All Sewing Completed -- YES!

Since I last blogged, I have completed sewing every piece of fabric that I had in my small stash. Now, I am back to having no stash of fabric at all.  It feels SO GOOD to have completed every project and be done for awhile. 

I have discovered that sewing, for me, is not so much a passion, but rather, something that I can do well enough to have some nice clothes in my closet to depend on.  I have no compunction to buy new patterns and keep filling up my closet with more and more. I have enough clothes to choose from now to take me through the summer into fall and winter.  Yes, that's how it is, I have enough. 

Fashion may throw something out there that I might want, and I will sew it up as those pieces come along but, I am not driven to sew every day. 

Looking into my closet is very satisfying now.  There's plenty to choose from and I like everything that's in there.  Now, its time to go on to other facets of life that appeal to my creative personality.  There's always something new to learn, always something challenging.  And, I have completed my sewing for now.  I am content!

Fun Fabric Sewing

I got one pair of pants sewed up in navy RPL, and then, I saw a dress on one of the young gals at church the other Sunday which was made up in Hawaiian cotton and, I was suddenly smitten!  I know she doesn't sew but, I bet she bought her dress at one of the boutique shops down by the beach.

We have an Island Fabrics on Wall Street downtown in the garment district so, last Saturday, my husband and I made a pilgrimage on the bus and checked out the Hawaiian prints.  I bought two different pieces, one in red and, one in black, both were bright and cheerful as could be -- I made up both in no time at all using Kwik Sew 3561.   Too fun!!!

On an earlier shopping expedition to the downtown garment district I had bought a pretty red Chinese brocade.  I sewed that up into a skirt from Vogue 8363, View C, and, I was really pleased with how it turned out.  To go with that skirt, I bought some simple red silk and made McCalls 2818, View B, since I'd been wanting a blouse that buttoned down the back.   The front scalloped panels gave me some trouble but, I wrestled with them until they looked like they're supposed to.  The blouse and the skirt together look like they were made for each other and, they were!

With such a productive week behind me, I  think I'll take a break from sewing.  Its time for some more snoop shopping anyway.  Who knows what will inspire me next?

Stay tuned....

The Perfect Jacket Is DONE!

The good news is the jacket is done.  The bad thing is, it doesn't look good on me.  Princess seams are supposed to be slenderizing but, I find, on me, they just add on the pounds like crazy.  The jacket fits, it doesn't pull or have any odd wrinkles -- it just makes me look MUCH heavier than I am.  Its not a wadder but, I'm going to have to give it to Goodwill or Salvation Army.  

Oh well, I will go on to making pants now.  Pants are something I need and, they're easy, so, that's what I'll concentrate on for awhile. 

I will just keep on keeping on! 

Work in Progress

The Perfect Jacket, so far, is going along great, its just A LOT of steps from start to completion.  I am starting to work on the lining and, I'm taking my time because, I have learned that rushing at the end of a project, for me, almost always guarantees trouble.  I've come too far and, spent too much money, for this garment to turn into a wadder.  So, I'm working at a much slower rate and trying to be more precise with each step.

Next up, I'm going to be making pants.  The other weekend, my husband and I went downtown to the garment district and shopped at The Scholarship Store of FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising).  I had heard they had fabric for $1 a yard there but, I had no idea that it was such good quality fabric -- I'm talking yardage that would normally sell for $30 a yard and up.  What a find!  The only thing you have to be aware of, you need to be very strong or, have someone with you who is.  The yardage comes on rolls that are 72 inches wide and they are all stacked up on top of each other.  If you want the one on the bottom you have to be REALLY STRONG in order to get to it.   Thank goodness, my husband took the rolls out that I wanted like it was nothing.  Its a very small area where this fabric is displayed and sold so, another thing to be aware of is, not hitting someone when you take those rolls of fabric out from underneath each other!    I bought some beautiful medium weight navy blue RPL fabric for pants as well as some heavy weight twill in grey. I believe there's enough to make pants and some carrier bags as well.  While we were in the garment district, I also bought some beautiful Chinese brocade fabric in red that I'm going to make a skirt with.  I'm wondering what kind of blouse I should make to go with it?  Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

Well, I guess this is all for now, I need to get back to my sewing machine and, I bet you do too!

Started: The Perfect Jacket, McCalls 6172

McCalls 6172 is what I'm working on now.  I didn't realize till I read the fine print that every piece of this pattern calls for interfacing.  This thing is going to be heavy and a warm winter-time garment.  And, the first steps have to do with making the welt pockets. 

There's LOTS of work to be done on this project so, I better get crackalackin!

I will let you know how I'm progressing in a couple of days.

Skirting The Issue

I've not gone back to work on the McCall's 6172 jacket because I worked on the skirt from Vogue 8543 instead and, thank God, it turned out okay.  I had another skirt (view D) from Vogue 8363 cut out so, I went on and sewed that up.  Another success!

I've got fabric for 2 more skirts but they're not cut out yet.  Now I'm going back and forth as to whether I should continue on making skirts (while I'm on a successful role with them) or, go back to the McCalls 6172 jacket, which is already cut out and waiting.  Decisions, decisions???

Another thing I need to do is buy buttons and zippers.  I have no stash of sewing supplies so, it makes it most annoying to have to let my projects languish in UFO land for want of buttons, zippers, fasteners thread, etc.

Oh, how I wish I had money enough to buy a few of these things, and a vehicle to go shop for them.  That would take a God-sized MIRACLE though.  But, we are praying!!! 

All in good time I will complete my projects and, little by little, my wardrobe will become a thing of beauty -- just you wait and see.

I Can Sew a Notched Collar Jacket!!! YES!!!

I completed the Simplicity 2446 jacket and, it turned out GREAT!  What a relief to get a notched collar to actually look like its supposed to.  I feel so much better knowing that I can do this now.

Next, I'm going on to McCalls 6172.  I hope its not as HUGE as the Simplicity 2446.  I'm going to give away the Simplicty 2446 jacket and the pants I made out of the same fabric because they are both MUCH too big for me.  This is NOT a bad thing.  I am thrilled to put something on and find that its too big!!!

After the McCalls 6172 jacket, I am going to give the Kwik Sew 3715 jacket a go.  I am so anxious to get a tried and true jacket pattern.

Also, I've got the skirt part of Vogue 8543 cut out and, I'm thinking I may make that before the McCalls 6172 jacket.

So many patterns, so little time!  (It feels so much better to complete something that looks good.)

A Successful Jacket? It could happen!

While I am not done yet, so far, the work I've done on Simplicity 2446 has turned out okay.  What I have done differently on this project is --- hand basting.  Normally, I just pin baste and sew because it is SO much faster but, after a goodly number of wadders, I realized that hand basting is necessary for me.  It has taken me all week long to work on this jacket because I have resolved to sew slowly and really be careful with every step.

Prayerfully, all this "carefulness" will pay off and a successful garment will result.

I'll let you know!  Back to work now...

Long Sleeved Tees -- LOVE 'EM!

I have been T-shirting all week using Kwik Sew Pattern No. 2900, its definitely a tried and true favorite.  I selected the round neck and use the long sleeves.

Now, I have 4 new long-sleeved T-shirts: peach, blue, yellow and orange.  And, since I can get the knit fabric for $2.79 at my local Jenny's Fabric Store, there will be several more to come in the near future.  The only concern is shrinkage.  I am sure this is why the fabric is so inexpensive but, knowing that up front,  I simply make the T-shirts and the sleeves EXTRA long.  When they've been washed and gone through the dryer, they are perfect.

Its great to be thrifty and productive. Also, I like seeing those new tops in my sweater drawer which are nice for every day and, can be styled with the appropriate accessories to dress up for church.

Now, I'm fortified to tackle my next challenge, cutting into that expensive fabric I got from The Cloth Merchants -- can I do it?  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

Donna Karan for Fall

This is STYLE and you can call it old fashioned Grace Kelly if you want but, I think these clothes say: "This is a lady." 



I hope that we will see some great patterns published from these designs SOON!

Wadders and Self-Esteem

Two wadders in a row is not helping me get back into sewing with a smile on my face.  But, getting the wadders out of my house and GONE helps immensely!  How about you?  I love to get rid of the wadders and the UFOs as well.  With the UFOs, if they have languished more than a month, out they go.  When I open my closet door, I only want to see the successful results of my sewing adventures -- NO FAILURES! 

Next up is a simple long sleeved T-shirt in a thick cotton knit. I am praying that I don't ruin this garment. 

I received all the fabric from the Cloth Merchants that I need to complete the two jackets and a skirt I have planned.  That fabric was really expensive, I am actually a little bit afraid to start those projects. 

After all these years of sewing, you would think I would get good at it somewhere along the way!  Is it possible to have two left hands (like two left feet in dancing) with sewing? 

Gotta Get Back in the Saddle!

Finally, I am well again.  It is high time for me to get back into my sewing projects that have been waiting patiently.  Also, after seeing myself in that huge wall mirror at church, I have got to get serious about my weight and become skinny penny once again!  I DO NOT want to make elephant size clothes.

A new order of fabric arrived yesterday from The Cloth Merchants and it is so beautiful.  Too bad its only half as much as I need.  I did not know that some stores are selling their fabric now using unit pricing, instead of simply selling by the yard.  This old dog was forced to learn a new trick.  SO, I will have to place a second order to get the rest of the material I need to complete the planned projects.  I'm still living and learning.

As I get back into the saddle, the project I am going to begin working on is a long jacket (McCalls 5938).  The pattern has instructions that don't make any sense to me so, I am going to ignore the pattern instructions and see what happens.  Thank God for my sewing books from Claire Schaeffer and Sandra Betzina to help get me through.

Until next time -- as you go, sing and sew!!!

Will I Ever Be Well Again?

I have been sick with some kind of virus for several weeks and it is STILL hanging in there. 

My sewing sits waiting for me to be able to concentrate long enough to do something with it but, I don't want to make a mess so --- not yet.

Yesterday, I wanted to get out of the house for a little while so, I went on to Church.  I wore one of my recently made outfits, a wine boucle jacket made with Kwik Sew 3680 and matching boucle fabric straight pencil skirt made with an old TNT skirt pattern See & Sew 5378.   I happened to see myself in the full wall size mirror hanging on the wall in the bathroom at church.  OH MERCY!  Talk about hideous.  I did not realize just what an enormously overweight cow I have become.  And, the boucle fabric did nothing to slenderize.  This too has set me off my sewing a bit. 

So, while I spend the day sneezing and blowing my nose, I will consume only "lite" hot chicken soup and, I will try walking in the sunshine for some exercise and fresh air.

Also, I have put a full-length mirror to go on the back of our bedroom door on my shopping list.

Sewing With a Plan

Some sort of virus sent me to bed for the past few days.  In a blur of stuffed head rationale, I sorted out all that was hanging on my side of the closet. I do so love to purge out the wrong, so as to make more room for the right.  Even those garments that I made just weeks ago were shown no mercy.  It took having chills and fever to accomplish the task and now that its done, I am ready to, this time, try sewing with a plan.

Until I started following the various sewing message boards, I had never heard of sewing with a plan.  It sounds like something I should try!  Not necessarily to learn new sewing techniques, but rather, to wind up with every garment hanging in the closet being something that I actually like.  What a concept.

Interfacing Has Arrived!

When the doorbell rang this morning I was hoping that it was my delivery from Pam Erny of Fashion Sewing Supply, and indeed, it was!  All the interfacing I have been waiting for has arrived.  YES!!!

Now, I can continue on with the projects that have been waiting on hold.

First up is a simple jacket from Kwik Sew 3680.  I wanted the v-neck jacket from Marfy but, apparently, it is not available.  So, I will give the Kwik Sew jacket a try.  I have a wine boucle from Denver Fabrics for this jacket.

Then, I have McCalls 5938 (a peacock blue/green wool from Fabric Mart), and Butterick 4929 (a black sort of patterned velveteen fabric from Fabric Mart) after that.

I have cut out some camel wool to make a pair of dress jeans from McCalls 5894 this morning, as well as, some plain mint green cotton to make my favorite casual blouse from Vogue 7700. I have no clue what I will wear the mint green cotton casual blouse with -- it was some fabric that I did not order, but received from Fabric Mart, and they said I could keep it. Spring is coming and I'm sure something will present itself to go with the minty cotton before long.

Sew, onward and upward! 

Wardrobe Building

When trying to think up a name for this blog, I almost went with "The Naked Clothes Horse" because, although I LOVE fashion and lots and lots of clothes, shoes, accessories, etc., my husband and I went through a time of a significant reversal of fortune.  I am just now coming out of many years of depression and starting to take up my interest in fashion once again.  For all too long there, I went around in jeans and t-shirts 24/7 because they didn't cost much and, my depression caused me to live in fear of spending even so much as 50-cents.  I thank God for the progress out of depression and back into a more balanced mental state. Around the house, you will still find me in jeans and t-shirts, but now, with my renewed interest in fashion, I have started sewing suitable clothing for life beyond my residence. I actually get dressed up to go to church these days! 

So far, this year, I have made 3 jackets, 4 skirts, 2 pairs of pants, and 8 blouses. Currently, I have cut out and waiting in the queue: 3 more jackets, 2 more skirts and, another pair of pants. As soon as my order of interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply shows up in the mail, I can move forward with everything that's on hold in the queue.

I have many plans for more garments but, I have to work within my budget so, sometimes its slow going.  I have no backup stash of fabric.  I order most of my fabric online and, the rest I buy downtown in the garment district of Los Angeles.  As soon as the fabric arrives either by me bringing it home or, in the mail, it is immediately cut out and prepared for its intended purpose.  My closet is looking SO much better now and, I am receiving compliments on what I wear to church too.

It will be interesting to see what all is accomplished in 2011 for my wardrobe.  I'm excited to see where this journey will lead.  Armani said: "The difference between style and fashion is quality."  Hopefully, I will portray quality and style once again.  That's my goal anyway!