Simplicity 2601

Aside from pants sewing, I took a slight respite to make this blouse. I like that it is so feminine. As always I started the pattern alterations with an FBA and a wide back adjustment. The only pattern piece that I didn't alter was the sleeve!

I needed much more width across the bust than the patten company used.

I probably need to do the burn test but I think it's silk. The fabric was only 45" wide and I only had 2 yards. I had to cut the midriff facing pieces out of different fabric. I also had to cut the sleeves on the cross grain. Nearly every inch of my 2 yards of fabric was used.

 

 To easily turn the sleeve ties inside out I used this handy loop turner

In the beginning I sewed a rolled hem with my serger on the collar. Here but I didn't really like how it looked so in the end I rolled the rolled hem under 1/8" and stitched with my regular sewing machine. Instead of sewing a 5/8" hem at the bottom of this blouse I sewed a rolled hem with the rolled hem foot. I won't rule it out sewing this blouse again and would  totally recommend it to others with the reminder that this blouse is labor intense.

Goldilocks Pants Project -- Part IV

Thanks for the comments on my last post. The photos just aren't coming out as great as I would like them to because really, those pants don't look that great on. So you've seen the..."this pair is too big" and the "this pair is too small" and now comes the "this pair is just right (almost)."

And it's not over yet!

Goldilocks Pants Project--Part III

If you haven't figured it out by now, I am not a quitter. Breast cancer didn't stop me and neither will pants fitting. Here's the third pair that are not quite to my liking. I'm getting there, but not there yet. Without question this pair is salvageable.

The welt pocket is perfect as always. For years I never put pockets in slacks because I thought they made me look hippier (?) than I am. The front of my thighs are almost as big as my boobs...okay maybe that's an exaggeration but I didn't want to bring attention to that. I don't know what happened because the front of my thighs haven't gotten any smaller but I just love pockets right now. I must be going through a phase or something. I like to think of it as channeling my inner Barbara Stanwyck!

Goldilocks Pants Project--Part II

No matter how hard I tried I couldn't salvage this pair either. Once again the pictures don't show just how terrible they really are. I will admit that the front isn't too bad.

Because I really loved the color of this fabric, I really tried to save them. I took out the darts, changed the shape of the back crotch curve and even added a gusset to the crotch...none of which worked!

The invisible zipper and welt pockets came out perfect...all on a project that is destined to be a wadder!

The light should have come on after seeing the side view of this pair but it didn't!

Goldilocks pants project - Part I

I know Faye has proclaimed November, Month of Tops, but I seem to be stuck on slacks. I misplaced my beloved TNT slacks pattern in moving. I had traced it but something must have gotten lost in translation because the pair I made from the tracing were not to my liking. Partly do to meds and partly due to my eating like a pig, I did manage to pick up a few pounds. Not so many that I should have had to make drastic changes but something isn't right. In the past week and a half I have made four pairs of slacks. Here's the first pair.

With some work, this pair is salvageable. The front crotch is too long, the back crotch is the wrong shape and the waist is about 2" too big and that's with 1" center front seams. The only thing I like about these is the side seam zipper. It's perfect. I had to go back to the drawing board. I did realize that I don't need to add to the crotch points. Those dimples in the front crotch are a result of too much crotch point. The pictures are doing the fit justice. The slacks look much worse in person! I haven't given up. I've just begun to fight!

New Look 6853

I am still moving and managing to sneak in a little sewing everyday. My latest project is New Look 6853. It's the first time I've ever used a NL pattern. The pattern was very easy and had the best instructions for bagging a lining that I have ever seen. The fabric is a rayon polyester blend and was a total PIA to work with. There are strings all over the house.

I added some extra touches like fleece sleeve heads and interfacing and instead of lining to the edge of the front I added a fabric facing because the jacket top wants to flop open and show the wrong side. In all I'm really happy with the jacket. I can envision it with a sheath dress underneath.

I finally took pictures with my latest version of McCall's 5522 and another pair of Painter's Tape Pants. The pants have a side zipper and double welt pockets. Don't you just love a white blouse??