Grey Knit Skirt

I whipped up this simple grey skirt in just a few hours last weekend. This was the kind of a leftovers/old recipe project that went really quickly. I used fabric leftover from other projects and a pattern that I've used a few times before. It's such a great basic. I'm really excited to have it as part of my wardrobe.

Summer Sewing #6 – Painted Stripe Dress

Here's the first finished piece of my Summer Sewing. Yay! One down, six to go. I'm really looking forward to all of my sewing projects. I will not be sewing in order so be prepared for some surprises! This is a great summer dress with its casual painted stripes and cheeky cut out shoulders. The weather here has been cloudy in the morning and sunny and warmish in the afternoon. I'm hoping I'll get the chance to wear this dress soon. Maybe for a happy hour by the beach with oysters and bloody mary's. What could be better?

Summer Sewing Plans 2013

You might have already noticed that I've been on a Summer theme lately. I've been thinking a lot about what I want to make this summer (see this moodboard and this moodboard). I'm now ready to share my plans with you. Naturally there are quite a few projects that I had to set aside for anther day and I won't bore you with those right now. Dresses are big for me in the summer so of course I had to put 3 dresses into the mix. And I always seem to need blouses so a couple of those. And then I need something to wear with the blouses so a skirt and a pair of shorts have made the list. Let's get on to the details!

Knit Stripe Skirt

This skirt was inspired by a photo I saw in a magazine of the Striped Raffia Skirt by Burberry Prorsum (available for purchase here). As soon as I saw the photo I was reminded of a beige and black striped double-knit that I inherited from my grandmother.

I used the skirt pattern from Sew U Home Stretch by Wendy Mullin. It is a really great easy pattern to use. There are just 3 seams (each side and the waistband) plus the hem. I actually used this pattern once before and before I took any pictures, lost the skirt. (I'm still wondering where it could have gone.)

 The skirt is very comfortable to wear and can work with a shirt tucked in as well.

Book Review – Sew U Home Stretch

I was really excited to buy Sew U Home Stretch: The Built By Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics because sewing knits can be a little mystifying. And, more importantly, I was not disappointed. It provides useful information on fabrics, equipment, fitting, etc.
Included are step-by-step instructions for all the basic knit garments from cutting to stitching and finishing. The book is well designed, instructions are easy to follow and the illustrations are clear, and easy to read. The spiral binding also makes it easy to use.

Patterns are included and divided into chapters for crewnecks, raglans and dresses. I've used the pattern for crewnecks before and found that the shoulders are a little too wide for me.

If you want to make a basic A-line skirt use the suspender dress pattern and skip the suspenders. It's very easy to make in just a few steps. Check in tomorrow to check out my version.

Geometric Knit Dress

I started out making this dress using Simplicity/Built By Wendy pattern 2863. But I didn't like how loose the sleeves were. So, i recut the sleeves and armscye using the knit dress pattern from the book Sew U Home Stretch.

It's comfortable to wear. I like it ok, but probably not my favorite ever. The fabric has this geometric pattern that's kind of trippy for the eyes.

Top – Simplicity 2863

Vintage, double knit fabric purchased at a thrift store for around $2. I had just enough for a top. This came together very quickly using Simplicity 2863, view C by Built by Wendy.

I've used this pattern once before, a variation on view A. The biggest drawback of using a thick fabric for this design is the lack of shaping in the pattern. The other views, feature waist shaping elastic. To create some shape, I added darts to the back. The buttons on the tabs are ones from my stash leftover from a rainbow plaid side button dress I made in high school. I'm still a little undecided on this top, although I have worn it once. I think the style just doesn't flatter me as well as others. This is a boxy style with a high neck (above collar bone). But it's very easy to sew and a great beginner project.

Simplicity 3835 dress

I recently finished a denim dress using a Built by Wendy pattern, Simplicity 3835.
I cut the fabric the length of the dress but used the sleeves and ties for the mini-dress. To cut down on the bulk of the denim and spice up the overall look, I used a contrasting fabric for the facing of the arm ties and the pockets.
I also cut bias binding from the contrasting fabric and applied it around the zipper opening and at the hem.
It's a very easy dress to wear and lots of fun.

Blame it on Ulysses

It's been a day. Not really a bad day but just some unexpected happenings. I'm supposed to be reading Ulysses for my book club. But I probably won't go to the next meeting on Saturday so I'm a little unmotivated. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't really make sense. So I was carrying the book around in my purse with the intent of reading it and building some muscle tone. I do love to multi-task. Well, the sunglasses got broken. They might be repairable. The sunglasses were broken after the flat tire. Can Ulysses be blamed for the flat tire? Maybe. I'll certainly try. Well, I've been doing lots of crafting and have some things to show. The flower fabric in the picture above is being made into some zippered pouches.

Here are a couple of dresses from a pattern I adapted. The dotted one on the right is made from IKEA fabric and is the muslin. I really like it though and may still wear it. I wrote about my plan for the pink striped one before.

The sleeves are more tulip sleeves than lantern sleeves.
I making a third using the same pattern. This one will have a zippered back and be a little more fitted. I added a curved bust dart to the front. There may also be a flounce at the hem because I accidentally cut the front shorter than I had intended.
Another project I just started is a knitted tunic using Plymouth Jean Nee. It's a really soft yarn. I'm knitting in the round from the top down and just making it up as I go. Let's hope it works! My great discovery of the week as that tiny ponytail holders make great stitch markers. They are thin, easy to handle and pliable yet firm.

Plan B is my favorite

PLAN A

I bought this pattern a few years ago and have always loved it, perhaps to an unreasonable level. How can you not love the sunglasses and wind-blown hair? I bought the fabric at my favorite St Vincent de Paul in Eugene, OR over Christmas break. The zipper is probably from the same store. The fabric is a low-stretch knit. I started to make view B, shown in the center in purple.

This is a visually challenging fabric and I recognized that from the start. I was afraid it would look like little boy pajamas but I forged ahead anyway. I cut the pieces, shirred the waist then tried it on. I made adjustments. But it looked droopy in exactly the wrong places.

It was time for

PLAN BI had this pattern, Simplicity 3964, and had already cut out the pieces. (I've also started the tunic in a purple knit but that's another post.)So, I chopped up the dress, removed the shirring and dug out some old, navy knit scraps from a pair of pajama pants I made two states and 8 years ago.

The pattern has a tie at the back neck but I thought I'd use up some of my many buttons. I made little tubes to hold on the buttons. (What are those tube things for buttons called?)

It's a pretty cool pattern but I was surprised how much bulk gets layered up especially with the sleeves. The looks like it's screaming to be made in a knit but knits can bulk up fast. At the armhole there are six layers of fabric in the end. It could be eliminated by making the sleeve one layer and hemming it (prettier if your fabric is reversible) and making the facing one layer. If you have a serger you might even eliminate the facings. The pattern also instructs you to sew the bias strips used to cover the neckline using a straight seam, not an angled seam as one normally uses with bias strips. Use the angled seam. Otherwise the seam is really bumpy inside of the tie.

I'm almost done with the top. It still needs to be hemmed and topstitched. Almost there!

Hobbling back on the horse

It's been so long since I posted but I have a pretty good reason. My old computer broke. just up and died. But I made the big purchase tonight and I'm back on.

I've been doing lots of sewing lately. I made this before the holidays. I used Simplicity 4112 one of those new Built By Wendy patterns. The fabric and buttons are both vintage. I love the sleeves.

More later. baby steps for now.