturday using my new TNT (tried-n-true) pants pattern - Butterick 4789. Two pairs in two days - not bad.
In life news - I am trying to detox my life. I have been really stressed lately. I can see the stress on my face and even my body is being affected negatively. I am off to Bikram Yoga class this evening. Nothing like an hour and a half in a hot room doing Yoga poses to get out the negativity.
I'm also working on a grant for my Mother. She has done such wonderful and powerful things throughout her life and even in her sixties, she continues. She wants to start a local youth program in Vermont, helping disadvantaged kids to get training for finding and keeping jobs. I'll be working on the grant after hours along with my Sister (via telephone) every night until it's due in just a week and a half! Keep the prayers and good thoughts flowing that I'll have a strong and compelling grant that she can send off to the State for funding.
I have traced several patterns now during my lunch time, which I hope to get a start on this weekend. There's a Vogue top and skirt and New Look cardigan in my future plans.....stay tuned.
I had a completely solitary weekend - unless you count cats crawling all over me while I'm trying to sew. lol. I managed to make TWO pairs of pants using the Butterick 4789 pattern. Since my recent dress came out so well, I thought I'd try the pants.....SCORE! They fit really well. I'm wearing the first pair to work. For the second pair, I shortened the crotch area just a tad, for an even better fit. These were so easy to whip up, I didn't even need the instructions. I did a triple cover stitch on the first pair and a twin cover stitch on the second pair's hem.
I'll have pics of the second pair tomorrow! I have also cut out a cotton stretch skirt and will try to sew that for my sewing class. I'll be cutting fabric for a knit wrap top this evening....productivity, productivity....since I'm on a roll, I just want to go with it and get some FOs out for the changing weather.
In non-crafting news, my Sister will be visiting me in two weeks. She lives in Vermont with her family and is actually taking a kid-free vacation to visit her little (or should I say younger) Sis. We'll go to LA and pick up some more fabric so I can deck her out with some handmade duds while she's relaxing on the beach!
I am thrilled to have completed an FO that is actually wearable and attractive. For the last 2 weeks I have not been too successful. I refused to get frustrated (this is rare for me) and kept going. Voila - a successful piece. I started Simplicity 4076 on Tuesday during my sewing class. I had already cut the fabric before going to class. The teacher had just made one of the tops from that pattern and told me that it runs short. I tend to like my shirts longer anyway, so I'll have to add more fabric to the bottom to make it work. Since the design was a good look for me, I picked up Butterick 4789. It's a Maggie London design very similar to the Simplicity style. Butterick's version has more material in the twist and a v-neckline both in the front and back.
I made a size 14, but used my Olfa sewing guide attachment for my rotary cutter to add an additional 5/8” around the pattern when I cut it out, especially since the knit I picked from my stash didn't seem to have enough stretch. I did a narrow hem on the neckline and twin cover stitch for the sleeves and hem.
I will make this again for sure! I may even try doing the shirt version this weekend. I would consider this a must-try wardrobe builder.
