Tag: #s8982

SMT – Stashed Gems Challenge Update

This challenge was exactly what I needed to spark that SEW-JO I so needed. I love this and I may repeat this each month, a girl can never have to many Me Made Garments in her closet.

So just to recap what the Challenge consisted of, sew using the patterns and fabric from your stash. Don’t BUY any new patterns or fabric, unless you need the fabric, to finish off a garment. I thought this was genius and started using the structure of this challenge in other parts of my day to day adventures as well. Like what, you ask? For example, we buy facial products and the nice lady at the checkout counter provides you with all these samples, some are samples of the very same products you are purchasing. I am using those, as I don’t travel much and when I do, it’s usually in the car and not on an airplane. Where can you use the rules for this challenge in your life? I also blogged about the challenge here in my 2020 Sewing plans. Go check it out if you haven’t already.

So what did I make during the Stashed Gems Challenge?

Week 1 Tops

Yes you have seen this top, probably 1 million times, from me alone. LOL!!! It is a quick and easy top and it helped me with busting my stash of knits.

This baseball tee, New Look 6230, I love the fit and the white fabric is super soft. I selected the gray for the sleeves because it is a little shear and I didn’t want to line this t-shirt.

The 2 bottom tops are Simplicity 8988. I didn’t do the raw edges on the outside, as I simply forgot that was the concept of the top. Ay yi yi, I am a creature of habit. So since I didn’t do the outside seams, I made it off the shoulder without the ties. I plan on using it for lounge wear in the house. I plan on making this one, the right way, blue in a sweatshirt knit I have in my stash. The fabric selected for this one was a sweatshirt knit as well.

Week 2 Skirt and Dresses

Yep, again McCall’s 8982 in the Dress. I don’t fit skirts well, store bought or Me Made, so you won’t see skirts from me, until i truly learn how to measure myself for the perfect fit. It’s another thing I have on my learn to-do sewing list. Pants and skirts. All the fabric here is knit fabrics purchased from Michael Levine’s way back in 2016. The black, pink, red fabric is a border print, so I placed the top and the bottom on the black portion of the border in order to give it that affect of matching the top and bottom. I then placed the sleeve on the floral section, with just a tiny bit of black to have a flowing of the pattern effect. That one is my favorite.

Week 3 Pants and Jumpsuits

This week has been a real struggle, school has started back and I am spending at least 2-3 hours a night doing homework, for just one class, MATH. Not my best subject either, but hey I am going to push through. I have a pair of jeans that I want to make and I think I picked a fairly easy pattern, but something about Jeans that just makes me nervous. I guess I just need to get it done.

The pattern I have selected for my jeans is Simplicity 8701. I have a denim fabric with 5% Spandex that I think will do the job. I will start on the fitting , take my time, and see how it goes. I am thinking to do a muslin first, but this fabric was so low priced, that if they don’t fit I won’t be to upset about it. Hoping to have them completed in about 2 weeks, to allow myself time to focus on making them and not feel rushed.

So on that note stay tuned…..

Simplicity Sewing Pattern S8701 Misses' Pants with Options for Design Hacking

Week 4 Outerwear/Sportswear

I made this cape, Simplicity A1226, using some pink and gray flannel. I think I bought this at Joann Fabrics, but it has been in my stash so long I can’t remember. The pattern is also out of print. I thought I had found one on Etsy, but when I clicked the link it stated that the page was no longer available. Oh boy look at all those scraps, under the table, I have been busy in January with my sewing. I LOVE IT!!! There are a few more days left in the Stashed Gems Challenge it ends on February 2, 2020. My plan is to continue on with busting down my stash and using the patterns I have already all year long. I am planning a trip to Los Angeles, in April, so of course I’ll be stopping by the Fashion District for some Spring/Summer pieces. In between now and April I am planning to make a list of makes, so that way I can select the fabrics needed, instead of just going hog wild, because they are all so pretty, that’s how I usually approach fabric shopping, but now I need shop smarter.

I will also be making my first make for someone else, so I heed good fabric, for that dress. I am excited for that too. Sewing for others has been on my list to do and now I have the opportunity to do it. So I am on it.

Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses. -Kobe Bryant

Rest in Peace 1978-2020.

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Sewing plans for 2020 – Let’s Do It!!!

Do you make plans every year to sew this and sew that? Well if you do you are not alone. I am the Queen of list making when it comes to making a plan for my sewing goals, especially when the the New Year starts. This year I doing it a little bit different. How? Well I am a member of the Sew Much Talent Facebook group, where Carol of Carol’s Sewing Corner Facebook group is hosting the Stashed Gems Fabric and Pattern busting Challenge for the month of January. There are rules to the Challenge, but the main purpose is to Sew from your pattern and fabric stash. If you’re interested in getting more details head over to the group and check out the video. Carol gives lots of amazing tips and tricks on to help you achieve your sewing goals by using what you have in your stash.

With the tips that Carol has given, I have re-evaluated how I am sewing and taking her advice to Sew With A Purpose. I am definitely sewing the things I need and what everyone else is making. Don’t get me wrong there are tons of amazing sewists out there on Instagram and Facebook that absolutely fabulous in their makes, but we all have different styles and body types.

I am starting with tops and dresses made from my new favorite Tried and True (TNT) Fall/Winter pattern Simplicity 8982. Yes you have seen this pattern on my blog already I made a top and 2 dresses. What can I say I love it and how versatile the pattern is. I made the skirt and I did not like the way it fit me, but there it was it great on all the other ladies that made it and I just had to have it. The link to the original post is here where I participated in the Sew Your View Instagram make for the month of November. The 2 patterns below will be tops. The blue paint splatter top is done and I am working on the Red and White Polka dot one. Stay tuned to my Instagram Page for how I style them both.

This is the famous fabric stash that I will starting with. I plan on using all the fabric on this shelf this year to make space for my sewing notions that are on the floor under my cutting table. It is a pain to have to bend down and find things when in the middle of a project. I also have a very short attention span, so I will go digging through a container, because they are all not organized and find something I had no idea I had and try to start another project, before finishing the one I am working. No more that all STOPS now. I gotta get it together!!!! LOL!!!

Here is where all the patterns are housed. I went through them last year and got rid of a lot of duplicates, ones I wasn’t going to use, and those where I asked myself, why did you buy that, it’s not even your style, once again I was sewing or “buying” what I saw on Social Media. So the bottom 8 are my patterns and they are all in order by pattern company and pattern number.

I also have a bucket of Unfinished Projects (UFO’s) as well that I need to go through. I have 2 coats that I want to complete, these I will actually wear. I actually stopped the red coat, because it took me so long to get it started that the weather changed on me and it wasn’t cold enough to wear it. The red is the outside of the coat and the leopard will be lining.

This one I had in the UFO pile for quite some time, so long I can’t remember, I think since like 2017. The fabric is my style and the coat is as well, just look at those sleeves. I was frustrated with this one, because of all the pieces it had and I just stopped working on it. The fabric frayed when cut too, but that’s not an excuse, but I am sure we all go through this stage of sewing.

Well now that I have a goal to sew what I need, that should be much easier for me to start and finish my projects. I will be using my planner from My Daily Threadz to keep me on track.

Let’s do this!!!! Happy Sewing!!!

Goodbye 2019!!!

Is that right? Is it almost 2020? Yes, it is so hard to believe that I have wrapped up another year of sewing. I didn’t sew as much as I wanted to in 2019, after I had foot surgery, but now that I am healing and things are going back to normal there is nothing I won’t try. I am actually excited for the year 2020. I have so many plans to do things and I can’t wait to get started. Lingerie, swimwear, pants, bags, scarves, and athletic/lounge-wear just to name a few.

In 2018 I did the Ready to Wear Fast, no shopping for store bought clothes, and that worked out great for me. Read the post here. There were so many garments that I was able to make because of this fast and I plan on doing it again for 2020, in a Facebook Group. I am so ready to start.

I have my space all organized and TONS of fabric to start with. I do plan on going to the Garment District in Los Angeles, CA in April. I’ll see how that goes it will be my 45th birthday then and what girl doesn’t want new fabric for her birthday? My girlfriend always says how my fabric stash gives her anxiety. She is way too funny! I really do need to use this up and that is my goal plan. I have actually already started on it, buy using a few for some of the end of year garments I have made.

Drum roll please!!!!! These are the garments I was able to complete in 2019 with a few on the sewing table now. I plan on working on them in the next few weeks to complete them by December 30. I have 3 sets of PJ’s I’m working on as well. Good thing I have my Sew JO back.

I hope everyone had a wonderful 2019 and I look forward to seeing all the loveliness that each of you are going to create in 2020.

I leave you with this quote to start off 2020.

“Don’t make resolutions without an action plan. The secret to success is right in your hands.”

Happy New Year!

3 Looks with 1 Pattern

Simplicity 8982, Misses’ Knit Two Piece Sweater Dress, Tops, and Skirts

I made some time this month to actually get some sewing in. I was really successful. The next 2 weeks, not so much is planned and that’s ok. I have finals coming up and I really need to study. I have 3 classes, yikes!!! I will survive, I always do.

So on to the topic at hand, what did I make this month? Well what did make in 13 days, a lot. Well a lot for me, but hey even I only completed one garment, I would be happy, as I am back in my happy place.

Simplicity 8982 was my make for the Sew Your View selected pattern on Instagram. You really should check out all the other makes for this pattern, they are AH-MAZING!!!

I originally made View C and View D the top and skirt, I wasn’t feeling the fit of the skirt on me. It looks fabulous on the other ladies that made it, but it was not my style. I styled the top with a pair of riding boots and my favorite white jeans. I love how this on came out.

With this being such a quick and easy sew, I made View A and View A with the sleeves from View C. I believe this is going to be my new Tried and True (TNT) pattern. I absolutely love it and it is EASY to sew.

I am also getting into the habit of finishing my edges inside. I love the way it looks and it helps it to lay flat when all the excess seam allowance has been cut off.

Learning to work with the colors on my camera and I need some help. In the next few weeks I will be taking an online class to see what I need to do to get the perfect shot. My sewing space also needs some more lights in it, the flash on the camera is not enough, or maybe I have it in the wrong mode.

Bye for now, time to go SEW Something!!!!

Simplicity 8982 Misses’ Top

This pattern is so popular right now and I absolutely love it. I made the top and skirt first, but the skirt is not my style. I am thinking I need to shorten it and peg the bottom a little more to make it more of a pencil skirt look. The skirt was an easy sew, it just not the style I wear.

I have made view A the dress and in the process of making View A with the sleeves from view C. This may be my new TNT pattern, oh the possibilities with this one.

I styled my make, View C, with my favorite white jeans and a pair of riding boots.

I love how this top lays right above the pockets on the back of my pants. It’s not too long and not too short, it’s just right.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Knit Two Piece Sweater Dress, Tops, and Skirts

Pattern Sizing: 6-22

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it did, but the skirt didn’t fit my body type, but that’s not anything with the pattern. I love the skirt just not on me. 

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes very easy to follow. I have started a dress and didn’t need the instructions to start it. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The whole pattern. The easy of instructions and the possibilities that are there to make other options. The joy of mix and match.

Fabric Used: Cotton knit, found at WalMart for $5.00 per yard.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None, but I am going to alter the skirt, shorten it and peg the bottom.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I made a dress and am making another one with sleeve variations. 

Conclusion: I love this pattern and more than likely you will see more of this make from me. 

Bye for now, time to go Sew Something!!!