Thanks, Pamela! - Fashion Sewing Supply

A few days before Thanksgiving I received a cute little package that contained several generous interfacing swatches. This was my prize from a drawing held by Pamela Erny, Fashion Sewing Supply. This was the perfect little prize. Last week I used the kit as part of a sewing lesson. The swatches were the perfect size to pass around the table. It gave my students an opportunity to examine the various types of interfacing. Each swatch has a post it affixed describing the type, use and care. This is a neat way to teach students about interfacing and a great way to sample the various interfacings available at FSS. Thanks again, Pamela!

Much appreciated.
C

Starting with the Pencil Skirt of S2452 - The Wardrobe Builder

Grey Skirt with Teal Blouse (JC Penny's)




Grey Skirt with Navy jacket and Stretch Velvet Top (Both RTW)


This is another installment of my Fall 2010 wardrobe builders. Simplicity 2452 is a nice pattern to create a custom wardrobe. The only thing missing is a top/dress to complete the ensemble. The sweet thing about this pattern is it has two jacket styles, view B being the cutest in my opinion. The skirt is typical and can be found in many wardrobe patterns. This version does not have a facing or waistband. Instead the sewist can add twill tape to finish the waist.



Sage Skirt with Faux Snake Skin Jacket (McCall's) and Brown Knit Top (Kohl's)


Well I think I've given you a idea about the description of the pattern. My first review is the skirt. I used it to make three skirts to add to my work wardrobe. It's too simple. Two pieces, front and back with a zipper and vent. The "simplicity" of this skirt gives the sewists many options to add trim to add some interesting details. This round I only added a lining.



Maroon Skirt with Ruffled Knit Top (Walmart)


Part of this review is to show how the skirt can be incorporated into my ever "growing" wardrobe. Styling options included. Review follows:

Pattern Description: Misses' jacket with front variations and skirt. Simplicity sometimes gives vague descriptions of the style of the garment.

Pattern Sizing: 6 - 22.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, But I made a few changes to suit my taste.

Were the instructions easy to follow? For the skirt, I skimmed them. They look pretty standard for this style of skirt.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? As I stated in the introduction, the jacket, view B. My least favorite waist finishing is to add twill tape.

Fabric Used: Two of the fabrics used were wool remnants from Vogue. Each at about $10.00. And the third is a left over piece (wool also) from a dress I made a few years ago. It was purchased at JoAnn's. Here is a close look at the texture of the fabrics used. Here are a few of the many Vogue fabric tags.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Instead of inserting a side zipper and place it center back: two invisibles and one lapped. The waist was finish by adding 1/4" twill tape to stay the waist. Then I attached the lining, pressed the allowance towards the lining, understitched and finally topstitched the skirt to the lining to finish the waist. Here is a close up of the finished waist. And here is the finished waist and zipper.


Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably won't sew it again. I have many more skirts styles I would like to sew. And yes, I recommend this pattern to others. I already have a jacket cut and ready to sew. But I won't start on it until after completing my holiday gift sewing. But it will be done before the new year.


Conclusion: This is a pretty nice wardrobe pattern. And the skirt is simply enough for a beginner to sew with no problems. I do recommend trying it.

More Wardrobe Builders with M5818

I knew it wouldn't be long before the cold wintery weather claimed the Chicagoland area. Yes, winter is here to stay. Sadly, I don't think we will have any more 50, 60 degree days until next spring. So in preparation for the bone chilling temperatures, I'm sewing wool pants and skirts to help fight back the cold winds. These are my number staple bottoms for work. Last week, I finished two pairs of pants using ole faithful M5818.

The fabric is a wool blend suiting from JoAnn's. It really nice and easy to sew. Here I've paired the pants with a fuchsia turtleneck (RTW) and with a Simplicity t-shirt and jacket. Pati Palmer's pattern includes a one inch seam allowance. For the top of the waistband I only sew 1/2 inch allowance resulting in a wider waistband which I like a lot. Also I modified the end of the waistband for a slightly different look.





More views of pants made using this pattern here on Flickr.

More later on wardrobe builders (pencil skirts).

Happy Sewing!
C

Parting Shot - November 28th, My cousin Thomas married his childhood sweetheart Linda Kay.

Abbey Resort - The Repeatable Vacation Spot-Spa

Is there a vacation spot that you love so much you plan to go there every year? Well the Abbey Resort and Avani Spa is that place for me. Every year, I'm excited to go to this little resort in Wisconsin. It's a perfect little get-away that is is reasonably priced. I've blogged about it several times in a past few years. And the joy of my most recent visit is no less appreciated than the first.

This time around, only my sister and I went. We wanted a quiet, relaxing visit. And of course we understand each other. Each taking advantage of all the amenties: massages, scrubs, whirlpool, pool side meals and pool side naps. Joy...,

Each visit I try to take a few shots of the surrounding area to share and catelog. So this time, no shots of fabulous homes, but of the shoreline and a few land marks. On our walk, we noticed several real estate properties for sale from $275,000 and up.

This is a great little mid-western spa. So if you live hearby, check it out.

Gaucho Pants - Butterick 4861

B4861

Pattern Description: MISSES’ PANTS AND GAUCHO PANTS: Straight-legged, below mid-knee pants or wide-legged gaucho, below mid-calf or evening length have waistband and mock fly. A, B: side slits and leg bands with buttons and buttonholes. A: lined patch pockets. E, F: partially stitched pleats.

Pattern Sizing: 6- 20; I made size 14.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes and no. The crotch circumference is a little short. Other than that, yes, the pants look like the drawing.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes. Nothing confusing.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Like: I haven't owned a pair of gaucho pants since my high school days. So I thought this would be a good change for me. Dislike: I don't like the fit. My fault. I should have made a muslin first. And unfortunately, I have another pair already cut. Maybe I can salvage them by reducing the seam allowance in the waist and crotch area. We will see how it goes.

Fabric Used: A polyester stretch woven from JoAnn's. This was not the best choice of fabric. It was a little challenging to sew.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I only added a few inches to the length. I should be made my standard crotch adjustment.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I'm going to sew the second pair cut to see if I can achieve a better fit. Yes, I recommend this pattern to others with modifications. The wide legs give the illusion that these pants a very loose. They are not. To be safe, make a muslin.

Conclusion: This is a fairly deceit pattern. Although I not completely happy with the results, this is a fairly deceit pattern. You need to make a muslin to check the fit. Otherwise, it's easy to sew and no confusing instructions.

Simplicity - Vest The Second Time Around

After cutting my gaucho pants from the spongy polyester woven fabric from JoAnn's, I decided to make a vest from the remnant. Simplicity 2862 fit the bill.

This is the second time around. But this version, I was able to cut a facing as recommended by simplicity. The experience was pretty much the same as before. My dislike was with the choice of fabric, a spongy polyester stretch woven, from JoAnn's. At first sight I thought the color was beautiful and the hand was soft. It sewed like the devil though. lol There was a lot of stretch grain wise. And unlike the 100% wool used last time, I had to carefully sew this polyester because it stretched as I sewed it. I didn't think to use my Singer walking foot until I was nearly done with sewing it. When it came time to press, that was equally challenging. All in all I was able to produce the desired outcome. As before, I recommend this pattern. Next I'll try the View C (hat) and View E (purse).

More later...,
C

S4076 Tried and True

S4076

Countless times I've noted on this blog "this is a favorite pattern" or "Yes, I will make it again." This is one that will never loss favor. It's surely a TNT that I can pull out and have a successful sewing experience. This treasure has been reviewed on PR 184 times. It is noted as a The Best Pattern of 2008 and is inducted in The Hall of Fame 2009. So there is really no need for me to review it again on PR, but I want to show my latest versions of the top and to talk a little about the knit fabrics that I used to make them. To date, I have made six tops: two wrap tops and four of the t-shirt style with sleeve variations.





Early Saturday morning (7:00am) I started to sew three more t-shirts that I cut several weeks ago. These are easy to sew. It took me about three hours to complete all three.

All of the fabrics were found in the Vogue Remnant Room. Each of them had varying amounts of stretch. The brown and white was closest to a stable knit (matte jersey) while the yellow/orange/black had about 45 percent stretch both ways.




More and more I'm paying close attention to the weave of fabrics and their fiber content. Noticing whether it's loosely woven or tightly knit. I'm finding it play a role in how the garment will lay on the body and how much wearing ease it needed for comfort. The last thing any of us wants to do is fight with your clothes.

Fitting garments made of knit fabrics is easier than woven fabrics. For these tops I didn't do a FBA. I cut size 14 for the neckline and size 16 more or less for the rest. The brown and white top fits slightly closer than the other two tops, but all fit. The patterns in the fabric make the bra line invisible and forgives the little bodily imperfections.

So ladies, consider the weave of your fabric as you consider the amount of wearing ease you want to build into your garments.

Happy Sewing!
C