FO and Pattern Review: Simplicity 1916

Yes, see!!!  I told you - Return of Mojo, and a disproportionate number of FOs given my sewing over the past few months.  So...lucky readers, two blog posts in a row!  I present to you another FO review - this one for Simplicity 1916.

Pattern Description: According to the website and pattern envelope:  Misses knit tops with sleeve variations.  I would also add that there are patterns for a wrap top, and an empire waistline type top. Variations for a flower embellishment and a drape are also included.

Pattern Sizing: 6-14, and 16-24.  I made size 14.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it did, with one exception - the fabric I chose was a busy print and the gathering/embellishment on the left side front doesn't show that well.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I would caution to be very careful about how you transfer the pattern markings.  I had to unpick the left side front embellishment and left front wrap gathered area because I lined everything up to the wrong marking.  I only used little nips into the fabric instead of transferring markings...not the best way of doing it, I learned!

Fabric Used: printed polyester knit that I've had in my stash forever!  I made a top from this fabric before and learned the hard way to be cognisant about pattern placement and this particular print (the previous top ended up with one of the circles as a bulls-eye over one of my breasts, and I didn't wear it much as a result).

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did a 1/2" swayback adjustment at the centre back, and sewed up 3/8" seam allowances on the side seams by the bust to increase the size a little (cheater instead of doing a FBA aka full bust adjustment).

I used self-fabric binding to finish the top edges of the fronts, as well as at the armholes.  I just serged it to the edges left it instead of tacking it down as the pattern instructs.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might be sewing this again.  I would like a version with the longer sleeves, but I have quite a few other wrap top patterns to try, so we'll see if it happens.  I do quite like the drape version as well.

Conclusion: this made a nice summer top that incorporates my chosen wardrobe colours (red, black and white).

**A while back I mentioned that I was hoping to introduce photographs of myself actually wearing the clothing I create, but alas, my tripod has gone the way of the landfill.  The legs wouldn't stay where I put them anymore and I didn't want to risk damaging my camera.  Maybe sometime soon you will actually get to see pictures of me wearing the clothes.  A new tripod is already on my Christmas list...

FO and Pattern Review: McCalls 6326

I've been sewing like a maniac in the past few weeks.  I don't know exactly what it is that has gotten me back to sewing, but my Mojo has returned with a vengeance!!  I'm VERY happy about this recent development as my wardrobe was starting to look dismal at best (my clothes were all starting to look worn out, a lot didn't fit any more, and the remainder I was just starting to feel really MEH about...).  Since the Return of Mojo, I've been trying to squeeze a little bit of sewing in every day.  Now, that doesn't *always* work, but it does greatly increase my rate of FOs! (finished objects).

M6326 Front

Pattern Description: The pattern envelope and McCall's website are not very descriptive: MISSES' TOPS: Close-fitting tops. That being said, the tops are close fitting. I made View C. The pattern is out of print, but still available on McCall's website at the time of writing this review.

photo credit:  Mccallpattern.mccall.com

Photo credit: Mccallpattern.mccall.com

Pattern Sizing: 4-12, and 14-20. I used a size 12 and added extra seam allowance to the side seams.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Most definitely.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, though I had to be very careful about how I put the twist into the neck portion of the top. I was sewing late at night and apparently was easily confused. I ended up putting the top onto my dress form and pinning it there in order to get the twist properly figured out.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I really like the way this pattern fits, and that it is an unusual piece of clothing.

Fabric Used: ITY jersey with a black/white/grey print

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I stitched up the centre front about 2 inches higher than the pattern recommended in order to avoid a display of extensive cleavage.

It is a close fitting top as the pattern says, so I would ensure to add 1" to the side seams when cutting, and then baste the side seams together prior to stitching.

Because I was using ITY knit, which seemed slithery when I was cutting it out and is really light weight (but feels like heaven on!), I added lightweight boning at the centre back of the neck to keep the fabric from bunching up too much, as well as at the upper side seams, again in order to keep the fabric from drooping at that spot.

M6326 Centre Front

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I'm not sure if I would sew this view again, as the top is pretty distinctive and a girl really only needs one of these in her wardrobe at a time, but I will likely sew another one of the views.  And the more that I look at it, maybe I need one of these in plain black.  And one in plain red.

Conclusion: This is a very distinctive top that can be used for summer or evening wear.

M6326 Back

Foreshadowing...

Well, if the last post, called "Silence is Golden" didn't just sum it up.  Yup, silence alright.  I've been busy - busy travelling (to Vancouver this time in July for a vacation with my sister and her family), busy with work (just overall busy in the summer with construction season and preventative maintenance, and travelling around the province), busy with family and friends (birthdays, visiting campsites, BBQs, soccer games, festivals...Ahhh...summer!!).  When I do have downtime, I've been knitting or spinning on my spinning wheel.  I just haven't had the time or energy to think about sewing.

BUT...

I'm dreaming about sewing this week.  Nothing but sewing.  That being said, I haven't had the time or the energy this week to get to the machine.  Yet.  So...I'm hoping that next week I will have a plethora of time to be able to stitch my little heart out.

I'm currently working on (as in it's been sitting by the sewing machine in a pile) Vogue 8774 in a stretch dark blue denim.  

Remember the last time I felt the urge to sew?  I cut out about 8 pairs of these pants.  Amazingly enough, the 4 pairs I've sewn up since then have all fit differently due to the different fabrics.  I've been really discouraged by a saggy butt (on most of the pants I've sewn lately) and despite all sorts of different alterations, I just can't seem to get it under control.  My RTW jeans have bit the dust and I really need another pair so I don't walk around naked to spruce up my casual wardrobe, so my plan is to work on them this coming week (after I get back from a visit with my brother in Ottawa this weekend).

Part of my sewing malaise has come from an inability to properly fit my clothes on myself.  I can fit them on others, but on me?  Nope.  Particularly pants.  Soooo...Big Exciting News - I've signed up for an European Pattern Drafting course at our local college as a night class to start in October.  I've been sewing FOREVER, but have never taken a class.  Not One.  I've been thinking about it for a while, so I finally just buckled down and booked it.  Now, this is the first in a series of eight or so courses that will take a couple of years to complete, and they only offer them one at a time, so I've signed up for the Skirts drafting course.  In November a second course starts on how to sew the skirts.  Now...I've been sewing a long time, but I think I could still learn a thing or two about sewing a skirt, so I'm signed up for that one too.

I've also been dreaming.  A Lot.  About my fall/winter wardrobe.  That I Want To Sew.  Mostly because I cannot get to the sewing machine, so I've become fixated on it.  I'll share more about my dreaming in my next post, once I've had a chance to put away all my summer fabrics that have been sitting on the coffee table in the rec room/sewing room since...early spring...and pulled out my fall/winter ones.

Let's revisit the goals for June, shall we?

Knitting:

1.  Finish Sara's Featherweight Cardigan, and post pictures to Knit Girllls KAL (deadline is June 30th) DONE!!  Yup, blocked, ends woven in, and gifted.  She's even been wearing it when I'm not around!!
2.  Start and Finish Camp Loopy Project #1 (deadline is June 30th).  Need to get the yarn from the mail yet!!  Finished!  New pair of socks for me!  Woot woot!

Sewing:

1.  Finish four pairs of slim jeans from Vogue 8774, which have already been cut (three in various shades of denim, and one in red!)
2. Make another Butterick 5678 shirt - I'm thinking of a red one
3.  Make a top from Simplicity 1694 out of embroidered cotton eyelet (white with black embroidery)

Insert diabolical laughter here.  Heh.  The closest I got to sewing for the past two and a half months was to iron the top of the coin pocket for the next pair of jeans.  

Knitting Goals for August

1.  Finish the body on the Effortless Cardigan I am currently working on
2.  Keep working on my current sock project
3.  Plan Christmas knitting

Sewing Goal for August:

1.  Finish the dark blue denim skinny pants
2.  Plan Fall/Winter wardrobe and sewing
3.  Plan Christmas sewing

Next time, I hope to have sewing progress to show you!!

Silence is Golden.

This blog has turned into my once monthly check-in, with a public goal-sharing forum (though I'm not sure how many people are still reading my blog).  Here we are at the end of May - I have no idea how that happened!  We're almost at summer already, even though Mother Nature has been keeping us here in Central Ontario wondering whether we will ever have more than two consecutive days of summer before shocking us with a fall or even winter type day!

Anyways...this past month I have realized a few things recently that have inspired me. (Note:  I am a huge fan of lists.  You will see that in this post, if you haven't noticed my monthly lists already!!)

1.  I've been stumbling across some of the bloggers who are blogging about Me Made May.  It has inspired me to get sewing.  I want to join in on MMM 2014, and to be able to wear something I have made every day next May.  If I only sew 2 pieces a month until then, I will have more than enough to get me through the month with what I already have.

2.  The bloggers have also inspired me to find a way to take photographs of myself wearing my clothes.  I have a great camera.  I have great clothes, and I am making more great clothes.  I need to find a way of showing you all how I look when I'm wearing them!  I get inspiration from other's outfits and sewing projects.  I want to give back some of that with you.  It may be a bit shaky at first (hopefully not literally, that would be bad for my camera and the photographs!), but I'm going to try playing with it this weekend.

3.  I tried on my summer clothes from previous years.  They do not fit - the shrink fairy has visited my closet over the winter. So...instead of feeling sorry for myself and getting down on myself, I am going to do three things - exercise more (more walks, more yoga, maybe even get the bicycle out), make healthier eating decisions (does eating vegan cake for breakfast count as healthier?  LOL), and sew new summer clothes.

With all the talk about me actually getting some sewing done, I STILL don't have any pictures to show you (see #2 above).  I'm hoping to change that.  SOON!

Last weekend I went on a cutting binge.  This is the best way for me to get things cut out.  If I cut out in the evenings, I make simple mistakes that cause a lot of problems, so I spend a few hours on a weekend afternoon to cut out a whole bunch of stuff.  Last weekend I cut out eight (8), yup, EIGHT pairs of slim pants from Vogue 8774 on Saturday afternoon.  Sunday and during the week, I've finished three of those pairs - a black stretch twill pair, a heavy linen/ramie pair and a black/white novelty stretch denim/twill pair.  I've worn two of them already this week.

Let's take a look at the goals I had set for myself for May:

Goals for May 2013

Knitting:

1.  Weave in the ends of Melissa's sweater and send it to her on Friday (is it cheating to write a goal you know you're already going to accomplish?  I'm taking this to knit night tonight!)  Done and mailed!  Pictures are on my camera.
2.  Finish Emerald Raspberry Fingerless Mitts for my mom.  Umm...no further today than last month.
3.  Finish Colonial Rib socks for my dad FINISHED!!
4.  Start socks in Casbah yarn for myself. Nope, didn't start.  Going to put this off until at least July, because I'm starting a Camp Loopy sock project, if my yarn EVER arrives!!
5.  Pick out sweater pattern and yarn for a sweater for Sara Done!  Finished the body of the Featherweight Cardigan out of Manos Lace in a gorgeous coral-ly colour and starting on the sleeve.

Sewing:

1.  Should I even bother??! I have far exceeded this goal!!  The red Sandra Betzina knit sweater I thought was a cardigan was actually only a vest, so it was even FASTER to finish!  Again...pics to follow.  Plus, I finished three pairs of slim pants!

Here are my goals for June 2013

Knitting:

1.  Finish Sara's Featherweight Cardigan, and post pictures to Knit Girllls KAL (deadline is June 30th)
2.  Start and Finish Camp Loopy Project #1 (deadline is June 30th).  Need to get the yarn from the mail yet!!

Sewing:

1.  Finish four pairs of slim jeans from Vogue 8774, which have already been cut (three in various shades of denim, and one in red!)
2. Make another Butterick 5678 shirt - I'm thinking of a red one
3.  Make a top from Simplicity 1694 out of embroidered cotton eyelet (white with black embroidery)

Living the Enchanted Life

Hello there...is this thing still on?  I've been absent from the blog lately, but with really good reason.  I am NOT sick, and nothing horrible has happened to me.  In fact, I've been spending a crazy amount of time away from home lately and as a result the blog and my sewing have been non-existent.

So...in April, I spent some time in Alberta, hanging out with my brothers.  We skied (well...I skied, one of them boarded, and the other had to watch from the sidelines due to work and a knee injury).  I took a TON of pictures of the mountains (you'll have to believe me for now - I'm having a techno-burp with my phone and all of my "real" pictures are on my camera at home).   We at awesome food we cooked for each other (yup, all foodies), we hung out at the fitness centre (for the pool! and hot tub! and steam room!).  We saw a MASSIVE GRIZZLY bear, which immediately curtailed any thoughts we had of hiking or snowshoeing.

Touristy picture of me taking a picture of my brother who is taking a picture of me...
enjoying a Rock Creek Dry Cider after a good day of skiing at Lake Louise

The brother who doesn't live there and I are dreaming up ways to get back there as quickly as possible.  Summer in the mountains brings a whole realm of different things to do! (horseback riding, camping, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking...so many choices!!)  Ah...the mountain life is the life!

Back to reality...I attended a conference in April for work, which seriously cut into my sewing time as well, and have another starting this weekend.  So instead of sewing, I will be visiting my brother in Ottawa for an overnight before heading to the hotel for the few days of the conference.  It is the first weekend of the annual Tulip Festival, and I have never been before, so I am very much looking forward to going!

There has been knitting.  Again - you'll just have to believe me for the time being until I can upload my photographs.  I have started a pair of Colonial Rib socks for my dad, and I'm really enjoying this knit.  Not mindless, but I am certainly finding these to be a relaxing knit. Here's the Rav Link.  I'm loving these!

I also started and finished a pair of plain vanilla socks while I was away in Regia yarn.  I enjoyed knitting on these when I was too tired to knit anything else after skiing.  Here's the Rav Link for these.

In the meantime, let's take a look at those goals from last month, shall we?


Goals for April 2013

Knitting:

1. Finish Reims socks Hooray!  Finished!
2. Finish Melissa's sweater, block it and send it to her in the mail Finished, blocked but still need to weave in the ends before sending it to her.
3. Finish Emerald Raspberry Fingerless Mitts for my mom um...yeah.  No further than last month.
4. And just because I'm feeling SO bold owing to finishing my goals for March, I'll throw in this one too - finish the Francis Revisited sweater I started for myself eons ago.  A warm alpaca/wool sweater just in time for spring. hahahaha...no progress at all.

Sewing:

1. Sew the *&@#$ red sweater.  I have till the end of April, right?! Famous last words...
2. Sew yoga leggings and tank tops to wear on my spring skiing vacation in two weeks. And again...famous last words.

Goals for May 2013

Knitting:

1.  Weave in the ends of Melissa's sweater and send it to her on Friday (is it cheating to write a goal you know you're already going to accomplish?  I'm taking this to knit night tonight!)
2.  Finish Emerald Raspberry Fingerless Mitts for my mom.
3.  Finish Colonial Rib socks for my dad
4.  Start socks in Casbah yarn for myself.
5.  Pick out sweater pattern and yarn for a sweater for Sara

Sewing:

1.  Should I even bother??!

LOL.

Picture-less Post

It's me checking in!  I know the true way to build readership is to regularly post with interesting things to say and with lots of great photographs of finished objects...but well, life seems to have taken over.  Still ABSOLUTELY NO sewing to report, though I'm getting antsy about getting to the sewing machine.  I desperately need some new clothes for work, or I'm sure you'll be seeing me on What Not To Wear soon. (Is that show still on??)

I have however finished some knitting, though I don't have any photographs at the moment to post.  If we revisit my March Goals we will see that I actually have accomplished a few things.

March 2013 Goals - Knitting:

1.  Finish Temperance socks before March 30 (Rav Link for Temperance Socks)

2.  Block the socks shown above

3.  Finish sleeve for Melissa's sweater (Rocky Coast Cardigan), and start second sleeve (Rav Link)

Guess what?!! I have completed ALL of my knitting goals!  I finished the Temperance Socks, I blocked all of the socks in the previous post, and I've finished the first sleeve of the sweater for Melissa and started the second.  

My sewing goals, as I mentioned above, were a complete fail.  That being said, ski season is done (aside from my upcoming ski vacation), and I am almost finished one of the two courses I am currently enrolled in, so that *should* give me some sewing time.

Goals for April 2013

Knitting:

1. Finish Reims socks Rav Link for Reims Socks

2. Finish Melissa's sweater, block it and send it to her in the mail

3. Finish Emerald Raspberry Fingerless Mitts for my mom Rav Link for Emerald Raspberries

4. And just because I'm feeling SO bold owing to finishing my goals for March, I'll throw in this one too - finish the Francis Revisited sweater I started for myself eons ago.  A warm alpaca/wool sweater just in time for spring.

Sewing:

1. Sew the *&@#$ red sweater.  I have till the end of April, right?!

2. Sew yoga leggings and tank tops to wear on my spring skiing vacation in two weeks.

And yeah...I did spring clean the main floor of the house (washed the walls and baseboards, scrubbed the floors trim and windows in the kitchen, living room and front hall).  That counts for something doesn't it??

I'd better sign off because now I'm just grasping for excuses as to why I'm not sewing. LOL.

Goals! and FOs!!

Yes, spectacular and witty title to this post.  Life has been busy.  So busy that I haven't been able to even touch the sewing machine in months.  I have stuff cut out, but just haven't had the time or energy to drag them out.  Skiing is taking up a lot of my time as are the two courses, work and all the other stuff that seems to come my way.  At least I'm not bored :)

While there hasn't been any sewing, there has been knitting.  I think I've been gravitating to knitting because it is very portable and meditative for me.  For a while I was knitting only stockinette stitch socks (which for those who knit know is just the knit stitch over and over and over...and over again).   Like I said, meditative.  Though recently, I'm being pulled towards socks with texture and interest again.  And I am finding I *can* actually knit on those types of socks when it is not completely quiet around me, and I can even take them with me to knit night!

So...on to FO's.

These socks are my international travelling socks - knit on planes from Toronto to Chicago, Chicago to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to Denver, and Denver to Toronto.  They are also my sick on the couch socks after I got back from my trip.  I just have to add that I absolutely love Opal.  It is so colourful, it feels great when knitting, it's not splitty at all, and it wears like iron.

Opal Hundertwasser Socks, Plain Vanilla

Rav Link for Opal Socks

These are another pair of sick-at-home socks.  I cast on and knit the first one in ONE DAY.  I know!!!  Crazy, right? ONE DAY.  The second sock took a little longer, but I finished the pair in under a week.

ThreeEwesInFiber Kerosene Colourway

Rav Link for Kerosene Socks

Here's a pair that had been languishing, but are now finished (as of this morning):

Bees and Blossoms Socks out of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal 

Rav Link for Bees and Blossoms

These were a great knit, and the pair that opened me up to including pattern and texture in my knitting instead of plain vanilla.  I figure if I could do these at knit night, then I'm sure  I can do other patterns too.  These are a birthday gift for someone who I love dearly, and I know she'll appreciate them!!

On the needles - I'm working on the Temperance socks for my sister for her birthday, which also happens to be at the end of the month.  If I can get them done, I can give them to her in person (she lives in Vancouver but will be home for a few weeks visiting).  I cast these on last night and am really enjoying the knitting!

So...the title says Goals.  I need to make some goals for myself, I've just been sort of floating around out there, getting by because it's been so busy.  Ski season will be coming to a close later this month, which will leave me with Friday nights and Saturdays free!  What on earth will I fill my time with???!!  

Here are my goals for March:

Knitting:

1.  Finish Temperance socks before March 30 (Rav Link for Temperance Socks)

2.  Block the socks shown above

3.  Finish sleeve for Melissa's sweater (Rocky Coast Cardigan), and start second sleeve (Rav Link)

Sewing:

1.  Finish red drapey sweater from Vogue 1124

That's it - one sewing project.  Since I haven't been sewing at all, I think that is a lofty goal!