Where Is It????

O' Where, O' Where, could my pressing ham be?



O' Where, O' Where, could it be?



With its pretty red plaid and its white cotton twill,



O' Where, O' Where, could it be?







Update: Don't look at me! I didn't put on that table and then put a pile of fabric on top of it! NOOOO - not me.

Tally Ho - Onward I Go!

I spent yesterday evening researching ways to do FBA's and found a way to fit a full bust without darts in The Perfect Fit, pages 76 & 77. I didn't want to add a bust dart to the front. Here is the pattern piece already altered.

This evening I spent my time glue basting the underlining (black linen batiste - from stash) to the wool. I read about this in Jackets for Real People.

Cody came home today and I'm not sure if we will be doing schoolwork or if Thanksgiving break will start early for the girls and I, but I am going to try and get some actual sewing done sometime tomorrow.

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Diane - when I went through my first pregnancies, I made several of the Big 4's maternity patterns and they were huge! Most of them I couldn't wear until I was nearly 8 months along. This time I plan on making several cute short jackets - like this one and the one you just finished. My shirts will probably be all knit shirts, a few of my Jalie's and my Ottobre mags. have maternity options and then I'll make gored skirts with a maternity panel (I'm going to copy from a RTW skirt that I have). The fabrics that I've ordered should mix and match fairly well (keeping my fingers crossed).

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I don't know how many of y'all read the comment section, but please you've got to go read this one.

It amazes me how your kids can make you want to pull your hair out one day and the next day make you laugh so hard you have tears in your eyes.

Onward Thru the Muck and the Mire!

Well, I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how to tie in my current wardrobe (ECC2008) with the fabrics for my maternity wardrobe. Right now, I'm thinking that I'll make a black jacket and then a black skirt. A black and cream print dress, followed by a cream jacket. This gets me to a point that I can start my maternity clothes! YEAH!



I'm starting the jacket with a black wool that I've had stashed for about 3 years. You've got to love stash shopping. I think that is was originally about $24/yard and I got it on sale for $12/yard. I've got 3.5 yards and intend to fully use every bit this week. I plan on using Simplicity 2766 for both the short jacket and the 6-gore skirt.




It's amazing to me that all of the patterns that I've always overlooked because I thought they would make me look pregnant are now the ones that I'm buying like crazy.

I've made great progress so far - I've got the pattern cut out. I know that there are a lot of people that love every aspect of sewing. Not me! I hate to cut out fabric. I truly would get a lot more sewing done if I could hire someone to cut for me, well, that and staying off the computer probably wouldn't hurt. I don't mind the pattern alterations, it's the fabric cutting that I don't care for.

Oh What Joy!

Somebody has been charging their purchases to my MC and my VISA.

Maybe This Blog Should Be Called Attitudes Galore

This top was only finished by much perseverance. Not because it was hard to sew but because I've just about decided to stop sewing for Hannah. Yesterday was not a good day for the two of us. The day started out fairly well, she got up, got dressed, and went to feed her horses. It was when I told her to come back inside afterwards so that we could start schoolwork that the attitude started. "Ughh!" "I don't want to do schoolwork!" "It's Monday, we aren't supposed to do schoolwork!" "You're not being fair!" Now, you would think that explaining that she is going to have ALL of next week off would calm her down, but OH NO!

What's that got to do with this top? I'm getting there, I promise. I had started work on this top yesterday morning before I got the girls up and gotten a good bit done. After schoolwork, I went back to my sewing room. I finally got to a point where I wanted Hannah to try on the shirt, she wouldn't and walked away from me. At this point my blood pressure probably skyrocketed, I almost threw that shirt into the trash can! I was ticked. When she came back in (and if you're wondering why I let her walk away, it's because I knew that I had to calm down first), I told her that I had had enough of her attitude for the day - and it was time to stop. To be perfectly honest, I shouldn't have let it go on as long as I did, my mistake and a lesson learned. Of course, when Hannah realizes that I'm finally mad enough, she backs down fast. No, she's not afraid I'll beat her though I've been tempted.

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On to my review:

Simplicity 2733

This is the first Project Runway pattern I've worked with, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I have to say that overall this was a great pattern. There was minimal ripping done, which always makes my day brighter (got to look for the good things).

The fabric is from a box of unwanted fabric that I bought from a PatternReview member several months ago. It's a brown cotton knit with a pink metallic stripe running through every 1/2". Look carefully at this picture:

Can you tell how skewed the selvage is? I don't think that I've ever worked with a fabric anywhere near this bad.

Here's Hannah in the finished top:

I made it pretty much straight from the envelope other than raising the neckline 3.5" on the front bodice underlay. I'm not at all interested in looking at Hannah's cleavage.

A Little Something for My Little Somebody

After much discussion, we've arrived at the following color-way (brown, red and pink) for Rachael's fall/winter wardrobe. Some things I will buy and then make coordinating items.

The shirt Rachael is wearing is a top that I purchased at the gettin' place (Wal-Mart). Her skirt is Simplicity 4669. A very cute Lizzie McGuire pattern that I bought at least 4 years ago. I have made this skirt before so, this is not a pattern that has languished on the shelves all this time. Just the last 3 years or so.

Anyway, the skirt is made from the leftover brown pique from my Fall Sassy Apron. I bought a 3 yard roll of rick-rack that has dots all over it. I made a flower yo-yo from scrap fabric. Have y'all ever made one of these? They are much harder than I thought they would be! To finish off the flower, I used a red sparkly button (from stash) and a 10" length of red velvet ribbon.



I now have a happy little girl that won't mind while I do I little more sewing for me!

Combinations #1 & #2

Outfit #1, pieces #1 & #2

Outfit #2, pieces #2 & #3

I look like of dumpy in these outfits, don't I?

Kwik-Sew 3360 - ECC2008

Confession Time: Despite being a member of PatternReview, I didn't look this pattern up until I had already cut the fabric. If I had, it might have helped me achieve a better fit.

View B of Kwik-Sew 3360 has a wrap-over front with a contrasting insert and 3/4 sleeves. The instructions were easy to follow, I've found this to be true for most of Kwik-Sews patterns. I decided not to use the insert as I have a black tank top that I can wear underneath for modesty and because I wanted to use piece #2 for contrast underneath. If you read Deepika's review of this pattern she had problems with wrinkles radiating from the bust down towards the side seam. I did too, but I noticed that if I folded in a small 1/2" bust dart, there weren't any side wrinkles. If I decide to make this again, I'll definitely make that pattern alteration. Once again, I started out with a medium at the neckline and shoulders and then graded to a large at the side seams for my FBA. Do you notice the length of the sleeves? Their supposed to be 3/4, but actually ended up at bracelet length.

One thing that I did was to cut 1" off of the front underlay. This way when I went to hem the shirt, I was only sewing through 3 layers of fabric and not 4.

I also sewed the front overlay to the front underlay, just to keep it in place. Since I didn't make a muslin, I wasn't sure if the pieces would stay in place. I don't like to keep tugging my shirt into place.

Vogue 7823 - ECC 2008

Well, here is piece #2 for my ECC2008 wardrobe. It's basically a jumper with bust darts extending down from the armhole. I'm not really thrilled with it, but I keep reminding myself that this is for layering over. The jumper gives me a modest neckline, so I can wear plunging V-necks over it without fear of showing everything that God and the refrigerator has given to me.

I don't intend on wearing it with a shirt underneath as pictured (it's cold outside - no bare arms for me), like this it reminds me too much of my high school teachers.

The only alteration that I made was to put 9" zippers in both side seams. The zippers are for easy access for nursing.

The End of An Era - Wordless Wednesday

Making the Perfect Dart

I've started working on Vogue 7823 OOP. I'm using a maroon wool terry-like jersey. I'm hoping that the wool will help keep me warm during church.

This past Sunday morning after church my pastor asked if I was cold. I told him that I was going to Academy to buy a ski mask to keep my ears and nose warm! I stay cold. Always. Even when it is 90* outside. Really.

Any way, I've started working on this dress. It is sleeveless and has a high neck. The back, however, is 6" from the back of your neck. It dips down low. It has darts that end in the armhole area (can't remember that fancy word others use). I wanted to show you how I've started making my darts. They turn out perfect EVERY time.

From the right side make a ladder of stitches. Make sure to leave a thread tail. When you get to the point of the dart, pull your needle to the back side.

This is what the back side (wrong side of fabric) will look like.



Holding firmly to the thread tail pull the threads until they tighten and make a dart.

Sew it up. Press. So far, I've never had a dart with a dimple at the end.

It may seem fussy to do my darts this way, but they are more than worth the time. I can't remember where I read about this method. Threads mag? Somebodies blog? I'd like to think that this is an original to me idea but I know better.

I'm waiting on the zippers from ZipperStop to finish this dress. I've got the hems to do and it will be finished. The third picture is closest to the correct color. At least on my monitor.

Kwik-Sew 3450 -ECC2008 #1

I, do hereby declare, that forthwith the contest titled as the Endless Combination Contest shall be known from this day onwards as ECC2008. At least on this blog.

I just don't want to continue typing out that really long title.

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I finished Kwik-Sew 3450 this morning before school work. I love this shirt, comfortable and stylish. You can't really see the gathers along the center front because of the print, but they're there.

I worried about how the stripes were going to look when I was cutting out the material, but have decided that I really like the way the stripes curve inwards. They don't really match very well towards the bottom of the v-neck but they are perfectly balanced further up. Kind of reminds me of a cathedral window.

I started with a medium at the neckline and shoulder and went out to a large at the side seams. Did a sway-back adjustment and petite adjustment between the bust and the shoulder. I should have taken off another inch on the length of the sleeve, but I can live with them the way they are.

Right now my only problem is with the neckline. At this point, the seam allowance is being held under with Steam-A-Seam Lite 2. I know from previous experience that it is not permanent like the package says. Yet I'm not sure what to do as far as stabilizing the neckline so that I can top-stitch without stretching it. Any ideas? I would appreciate them.

I. Am. Excited!

I. Am. Terrified! What was I thinking? While looking at my fabrics last night and getting the patterns ready, I decided to enter PatternReviews Endless Combinations Contest.

To me this contest is better than a SWAP because everything does not have to match. You start with 3 garments that do match. The fourth garment only has to match/go with one of the previous garments, the fifth garment, one of the previous four. And so on til you get tired. I think that I can do that, and I've already spent time in front of the stash looking at fabric. thinking of patterns, and dreaming of what would go with what. We'll see how I do, but I think that it should be fun!

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Are you wondering what I'm doing up at 2:45 in the morning?

Could it be:
A. I had to get up and pee for the fifth time tonight?
B. I I desperately needed a drink of water (so I can stay up and pee some more)?
C. I needed to build a fire because I was Cold?
D. All of the above?



Y'all have a good day!

Tell Me I'm Not the Only One

Have you ever finally decided on a piece of fabric and the perfect pattern? Only to find that you can find the fabric but the pattern is NOWHERE to be found? Or the opposite? Maybe I should get to cleaning? It'll have to wait, cause I found a good enough substitute pattern.



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I've picked out these 3 fabrics for my next project(s). All came from Gorgeous Fabrics last year. At least they're coming out of the stash pile. All of these are knits, the middle fabric is a wool jersey that will eventually become Vogue 7823, view D (this pattern is OOP, but I've linked to PatternReviews reviews of this pattern). The fabric on the left will become Kwik-Sew 3360, view B and the fabric on the right will be Kwik-Sew 3450, view A. Subject to my whims, this may change! We'll see.

Here's a bit of interesting trivia for you. Did you know that Kwik-Sew drafts their patterns so that a size S fits a B cup, size M fits a C cup and a size L fits a D cup? You know what that means, don't you? No FBA!!! It's kind of hard to believe there is pattern company that realizes that when you gain weight, your boobs usually get bigger also.

My First Maternity Dress

While there was no intentions of making a maternity outfit this early in my pregnancy, that's what I got. See for yourself:

Sorry for the darkness of the picture, but it took me forever to convince Hannah that for the sake of her health, she needed to take a picture of me.

Once again, this is Simplicity 3874, a cute little dress that is easy, breezy to make. Let's start at the top and go to the bottom for the changes that I made. I raised the neckline all the way around by about 1.5". Lengthened the sleeves to 3/4 length. Added 2" to the front for a FBA. Used a wine colored ribbon instead of a self-fabric tie. It came in an order from Farmhouse Fabrics that I received this week. It does not have a zipper in the back as this is a knit and I didn't add the zippers in the side seams as I originally intended. While I like this dress it is a style that I would avoid like the plague if I weren't pregnant. After all, I'm 11 weeks and as Cody told me last week, I look hugely pregnant in this dress. That's okay when you are but not when you aren't. The skirt was lengthened to below calf.

I'll wear this and I do like it but I don't think that it will be the first thing I grab. What do y'all think?

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All in all, it seems to have been a fairly productive weekend for me. I got this dress done. I cut off the cuffs of my robe (I got tired of constantly re-rolling them). Cut off about 4" of 3 maternity skirts, I need to buy top-stitching or upholstery thread to match for re-hemming. Sewed up a t-shirt that I will wear but not with a lot of enthusiasm. Today, church and a fun visit with a friend and then a loooong nap, and church again. And that was my weekend!