Yikes. I'm $1.49 in the hole.

So, I budget $100 a month for sewing crap (more detail here). I HAD to buy these belt rings to finish this dress. I just HAD to finish the darn thing. So I got the rings home and they didn't fit. I ended up using these aluminum rings that I ALREADY HAD!!!! So my balance did not have to go negative. Oh well, only three more days before I get my allotted $100 for the month of March.

Still working away on SWAP. Current update:
Bottoms:

1. Jalie 2000 - Choice of Pants - Merlot stretch sateen
2. Butterick 5147 - Pencil Skirt - Tweedy mystery wool found in stash
3. Simplicity 4091 - Skirt with Flounce - Dark brown bamboo/cotton corduroy
4. Butterick 5147 - A-line Skirt - Waiting for some wine-colored moleskin fabric from Fabric.com

Tops:

1. Jalie 2005 - Choice of t-shirts - I bought some bubble knit fabric from Fabric.com. I bought it in a tan color. I'm not sure of the weight so I'll wait to see when it gets here.
2. Jalie 2787 - Criss-cross tops - Get Ziggy With It from Gorgeous Fabrics
3. Jalie 2793 - Tunic - Dark brown and tan
4. Jalie 2322 - Button-down Blouse - Tan embroidered corduroy
   Jacket (waiting for the fitted top contest on PR.com)
5. Kwik Sew 3584 - Gathered cropped jacket - Dark brown bamboo/cotton corduroy
   

Accessory
Purse? Not sure about this one yet. I am thinking of doing a wristlet/credit card pouch.

Boden

My good friend xxx told me about Boden.com. They have cute clothes and they are totally knock-off-able. Here are few of my favorites:

Well, I drafted something . . .

I made my very own pattern of an a-line skirt. Here she is:





I took my Jalie 2000 pattern that fits so well and I traced off the hip region. It was easy really. I'm happy with the resultant skirt. That last picture is the interfacing I added to put in the zipper. It is stretch sateen and I wanted the zipper to look nice. The full review is at PatternReview.com.

Jalie Jacket

I made this Jalie 2679. My mom wanted one for her birthday. This Polartec 300 Windblock fabric. It turned out nice. I wish I had gotten a picture before I shipped it off.

Kwik Sew 3576 - Sheath Dress

This is my, "It fits! It fits!" look. Pretty smug huh? You can't see the darts and fit but it is great. I love the boatneck and the fit. No sheath dress has ever fit me like this before. I'll have to transfer these darts to everything I make.

Here's the back, it's got cute details so it is too bad it is black because you can't see anything.

The front details. It should have a belt buckle. I'll need to look for one.

My "oops-seam" I think it turned out okay though.

With or without a shirt. This baby has lots of potential.

Here's the PR review:
Pattern Description: Misses' fitted sleeveless dresses have bust darts, waist darts, and center back zipper. Neckline and armholes are finished with facings. View A has boat neckline, patch pockets with belt loops on front, back belt loops, shaped belt at hip with buckle, and topstitching detail. Pockets and belt loops are lined. View B has wide V-neckline. Dresses can be worn with or without a shirt. I made view A with all the belt and details.

Pattern Sizing: XS-S-M-L-XL. I made the XS.Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Yes, although mine has an extra seam in the chest area. I, um, forgot to make my normal shortern-by-1/2" from shoulder to bust alteration. Whoops. I had already cut out the fabric when I realized it. So, I tried to make it look like I meant to do it. I topstitched it and I don't think it looks bad.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very. I did something totally different for the zipper and I lined it. I tried to follow this tutorial from Marji's review and I ended up ripping out the zipper, the back of the dress and the side seams at least one time each. I decided while I was doing this that I will make my own tutorial for lining a sheath dress when I make this again. That way, morons like me, can see step by step how you do it. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?Likes: I LOVE THAT IT IS A SHEATH DRESS AND IT FITS!!!! I have never had one fit well before. This is kind of a A-line version but the bodice fits me so well. Here is the front and back. I know it is hard to see since it is black. I will totally make this more times in dressier fabrics. I also like the belt/loops/pocket detail. I tried to overexposed these so you can see the details. (As an aside, how in the heck do you make perfectly square points on things? My belt loops and pocket would look much better if they were more pointy on the ends.) I am supposed to have a belt buckle but I didn't have one so the silver thing is a pin holding the belt together.Dislikes: None.

Fabric Used: I used a 100% cotton pique fabric from Three Sisters Fabric Boutique. It has no lycra but lots of bias stretch. It was sort of a problem when I was topstitching the zipper. I will interface that area next time. The lining was from JoAnn's. I don't know what brand but it is not the cheapy (or not AS cheapy) as some of them. It feels great on.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I made the 1/2" shortening alteration (after I cut the fabric, tee hee). I used smaller seam allowances for the hip area. The finished garment measurements for the hip area was 36" which is my exact measurement. I just used a smaller SA and it fits fine in the hip area. I totally changed the lining/zipper application. It turned out very nice inside. This pattern comes with facings and I used the pattern as the lining pattern. Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?Oh, yes. I have been looking for a sheath-style dress that would fit me and this one is great. I will sew it again and again. I am thinking it will be very easy to make it more pencil-skirt-ish and add a pleat for the walking pleat. Of course, I am semi-pearish and maybe this A-line version is a better shape for me. I love the boatneck of this pattern too. You can also wear it alone with no shirt underneath.

Conclusion: Super cute and easy. If you are looking for a sheath pattern this one may be the one that fits you.

Butterick 5147 Skirt

Here is the review:

Pattern Description: Jacket A has front and back darts, collar and three-quarter length sleeves. Top B has front and back darts, side zipper. Slim fitting dress C has front and back darts, back zipper and back slit, length is 2" below mid-knee. A-line dress D has front and back darts, back zipper, length is mid-calf. Slim fitting skirt E has front and back darts, back zipper and back slit, length is 2" below mid-knee. A-line skirt F has front and back darts, back zipper, length is mid-calf. All garments are lined.

I made the slim fitting skirt, view E.Pattern Sizing:8-10-12-14. I made the size 10.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Yes and no. The main design features are the same but I changed the length and the pleat.

Were the instructions easy to follow?I didn't really look at them. Because it is supposed to be lined, they have a bunch of weird "whip-stitch this" and "slip-stitch that" directions that make it look handmade. I used a center zipper and used the center zipper application tutorial from the fashion incubator website. Also, I didn't like the way they did the back pleat so I made an inverted kick pleat and I love it. I got that tutorial from the Sewing Divas website.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I'm not sure I will sew it again. It is really high (!) on the torso and sort of puffy because of all the darts. I know that is easy to remedy but I was thinking of trying to make a pancil skirt using my Jalie 2000 pants. They fit me well, they are not too high and the dart placement is correct. This Butterick skirt seems like it is for a curvier woman. Larger hips and smaller waist. You can see in this picture that it kind of puffs up around the hips. My shirt is actually compressing the fabric. Here's the back and it looks like I have a love-handle. I do love that the pattern has everything in it. I plan on making one of the sheath dresses soon.

Fabric Used:This is a 100% mystery wool that was given to me by some generous friends. They gave me several yards of assorted wools. I was going to line it but decided to just wear a slip with it after having some issues with the lining material.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:I chopped a few (3 inches?) off the bottom. I didn't line it. I made the kick pleat an inverted kick pleat. Would you sew it again?

Would you recommend it to others?I will sew the other parts of the wardrobe but I may not make the skirts again.

Conclusion: Cute wardobe options but I think I will try a different option for skirts. This just doesn't seem to fit me. I can change darts and modify it but I have a better plan. I'll keep you posted. I really like the shealth dresses in this pattern so maybe I'll make that next.

New Hot Patterns

So Hot Patterns just put out some new patterns. I really like a few of their patterns but worry about drafting issues. On patternreview.com, there are really positive and really not-so-positive reviews. I am always drawn to this pattern. But will it be any different that this one? I have the Butterick pattern already. I am drawn to the great drawings of Hot Patterns, I think.

Wardrobe Contest 2008

Here's my 2/15/08 Update:


Bottoms:

1. Jalie 2000 - Choice of Pants - Merlot stretch sateen
2. Butterick 5147 - Pencil Skirt - Tweedy mystery wool found in stash
3. Simplicity 4091 - Skirt with Flounce - Dark brown bamboo/cotton corduroy
4. Butterick 5147 - A-line Skirt - I'm not sure about this one. Maybe the merlot stretch sateen again?

Tops:

1. Jalie 2005 - Choice of t-shirts - Not sure about the fabric yet
2. Jalie 2787 - Criss-cross tops - Get Ziggy With It from Gorgeous Fabrics
3. Jalie 2793 - Tunic - Dark brown and tan
4. Jalie 2322 - Button-down Blouse - Tan embroidered corduroy

Jacket

Kwik Sew 3584 - Gathered cropped jacket - Dark brown bamboo/cotton corduroy

Accessory

Purse? Not sure about this one yet.

Here is the back of the Jalie 200 pants for SWAP.

Here is the jacket. It is a Kwik Sew pattern. I am liking their patterns more and more and more. I hope to have my wool skirt done by Monday. It's a 3-day weekend so we'll see.

Only $43 left . . .

So I implemented this limit on my sewing. Not because I have to financially but because I had to emotionally. I am a saver, a keeper, a money-worrier. We (I) could easily spend triple that every month and it would not kill us financially. (We are lucky we are in such a good spot and I know that and am thankful.) But, I was always feeling guilty about my "hobby" so I self-imposed a limit on my spending. It is actually kind of fun. My rules are this: I get $100 a month, un-used money carries over to the next month, I can't use money for next month, no exceptions (yet). Here is my standing as of today: $43. It is only the middle of the month too. I had $65 from January that wasn't used but it is gone now. Yikes. It is this SWAP thing.


Wish me luck.

Dilemma Solved!

So I was having a hard time figuring out exactly what to do with the Jalie SWAP top. I ended endging it with white knit from Three Sisters'. It worked great. Here is the finished top. Now I can move on to the bottoms. I'll leave the Jalie t-shirt for a quick afternoon project. I want to wait on the button-down top until the woven shirt contest. That will help me stay motivated on that one. I juat hate cutting into my really nice wool and maybe messing it up. BUT, I have a muslin, I have a real RTW skirt that has the same dimensions. I just have to convince myself that I can do it. After this SWAP contest I am going to raise my sewing status to Intermediate.

I love Jalie

Yikes, sorry about the pictures. Jeez. Weekend anyone?

Anyhoo, this is my newest Jalie top. I love that pattern company. They have great pants that fit, great tops, great jackets, great everything. And, each pattern had all sizes between toddler 2 and Women's size 22. So really, I am saving money, right???

This is the muslin for my SWAP top. I figured that the top would fit me out of the envelope, and it does, but I wanted to be sure and check first. I'm glad I made the muslin. The fit is great but my print for the SWAP shirt is crazy. I'll need to add something so you can see the crosses.

Can't even see the crosses, eh? Kind of cool effect but it was totally accidental. I rock. Not really.

Paper between the crosses so you can see them.

Here is my photoshopped color-blocked top. I kind of like it.

Here it is with virtual piping. I think it would look great in white.

My SWAP top is a crazy Gorgeous Fabrics knit. See this post for details.

Fleece Vests

I made a fleece vest this weekend. It is a bit small in the hip area so it bunches up around my waist. Damn. Next time I'll do an XS and then make the hip area a S. This will be nice for around the house but I couldn't wear it running.



I don't know why there is the weird yellow haze. And strangely enough it is only when I face the camera.



This is the bunching.

The contrast panel.


The dreaded bust wrinkle. I'll decided that one of my standard alterations will be taking out 1/2" between shoulder and bust. Oh, and I really like where the shoulder seam hits. There is nothing on the top of the shoulder. It wraps around to the front.

Shoulder Alteration

If you look back at this post, you'll see I was having issues with a shirt-arm-back pulling thing. I think I know how to fix it on subsequent patterns. Here is what I did to this New Look pattern to test it out. I took out 1/2" between the shoulder and bust in the front and the back. The shirt is pretty much unwearable but I was going to pitch it anyway.

The blue lines are where I put the stitches and took out that 1/2".


Look, I can lift my arms! It is amazing what 1/2" does for you.

This weird shoulder pucker is why the shirt is unwearable.


Inside the shirt so you can see where I took the 1/2" from.

Bad, bad blogger

So I've been a bad blogger. Here are some of the things I have been working on lately. I have been wrapping my head around the SWAP stuff. I have 3 out of 10 items done. I am thinking of entering the Fitted, Woven Shirt contest (or whatever they finally decide to call it). I have to make a shirt for the SWAP anyway so I might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Here is Simplicity 4091. Please note the bitchin' new boots.


I am now binding my facings with knit fabric. I love the way it looks and it is so easy.


The front looks a bit longer than the back. It is not hemmed yet so I'll fix that when I hem it.




This is the best baby wale corduroy! Sleek, shiny, and very drapey. It is from Three Sisters' Fabric Boutique and I love it.

The infamous SWAP

So I decided to do SWAP (sewing with a plan). I am a bit intimidated because you are supposed to create 10 garments and have them all coordinate. I am basing mine around a Gorgeous Fabrics knit that I love, love, love. The colors are red, orange, yellow, brown. I posted a swatch in this post. Here is mt storyboard so far. Notice that there are a few missing swatches. I can't figure out how to combine everything. SIGH.





I think that it is funny that Jalie made 6 out of the 9 patterns. One of the pieces has to be an accessory like a purse, scarf, or belt.

Wish me luck.