I'm working on...

I'm currently finishing up projects--a blouse, a dress, and a pair of slacks. The blouse and the dress are already winners but the slacks may not make the cut. One other dress didn't make the cut--Vogue 8805.

Although I wanted to get in on the color block trend, this dress was a miserable fail. Maybe it was my fabric choice but it was most likely that the glorified flour sack just didn't suit me. I didn't even bother to finish it after getting it to the point that I could try it on. It's already been trashed.

Simplicity 2885 - A pattern review

(Sorry for the crappy photo but you get the idea)

Simplicity 2885 is a Project Runway dress with sleeve variations. I picked this pattern up in February 2009 to use with a wool crepe that is in my stash...it's still in my stash. In my quest to be cooler (both look and temperature) while golfing, I thought this would be a quick and comfortable design. I made my usual FBA but because there is already a horizontal bust dart at the side seam, I rotated the FBA to the shoulder. While examining the pattern pieces I realized the the collar and stand are cut as one piece. I loathe one-piece collars. I immediately thought of how much I like the collar and stand from Vogue 8747. Would you believe it was a perfect match? I did absolutely no adjustments to get it to fit. I omitted the armhole facings. I too was surprised that the back yoke is a single layer. I've never experienced that before. From start to finish it took me only about three hours!

The fabric is the nylon Dazzle from Fabric Mart. It's the same fabric that most men's/boy's athletic shorts and jerseys are made of. At $1.99 a yard it cost under $4 to make. The Dazzle is easy to sew and my only complaint is that it wrinkles easily and gets "butt spring" when you sit in it. I bought it in five colors! The white fabric is from my stash. My new favorite sewing "gadgets" are my double needles. I'm using them on all my golf wear this season. Of course I added golf embroidery. You can also see the shoulder dart and the double needle stitching at the armhole in this photo.

The ladies in my golf league don't like this dress as much as the one I made with McCalls 6395. They say it doesn't show my shape! Excuse me, it's a woman's golf league and why in the heck are they looking at my shape anyway? Whatever. It's cool, it's quick and it's a keeper.

Vogue 8747 - My favorite blouse evah

I love a crisp white blouse and have been meaning to make one for quite some time. This pattern has been very popular on Pattern Review and with good reason. It included bust cup sizes but I still made a small FBA. I lowered the bust point and made a wide back adjustment. I made it twice in exactly the same color in exactly the same fabric. To make a long story short...I thought I'd prewashed my fabric. Got a small stain on it while sewing. After completation I washed and dried it...them made a quick trip back to the fabric store for more of the fabric and a redo only this time I DID prewash it! The fabric is Oxford shirting. I especially love the stand collar and bust gathers.

Best dressed golfer

I know I've been sorely neglecting this blog and plan to do better. It's not as if I've been sitting around doing nothing. My days are usually filled with making cards to sell and maintaining my other blog. When I'm not doing that I'm either golfing or sewing. Yep, that right. I'm an avid golfer. Because of my knee problem I didn't golf last year but this year I am back full steam. I've lost some of my distance but I am hopeful I'll get it back. My normal driving distance is right around 230-250 yards. Right now I'm only at 190-220 yards. Anyway I may have lost some distance but I haven't lost my golf glamour! I usually wear skirts with matching visor...sewn by me of course. Shorts are not an option because I don't want that much heat around my crotch! I know. TMI. A few months ago I bowled in a tournament and couldn't find my favorite bowling skirt. Instead I opted to wear Simplicity 2684 with my bowling shirt on top. I loved it. It was super comfortable.

I figure why not golf in a dress?  After looking through my stash I decided McCalls 6395 would fit the bill.

And here it is...

You can read the review at Pattern Review by clicking here. I've worn and washed it once and this is how it looked right of the dryer.  If you've been following my blog for a while you know I love shoes...all types including golf shoes. Below is my stash.

Diva that I am, my shoes have to match my outfits! Stay tuned for more golf wear.