S1070: My Birthday suit!

Peace!

I know it's been a minute. Life happened... My Husband and I bought a house for Easter... then a week later I got fired. I'm still not over it. since I wasn't expecting it, I had to hustle with my sewing machine to cover the small bills and learn to live in Georgia heat with no AC. I finally got another job, but it's part time. I like it.... I'm just not sure if I can survive on a part time gig. Since it's all I have right now...... Anywho......

My birthday!!!! And for my birthday I always make or buy a new outfit. I do the same for Easter. But this Easter I bought a house so that was my new Easter thing. This year I used 2 parts of S1070!

I bought S1070 during my last Hancock haul.... RIP Hancock. I soooooo like them better than Joanns... The top was super easy with only 3 main pieces. The top was supposed to be a midriff. But.... Not everybody can wear a midriff. I know I'm supposed to have body positivity. I'm certain I do. But more importantly... I'm a realist. I don't have a good midriff tummy. It's not flat. It has a ton of stretchmarks... And I don't even have children! So I made the shirt shorter than normal but longer than the pattern called for. I'm not going to wear something that doesn't flatter me just because society says I should.

Also.... I am REALLY bad at using the fabric that the pattern calls for. So I really need not to complain when I don't always get the result I was looking for... that's on me.

Pattern: Simplicity 1070

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the envelope?
Yes it did

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I didn't really need to follow them because the bottom has 3 pieces not including the facings and the top had 3 pieces not including the collar. But I did glance at the instructions for the collar. I have a way that I put in collars that works for me. The same can be said about the way my sleeves work. But this time... i decided to see what the instructions said with regard to the collar. And I'm happy to say, that I was pleasantly surprised. I now have a new way to do collars. Bully for me!

How long did it take from start to finish?:
About an hour and a half for the skirt and a half hour for the top.

What did you like/dislike about the pattern?
If you follow the pattern suggestions, you will be fine

Fabric used?:
Teehee.....

For the top I used a sweater material. I worked just as anticipated. But for the skirt..... I used really, really, really stretchy woven fabric. I am able to wear it... But in retrospect.... I should have used knits as suggested. Even with the facings not interfaced.... I was able to wear it as intended. But the waist feels like a tourniquet. By the end of my workday, I was in hell. I had to change out of the skirt to go to dinner.

Pattern alterations or design changes made?
I lengthened the midriff or shortened the top... depending on your perspective

Would you sew it again?
Oh absolutely! I made plans to.

Would you recommend it to others?
Do it!!!

Conclusion:
This is a really nice pattern. Y'all should try it

Happy Birthday Mommie!!!!

Peace. 

I'm really grateful to have my mother. Really. We DON'T get along. And neither of us is about to change. My immediate family was mom dad and brother. I've lost daddy and brother. Mommie is all I have left. Yes I have a husband... But still my Cipher is tiny.

I made this basket for her. She absolutely hates any gift I get for her. And tends to regift. So I hope this makes it easy to pass on.

Love you Monmie!!!!

Peace

PS: she actually spells it Mommie...

Ajay

Peace, 

I've been wanting one of these skirts for a minute. They are all over Pinterest. Why would I buy something I can make?

I made one a few months ago. But when I tried it on, I knew it wasn't my silhouette. The flowiness made me look extra big. I know some women don't care and wear just what they want, but I like to look good in my clothes. That's me.... Confidence is good, but confidence alone won't make you look amazing if the clothes don't flatter you.

A classmate needed a skirt made quickly. Her daughter is graduating today and there is an Agrican theme. Since I'm not working, (I lost my job of 13 years on April 6th. I haven't mentioned it because I was still a bit bitter...) I told her I could help her out. She gave me the fabric on Monday and I gave her this skirt Thursday. I actually had it ready on Wednesday. 

You like? I didn't use a pattern. I freeballed it. And my client seems very satisfied. 

The client actually wanted it shorter. Like a high-low with it really high in the front. So high, I had to shorten the pockets. I like it better longer.

The class I'm taking is in Ifa. I'm not going into an explanation of what it is or why I'm taking it. But I went to a bembe on Sunday, and I saw people in clothes I KNOW they didn't buy at Macy's. My client is deep in the culture and I'm hoping to get the word out that I, a member of their own community, can custom make their ritual clothing. Now that I'm out of work, I could use the money....

Peace

 

Hancocks

Peace,

Now that Hancock Fabrics is closing, where am I supposed to purchase patterns and notions? I never liked Joanne's, plus there isn't one close to me. The closest one is 30 miles away.

Who has pattern sales? I'm not paying full price for them.... Where do you get notions?

I'd appreciate any comments...

Peace

Malik

Peace!

I haven't been sewing... more on that later. But the last thing I have sewn was this.....


One of my dear friends is adopting a child. I wanted to make her a baby quilt. Baby quilts are all I have the patience for. Anything else will cause me to quit right in the middle of the job. I have a larger baby quilt on the UFO pile that I made for one of my line sisters... 2 years ago! I put her son's name on it and everything. That's what happens when quilts get too big on me. I don't enjoy the process. I plan to finish the UFO.... if I can find it... and pick the name out of it. Whoever has the next baby is going to get that quilt!

Peace!

Hate

Peace y'all!

I hate winter. I'm okay with fall and spring. And I adore the summer. But I sincerely hate the winter. I hate being cold. I hear people say they can get warm if they get cold but they can't get cool after being super hot. I am the frank opposite. Once cold... I'm cold for hours. I'm not saying I don't warm up. I'm saying it takes awhile. Maybe it's because I'm severely iron deficient. And try as I might, I can't seem to come out of the anemia. I have been on IV iron and it just doesn't take.

I moved to GA for a number of reasons. But my main PERSONAL reason was because I wanted to live somewhere warm. And I WAS warm for the 1st 10 years. But my blood acclimated and I'm back to being cold again. This is the pits. Luckily GA is only truly cold about 2-3 months. Then we warm up again.

Since I hate winter; I hate winter clothes. And closed toed shoes are the worst! I like my feet to breathe! I have been struggling to find a pair of shoes. I wear a 10.5. Those are few and far between. 11 are too big, 10 too small. these feet have the unmitigated gall to be narrow! My feet are hurting right now. I will be miserable until... say.... April. So just know that.

Anywho..... I have decided on this January 5th... that I am going to begin to sew my summer clothes. I may not be able to wear them, but I can dream..... So when you see some weather inappropriate posts... don't call the looney bin on me. It's me getting ready for the season I prefer the most!


Peace

My Birthday Suit: S1276

Peace!!!!

It's my bornday y'all! And you know what that means. It means I had to send out search party for my mojo (I think it was in the witness protection program) and make me a brand new garment to celebrate!

Since I last Built with y'all, The God and I decided to get married. Getting legally married is not something that is common within the 5% Culture. Our righteous compadres have been looking at us side ways. But it's fine. They always look at us like that. We don't fit the standard mold for God and Earth. One of many reasons we got hitched is because we are striving to purchase a house! We thought we had one. But the inspection came back scary, so we passed. But we loved the house so much initially, that we started packing. I had packed up my sewing room. I had to unpack it some to make this garment.

This is not what I initially intended for my birthday suit. I wanted to make a cream corduroy skirt and a black knit top. But for some reason I couldn't find the pattern for either. (Found the top pattern after I was done making this one) So as I was going through the Air Jordan boxes that I keep my patterns in I came across S1276 and thought, why not? Now that I have a stash.... I went to see what could work.

Out of the big 4, simplicity is my least favorite. I get more wadders from Simplicity than any other pattern. If I'm using Simplicity I allow extra time just in case I need to sew something else or buy something. This is not my 1st attempt at making this particular brand of simplicity pattern. I made a capsule wardrobe for a friend using S1167. These patterns work for some folks. I don't think they really work for me. I wanted to be supportive. When I made S1167 it was a lot of confusion. The tutorial didn't help. The instructions were hazy and at some points contradicted the tutorial.... Just a bad time. I don't' know if my friend even liked her capsule. We've not discussed it. So with MUCH hesitation I went on and made S1276.

I don't hate the dress. I don't think color blocking works for me. I've tried it a few times and never like the result. Even this simple Black and white combo. I was worried about the light band across the middle. And I was right. Whatever. I don't' mind the top and the “peek-a-boo.” You can't see it. If I make this in the future (because I don't discard patterns unless they piss me off) I won't make it with a band. Just solid all the way down.


I didn't make many changes. I made it out of knit so there is no zipper, nor did I interface the neck facings. I need to be able to get it over my head. To keep the facing down I tacked it. But you can't really see the tacks unless you were looking for them. the directions were really vague about what pieces to cut out. My suggestion if you decide to make the peek-a-boo version is instead of cutting a front facing, cut a second front piece and use the entire piece as a facing.

I used ponte knit. I love this stuff! I have finally been convicted after 30+ years of sewing that the good fabric, sews better. No pulling, no getting stuck in the machine, stitches stay in and it's just a pleasure to work with. I've heard that before, but I finally believe it. I never wanted to PAY for the good fabric. But you get what you pay for. I realized at the end of construction that I wasn't even using the correct needle. But even still, everything went smoothly.

From the completed pics of other folks work, I noticed that the waist was elongated. So with my breasts, I didn't think I needed to add the 3 inches that I normally would. I guessed correctly. This white band hits at my waist. I'm not sure I like that. No. I don't like it at all. But it is what it is.

I added 2” to the skirt. I really need for my clothes to pass my knees. If I take that big band out then the skirt will be too short. I might replace the band with just a black one. But I don't' really want to putz with the dress.

I'm still mourning. But 6 months will be officially over on 11/12. I'll transition into wearing brighter colors. Hopefully, if I feel up to it, I can be festive around the holidays. It will be my first holiday EVER without my brother. My brother always called me at 12:01 on my birthday to be the 1st to wish me a good day. I hate to say this.... because last time I said this I ended up needing it for that purpose... but this dress will serve as a winter mourning dress. I hope I don't have to use it.


Peace