Casual Jacket

My latest project was simplicity 2662.
This is a project runway pattern and i was plesantly surprised to find how easy it was. The instructions were very easy to read and this project came together very quickly. Inside you will find 1 jacket, pants, tunic and dress.
Now on to the review

Pattern: Simplicity 2662
Fabric Used: Wool Boluce from Joann Fabrics Rivera spring collection
Interfacing used: Tricot Fusible from Pellon at Joanns
Machine Used: Serger and Standard
Size: 26W - 32W
Alterations: I stitched the 26W and took it in on the side seams about 2 inches. I should of sewn the 24W instead of the 26W. Next time i will interface where the pleats are to provide some support.

Instructions: Very Easy!!! There weren't any crazy twists and turns. i have had bad project runway instructions and i was very happy to see that these were easy to understand.

Fit: The jacked is a relaxed fit. The jacket fits a little on the large size and i do belive that for large bust women this may not be a great jacket closed. Open i think it will be great with jeans and turtleneck, or a skirt and turtleneck.

Will i make it again? Yes but i may line the jacket, even though the instrcutions do not call for it. and may interface the boluce to add some stiffness.

Summary: This is a great jacket. For sure this will be a TNT that i will use when my mojo is on the low. and i will sew it again , i can see this jacket in lambskin leather...yummy! off to Banachs for some leather!

Hot Patterns Weekender Sunshine Top

Finally the Hot Patterns Weekeder Sunshine top. First let me tell you, this photo is horrible and i will try to get a better one soon. This is my third try at this top. The first top was a muslin out of some Spandex silky print from Joann Fabrics. It was a disaster,mainly becuase it was a spandex and not a knit. The second try was with some Knit fabric i picked up at Joann Fabrics Red Tag Table. When i made up the top it was too small, and i would say it was becuase the knit did not have enough stretch. So the third try was with Joann Fabrics Matte Jersey Knit from the Wild Intiutions line. This fabric has a 4 way stretch and so it was great for this pattern. This is a superb TNT. This great piece whips up in about 3 hours and is a great weekend project.

Vogue 8615

Vintage...i love vintage dresses.  I am especially fond of dresses from the hollywood movies in the 40's and 50's.  My most favorite dress is Audrey Hepburns dress in Sabrina.  If you recall Sabrina wore a circle skirt dress while sitting in the Tree watching David be the typical playboy.  Well Vogue 8615 reminds me of that dress.  I made the dress out Bridal Silk picked up from the Joann Fabrics Red Tag table last winter.  The $20.00per yard silk was only $1.50 Per Yard after a coupon so i grabbed about 7 yards.  I lined the dress with ambience lining in gold.  The color is not pink but more of a blush and in the store it looked nude.  I recived many compliments on this dress.  The pattern goes to size 24 has custom fitting for up to a D cup.  I still had to do a 2 " FBA and expand the waist by 2".  I eliminated the zipper because i ran out of time to finish the dress for my special event this saturday.  I wore the dress with a white cashmere sweater and a crystal pin.  Oh so vintage.  Excuse the wrinkles.  I wore the dress for about 12 hours on Saturday.

Butterick 5001

I have found my new favorite pattern.  Butterick 5001.  This is the most comfortable dress i own.  I made this version first....

Out of fabric i picked up  from joanns.  It's a rayon/Spandex knit that i purchased on the red tag table in the spring.  I had just enough to make this dress. No modifications were made although, i could have cut the top smaller.  I decided to cut the largest size the pattern comes in and i think it fits too big.  But that is ok becuase it's soooooo comfortable.

My second attempt was with a great matte jersey from Banach's fabrics here in Cincinnati.  Banach's is one of those stores you go to when you want a fine piece of fabric. Lambskin leather, Cashmere wool or even fine silk.  i LOVE that store.  So you can understand my excitement when i was able to pick up the fabric for the dress below.  Just before Banach's moved from Hyde Park to Madisonville they had a HUGE sale.  So i picked this beautiful matte jersey for like 75% off. LOVE IT

Here is my opinion.  THe rayon/spandex knit does not have enough stiffness to support the dress.  Notice how the gathers are not as noticable in the raspberry dress as they are in the black and white.  The only difference is the weight of the fabric.  Also the rayon/Spandex stretches so the dress sits almost at calf length.  But the Matte Jersey in black-n-white is much more flirty and sits right at the knee. 

Regardless i love this dress and plan on making more for the fall/Winter. 

It's the Fabric and not the pattern

Hello blog world. I know it's been a long time since i blogged but a lot has happened. So i won't go into details...LOL I have been sewing and the disasters are endless. Recently i was in Joann fabrics in a very posh part of Cincinnati attempting to find some knit to play with. I Purchased Hot Patterns Sunshine weekender pattern and i was anxious to try it. While waiting in line to have this cut.. A lady across the cutting table was being praised for how beautiful her outfit was. Her sewing was impeccable. The worker cutting asked her what pattern it was. I think she said See & Sew. The women in the store gasped..Literaly. So the woman said "it's not the pattern that makes the outfit it is the fabric." I swear you could hear the chimes ringing for each woman that finally came to the same conclusion right there in the store. Finally i get it....My success in sewing has not been as great i would like to believe..however the few pieces that have turned out beautiful have been because of the fabric. SO now it's time to think about what i want to sew instead of seeing it only with my imagination.