Letting the Wild Side Out!

No sewing has been done since my last post.  Ha. Which, believe it or not, was yesterday!  Last night I braved the onset of Franken-storm Sandy and dropped by Fabricland on my way home from work.  I couldn't believe the line ups in the store!  Did they really forget that Halloween was coming, and had to brave the horrible weather to go out and get something (which is really funny because despite the storm, I was there too...)?!

Anyway, I digress (because I have no children who go out trick-or-treating anymore).  My trip to Fabricland during Sandy was to for a RED lining for my in-progress jacket.  I didn't find exactly what I had envisioned, but I did find these:

I think I may use the second one for my new grey herringbone jacket.  The others are for a new black tweed jacket I've got planned, and one yet to be determined. I also got this:

Polka dot georgette for a new shirt/blouse - my latest favourite shirt pattern, Butterick 5678.

I am still looking for fabric though - and just cannot find what I am looking for locally.  I am looking for a black pleather - to use for a motorcycle jacket, as well as to be used for accents or inset pieces in dresses and skirts.  Anyone know anywhere online that I can get something like that?

Sewing Progress!

I sewed this weekend!  I spent a lot of time in my sewing studio.  I am SO thankful for my creative area (which is currently a disaster with fabric piles and boxes of patterns from Vogue Patterns everywhere - wardrobe planning is messy business!).  I am so happy that I can leave everything in a state of disaster, close the door and walk away, and then head back when I have a few minutes to pick up where I left off.  It is such a luxury, and makes a HUGE difference to my productivity level!

I started with a pile of mending, which has been sitting for a while.  Felt so good to get that stuff done!  Then, I moved on to McCalls 4926.

McCalls 4926 - now OOP

I made view B in size 14, out of a well aged grey and white herringbone wool blend light weight suiting.  The drawing is deceiving.  The waist is NOT a low rise waist at all.  It must sit about 3" higher than what shows in the drawing.  Sort of a retro-high waist type of pant, except with a contoured waistband.  I did the "fish-eye dart" alteration to remove the bulk I usually have under the buttock, and I had to let the front and back inseam out by about 1/4", along with the waist.  (Am I in denial and should be actually cutting a size 16?  You betcha!!)  I'm pretty happy with the progress I'm making with alterations and fit to pants.  They fit well enough over the buttocks area, and no weird drag lines on the back leg by my knees. Sorry - no pics yet, I'll have to hassle my photographer to come over for dinner so I can get pictures of me wearing the pants.  Do you know how hard it is to take a photograph of your back-side without a proper camera???  I think it's a new form of yoga!  LOL.

I also started on Butterick 4610, out of the same light grey and white herringbone wool blend suiting.  I've got photographs of the progress on my phone, but I'll have to upload them later this morning.

Butterick 4610

B4610 - in progress!

Close-up of herringbone fabric
Photograph is a little darker than the fabric actually is

I got as far as putting the collar on, but I cannot find an appropriate lining - despite the HUGE stash I have.  Guess I'll just have to visit Fabricland tonight on my way home from work. <grinning>  I'm thinking RED.  DD#1 came over for dinner last night and tried the jacket progress on - it fits her like a dream (the only alteration is to pinch out about 1/4" across the upper chest, upper sleeve and back!)  She's asked for a version in grey with a hot pink lining so she can roll up the sleeves to show the lining.  Guess that will be up next!  I'm also wanting a few more knit cardigans - so cozy in my temperamental office, especially with this wet, rainy and cold weather!

Speaking of the weather, the news about Frankenstorm Sandy is dismal at best.  The Red Cross for our area has suggested stocking up on a 72 hour emergency kit.  Guess I'll be stopping by Walmart for water and a few more canned goods tonight.  I'm keeping all those affected by the storm in my thoughts today.

What a Day!

Yesterday, my family celebrated.  Celebrated achievements of not one but TWO.  My oldest daughter Sara graduated yesterday morning from our local collage.

Then last night, her boyfriend also graduated from the same college.

Two very dedicated and motivated people, and I am SO proud of them both!!

I made Sara's dress for the occasion - sort of an unplanned, last minute thing, but that's how things seem to go around here lately.  We decided on New Look 6123, view D out of an aubergine (sounds so much prettier than "eggplant") satin backed crepe.  We used the shiny side out for glamour.

We purchased the fabric, pattern and notions on Saturday afternoon.  Just as an aside, we saw a few similar dresses during a shopping excursion on Saturday morning for over $170.  This dress, including the pattern, fabric, lining, zipper and thread was slightly less than $40.  My poor student really appreciates the fact that I can sew!

I altered the pattern, cut the dress and stitched it all together during Saturday afternoon and evening.  Sunday morning I cut the lining, and by Sunday afternoon I had the lining completely inserted, with just the hems to do.  I hemmed it on Monday evening, and Tuesday morning she wore it to her graduation ceremonies.  The obvious wrinkles in the bodice that you can see in photograph were not present when she wore it!

Not the best picture ever, nor the best styling, but this gives you the general idea (it was a hurried picture taken in our front hall before dashing back off again!).  We had such a busy day yesterday!  Sara's graduation in the morning (2-1/2 hour ceremony for 400+ students), followed by a reception at the college, after which we all went out for a lovely lunch with her boyfriend, his parents and my parents.  After lunch, we had a brief trip back home for a short walk with the dog and a hurried cup of tea before heading to the awards ceremony where Sara's boyfriend was given EIGHT awards.  The awards ceremony was followed by another reception, then Steve's graduation ceremony, and then yet one last reception.  All in all, a very busy, but wonderful day.  Both graduates have continued on with their education, now working on degree programs.

Up next...a pair of wide-legged trousers from an OOP McCalls pattern from a cotton/blend grey and white herringbone tweed.

I Got the Mojo...I Just Don't Got the Time!!!

There has been lots of fantasy sewing here...taking a peak here and there through the fall magazines and blogs, seeing all the great ideas, I desperately want to get to the sewing machine. But alas, between work craziness, travel for work, then catching up, trying to maintain my house and prep it for the upcoming winter months (Oh.  My.  Whadda mean the cleaning fairies just don't appear??  And where is the handyman on his white horse?), dealing with a leaking roof, studying for a re-certification exam (which I passed...whew!)...it's been a little busy.  I had even scheduled last Sunday as a sit-n-sew day (it's actually blocked off in my calendar, I swear!), but I was absolutely exhausted and basically vegged and slept off and on all day.

Vegged with knitting, that is.  I have made some progress on the Rocky Coast Cardigan I'm making for DD#2 who lives on the East Coast (very appropriate).  I've made it as far as starting the first sleeve, but ran into an operator error, so I have to weave in a lifeline before ripping back.  Only a few rows, but it has still dampened my enthusiasm.  That being said, I want to finish it and one other sweater before Christmas.

I'm also working on what I've named my Cajun Vanilla Socks, the ones I started on the flight from Toronto to Washington, then worked on in the Washington airport and on the flight to New Orleans.  You should have seen my boss' face when he noticed my knitting needles - I think he thought I was going to be taken down immediately by security because I had my little needles on the plane!  I also took them camping near Goderich last weekend (no worries - we had a furnace in the trailer so we stayed warm despite the frosty temperatures!), so in a little over a week, I'm at the point of doing the heel flap.

(Yeah...no pictures yet...pictures to follow - they're on my phone right now - working to figure out the Google Plus App)

I've been picking away at some of the chores at home and decluttering, so maybe I'll have some sewing time this weekend??

Yes, Virginia...There Has Been Sewing!!

Not nearly as much as I would have liked to report, but some is better than nothing!  A few business trips locally plus another business trip to New Orleans have put a damper on my productivity, but I even have a few pictures of my recently finished objects!

Butterick 5678

Lightened to show detail of embroidery

Let me just say...I LOVE this shirt pattern.  I made the size 12, with the C cup (I'm in between the C and the D).  I absolutely LOVE that I don't have to do the FBA alteration myself (lazybones...but when you've only got so much time to sew, it's better when I can just cut and go!).  It's a great basic shirt pattern.  The princess seaming is a feminine detail.  I definitely see a few more of these in my future.  In fact, I already have another one cut out.

Another Finished Object, Butterick 5526 out of embroidered eyelet cotton/linen blend.  I sewed View C, the longer version.  I used this pattern because I didn't want the embroidery to be broken up across the front with a seam.  I opted for a mandarin collar.  I envision this will be used as more of a shirt jacket than a blouse.

Butterick 5526

Close up of Mandarin Collar

Close up of fabric, lightened to show embroidery detail

One other finished object - Vogue 8582, a Marcy Tilton pattern.  I made View C of this pattern previously in a medium weight fine sweater knit, and love the way it feels, elegant and artistic.

So I made it again - this time in a slinky type knit, with no sleeves.   I skipped the "twist" in the binding because I wanted it to be simple.  Just in time for the cooler temperatures.  Or...it could be said that I've got a head start on my Summer 2013 sewing!  I love this fabric - it feels so sensual, and again very elegant. You can't really tell from the pictures, but it is black with a very skinny horizontal white/cream stripe.  I was thinking it would look awesome with the pair of white skinny jeans I made recently, or even some black capri leggings and a good chunky necklace.  The length on me is about mid-thigh (I'm tall - 34" inseam)

I spent a Sunday morning a few weeks ago on a marathon cutting session.  I'm finding I sew in the evening much better than I cut, so I dedicate a time slot of a few hours to cutting out a bunch of things, then sew them when I can find a few minutes here and there.  I was hoping to do a transition wardrobe using varying shades of grey, cream and red, but given how little time I've been able to dedicate to sewing lately, I'm not sure how that will transpire.  I'm dedicating my evenings to studying for a re-certification exam that I have to write on October 13th, so I'm not really hoping to have a lot of time to sew.  Maybe I can celebrate by spending the 14th sewing.