My Super Cutesy Heart Top

Hi Everyone!

I made another version of Simplicity 1693!  This time I made View C.  The first time I made a floral, sleeveless View F.

Last time, I felt like I needed a very slight FBA with this pattern.  So this time, I cut the size 10 and added a 3/8" FBA (3/4" total). This helped add a little ease at the bust and balance the hem so it didn't hike up in the front.  I'm noticing hiking in some of the things I've been making.  Damn my boobs!

So I'm really stoked with the top.....with the exception of a few things.   I spent a long time lining up the hearts at CB and I missed it by 1/8."  That pissed me off.  It just shifted when I was cutting.  The other thing that is sad is the fabric itself.  I bought it at the swapmeet for $1.50yd.  It's a really nice stretch poly crepe.  Sadly, there are spots on my fabric.  The black bled out into the white leaving weird, grey blotches.  I didn't notice until I was pressing during construction.  Everyone who has seen the top said they didn't notice until I pointed them out.  I'm still going to wear it anyways and hopefully over time, the black will completely bleed into white creating a nice light grey. Hahaha.

I bound the neckline with packaged bias tape and overlocked the seams.

The bottom hem and sleeve hems are narrow hemmed.  I'm very proud of the hems actually.  They turned out very nice.

Well that's it.  See my full review at PatternReview.

 More pics below.  Oh, and the Boyfriend and I made the sewing pattern flower.  We made a bunch when we started watching Homeland a few months ago.  We never got into the show, but we have a bunch of flowers decorating our apartment.  Win!

Just What I Needed...Floral Tank: Simplicity 1693

I needed an quick project.  An easy one to cleanse my palate of the Boyfriend's shirt.  I went through my patterns and chose Simplicity 1693.  Then I went through my stash and found a rayon challis strike-off I got at the swapmeet.  I got 2 yards for $2.  Woohoo!  I originally thought I would make a dress using this fabric, but never paired it with the right pattern.

I chose view F.  I used french seams throughout and made my own self bias binding to finish the neckline and the armholes.  Without the collar, the top was sort of boring.  I decided to make spaghetti like I did for one of my first projects in school.   The spaghetti straps could have been stuffed a little more, but I think they are alright.  I hand-sewed the spaghetti straps in a swirly pattern and added pearl buttons.  Here is a close-up of the neckline:

 The instructions had you make a button loop with thread.  Mine's slightly too big for the button so it slips off the button sometimes.  And the close-up of the back:

If I make this view again, I might try the collar and I would shorten the back a little.  It is quite long on little ol' me.  I definitely want to try the other views.

Thanks to my newest followers!  190!  Woohoo!

SaraDiann

Cat

Susan Partlan

Giveaway next time :)

The Fabric Stash Grows

My major problem with blogging isn’t having something to write about.  It’s taking pictures of all the things I have to write about, and then uploading them to the computer.  I really hate doing it when I could be reading all the other sewing/craft blogs out there.  Reading and commenting is a lot more fun than actually doing sometimes.  Over the past few months I’ve been “collecting” or hoarding if you will, fabric and notions.  A lot of the stuff I’ve bought or been gifted has been vintage.  

Here are some recent vintage fabric finds:

On the left, 45” floral silky, shiny fabric of some sort.   This piece is my mom’s.    Any suggestions on what she should make? And on the right, 35” floral cotton? I think.  I haven’t done a burn test yet.  I’m thinking another sheath dress. 

Non-vintage swapmeet fabric.

I love this tie-dyed jersey.  It feels beautiful.  And it was $1.50/yard I think.  Probably rayon/cotton/spandex blend.  I want to make a maxi dress with it.

This pattern perhaps?  It's already in my stash:

This cotton gauzy fabric print on the left  is for a man’s Hawaiian-style shirt.  You’ll see the finished product sometime in June.  The fabric on the right is my mom's but I'm starting to covet it.  Another $1.50/yd swapmeet find.  It's a beautiful cotton/spandex sateen, my favorite fabric to work with.  We're thinking a slim dress or an a-line skirt.  

Three more swapmeet fabrics. The first is a real batik.  I think it was a tablecloth at one point.  There are a few tiny holes that I could cut around.  I have no idea what to make with it though.  It's not really my style, but I couldn't pass it up for a whole dollar.  The second is hard to see, but it is a bottom weight stretch gabardine.  It is black and has a bit of luster to to.  I would love to make a pair of BurdaStyle slim pants with it, but I don't know when I'll ever have time.  The last fabric is a really pretty border print plain weave cotton (see my textile class has become real handy).  It's my mom's but since we bought it recently, I thought I would show it off.  

This last piece is a stretch lace.  I'm planning on an oversized drop shoulder blouse to wear over a tank top.  I made a pattern from a Michael Starr shirt that I will use.  I would like to bind the neckline and sleeves with a satin bias binding.  I wish I had a binding foot.

Well, that’s all I have right now.  So much more to show later if I can actually make time to take picture of it .

Shifty Slippery Silk: McCall's 5661 Progress

Finally making progress on my first silk blouse!

I have cut the fabric,started sewing and Man! is it tricky!  I layed out the fabric on a padded table and pinned it down.  It didn't shift too much while cutting, but when I started sewing, it started to shift everywhere.  I tried putting pattern paper (all I had at the time) under it, but it was too thick. I'm going to switch to tissue paper and see how that goes. 

I'm also trying a new technique and its working beautifully!  (or as beautifully as you can get with shifty fabric). Have you ever heard of or tried 1 thread darts?  One of the first online Threads articles I read was a tutorial from Kenneth King on how to sew these suckers to prevent puckering and any ugliness you would get from having to backstitch.  At the time I almost immediately forgot about the article, but then my fitting instructor recommended using them for this project and this technique was mentioned again in the most recent Threads mag.  It's a real pain to thread the machine, but the sewing part is easy.  I'm working on a photo tutorial for it.  The tutorial is really just practice for me, because there are better sources for this info out there.

Here is the bodice so far:

All the darts are sewn and the facings are interfaced.  I used a fusible knit interfacing because it was light weight and the best I had.  My mom bought me a bolt of fusible interfacing from Joann's during the After Xmas Sale and the stuff sucks! It has destroyed everything I have attempted to use it on by immediately shrinking and wrinkling up the fabric with it.  It is awful!  I'm too lazy to pre-treat.  I think I'm going to start buying my interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply.  I've only heard great things about their products.  

I also used a strip of the interfacing to stabilize the shoulder seams.

Lastly, I tried another new-to-me technique.  Hong Kong Seam finishing!  I used bias strips to finish the raw edges of the facings (I've only done the front facing so far).  I'm not sure if I'm using this technique for the right application, but it works for me.

I want to finish it this weekend (unlikely though because I'm slow!).

Funderwear!

A while back I bought some cute cotton batiste or lawn.  I really wanted to make a top and shorts pj set.  I searched for a pattern I liked and while reading my ginormous blog roll, I stumbled upon the Collette mini bloomers.   I hadn't tried one of her patterns yet, it was free, and it fit the bill. It took forever cutting and taping the pieces together.  I hated it and I think it's why I haven't tried a BurdaStyle project yet.

 The french seams and elastic casing.

The shorts came together pretty quickly for me though, which is insanely slow.  I used my walking foot for the first time.  The fabric shifted a lot so I thought it would be fun trying out the foot.  I used french seams throughout, even on the curvier seams which proved to be a little of a challenge.  I was not happy with the drafting of this pattern.  It seemed the pieces didn't match up all that well, but because they were pj shorts, I just improvised.  

I love the elastic casings at the waist/hip.  I think it is super cute. 

 

I couldn't decide which picture was best so I posted them all.  Sorry.  I also have a picture of me wearing the shorts, but The Boyfriend did not want me posting it.  I don't think it's that bad. Its just a mirror (ie. MySpace) picture from about my belly button down to mid thigh.  They aren't even that sheer.  

 

Hopefully I'll find a top pattern to go with these shorts. I'm thinking maybe peter pan collar and button down.  with elastic in the hems of  short, gathered poof sleeves.  Any pattern suggestions?  I'm willing to modify or do some Frankenpatterning.

UGLY pants! and 2 new Followers!

These Marc by Marc Jacobs Diamond Stripe pants are on sale right now for $187.60 at shopbop.


Get 'em while you still can!

Ugg.  I just threw up a little in my mouth.


Thanks Kari and Megan for becoming followers of my blog.  Kari has been a friend of mine for a few years.  She is an amazing knitter!  I wish you all could see what she has made.  Megan is cool because she too has an old Schwinn.  Go vintage bikes!

Printed Pants, WTF?

I love prints.  I need a little pattern/texture/color in my life.  I own plenty of tops, skirts and dresses in florals and other patterns. Like this skirt and the dress I will be posting soon (which may be a flop and too "printy"). I think printed pants and shorts can be hideous though! 

(from www.styleguidance.com)

(from http://www.rise-worldwide.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/spread_184pkm.jpg)

These pants are $850 at Saks.

This pair is being sold at goodorient.com for almost $58.

The last pair is by far the worst.  The hammer pants are really bad too.  

Why do I think everyone should stray away from these monstrosities?  Is it too much pattern? Do they make butts look fat? (I think this is probably the reason).  Even on the skinniest people I think printed pants look ridiculous.  If you ever catch me designing floral pants, shoot me!