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!!!

Me Made Monday

Welcome to the first post for what I am calling Me Made Monday. The thought process behind Me Made Monday is to feature a Me Made garment or accessory. I typically do the most of my sewing during the weekends as I work outside the home Monday – Friday. My goal is to post every other Monday with a Me Made Garment. Let’s see how that works.

One Pattern – Two Dresses

The pattern pick for the July Sew Your View pattern over on instagram was Simplicity Pattern 8375 Misses’ Knit Dress or Top with Multiple Pattern Pieces for Design Hacking. I made 2 dresses with this pattern.

Dress 1:

Sleeveless Dress using 2 pattern pieces and rolling the hems for the armholes and the neckband. It has been extremely hot in California, so the sleeveless version was perfect for this project. This fabric was purchased from Michael Levine’s in Los Angeles. Ca, in 2017 I believe.

Dress 2:

Cap sleeve dress used the same 2 pattern pieces this time I lengthened the armhole and rolled the hem under. The fabric I chose for this dress is one of the pre-cut pieces from Wal-Mart, this fabric was $2.00 per yard. Not bad for a comfortable everyday wear dress.

Brianna, my dress form, is wearing this dress with a belt this is how I would wear it with a pair of sandals or wedges to match this belt.

For the office I styled this one with a sleeveless white denim vest, that I can’t remember where I bought it, but it looked cute when I put it together. I also wore my Nike 270 C in all white, as I can wear sandals, but they are not comfortable as my foot is not 100% yet. I am getting there.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Knit Dress or Top with hacking options

Pattern Sizing: XXS-XXL

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, except I choose not to add the bottom ruffle and just made it a sleeveless dress for the hot California weather we are experiencing right now.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very easy to follow. I do have to get used to each step being listed differently as it is not the typical instructions as a non-hacking pattern.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the multiple options with one pattern and that the pattern came with the directions to create each option.

Fabric Used: A soft knit fabric. I purchased this fabric from Michael Levine’s in Los Angeles, in 2017.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None that aren’t part of the “hack”.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes and I did already actually. It is the last photo in all blue with the white denim vest.

Conclusion: LOVE this pattern.

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!!!

Simplicity 8930 Misses’ Top with Options for Design Hacking

In need of a quick dress or top? Well this pattern Simplicity 8930 will satisfy your need. I think it took me about an hour and 20 minutes to make this dress from start to finish. I also serged the inside to make it clean as well. I am getting into the habit of serging all my garments, it is so worth all the extra time.

As part of the instructions it states that you can also complete this pattern with an Overlock or Serger machine. One day I may try completing a full garment with my Serger.

Although tops are what I currently need the most in my wardrobe, I couldn’t resist this dress. I didn’t need to make any alterations for fit on this one. The length was perfect for me, not too short, not too long, but just right.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Top with Options for Design Hacking

Pattern Sizing: XXS – XXL, I cut a Small

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? Extremely easy to follow

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The finished garment and that I didn’t need to make any length alterations is what I liked most about this pattern.

Fabric Used: Knit, purchased from Journals in Los Angeles, Ca

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I am planning on making option 3 and/or 4 as tops are what I really need right now.

Conclusion: Love the outcome of the dress. The pattern instructions were so easy to follow. Good for a beginner as well.

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!!!!