In Sewing News Today...

I'm not sewing right now. Nope, I'm not even enjoying my new lawn chair that I picked up for my staycation.

I've been fighting a summer cold. I'm blaming my nephew who was over last week with his cold for this one. Just kidding, sort of.  I don't have proof, just a suspicion.  

I don't even feel like hitting the sewing table. But the sewing projects are starting to pile up.

Mama R even put in a request for a new dress. Remember this one? It is Simplicity 2372.

Mama R says that she likes the dress and she wears it quite often. But she just wants a new one tweaked a bit. The list of changes include:

• longer length sleeves (I'll borrow the sleeve pattern from the jacket included in the pattern)
• a narrower neckline (I can easily fix this by taking in the shoulder seams at the neckline)
• remove centre front seam (easy)
• add back centred zipper (also easy)

Easy changes, I just need to shake this cold and get back to the cutting table.  

I was reading the new issue of Western Living and I came across this page. I was excited to see something that I thought was a sewing theme article.

Not quite.

It is a "picnic side table" inspired by a sewing basket design by Denmark-based designers GamFratesi.

Hold on to your seat.  Retail $1,291.00 (Cdn).

Seriously?  I could head over to Value Village pick up an old sewing basket take a hammer to it and a can of black paint and Wah-la! Call it modern.

Silly people. I'm kidding, I do like it as a side table. It is clever, but I don't know if I would be so quick to classify it as "modern". To me, it has more of a cottage feel to it.

And check out these shoes! If I was in need of a new pair of shoes, which I don't, I would want one of these.  They are by a German company called Trippen. I think they are just fabulous.

Sew fabulous that they have me thinking about an old McCall's in my pattern stash.

Many moons ago when I actually did fit into a size 6, McCall's 8823 was one of my favourite patterns. I made this pullover sleeveless slim fitting dress with a mock back wrap in silk. I wore it every chance that presented itself.

It was a great summer dress. And now long maxi dresses have come back. And it has me wondering if I should try to revive this pattern and make it fit on my [ahem] size 14 frame.

Have you tried to grade a pattern up significantly? Did it work? Any words of wisdom that you might like to pass along?

I would graciously accept any assistance.

Well, that is all in sewing news today. Happy Sewing.