Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Cutting Line Designs Easy Ageless Cool Pants


It's the newest one in the independent pattern line designed by Louise Cutting. Its release was timely, since I need several pairs of new casual pants.

I cut out and partially traced the pattern tissue yesterday. I've determined that this combination works best for me because I'm not a big fan of tracing but I also don't like the finality of cutting all the pattern pieces to size. This is especially true of the pricy independents, which are generally worth it but a bigger commitment than the BMV and Simplicitys I can pick up at JoAnn's for cheap.

I had to laugh at the sizing, because I'm a size Small based on Louise's grading. I'm anything but a Small in just about any other garment, RTW or sewn! Actually I'm less than a Small in this pattern because she includes sizing tweaks on the pattern tissue based on hip size, by taking a lengthwise tuck in the back panel. The tuck lines are helpfully included on the pattern tissue.

I cut into fabric later in the afternoon after selecting some olive green linen for my initial pair. Yes, from the stash. I don't know what it is about me and this color for pants. This will make the 3rd pair. I guess it's a combination of versatility and the fact that it doesn't show cat fur that much.

I've also started planning another HotPatterns Bossa Nova skirt. This one will be from some crinkle rayon I picked up in El Paso/Juarez several years ago--before the drug wars got out of control. More on that project later, for now the fabric is laid out on the cutting table for inspection and inspiration.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Blog-Keeping

I'm doing a little sprucing up around SewWest this afternoon. I've added some new features:
  • Sewing Project List
  • Labels cloud
  • Site Search
I'm also doing some editing on my sadly neglected blog roll. I'm fixing out-of-date links, adding new blogs I follow, and removing (sorry) some blogs that are no longer active.

Like everything else in life, this is a work in process. I may or may not be finished, so stop by again to see the latest changes.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Vera Wang Mystery Fabric Skirt

Like many sewists in internet land, I bought yards and yards of Vera Wang fabric when Fabric.com bought up the Lavender Label collection that was never manufactured. Long story short--the 2008 financial implosion caused retail to fall apart as well, many store orders (including Vera's) got cancelled, and she got stuck with a big inventory of fabric. Anyway, I purchased several lovely pieces that will someday become fabulous garments...well, that's my intent at least.

The last piece I bought was some beautiful slate blue print "cotton voile." This is a photo that another buyer posted on Pattern Review.


Isn't this pretty? I think some people actually got voile, but the piece I got was anything but. It definitely had some synthetic and also had a sheen on the face side. I still liked the print, so I was fine with the fabric being something else. Then proceeded to wash it like I almost always do. When I took it out of the dryer, it was permanently pleated.


So it sat in a pile in the sewing cave for several months.

Then inspiration struck: how about one of those gored broomstick skirts I like so well? So I lengthened the HotPatterns Bossa Nova skirt by 6 inches and got to work Saturday morning.

Needless to say, this is not the easiest fabric in the world to lay out. So I pinned the selvedges together, taped them to the cutting mat, spread out the fabric, and taped the folded edge down. Then I pinned massively all the way around the pattern piece and cut. Here's a photo of the pattern piece being pinned.


I repeated the process until I had 8 gores cut out.



Then, I sewed the panels together with 5/8" narrow zigzag seams. I tried on the skirt and it was huge. I went to the serger and trimmed off 1/4" on each seam as I finished the edges. I tried it on again, and still huge. I went back to the sewing machine and sewed new seams. Half were 5/8" deep, and half were 1/2" deep. And I tried it on again. Finally, it fit, after removing a total of 9" from the original circumference. The fabric still has some pleats at the hip level, too.

The rest was pretty simple. I installed an elastic waistband using the Loes Hinse technique (the original way, not the Hepburn way). And since I had so much practice with the serger rolled edge, that's how I hemmed the skirt. Here's a quick shot of the final project.


I may wash it before wearing, just to see if the pleats even out at all. No time right now, but I'll post a picture of me wearing it ASAP.

A fairly simple project, although it took a lot longer than expected due to tweaking the vertical seams of the pleated mystery fabric. Still, I learned a lot about working with pleated fabric that I can put to use on some of the rayon crinkles residing in my stash.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

90% Off Sale

No, I don't need more fabric and I should be saving my pennies. But it's still hard to resist a 90% sale, even if it's at JoAnn's. I picked up the first 3 the day before I lost my job and the tweed a couple of days later. In all, I spent $14.90 on 13.5 yards of fabric. That's $1.10 per yard!

4 pieces, clockwise from lower left: chiffon print, black eyelet, turquoise tweed, and heavy rayon twill print.


One week out and I'm still a bit discombobulated. I haven't really done any sewing yet, but I've been doing a lot of sewing organization. I've gathered a couple of bags and a box of patterns, fabric, and old magazines to take to the next ASG meeting. I also found some more cotton remnants that I ripped into napkin squares.

I've also been clearing the closet in preparation for a charity pickup Friday morning. It gave me a lot of joy to bundle up the logo-embellished work clothes. Some of the garments are really nice, but I don't see myself wanting to advertise my former employer anytime in the future. So off they go! There are still some pieces in the bureau--I need to make sure to add them to the bag.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

More Life Changes

I was laid off my job Thursday afternoon. While it was a painful and shocking experience, it's amazing how quickly I'm getting over it. I give a lot of the credit to DH, who has been incredibly supportive. I have a financial cushion, which helps immensely.

I had already initiated a job search months ago, so that's well underway.

In the meantime, I have some unexpected free time. As Martha Stewart says, A Good Thing. Hopefully, that will mean time to take care of myself. I've already started going to the nearby Snap Fitness on a more regular schedule. The house will be cleaner. I don't plan on becoming a clean freak, but there are definitely things you let go when you have no time. We'll be eating better. Kind of the same thing as the cleaning. I enjoy cooking and I'll actually have time to prepare decent meals! I'll have more time to pursue community activities--I'm active with my church and serve on a committee with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

And, more time to sew! Because I'll be home for a while, I need more casual clothes. And I have a big stash built up. I've had more time to sew by buying than actual time in front of a machine because of work. So I can supplement my wardrobe at no additional cost. Casual clothes are fun and easy to make--look forward to seeing me whip some out and posting them to the blog.

I'm sure I'll be on an emotional rollercoaster for a while yet but overall, I'm OK.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Kokopelli Valance

As I mentioned in my last post, this project is a request from DH. I've had the fabric hanging from the rod for months, so I guess he was a little tired of looking at it.

It's a pretty basic project, basically a panel of fabric hanging from a wooden rod that was used for the previous window treatment. No gathers, DH and I both agree that the final project will look better flat. I'm also planning to line the panel with flannel to give it more heft and to prevent show through. The fabric is quilting cotton that I got at Ann Silva's--good quality but not upholstery weight.

What's a Kokopelli, you ask? Well, it's one of DH's favorite mythological figures. According to Wikipedia:
Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a hump-backed flute player, who has been venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. Like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also a trickster god and represents the spirit of music.
He is basically depicted something like this:


(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

The fabric is covered with 'em. Today, I seamed 3 widths of it together to make a panel wide enough for the window. I also pressed up a casing at the top and a hem at the bottom. After pinning in place, I placed the panel on the rod for a test run:


Not bad, considering the casing and hem are just pinned. Next, I'll mark the finished width so I can finish up this project and get on with more garment sewing! No, I haven't forgotten the pillows, it's just that I have a couple of things in mind for me to wear. The pillows can wait a bit longer.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

D'oh!!

I continued to work on the napkin project, since it was easy, fun and useful.

When I switched to white thread, I started having a lot of trouble with thread breakage. I examined my set up, and ummm, I discovered that it was wrong! So the first nine napkins have a nice finished edge, just not a rolled edge.

Well, it was the first time I'd tried a rolled edge on the Evolve. No harm done, but it was a lot easier to work with when set up properly. I finished 10 more napkins:


There are still more that I could make but I'm stopping now that I'm through edging with white thread. I'm running out of space in the napkin drawer, so I'll save the rest of my blanks for when I retire more of the old ones.

I've had some comments about napkin fabrics, so I thought I'd give some more details. This round, they were all left from other projects and came from a variety of places. Above, the cookie print is from Jo-Ann's red tag section. It was originally intended for pj's but got used for last year's Ronald McD pillowcases. The fruit print came from Fabric Mart, also used for Ronald McD. The flamingo print came from Louise Cutting, back when she had a brick and mortar store in Florida. I used most of it for a nightgown. The floral was a Hancock's purchase that was also used for a nightgown.


The tropical print was from JoAnn's red tag section, most of which was used for Ronald McD. The Pepsi fabric was also from there and became pj pants. The cat batik came from Hobby Lobby and was also used for pj pants.


The vegetable fabric came JoAnn's red tag section; I made a gift apron from it. Yes, I like the red tag section! I find fabrics there that are often different from the usual JoAnn's stuff, and the prices are better. So it's a win-win proposition. The boot print came from the late Bonanza Fabrics in Santa Fe, which was a great scavenger hunt place. I used most of the piece for pillowcases so that the little boys at Ronald McD House would have something too.

My next project is a request from DH. I'm in the process of re-accessorizing the home office from a Florida theme to Southwestern. He has asked me to complete the valance that I promised to make when I pulled the barkcloth one off the window. I have the fabrics and a simple plan for the new valance. There are also several pillows that need to be re-covered with Southwest fabric.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Many Thanks...

Thank you for all the kind words about my wedding sewing project and more importantly, your well-wishes for our married life together. It means a lot to me to receive such lovely comments of support!

It's a learning process for both of us. I've been to the rodeo before but it was a long time ago when I was married the first time. And this was DH's first time to the altar. We look forward to growing together as a couple.

A Palate Cleanser




You never know when inspiration will strike. I've been looking for a project since getting home on Saturday, but between jet lag and unpacking, I couldn't figure out what to work on. Then I saw Barbara's post at sewing on the edge. I too needed a sewing sorbet after all the wedding prep.

So I pulled out napkins to work on today. It's a natural, since DH and I use cloth napkins at home. Some of them are looking rather tatty from age, wear and DH's "gourmet" laundry, which involves much hot water and bleach. It was also a chance to play around with the rolled edge settings of the Evolve.

I generally don't use "new" fabric for napkins, although I wouldn't rule it out. In the past, I've used random fat quarters. I'm not a quilter, so I usually don't have a use for them. I had several pieces ready to go--one of the things I've been doing when I finish a project with the right sort of fabric is to cut napkin-sized pieces from left over remnants. So far I've been using cotton prints, but linen would work well, too.

I have plenty more pieces ready to be edged, but nine were enough to re-stock the napkin drawer with a fresh supply.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The BIG Project: Action!


Ta Da!!!

The wedding happened a week ago today, and it was just a lovely time. Our immediate families flew into Las Vegas, as well as a few friends. Small but sweet. The Mirage did a wonderful job of putting together the wedding and reception. I'd highly recommend them. Even though they don't have a dedicated chapel, the hotel and grounds are beautiful and they really work with you.

Pictures are still filtering in from various guests but here's a taste. I'm planning to set something up on Flickr or Picassa as well.