A blog about my adventures in sewing & crafting

Thursday, February 26, 2015

More Fabric Blessings

I think I must be the most fabric blessed person on this planet!  My dear lady friend at Church did MORE fabric purging this week.  I am giddy with excitement for two totes full of fabric.  I love her taste of fabric and I have a million ideas going on in my mind.

This woven fabric is one of my favorites.  The color is so vibrant and it has a soft hand.  I'm thinking I need to make this into a jacket for spring!

Fabric blessing-woven suiting fabric
 
It doesn't look like much fabric but totals over 50 yards!


Fabric Blessings over 50 yards!

There were knits, a few sweater knits, an eyelet, a few cottons, a corduroy, three pieces of lycra knit, the beautiful woven and a stretch velvet. 


Lycra Knit-Swimsuit Fabric
I am running out of fabric storage space................. I'll make room!

Until next time.............

Bonnie

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

60 Minute Shawl Pattern-Easy!

I have had my eye on Nancy Zieman's 60 Minute Shawl pattern kit.  I think a shawl can change an outfit quickly.  I have looked everywhere for a pattern similar with no luck.  So I bit the bullet and treated myself to a little sewing splurge for Nancy's Notions since Fabric Mart Fabrics had mesh knit fabric on sale for $1.99 a yard at the same time. 

This pattern does NOT take 60 minutes!  It took me 40 minutes to pick out what fabric I was going to use and only about 20 minutes to sew it up!




Nancy Zieman's 60 Minute Shawl Pattern


Serger-three thread rolled hem
 I used my serger in a three thread rolled hem with wooly nylon thread in the upper looper.  It made the edges of the shawl ruffle slightly and the finish edge looked so nice
 
Shawl-Short view with grey dress
The fabric was very easy to work with.  As usual it was a purchase from www.fabricmartfabrics.com.  It's a mesh knit.  It's light and flowy fabric.  
  
60 minute shawl dots fabric-short view
 You can wear the shawl two different ways.  The long view has a smaller shawl collar and is about mid thigh length.  The shorter view is fuller, and the shawl is larger ending at the hip area.  Two for one, makes dressing easier.
60 minute shawl pattern back view-long version



60 minute shawl dots fabric short version


Mesh knit fabric close-up
 For the armholes I used my Steam A Seam 2 tape.  It comes 3/8" wide.  I trimmed the tape in half, making in only about 1/4" wide and snipped the tape every 2" so that it would curve around the armhole.  After applying the tape to the armhole with heat from the iron, I removed the tape then turned in the seam 1/4".  I then sewed once around the armhole.


60 minute shawl pattern long version front view


Serged three thread rolled hem close up


Universal needle 65/9


60 minute shawl dot fabric
 I made one shawl for myself and then turned around and made one for my Favorite Aunt for her birthday on Tuesday!

60 minute shawl pattern floral mesh fabric


60 minute shawl floral mesh knit fabric
 The fabric was so light and flowy that it seemed every time I took a picture, the fabric moved. 


60 minute shawl pattern floral mesh knit back view
 This is one of my new favorite, super easy, super fast projects.  What's next on my list of to do's?  Maybe a button front blouse.

Until next time...........

Bonnie

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Blessed with More Fabric

A Dear sweet lady from our church was cleaning out some of her sewing fabric and asked me if I would be interested in some.  WOW I hit the JACKPOT!  I am truly blessed with a loving church family.

There were 5 boxes of fabric.  Most of the fabric was between 3 and 7 yards of wardrobe style fabrics.  What a Blessing!  She had taste very similar to my own.  There were lots of blues, browns, greens and pinks. She seems to like floral and prints.  There were a few border prints.  I have never sewed a pattern with a border print.  No stripes or plaids.   There were a few knits but mostly polys, cottons & a few chiffons. 


Fabric gifted to me


Boxes of fabric and patterns


Fabric Sorted, Folded and Labeled-My Fabric Stash

It only took me 2 days to sort, re-fold & label all 109 pieces of fabric.  Dear Hubby loved it when ever he would walk by and I was ask him to help me fold a piece..... I can fold up to 5 yards by myself, anything more kills my arms and my folding is very off.  I liked the quality time with him!  It's funny, it can take me over 5 minutes to fold a large length of fabric but together it only takes about a minute!

I was also given a basket full of patterns.  Maybe about 50 or so.  There were wardrobe patterns, a few dress patterns and craft item patterns, and a lot of skirt patterns. 

The fabric and patterns were truly appreciated and I feel very blessed!

Until next time................

Blessed Bonnie






Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Knit Dress

Ok, so I couldn't get into the last stash busting fabric I picked out.  Maybe it's the arrows, maybe ALL the colors.  I'm just going to put it away and maybe it will speak to me later.

So instead I have this brown, aqua, grey sweater knit fabric that was screaming to me to sew another Muse Natalie dress.  One with long sleeves and short version!

Well when the fabric screams, I must listen!
Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress

Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress-Back View


Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress-Side View


Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie Abstract Sweater Dress

I didn't have a label on this fabric so I'm going to say it's right in there with the rest of the dresses in the $10.00 range. 

I wore this dress around the house the other day and I must say~ I LOVE IT~  I did make a mistake hemming it and the back hem is about 2" longer than the front hem........I'm not sure if I hemmed it incorrectly or since it's a sweater knit fabric that it stretches out........ anyways, I'll have to find time to re-hem it.

I must give a shout out to Debbie from  www.stitchesandseams.blogspot.com, she blogged about the Muse Natalie dress and I was so taken by the pattern that I HAD to try it.  This is one of my FAVORITE blogs.  She's a great sewer and I find her style very similar to mine.

Next on my list is going to be a button down type shirt.  I really would like a white button down.  I'm thinking a muslin or two first..........


Until next time......................


Bonnie

Friday, February 13, 2015

Stash Busting #4 Natalie Muse Dark Blue ITY Knit Dress


 

Only two more fabrics to go in my Stash Busting!  This time I've used the dark blue ITY Knit.  It is so silky and soft and it was a dream to sew.  I did have to mark with masking tape the wrong side so that all of my pieces showed the same.  It can be tricky with this type solid fabric.
 
 
Muse Natalie Dark Blue ITY Knit Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Stash Busting



Muse Natalie Dark Blue ITY Knit Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie Dark Blue ITY Knit Dress
I had four yards of this Dark Blue ITY Knit Fabric and the shorter version only uses 2 yards!  I am very excited about that! I'm going to save the other two yards for maybe a cardigan.

The total for the Muse Natalie Dark Blue ITY Knit Dress is $3.50 per yard x 2 yards = $7.00 + $1.00 for notions for a grand total of $8.00!  I love it!

This dress would look great with a red sweater or I do have a blue striped cardigan or a tan one........  So many choices!

I'm still having doubts about the multi colored ITY knit left.  We'll see if I start feeling it.

Until next time.......................

Bonnie



Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Stash Busting #3 Muse Natalie ITY Knit Maxi Dress

I thought that the Muse Natalie Dress Pattern would be a good choice for the ITY Knit fabric from my fabric stash bust. 

I have never made a PDF pattern, more less an independent pattern.  The pattern pieces went together great for the pattern itself, easy as pie!  Making the pattern was easy too, the directions were simple and very well written.  I now have a new FAVORITE pattern!

I chose to use the rust abstract print ITY Knit for my first try.  The fabric was perfect since it was so busy, you wouldn't be able to see any mistakes or trials.  But I shouldn't have worried, the dress went together great and I couldn't wait to try it on!

Muse Natalie Orange ITY Maxi Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie Orange ITY Maxi Dress


Muse Natalie Orange ITY Maxi Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie ITY Dress Neck View

Muse Natalie Orange ITY Maxi Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie ITY Knit Dress Side View

Muse Natalie Orange ITY Maxi Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Muse Natalie ITY Knit Fabric Label
This is going to be a dress that gets A LOT of wear as soon as the weather warms up.  I like the maxi length, I can see wearing it out to dinner, to the beach or just running errands!  A total of $11.50 for this magnificent dress is a STEAL!

I only have two more fabrics of the stash bust.  The dark blue I know will be another Muse Natalie dress in the shorter length but the abstract multi colored ITY knit, I'm not sure...........  we'll see.

Until next time......................

Bonnie 

Friday, February 6, 2015

Stash Bust #2 Jersey Snake Print Dress

Stash Bust Dress #2 is the Jersey Snake Print Dress.  Easy as pie and came together within the morning.  Including a break to take the kids to the bus stop!  That's two of the 5 stash busting fabric down!


I really love the fit of these dresses.  The just slip on over your head.  NO worries about buttons and ties and zippers.  I am really thinking of ordering some black sandals to go with all these choices.

Snake Print Jersey Knit




Snake Print Jersey Knit Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Snake Print Jersey Knit Dress

Snake Print Jersey Knit Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Snake Print Jersey Knit Dress-Side View

Snake Print Jersey Knit Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Snake Print Jersey Knit Dress Fabric Tag
 
This dress hits the all time low price of $6.30 + $1.00 for notions for a grand total of $7.30!  That's what I call a DEAL!

 Now I want to look for more Jersey knit fabric............... no not yet!  I still have three more ITY knits to use up!

I think this dress would look cute with a sweater or a cardigan or even my pink leather jacket!

I have better get back to my sewing............


Until next time.................


Bonnie

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Stash Busting My ITY & Jersery Knit Fabrics

Since I'm on a roll with the new to me knit dress pattern I've concocted, I thought that now would be a good time to do a little stash busting! I found (2) Jersey knits and (3) ITY knits for this pattern.

Stash Busting Fabric Choices
My Cheetah print jersey knit was my first victim!  The dress turned out great and I was done sewing it within 3 hours!  Can't beat that!  I did shorten the skirt by 2" to have enough fabric.  I am thinking that this dress will get a lot of wear.

 
Cheetah Print Jersey Elastic Waist Dress www.sewplus.blogspot.com
Cheetah Print Jersey  Elastic Waist Dress


The Cheetah Print Jersey dress fabric was $9.72 plus $1.00 in notions.  Wow $10.72 for a dress that fits!

I am going to try to finish up the Jersey dress stash today and maybe get all the ITY cut out for the next week.  DH is coming home this week and we have a lot of catching up to do!  I'm going to make him take me to see my Mother, to a Gaither Homecoming concert, to Church and maybe out to Lunch!  Sounds like some dates to me!

Until next time....................

Bonnie