A Little Bag For A Very Special Lady - Kwik Sew KS4381

During my lifetime, I have met so many wonderful people. And it has been such a blessing to know them and to hear about their life's journey.  About a decade ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Samantha Helgerson. She was a student at the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education.  At one time in her life, she was able to walk with assistance.  But because of her unique health challenges, she is now unable to walk.  I won't go into further detail on how she got to this point.  What I will talk about is her courage and perseverance.  

Sam is a winner!  She is one of the most positive individuals I've ever met.  When you meet her, she always has a smile on her face and she has nothing but positive things to say.  She doesn't allow anything to get in her way of achieving her goals or having a great time.  She lives on her own with her cat named Maya.  Sure she needs daily assistance, but that is only to help her get from point A to point B.

Sam enjoys all types of music.  She has a catalog of CDs that rivals any DJ's.  One of her favorite artists is Tyrese Gibson.  A few years ago, she went to see him in concert and had the pleasure of meeting him afterwards.

Sam is a college graduate, who is continuing her education online due to the pandemic.  When asked why she continues to further her education, her response is always, "Why not?  I want to complete my dream."

Her glowing personality and attitude makes me smile every time I think of her.  So, when she tells my DD that she would love to have some greens and cornbread, I make it for her.  And when my DD told me that Sam decided to continue her education after recently graduating, I decided to make her a bag to carry her things in.

I used Kwik Sew K4381 to make it.  This pattern was used to help me with the design aspect of the bag.  It was not large enough and the design of the straps were not long enough to go over the handles of her wheel chair.  So I had to make them longer and added adjustable slide buckles so the straps could be adjusted once over the handles of her chair.

In keeping with following some pattern review protocols:

The pattern description.  It was vague. Bag.  I'll add, wheel chair bag with extended flap with velcro closure.  Adjustable straps for chair handles.  Large roomy bag with zipper pocket on the inside.

The size of the bag was too small to carry a notebook and a text book.  I expanded the size: width, depth, and length.  The bag looks like the bag pictured, only much larger.

This was a very simple bag to make.  Nothing in the original instructions was confusing or difficult to follow.  I was able to finish it in a few hours.

I purchased the canvas fabric from JoAnn's Home Dec Department.  Sam's favorite color is light blue.  I used a quilter's cotton for the lining.  I thought it was a fun print.

I liked how the bag turned out.  It was easy to make.  My only dislike is that it's original size was too small.  I searched and searched for a bag pattern that would work without the enlargements that I made and couldn't find anything.

It was a pleasure to make Sam happy.  I don't know if I'd make the bag again.  I guess if Sam asked for another, I would make it with no hesitation.

I do recommend it to others who need a bag of this design.  It could be adapted to fit a standard wheel chair or a motorized one,

Happy Sewing!

C

Parting Shots:  Photo 1 -  Sam at her college graduation.  Photo 2 - Sam meeting Tyrese Gibson at his concert.

This and That

Hi everyone,

It's been awhile.  I hope everyone is well and staying safe.  I only go out to the grocery store and to the park for walks.  This week has been very productive for me.  I've been spending a lot of time in my sewing studio, and I'm loving it!

Several weeks ago, I posted about making masks.  Well I'm still making them.  I've received so many requests for them!  And it's so hard to say no.  So, I worked out a strategy for sewing masks and sewing for myself: make several masks, make two dresses for myself.  Or make several masks, make three shirts for myself.  It's working. :-)

So hopefully, I'll have pictures and reviews to post soon.  Sometimes it takes awhile for me to get the photos needed to complete a post.  In the meantime, I'll continue to enjoy the extra sewing time.

I received the best gift for Mother's Day.  My DD knows that I'm a Prince fan, like forever.  So she created a Prince gift basket for me.  It included Prince's autobiography "Prince, The Beautiful Ones", The "Prince Fashion" book, and "When Doves Cry" body scrub and wash.  Great gift!

Today, I wanted to include some photos of the costumes designed for Prince.  Great eye candy and inspiration for any sewing enthusiast.  The costumes are SPECTACULAR!  Enjoy!

McCall 7480 - Super Easy Coat

Holding it close as the wind was very high.

Happy Monday!

It's a great day to be on this side of God's creation.  I'm happy to be alive with a reasonable portion of my health and strength.  I hope everyone is well.  I'd like to also thank those who continue to stop by my blog and leave a comment.    These days, I'm not the blog stalker I used to be because of time limitations.  I hope to get better soon.

My review today is on a very easy McCall vest/coat.  I bought the pattern in the fall to make for winter, and I'm just now getting around to making a coat.  My original plan was to make something close to view B; but after shopping my stash and the new fabric that I purchased in New York,  I decided on a coat similar to view C.

This was a very easy sewing project.  I cut it out several weeks ago along with several other projects.  On Friday evening, instead of watching TV or the TV watching me, I went to "my sewing studio" and made my coat.


It's described as: Misses' vest and coats - loose fitting, unlined wrap vest and coats have length variations.  A:  Raw edges. B:  Welt pockets. C:  Contrast facing and sleeves.  The available sizes are:  XS to XXL.  I used a large, but I could have gotten away with a Medium as it is very loose fitting.  Anyway, I will certainly be able to wear chunky sweaters underneath  on colder days.

The drawings and the photos are spot on with how it suppose to look.  No belt for me today, it's was about 50 degrees, windy with some rain mist and overcast.

The instructions were typical. No confusing parts.  The coat sewed up with no problems.  As a matter of fact, I really didn't use them past sewing the back to the front.  Afterwards I took a look at the entire guide sheet for the sake of the review.

I used a heavy wool ponte knit that was gifted to me last year and a double clothe from Mood Fabrics.  I wish Mood had the double clothe in more colors.  It's really nice.  I picked it up when I was in New York in January.  At first, I was concerned that the marrying of the two fabrics wouldn't be a good one.  But as it turned out, they do complement each other fairly well.  The entire front of the coat and the collar is double the fabric, which creates a heaviness in the front of the coat.  So I decided to add some thickness to the back and sleeves  to balance it out a bit.  For the lining I used some left over crepe back satin.  The back and sleeve linings were cut using those pattern pieces respectively.  Outside of that I really didn't make any alterations.

This is a nice basic, easy coat pattern.  The pieces were sewn with no problems.  There are no real fit issues for me.  It's very over-sized.  I think I will sew it at least one more time for myself.  I want View D in a beige tone with a round collar.

I recommend this pattern to all level sewists.  It's stylish, easy to sew, and no serious fit issues.

Crocheted Hat, Scarf and Fingerless Gloves - 

I crocheted my matching accessories.  This was the first time I made fingerless gloves.  I really like them.  The band has a ribbed affect created using a double crochet and back post stitch.  The entire project was easy.  Most of it was done while showing my favorite TV shows.

That's all for now.  More to come.  Stay tuned.


Happy Sewing!
C

Vogue 9037 - Double Cloth: Purple and Sage

Finally, I'm posting  my review on Vogue 9037.  I've been stalling because I really didn't like the pictures.  They were taken a few days after Thanksgiving, and it was raining.  So I just decided to take them inside instead.  They aren't as bright.

This is one of the twenty-five patterns that I wanted to make before winter.  Needless to say, my production is very, very low considering I've only made a few of the patterns set aside for the season. So, I'm late with finishing this jacket as it is snowing the third time in the Chicagoland area, and it is much too cold to wear my new jacket.

Warmer days are ahead..,

Anyway, hear is my review of V9037.

Vogue Pattern Description: Loose-fitting, unlined, double-breasted jacket has collar variations, front and back tucks, shaped front hemline and snap closing.  A:  Draped collar and three quarter length sleeves.  B:  Shawl collar B,C:  Long sleeves. C:  Side pockets and wide collar A,C:  Self-belt.  Note:  No provisions provided for above waist adjustment.

I made view C with draped collar of view A.

Pattern Sizing:  6-14; I used size 14 with minor adjustments.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  Yes, a combination of the two views.  The drawing on the website shows the back a little shorter than the front.  But my version appeared to be even shorter.

Were the instructions easy to follow?  The instructions were typical and easy as stated on the envelope.  Nothing confusing or difficult about them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  

Likes:

• I love asymmetrical hemline
• The tucks - they create ample room in the bust area and across the upper part of my back.  So I didn't do a FBA.
• The collar variations.  

Dislikes:

• This isn't really a dislike; just a preference.  I think it would look and feel better across the upper arm if the sleeve was two pieces.  Then it would not be easy, right?

Fabric Used:  I used a double cloth tightly woven fabric.  It looks and feels like gaberdine.  This double-cloth is actually two fabrics fused together.  Using a scrap, I was able to pull it apart.  The substance holding it together was not sticky though.  I'll have to research double'cloth a little more.  What I do know for sure is that it provides an added layer of warmth.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I lengthen the sleeve about an inch and reduced the sleeve cap about a fourth of an inch.  Just above the fullness of the bust at the neckline, I made a small tuck in the pattern to eliminate any gapping.

I also made a few construction/design changes.  Instead of one snap, I sew on three.   Secondly, I Hong Kong finished the seams and added binding to the hem.  And lastly, I added sleeve heads to shape the sleeve cap.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I don't think I will.  I have so many more jackets I want to try.  But who knows, I may change my mind.  And I do recommend it to others.

Conclusion: This is a cute jacket and it is fairly easy to sew.  It a good design for hourglass and inverted-triangle figures.  The tucks give some fullness through the hips area and provides ample room in the bust area.

Unity Conference Dress 2016 - Simplicity 1156

Photo taken day after event, Monday afternoon.

For the past several years, almost every Unity Conference I've made a new cream or white dress.  This year is no different.  But I must say I thought, "By now I should have enough white/cream to wear for this annual event."  I also thought, "I wish the principle color was a color instead of white/cream."   Oh well, it's been this way since I could remember.  So I concluded that next year I will repeat something already in my closet and make myself a vibrant birthday dress instead.

With that being said, here is my review  for my Unity Conference dress 2016.  The fabric used was a gift to me.   I don't know the fabric content, but I suspect it is a polyester/rayon blend.  It washes beautifully and wears well.  It has a wonderful texture.  There are three layers: top, bottom and a very light filler.  It's not quilted, but it is fused somehow to create what look like stitching from a distance.  Very nice.

For this dress I used Simplicity 1156.  It's an "Amazing Fit" pattern.  It includes separate patterns for B, C, D,and DD cups sizes.  The fabrics recommended are woven, but I used a knit.  It's what I had on hand and I thought it would be easy to make given the fabric had quite a bit on stretch in it.

The dress is described as misses' dress with individual pattern pieces for slim, average and curvy fit and B, C, D, and DD cup sizes.  I used size 14 and average, view A.  The category of pattern promises an "Amazing Fit" because of the multiple pattern pieces for the cup sizes.  It also includes inch side seam allowances to help make fitting easier.  Now this does not mean you can bypass an adjustment like the sway back adjustment.

The seaming of the dress allows you some extra points of adjustment that may not be available in dresses with fewer style lines.  For my dress, the knit fabric made it that much easier.  My choice of sizing was pretty good. for the bust area.  But for the other seams I made adjustments.  Some allowances were greater than an inch.  It worked out fine though.  Once I got the fit, I serged the edges.

Accent color fuchsia. Shown with self-made corsage.

When my dress was finished it did look like the photo on the envelope, with the exception of the length.  I added a few inches.

There was nothing difficult or confusing about the instructions.  Typical.

The reason I picked this pattern was because I wanted something very quick and easy.  This fit the bill.  The style lines gave opportunity to fit and I prayed that the cup sizes would work for me.  And it did.

Taken on Sunday, Worn with self-made corsage.

My dislike are related to the drafting of the pattern:  neckline, the shape of the skirt, and facings (neck and armhole).  I prefer a closer fit about the neck and a slightly tapered skirt.  So I made slight adjustments to both areas.   Facings are a pain.  If you stitch them down all the way around, there is a possibility that the stitching will show through to the right side.  I just stitched in the ditch at the side and shoulder seams.  I also had to make a sway back adjustment.


I probably won't sew this pattern again.  But recommend it to other.

This is a very easy dress to make.  The style lines gives more opportunities to make adjustments as you sew.  The angled side seams are pretty nice too. 

Happy Sewing!
C