Procrastinator that I am...

I finally started on a jacket for the "One Jacket a Month" challenge. Since I'm going to be really pressed for time, I chose a pattern that I've already used--Simplicity 4273. I like jackets that I can wear without a blouse underneath and I can see myself making this one a few more times.  Because I'm pressed for time, I probably won't be lining it. I know, I know. I said I'd draft a lining for it if I made it again. I lied! I will be making this again and yes, I will draft a lining for it the next time. I had enough fabric that I also cut out my favorite Painter's Tape Pants. I abolutely wearing suits. They're a no-brainer. Grab a suit, throw on some shoes and accesories and I'm ready to go. If I'm going to be finished with the jacket this month, I have to get off of here and start sewing!

Choir Robe

I finally hemmed Butterick 5522. Prior to hemming it, I didn't particularly like it. My husband even commented that it looked like a choir robe! Not quite the look I was going for but I think he was right. With styling of jewelry, makeup, shoes and hair I like it a lot better.

I'm still in search of a good place to take photos since the weather has turned cold. I can't seem to get good photos inside and I don't like the look of fooling around with the exposure with photo editing software. The garage, with the door open, seems to be the best. Might need to rearrange a few things but I think it'll work.

Now that this dress is fiinished I can work on the pants refashion. My crafting is all over the place right now. I've been working on cards, I machine knit a blanket (which I forgot to phototgraph) finished up the dress and have a class to teach tonight at Joann's. There are not enough hours in a day!

Pants Refashion

Right before I began my quest to lose some weight I made what I thought was a fantastic pair of slacks. I never could get the back crotch fitted so I never wore them. Fast forward six months and 20+ lbs lost and the back crotch did even almost fit. The fabric is a tropical weight menswear fabric that I just can't give up on. Today I decided to use my TNT Painter's Tape Pattern to refashion. I took all the seams apart and the front crotch curve. I also took the waist band off but left the fly front zipper intact. I even too the darts out.

After I pressed all the seams open, I laid my pattern on top of the pieces and recut them.

I probably won't reuse the waistband because I have several yards of the fabric left and will just cut new pieces. I sure hope this works! Wish me luck. I'll leave you all a picture of my mother who turned 77 last week. She still looks fantastic. Hope I will when I'm her age.

I'm on the mend

I'm finally on the mend but it seems these days I spend more time in doctors office's than I do at home! Tuesday they tried to drain my knee but for some reason nothing would come out. They finally decided to administer Cortisone and I was prescribed a knee brace as well as an anti-innflammatory. Something must be working because I'm no longer on crutches. Yippeee!

I was finally able to get my breast drained and what a relief that has been. On the downside, once again it appeared to be filled with bloody fluid. When the doctor asked, "have you been doing heavy lifting" I didn't bother to reveal that I bowl three times a week with a 15lb. bowling ball or that I do strength training with weights. I don't consider either "heavy lifting" but I think he'd see it differently. Although I hadn't bowled in about three weeks I did on Wednesday and yes, I did have some mild discomfort. I bowled games of 220, 210 and 209 for 639 so the knee doesn't seem to adversely affect my scoring. Now I seem to be coming down with a cold or the flu so I've been trying to get lots of rests and unfortunately haven't done any sewing. Yesterday I did start to take apart a pair of slacks to try and recut them with a smaller pattern. We'll see how that goes.

I'm still on the cardmaking kick. Here's one of my latest.

Sound off Saturday

Yesterday was my mom's 77th birthday. She is spending the weekend with me and I've planned a surprise family dinner at a Japanese bistro for later. This is the card I made for her and she absolutely loved it. That being said, I probably won't get any sewing done.

I did manage to almost finish Butterick 5522.

I still need to hem it and fine-tune the fit. I was rather shocked when dh saw it laying on my cutting table and replied, "it looks like a choir robe!" Yikes! Not quite the look I was going for. I will say that I  must find a fabulous piece of chunky jewerly before I can be photographed in it. I am noticing some drag lines near the bust but the dress is fitting me a lot better than my dressform. I can't remember if other reviewers at PR mentioned it but I think the back of this dress is  huge. I'm still scratching my head over the "fitted" description of the pattern. There is nothing "fitted" about it. The sleeves are the real star of the pattern and were surprisingly easy to construct.

I did remove the back zipper and the back is vastly improved now.

On the health front, although my knee pain has been finally diagnosed as "joint effusion of moderate size" aka "water on the knee" it still hurts like Hell. I can put weight on it now but I live in a quad level house! Yikes! I have an appointment for Monday morning at 9:30 to have it drained. Don't know when I'll be able to get back to exercise and bowling. I've also go an appointment for Monday night at 7 to get the fluid drained off of my breast! Hopefully I'm on the mend.

Thursday Thoughts

Right now I'm working on Butterick 5522.

The adjustments I've made so far are :
Lowered the depth of the front neckline



Added a bust dart ala Nancy Zieman

Removing this hideous zipper

I also added 4" to the length. The fabrics are a brown and cream Ponte de Roma.

On the health front, the MRI of my knee showed "joint effusion of moderate size." Huh? In English it's "water on the knee." What? You mean I'm limping around on crutches for water on the knee? Don't know the results of my breast MRI yet but I need those ASAP. Carrying around a small melon (in addition to the two large ones I already have) is really working my last nerve. That excess fluid is leaking into my arm so now I'm back to wearing the compression sleeve and glove!

Monday Musings

I finally finished the New Look 6407 blouse. I don't have a clue why it took me more than three weeks to finish. On the other hand I do. First I barely had enough fabric. Second the fabric was a total pain. It raveled like crazy.

The pattern ran extremely small. I cut out a size 22 and thought I would have to take huge side seams...Nope. As a matter of fact it was tighter than I wanted and I wound up removing the back darts. The sleeves are too tight especially in the forearm.

But I absolutely love the fabric print. I'll use this pattern again but believe me I will make some adjustments.

You can read my full review at Pattern Review

Another reason it took me so long is I'm on crutches! Too much step aerobics and bowling and my left knee just couldn't take it anymore. I can't put any weight on my left leg. I had an MRI last week but don't have the results yet. I'm hoping for the best. The final reason it took me so long to finish is that I've absolutely fallen in love with cardmaking. Here's a couple of the cards I've made.