V1202: My Cherry is Gone!

I did it! I busted my cherry! I sewed a vogue pattern!!!!!

I'm not saying I sewed it well. But I did complete it very close to the pattern directions. I am very excited!!!!

OK.... to the details.... It is Vogue 1202, the wrap shirt. It is amazing on the envelope. And the pattern itself was $30! But you know me... I got it on sale for $3.99. The fabric is a brown or burgundy (I can't tell) knit. Very similar to the color on the envelope. It has an open back, and since I wear a J-cup, I have NO business looking at anything that is supposed to be worn without a bra. I will wear a shirt underneath it. I don't care.


Pattern Description:
A crazy modern open backed turtle neck

Pattern Sizing:
12-18. I cut 18 I should have cut a 16. When you wear it for a minute, it loosens up.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Hell no!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
This is my kind of top. Not vintage but very stylish

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I made a bunch. I couldn't figure out how to do the back. I spent weeks sewing and pulling out the stitches. Finally, I put a band on the back, took out the ruffles on the front piece, finish the edges and use it as a tie.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes. Definitely to an experienced sewist. Not saying I am a professional, but I can do a little something something.

Conclusion:
I love this shirt. Not in my wickedest nightmares will I ever attempt to make the skirt. I looked at the pattern and got chills. Besides, my hips are too big to concern myself with that.



Positive Education Corrects All Errors!

Just because your Granny sewed doesn't mean you know how

Peace,

Lately I have been feeling rather pussy-ish. Meaning, I have been bitching more than a little bit. Everything is hurting my feelings now a days. I watch a lot of I Didn't Know I was Pregnant, and often wonder if I'm pregnant and don't know it. I have been VERY emotional, my baby cab has all this movement going on inside, I'm tired, hungry, gaining weight and have been having a LOT of unprotected sex with the God. I have everything but 2 lines on the test and cessation of my cycle. Although my cycle has diminished significantly. I am almost 40. I would LOVE to be pregnant (today, could change tomorrow) but I would like to know. Anyhoo.... My feelings have been getting hurt and it's sewing related.

I don't like sewing for other people. Since I don't have a business, the only people who ask me to sew for them,are people I share social equality with. I hate sewing for friends. They ask to much of you. Whatever they want, they want it immediately and they bitch and moan about it while insulting me in the process.

Example....
A preacher friend of mine asked me to make him a cassock robe. Initially I balked, but then agreed. Since we are friends I only asked him to pay for the stuff, I would kick my labor in as a donation to his ministry. He wholeheartedly agreed. I told him where to get the stuff and that's the last I heard of it. Why he let it slip yesterday that he paid someone $200 to make the same robe? My feelings are hurt.

Another example....
A work friend of mine was starting a new career as a Realtor. Her work wardrobe had been rather casual, and since she wants to sell high end property she needs to fake the funk until she can afford it. She bought a cute suit at a consignment shop but it needed to be altered. She knows I do not like sewing for others but she asked me to alter it for her anyway. The day she asked me to do it was the day before she had to show her 1st property. the tears floating in her eyes convinced me to do it. I had something planned for the same evening that I had to blow off to get the job done. Oh yeah and I had to go out and find matching thread and notions. did I mention she didn't pay me anything? the next day I return it to her and she had all these changes she wanted me to make. Now mind you, I altered it to her exact specifications. Changes? turns out she didn't need it done the next day. She lied to me to get me to do it.

Yet another example...
A friend of mine had just purchased a home. I know from experience that when you purchase a home you tend to be money challenged for a minute until you get your bearings. As a house warming present, I offered to make drapes for her den. she had been telling me that she wanted them. I made the drapes in my living room. She knows this. I never get anything but compliments on them from her and others. she told me that she doesn't want homemade curtains. WTF! But guess what? 2 months later she comes to me when she realizes how much custom made drapes where gonna cost her. I said "Hell to the NO!!!!" and "Kiss my ass Bitch!"

I can squeeze this example in....
My sister bought a sewing machine. She's crafty and I can buy her interest in sewing. I have been suggesting she buy a machine for years, but it took her maid to convince her to do it. Her maid promised to teach her to sew. she didn't let that jewel out when she first told me about her acquisition. turns out the maid just wanted to use a machine to sew on and had not intention on teaching my sister to sew. Now the maid no longer is in her employ. she still has her machine, but it's missing pieces. Hmmmm.... A new machine is missing big pieces and now it cant run? She wants me to buy the machine from her. My machine works fine. She said I need a spare. She's knocking $20 dollars off the price she paid for it since it's less than 6 months old. But the acquire the pieces to complete it will cost more. No thank you.

Last Example I Promise....
One of the Cipher chicks (I refuse to call her Earth. She ain't) here in Allah's Garden who knows I sew. I sew more and more and everyday I have on something I made. She makes a loud statement in front of people that she is gonna come to the crib (uninvited) for a few hours and let me teach her how to sew. Really? this is insulting on so many levels. First of all it took me years to learn to sew. I took many classes and had many mentors. There are still things that I want to learn. The implication that you can learn to do everything that I can do in an afternoon is insulting. She made this declaration in front of an audience. So my options were to smile, nod and go along letting people think that my addiction is all light and fluffy. Or... Put her on blast. I did the former.

I really hate sewing for people. It's gotten tot the point that I hate talking about sewing to people. I don't want to doe your repairs. That's not sewing. I don't want to make costumes for your kids. This is not novelty with me. It's how I do.

Unless someone has a business, don't ask them to sew for you. And if they offer, say no!


Peace

Simplicity 5898

I made the above dress. Yes I know its a maternity dress. No I'm not pregnant. I assumed that a maternity dress would fit my boobs. Even so I graded it up 2 sizes and added 6 inches to the bottom. The pattern was from 1965 and that was the mini skirt era. Turns out I didn't need to, and I ended up cutting 6 inches off the bottom. Its all good. I'll make it again when I get pregnant. So here we go. My 1st pattern review.....

Pattern Description
A-line short sleeved or sleeveless maternity dress.

Pattern Sizing
16

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes it did


Were the instructions easy to follow?
I suppose. I didn't follow them... much. I saw at the end that I could have made it a lot easier than I did.


What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I should have followed the instructions

Fabric Used:
Dark brown suiting. I found out after wearing it it was too heavy for the dress.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I graded it up 2 sizes but didn't need to. Since it is heavy, I will probably convert it to a jacket and skirt. It's just that much heavy fabric

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes. I plan to sew this a lot since I now know it will fit and come together so lovely. I will use it for maternity dresses. and I will use only light weight fabric for it.

Conclusion:
Very easy and very cute. My 1st official vintage dress from start to finish. It is very good.



Peace

Economizing

Peace to my 1 only reader!!!!

I don't just blog to be popular, I blog because it's cathartic. Also in this particular blog it's good because I have a platform to display my Understanding (3) of my chosen Culture(4).

One of the things that pisses me off is how expensive sewing has become. I can only blame the economy in this capitalist society. As the economy has soured, more folks have turned to home sewing. Now all the home sewing stuff has gotten off the chain expensive. It is NOT cheaper to make your own clothes. There used to be fabric stores in every neighborhood when I lived in NJ. Here in GA, there are fabric stores are few and far between, and they mostly sell upholstery fabrics and not clothing fabric. The ones where you can find a little something something, are Joann's, Hancocks, and Gayle's... you know the corporate companies. And they are expensive. I mean why would I pay $8/yard for fabric, $30 for a pattern and $10 for notions? I wouldn't. And it's not even like the fabric in those stores are the hotness.

There is a ghetto fabric shop in my neighborhood. What makes it ghetto is, (a) it's in the hood, (b) they have fabric at rock bottom prices $1-2 and the people working in there are tres' ghetto! They might have 20 teeth between all of them working there and they give you their asses to kiss. Our people... What are you gonna do. We also have an Asian shop that carries fabric, but their stuff is mostly synthetic. I don't like synthetic, but their notions cannot be beat!!!! So that's how I roll when I want to get my sew on.

But like I have been saying, it's not really cost efficient to really delve into making my own clothes if these were my only options..... But Ghetto Refined Princess that I am I have found a solution.... Thrift stores!

Thrift stores are wonderful for so many things. Depending on what you need to create you can find most everything at the thrift stores for the low low. But you have to approach it form a different perspective. You probably aren't going to find a bolt of fabric, you might (I have before) but probably not. So you have to look at the clothing hanging there for inspiration.

Example....
I needed a fancy black dress to sing in a Christmas concert. I like to sing so much that I will sing in church concerts. Shoot me! But my life isn't such that I have great need for fancy holiday dresses. Off to Value Village I went. Now, I'm a big girl. It's the reality of my life. I have made my peace with it. It's not like there is going to be a fabulous dress hanging there is a standard size 16 with the boobage extended to a 20. My determined idea was black velvet (black velvet tends to be the same color and blends well with other fabrics and colors) dress. I found 3. They were having a 3 for 1 sale. BOOM! I took them jokers home, niggarigged a ball gown complete with jacket and headwrap in one evening. I got more compliments than a little.

When you do this type of shopping you have to keep your eye open for buttons, zippers, and stray pieces. A long skirt in a size 12 may fit a size 16 if you cut it low off the waist. It will be shorter but it will work. You can take pre-made clohtes apart and use them as pattern muslins. You can use adult clothes as fabric for children's clothes. And it will be way cheaper than fabric stores.

Another example....
I am making a season-less denim dress. Technically it's a sundress but it is completely cute worn with a turtle neck and boots. Thin denim is hella expensive. So..... You know what I did, I went to the thrift store and purchased several denim dresses and I will rig them into the dress I want. The caveat in this situation is I can use the back of one of the dresses as the back of the dress I'm rigging it into! Saves me some work and the stitching on the back is cute, and probably not a detail I would do if I was making this dress from scratch. Denim fabric in Hancocks... $7.99/yard (I'd need 5 yards). 3 thrift store denim dresses total....$8. Saving a grip of money and time... priceless!



Peace

Sew comes before Cook and Act

Peace.

This is a righteous sewing build. If you aren't righteous you will be lost. This is my disclaimer. Carry on.

The Knowledge Culture degree of the 1:14 asks,
"What is the meaning of M.G.T. and G.C.C.?
Ans. MUSLIM GIRLS TRAINING AND GENERAL CIVILIZATION CLASS. This is the name given to the Women and Girls thay belong to the Nation of Islam in North America, teaching them:
HOW TO KEEP A HOME
HOW TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN
HOW TO KEEP A HUSBAND
Sew, Cook and in general how to act at home and abroad. These training units were named and given by our Prophet W.D. Fard."

For most Earths this is the blueprint on how to be a proper Earth.

I'm an Earth and I know a few Earths here and there. One of the things I have noticed is Earths take a LOT of interest in cooking, natural health, homeschooling, revolutioning, and such. I'm not saying that they shouldn't, yet don't take the same interest in sewing. Hmmm.....

I'm not trying to say that sewing is more important than other things. It's not. But its not less important either. Sewing is just as important as any thing esle on the list.

Folks really behave like creation of righteous clothing is an after thought or a superficial frill that Earths should not possess. We should be humble and boring looking. Ummm.... Emphatically Now Cipher. Why can't we be supa dupa fly? And why would be judge each other for making our appearances a priority? I'll wait....

There are plenty of reasons to educate oneself on the politics of the garment industry. Did you know most of the ready to wear clothing that is purchased in this country is made somewhere other than the US? That means by purchasing RTW garments you are taking money out of this country and supporting China, Indonesia, India, etc. Less than 5% of clothing is made in the US. It is a crippled industry for Americans. Also the people making said clothes work in extreme conditions for little money. They are sweat shops. But it's legal because it's abroad. So by purchasing RTW garments you are supporting this.

Did you know that sythetic fibers choke the skin? You skin can only breathe in natural fibers. Cotton, Rayon, Silk, etc. And these Franken-fabrics may be composed of chemical wastes and debris. I have excema and have noticed that when I wear natural fabrics mys kin does way better than when I don't. Hmmm.... Does sewing sound less important now?

I am a decade long vegetarian, I am currently walking the God through the vegetarian transition. I recycle, I am gainfully employed. I Knowledged 120 in December 2009. I add on as much as I feel comfortable to do. All my ducks are in a row for the judgmental folks. I take care of myslef and the God. I know and control the ins and outs of our cipher. So I'm thinking I've hit all the pillars that are applicable. Can you say the same thing?



Peace

Vintage

Peace,

I like vintage sewing. I do. I realize the best option for me is to make my own vintage inspired clothing. Because (a) I WILL NOT pay an exorbitant amount for the garments, (b) it's unlikely that I will find garments in my size and (c) they will be old and musty. I like to have a certain amount of control over things and you have little control over ready to wear clothing. So I guess it's a good thing that I can sew by eye. All I need is a picture of said garment and I can re-create it. Just like my grandmother did.

Okay... That being said... All my love gushing out.... I follow a lot of vintage blogs. A lot. And I have some questions......

Question 1...
What kinds of jobs do these people have? Clearly they aren't performers and lots of them have tattoos. A lot of tattoos. Do they wear these clothes to work? My boss already has issues with the evolution of my wardrobe. If I suddenly started coming in here dressed like Lois Lane, I'm thinking I won't have a job anymore.

Question 2....
Why do the vintage sewists get off on sewing on vintage machines? I mean it's nice to inherit something from a family member, but why go out of your way to get a machine that has maybe 2 stitches and is essentially antiquated when you can have a brand new razzley dazzley machine with ALL the bells and whistles. And old machine is going to require all kinds of work. You just know that going in. And I'd slap someone if they tried to give me a treadle.

Question 3.....
Do these people have a whole wardrobe of vintage clothes? Why? My vintage inspirations serve a practical purpose. Prior to the 1960's most of the clothes were fairly modest. 3/4ths is easily observed with these clothes. That's how I fell into vintage in the 1st place. But from the blogs and forums, it seems these people have whole wardrobes of vintage or vintage inspired clothing. That seems wasteful and begs me to re-visit question 1 again.


I don't get a lot traffic to these blogs of mine and I can be cool with that. I didn't start these blogs to be popular. I was loading up my main blog with clothing issues and I didn't want to alienate my male readers. So I probably won't get answers to my questions, because I don't have the readers. But I can ask.



Peace

Pattern Stories

Peace,

I have made my peace with patterns. I don't love them. I don't hate them. I realized as I tried (unsuccessfully) to clean my sewing room that I have managed to acquire quite a few. There is this fabric store that was selling patterns for $.25 a piece. You can't beat that with a stick. Unfortunately most of them were too small. BUT.... I have learned to grade patterns. So Maybe it's not all bad.

Also, I have come to realize that the free handed way I had been sewing was moderately inefficient. I mean it's God Cipher Cipher Divine that I am not dependant on patterns for my creations, but should I ever want to make a garment again, I would have to reinvent the wheel, and I hate doing that shit. It gives me comfort to know that for some things I already have 1/2 the work done.

Another thing I have noticed, is the fear that I had that sewing with a pattern would zap my creativity was wrong. It has had no effect. I actually have a new way to create. I can take the already perfected bodice from one the collar form another, the skirt from yet another and "Frankenstein" an outfit together. A cute on at that! Yeah patterns aren't grafted.

But just because I have warmed to patterns and realize that the size doesn't necessarily correspond to your ready to wear size doesn't mean that I will always use them.

This is an aside.... I am developing a fabric stash. I read that this can happen. You buy but don't use it. I don't think I like the direction this is taking so I'm going to have to do some house keeping soon. I'm certain it will require a blog.

Until then.....



Peace