Finally, the perfect buttonhole

For months I have been in search of a machine that makes buttonholes to my liking. My ULT2001 makes the most disappointing buttonholes as does my backup machine, a Singer 6235. In the last six months I have purchased, begged, and borrowed numerous machines and have even tried a Singer buttonhole attachment only to end up equally dismayed. My latest garment, McCalls' 5471, remained unfinished until this morning because it needed buttonholes.

The ULT is still in the shop and using the 6235 for buttonholes wasn't even an option after horrible practice holes. I decided to play repair person today. The buttonholer on the 6235 seemed to get stuck and the thread would pile up and just create a mess. Enter my trusty screwdriver. I'm no expert but once I removed the machine covering, I could immediately see that the problem could well be gunky oil or something.

My husband wasn't home and I don't have a key to his garage workshop to get in there and sniff out some white grease so I used the next best thing...Vaseline. Using the end of the screwdriver I covered the offending area with the Vaseline and worked the buttonhole lever to and fro. In no time at all it seemed to loosen up. I put the cover back on and replaced the screws. Needless to say, I'm not sorry I did. The buttonholer works wonderfully!

This is absolutely the best fitting blouse pattern ever. It is my TNT pattern. I'm going to experiment with interchanging the sleeve from other patterns. Why try to fix what isn't broken?

It's a miracle!

For the first time ever I was ready for church before my husband! I don't know how that happened but took full advantage of it. I used the time to start my TNT McCall's blouse pattern. I just cut it out last night. This morning I fused the interfacing to the collar and stand and sewed thw front sections together. I hope to work on it some more as soon as I get in from church. We're almost there. Husband is giving me the eye as if I would be dumb enough to text in church!
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Still no jeans

I still haven't started sewing the jeans yet! I did knit the second sock...or should I say I attempted. I read the directins wrong and had to unravel all that I  knit. I'm going to give that a rest for a while. Before I cut the jeans out I cut Butterick 5328. I decided to get it out of the way first.

I'm making it out of a chocolate brown stretch polyester crepe. After reading the reviews on PR I raised the neckline some. I also lengthed it 1 1/2". I made a 5/8" but not sure I needed to now that I got it sewn together. We'll see. I changed the sleeve a little. Although I haven't sewn them in yet they will be long but with a gathered sleeve cap.

I can tell that I'm finally getting back to normal after the cancer and treatment because I started back working out about a week ago.  My joints aren't aching like they were when I tried about 6 months ago and I'm looking forward to my workouts. Yippeee! I'm taking it easy but am feeling better after so many months without exercise. Right now I'm just doing aerobics but am going to start weight training the first of February. My husband and I are going to start training for a 10 mile race that is an annual event here. I've participated before and did it in 2 hours. Since we're going to walk it this time I think I'll try for 2 1/2 hours. I don't want to kill myself. Hey I gotta get off of here. It's auction day and I can't be late

Slight detour

I know I'm supposed to be working on my jeans but I took a slight detour today. I haven't knit on any of my machines for nearly a year. I dug up some Lion Brand Magic Stripes yarn. By machine it only takes about 40 minutes per sock. I wrote the pattern a few years ago and knit it on the Passap E6000. I did cut the denim today and hope to start sewing tomorrow after I finish the second sock!
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Journey into Jeans -- Part I

It was bound to happen. I've got to try my hand at making jeans. I stopped over at Patternreview.com and it seems that everyone is head-over-heels for Jalie 2908. After reading the reviews I just didn't think that it would be the best jeans pattern for my figure. The Jalie jeans are cut slim through the hips and thighs and that doesn't even come close to how I would describe myself. I decided to go with the above pattern because the description says they are below the waist without being low-rise and look as if they may be cut fuller through the hips and thigh and as with most PP patterns the instructions offer fitting tips. I also liked that the models  didn't look stick thin! I've already prewashed my fabric and lining and assembled my threads. I also pinned the pattern to the fabric. The only alterations I've made was to add 2 1/2" to the length and add 3/4" to the back crotch point. Although my measurements put me in a 20W, I'm going to cut the 24W. I can always pin-fit the excess out. I'm going to use two sewing machines besides my serger. I'll use one machine for assembling and the other for topstitching. Wish me luck.

Lucky me

I know this isn't the best picture in the world but I am one lucky sewer. An area JoAnns is going out of business and they are selling everything. The fabric wasn't really reduced but I got this pattern cabinet for $50. It's going to have to stay in the garage until we get some things rearranged but I am in heaven. Of course the best husband in the world didn't complain about having to go and pick it up.
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Do you have a backup machine?

Yesterday I had to take my sewing machine in for service. I've noticed that my presser foot lever has a mind of it's on and will release at will. Before anything went major wrong I decided to take it in. They say the presser foot lever spring is sprung and it may take up to two weeks if they have to order the part. While I hate being without my main machine I do have a backup.

It doesn't have all the bells and whistles but it's dependable. Do you have a backup machine?

Simplicity 2560

Pattern Description:
Misses Knit Cardigans
Pattern Sizing:
8-24
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Exactly
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Super
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love all things ruffled
Fabric Used:
Slinky from Denver Fabrics
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I cut a 16 through the neck and armhole and 24 from the waist down. Luckily I did my usual wide back adjustment, if not, even with the stretchiness of Slinky I think it would have not created the silhouette I wanted. I did a cheater FBA by just adding 1" to the CF length of the bodice, gradually decreasing to the original cutting line at the side seam. Also added 2" below the waist on the front and back lower sections.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I made version C but think I would like to try version E at a later date.
Conclusion:
I've wanted a red cardigan forever and now I finally have one. I think I'll be able to get a lot of wear out of it by pairing it with skirts, jeans and even dresses.

I also finally made myself a black pencil skirt.using McCalls pattern 5590. It's supposed to be a high waist but I folded the pattern back and cut the waist at the normal height. I got up extra early this morning before church to finish it. The pattern is supper easy and will be my TNT pencial skirt pattern now. This is how I wore my cardigan and skirt today.

Disclaimer: my husband is not a photographer...and it shows!

First post of the year!

I can't believe this is my first post of new year. I have done much sewing. We had two parties over the holiday and the cleanup was a major project. The real reason might be my husband and I bought a Wii for Christmas and he is absolutely hooked. He always claimed that he hated video games but says that Wii is different. He wants to play every night and expects me to play with him. I'm humoring him right now but I know I'm going to have to tell him he's cutting into my craft time! I did manage to tweak the fit my $1 black dress and I absolutely love it. I know that I'll get a lot of wear out of it.

Next on the sewing machine is S2560 and S2512.