I typically don’t wear this style of top, but for 2019 I am stepping out of my comfort zone. I had just enough of this fabric leftover from making McCall’s 7833 and Vino is the color of winter. One of my favorites along with mustard yellow and hunter green.
McCall’s 7833
I do like the way it fits. I styled it with a pair of white leggings and Vino knee high boots. These boots are a pair of my favorites, not only for the color but also the comfort and the heel height is perfect.
I needed lounge wear and easy to put on clothing for the foot surgery I had back in January. Dr. said I would be down for 6 weeks with no pressure on the foot. I am going into week 3 and he was right. So before my surgery I made a few pairs of Pajamas pants with wide bottoms to fit over my cast and this this piece. McCall’s 7061 Misses’ Dress View B, I liked the hooded version to add more warmth, as I am always cold.
Well once I tried it on and added my boots to it, I thought this could be worn as an outfit and not just lounge wear. It’s perfect to wear now and I wouldn’t have to worry about getting it over my pink fancy cast and it is long enough where I wouldn’t have worry if I was showing too much when riding my scooter when I need to go out.
I was happy with the length and how this one turned out, but not sure if I want or need another hooded dress in the fleece material. If I were to make it again, I would use a little bit lighter fabric, this one is heavy and will keep me warm for sure.
Pattern Description: Misses’ Tops, Dress, Shorts, Pants and Slippers
Pattern Sizing: 4-14 Cut a Size 8
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, It looked exactly like the envelope.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, even with adding the hood to the top, the instructions were straight forward.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? liked the style of the dress.
Fabric Used: Fleece from Joann’s
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No alterations were made on this one. I was able to cute the size 8 without any additional alterations.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would make this garment again, maybe not in the heavy fleece fabric. I would pick a cotton or interlock Knit for another one.
Conclusion: This one is a winner for me. I love it.
I was glad that Sewyourview over on Instagram picked this pattern for the #sewyourview for the November pattern. There is a monthly pattern pick, so check them out over on Instagram. So many great versions of all patterns selected.
I picked this fabric for this cape, as I was undecided on two other options and I was glad I went with this one. This fabric was purchased at Joann Fabrics here. It’s a Perfectly Plaid Acrylic fabric that had just the right amount of design for it not to be plain. I paired it again with my favorite white leggings, I need a new pair of jeans, LOL!!! Jeans are on my list of makes so let’s see what I can come up with next.
I cut the medium on this one, but usually I would have cut a small, but I wanted it to have flow to it. It flows perfectly. I had no issues with this cape, the only issue was getting photos of myself in the cape. It finally worked out.
M7477
Although these photos have the top of my head slightly cut off, they were the best one’s I could get before my foot surgery, which I am currently recovering from as I write this post. I love that I was able to get some close ups of the cape and lots of me smiling, It’s hard to catch me in a photo with a smile, but I am working on that too. I am a pretty happy person, but rarely smile in photos. I think it makes my face look chubby.
Pattern Description: Misses’ Hooded, Collared or Collarless Capes
Pattern Sizing: xs-xxl
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 liked that the instructions were easy to follow and it turned out how the envelope looked.
Fabric Used: Perfectly Plaid Acrylic fabric
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None on this one. I did cut the Medium, usually I would cut a small, but I wanted more flow in the body of the cape.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I would sew this again, in a solid color, like a bold blue or a hot red.
Conclusion: I love this cape and it will last me all throughout and I can dress it up or down.
I am so excited to be continuing on with my sewing for 2019. I have lots of plans to try new things and to bring back some of my favorite makes from the past 4 years.
To start 2019 I have selected 9 patterns to make that are garments I haven’t made in the past. These items will be made throughout the year along with others, but I wanted to showcase these as the ones that are on my list. Below you will find my list, they are not in any special order, but I have started the activewear pattern as part of the Activewear Challenge on the pattern review website, details can be found here.
The Jacket is almost complete, just need to add the sleeves and the zipper. The zipper frightens me, but it is one of the things on my list of challenges that I must conquer. The pants are a little tricky with the side pieces, but I think I have it figured out. I installed the side pieces by way of the Pattern instructions and it didn’t turn out like it should have, so I am going to take it out and do it again. Practice makes perfect, right?
Look for a blog post in the upcoming week for the finished garments for pattern #M7482.
I am most excited about making the underwear. These patterns have been on my list for the last 2 years or more and I keep adding them to the list and taking them off, adding them, taking them off. This time they stay, I will never know what skills I don’t have if I don’t at least try.
1. McCall’s 7482 – Misses’ Asymmetrical-Zip Jacket and Seamed Leggings
2. McCall’s 7547 – Misses’ Flared Jeans and Overalls, Skinny Jeans, and Shortalls
3. McCall’s 6841 – Misses’ Cowl-Neck Tops (this Pattern is Out of Print)
4. Simplicity 8701 – Misses’ Pants with Options for Design Hacking
6. Vogue 9285 – Misses’ Top with Sleeve and Cuff Variations
7. Simplicity 8700 – Misses’ Jacket with Options for Design Hacking
8. Simplicity 8436 – Misses’ Plunge Bra and Panties – Once completed these items will be modeled by my dress form, Brianna. I wouldn’t want an inappropriate blog post. 🙂
9. Simplicity 8229 – Misses’ Underwire Bras and Panties – Once completed these items will be modeled by my dress form, Brianna. I wouldn’t want an inappropriate blog post. 🙂
Well I am off to go start of the process of installing in the zipper and the sleeves on the jacket. The weather is raining and extremely windy tonight, so I think it is safe for me to stay behind the sewing machine.
I can’t believe it is almost the end of 2018. Where did the time go? I thought my biggest challenge would be sticking to the Ready to Wear Challenge, hosted by Goodbye Valentino. Well it wasn’t, my biggest challenge was blog writing. I feel as though I have hit a wall, when it comes to coming up with content to write. I have been doing some research and looked at a few online blog content websites to help me out. I think I got it now.
I am a member of a local blogging community here in Sacramento, Ca, called the Blog Bloc. The Blog Bloc holds monthly mixers and events related to blogging. Although I was unable to attend all the events in 2018, busy training for Marathons, I did catch one that has helped me with my blog writing. The November Mixer: Content Planning Workshop with Melissa Camilleri was awesome. Lots of ideas on where to get blog topics, monthly planning, and so much more. So with that said, I will be incorporating all the things I have learned into my blog posts starting January 2019. Including a monthly schedule of photos on location. That part makes me excited.
A lot has happened in 2018, a lot of SEWING!!! I was so proud of all the finished projects that I was able to accomplish. How did I get so many done? I made time. Sewing has become like my second job, but in a fun way. I do love my day job too.
Some projects were hard to finish and lay in the Unfinished Object (UFO) basket, I do plan on going back to those projects in the summer, as most of them are summer garments.
Here is my collection from 2018. (Lots of pictures)
I was also the proud 3rd place winner of the Fabric Mart photo challenge this summer. You can read the blog post here. I love a good Instagram challenge, it keeps me on my toes and more often than enough it makes me remember what I want to do for my next project. My prize for winning the challenge was 2 patterns of my choice, which I still have on my to do list.
The last few projects I have on my sewing table right now are PJ’s and a coat. I am working slowly on the coat with it being my first fully lined coat, I want to be sure to go at my own pace. No need to rush it and have to take it apart.
I am making several pairs of PJ’s and lounge wear tops for the next month or so. One can never have too many PJ’s. I have them all cut out and ready to sew. Hopefully I will get them done in the next few days or so.
The Sew Life: Fashion, Fabrics, and Fun 