Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all. I have had quite the year in 2012. While I did quit blogging for awhile, I didn't stop thinking about blogging. However, there were lots of changes in my life. My son turned 18 and graduated from high school. Most of you know that he is a person with special needs, but has outgrown or developed ways to cope with most of his issues. I'm so proud of him! While he started college, I decided that it was time I went back to college as well.

I have been working as a substitute middle school teacher for the last 16 years, and now it's my time to get my credential. To that end, I started the Educational Specialist Mild Moderate Credential Program at University of LaVerne. I took three classes and tried to work one or two days a week. In a Master's program, three classes is beyond full-time. However, I really enjoyed being back at school and got two As and one A-. I'm not sure why I got the A- so I'm going to be asking about that when school opens back up next week. I know, I really should just let it go, but I worked my butt off and didn't think I lost any points. Anyway, I'm taking three classes again in the Spring semester and will try to work one or two days a week again. I'm so grateful that my husband feels that education is important enough to reduce my income for me to go to school full-time.

While all my sewing friends seem to be losing weight, I gained everything I lost early last year all back again. I wish I knew how to handle stress better. I wish my body handled carbs better too. However, I'm going to be working on finding a balance in my life where I can work, go to school, sew, exercise, and cook. Now if only my son would learn how to drive, that would take one thing off my plate. He has gotten very familiar with the bus schedule, so at least I can decline driving him if I need to.

In the next couple of weeks I am going to have to take a skills proficiency exam which is HUGE and I'm afraid of it. I am going to be cramming for this test a few hours each day, but I think I can squeeze in a couple of hours each day to sew as well. I got one garment cut out and I have some things already cut out. With that ugly task done, I should be able to have some sewing to share with you all this month. I'm hoping to blog 6-8 times a month. So I hope you come and visit me often.

This tunic is first on my list to sew. I cut it out in a brown and cream giant paisley print. I'm hoping it will camouflage my belly until I can get it back under control. I'm making the knot front with 3/4 sleeve length and mid thigh length. I plan to wear it with boots and leggings. My legs are my best feature on my body so I don't mind showing them off. I'm over the, "am I too young for this style?" way of thinking.

I'll be back just as soon as I get this tunic sewn and photographed. Meanwhile, I'm hoping that all of you visit me this year and come back often, and that your 2013 is your best year yet. Happy New Year to You!

Struggling to Blog

Weekend Sewing

I'm dead tired and need to get to bed, but I just wanted to share what I got done this weekend. I know I was going to start on my dress, but I just had my bathroom painted 3 weeks ago and bought fabric for the window 2 weeks ago, so I decided to make them first.

 

Elizabeth Larsen came to Los Angeles during her Man Forgetting Tour of 2012 and I jumped on the opportunity to show her around. While in the Los Angeles garment district, I picked up this great paisley print at Michael Levine's hoping that the colors would work in my bathroom. Lucky for me they do.

I couldn't go to bed on Saturday until the curtains were hung. Then this morning I started Simplicity 2174. It's an amazing fit pattern, and has lots of opportunities to get the fit right. Obviously on my first try I didn't quite get it right. I cut this pattern out about a month ago and did a bunch of alterations based on a muslin of the bodice. In the fashion fabric, I had a fit that was too big. After several alterations and an almost altercation with the husband--he was wielding the pins--I think the fit looks pretty good now.

I don't look very lovely and the dress has lots more to go, like a hem, for instance, until it is completed. But it's starting to take shape.

I also basted together S2615 to see if it was going to be too big and would have to go to my sister. Nope, it looks like it's going to fit. Keep in mind this is just muslin fabric and may or may not be worn outside the house. Since there isn't much style to this dress, I think the fabric is what is going to make it or break it. I think I know just what it needs from the stash. I'll share tomorrow what I've decided upon.

There you go, my weekend of sewing. Looks like I'm going to be working most days this week, but I hope to get the first dress completed so I can get on to the next project.

New York City

I've been missing in action lately. I quit sewing for myself for about 3 months. But rest assured, I've been been doing some sewing. Costume sewing that is.

 

I made the Chip costume for my middle school's production of Beauty and the Beast. I think it turned out fantastic if I do say so myself. I also made the costumes for salt and pepper, but don't have any good photos of those costumes.

Why haven't I been sewing for myself, you ask? Because I'm back on my low carb eating plan and losing weight. Since the beginning of February when I started, I'm down about 25 pounds and down a couple of sizes. I've given away all the stuff I made in January, except that olive jacket. I love that jacket and it's ok for it to be a bit large.

Now, about New York. Patternreview.com is having their annual meeting in just a couple of weeks and I have nothing to wear! Really, unless I've picked it up in a thrift store, I have no clothes. In order to have something to wear that weekend, I must get back to the sewing machine.

 

I've decided to do lots of cutting out and then do the sewing. I have three tops and three dresses all cut out and now my sewing room is all cleaned up and I will get the sewing done. Up first will be Simplicity 2174, which is from their Amazing Fit collection with bust cup sizing. If this dress turns out well, I plan to wear it to the Simplicity tour. Some of the reviews of this dress make it look really dumpy but I'm hoping that mine turns out better, especially since I'm making it with a very pretty rayon that I bought in Chicago at the PR meeting last year. The drape of the rayon hopefully will keep it from looking like a hospital gown. I like the sweatheart neckline and I've shortened the sleeves to more of a cap than cut right at the bust line.

I'll be posting my progress as I stitch through this pile and I hope I get something wearable out from it. I'm struggling to decide what size to make at this point.

TNT T-Shirt - Version 2

I really like my new TNT t-shirt pattern. It will work out just as nicely as a basis for a miriad of t-shirt redrafts as my lost TNT pattern. For my first redrafted version, I only changed the neckline. Pam Erny from Off-The-Cuff wrote a tutorial for a Spiral Cowl Collar and Liana from Sew Intriguing wrote a tutorial for a Twisted Binding. I made my new top with a binding width something in between these two.

I cut my collar 6" wide and the length of the neckline on the pattern. Then without measuring, I just shifted the center back seam of the collar about 2" and basted the collar in half. This left the collar twisted in the same manner as shown in Pam and Liana's tutorial.

I'm not really happy with the way mine turned out. It doesn't drape like Pam's does and it makes the neckline much too high to look flattering on me. This might be a result of the slinky fabric I used. This fabric hangs quite heavy and drags the top down. In fact, it doesn't fit nearly as nicely as the other two t-shirts I've made from this pattern.

While this top wasn't in my original wardrobe plan, the fabric does match and will be a nice addition to the pieces I was already making. I should be able to get the pants cut out today and probably sewn up as well. I will be watching/listening to Season 5 and 6 of Bones while I work today. I've already seen these episodes so I won't have to pay too much attention, but I really love this show and the relationship the main characters have with each other. What do you watch/listen to while you sew?

My New Favorite Attachment

Here's a hint. It comes in this beautiful space age Judy Jetson pink box. I get such a kick out of the box alone. This box came with my first Singer 500a, AKA The Rocketeer. Thanks Donna! Inside is the Singer Buttonholer and it makes the most beautiful buttonholes on the planet! And I've owned TOL Berninas forever and thought that they made the best buttonholes, until now.

I wasn't quite sure how to use the buttonholer, but I remembered that I saw a video that Brian Remlinger from BrianSews put together about buttonholers. It was very helpful to understand the finer points on how to use this attachment.

I'm not sure I would have known to make a second pass around the buttonhole with the attachment to get a very nicely filled in satin stitch without watching his video. This buttonhole was made with just regular Gutermann sewing thread. Doesn't it look nice?

And by the way, if you don't already have one of these buttonhole chisels, you MUST go get one for yourself. Nothing cuts open a buttonhole better and more accurately. I never have any fear of cutting my threads when I use this. I've had it for about 22 years and it is still super sharp so you have to be very careful with it.

 My husband is very entertaining. You can always tell when he takes my picture because, first it's always taken from an angle well above my height--he's 13" taller than I am, second is that I'm usually cracking up and not ready to be photographed. Anyway, didn't this jacket that I almost gave up on come out nice? Everything I used came from the stash including the clashing, I mean contrasting buttons and the thread that didn't match. I'm determined not to buy much of anything for sewing until the Patternreview.com New York City get-together this May. That means I need to stay away from the downtown garment district. That place is dangerous for my pocketbook and stash storage space.

This jacket is very lightweight and won't keep me warm, however, it will help to add a more polished look to my new wardrobe. I had forgotton how much I like this pattern. Does anyone else see a potential blouse pattern from this? Remove the flaps, change the armhole and sleeves, square off the hemline and make a pointed collar, keep or remove the yoke. . . . I see pattern drafting in my future.

Sneak Peek

Before I call it quits for the night I thought I 'd share with you what I did today. This is M5191 in a lightweight embroidered suede cloth from JoAnn's. It's 100% poly and shreds and creates static like crazy. My Rocketeer didn't want to sew over the embroidery thread (neither did my serger) so I put on the walking foot and didn't have any more problems. I almost gave up on this project but decided to stick it out for the 2.5 yards of fabric I now get to count towards my goal of 25 yards sewn up this month. It was very time consuming (13 pattern pieces!) but I'm glad I stuck with it. I like the finished product and it will get some wear. 

I have to figure out how to make buttonholes on one of my vintage machines. My Bernina with the fantastic buttonholes doesn't work at the moment. I think I'll pull out the Judy Jetson Buttonholer tomorrow when I get home from work and practice using it. I've never used one before, so this should be interesting.