In Sewing News Today...

There is a lot of preparations to do this week. 

This coming Sunday will be the start of Advent.  

And there is festive and reflective crafting and sewing going on in preparation!  

Last year, I think it was sometime last year, I tried to do a rolled hem on this table cloth.  

It's not pretty, I know.  

It was the best that I could manage with the serger that I had at the time.  

It was on it's last leg.  

The threads kept breaking and there were less than desirable results on the stitching.  

It was time for an upgrade.  

I put it off for way too long.  

And then another serger came my way but it was in worse shape than the old one I had on my table.  

A vintage Pfaff serger that hadn't been used for years.  

It would have cost a small fortune to repair and replace the missing accessories.  

I donated it instead, I just couldn't justify the investment it would take to bring it up to working condition.  

Eventually, I broke down and upgraded the serger this summer.  

Oh my goodness, what a difference the new serger makes to my sewing.  I'm so grateful for the equipment and the ability to create.  

Check out that rolled hem!  

It has a air threading system.  

It's saving my wrists.  

My sewing has slowed lately due to sore wrists.  

Might be due to all the recent snow shoveling.  

It was wet snow.  

It couldn't be due to sewing?  

No.  [insert a dash of denial here].  

And there was some crafting.  

I never thought I would own a glue gun.  

But here I am owning one.  

I've been hot gluing faux pears, cardinals and poinsettias.  

I was going to use some leftover red wool fabric, from this project, to make red bows for the wreaths. 

That was until I found the white velvet poinsettias.  

Now, I'm thinking about using the red wool and wool knit fabric to sew and donate mittens.  

 

Maybe I'll sneak in a pair for moi, as well.  

It will have to wait for a wee bit.  

Next up though, I want to work on the Advent wreath.  

I've picked up Advent candles.  

Now, I'm thinking about sewing something to label the Prophet, Bethlehem, Shepherd and Angel candles.  

So many holiday sewing projects to do!  

How about you?  

Any holiday sewing and crafting projects on your sewing table this year?  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!  

Toasty Sweatshirt Fabric Dress: OOP Burda 8848

There is nothing like all the snow that fell the last week or so to make one think of up-ing their winter wardrobe.  That is how this sweatshirt dress came to be.  It's made with out-of-print (OOP) Burda 8848.  

I've been smitten at the thought of wearing a toasty sweatshirt fabric dress for quite awhile but I just couldn't quite settle on a pattern.  This pattern, OOP Burda 8848, has been sitting in my pattern stash since September 2019.  

I don't know why I've overlooked this pattern for so long.  I picked it up for the turtleneck and raglan sleeves.  I stalled at making it because of my previous fitting fails with Burda patterns.  It didn't help with reading comments over at Pattern Review about the snug fit of this dress pattern.  Although, I do greatly appreciate reading the reviews!  

So, I was careful with this one.  I used the grading measurements that I use with OOP Vogue 8939 to achieve a less-than-snug fit around my hips.  And I'm really happy with how it turned out.  

My favourite design feature is that the collar has a zipper that runs down the side and can be left zipped up for a turtleneck style or open for a draped collar effect.  And I really appreciate the fit around the shoulders.  The red zipper that I found in the stash was shorter than called for on the pattern.  Even though I am able to get this over my head, I wouldn't mind the additional room that the proper sized zipper would provide.  C'est la vie.  

Other than grading the side seams according to my TNT Vogue 8939 pattern, I shortened the sleeves and hem.  There is no side slit on this version since it was shortened to the point that it wasn't needed.  

Now let's talk about the fabric.  At today's prices, a sweatshirt fabric dress would be a out-of-reach dream.  Have you seen the price of cotton sweatshirt fabric lately?  Yeah, it wouldn't happen.  But I happened to find this fabric for less than a song because it was a damaged bolt.  

The fabric has been in my stash longer than the pattern.  It took some creative pattern piece placement but I was able to sew this dress, a cardigan and child's top with this fabric without any evidence that it was damaged on the bolt.  Goodness, I'm over-the-moon grateful.  

Project Details

Seams:  Lightning bolt / knit stitch

Seam allowances:  Serged

Fabric:  3 metres

Zipper:  20 cm invisible zipper

Basting tape:  0.40 cm

Pattern:  OOP Burda 8848

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, scissors, thread clippers, tailor's chalk, pin cushions, iron, ironing board, clapper, sewing machine, walking foot, invisible zipper foot, regular zipper foot, screw driver, measuring tape, measuring gauge, serger, threads, some extra time researching pattern reviews and tea.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Happy Odd Sock Day!

I kid you not, there is actually an Odd Sock Day!  It's today.  The day was created in 2017 to bring awareness to issues of bullying.  

Today, I'm spreading the word through the blog, not through my socks.  Today it's all about wearing tights and winter boots.  It's icy out there!  But I digress... 

Back to socks, have you ever sewn a pair of socks? 

Not knit or crocheted socks, but actually sewn a pair.  

There is a few patterns out there if you feel like giving it a whirl.  There are a few PDF sock patterns designed to be sewn found on Etsy.  Jalie even has a pattern for socks!  

Stay Safe, Keep Sewing and Happy Odd Sock Day!

Wool Knit Turtleneck Dress: OOP Vogue 8939

Is there anything better than a wool knit turtleneck dress as part of one's winter wardrobe?  I'm going to have to argue no.  

This dress is created with tried and trusted, out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 8939.  I kept the same changes I made to the last version, shortened the sleeve length, lengthened the hemline, and graded out to a larger size in the hip area.  

The fabric just makes me happy.  First, I really like the colour.  Yes, I've changed.  Second, it's a wool knit.  Toasty!  And third I picked it up as dead stock many moons ago for next to a song.  It is an absolute pleasure to sew.  I did learn a lesson from the first item I made with this fabric.  It's wool so it did shrink.  I pre-washed the fabric, this time before it hit the cutting table.  Most of the shrinkage was in the width so I had to be careful with the pattern piece placement.  The back was cut with a centre back seam as the pattern intended but unlike the other versions I've made where the front and back were cut on the fold.  

I don't know what else to say about my new dress other than I'm tickled pink with it.  

Project Details

Seams:  Lightning bolt (knit stitch)

Seam Finish:  Serged

Fabric:  3 metres

Knit 'N Stable tape:  2 metres

Sewing Machine Needle:  Ball point

Pattern:  OOP Vogue 8939

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, pins, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, measuring gauge, seam ripper, sewing machine, walking foot, iron, ironing board, screw driver, serger, threads, thread clippers and tea.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Do I Need a Fancy Wrap Dress?: OOP Vogue 8827

At times I struggled sewing this project, out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 8827.  I jumped back and forth questioning whether or not I really need a fancy wrap dress.  The honest answer is no.  We're in the forth wave of a global pandemic which certainly doesn't provide an abundance of occasions for the need of a fancy dress.  

Advent is starting later this month and I guess I could put it away and save it as something to wear to church on Christmas morning.  That is a big IF.   Covid case numbers are rising, especially in the southern region of the province, close proximity to the city.  And with the Delta variant present and more transmittable, I suspect by Christmas we might be in another lockdown situation.  I might be in need of a festive pair of flannel pajamas instead.  We'll see.  

To be honest, I just wanted to use this pattern, OOP Vogue 8827.  I picked it up over at Etsy, back in April of this year, in my quest to find a comfortable wrap dress pattern.  I've made several over the years (none have survived closet edits over the years) but yet I'm still on this quest.  I was drawn to OOP Vogue 8827 for a few reasons.  First, I liked the "very loose fitting" description as I'm still struggling to get myself to a healthy weight.  I also like that it doesn't have a waistline seam.  

This pattern is certainly a keeper just on the basis of fit and comfort of the sleeves.  I feel like I'm wearing a comfortable robe.  Ohhh, maybe it can be my fancy Christmas robe?  I like the neckline variations and sleeve length options.  The missing pocket issue is an easy fix.  It's also an addition that I didn't do based on the fabric choice.  

I didn't add ties to the interior of the dress.  I'm kind of debating if I want to keep it as a wrap dress, wear it as a long cardigan or maybe even put snaps down the front and change it to a loose fitting front button dress.  I'll have to sleep on it.  Needless to say, this project has certainly been making me question and doubt my decisions all along the way and right to the end.  

The fabric is a polyester knit from Northwest Fabrics.  Yup, I just typed those words, "polyester knit".  In recent years, I've been trying to move away from man-made fabrics but there are a few pieces remaining in the stash.  This is one of them.  I held on to them to use as toile fabrics instead of cutting into the more expensive natural fibre knits.  

I didn't pretreat this fabric, polyester doesn't typically shrink and it is a loose-fitting garment so I think I'm okay.  

I didn't have enough fabric to cut out the tie belt pattern piece and actually thought about sewing a black Obi style belt instead.  None of my current belts fit but I did have part of a handbag strap that I made do as a belt for the on body photo shot.  

I don't know how or where this dress / cardigan / robe (?) will end up.  Time will tell.  For now, all I know is that I'm going to consider it done and move on.  

Project Details

Seams:  Lightning bolt stitch was used throughout.  

Seam Finish:  Serged.

Fabric:  2.4 metres 

Pattern:  OOP Vogue 8827

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, tailor's chalk, pins, pin cushions, measuring tape, rulers, measuring gauge, iron, ironing board, sewing machine, walking foot, serger, tweezers, mini vacuum, threads and indecision.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Long-sleeved Pullover Top: OOP Simplicity 2372

This project is a special request for a pullover top with long sleeves that could be worn with grey pants.  It has already been gifted.  

This top was created with out-of-print (OOP) Simplicity 2372, a much-loved and used pattern around the workspace.  The short sleeved pattern piece was lengthened to create long sleeves.  The center front was placed on the fold eliminating the center front seam.  

Most of the work that went into this project are found in the pleats and darts.  Otherwise it is a simple project.  

The fabric is a gorgeous paisley print cotton sateen with some stretch.  I purchase this many, many moons ago from the discount section at Fabricland and there is still enough left-over to make a dress.  I didn't mind giving up a wee bit of it for this project.  It looks lovely in this fabric.  I can't find fabric like this, print, weight, texture, in the fabric stores anymore.  It was a real treat to sew such a beautiful fabric.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.4 to 2.8 straight stitch

Seam Finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.5 metres

Pattern:  OOP Simplicity 2372

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, thread clippers, ruler, measuring tape, tailor's chalk, measuring gauge, pins, pin cushion, tweezers, threads, sewing machine, serger, iron, ironing board and tea.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

In Sewing News Today...

You've heard me rant about the cost of everything is going up, right?  Here's another one, feel free to skip down three paragraphs.  I've been trying to de-stash my pattern collection.  I'm no longer a size six.  It's hard to imagine that I ever was once upon a time.  Would you believe there are patterns from forty some years ago when I was a wee lass starting out on my sewing journey?  

But I digress... 

I sold two patterns recently and stopped by the post office to mail them.  One is heading to Australia and the other to the United States.  Both patterns ended up costing over ten dollars to mail.  Has the world gone mad?  

So I've had to spend my weekend adjusting the price to ship on the pattern listings to reflect the inflation on everything craze.  I would have rather spend my time sewing.  

Yup, I just typed those words.  It looks like my sewing mojo has returned.  

Out-of-print (OOP) Simplicity 2372 has returned to the cutting table.  It's been about four years since I broke out this pattern.  I'm just in the process of pressing the fabric before I get to work cutting the next sewing project.  I hope to have it cut out by the end of the day.  

And I'm thinking about sewing a new winter coat.  The same pattern, OOP Vogue 8934, as the previous winter coat pattern I used from three years ago.  I do like the fit.  

I do have thoughts of sewing other projects before the coat.  

A better fitting box pleat dress is on top of my list.  Yup, the sewing mojo is back.  And with a grateful heart in midst of all this out-of-control inflation taking hold, I have everything I need in the stash.  So thankful that I have what I need here and ready to go.  Here's to a productive November and successful sewing projects.  .  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!