Kids for Christmas

Here are the kid's 2009 Christmas pictures. No sewing here. Everything was store bought. Sewing in December usually causes more stress than even I can handle. My guess is the days of matching Christmas outfits are numbered. Bonnie was very excited to be Mrs. Claus.

I'm in the Mood Blouse

Finally, I am finished. It was the blouse that went on and on and....I started it in December. It is made from a very lightweight silk almost a chiffon. It is beautiful silk but it is not an easy fabric to sew and making a fitted blouse from this fabric is insane. Yes, that's right I am insane.

I used McCalls 5522. I originally finished the collarless view. It was not attractive. I ripped out the collar stand and made and inserted the collar. Much better. This pattern includes different pattern pieces for B, C and D busts. I used the D and still needed to add an inch. Gracious.

I also added an inch to the length.


The fabric is from LA Mood. I bought it to match some sherbet wool that I have had for years.


Most of the seams were finished with french seams. I hand stitched the hem and all the facings. This is not fabric that should be top stitched. The facings and collar are interfaced with sew-in organza. The buttons are from the stash. They don't look like they match in this photo - but they actually do.

The only reason this blouse is in existence is that the fabric was very expensive: $15 a yard. I originally bought 3 yards. If it had been $2 yd fabric from JoMar, it would have been pitched weeks ago.
The wrinkles in this photo are a product of the floaty-ness of the fabric. I have beaten all wrinkles into submission.


Note to self: Don't wear a teal bra with this shirt.

Can I just take a moment to say, "Thank God for machines with automatic button holers"? I didn't own one until after I was married. How did I survive?

2010 New Year's Resolutions

Happy 2010!

Some of these resolutions are re-hashes of last year's resolutions. Maybe I'll be more successful in 2010.

1. Sew more! Same resolution as last year: sew at least 2 garments a month for a total of 24 garments.

2. Make at least 2 projects using embroidery machine. It's fixed and ready to go....

3. Sew more from the stash than I buy. This was a good 2009 resolution. Let us up the ante and say that I sew at least 20 yards more than I buy.

4. Make two jackets. Jackets are virtually impossible for me to find ready wear. I made a jacket for 2009, let's see if I can make at least 2 for 2010.

5. Make three pairs of pants. I now have a pattern that fits. There are no excuses!!

6. Make a coat. I still need a coat. Honestly, if you can make a jacket, you can make a coat. I don't know why I am dragging my feet on this one. I even have some beautiful green wool coating that would be a perfect color for me.

9. Sew at least 5 garments from BWOF. Didn't do so well on this in 2009. Let's see how I do in 2010.

Let's get sewin'!

A Review of 2009 New Year's Resolutions

This post is an analysis of last year's New Year's Resolutions.

2009 New Year's Resolutions

1. Sew more! I resolve to sew 1 garment a week - but I'm guessin' that is not going to happen. I'll try to sew 2 garments a month. That's a total of 24 garments and I believe totally doable.

Verdict - I sewed 19 items. Fell short by 5 garments. I am totally shamed by the bloggers that log 50 to 75 garments!!

2. Use embroidery machine - at least see if it still works. For God's sake - I spent several thousand dollars on it...I resolve to embroider at least 2 items.

Verdict - I spent $300 fixing an old laptop that had Windows 2000 on it. My Bernina embroidery software no longer supports Windows XP. I also spent another $200 getting my embroidery machine serviced with new parts. I did test a couple designs, but didn't finish any projects. This too was shameful.

3. Sew more from the stash than you buy. Since I have already inherited a fabric stash - I personally know you can't take it with you. I don't have a concrete objective for this one.

Verdict - I actually did accomplish this - by 2 yards. I bought 55 yds of fabric and sewed up 57 yards. Not stellar, but I met the letter of the law.

4. Make a jacket. I haven't made myself a jacket in about 6 years.

Verdict - I made one I really like that fits and is wearable.

5. Make a pair of pants. I have some great gray wool I want to use. I will probably have to trace a pair I already have. I have found that if a pattern fits my thighs - the waist ends in my arm pits. And somehow that is really hard to alter!

Verdict - This too was accomplished. I made a pair of navy linen pants from a pair that I bought from Lane Bryant. They fit and I have worn them often. I am hoping to use the pattern to make several pairs for 2010.

6. Make a knit top that I actually wear. I make them, but I'm never happy with them. I bought some knit "muslin" fabric so I really have no excuse.

Verdict - A+ I made 5 tops and I regularly wear 4 of them. The purple cowl is my favorite. I think the key to my success was the hint from a blogger about using water soluble stabilizer for twin needle hems. I finally had hems that didn't look like a wavy sloppy mess.

7. Make a coat. I need a nice new one that fits.

Verdict - Utterly failed. Didn't make a coat or even attempt one and I still need a new one.

8. Finish at least 2 of my partially done projects or give up and throw them out. There are many.

Verdict - This was accomplished. I finished a purple blouse for myself and a corduroy jumper for Bonnie. I never wear the purple blouse, so I'm not sure this is such a success.

9. Sew at least 5 garments from BWOF. I think this is ambitious for me. I have been receiving and loving the magazine since August and only attempted one knit top which when sewn out, would have fit a woman about 50 pounds heavier than myself (ahhhh). Yes, I used the correct size for my measurements. It was way past altering and I just couldn't envision it working for me even in a smaller. I need to stop being a Burda lurker and actually sew something!

Verdict - Not a total bust. I did trace and make one Burda mag. pattern: the knit cowl. I even made three successful versions:

Black Cowl

Purple Cowl

Silver Cowl

I probably didn't meet the spirit of the law on this one. I'll have to work on it next year.

Total score: I accomplished 5 out of 9 of 2009 New Year's Resolutions