The hubby and I will be celebrating 24 years of marriage on September 12. We took an early vacation for 4 days down to Monterey, Ca, it’s a spot we both love. We spent the days eating good food, relaxing, walking the pier, and most of all enjoying each other. We both work full time and have other activities, so to not have to do anything was the best.
Few weeks before we left I asked my hubby to help me pick a pattern and fabric for my dinner outfit. We also enjoy a fancy meal at The Chart House on Cannery Row. He picked a fabric I had purchase from the August Nina Ramel Fabric Box and Simplicity 8426 Jumpsuit.
The evenings in Monterey can be a little cooler for me so I added the jacket from Simplicity 8177, fabric used was a black knit I had in my stash, to go with the jumpsuit. It worked out perfect and I loved how the whole look came together.
I added some red drop earrings, red belt, and red flat shoes to complete this look. I was so proud of this look and the hubby he loved it. He’s my biggest supporter. I love me some him. He also gets all the credit for all the photos of me on this trip. He was the best, coaching my poses, and also reminding me to smile. I think I’ll hire him for my photos, not sure he’s ready for that job.😂
Here’s to 24 more years of marriage. Happy Anniversary to us!!!
Now that I have somewhat a “NORMAL” schedule, whatever that means, I am sewing more. July I made a few pieces, shorts, pants, tops, and currently on the sewing table is a kimono. I need to install the facing, but not sure I want the facing on, due to the print on the fabric to me it takes away from the print. I will pin and see how it looks. I may even do a poll on Instagram for some feedback. Here is the kimono in its unfinished state. I am using McCall’s 7790 View C and the sleeve variation from View B. I love a dramatic sleeve. I know some of my sew sisters have their eyes on my lining, but it hasn’t been pressed yet, get your eyeballs out of there, I know it’s showing.
For the next few weeks, I have my work cutout for me, yes pun intended. I have matched fabric and cut out several patterns to make for the few weeks. Hoping to have a small get away with the husband for our anniversary. Fingers crossed that COVID cases don’t shut us down again.
Any-who enough of that talk, you want to see what I have up next? Well here goes…
Simplicity 8177 – The Coat
I am making the coat version for our mini trip, this way I only need one coat to wear with every outfit. I picked a black ponte knit fabric for this one.
2. Simplicity 8790 The Hoodie in View D. The fabric selected is a gray sweatshirt fabric for cooler mornings as I like to walk in the morning to start the day.
3. Simplicity 1167 The Tank Top. Black Knit Fabric for the win. I can wear this with the pants that are number 4 and the coat from number 1.
4. Simplicity 8605 The Pants View E. I choose view to see if I will need to take of the usual 5″ of the bottom due to the pattern being 5″ longer than what I need. Once it’s cut I will measure it to see what, if any, alterations I will need to make. This fabric is a leftover piece from another project I made.
5. Simplicity 9268 Top and Pants
This one is not for our trip, but I love this outfit and I found this pretty pale pink . I think this a gauze. I will have to find the label for it, for details when it is completed. For now I am making a muslin of the top for fitting. Although is not a close to body fit, the size I think I need is really big, so I am making a muslin and will alter from there if needed.
I will need a few other pieces to go along with the ones posted here, but for now, so I am not overwhelmed this is all I have set out. I will add additional items when these are completed. Have a great week!!!!
I can’t believe my last post on this blog was January 8, 2021. Life was busy, school happened, my sewjo went bye bye, and blah blah blah. But the best part, I learned some sewing skills from class, life slowed down and I GOT MY SEWJO back, oh and I look totally different now. Nothing drastic, but I cut my hair again. Most of you that know me, know that I love a short cut and I went back to that. I absolutely love it.
This the #sequoiamccalls, paper bag short with the tie belt. I constructed view b, size L based on my hip measurement, to complete this look. The fabric on the pattern is crepe, faux leather, poplin, and cotton blends. This short has the option to be lined with a lining fabric similar in weight to the fabric you are using for the shorts. I did not line these shorts, a personal choice, and it is way too hot in California for linings right now. I used a linen fabric that I found a Joanns Fabric and Craft. It can be found here. Please note the color that I am wearing is no longer available online, but I purchased this in store.
The pattern was instructions were pretty straight to the point. There wasn’t anything that made me think twice, super simple and easy to follow. I like that. The issues I did have are that the shorts pattern itself needed to be altered to fit my body. I wasn’t sure how to correct the fit issues I was having on my own. Carol in the Facebook Group Carol’s Sewing Corner was having a sew along for this pattern and she was answering all fit issue questions and any other questions, Carol is an absolute genius and she is freaking hilarious. She is the BEST!!!
The issue I was have was the shorts were being caught in between my thighs in the front and the back was, let’s just say a little uncomfortable, they were on the “cutting edge”. In order for Carol to assist each Sewist in the group were asked to make muslins, straight out of the envelope, with zero alterations, this way she would be able to identify the issues and talk you through what alterations needed to be done to get a good fitting short.
I was able to lengthen the crotch to help with the front and back issues. I absolutely love how these turned out. If it weren’t for the instructions on how to alter the pattern pieces for the fit issues I was having, I would not have made this pattern. I typically don’t wear shorts because of the fit issues, now I feel more confident wearing them, knowing that they are going to look great and fit my body shape.
Pattern Description: Misses’ Shorts, Pants, and Belt
Pattern Sizing: XSmall, Small, Medium, L,arge, XLarge, XXLarge – I cut the Large
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? Absolutely
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the end product and that I understood the Pattern instructions.
Fabric Used: Linen from Joann Fabric
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Needed to lengthen the crotch. I have runner’s thighs and the shorts were gathering in the front, which then made the back seam uncomfortable.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes and Yes.
Conclusion: I usually don’t wear shorts as they never fit me correctly, with the alterations to the pattern I think I found me a new “favorite” shorts pattern.
Here are my makes from 2020. They are not in any special order. I plan to make more this year. Starting with Activewear and Jackets. Not heavy jackets but lightweight. I live in California and it gets cold, but it doesn’t stay cold for long periods of time. So jackets will be perfect for me. I have a few items lined up for January and I plan on starting to work on those garments starting this weekend. I am planning more before I start projects now. So I am reading the patterns and researching the fabric choices. By researching the fabric choices it will allow me to pick other fabrics instead of the first choice on the pattern. This will allow me to grow and learn more in sewing skills and techniques.
Christmas is my favorite time of the year. All the love you feel, the joy it brings, the decorations, the lights, the food, family (social distance style of course), and most important of all JESUS is the reason for the season.
I love everything about this jumpsuit. The color, the ease of the pattern, the fit on my body with one alteration to the length.
Pattern Description: McCall’s 7910 Misses’ Jumpsuit Close-fitting, pull-on knit jumpsuits with lined bodice and leg variations. I choose the one shoulder bodice (pattern piece # 3) and wide leg pant leg variation (pattern piece #5).
Pattern Sizing: 6-14, I cut a size 14.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looks like the photo on the pattern envelope.
Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were easy to follow.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved the look of all the bodice’s, but didn’t like the exposed waistline, line. I made a belt to match the embellished shoulder, with a faux diamond studded trim and a bracelet that I found at Michael’s.
Fabric Used: Red Luxury Stretched Velvet from Califabrics. There are a few other colors available.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Like all jumpsuits, pants, or maxi dresses, I needed to remove 2 7/8″ from the length of the pants. The luxury of being able to create pants that fit me due to my height.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I would sew this again, using either of the other bodice options and possibly the pant (pattern piece #6) that has the side slit on the pants leg. There isn’t anything wrong with the straight leg pants, it is just a personal preference for me on a jumpsuit to have a wider leg.
Conclusion: I loved how this turned out, the fit was perfect, no other alterations needed outside of the alteration for the length.
Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for following my blog!!!!
Riesha Nicolle 