Tag: #sacblogger

Fall 2019 Sewing

It’s been a while since I posted a blog. Life itself has been crazy busy for me and my priorities shifted this summer, school, family, life, and taking care of myself. Yes sewing is taking care of myself, but it was taking up time I needed to spend elsewhere.

I had some work done on my house in August which started with new floors for my family room, laundry room, and downstairs bathroom. Once those were done I loved them so much that I had the floors in my sewing space replaced as well. So you can only imagine that my sewing space was a total disaster at the time. Now that the work is all done I have slowly gotten things back to normal.

Before

After

Here is a peak at the table I am using for my cutting table. It is the table out of my kitchen, it is the perfect height and width for me to cut without having to adjust my patterns and fabric when cutting. I actually taped the 2 cutting mats together on the bottom to make one big cutting mat. I am in search of a larger one, but for now this is working just fine.

Here are few of the patterns I plan on making for the Fall now that my sewing room is back in order and it is all done. I just need to take more photos when the lighting is right.

I have started on the first pattern Simplicity 8982 with cutting out the pattern and matched it to a knit I found at Wal-Mart in the 5 yards for $5.00 bolt. It is pretty sturdy and I think it will be perfect for this project. I will be working on it throughout this week and plan to have her finished this weekend. Fingers crossed I stick the plan.

Simplicity 8982  

Misses’ Knit Two Piece Sweater Dress, Tops, Skirts

View C and View D. Why view C? Well, the sleeves of course. I am so in love with these sleeves. View D, because every girl needs a pencil skirt for Fall.

Simplicity 8992 

Misses’ Sweater Dress and Cardigans with Pattern Hacking Options

There are so many options to choose from with this one, I am thinking to go with version 3. It has the option to have button holes and a belt. I am thinking this one in an olive green sweater knit that I also picked up from Wal-Mart.

Simplicity 8990

Misses’ Wrap Coats

I put a coat on my Fall Sewing list every year and what happens? I never finish it. Well this year my plan is to make this one from start to finish. It seems simple enough to where I won’t feel like giving up half way the the project. Not sure on a color or fabric yet for this one, but I will definitely be going with View B, the short version.

Simplicity 8988 

Misses’ Cozy Knit Tops

I love this top and I need more tops again this Fall. I tend to wear cardigans and a t-shirt, but want to change up my look a little this Fall. I love the exposed seams on view A, that’s the view I plan on making.

Simplicity 8987

Misses’ Tops with Sleeve Variations

This a simple top, but I can take Views B and C and make them with a fancy print fabric to get them to pop. There are a lot of other sleeve variations that can also be added to this top. It can be worn with casual wear and with the right fabric it can be dressed up as well. I will be putting elastic in the bottom of View C with the flared sleeve.

Bye for Now, Time to Go Sew Something!!!

2 Year BlogVersary

It was 2 years ago today that I started my Blog The Sewcial Sewist. A blog about a woman from Sacramento, CA that used Sewing to heal from the death of her mother, that passed away in 2014 from stomach cancer. This smile on her face in this photo is exactly who she was, loving, funny, caring, and most of all my best friend. Oh how I miss her. You only miss someone this hard when there are great memories.

Within the last 2 years I have made a lot of garments, some good ones and some bad ones. I quickly learned that you can’t skip steps, you MUST iron your seams, the fabric needs to be pre-washed, and it is okay not finish a garment on the day that you start it. LOL! I would always try to rush to be done to be able to show off what I had made, not a great idea. Lots of wasted time and fabric that I would just trash because I was frustrated.

Not So Good Makes

Here a few of the not so good ones. Under each photo it will explain why I put each garment in the not so good category.

The bad on this Style Sew Me loungewear is the color of fabric I choose. This bright yellow was not the best choice for me. It reminded me of a large banana. The pattern itself I loved. I will be making this again for the Fall/Winter weather in another not so bold and bright color.

McCall’s 6700 Front

This McCalls 6700 maxi dress, needed major alterations after I finished it and took photos. The maxi was too long so I had to cut from the length and the bodice was too low cut, the last thing I needed was an accident of the bodice coming open.

This dress I loved until I washed it, then it became out of shape and not figure flattering on me at all. I think I ended up donating this one.

Another horrible fabric choice for a top. It was too busy and didn’t look as cute as I thought it would. The pattern Simplicity 8646 is a great top and a quick and easy sew. I needed a solid color fabric or a printed fabric that wasn’t too busy.

Bad placement of the pattern on this one. It looks like a large marijuana plant on the right side of the chest when you wear it. Nothing wrong with marijuana it has been used for medical purposes to assist those with medical conditions, but it is not for me to wear on a top.

Good Makes

Here are a few garments that I would consider Good Makes. The last 2 skirts were made when I first started sewing. They weren’t the best makes, but they were definitely some of the items that I was proud of, because they were completed and I thought they were cute.

Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be. ~unknown

Bye for now, time to go Live My Best Life!!!!

Blog relaunch, new content!!!

Hello all my beautiful sewists. I have come to the decision to relaunch my blog, in a few weeks, I need figure out exactly what I need it to be. I realize it needs some work done on it and I am going to take the time now to work on it. I will be adding additional content, such as, but not limited to, fashion, food, and lifestyle, pretty much all the things I love and do regularly. I felt as if I was limiting myself to only sewing. My sewing projects will be still be part of my content, as sewing is what I love most. With expanding my content I believe it be more exciting.

So for now enjoy a few of my favorite makes below. I’ll be back in a few weeks or so with a new look and new content. I will continue to post my makes as I work on my blog’s relaunch.

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

The June Nina Ramel Fabric Box – Vogue 9253

All I can say is this fabric is hot like FIRE!!! It took me several days of going through my pattern collection, yes collection. Lol!!!, to figure out what I wanted to make with this beautiful fabric. Once I narrowed it down to 2 patterns, Simplicity 1059 and Vogue 9253, then the fear of cutting into it set in. Finally I just started and the end result is what I was looking for.

Now let’s talk about the Nina Ramel Fabric box, it’s a fabric box that Shari Williams from My Daily Threadz offers. June was the first box and it is sold out, on her site July will be coming. Check it out and also follow My Daily Threadz on Instagram, Shari always posts information there. You should see the beautiful dress she made. This woman has mad sewing skills.

This was the second time I made Vogue 9253, first make was in August 2017 when everyone was making it. I loved it then and I love it now.

I love the whole look, the fabric, the shoes, which I can’t wear yet, but just wait. Now I need some special place to go to wear this fabulousness. Who’s having a party? Invite me, I already have an outfit to wear.

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

Butterick 6206 Maxi Dress

As one of the many dresses I am making for summer I made Butterick 6206 View A for the bodice and the skirt that goes with views B, C, and D. I like the high low version on View A, but wanted to show off the print on this fabric. The I may make the high low version in another fabric, considering how easy this dress was to make. I think it took about an hour to complete.

I have had this pattern for a few years and wanted a new dress to wear to a Happy Hour event with some of my closet friends/ family. One of our ladies have nicknamed our group of ladies FRAMILY! I love it because that’s what they are FRAMILY!!! These ladies are the best.

The fabric I used was purchased at Journal’s in Los Angeles, Ca. I stop in Los Angeles at least 2 times a year to fabric shop, usually April for my birthday month and September, if I visit Southern California for my wedding anniversary.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Petite Pullover Maxi Dresses and Belt

Pattern Sizing: 6- 14, I cut a size 12

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looked exactly like the pattern cover.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Instructions were super easy to follow.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the different variations of the bodice options. It allows you to make multiple dresses with the same pattern, but they look different.

Fabric Used: ITY Knit from Journal’s Fabric in Los Angeles, Ca

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Cut off 6″ from the bottom to accommodate my height

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I plan on sewing this one again, but first I am going to go through my to make list and do some of those projects first.

Conclusion: Love this dress and I like how the pattern on the fabric was placed to make it flow.