Simplicity 1072 Ponte Knit Top

I need to get out of my comfort zone when sewing.  I picked up the Simplicity 1072 pattern earlier this year with rave reviews for the top. 

I used a piece of ponte knit scrap leftover from a dress for the front and back and used 1yard of black ponte knit for the sleeves and neckband.  I didn't use the waist band for this muslin.

I was very pleasantly surprised that the sleeves didn't need to be enlarged for my size.  I did add have to add 1-1/2" to the bust for my full bust adjustment and 2-1/2" to the waist and 4-1/2" for the hips from the size 20 I cut out. I added 2" at the length.   Nothing unusual here.  The directions were very well written.  The neck band fit perfect into the neck.  Great job there.  I feel the neck is a little low for me but that's an easy fix.  The pattern was easy to sew up and I think I may be ready to make another. 

This will be a wearable muslin for me. 



Simplicity 1072



Simplicity 1072 Ponte Knit Top



Simplicity 1072 Ponte Knit Top-Back View



Simplicity 1072 Ponte Knit Top

If it ever gets cold here in Florida I will be able to wear this top.  We're expecting the upper 80's here until after the New Year!  Why did we cover the swimming pool this year?

I'm off to sew something wonderful!

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

Bonnie

Merry Christmas!

The weather here if frightfully hot! We hit a high yesterday of 89!  It's only suppose to be 85 degrees today.  The funny thing is it's the same temperature as it was on July 25th............El nino?

Merry Christmas to all & a Happy New Year!

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

Bonnie

Finally A Red Dress! Simplicity 7243 Again!

I have wanted a red dress for the holiday for a while now.  I used my TNT pattern, Simplicity 7243 and 3 yards of red ponte knit fabric.

I can dress it up or make it more casual.  I have a million ideas to go with this red dress. 

Simplicity 7243 Red Ponte Dress

Simplicity 7243 Red Ponte Dress

$12.00 Red Dress

Red Ponte Knit Dress

Simplicity 7243 Red Ponte Knit Dress

Since I don't own anything holidayish I made a cardigan to wear with the red dress. No poinsettias or holly here!

I used my favorite McCall 6844 cardigan with mesh knit fabric.  I like the leopard and rose print and I think that I will be able to wear it all year long.

McCall 6844  Mesh Knit Cardigan

McCall 6844 Mesh Knit Cardigan

I used a French seam for most of the cardigan and since the fabric is so thin, I used a rolled hem with red wooly nylon thread in the upper looper of the serger. I did a double collar, cutting one 1-1/2" shorter but leaving the length the same.

McCall 6844 Mesh Knit Cardigan-Rolled hem wooly nylon

 

My lady friend from church gifted me a box of large cone wooly nylon thread!  What a wonderful surprise!  I don't even know where to store them!  Merry Christmas to me!

 

Wooly nylon thread

I've been busy making rice heating bags for Christmas gifts this past weekend.  My mother in law gave me 20lbs of rice and I needed a gift idea to use it up.  It would take me a lifetime to use that much rice. 


Rice Bags from Dish towels



Rice Bags

My first ones were made from bath hand towels and even though they were ok, I thought they were too big.  I used microfiber dish towels to make these. Four seams, fill half way with rice then sew along the top.  Easy gift and ready to give.  I added a homemade directions tag and wrapped with a ribbon.  I bagged them all up before I realized I didn't have a final picture.  But I think you get the drift.


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


Merry Christmas!


Bonnie

Finished Quilt

I agreed to sew a quilt for a lady from our Church back in October and have finally finished it!  I sent it off to be quilted since it was so big. 

The lady seemed to really like it and will be giving it to her husband for Christmas.

I need a break from sewing quilts.  They are not my favorite but they are a nice break from my usual sewing.

Finished quilt



Quilting



Quilt back

Mr. Crane did a beautiful job quilting it.  The leaves were perfect to compliment the wildlife fabric she picked.

I am happy that she loved the quilt but happier to be done with it.

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

Bonnie

Brown Twill Long Skirt

Using my hacked skirt pattern from the Church lady, I wanted a longer skirt for cooler weather.  I added 8" to the length, making the skirt lower calf length. I used brown twill fabric from my purchase from Fabric.com.  The price of this skirt is $11.96 plus one invisible zipper and notions.  Under $15.00 is pretty good if I must say so!

After wearing the skirt during our trip to Georgia for Thanksgiving I LOVE it!  The only thing that I may change is the kick pleat in the back is over 10" long.....It's very comfortable but if I were to bend over the slit comes pretty high.......

I may try to find a wool to make this with too.  I really love it!  Maybe a denim too!  Or maybe another twill?  I can't wait to get sewing!

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


Bonnie

Another Camouflage Top & A Little Bragging!

One last camouflage top made for our trip in November.  Time got away with me so I am just now getting to posting pictures and blogging about it.

Camouflage Knit Top

Neck Band

 I used my usual TNT top pattern.  I made the sleeves elbow length and used matching knit fabric for the neck band. 

Back View

Sleeve

Easy top to sew up and will go with my green twill skirt and my black denim skirt.  I will get a lot of wear out of this top.

Now for the bragging part:


Boy F. giving me a silly face (But it's my favorite Photo of him!)

Our youngest son, who is only 16 has been accepted to start dual enrollment in college!  He will be taking three classes this coming semester along with going to high school.  He's only a junior!  We are so proud of him.  His guidance councilor informed us that he is currently #3 in his class of 475 students! 

He has been trying to find a job the last few weeks but here in Florida they have a tight law about being at least 18 years of age to work at most retail/foodservice places.  Since we live in such a small town it's tough to find something for someone so young.  He has found a few side jobs painting, pressure washing and yard work, now that he'll be attending college I think we'll give him a little break about working.  But when I see that credit card bill each month for his gas & school supplies, it hurts!

We are so proud of him and have spent the last week helping him with his online registrations and signing him up for all the online stuff he needs.

Thanks for listening & letting me tell you about my sweet boy!

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

Bonnie

McCall 6844 Fall Flame ITY Knit Cardigan & Tank Set

Another McCall 6844 Cardigan sewn up.  I also sewed a matching tank to go with it.  I can wear them separate or together.

This ITY knit was purchased at www.fabricmartfabric.com about a month or two ago.  I thought I may make a dress but the cardigan and tank gave me a lot more options.

I've matched the cardigan with the Muse Natalie dress I made last month.



McCall 6844 Fall Flame ITY Knit Cardigan



McCall 6844 Fall Flame ITY Knit Cardigan & Muse Natalie Dress



McCall 6844 Cardigan-Back View

The fabric was similar to a border print.  Darker at one selvage, lighter at the other.  I loved the lighter for the cardigan and was just able to cut out a tank from the darker.



Fall Flame ITY Knit Tank



McCall 6844 Cardigan & Tank set



$15.00 for a Cardigan & Tank set

I'm off to sew something wonderful!

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

Bonnie

Burgundy Twill Skirt

I hi-jacked the skirt pattern I made for the lady at Church.  I like that the skirt is simple, has elastic at the waist and a kick pleat in the back.  I added a zipper at the back. A simple twill burgundy skirt is a great wardrobe basic.



Burgundy Twill Skirt

I need to work where the zipper starts in the back some.  Practice makes perfect, I'll just have to make another skirt!  I love the fit and the ease to just throw on the skirt with a top and go.



Burgundy Twill Skirt-Back View

The twill fabric was purchased from fabric.com earlier this month.  The total for the skirt is $11.96 + zipper and notions totaled about $14.00.

Wardrobe picture:  Burgundy twill skirt with floral gauze top.



Burgundy Twill Skirt & Floral Gauze Knit top



Burgundy Twill Skirt & Floral Gauze Knit Top

Lulu comes in when I'm sewing to nap................


Lulu-Napping

Sammi the granddog came for a visit.  She's getting so big.  Girl M. wasn't too happy I was snapping pictures!


Girl M & Sammi the Granddog

I'm off the sew something wonderful!

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

Bonnie

Guess What Time of Year It Is?

From September thru the end of January it's Hunting Season at our house.  I'm not a big hunter but I love going to the camp, taking care of the "guys".  Cooking, cleaning, watching unlimited antenna TV, read a book or two or just sit in the sun and enjoy the cooler weather!

Girl M. is a hunter.  She'll hunt with her Dad if it's not too cold.  This year we moved hunting leases from outside Opelika, AL to Lumpkin, GA.  We've seen a lot more deer tracks this year so wish them luck!

I still wear a skirt when we go hunting so to fit in a little more, and maybe even sit with Dear Hubby a day or two in a tree stand I made myself some tops.............

I thought a camouflage dress was a little too much so I made two long sleeve shirts, one short sleeve shirt and re-fashioned a neon orange sweatshirt into a cardigan!

I used my TNT cap sleeve shirt pattern for the short sleeve t-shirt.


Camouflage Knit Cap Sleeve T-shirt

Camouflage Knit Cap Sleeve T-shirt

 I used my TNT tank top pattern for the long sleeve and my sleeve sloper template.  Banded the neck and serged the bottom hem and turned up and stitched. EASY!



Camouflage Knit  Long Sleeve T-shirt



Camouflage Knit  Long Sleeve T-shirt-Neck Band

 I ran out of camouflage fabric to finish the back so I just used 1/2 yard of black ponte knit I had on hand. 


Camouflage Knit  Long Sleeve T-shirt



Camouflage Knit  Long Sleeve T-shirt-Back View



Camouflage Knit  Long Sleeve T-shirt-Side View

 A purchased sweatshirt at Wal-Mart for $7.48.  I found the center front, cut up the middle, serged the two seams, turned and stitched.  I don't care for pullover sweatshirts so I just made mine into a cardigan.  The sleeves are very big on me but I can wear layers under so I just left it.

The cardigan looks wonky on the dressform, I was in a hurry to snap a few pictures before I packed up for our trip.


Hunter Safety Orange Sweatshirt Cardigan

 I must have had this fabric for a while, it was folded inside out so I never saw the camouflage, just the grey/white backing.  I found it while looking for something else!



Camouflage Knit Fabric Tag

 I used 1/2 yard of the ponte knit fabric for the back of one of the long sleeve t-shirts.



Ponte Knit Fabric Tag

The shirts ended up costing me $3.97 each.  That's a pretty good deal!

I'm off to sit in a shoot house and read a book for a few days!

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

Bonnie