Jalie Guest Blogger

Guess who was a Jalie guest blogger today? Oh yea, ME! I used Jalie 3022 to make this really cute pair of shorts. Here’s a link to the actual post on the Jalie site. I actually have another pair of these all cut out and ready to go. This time, though, they are for swim shorts.

How to make the CAbi Ballet Arm Warmers

I made mine using, surprise!, my Jalie 2805 pattern. It’s really easy although I did have to refer to the CAbi website a couple of times to see how they finished the shrug and see where they had seams.

 

First, I traced out the t-shirt pattern in a smaller size than I would normally wear. I usually wear the size S so for this I made the size R. I wanted these to be snug so they fit easily under shirts and tops. I only did the tops of the back and front piece knowing I would cut them off later.

 

Next, I lined them up and sort of matched up the seam lines. The only thing I really cared about is that the shoulder pieces matched up with the sleeve. Obviously things are not going to line up exactly.

 

I taped this down to another piece of tracing paper and free-hand drew where I thought the shrug went. I made sure to do the CB line at a perpendicular to the CB seam so it would be straight across the back. I followed the back neck seam and made sure to include all of the sleeves. You have to make sure you make notches on the sleeves where they end otherwise you won’t know when to stop sewing as you come up the arm.

 

 

Cut two of these. Sew the CB seam and then sew up the arms to your notches. Stop at your notches.

 

I used self-fabric binding but you could do it in contrast too. I folded my binding WST, quartered it, and sewed it to the shrug. I made it a few inches shorter so it would snug up the shrug. Be careful at the corners of the armpits. They can be tricky to sew.

 

This is the wrong side of the shrug binding.

 

This is from the outside.

 

 

Here’s the finished pattern piece.

 

 

Same thing but with some notations.

 

I think I’m making curtains for my sewing room next. Yawn, I know.

CAbi Knock - Off Ballet Arm Warmers

So you guys know I always go to my friend's CAbi parties and I never buy anything. CAbi clothes are nice and seem to be well made. Many of their tops are cute and they usually have several cute knit tops but they are expensive. I will spring for expensive items here and there (Hello silk fabric!) but overall, I’m pretty frugal. I’d rather make a knit top than spend $50 on one. My second complaint is the fit. Almost nothing fits me. Granted, I’m on the smaller end of things but I’m certainly no size 0. CAbi’s smallest size is 0 and it’s usually too big for me. Can you say vanity sizing? I used to feel bad about going and never buying but the consultant knows my game now and runs over to show me all the new CAbi details each time she sees me at a party now. It’s like our little joke. She appreciates my talents and I appreciate her fashion sense because I have none. None.

Anyway, where was I going with all this? Oh yea. The one item that I knew I needed from their fall collection was the Ballet Arm Warmers. They are for your arms, what Dickeys were for your neck. Remember Dickeys?? They come complete with thumbholes, my favorite part of any jacket and shirt. Remember, I live in Alaska. It’s cold here!

Here’s the CAbi photo from their website. The idea is you can wear them under your dresses, sleeveless blouses, and short-sleeved tops. They also showed them over some of their tanks like this.

 

Here they have a vest paired with the arm warmers and it makes it look like a jacket.

 

 

I made two versions for myself this weekend. One version was from a one-yard sample from the San Diego Swap Meet and the black one is the Nike Dri-Fit fabric. I still have it in my Etsy shop). I can’t get away from that fabric. It calls to me for every pattern. This version is a heather brown.

 

Thumbholes!!!

 

Here are the “tops” under a random t-shirt. You could also wear it like a shrug.

 

Here’s the black version. This one was the first version and the sleeves are a bit long. I fixed that on the brown version.

 

In a day or two, I’ll show you what I did to make this. It was pretty easy but I did end up scratching my head over a couple thing because the pattern piece looks so weird.

Window Shopping - Maybe Knockoffs?

I love Athleta.

I’m also loving my sweatshirt/hoodie shirt from the other day. I’m thinking it would be super simple to knock-off a couple of these Athleta hoodies using my new KS hoodie pattern. I really like that hoodie and have already managed to wear it two or three times since I’ve made it. This the Stripelicious Hike Hoodie. I love the mixing of the different stripes. Of course. It looks super slouchy and cute on the model too. The front of the hood comes together to form an almost cowl-neck.

 

 

I also like this Paradise Hoodie. It’s very similar to the KS pattern too except the shoulder seam has been moved forward. That’s easy enough to do.

 

 

My favorite is the Riviera Hoodie. It has some details my pattern does not but they would be easy enough to add. One is the drapey sides, check. Another is the drawstring at the hood, check. The last one is the topstitching on the front of the v-neck. I highlighted it in yellow below. I think this is called the top cover stitch?? I can replicate this easily enough with my three-thread coverstitch. So, CHECK!

 

I have a Jalie top to show you soon. I should be able to hem it tomorrow.

CAbi Knock-Offs Part II

Here is CAbi Part I for those of you who are interested.

 

#4 Laguna Dress $89

This dress was really cute. It was a Rayon/Spandex blend so it was super stretchy and comfortable. This dress really reminds me of this Burda pattern from May 2008. Of course, that pattern is for a woven and this is a knit. The backs are different too. On the Burda dress, it’s a zipper opening and on the CAbi dress, it’s a lower back with some elastic gathers. I would pair it with the Rayon knits below. I really like the purple and black one!

 

 

#5 Lola Tank $59

This is another Rayon/Spandex top. I really liked it too. Although this color makes me slightly better than death. Darker skinned women, like this model, look good in this color but for me, there isn’t enough contrast. This Burda top is similar but doesn’t have enough gathers and draping.

 

#6 Keepsake Cami $69

Isn’t this a cute top? This is a cotton woven. This March 2008 pattern (#120) is a lot like it. You would just shorten the dress to a tunic length. On the real top, the accent part on top  has contrasting piping and it’s an overlay. That would be easy enough to do with this pattern too. I would just make two pattern pieces and make one an overlay and add some contrast piping to it. The back of the CAbi top has elastic and a zipper. I love these cotton poplins. I’d totally make the brown one with aqua or turquoise trim. Hmmmm, maybe I’m too into floral right now?

 

 

#7 Work-It Jacket $138

Isn’t this a cute jacket? I love the cute of it, the little peplum in the back, and the buttoned, self-fabric belt. This November 2009 Burda #110 is really similar to it. I don’t think it has the peplum detail but that might be pretty easy to add.  

I have a new dress to show you guys too! And my new fabric showed up yesterday and I’m going to start working on a skirt, I think. I’ll try to post the dress tomorrow. I think you guys will like it.

Duvet Tutorial or “Make Your Own Damn Duvet!”

Aren’t you tired of really expensive duvets? I have been looking for a while but couldn’t find anything that I loved, ya know? I mean, even on clearance they are upwards of $80 for a king-sized duvet. I made my own this weekend and several people emailed me and asked for a little tutorial. I drew one for you. I know, me? Draw? The pictures aren’t that awesome but I think they get the point across. If not, leave a comment and I’ll try to clarify. I know some people don’t like other people to pin things on Pinterest but, if you want to pin this so you can find it later, Pin Away, I say!

 

I used two king-sized sheets because I was making a duvet for a king-sized comforter. I have also made twin-sized duvets for my, wait for it, twin girls. Always wash and dry before you sew it. That way, it won’t shrink when you wash it after it’s been on the bed for a while. Nice drawing, eh? That’s a sheet.

 

 

I fold over the edges of the sheet so my buttons and buttonholes are in several layers of fabric.

 

WS = wrong side and RS = right side.

 

 

I hope this picture makes sense.

 

 

My two sheets were four inches different side to side. You probably want to check the width/length of your sheets because they may be different. I actually laid mine out on the floor and pinned the be-jesus out of it.

 

All that’s left is the buttons and buttonholes.

 

 

I sew ties to the inside corners of the duvet and the comforter. That way, I can tie the corners together to help keep the duvet in one spot.

There! You made your own damn duvet now too. Like I said, if the crudely drawn pictures aren’t working for you, let me know in the comments section and I can clarify for you. Happy sewing!