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McCall’s 7688 Misses’ Knit Tops and Dresses’

For this pattern, I made view E, for the second time (see last photo for first one). I love that the dress is versatile and can be dressed up or down, depending on where your headed. It can be worn with boots for a dressy look or it can be worn with sneakers for a casual look while running errands on a Saturday morning.

There are several fabric suggestions that McCall’s has listed in the pattern, Sweatshirt Fleece, Frech Terry, Cotton Knit, Velour. For my fabric selection, I choose this Red, White, and Black Camouflage print from the Fabric Outlet in San Francisco, Ca. The link is Here, but this color is no longer available on the website. I did purchase this fabric in store.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Knit Tops and Dresses 

Pattern Sizing:XS -M. I cut a small. 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes it was exactly what I expected once it was all done. 

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were easy and pretty straight forward. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I was happy with the pattern and that it fit. 

Fabric Used: Red, white, and black camouflage French terry from the Fabric Outlet, San Francisco, Ca. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No alterations to this one. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, in a solid color, maybe black for casual everyday wear. 

Conclusion: I like this one and can see myself making this again. 

This fabric is a sweatshirt knit, that I purchased at Joann’s fabric, a few years back. I made this dress in 2018.

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

Simplicity 8529 Misses’ Knit Sweaters

Simplicity 8529

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.

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

McCall’s 7061 Misses’ Tops, Dress, Shorts, Pants and Slippers

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.

McCall's 7061

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.

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

My Make Nine for 2019

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

5. Simplicity 8791 – Misses’ Wrap Tops

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.

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

That’s a wrap – Goodbye 2018

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.

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