Finally!

Finally there is hope that fall may be coming to central Texas.  Yesterday, I think we broke a record with the high of 97 degrees.  Although I am used to the temps being warm in October, 97 seemed overly hot even for my neck of the woods.

A cool front came in this morning and it is in the 60s right now.  How refreshing!

I worked on the Silhouette Patterns Bomber jacket yesterday.  Got it cut out and lining cut out.  I still need to find a knit in the stash that will work for the ribbing portion as well as a separating zipper.  Hopefully, I will find both in house!

I made 2 muslins of the jacket.  One in the size 4 regular and it seemed a bit tight so rather than going into the W sizing, I graded the size 4 up to what would be a size 5 regular.  I think it will work just fine for what I'm hoping to get as the end result.

I have also made a wearable version of this Vogue Kathryn Brenne dress.

  

I made the shorter version (which I shortened 3" I think) and it is still on the longish side.  I'm 5'5".  I do like it, and I think I did take a photo on my dress form which is hopefully still in my phone.  I used a print and I want to use a solid knit with the next version.

I've been playing with several Today's Fit by Sandra Betzina (Vogue).  I plan to make her "puzzle pants" from black ponte as soon as I complete the Bomber jacket.  I've done the muslin for the pant and ready to go with the ponte.

I signed up for Sandra's Power Sewing videos for 4 or 5 months and binged watched all 250+ programs she and Ron Collins have done.  Now that was fun for me.  It's $6.99/month and I felt it was $$ well spent just for the enjoyment if nothing else, BUT I did learn some new tips and tricks that I plan to try out and the opportunities arise.

I stopped my subscription for now, but plan to sign up again in a few months to see what she has added.  While I already had some of her patterns, I had to buy more when I saw them made by her.  For the OOP I was able to find the ones I wanted on EBay or Etsy.  She and Peggy Sagers know how to sell me patterns!

I have been pretty good about not buying many new patterns since I have so many already that haven't been sewn.  I'm working hard to limit my purchases and have done fairly well.  When Peggy came out with her new fall designs, I knew I wouldn't sew them all, so didn't buy the package of 4 even though it was a good deal.  I just bought the Bomber.

Well, just thought I'd pop in and let you know I'm still around and still sewing some even though my sewing time is limited these days.

Cutting Line Designs

Around the July 4 holiday I picked up two shirts at the thrift store that looked almost brand new, AND one was 50% off and the other 75% off.  I had to get them.  I think my investment was less than $4, and they were a lovely cotton.  

After the washer and dryer, they went up to the sewing room and sat a few days.  I knew I would use them for a DCA shell.  I've already made one DCA from shirts which I don't think I blogged.  The shell is very comfortable and cool for our hot Texas heat.

I decided to shorten this one and took out 2" front/back on the top portion of the top.  Both fabrics are striped.  The red/white reminds me of Mr. Peppermint.  Was his show all over the country or just a local Dallas program?  I don't remember. LOL

The red/white was a short sleeved shirt, the other long sleeved. Not wanting to piece fabric, I was able to get the neck facing and one arm facing from one color; the other armhole is faced with the red stripe.  

I've worn it a few times already and it's perfect for our weather!  Thanks, Louise, for a great pattern!

Style Arc Courtney - 2

I wanted some cool tops for our summers here.  Part of the definition of  "cool" to me is that the garment touched nothing but the shoulders.  Nothing binding or constricting.  I think the Courtney works in this case.

The pink is the first "trial version" in a size 12 to see how it fit.  I did about 3/8" forward shoulder adjustment.  I may need to increase that, but wanted to give the top(s) the "wear test" before more adjustments.  I could take in the side seams for a closer fit.

The pink is a linen blend (I think linen/rayon and I "think" from Fashion Fabrics.com)  It's been in the stash for a few years.

I wore it this one day this week and snapped a photo in the doctor's office ladies room.

The black roses is a rayon crinkle (that still needs a hem on the sleeves and the bottom) fabric from Super Textiles in Dallas,  I just picked up this fabric last week along with another print.

Dress form photos: (This one still needs hems on sleeve and bottom)

I'm going stash diving when I get a chance to see if I can find a solid and print that will coordinate so that I can use the solid on the front side pieces.

I like this pattern!

Gotta Have Some

I learned of the Oscar postage stamps from a post by Louise Cutting on Stiticher's Guild.  I MUST stop by the Post Office and pick some up.

Silhouette Patterns Wrap Dress

This is a lovely rayon crepe fabric from Craftsy.  BUT the colors are bad for me.  Talk about looking washed out!

It was a good "learning" experience.  I made two muslins of this pattern.  One in a size 3 with alterations and a size 2.  While making draping changes to the size 3, I realized the muslin was "just too big."  Peggy says that if you have to tweak too much, you've likely made up the wrong size.  Bingo - wrong size.

The only change I made to the size 2 was that I sewed the final dress with 1/4" seams.  With the next version, I will make a slight "neck gap" alteration although I would have gotten by with this version without it.

Right now, I need a break from this pattern, so at some point I will stash dive and find a fabric that will look good on me.  I will keep this version until I have made the final/final version so I can refer to it in case I lose a couple of pounds (which I'm concentrating on at the moment).  Then it will either get finished and donated or go into the recycle fabric box at State Hospital.  They sell fabrics to a recycler.

A side note--I love my cone flowers; they attract such beautiful butterflies!

All I Need is One More Hobby.......

I purchased The Art of Cloth Dyeing from Craftsy.com taught by Jane Dunnewold, and I was mesmerized.  I purchased it for $19.99 on sale and thought, 'oh, I'll probably enjoy watching that here and there when I need to pass some time in a waiting room or at the gym on the treadmill.'

Well, I'm here to tell you that I started watching and couldn't wait to see the next lesson!

I have some silks that I have purchased over the years that are not necessarily the colors I want to use now.  Many came from FabricMart while I was still working (I retired over 10 years ago).  One of the first things that came to mind was, why not try some of her techniques with some of these silks that I might not otherwise use.

I haven't yet ordered the dyes, but I will likely get that accomplished this week.  The next hurdle is finding the time to explore.  My sewing time is still limited, so dyeing time will also be limited.

I LOVE this Dress

Check out THIS dress if you haven't seen it already!  I must try this if I can ever find some time.

Spring/summer is here in my part of the world.  Expecting 90 degrees today.  I'd love it if it would stay in the 70's or 80's for a while, but, THIS IS TEXAS.  So, I have been mowing, trimming, planting and on and on  outside.

The bluebonnets are out.  So, so pretty! and I have some Indian Paintbrush in my pasture.  I do love them too!

This little gentleman had a birthday this month - a year old!  How fast that year went!  Here he is in my messy sewing room wanting me to play.  He is a large part of the reason that even after the yard work is done, I get very little sewing done!

Sometimes, he will finally settle into his bed in the same sewing room, and let me get an hour or so at the machines.

So, while not much actual sewing, I continue to add to the stash.  I ordered one of Emma One Sock's bundles in the navy family.  I am happy with just about every piece!

And I get so inspired watching Peggy Sagers' free webcasts and short Thursday videos.  I tend to want to make one of "everything" she shows, but being retired, I don't need to do that!  HOWEVER, I did order three pieces of her fabric.  I think two of the three I  ordered are already sold out.  All those pieces are lovely cottons which are great for summers here.  Sorry, I haven't taken photos of them yet.

I am working on (in my short stints of sewing that Trooper will allow) this Style Arc pattern in a lovely navy/red rayon challis from the stash.  I have no clue where I got it.

Most of the "cold shoulder" patterns are not my cup of tea but I do like this split sleeve.  Hope to finish it this week.