Blue/ White Bouclé Jacket- Vogue 8259

I have been slowly getting thru my little fitting marathon with this jacket! Luckily they are not major adjustments, just time consuming, with allot of pinning/unpinning and trying the muslin on...... and off..............to get that perfect fit!The back was mainly the problem area.

The jacket back has 2 pieces, main back piece and a side back. This gave me lots of seams to adjust the fit, but I did end up making adjustments on pretty much every seam, front and back!

There was way to much fabric at the lower back and mid back. I made a double sway back adjustment, which were two dart-tucks tapering to nothing at side seams. This adjustment made the back hem pull up, so when I transferred all the adjustments to my paper pattern I added length to the back and straightened the grain line.

I also had to take in the center back, side seams and front seams (under the bust only).

1st muslin

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* I made a 2nd muslin, no sleeves, to confirm that the adjustments were alright.

I was happy with the fit.

There is still some minor tweaking that needs to be done, but I'll make those on the fabric.

Vogue Dresses * My Favorites *

• I absolutely * love * this dress.......... Vogue 1048 also.........Vogue 8493 . They are both beautiful styles.

Matching Up Lines!

I just thought I'd post a short update on my Jacket. (V8043) I am moving foward - ever so slowly - but still moving foward. I took great care cutting out the pieces so they would match when sewn together and it was well worth the time and effort as all the lines are matching up nicely, all except the armsyce princess seam ones :{ Thank you AnnR for confirming that some things will just have to be :) and this is one of them. Due to the curve it's just not going to happen. The pockets are basted on and ready for sewing. I'm making the "faux" welt pockets. The fabric is somewhat bulky and I didn't want to add any more bulk. (I still have to add the upper pocket - well the welt.) I'm really hoping to have this jacket done by the week-end so I can start on summer garments. I recieved my fabric from Julie today and I love the white/blue print. It's a Cotton poplin with some stretch (3%lycra). The White Stretch Denim Shantung has 5% stretch. They will make comfy top and pants.

Pictures uploaded from Timmel Fabrics .

I also received a railroad striped cotton, but I'll have to take a picture and post. It's also a very nice cotton.

From Els's house - to Ann's house :)

I received my ham holder from Els today.

Els mailed it on Feb 9th from The Netherlands and I received it today...in New Brunswick....that is very fast....and I was so very pleased to receive it. I have been looking for a ham holder for quite sometime, and had asked if anyone knew where I could possibly find one, since "nobody" anywhere sells these any more? Els kindly offered to sell me hers since she hardly used it. I just love it and I know I will enjoy using it. Thank You so much again Els.

*Note* For those who have not yet read Els post on her blog about "Presssing Equipment-Part 1 & 2", be sure to read them, they are full of great information - I really enjoyed reading them.

I have pretty much all the - fabric -lining - interfacing cut out for my Jacket * V8043 (View B). Seems like I am only getting in 30 minute sewing sessions these days ....so it's taking so long to actually see any progress.... not only was there allot to cut but I chose fabric that needed to be matched up. Now putting it together begins :)

Last week I also received my Jalie 2794 Sweetheart Top Pattern from Julie. I am really anxious to make this top. I love the style. Now I need to find some really nice knit fabric.

Vogue Jacket # 8043

I've been fitting my muslin for Vogue Jacket # 8043 - View B . I had to take it in at the front/back princess seams, side seams and took up the sleeve shoulder seam. I am very happy with the final results- however I see that I should have just made a size smaller and it would have probably been close to a perfect fit . I'll do a final measuring/comparing with the smaller size and then be ready to start my jacket :) (I'll post pictures next entry)

My Fitness * Jogging Chart *

I run pretty much every day so I thought keeping track of the distance I actually run might be fun to do. (Starting date today) I am now running inside, because it has been rather cold out lately, but when the nice weather returns I'll be running outside - even though the inside track is top of the line - it's so much nicer running outdoors. I've put 100 km on the "ticker" but will change it as I go beyond that distance..... (This little "ticker will be displayed at the bottom of my blog page)

Teal Silk Doupioni Top - Vogue 8391

I made View A because I just love the neckline style.

The colour is close but I just cannot get it right with my camera.It looks more vibrant like this picture.

Silk Baron

My inspiration for this top was Kathryn's top.

View A - is sleevless and I wanted 3/4 length sleeves - View C.

So I made the appropriate changes to the front/back pattern pieces to accomodate the sleeves.

As previously reported on Stitchers Guild I knew there was going to be issues with the fit of the armhole. I made my muslin with no alterations, other than the changes for the sleeves, as I wanted to see exactly how it would fit. Sure enough , it was quite tight. However the rest of the top fit just fine.

This is a very fitted top and the armhole is high.This style has practically no "ease" at the armhole, and it was definetly pulling -enough to say it was uncomfortable. I made adjustments on my muslin, till the fit was right. It took allot of fiddling -- it's still a fitted top, but it doesn't feel snug under the arms anymore.

I then transferred these adjustments to my pattern pieces.

The adjustments were:

4 added to the armhole on the front and back pattern pieces

4lowered the armhole depth and

4 adjusted the sleeve cap.

I made another muslin, just to be sure and the fit felt perfect.

I was really happy that my adjustments ended up being quite minor and not too difficult. The fabric is a very vibrant teal colour and I could not find serger thread to match "perfectly",

so I finished the seams by folding each seam allowance toward the seam, refolding it to one side and machine blanket stitching.

I embroidered a design on the front - this fabric embroiders really well.

I only lined the front pieces that I embroidered. I pondered doing it this way for quite some time. The fabric is fairly light but it feels nice as is. I knew I'd wear it with a camisole too, so I really didn't want to line the whole top.

To make the lining I simply made a lining pattern from the origianl front pattern piece, removing the facing and adding a 5/8" seam allowance. I used silk charmeuse for the lining.

When I attached the facing/lining I also sewed in clear elastic in the front neckline.

The only thing that holds this top closed are the ties, and that is really not enough to feel secure. I added snap fasteners along the front panel. I don't know how you could wear this top without doing this :)

I down sized the ties - length and width - and I tie them in the back.

The overall construction of this top was very easy. The silk doupioni was great to work with.

I believe I can call this a TNT pattern :)

Vogue 8151 Top

Vogue 8151 Top Originally uploaded by Ann's Fashion Studio

Another Vogue 8151. As you can see, I really like this pattern. I used a very very light print knit and lined it with a brown knit. I left the sleeves unlined. I used Sarah Veblen's method, my favorite, for the neck band and it turned out great.

A very comfortable top.

No time to Sew :(

I have had no time to sew this week.....(I'm on duty )... I check in Artisan's Square and that is pretty much all the time I have . .............I'll just have to sew more next week........... I haven't received my Silk Doupioni fabric that I ordered from the SilkBaron, to make this shirt, Vogue 8391. Kathryn, one of the ladies from Artisan's Square, made this shirt and it is beautiful. I've been looking for quite some time now for Silk Doupioni, but could never find the colour. I must say Kathryn's shirt was just the "inspiration" I needed, and she pointed out the Silk Baron. You can definetly find a colour here as it appears they make Doupioni in every colour...... carribean blue was the colour for me. .

Yet another - Vogue 8151 Top

Vogue 8151 Top Originally uploaded by Ann's Fashion Studio

This top fits really nice. And the neckband turned out "perfect".

I used the Sarah Veblen method and it worked like a charm. I'm now a big fan of this method.

The material is a knit from Timmel Fabrics. It is very comfortable.

Vogue 8151 Top

Vogue 8151 Top Nov 10/07 Originally uploaded by Ann's Fashion Studio

Vogue 8151 Top, view B.(Sandra Betzina.) This is the first time I've made this pattern. The fit is great. I am very happy with it. The only thing I would change next time is lengthen the sleeves by 1". The neckline is ever so slightly curvy :( however, I do have a Wearable Muslin :)

I made View B but I used the long sleeve pattern piece for View A.

I made this top with left-over Fabric from Vogue 7055 dress ,which is also a Sandra Betzina pattern.

Nov 10/07

Vogue - 7947 Jacket

Someone posted this Vogue Pattern on Artisan's Square for their SWAP.....which reminded me I too have this pattern......so I thought I would make up the Jacket . (Fabricville Knit) (Corded Chocolate Faux Suede-Picture from Timmel Fabrics site)

with this brown fabric -Corded Faux Suede Chocolate - I ordered from Timmel Fabrics. I thought it might match the Rubina Rayon Knit Fabric I bought, also from Timmel Fabrics, for a top, or this Knit Print from Fabricville. I'll see when the Brown fabric comes in which one will work best. Looking at it here the Fabricville Knit seems it would work best with the brown....but..... Timmel Fabrics also has a Camel colour Faux Suede :} Might work with the Rubina Rayon .......for another jacket....... :}

. (Rubina Rayon Knit-Timmels Fabric) (Corded Faux Suede Camel-Picture from Timmel Fabrics site)

Update: I received the Chocolate Faux Suede today and it is very -very nice, I love it.

It does have that corded look, like corduroy,without the raised wales, and will not be as heavy as corduroy. It will work great for the Jacket above, and it will work nicely with the print knit from Fabricville. Serena thought I bought the fabric for her......silly girl.... :}

Jacket - Vogue 2641

This is a very flattering Jacket. (these pictures do not seem to do this Jacket justice...it is actually a very nice "beigie" colour:) (I'll see if I can get a better pictuer) The front facing and peplum are lined with the fashion fabric, the remaining Jacket I lined with Bemberg. There are two pockets in the front and the one button closure. The inside view.

Jacket - Vogue 2047

I made some changes to this pattern. I added the Welt Pockets, BoundButton holes and trim around the Front and Sleeve Vent.