Simplicity 2403

Peace.

I said I was going to sew this weekend and I did. But with varying levels of success. You wanna hear it? Here it goes....

Y'all know I was fiending for a new white dress for the Asiatic New year. Well..... I was gifted with Simplicity 2403 From Toy. I looked in the mini-stash and found some white eyelet. I have no idea why I had it. This is why I don't keep a true stash. Stuff gets lost. There is a white 2-piece dress that I often see that I often want. It reminds me of that dress. I wonder why I never made said dress before? there is a possibility that I meant to use it for curtains. It has a pretty bottom. Hmmm.... Any who.... Free fabric + free pattern = new white dress!

Now I don't have very many Simplicity patterns. I have a lot of McCalls and Vogue patterns. And for some reason I have a lot of Advanced patterns. Go figure. I'm not really sure how I fit Simplicity. I measured and was still confused. So I cut a 20 (the biggest size I could cut). It was too small across the chest. I have not mastered how to do a FBA on a princess seam. Soooooo...... I cut big, decreased the seam allowance from 5/8 to 1/4 and added thickness to the front panel where the buttons go. I am going to add 2 rows of buttons rather than the single breasted option. That will make it look more intentional. That still wasn't enough to get it to close. (Have I mentioned I have large breasts?) Also I will add a panel to the side seam. I learned to sew because of these same adjustments. This is taking me back to my adolescence.

I won't let this dress beat me. And I will post pics of the finished garment on me and on the hanger.

I refuse to have wadders!



Peace

Peace.


Two posts today? What have y’all done to deserve this????

Just kidding.

The builds didn’t seem like they went together so I decided on 2 posts.

This coming weekend marks 2 milestones… The Asiatic New Year (Spring) and my midway point of P90x. I did not want to make clothes for spring that I would have to alter. I needn’t have worried. I haven’t lost all this glorious weight that I was expecting to lose. Everything in degrees. I am supposed to have a white ensemble to celebrate A.N.Y. I probably won’t have that. But I am assuming that there will be something new to mark this occasion. You know why? Because I’m sewing this weekend even if it kills me!

Remember my spring plans? A white and beige wardrobe that is easy to pair other garments with. I already have the bags and shoes. I suppose I could make the white suit for Monday. I have everything I need but the time. Cross your fingers on that one.

I’m excited to be this close to spring and I need it! It must be contagious because the God bought me electric fabric scissors!!! He knew that I dislike cutting the fabric out. He also had a table that he has made available to me for cutting. Normally I cut on the floor all hunched over. I have a bad back that is getting worse. Standing while cutting is the truth.

If I had the fabric, and had a clear idea of what exactly I wanted, I could make a new white dress. But I am flirting with 3 different patterns that I want in white. I wear a lot of white in the spring and summer. It is a tradition to get a new white garment to mark the equinox. Consequently I have a LOT of white dresses already. But I want something new. I could go to Hancocks tomorrow and see…. Maybe some linen…. Maybe a knit… Maybe a stretch poplin…. I just don’t know!

But I do know this…. I’m making something this weekend, damnit!



Peace

Sew Happy

Peace Y’all,


One of my co-workers fro some reason thinks she can do everything I do. When I’m sewing, she is sewing. When I am crocheting, she is crocheting. I would find it flattering but she doesn’t ever have any real success at it probably because she doesn’t know what she is doing or has a clear picture in her mind drawn up of what her aims are. She asked me what was going on in my sewing room for spring. We had a long conversation about patterns and my plans and I casually mentioned that I had cleaned my own machine. She said with a straight face, “Does it still work?” Really? I must have looked insulted because she came back quick with her response. “Oh! I didn’t know you knew how to do that!” I suppose she wanted to preserve her ride home.

On Monday evening, I used my extra hour energy to clean and oil my machine. Did I know what I was doing? Not really. (You have to start somewhere) But I was armed with internet instructions supplemented by human instructions from a bunch of people at Hancocks. I took apart 1 panel at a time and vacuumed all the dust, cleaned all the grime off and oiled the oily looking parts. Then I replaced the panel and moved on to the next one. The screws were on super tight since I have never had the machine serviced. I sew way more now than I ever did. And I have had the machine since I was 13. The God had to remove and replace screws. For the most part, it was clean inside. The only areas of dust and grime where around the bobbin case and under the feed plate. There was some serious nastiness in there. I got it all out and re-oiled.

I waited a day for everything to sink in and settle and then I sewed something small. I haven’t heard my machine purr like that in years. I almost fell asleep from the easy stitches. Nothing grinding, scratching, shaking or getting stuck. She feels like new! KiKi is now under her hood protected in my sewing room. Mama takes care of her babies!

I am thinking of picking up one of the vintage (or maybe just old) machines I see in the thrift stores and service it. Just to get my servicing chops up to speed. Earths be asking (excuse the Ebonics) to borrow my machine. But I don't lend KiKi out or allow anyone else to sew on her.


Peace

McCalls 5661

Peace Family,

I have been sewing. Still sewing winter clothes. Or at least that's what I'm calling them. These are clothes I can wear now, and clothes I can wear later. I need blouses. But 1st things 1st.

I sewed Simplicity 2947 again. Remember the 1st time I made it was for Thanksgiving. I made a purple one for a party dress. But.... Just as I was about to leave the house, the zipper burst. And burst is the right word. Oh well.... My plan is too put another in and shorten it a bit. And maybe think about making a crinoline. Maybe.

Yesterday I cut and made McCalls 5661. Yeah baby! Today was Earth Appreciation Day here in Allah's Garden. I want to wear something new to mark the occasion and represent my breed of style. Mainstream yet righteous. So many Earths choose to dress like hippies, and that's their choice. I sometimes dress like a hippie. But I just want to put other options out there.

I cut fabric yesterday and my plan was to get up early today and sew it up. But.... The music was good on the radio and I got into that mood. At first I was like I'll just interface the facings.... Then I was like let me just sew the big pieces together.... Damn that's some good music... Next thing I knew I was adding the sleeves. Done. So that freed me up this morning to make a matching crown.

One thing that annoyed me to know end was that the fabric had a recurring defect in it. That's why it was on sale. It became a problem because I forgot about it. So while I was putting it together, I kept coming across defects. Luckily it wasn't in crucial areas. A facing. Under the sleeve. But there was one on a back panel close to the buttons. Well it's over now. And I only have a small amount left for the quilt pile.

M5661 falls into that category of transitional clothing. I made it short sleeved and in a eggplant color. It's nice. I'll be able to wear it until it gets truly cold. I let the God choose the buttons and he didn't choose too bad. Here is my review....

Pattern Description:
McCall's 5661. Misses' blouse.

Pattern Sizing:
Okay.... I have been on a diet for the last 2 months and I assume I have lost weight so I measured myself. According to the largest measurement, I should be a little larger than a 16, I cut a 18. I should have cut a 20.

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?
Actually yes.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I liked everything. Especially how detailed the instructions were

Fabric Used:
Not sure. I was shooting for cotton, but I suspect it was polyester because there was no wrinkling whatsoever

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
All I added was the FBA. And it wasn't my normal bootleg FBA. It was the directions that came with the pattern

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Oh yes. I have plans to make 3 more blouses using this pattern in different views

What's next? I'm going to try my hand at servicing my own machine.

Wish me luck!



Peace

WhY?

Peace.

This is actually going to be more of a gripe than a build….

Last week I got all the patterns I needed to make my spring/summer wardrobe. I am very excited. I also traveled a distance to go to a store that sells fabric on the low low. I kind of got what I was looking for. I got 8 yards of beige and 6 yards of white. I wanted 10 of each. The white they didn’t have so much of. That’s why I only ended up with 6 yards. 14 yards will not make an adult plus sized wardrobe. So I am going to make the suits out of the fabric I have. I will still need white linen for the white dress, beige and white fabric for the beige and white dress, fabric for the white and beige blouses and fabric for a headwrap to match it all. That’s all.

I’m not starting until the beginning of May. I’m doing P90x and I should be able to see where my body is going with it by then. I’ll be in phase III by then. If I just gotta get sewing, I will make the blouses. It’s unlikely my boobs will get smaller. They never have before.

I love to sew. I know you can’t really tell from how much I do. But one of the cool things about sewing WAS that the garments were less expensive with higher quality than purchasing them. But not anymore. I had to drive to west hell to get in on that sale at a fabric house. That’s ridiculous. I live in a major metro area. There should be inexpensive fabric houses here. The width on the fabrics is not all that fabulous either. A mere 45”. That pisses me off too. While I was in west hell, the God and I stopped at a Wal-Mart. He bought a t-shirt for $3! I shook my head. I showed him that thread alone cost $2. This is why I don’t sew everything.

Folks say I should vend my sewing. Well there are plenty of reasons why that is a bad idea. I hate sewing for other people because they have no idea how intricate is to sew. They think they can learn everything in an afternoon. Secondly, it’s not cheaper than purchasing. And thirdly, (this actually counts in other ciphers other than sewing) people aren’t sure of what they want. Oh they think they know what they want. But they aren’t sure and when you give them what they ask for and they are unhappy, they expect you to absorb the cost. That’s some bull isht right there.

So why does it have to cost so much? Why do I have to struggle to find reasonably priced fabric? Why are folks sucking the joy out of my hobby?



Peace

Valentines Day Sewcation

Peace.

Yesterday was a very lovely Valentines Day for someone that doesn’t observe it. As a citizen of Allah’s 5% Nation of Gods and Earths, we don’t honor the devil’s days….. On the record. Off the record, stuff happens. You know what I mean. Initially I tried to be very inflexible with our ideology, but it really doesn’t matter. You know? I take paid holidays on Christmas and Thanksgiving. So why can I not, unofficially observe Valentines Day? I’m just saying.

A man can into the office yesterday and gifted me with $20 for lunch. I am so happy I give the appearance of being “High Maintenance.” He could have easily given me $5. Anywho….. I went all the way out to the fabric store with my bounty (I brought my lunch) with the intention to purchase some needles for use with knit. I had a bad experience trying to use regular needle on knit a few years back. I stopped sewing knit for a minute. I recognize that it is important to get the right needle for the project. I won some knit in a giveaway so I need to press through my fears. When I got to the fabric store….. Simplicity and Butterick patterns were on sale! Approximately $1 a piece! Well! You know what I did… I bought all the patterns on my list! There was a lady at the book table getting up as I was coming in who offered me her seat. I said, “No Thank you! I know what I want!” I was there all of 5 minutes and most of that was conversing with the ladies at the table.

So I am in possession of B5187 and S2698! I now want Kwik Sew 3852 but I will wait on that. I don’t think Kwik Sew ever goes on sale, but Hancock has % off sales so I will get it that way. I don’t like to pay full price if I don’t have to. All I need now is V8701 (wardrobe). I decided against V1214 (vest); because I don’t need to draw attention to my behind. Also, I’m planning a full skirt for the beige suit so I need a tighter top. I will use the jacket of V8701 and leave off the sleeves. I would have preferred a vest that covers the boobies. And I suppose I could play with it so that it does. We’ll see. I will get V8701 on Thursday. It will be $4 then!

Now That I have most of my patterns, I need to get the fabric. I see lots of bloggers ordering fabric from the internet. I’m just not comfortable with that. I need to see and touch the fabric, ask the staff questions. I just don’t feel comfortable with buying sight unseen. Also, those online places aren’t inexpensive even more so with shipping and handling. It’s just not for me. So the goal of March is to score all the fabric. I’m going to be working my program hard since my favorite store closed and my standby changed their focus to upholstery. The hunt is on! And I heard that some Wal-Mart’s still sell fabric. I predict road trips.

I won’t start sewing until April. I’m on a diet and exercise regimen. I don’t want to start sewing now and have to make a bunch of alterations later. I’ll be finished with the exercise program in May 2. It’s my determined idea to lose 20 lbs by June. By June actually I plan to be in the maintenance phase. Last year I lost a significant amount of inches with mostly diet alone.

So what is my plan for this week? Hmmm….. I have 2.5 days off this week. I’m planning a mini sew-cation. My plan is to make a cream mourning dress. Unfortunately, I fear I will need this soon; and I have a killer all weather brown hat to go with it. I would be able to wear it until it gets cold again for said reason. I have some really light material that I can use to make a romper or a nightgown. I haven’t made anything in a long time free style so that’s how I’m going to do the romper. I don’t have enough to make both so decisions will have to be made. I will organize all the patterns out for my new spring/summer wardrobe. I will decrease the amount of clothes in my closet, make some special orders for crowns and do some mending. We have a celebration at the end of the week. So that’s what’s on my current plate.



Peace!

I am Right on Track....

Peace Family!!!!


No sewing yet. Right now I am in "pattern acquisition" mode. For 2 reasons... (a) I refuse to buy patterns at full price and (b)I am on a diet. Hell if I am going to create a new wardrobe, then I need to make it as small as I can. That way, I will be really motivated to not regain said weight.

So I have been pouring over the March 2011 issues of my favorite magazines. For very serious reasons, I wasn't purchasing magazines. I also have pretty much stopped going to the mall. So I had no clue when I drew up my "collection" what was going to be stylish. I decided on said collection because it was all basics. And I could build on them. Who knew that I was innately stylish. All the magazines are sporting what color palates? white and beige! I'm a be cute!

Remember, I'm making 3 dresses, 2 suits and 2 blouses.

2 of the dress patterns I already own. The beige dress will be a tweed fabric with a matching cape. I have always wanted a cape dress. I already have the tweed. Technically I could start the cape now.... I have several patterns for a sheath dress too. So that will be the Beige dress. Plus, I can mix and match the cape. That can be my spring jacket.

The white dress will come from V8701. As soon as it goes on sale, I'm on it!

This pattern also has the possibility of the white suit jacket. I'm still thinking about that since I have another one planned for that.

The white and beige dress will be the simplicity pattern that I used to make my Thanksgiving frock. http://blog.fleurdelin.fr/wp-content/gallery/couture/cynthia-rowley-2497.jpg Everybody in the blogosphere has made this dress. Me included. And I don't like the collared versions. But it will make a cute dress.

I already own McCall's 5331! Blouses baby!

Got that joint on sale for $1.99!!!! Hey! I will be making both blouses from this pattern. The belted ones. I suppose it doesn't matter in which color.

The suits... I like to wear whit in the spring/summer. I really don't know where that tendency came from. I am a plus sized woman so I should favor dark colors, but I don't. Oh well. Gotta do me. I like B5187

for the white suit jacket. I want something relatively loose. This is Atlanta and it get hot here in the summer. I'm thinking either the collared version or the tie. I'm leaning on the collared because I have large breast and I don't need to accentuate them with a bow. But I do have a blouse that is bowed and it hides the boobies nicely. We shall play that one by ear.

The skirt to go with the white jacket will be a pencil skirt. I have a flowy white skirt already that might slip the cut. Also I want a white pencil skirt. I have several patterns or pattern pieces. I can rig a skirt from one of them. All that it needs to be is long or past the knee so that I maintain 3/4ths.

The beige jacket is actually a vest. From Erica B's DIY style blog. I love her vibe btw. She is my inspiration, both in sewing and how good she looks at her age. We are the same age, but I feel older and less stylish. I shall remedy that won't I? And I don't see it quit as biting. To each his own. The vest is a V1214.

I plan to pare that with S2698.

Technically, if I was desperate to save money, I could make the jacket from V8701 and leave off the sleeves.... Maybe. Maybe not.

What's really curious to me is my apparent preference for Vogue patterns. Them jokers are hard to make, the directions are all over the place. Yet they are the flyest. Oh well.

When I was in Hancocks last week, I perused their spring/summer fabric offerings. All I saw that I would be cool with was the linen. I don't want to sew all linen. It wrinkles and stretches out of shape. Some linen is cool, but not all linen. Especially for the beige. I envisioned something like a khaki cotton. I hope they get what I'm looking for by the end of March. That's my schedule to start my personal S.W.A.P. Maybe I should start a sew-a-long. Teehee. Like I have that many followers.

That damn P90x better work or I'm going to kick Tony Horton's ass!



Peace