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.