Summer Musings 2012

Before the summer began I had great plans of all the sewing I was going to complete. Did that happen, you may ask?   NOPE!  I did do some sewing but not a great deal, had some wonderful thoughts of creations that are still waiting to be made.  I am going to make a few more summer things before it is all said and done, but really I am ready to do the fabric shuffle thing...put away spring and summer and move on to fall and winter. I do this dance each year and I still never tire of it. I believe one would call me a true sewist. I absolutely love my fabrics and each year that I do this dance I am so full of joy when I pull out the seasons fabrics and see things I had forgotten about and it is almost like Christmas....I get so excited and my sewing mojo is revived and I start with a bang but fizzle shortly thereafter.  I am going to try to develop me a plan or a SWAP as it better known.  Hopefully I will be able to stick to it as my goal is to increase my wardrobe with only me made things.  I have not purchased very many things this summer and have been wearing something made by me almost daily.  Very proud of that fact for at one time in my life I wore nothing but what was made by me.  I aim to get back to that point because the fit is better and I get just what I want.

So my question to you is..What is your fabric ritual each season?  Do you leave all of your fabric out all year long or do the fabric shuffle?

As always, Happy Sewing!

Day Off Sewing

I had a free day off from work because I worked the 4th of July so I took advantage of it.  Had a few items that I had previously cut out and decided I would whip them up pretty quickly. All three were easy to make.

Vogue 9928 is my TNT for a pencil skirt.  I have pinned a number of pencil skirts on Pinterest that I have been wanting.  I really like the printed skirts and it is an easy way to add color to your wardrobe.
I made view A and took a page from Carolyn @diary of a sewing fanatic by underlining the skirt and I love the way it turned out. The fabric is a cotton blend purchased at Joann's and the underlining is something I had in my stash that worked quite well.

I also made Vogue 8815 View A, the popular peplum top.  I really love this pattern and am already planning on making it again out of some type of knit fabric.  The fabric used above is a cotton I picked up at Joann's and I exposed the zipper teeth in the back to give it a little something extra.  I normally use invisible zippers for everything. 

The navy pants were made from Butterick B5222, by Connie Crawford. I like the fit of these pants in the hip area. The width and length I play with as I have made this pattern about 4 times.  I have shortened and reduced the width in the legs to get a more skinny pant look before.  This time I reduced the width and made these more of  cigarette pant length.  The fabric is a bottomweight but has a percentage of spandex.  I believe I purchased this fabric at Walmart about 5 or 6 years ago.

I am going to get someone with a better camera to take pictures of me in these items and post at another time.  I didn't want to stop sewing but had do some other things before going back to work tomorrow.

Well it is getting late and I am winding down.  Everyone have a productive Hump Day.
As always, Happy Sewing.

New Additions

About two weeks ago I was on a mission. I wanted to make the popular McCalls 6559 maxi dress and was able to complete 2 which I absolutely love.

 The purple paisley knit was purchased from Metro Textiles earlier this year (02/12) when I visited NYC with a girlfriend and her sons.  Every blog that I follow have made this dress and commented the same thing,  easy pattern to make.  I made fabric facings on mine instead of folding the fabric inside and sewing it down.  I like the way that the facings look on both dresses.  I cut the 16 but graded it down to a 14 in the bust area.

The second dress is sort of an southwestern striped pattern.  It is also a knit fabric that was purchased at Joann Fabrics. 

I also completed a UFO that was started a number of years ago and I put it down because it was way too big.  The pattern, Vogue 1046 called for a Crepe de Chine, Batiste or Lightweight Broadcloth but of course I made it out of a knit that I purchased at Joann's.  I decided to take it apart and cut it smaller and remake it.  I made the size 14.  The dress was very easy to make and I probably will not make it again as I have quite a few others that I want to make.

I was very happy with the end results and it wore very nicely.  It has been extremely hot in NY state so I have been trying to stay cool. 

As always, Happy Sewing!

Congratulations, Serena Williams, Wimbledon 2012 Champion

I could not concentrate on sewing this morning as I was so into watching the Ladies' Wimbledon finals.  Serena Williams won but she put me through the ringer.  Felt like I had just run on the treadmill in that second set, but true to form she came back and aced away in the third and final set.

Now, maybe I can get back to what I had planned on today, Sewing!

Way to go Serena, now you have 5 like your sister Venus. 

Happy sewing!

Happy Birthday America!

Happy July 4th, 2012 Everyone.  I am stuck at work for the day so I am missing most of the festivities.  Proud of the fact that we live in a country where we are free to choose.  Thank God for his blessing and protection of America. 

Enjoy your day!

Missing in Action

I have been a little overburdened with many tasks as of late.  I have been reading the blogs I follow but not posting. I have even done some sewing but the camera I had has completely lost it and I have to purchase a new one.  Will however take a few pictures from my phone and post them later.  I have a question that has been troubling me for sometime.  Each time I use my double needle and get half way through what I am hemming my thread tangles and I end up with a mess. 

What do you all do when you use your double needle to?  Got any tips?

As always happy sewing

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of my followers and to the mothers of the blogs I follow.
Enjoy your special day!