A blog about my adventures in sewing & crafting

Friday, July 8, 2016

Always Room For Improvement

I recently purchased Peggy Sagers' book Dressed to Kill Gently.  I found the book very interesting and have learned many things about dressing for my proportion.  Not my width or size but what looks best on my body.
Dressed To Kill Gently

Lots of Information

The body is so fascinating.  Did you know that you are most likely have the same measurements from the top of your head to the bend in your hip/leg as you are from the bend in your hip/leg to the floor.  Isn't that amazing!  Also most women are 13" from shoulder to waist.  Who knew.   I'm normal after all!

When measuring, make sure you have someone help you.  When I measured compared to someone measuring me the difference was inches.

 I am a Type 3, I need to use shoulder pads.  Lots of vertical lines like princess seams, sheath dresses and tucking my tops in (I'm slowly working on that one).

Dressing for proportions is having your clothing at a 1:1, 1:1 1/2; 1:3, 1:4 ratio on your clothing part of your body (shoulder to knee, or mid-calf or ankle).

In my closet are a few Bob Mackie jackets I have bought but never wore because I could never find anything that I thought went with them.  Since I don't wear pants, dresses and skirts were always a challenge to pair.  After measuring the length of the jacket (30") it says that I need a dress or skirt that only show 8-10" below the jacket.  Making this proportion a 1:1-1/2.

I am thinking of a white ponte knit princess seam sheath dress.  40" long, v neck and sleeveless.  I just thought that even a yellow sheath dress........  Now my mind is working!

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


Bonnie

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

I LIED! I Made Another Quilt or Two!

I know I said no more, but they were crib size!

We have a few babies expected soon at our church and a family friend's daughter had twins last month.  So really I needed to sew up 6 quilts, we'll see.............

My inspiration for the first quilt was a quilt kit I saw online at www.connectingthreads.com.  The anchors are cute but I didn't want to do applique so I substituted with three sailboat quilt blocks.

Inspiration piece

Sailboat Quilt Block

Quilt Top
Finished Sailboat Quilt


Looking through my quilt bin I found I had two jelly rolls.  One was in shades of pinks and purples and I thought that I could whip up something.

I sewed five strips together then cut them into 12" sections.

Strips sewn together

Quilt top

Quilt Top
I think I have figured my free motion quilting stress.  I like squares.  I like sewing straight lines.  Free motion stresses me.  It makes me fret.  I did my best with these two quilts but so relieved when I was done.  I don't like free motion quilting.  It's just a fact.

Walking Foot

Loopy loop free motion quilting

Quilt top complete

Crazy loops
I quilted with Sulky blendable 30wt thread.  I'm not sure it was worth $6.  It would break easily in my machine.  I couldn't see the variegation of colors in person but I did notice it shows up better in the photo.

Sulky Blendable 30wt thread

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

Bonnie


Monday, July 4, 2016

Simplicity 1355 Jumpsuit Refashioned

Girl M brought me her Simplicity 1355 jumpsuit to shorten since she has grown 6" since I made it.  She wanted it cut to shorts.

Simplicity 1355

Back View
I am hoping that she will get the rest of the summer use out of this jumper.

Simplicity 1355-turned to shorts

Back view
I think it looks so much better.  I am thinking another one in a chambray fabric would be nice too.  We'll see.........

Simplicity 1355
Until next time.....................

Bonnie

Friday, July 1, 2016

Butterick 6838 Orange Floral Nightgown

I told you I was going to make another nightgown.  I have had this thrifted sheet for years and I knew I held onto it for "something special".


Butterick 6838 Orange Floral Nightgown

Front Yoke

Back Yoke View
My ITY & jersey knit fabrics were driving me crazy.  I had them sorted by solid and prints and each took three bins.  I went through them and sorted them by cut lengths.  Now I know which ones I can use for dresses compared to just a top.

It's so much easier to glance over and see what I have for what I want to sew up next.

Knit Fabric Sort
I'm off to sew something wonderful!

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

Bonnie

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Chivalry Isn't Dead!

*** NON SEWING POST, JUST A LIFE STORY ***


Dear Hubby and I have aged 20 years over this past week.  Our dear, sweet daughter who is only 14 and we knew boys were in her future, just not yet, let us know that the time is here.

This past week while we were at her softball practice we see a young man who we noticed approaching us from across the fields was dressed ALOT like my Dear hubby himself.  (Shorts, white socks, that the kids nag him about, polo shirt buttoned all the way to the top),  He was my husband's Mini Me! The young man approached Dear Hubby and I as we are sitting on the bleachers and introduced himself as A.J. and asked for permission to TALK to Dear Daughter.

You could have heard a pin drop on those bleachers!

Dear hubby waited a few seconds (it felt like hours) and shook the boys hand and just commented "As long as you behave."

The young man made polite conversation with us over the next hour, showing us pictures on his phone of his truck motor he & his Dad rebuilt, telling us he's a linebacker with the Varsity football team and that he enjoys hunting................

Even though my Dear Hubby was pretty stoic during most of the conversations, He approved of this young man.

Well I must say I am still in shock of it all!

This young man had the manners to ask for permission before he even talked to her and spent time with us before he even met her in person.  I am just in awe!

And this young man brought her a small gift when he introduced himself to her.  Gummy bears and a soda.  A way to a teenagers heart!

Then to top it all off, that evening he called her to tell her he enjoyed meeting her and her parents and hopes to get to see her again soon!

Dear Daughter sent a message to A.J.earlier in the day through a cousin letting him know that her parents are "OLD FASHIONED, JESUS PEOPLE".  I'm sure there are worse things to be know as but I am proud of that title and proud that she knew she had to let him know what to expect before........before.......... anything.

 know she's only 14, and I knew this day would be coming sooner or later, we also know she will be having friends whom are boys and we can either ignore it, and hope she doesn't sneak out or lie to us about her where-a-bouts or we can be chaperones in the next couple years of her life.

Not having any other girls before her, her Dad & I don't know what we are doing but we started with setting some rules for her.  I think if we get it out in the open up front we won't have to worry about any confusion of what appropriate behavior is with a boy.
  • They have to be chaperoned at all times.  Not friends, but his parents or hers (Adults).
  • No kissing
  • Hand holding is ok
  • Side hugs are ok
  • NO public display of affection at Church (elbows may touch when sitting)
  • Must sit with us at Church (I know how whispering & giggling gets)
We are new at this and I hope we are doing the right thing.  But I will say that this young man WROTE the book on manners and how to win the heart of a young lady's parents.

I do hope my boys were/are as well mannered with someone else's daughter.  Maybe this could teach them a thing or two!

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

Bonnie






Monday, June 27, 2016

Butterick 6838 Purple Floral Nightgown

I must send out a great big THANK-YOU to Beverly from bjsewmuchmore for inspiring with the Butterick 6838 pattern.
Butterick 6838 Nightgown Pattern

My usual nightgown pattern has been the Butterick 5571 but I've tired of the pattern and wanted something different.

This was just going to be a muslin from a thrift store sheet left from Dear Son's wedding.  But I'm wearing this as I type!
Purple floral nightgown

Side view

Back View

Purple Floral Nightgown
This pattern fit right out of the package.  No alterations whatsoever!  I think this may have been the first time in my entire sewing life!

I made view "B", sleeveless and mid calf length.  I could have sewn this up in an afternoon if life didn't need attention!

I am so pleased with the outcome that I MUST make another one!

Thank you again Beverly!

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

Bonnie


Friday, June 24, 2016

Butterick 6821 McCall 7160 Navy Dot Dress

My little nephew was turning 2 this past weekend and I didn't have a thing to wear to his party!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

I sewed up another frankenpattern dress Saturday morning and finished the hem about an hour before I had to leave!  No pressure here!

Since the party was outside and it's only 100 degrees here, I thought a shorter version was the best choice.
Butterick 6821 Navy Dot Dress

Self fabric neck binding
I didn't have any fold over elastic for the neckline so I just made binding from the dot fabric.  It worked out better since it didn't take away from the scatter dots of the dress.

Shoulder gathers
I used invisible thread for the shoulder elastic channels.  I didn't want to take away from the fabric.

Side View

Dress with Belt

$10.50 Dress
I really like this version of the dress.  Cool, comfortable and classy!

Going out
I repotted my African Violets back in March and they are blooming beautifully!  I like the way they look in my dining room window.

My Violets

African Violets

I'm thinking of ordering Silhouette Patterns Dressed to Kill Gently book and their pattern of the month the #212 Kors Zipper Top.  After watching the YouTube video on the top there seems to be many possibilities for this pattern.

I'm off to sew something wonderful!

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

Bonnie