January is well on it's way.

I've managed to get a few things finished already in January.

First is this Coat - Mccalls 5485 view B




The fabric is the brown version of this fabric from FabricMartFabrics.com (http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/Graphite-Sparkly/Matte-Poly-Eyelash-Knit.html)  and I just love it.  It's fuzzy and bouncy and cozy and warm.  I knew I wanted to make something out of it would let me wrap me this fabric around me - full length, and so McCalls 5485 was chosen.  It made up very quickly and easily and would have been even quicker if I hadn't sewn the entire collar together and had to pick it apart.  picking apart this fabric was almost impossible I think it took me over two hours.  Must remember -ALWAYS double check before sewing!

Second was the dress I made myself for my birthday. McCalls 6741 View B




The pattern made up quick enough - I wish I had eliminated the center seam and addressed the front notch differently because with the pattern on this fabric it would have turned out looking better.  Also - I love pockets, but the placement on these are rather strange.  They are in the princess seam line and when I put my hands in the front it totally ruins the lines.  I feel like a kangaroo.  What's funny is they don't seem so 'in front'

which leads me to believe this dress wasn't graded well.  although the dress is cute and it makes me happy to wear it, I doubt I would make it again - I'm just not happy with the front pockets or the neckline.  

I've also started making my first ever suit jacket --- for my husband.  He's picky picky picky - and it's a Burda pattern -- minimal instructions.  What was I thinking!?

I spent ages and ages thread tracing

It was going ok until I hit the dreaded collar - three times I attached it thinking I had gotten it right - and it's still wrong!




Ah well, I'll keep taking it off until I get it right.

Also on my table - I'm doing the Marfy Sew-a-long and I'm working on the blouse (notes on my muslin soon)

AND I'm working on a coat for Jungle January.





And I want to make a bag with the Big-City-Bag Sew-a-Log with the scraps from my birthday dress - yeah I have a lot in the queue.

McCalls 6842

Making this for myself for my birthday. I needed something fun as a pick me up after the holidays.  Using view B because I don't like my necklines too high.  It's labeled easy and I hope it is because I want to wear it out tonight!

It's happened again

I kept seeing this fabric online and kept putting it in my cart, then taking it out because the price was higher then I normally allow myself to buy sight unseen. Then, it went on sale AND I had a coupon so I hopped on and scooped it all up. 

After longing for this fabric for literally months I finally get it home and see...

Gag!! Not only is it not the deep purple I was expecting, but it's also this weird metallic weave stuff that I would never ever wear.

I have no idea what to do with this, it's not even suitable for the costumes I usually make. 

Maybe it'll be a muslin?

Planning for 2014

I'm actually quite thrilled with how my sewing has progressed this past year.  I've learned a lot, I've created a lot and I can't wait to 'do it again' next year.

There's a few things I want to focus on...

1)  Bust my Stash

Seriously people, I've only been 'seriously' sewing since February of last year.  But I have probably over 700 yards of fabric.  No, that is not a typo... 700.  Oh, and I also own (between 'standard' patterns and my Burda subscription) about 1000 patterns.  I... have...a...problem.

So, my goal for next year is to blow through this stash.  No new fabric, unless it's for a special project - like a Christmas dress, or I need a scrap of this or that to finish an existing project.

2) Finish my UFO's

I have a LOT of these too.  Some just need something simple like the buttons sewn on.  Really, that's all.  My goal for the next few months is to finish one UFO for each 'full' project I do, until the UFO's are gone.

3) Don't buy RTW

I know right, why would anyone who has 700 yards of fabric buy something off the rack.  Well... heh, I've done it.  So, this year I've joined goodbyevalentino in her Ready-to-Wear Fast.  I'll not be buying any Ready-to Wear clothes for the entire year - 2014!  Now there's a few things I need to learn to make this a reality, first and foremost, now to sew pants.  I think that'll probably be my January project.

I'm also going to have to learn to alter as I have plans to make some changes in my body shape over the next year.  Radical weight loss is on the agenda (in a safe and sane way) and I want to make sure I'll still be able to wear some of my favorite clothes when I come out the other side.

I'm also toying with the SewWithAPupurpose 2014 challenge at  artisansquare this could be very important if I want to stay away from RTW items.  I need to sew things that can go together!

Some other things I want to tackle this year:

a fitted jacket
a 'real' corset
panties
a swimsuit

Let the games begin!!

My Christmas dress

I decided in the middle of the day that I wanted to make a dress to wear to the Brian Setzer concert that I was going to that night. So, I went to the fabric store, picked up some fun Christmas fabric and went for it. Luckily I had a tried and true pattern already (vogue 8797) that I knew would go together quickly and I had already altered to fit. I changed the neckline on this version by just free handing tracing/cutting right on the fabric and adjusting as I sewed and did final fitting. 

There are a few 'issues' with it. Some places where I would have ripped and resewn had I had more time but overall I was thrilled with it. And the dress got the reaction I had hoped for at the concert (and walking down the street). One friend said I looked like a present which is exactly what I had been going for. 

Let's see if I can follow-through this time!

McCall's 5974

  I found this crazy print lycra and knew I wanted to make a dress out of it.  McCall's 5974 seemed perfect.

All in all I would have to say I'm super happy with the dress.  Yes, the pattern and colors are pretty wild, but it was super easy to put together and I think looks pretty good - especially when paired with a simple solid colored sweater.  I had kind of planned on it only being a muslin, but it turned out so wearable that I'm getting a great deal of use out of it.

The only adjustments I made to the pattern are minor.  I left off the ties at the waist - only because I didn't have enough fabric for them (this thing takes a LOT of yardage).  I also added length in the front of the bodice otherwise the waistband would have hit me mid boob - but that's simply due to my body shape - not the pattern itself.  I also didn't put a zipper in it because I had PLENTY of stretch with the fabric I used. 

As with all Palmer/Pletsch patterns this one had great instructions and a lot of really good fitting techniques.  I really like how flattering the pleating is in this dress and it's on my list to make again.