Vacation and Sewing

It feels like it's been ages since I last blogged. Just before vacation time I couldn't seem to find time to blog post or read. Well I must say after being away, it's even harder getting back into it.

Last month's I vacationed (cruised) to the Bahamas. It was excellent! Four days and four nights is a good first cruise. This time in the Bahamas not much time on the beach, but plenty of time about Freeport and Nassau. Katrina (cousin) and I did a few tours during the days at port, and spent the evenings with the rest of the group. Loads of fun. Here are a some of the photos:


Me on the Queen's Stairs - Nassau

Tree Growing out of rock - Nassau



Tricey - Cruise Planner

The Ladies at airport in Florida

Marilyn - Tour Guide at the Groves - Freeport

Me at the Tree of Life - Freeport

Spider Plant in Gloom at the Groves - Freeport

Tilapia - Freeport

Katrina - Captain's Ball

Me and a few of the ladies - Captain's Ball

Trina - Miniature Golf - Hole in one

Me and Trina - Bottom of the Queen's Stairs - Nassau

Friends we meet on the tour - Nassau -Oops don't remember their names

Waterfall - Freeport
Beautiful sunset - Leaving Nassau


Resident - at the Grove Garden - Freeport


More picture on Flickr.

Sewing.., Of course..., It's mostly about the sewing. I've made two dresses, two pairs of pants and two skirts. Currently working on jackets for DD and coat for me. Will post my reviews and pictures soon. Finally, Minister Ross's husband sent me pictures of all of the robes that I've made for her. The first one (white and gold) made..., I'm thinking about twelve years ago. Not sure. Then I wasn't to keen on taking photos of completed projects.









This week off to the Abbey for some relaxing spa treatments. That's all for now.
C

Fall Projects Are Looming

First I would like to thank everyone for continuing to visit my blog. Lately I've been a little slow with posting and reading blogs. But will be making my rounds to the blogs of my favorite designers/sewists soon. Last night I finished the second (fifth) robe for Min. Ross. This will probably be the last commission of the year as I plan to make most of my Christmas gifts. I also want some time to sew for myself and DD.

On the table are two mini wardrobe garments both need to be hemmed and pressed. I'm hoping to finish at least one wardrobe before Thanksgiving and maybe two dresses for myself.

More on my pending projects later.

Happy Sewing!
C

Costume Pattern Transformed Into Clergy Robe S5386

Over the past several years, I have made several garments for Minister Ross. The commissions range from formal wear to clergy robes. In August her husband asked me to make two robes for her: one using the standard pattern Butterick 6844. He allowed me to express my creativity for the second one. ;-) For it I went on a hunt to find something a little different. As I searched the pattern books at JoAnn, I stumbled upon this costume pattern S5386.

Pattern Description: Men's and Teens' Duster. I transformed this pattern into a clergy robe.

Pattern Sizing: Sizes from XS to XL

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes and No. The style lines of the duster are the same. I did make some changes using contrasting fabric and some in the construction of the garment.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes. But again I didn't follow them exactly. All changes construction and design are below.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Everything. It was perfect for the project. The design resembled a basic priest robe.

Fabric Used: polyester crepe and jacquard royal blue on royal blued with cross motif.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
- Underlined from the neckline to the waist.
- Used contrasting fabric for the sleeves, outer collar, gun flaps, back yoke, front and back facings.



- Sew on snaps instead of Velcro for front closure.
- Reverse the closure (right front side over the left front).
- lined the gun flaps instead of forming a narrow hem around the outer edges.




- Under stitched the upper edge of the collar and front facing instead of top stitching them.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes. Minister Ross would like another robe made from the pattern.

Conclusion: This costume pattern was easy to sew even with the many changes made to transform it into a clergy robe. This is a very well drafted pattern. The pieces went together easily. An advanced beginner should be able to sew it without any problems.


My Flickr set on this project.

Kreativ Blogger Award 2009

Thanks to three lovely ladies, I have been nominated three times for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Josie, Trudy, and Ivalyn all thought me worthy. Of course, I need to tell seven things about myself. Hmmm.., I think I've shared quite a bit already. Maybe some of the new bloggers will say, "Oh I didn't know that." lol Also, I have to nominate seven other bloggers. Now that will be hard. Most of the crafty ladies have already been nominated. So hear goes:


Spottedroo
Stitch and Snitch
JTS Closet
Allisonc C Sewing Gallery
Faye's Sewing Adventure
Krustallos
Kbenco


These are just a few of the creative blogs that I follow. There are so many, many that have been nominated already. So consider this my short list.

Seven things about me..., What can I say that I haven't say before; I guess I could talk about current things:

-Going on a cruise pretty soon. Didn't make anything new to take with. Decided to finish client projects to free up my time and make a little cash. I've travelled a bit, but this is my first cruise and I'm so excited.

-Started sewing DD's wardrobe.

-Making three coats for me this fall/winter.

-Seriously thinking about going back to school. Also want to take a course or two at the neighborhood tailoring school. Can't until next year. I enjoy structured learning.

-Planning to create a line of accessories to sell.

-Planning to make most of my Christmas gift this year.

-This week I will complete my certification for non-linearing editing (CanTV). I'm one of the co-producer for the media services auxiliary at my church.

That's it for now. Happy sewing!
C

Update! It's Been A While

It's been a while since I've blogged. I'm not short on material, just short of time. Lots of things happening: church, work, and sewing(life in general). Last week was our Annual Men and Women's Unity Conference. And to sum it all up in one word: "Excellent". So I took a few days off. The media crew was expected to be at church for the duration. To top that I'm taking a non-linear editing course at CAN TV every Monday from 5:35 to 9:30 pm. It's fun, but exhausting. Work: playing catch up and major testing of two new upgrades to one of our servers. Argh!! Now the good stuff: sewing..., lots of projects under way (DD and me). But I'm currently working on two clergy robes for a regular client. This will be the forth and fifth robe that I have made for her. Here are a few shots of one of them.

Inside front. I used the "cross" fabric for the front facing. It's underlined to the waistline.

Back view. I like the look of the print from the collar to the yoke.

Back Vent. I only have the set the shoulder pads, sew on the snaps, hem and press. Then finish the second robe.


Also, sharing and teaching the gift of sewing with my DD and niece. Saturday before last we had a four hours sewing lesson. The young ladies were thrilled and did learn how to sew thread the sewing machine, sew a straight stitch, sew the zig zag stitch, and make button holes. At the end of the session, each had made traveler shoe bags.






Last week Trudy Callan and Ivalyn Actie nominated me for the Kreativ blogger award. Thanks ladies. I'll post my nominees soon. I'm playing catch up with blog reading and posting.

Happy Sewing!
Cennetta

Fitting V8555 and V8594

Not much sewing going on this week. We are in the middle of our Unity Conference at church. So at most, I thinking about the fall wardrobe for myself and DD.

Last week, I was able to fit the bodice of two dresses for myself. One was supoosed to be my birthday dress (to wear Sunday). I don't think it's going to happen. But at least I was able to got most of the fitting done. Both are sheaths. A sheath that is very appealing to me and seems to be a good match for my body type.

Here are both back views of the muslin for both dresses. I cut V8555 at size 14 with a small adjust to the front bodice hoping to compensate for the bust area. It's still a little snug. There is a slight gap about three inches from the center back of the neckline. So further adjustment is needed. V8594 was cut at size 16 with no changes. As you can see there is a lot of move across the back. At the neckline I could increase the seam allowance for a better fit. Across the lower back I need a sway back adjustment. May be increase the side seam allowance a little bit.


































Now for the front. V8555 (too much information) omitted. But I can say it's a little too snug. (lol). V8594 gaps at the neckline and is too large through the bodice. However, the upper bodice need to be length to make the horizontal seam hit in the right place where the lower front bodice in joined.

Here are the adjustment made so far.

V8555 - Removed the gap by folding out the excess and rotating the difference to the dart. Increasing the shoulder, armhole and side.

V8555- Increasing the shoulder, armhole, and side. Previously cut to include a FBA. Will also add about 5/8" to the neckline for modesty.
V8555 - Increase width of the midriff.

V8594 - Here I added the length needed to the upper bodice. I didn't address the slight gap in the neckline. I think if I reduce the shoulder seam to a size 14 that will solve that problem. Also there needed to be a slight reduction along the armhole and side.
V8594 - Sway back adjustment. The neckline through the shoulder blade area needs to be adjustment as well.
There is still a little work needed on fitting the muslin. May be this weekend I'll have time to work on it. We will see.

Happy Sewing!
C

DD's Career Wardrobe - Fall 2009

I'm almost finished cutting all of the pieces for the planned wardrobes for DD. The goal is to sew pieces of the wardrobe between the client projects currently underway. DD is pleased with the plan. Here they are.



This is the first of two Career Wardrobe. All items were cut out Monday, September 7, 2009. For the dress, I purchased a really nice cranberry wool suiting at Hancock's for $12.95 per yard. Brown/Beige Hounds Tooth purchased at Vogue Fabric's Remnant room (two pieces at $6.95 and $4.95) for the jacket and pants. And the Dark Brown Corduroy (skirt) also purchased at Vogue (stash).




Second Career Wardrobe for DD. The Violet Silk Cotton Blend is from Vogue Fabric which will be used for the dress. I think I'm going to underline it to give the dress a little more body. The jacket will be made from a wool blend that I purchased at the Textile Discount Warehouse (stash). I'm using a purple suiting (polyester) purchased at Hancock's on Labor day. Finally, the skirt will be made from a nice grey suiting gifted to me (Pauline).

I think this is a suitable wardrobe plan for a young college graduate to have. The jacket (second wardrobe) is a little trendy, but I think it will definitely work for the office. This is something that I want to do for my DD. She a good girl (lady). ;-)

So there you have it; two wardrobes planned for her among other things that I dare not talk about now.

Fall is here!!!

Happy Sewing!
C