Growing Out My Gray-6 Month Update & Another Cowl Neck Top

It's been 6 months since I was inspired by Coco'sLoft to grow out my gray hair.  I do not regret growing it out.  It was like an adventure to see what beautiful coloring God has given me; It wasn't what I had expected, maybe more.

My coloring is unusual and I have to learn to make the most of it.  My haircut later this month should get the last of the coloring off and I will be 100% uncolored.  I don't get any negative comments as I thought I would have.  But a few people (two gentlemen from Church) surprised me by commenting on my hair.

6 Month update

Back View

Side View

I sewed up one more cowl neck/drape top.  Another wardrobe staple.

Blue Cowl Neck/Drape Top

 I made this skirt back in July last year and have worn it a few times.  The top I have that matches it is not my favorite style but I do wear it on occasion.  So why not sew up a top I feel more comfortable wearing!

Blue ITY knit

Short Sleeves

Cowl/Drape Neck

I sewed Dear Daughter a dress.  She wore it to Church this past Sunday.  She's so pretty.

Dear Daughter Dress

I'm working on a muslin for a woven top pattern I picked out.  Wish me luck................

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

Bonnie

Cowl Neck Top and June Sewing Plans

I sewed another cowl neck/drape neck top.  Nothing too exciting.  It's a wardrobe builder piece that I think will get a lot of wear.  I used the same daub print fabric as the half circle elastic waist skirt I made recently.

Daub print cowl neck top

Half circle skirt & Cowl neck top (Looks like a dress)

With black cardigan

$9.97 Top & Skirt

I can wear the pieces together or mix and match with other solid pieces.



I think for June I may pick two or three patterns (that I haven't sewn up yet) in my stash and work on sewing something new.  I am the worse about sewing up my TNT patterns over and over again.  So since it's a new month I will try to expand on my sewing patterns and try something new.

I'm thinking a top pattern, a jacket pattern and maybe a woven summer dress.

Here's what I've picked.

June Pattern choices

I'm off to sew something new.................

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

Bonnie

A Summer Outfit

I went through my closet the other day and remembered how much I LOVED this dress.  I didn't wear it often because the top is a little big and the lower part of the top looks a little funny at the waist.  The fabric print is so pretty to me.

Original Dress

Dress posted here.

I spent an afternoon removing serged thread at the waistband and removed the crossover top from the 1/2 circle skirt.  I added a simple 3/4' elastic to the waistband, turned to the inside and restitched down.  I think that I will be able to get more wear from this skirt now.

Recycled dress to skirt

 I had this brown ITY knit that would look nice as a top and the coral sweater knit as a cardigan.

Fabric choices to match skirt

ITY Knit Cowl neck top $3.99

I used my TNT drape neck pattern for the top.

Brown ITY Knit Drape Neck Top

Side view

 I used the McCall 6844 pattern for the cardigan.  I had this coral sweater knit that matched the skirt.  The only pattern change I made was short sleeves.

Simplicity 6844 Cardigan

 This sweater knit was easy to sew up.  I think the skirt and cardigan would look better with a white top.  Guess the only color ITY knit I DON'T have..........White!

Sweater Knit Cardigan

 I had the urge to sew up a 1/2 circle skirt for summer.  I had this daub print ITY knit in my stash.  I like the way it looks with the brown drape neck top and white eyelet cardigan.

With White Eyelet Cardigan

 I like it even more with my black cardigan.

With Black Cardigan

I'm in the mood to sew up another 1/2 circle skirt.  Or maybe another drape neck top in the left over daub print fabric.

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

Bonnie

Graduations, Memorial Day & Summer

Our middle child has GRADUATED from High School!  We survived his High School years!  We are proud that he graduated 51st in his class with Honors and a 3.55 GPA and 1/2 way done with his AA.  He will be working full time as a mechanic/tow truck driver during the summer until he decides what he wants to do.

We are so proud!

High School Graduate

Proud Parents

We also had a little graduation party with our Church.  Our Church's school had one graduate and one homeschool graduate.  So the Church had a little something for the three seniors.

Memorial Day is a sweet holiday for our family.  Both Dear Hubby and I have Fathers buried at the National Cemetery so we run by to see all the flags flying and give a little "thank you" for their service.

Girl M is stuck at home with us for the summer!  I'm so happy to have here during the next two months.  She is so easy going.  I asked her what she wanted to do this summer and she really didn't have an answer.  Water activities are out since Dad is in a cast.  We can't do much walking, so theme parks are out.  Maybe I can think of something creative to do this summer so she doesn't think we're too boring.

Happy Memorial Day!

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

Bonnie

Simplicity E1848 Jacket 9 Months in the Making

This post was started August 2016!

I've been looking for a jacket pattern that was unlined and suitable for either a suede or a stretch leather fabric.

After searching on Ebay I found the Simplicity E1848.  I'm not sure what the E is for but I can not find this pattern anywhere.  I think that this pattern is packaged for Wal-Mart.  But I can't find anyone who has sewn this jacket up anywhere on the World Wide Web!

Simplicity E1848

Simplicity E1848 Jacket

Simplicity E1848 

I loved that this pattern is princess seams and doesn't have a separate collar piece.  The waterfall collar is perfect for a soft leather or suede fabric.

I had to make my usual adjustments.  +.166" at bust, .25" at waist and 1.52" at hip seam allowances.  I used my knit armhole template that I keep handy so I don't have to use the sleeve pattern, I can use my sleeve template that fits me.  I'm going to make 3/4 length sleeves for this jacket.

The jacket length is only 23.25" and for my proportion fitting I need it to be 24", I lengthened the pattern pieces by .75".

I'm excited to sew this up and see how this jacket turns out.

Faux Leather Knits

2yds used: $10 Jacket

9 months later I finished this jacket.

I know I stopped sewing this in August because I was frustrated with attaching the collar to the bodice.  I almost threw it down AGAIN!

After two days of sewing and seam ripping and sewing and seam ripping again I officially HATE this pattern!  I don't know if it's the fabric or the pattern itself.  I had a tough time with the collar/waterfall.  The hem was 1-1/2".  This is way too much to ease in.  I should have just wadded it up and put it in the garbage can but the completer in me HAD to finish it.

Simplicity E1848 Faux Leather Knit Jacket

 The jacket is a little wrinkled from sitting in a basket for the past 9 months.  I lightly ironed the pieces with a press cloth over it but I was afraid I would melt it.  I may try to put in in the dryer with a damp cloth to see if I can get the wrinkles out.

Simplicity E1848-Back View

Dear hubby tried to be nice but he agreed that it looks like a garbage bag.  He said I have other patterns that look nicer.

Donate pile!

On the sentimental brighter side...........................

I bought Dear Daughter her first pair of heels.

Girl M's first High Heels

She's growing up.

She's sweet.

She'll be out of here before we know it.

She's a good girl.

She looks 7 foot tall!  Dear Hubby & I are officially the shortest ones in the family.


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

Bonnie

Pink & Gray

I get many inspiration ideas from Pinterest.  While looking for an idea for a dress for an upcoming wedding I found this photo.

In my stash I found these fabrics that were very similar.  So off the sewing machine I went.

ITY Knit Fabric Inspiration

A simple tank style maxi dress was first in order.  Nothing too exciting, just a simple dress to let the fabric print shine.

TNT Tank Dress

Side Slit

Side View

Neck line

ITY Knit Tank Dress

$9.00 Tank Dress

Next was a cardigan.  I chose the McCall 6444 with a little modification.  A little shorter so as not to swallow the dress.  I made this cardigan back in November 2015, I like it but it is a lot of fabric.

McCall 6444 Cardigan

Rolled hem finish

Rolled hem 

$7.20 Cardigan

I hope I can keep my sewing mojo going.  I have been on a roll!

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

Bonnie

Simplicity 7243 Dress for Graduation & Hubby Update

Only being able to sew a few minutes each day is very discouraging from a dedicated sewist point of view.  Taking care of Dear Hubby is a full time + over time job!  I miss being able to go into my sewing room for a few hours everyday uninterrupted.

Since sewing time is so limited I just sewed up my TNT Simplicity 7243 Princess seam sheath dress for son's graduation the end of the month.  School colors are red and black and I thought that this ponte knit fabric would be a great color choice.  Nothing too fancy, just simple and comfortable.

Simplicity 7243 Graduation Dress

Ponte Knit Dress

Side view

$7.20 Dress

I've purchased Young Living Essential Oils with a home diffuser to help go a little more "natural" in both home and health.  I thought that I would "LOVE" the oils.............well............... I will have to work on getting use to them.  I am very sensitive  to scents.  Dear Daughter loves them all and helps me with mixing them into the diffusser.  My favorite so far is peppermint and lemon for focus & energy.  I would have never mixed the two scents together but it's nice and refreshing.  Everyone raves about Purification.  Daughter LOVES it.  It's YUCKY!  Maybe if I give it a few weeks and try it again.

Essential Oils

Since the beginning of the year Dear Hubby and I have changed our way of eating to a Keto diet.  Low Carb style with high fat, med protein and low carb.  We've done really well and after 5 months I have lost 22lbs.  It's a slow loss, but I feel better and for the first time in my whole life, I am not hungry ALL the time.  No cravings, no cheating, I'm impressed!

Dear Hubby is 4 weeks post surgery now.  His foot is in pain daily.  He is not a complainer but I see his body jerk while sitting in the recliner.  The pain is sometimes so bad he has to take a pain pill.  He is so against taking pain meds since he sees daily what addiction does.  I try to tell him to take the meds so he's not in pain but he's so afraid of becoming addicted to them.

New Hard Cast

He had the staples removed and a hard cast put on.  He says it's uncomfortable.  His foot is in a different position than before and I think It will just take time.  His foot swells in the evenings and it pinches his little toe and his toes turn blue.  He does good during the day to keep it elevated but he's almost 5 weeks in and he's tired of resting.

I'm going to try to sneak some time this week in the sewing room.  I am not sure what's next on the cutting table.  Something easy.  But maybe I'll try a new pattern................maybe!

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

Bonnie