I want one in every colour!

I finished my second Rachel Comey design skirt, Vogue 1247. This one is made in a green stretch sateen. I kept the same length of the first one, ten inches longer than the original pattern. My only change was making it a size smaller and the fit is perfect.

I serged all of my seams except around the pocket. There I used the Hong Kong seam finish recommended in the pattern instructions. The skirt would be lovely with all the seams finished in the Hong Kong seam finish but it worked just fine with the remaining seams being serged. Instead of cutting out fabric and making my own binding (there is a pattern piece included in the pattern for cutting out the binding stripes), I used store bought seam binding that I had on hand.

I want one of this skirt design in every colour! But I think for now I'll settle for one two more, one in a light blue and another in a dark denim (I have the fabric in my stash pre-washed and waiting to be cut). Oh, and maybe I'll have to make one for the fall in a wool perhaps. Hmmm, I wonder how this might look like in a plaid?

In Sewing News Today...

Vogue patterns has a web exclusive pattern. Web only. Is this the new trend, PDF files and web exclusive patterns and pattern sale deals? No wonder stores are carrying less patterns now-a-days.  

I will say that even though I'm not tempted by by pattern (cute but I've got hips) I do like the click-for-the-360-degree feature.

In other news, do you remember that dress I made for my niece? Well, bless her heart, she came over this week and gave me a ticket to her graduation dinner as a thank you. How sweet is that!

I did warn her that I might embarrass her at her graduation. (I plan to bring my camera and she hates having her picture taken.) I even gave her the opportunity to change her mind, but she didn't. So, I can't be held responsible for any pictures I take.

The moment would have brought a tear to my eye but all I was thinking was "Crap, I have nothing to wear!" (that fits). Oh, I might have to sew something. And what do older people wear to graduation dinners? Anyone?

[Deep breath] and in other news, I finally have a weekend to myself. Yippeee! I can get some sewing done, right after my nap.

Happy Sewing!

McCall's 6554

Just a quick photo, McCall's 6554. I love this pattern. It is one of four designs released from the "reality" television show Fashion Star. 


I'm not a huge fan of the show but I am a huge fan of this pattern.

The fit is perfect. I really like the pleat in the front skirt, it has a retro vibe to it that reminds me of the pleat in the Vintage dress, Vogue 9229. I adore the squared neckline. And the pockets were perfectly placed. Standing only five-one, I typically have to adjust the pocket placement but not this time. I couldn't have asked for a better pattern.

I think I might actually wear it to work tomorrow.  

Summer Dress

It was a toss up between McCall's 6554 and Vogue 8667 for this fabric. The McCall's pattern won. The raised waist and pleat in the skirt front drew me to McCall's 6554.

The fabric is the same fabric I used to make bedroom curtains for Mama R. The print reminds me of the flowers I once admired on the island of Sao Miguel, Azores.

The dress pattern has been criticized by LK over at Good Seams as having a "summer turtleneck." Really?

That makes this dress perfect for my conservative Catholic school workplace. I'll just have to throw on a light sweater to cover up the chicken arms I mysteriously developed as I aged. Did I mention that my workplace has come up with a new dress code where we're not allowed to show any kind of straps or bare arms? I'm certain that means this dress won't fly at work without some kind of arm coverage. I fear it was my chicken flappy arms that grossed out the boss and now we're ordered to sweat during the summer heat. But I digress...

Despite the fact that this design will show off my chicken wings and has a "summer turtleneck" look, I do like this pattern.

It is coming together nicely. I did sew the bodice back to the skirt back before attaching the pockets and sewing up the sides, a slight detour from the pattern instructions. It just seems to be easier when sewing the invisible zipper. I found some double sided tape used for quilting that disappears when washed, Wash Away Wonder Tape. My favourite "new" (to me) trick for sewing perfect zippers.

I hope to finish this dress up up tomorrow after work since there is not much more left to do. There are pockets, side seams, line the bodice and hem to finish before I take some pictures of the summer dress.    

Until then, I should say good-night and happy sewing!

Good Morning... Oh, and the Pattern Give-away!

What an exciting weekend! It has been busy, lots of food-stuff, watching the Queen Jubilee celebrations on the Canadian News and the Canadian One canoe paddling down the Thames River, the countdown to the Euro cup... Oh, and the Pattern Give-away! 

 

Sew, the winner for the special occasion dress pattern is House of Pinheiro who has plans to make it for her own graduation! 

Congratulations on both the pattern give-away and your upcoming graduation! 

If you send me your mailing details at grrracar (at) gmail (dot) com I can pop it in the mail for you. 

Happy Sewing!   

In Sewing News Today...

Just a reminder that there is one more sleep until the pattern give-away winner is announced. Details here. Good luck to everyone who has entered.  


In other sewing news... I bought a zipper!  I took a trip out to Mitchell Fabrics since they have a wider selection of invisible zippers than what I'm able to find in the south end of the city. Without any difficulty, I quickly found a invisible zipper to match the green sateen I plan to get to this weekend.

And since it was pouring while I was in the fabric store, I took the opportunity to look around at the fabric while I waited out the rain. Check out this fabric!

I found this black, silver and blue print in the sale section along with some other gorgeous African print cottons. They're beautiful and can you believe they are on sale for $3.89/metre.

The fabric would perfect for the Vogue 1309 tunic that is currently in my pattern stash.

Sew, it was off to the zipper display to pick up a separating zipper for the tunic project I just added to my list of things to do.

Talking about tunics, remember Vogue 8791? It is that lovely tunic that I cut out in a green silk noir without making a muslin first. It became my big epic fail because I forgot that I don't have a Vogue model figure. Well, my sister-in-law just happens to be Vogue modelesque. She tried on the unfinished tunic and it fits her perfect. The green silk noir looks beautiful with her green eyes, added bonus.  Sew, Vogue 8791 is back on the sewing table to be finished up. Just the sleeves are left to complete. I'm happy that the beautiful silk fabric will not go to waste and the size cut is a perfect fit for my sister-in-law. Happy ending after all, love that!

Anyway, that is all in sewing news today.

Happy Sewing!

I Survived Me-Made-May

I survived Me-Made-May month! Don't get me wrong, by "survived" I mean it was a lot of fun and I did learn a few things.

1. I have way too many me-made items made out of cotton and other natural fibres. That means ironing. I hate ironing. Yes, I'm still searching for that mythical man to enter my life and say, "I would love to iron for you." I know, dream on. Sew, in the meantime I have an ever growing pile of me-made natural fibre garments waiting for me to give up my mythical man search and get busy ironing.  
2. Vogue 1234 seems to be my go-to-weekend dress. I really need to make another one, it is so comfortable. And now that I know the secret to sewing knits thanks to that Me Sew Crazy blog post (thank you!) I have no excuses.  
3. I need pants and more cooler weather clothes. There were some rainy chilly days in May. And me-made-month had me realizing that I do not have a pair of pants in my closet that I have made myself. Hmm, this might be the challenge that I need this summer. I recently added Vogue 1309 to my pattern stash for the top. The pants included in the pattern are described as "loose-fitting through hips" and they just might work since my hips are my fitting challenge.  
4. My favourite part of Me-Made-May'12 was checking out what everyone else made. Everyone looked fabulous in their me-mades. And I discovered pattern companies that I didn't know existed.  

Happy Sewing!