Still on detour--scrapbooking

I can't believe that I had a marathon scrapbooking session. I was just going to work on an accordion mini album for a couple of hours and it turned into about seven! I've never made one before and was somewhat hesitant. Once I got going, I realized that I was having a ball. This was supposed to be a Father's day gift for my stepson but needless to say...

This is what my dining room looks like and will probably remain this way for a day or two.

For some reason I want a halter dress for the Fourth of July. I spent yesterday altering the pattern and could have easily cut it out and sewn it today had I not gotten distracted again. Oh well, I'll get that jacket done before the summer is over.

  

Took a little detour

I know I'm supposed to be working on McCall's 5859 but I took a little detour and made McCalls 6032 instead.

How do I look? Click here to read the entire review.

Easy pattern sheet holder

I've wanted to share my easy pattern sheet holder for some time now. I came up with it out of desperation and it really works.

I used an extra thread stand that I attached a souvenir clip.

Easy and inexpensive!

I'm back!

Thanks for all your well wishes. I made it to and from Gettysburg safely and had a blast while I was there. Can't you tell?? Over $17,000 was raised for breast cancer research.

I had way too much food and drink while there and I dread the weigh-in at Weight Watchers today! Somehow I shaved 2 hours off of my trip there and back but my butt could not tell the difference.  I did pass a JoAnn's on the rode but decided not to stop because 1) I can shop at JoAnn's locally 2) I didn't have room on my bike to carry anything extra and 3) I don't need more fabric! Before I left I was in JoAnn's and picked this up...

Did I need it?? No! But did you check out the clearance price?? The regular price was $49.99. I can always use more lighting in my sewing space.

Up next in my queue is McCalls 5859. I have a lemon yellow linen blend that I'm dying to cut into. The fabric is pictured in the lamp photo.

Only 2 days left 'til MAWMR

Only two days left before I pack up my stuff and head to MAWMR--Mid-Atlantic Women's Motorcycle Rally. The goal is to raise money for the Susan Komen foundation. I've always gone because both my mom and my aunt are survivors and now I can go for myself too. Of course I didn't make it last year because I was still recovering from my breast cancer surgery. I've made wonderful friends that attend and I can't wait to hook up with them all again.

Here's a picture of my motorcycle as it sits in the garage.

 From the back

And what motorcycle photo would be complete without the helmet with the requisite stickers!

I'm leaving Thursday morning at 5 a.m. and riding for 13 hours straight through to Gettysburg PA. I prefer to ride alone as I've had bad experiences riding with others! I hate to say it but most women that I know can't stay in the "saddle" that long. I'm not in to taking long breaks or eating full course meals on the rode. It tires me out. A 13 hour trip doesn't need to take two days!

I don't know how much sewing I'll get done before I leave but I do have a sock hanging the knitting machine that's calling my name!

This button is the finishing touch--Father's Day card

Butterick 5469 is all finished. I went to the fabric store and the one button that did match perfectly and was the right size, was absolutely boring. I decided to jazz it up by adding a button to it.

I sewed the first button in place--by machine of course!

 

Then I stacked the other button on top and lined up the holes... 

and voila'

Here I am modeling my creation. I've got to find a smaller area to take my photos in so that I get better pictures when using my tripod.

In the meantime, I feel another lined jacket on the horizon.

I'm also in the process of making Father's Day cards. I made this one for my husband last night. I absolutely love it.

Butterick 5469 all done...sort of

Just as I projected, B5469 is all done. Well, not quite. I only need to make the buttonhole and sew on the button. I thought I had a button -- wrong. I don't want to make a trip to the fabric store today since I know I have to go tomorrow to promote some classes I'm teaching. The button and hole will have to wait until tomorrow. In the meantime here's the nearly finished product. Other than the wrinkles that are inherent to linen I absolutely love the jacket and the fit.

This is a view of the dart I added to the lapel. It's just a little below the roll line. It was my first time adding a dart in the lapel and for a first attempt I'm pretty happy with it.

The lining is something I had in my stash. You'll see it again because I have an entire bolt of it. Probably got it off the clearance table at JoAnn's for half off. Now that I've got a roll going I don't know whether I want to make another lined jacket on make another pair of jeans--decisions, decisions.

You might have noticed that my weight-loss tracker is up to 6.2 lbs this week. That's right. I had a 5.2 lb weight loss is week. Yippee! I'm hoping to add at least an additional pound or two to that next week.

 

Butterick 5469 -- Coming along nicely

Right on the heels of one lined jacket is another.

Like the last jacket, this pattern and fabric were purchased last year. I need a jacket to wear with a RTW skirt from 2008. I didn't wear the skirt at all in 2009. In 2008 it was too big but I pinned it at the waist and wore it anyway. Although I haven't tried it on, it should fit fine now without the pin.

I thought the fabric was a linen blend but it has more linen qualities than blend. It wrinkles like mad. Hopefully, once the lining is added it will curtail some of the wrinkles.

As usual I had to make a 1" FBA but for the first time ever, I had to make the alteration on the front piece instead of the side. I used Fit for Real People for reference. I folded out a 1" wedge on the front lapel and rotated to a dart under the lapel to prevent the lapel from gapping.

The only problem I've had was operator error...oops...that's nothing new! Seems I may not have needed my usual wide back adjustment. I've pinned out the excess.

It will be a simple alteration because the lining has not been sewn in. Barring any other faux paus on my side I could possibly be finished with this no later than Thursday.

You know you have too much fabric when...

You know you have too much fabric when...

You're lusting after a piece of fabric but don't buy it because you know you already have too much fabric. Thank goodness you stick to you guns because when you're looking through your fabric closet you "find" the piece that you've been lusting after already in your stash!

So how do you know you have too much fabric in your stash??

McCalls 5815 -- the finale

I finally put the finishing touches on this jacket and if I must say so myself it turned out wonderfully. While I originally thought I would add pleats and buttons to the top of the pockets,  I decided to omit them. To get the pockets to drape like the pattern, I applied steam directly to the pockets while the jacket was hanging on my dressform. I used a unit called the Steam Fast. I'll upload photos of me with the jacket on in the near future. Today was not a hair and makeup day!

Pattern Description:

Missess' lined jacket: semi-fitted below waist have shawl collar variations, princess seams drapey patch pocket and shaped hemline

Pattern Sizing:

4-20 -- I cut a size 16 in the neck shoulder and armhole gradually going out to a 20. I'm glad I made this pattern because no plus-size sewers had sewn it to date.

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

Yes, I think my jacket look exactly like the pattern. Although I initially couldn't get the pockets to drape like the pattern, after using a steamer, I think the pockets are pretty close to what they should be.

Front

Back

  

Pocket close up

Were the instructions easy to follow?

The instructions were easy except took a while for me to be able to wrap my mind around how to make the tuck in the center back neck.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like jackets just below the waist and the princess seams made it easier to adjust for my DD cup size. The lapel detail is what attracted me to the pattern and was not a disappointment.

Lapel close up

Fabric Used:

A linen and polyester blend. Although this fabric raveled like mad it was very easy to work with. I used some satin from my stash for the lining.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

As always I started with a 1" wide back adjustment and followed that with a 1" FBA. I  had to take about 3/4 from the neck opening to prevent the neckline from gapping. I didn't adjust the collar pieces and it didn't present any problems during consruction. I usually add fleece sleeve heads to lined jackets and did the same on this one.

Sleeve heads

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I doubt that I will sew it again but will keep it in my stash just in case. I highly recomment it to others.

Conclusion:

I intended to make this jacket last summer but never got around to it. Better late than never!

Up next is either Simplicity 2703 or Butterick 5469. I'm leaning more towards the Butterick pattern because it's lined and I'm in the mood to make lined garments!

On the weight loss front, I only lost 1lb this week! I stuck to the WeightWatchers program religiously and was somewhat disappoint that I only lost the 1lb--but 1lb is 1lb. I will say that early that day I exercised for about 1 hour and drank nearly a gallon of water! For some reason these days I cannot get enough to drink. I will continue to follow the program because it is very easy to stay on track and I really like it. I am going to focus more on losing inches than on a number on the scale.