A Short Hiatus

Just a quick note to tell y’all that my old MacBook Pro has finally given up the ghost. My husband has decided to move me to Linux, which he had been using for years. I expect to have a major learning curve. I had planned a lengthy review of A Stitch in Time, vol 2 and I have a new Colette Macaron to share. Since I can’t post pictures with the WordPress app, I don’t know when those will post. See you soon!

Hollywood 1110

This dress takes me out of my comfort zone in several ways.  I normally avoid high necks.  I tend to stick with the fuller skirt of the late 1930s/early1940′s.  I am terrified by the though of combining prints.  After making this dress, I’m still not sure about the high necks, but my mind has been opened about the slimmer skirts of the mid 30′s.  As for combining prints, I think this dress would be more flattering in a solid color, but then I would really rather just live in all black, all the time.

McCall’s 6139

Finally, a FO post.  I hadn’t expected to wear this dress until Spring, but it’s warm enough to wear a short-sleeved, cotton dress with no stockings.  This weather is killing me!  I also finished a flannel Macaron, but it hasn’t been cold enough to wear it.  On to the deets!

McCall’s 6139 is from 1961 and is a good example of the differences between 1950′s fashions and early 1960s fashion.  It has the slightly raised waist and short skirt that signal the 60′s, but the cut-on sleeve that was in style in the 50′s.  I love these transitional styles!

This dress is made in a cotton twill from my stash.  I’m not sure the high neckline works in in this dress but I like everything else about this dress.

Close-up of the monogram

Close-up of machine embroidered hem

A Drive-by

Just a quick note to say Happy New Year.  I’ve got some FOs and wardrobe planning to share in a future post.  However, I’ve got family in from out of town, which limits my access to both my sewing room and my computer.

Happy 2012!

McCall’s 6284

Pattern Description:
Misses tops
Pattern Sizing:
6-22
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
yes
Were the instructions easy to follow?I lost mine and was able to figure it out without instructions

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I love the faux bolero look. There was nothing to dislike about this pattern

Fabric Used: a rayon lycra jersey from fashionfabricsclub.com

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I started with a size 22, added a 1in FBA and 0.5in petite fold above the waist. The only design change was to add about 2 inches in length to the sleeves.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I plan on sewing this again and would recommend it to others
Conclusion: I have mixed feelings about this top. When I bought the fabric, there was no mention of sequins, which are all over the fabric. That, added to the print, makes it a busy top. If there were no sequins, this would be my new favorite top. As it stands, I’m not sure I’m going to keep it. Other than that, I need a MILLION of this top NOW!

A Catch Up Post

I can’t believe my last post was on December 1st.  I’ve been a bad blogger.  I have been sewing, but I’m just not very happy with how my projects are turning out.  This is not uncommon for winter sewing for me.

First up is Vogue 1275, which is from Sandra Betzina’s “Today’s Fit” line for Vogue.  As with my first Today’s Fit top, the fit was spot on.  However, I’m not quite sure about the construction.  The neckline and front band was quite fiddly.  I haven’t decided if it’s enough to put me off sewing it again.

Next is my most recently completed project, another Simplicity 2601.  I was really happy with my first one but this one, not so much.  My biggest issue with it is that the plaid was not straight.  When I look at the picture, all I can see is the wonky plaid.  I may have to give up on plaid flannel shirting as this has happened to me 3 times in the last 2 years.  The blouse is ok, but I think the design works better in the crisp men’s shirting that I used last time.

Next, we have works in progress.

First, a muslin for McCall’s 6139

And on the knitting needles:

Star Cardigan

I finally have a knitted FO to share.  This cardigan was my first try at fair isle.  While the pattern is simple, the technique was really hard.  I’ve done an intarsia project and found that to be better suited to my knitting style.  I am a tight knitter and really had to concentrate to keep the back loose.  Plus, there is a change of tension from the solid color to the colorwork.  I love the look of fair isle, so I’ll probably give it another go.  I’m pretty happy with the fit of the body, but not the sleeves.  This is the second vintage pattern that I’ve rewritten where the sleeves didn’t come out like I wanted.  The sleeve fits fine, perfectly into the armhole, but there are no gathers or puff.  I guess my math was fine, since it fit in the armhole.  Before I attempted another vintage pattern, I need to figure out what went wrong.  The other glaring issue is  buttonholes, or more accurately, the lack of buttonholes.  I wanted to knit the two fronts together, so I read the instructions for the left side, then cast on double.  Um, yeah, no buttonholes.  Oh well, I don’t normally button my cardigans, so it’s not a big deal.

The pattern can be found at http://www.vintagepurls.co.nz/womenspatterns.html

close up of the fair isle

 

Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie

It’s almost Thanksgiving for those of us in the US, so I thought I’d share my favorite recipe.  I’m allergic to dairy and have been making this pie for several years.  It was originally found on a Prodigy personal page, which is no longer functioning.  If this was originally your recipe, thank you!  Please let me know who you are so I can credit you or link to your site.

Edit

by Andrea Gideon on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 11:43am

1 unbaked pie shell

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

2 eggs

1 15oz canned pumpkin puree

1 1/2 cup vanilla non-dairy “milk” (I use Almond Breeze)

 

Mix dry ingredient in a bowl.

 

In another bowl, beat eggs lightly.  Stir in pumpkin and dry ingredient mixture.  Slowly pour in the “milk” and stir until blended.

 

Pour into pie shell and bake in a preheated 425F oven for 15 minutes.

 

Reduce temperature to 350F and bake for 40-50 minutes.

Simplicity 2256

Pattern Description:
Women’s jackets with collar and sleeve variations
Pattern Sizing:6-24

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I love the ruffled collar. I dislike how fabric requirement charts used on Project Runway patterns are for the individual garment elements. I ended up with enough fabric leftover for a skirt. I am a little surprised that this pattern doesn’t include a lining, but was too lazy to create one. The only design element that I’m not thrilled with is that the pockets are quite small. My keys keep falling out. However, with the empire-waist seam and the front and side front panels, there is no way to make them bigger.

Fabric Used:corduroy from fabric.com

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I used the long, straight sleeve with the ruffled collar. As for alterations: FBA, narrow shoulder, full bicep and above the waist petite adjustment. There are no lines to indicated petite fold placements.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I would recommend it to others, but it’s a unique jacket. I’m not sure I need another one in my wardrobe.

Conclusion: I am not normally a ruffle gal, but the collar is really growing on me. I’ve put off sewing a fall jacket for so long because I didn’t want to deal with all the fussy details. This jacket showed me that jackets aren’t too much work and having a well-fitting jacket is worth it. I’m now ready to take on a more challenging jacket.

Vogue 1197

This is the year that I accept that I am cold-blooded and need warm clothes more than cute clothes.  My goal for the coming months is compromise.  Try to make clothes that will be warm first and cute second.  In past winters, I’ve made a bunch of cute clothes that weren’t all that warm and have hung in my closet, unworn.  Vogue 1197 is a good start.  The fabric is an ITY jersey from http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/ and one was of a pile of ITYs that I bought last week.  I have a love/hate relationship with ITY jersey.  My local fabric stores only stock juvenile prints in jersey, so I have to buy all my jersey online.  ITY jersey is the most commonly found printed jersey but can be inconsistent.  Some feels like cotton jersey, some feels like exercise wear.  I got lucky with this fabric.  It’s warm and soft, with a good stretch and recovery.  While the print is a touch too tie-dye to be a favorite, it is purple, which I love.

Vogue 1197 is my first “Today’s Fit”, designed by Sandra Betzina.  I have several of her books, but her designs are not usually to my liking.  This one is the first Sandra Betzina pattern that works with my style.  I love the cowl neck and the sleeve ruching.  Not only does it add interest to the sleeve, it adds warmth.  This is the first raglan tee pattern that has fit my narrow shoulders well.  The only downside of this design is that there is no waist shaping.  It is cut straight through the waist and only 1in flare at the hip.  I knew this would not be flattering for me, so I lined up my TnT New Look tee and drew a fitted waist on this pattern.  I love this top and can’t wait to make more.