Fabric panel dress

Initially I didn't know what I would do with this fabric but I just couldn't resist making McCalls 5423 again. This is the fourth time.  After the response to last week's dress I decided to add the same drape detail.

I wish I could have placed the front skirt in such a way that the design would be totally symmetric but the design is uneven and don't lend itself to symmetry unless I put a seam done the front--I'd rather not. 

The back is turning out better than I thought it would although I don't love the design in the center back of the bodice, but I can live with it. I just need to decide if I want a drape on the back neck or not. What do you think? I'm also not sure if that necklace is going to work. I have one that I'd think would be perfect but don't ask me where it is because I don't know!

BTW the fabric came from Walmart and was $2 per panel!

Is that a pastie on my boob?

I wore this dress to work today and can't believe the number of compliments that I got from both men and women. Of course when I looked at myself in the mirror the first thing I noticed is the pastie on my boob! Guess I should have paid more attention to my pattern placement.

 It is amazing what a simple detail like the added drape did for this simple design.

Since I've been dieting and exercising, my weave was a hot mess. My husband went out and bought me this wig and I love it. It's no maintenance. He is such a sweetheart and has excellent taste!

Sympathy Card

I made this card for a friend who lost her sister last week. I hope she likes it

KMQ
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

My Friday Night Sew-In Dress

I participated in the Friday Night Sew-In and used my favorite knit dress pattern of all time, McCalls 5423, to create this dress. It looks much better on but I didn't I'm not in the mood to get all dolled up and strut my stuff--I promise to later this week.

I got the neckline drape idea from this top I made, Butterick 5138, only I shaped the pattern piece differently and it's isn't as deep.

These are the other versions of the same dress, neither of which look like the actual pattern!

Friday Night Sew-In

If you haven't already signed up, don't forget about the Friday Night Sew-In tomorrow. Click on the link for more info. I plan to make a dress out of the fabric I posted earlier in the week. I'm going to Frankenstein some pattern pieces together and hope that it comes out like I envision.

No sewing here!

Although I have this fabric all laid out and planned on whipping up a cute little frock...no such thing happened! My SIL volunteered to come over and help with some much needed yard work and well...I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth! Let me tell you, for about seven hours straight I worked like a government mule!

It was all I could do to limp into the house, shower, and spend a few minutes on the computer! Maybe I can get some sewing done tomorrow. BTW I lost 3.4 lbs this week and am down 15.4 total. That's not bad at all. I've been going to WeightWatchers for 8 weeks and have 12 more to go. And yes, there is the problem of what to sew. Until I get down 25 more lbs. I don't think I'll be making a lot of garments, I'll just take my time making whatever it is I want. I do plan to steer clear of shirts and slacks. I do want to make a coat for the winter so maybe I'll concentrate on that. Who knows. I can change my mind. I'm a woman--I can do that!

Do I need to say more

Once again I'm having computer issues so I be without my computer for a few days. Thank heavens for my Blackberry!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Pajama pants for hubby -- Simplicity 2821

I was supposed to make these for his birthday last month...but what can I say. I don't like sewing for other people. I have to be in the mood to sew for someone else and yesterday was the day.

Pattern Description:
Misses', men's and teens' pajamas
Pattern Sizing:

XS-XL all in same envelope

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

Yes, but I am particularly impressed with how I matched the pattern. (Pictures aren't that great because he was being very uncooperative!)

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes, the instructions are super easy

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

There's nothing to dislike...they're pajamas!
Fabric Used:
$1.50 a yard flannel from Walmart
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

There are only three pieces to this pattern and the pant leg bands could be easily eliminated. These are for my husband and knowing how he is, I decided to add a fly front like on RTW.

I used a small piece of interfacing on the extenstion for the fly. On the right front I folded the fly in half and stitched it down then added one snap. I made the elastic casing 1 1/2" wide and used a non-roll elastic. The elastic doesn't extend all the way to the ends of the waistband casing. It ends at the top stitching for the fly fronts. That allowed me to be able to attach a snap like RTW.

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

He loves them and is already expecting more. It took me longer to locate my Dritz gripper fastener than it did to sew the pants!

Conclusion:

These are super fast and easy and would be a wonderful first project for a beginning sewer.

A quick note

I just posted the full review of my halter dress at PR. You can check it out by clicking here.

I didn't think my week could get any better...

This has been a great week for me. Healthwise I am feeling absolutely FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! I was totally surprised by all the nice comments I go on my halter dress and really appreciate them. Thanks. It makes me feel really good. I lost 3.8 lbs this week for a total of 11.2 lbs and got a blue ribbon at Weight Watchers. I'm not really caught up on the number but what is truly amazing is that I'm losing inches like you wouldn't believe! And finally the IRS saw fit to finally send my federal return...I'm in the money! I just didn't think it could get any better 'til Andrea over at Knit-Knac sent me this...

Sewing bloggers are simply the best. Thanks so much Andrea.

About the halter dress, several people suggested I could wear a convertible bra with it but I can't...I tried. The keyhole opening prevents any kind of bra from being worn. I guess I could sew the keyhole closed but I really like the detail. My husband still insists I can get by without a bra but did mention I'd better not even think of wearing it to church!

Here's a parting shot of my shoulders. Not a good one because I was trying to take the photos myself. On my way back from PA the weather was absolutely gorgeous, so like most bikers, I abandoned my jacket for a sleeveless tank top. MISTAKE! If you look closely you can see the skin peeling from my shoulders. Can you say sunburn?? I've never been sunburned in my life. It doesn't hurt and I didn't even realize it was peeling until I had my purse on my shoulder. Lesson learned. Don't ride a motorcycle in the blazing sun without either sunblock SPF 60 or long sleeves!

Halter dress -- Simplicity 2580

Just showing a few pictures of my 4th of July dress. I've taken the upper back apart more times than I care to share. My husband says it looks fine without a bra. Hmmmm...I'm not really comfortable with that! I'll do a full review in a couple of days.

Check out my booty!

I'm talking about my fabric booty! What did you think I meant? Not my actual booty! LOL. Especially since I had a 2lb weight gain after my motorcycle trip and only lost half a pound this week!

If I hadn't mentioned it before, I've been teaching classes at JoAnn's for about a year and I really enjoy it. The only problem is that I have to go into the store to teach. That means I can't help but notice all the sale fabric. Yesterday the St. Martinique collection was on sale for 70% off. That's right--70%. Fabrics that were normally $17.99 a yard were reduced to $5.39. I couldn't pass it up. All total I bought 26 1/2 yards for $106 with $276 dollars in total savings. I think that's worth bragging about.

All 26 yards!

 White Trellis 100% cotton

  

Stretch Sateen

 Daisy Jacquard

  Polyester Charmuese (sp)

Linen Blend

Varigated Tweed

After 9 holes of golf, I'll be doing some scrapbooking today and working on my halter dress. Have a great day and stop drooling over my deal of  the century! LOL