Monday, June 25, 2012

One Last Time...



I said I wasn't going to get on the Maxi train since I wore them the first time back in the 70's...but I decided to go ahead and sew my Maxi Swan Song...or maybe that's sing not sew...whatever...I took the plunge again some 40 years later. 

Anyway, V8808 caught my eye...I liked the cutaway shoulders and standing collar. I had this wild print that needed a home so...back to the 70's it is:



I knew the slim cut of this bodice would require an FBA...



...so I cheated and did an interesting Lazy Girl FBA that I describe in my Pattern Review.

This was a fun project...and easy as pie!

Sorry these pictures are all crooked...I'm not even drinking...dunno.

I think I may be a little old for the trend this time around...maybe back fat is the tipping point...no pun.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Pete and Repeat were in a boat...



Pete fell out and who was left? Repeat.

Burda Style Magazine 05/2012 #105 Tie Front Blouse...Worth repeating:





I love this top! I've had people stop me at the grocery to say how cute it is...and I especially love it made with this adorable marigold print fabric from Roz at Sew Much Fabric...




This is a simple top to make and so much fun to wear...try it!


My complete review can be seen here.

Monday, June 18, 2012

One Pattern, Many Looks



I love this blouse! The pleats at the shoulder and semi-Mandarin collar add interesting detail. I do believe it was a good candidate for the One Pattern, Many Looks contest. I'm not sure which is my favorite, the cream eyelet or the the Asian evening rendition. The green is okay, too...I think I lost my love for it when I spent so much time trying to get the slippery fabric to behave. I made it to go with the M6567 mock-wrap ruffled skirt which I reviewed recently. Here is the blouse:



This cream eyelet I got from Roz at Sew Much Fabric, a fabulous online fabric store right here in my own backyard!




I bought two other beautiful fabrics from her shop, as well, that will NOT stay in my stash long!

Roz was referred to me by Claire, from PR, whom I came to know better when I was a lucky winner of one of her seam allowance curve tools, an ingenious invention for tracing and adding seam allowances all in one step. Thanks, Claire! Two new and super cool sewing colleagues right here in the Lone Star State!

The cotton eyelet from Sew Much Fabric is SO sweet, I had never seen an eyelet design quite like this:




The Asian inspired fabric was very seductive, too!



A blend of polyester and nylon which was a new one for me. Frayed like all get-out so serging all edges was the first rattle out of the box. Since crossing one front across the other produced an angle, I pictured frog closures along there (the front is actually secured with snaps on the inside) and I think it made the top:



As is typical with Burda, the instructions for this blouse provide a few scratch-your-head moments. Check out my tips on PR if you plan to make this cute blouse. I am now on my merry way to something else now but happy to have these 3. And, this cute pattern will  definitely be a TNT summer blouse for moi!

Please let me know which one you like best!!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

I love it but I'm happy it's over!



This is Vogue 1297 and although I love the way it turned out it was a nightmare in the making. My review on PR is thorough so I'm not repeating it here but just wanted to add a few additional comments and pics.

Most of this dress was cut on the cross grain and I chose what I discovered was a totally unsuitable knit because of its tiny rib. In the picture below the green straw is sitting on a seam that took in the hip gusset. All of the fabric to the right of the straw was completely unnecessary:



After that alteration I ended up with a hip that fit:



Lastly, the cross grain on the layer underneath the pocket made it droop out at the hem. I had to take a huge wedge shaped bite out of each side to alleviate this:




I do love the end result, though. And I know I am famous for repeating patterns over and over but I'm parking this one in a handicapped space for the time being!