Islander Sewing Systems #232 Hangin' Out Express v1

I sewed a man's shirt for the first time.  I used the Islander Sewing Systems #232 Hangin' Out Express pattern by Janet Pray.  I really like her techniques for sewing and I'm finally getting better and better sewing with less pins.  I still use them occasionally but not as often as I used to.

I made Girl M's friend the first version of this shirt.  I sewed up a Large but the next version I will try a medium.  It fits him but I think it's a little big.

The collar gave me the hardest time.  Sometimes I think I just get impatient.  I took a little breather then it went together fine.

#232 Hangin' Out Express Work in Progress

Back View

 AJ was happy with the shirt.  I told him the sewing was far from perfect to just wear it fishing & around the house, but he said he was wearing it to school the next day! 

I learned so much making this shirt and I am looking forward to making him another version soon.

AJ modeling shirt

I have a few pair of Firefighter dress pant to hem for a friend then I'll be ready to start another project.

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

Bonnie

Girl M. Sweet 16

Every morning on the kid's birthday I take a photo of them when I wake them up.  Girl M's turned out super cute because of Bobo.  Look at that face, he doesn't look like he's happy I woke them up!

Birthday Photo

The Saturday after her birthday the family came over for a little cookout and cake.
Girl M was making deviled eggs, wearing my apron, she looked like a mini-me!

Mini-Me

Girl M's Friend........AJ, he's been around for a few years.  He's a sweet boy and I tell him all the time how "perfect" he is.  They get kidded because they could pass for twins!  I mentioned to him I was going to try to make him a shirt and he's actually excited!  I didn't get that "don't you dare" look like I do from my family!

AJ-The "Perfect" one

Girl M wore here green dress I made this month.  I think she's worn it about 4 times already!  I'm so happy she likes it.

Simplicity 1612 Green Dress

Girl M and AJ with a little cake.

"Sweet" 16

Girl M. passed her driving exam with flying colors.  Our last birdie is getting her wings!

Our Last Driver

We had to take a quick selfie before school.  My last day driving her to school.

Selfie before school

I saw this utensil caddy on QVC last week and thought it would work perfect for my sewing scissors. 

Utensil Caddy

For ALL my Sewing Scissors

Room for more

I'm going to start working on Girl M's friend a shirt from Islander Sewing Systems.  The #232 Hangin' Out Shirt.  He seems excited but I've never made a men's shirt......wish me luck!

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

Bonnie

Simplicity 7103 Shoulder Princess Seam Dress

I found a shoulder princess seam dress pattern in my stash of patterns!

I seem to be drawn to the Design Your Own Dress series of patterns.  This pattern is for woven fabrics but I'm going to make it for knits.  I only have to do minor adjustments for my first pattern alterations. Size 18 bust, 20 waist, then adding 1/4" to all the seam allowances for the hips.  I may have to do a sway back adjustments and re-angle to shoulder seams but that's pretty usual for me.

Simplicity 7103

Simplicity 7103 

I am liking the bottom left view the best.  Classy in a solid colored knit fabric.


MOVE OVER TNT PATTERN SIMPLICITY 7468! THERE'S A NEW FAVORITE IN TOWN!!!

I sewed up a quick muslin of the Simplicity 7103 in a black polyester knit.  It's more like a double knit but I couldn't find the tag so it's a mystery polyester knit fabric.

Simplicity 7103 Black Knit Dress

Neck View

Princess Seams Topstitched

But I can't believe that the fit is about a 99% perfect!  I decided to finish the neckline and the armholes by just turning and stitching 1/4".  I also top-stitched the princess seams. 

 I'm still fighting allergies and I am one HOT MESS!  My eyes are red, my face it puffy and I think my bra is full of tissues!  I will spare you all my runny nose and my messy hair.  I HATE pollen!

Add caption

I know that there will be another version of this pattern in the works soon.

I love it when a pattern & fabric come together to make a beautiful dress!

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

Bonnie

TNT Simplicity 7243 Princess Seam Sheath Dresses

Dear Hubby had a work dinner to attend and I had nothing to wear so I sewed up this black/blue version of the princess sheath dress.  Then I found out the dinner was a western theme.  Too fancy to wear so I'll just wear it to the next dinner or to Church.

Simplicity 7243

$8.80 Dress

Since I was on a sewing spree why not sew up another version!  I had a few pieces of techno/scuba knit in my stash I wanted to use.  I've never sewn with this type knit and it sewed up beautifully.  It feels so luxurious.  The dark blue on the side panels is very slimming.

Simplicity 7243

Side view

Back View

$8.80 Dress!

Girl M is going this morning to get her Driver's Licence!  Our baby is growing up so fast!  I will keep you updated.

I'm still looking for a shoulder seam princess dress pattern.

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

Bonnie

TNT Simplicity 7243 White Tan Lace Sheath Dress

The Simplicity 7243 is an older pattern but has been my TNT base for my sheath dress.  I've hacked this pattern so many times I've lost count.  Recently I've had to re-draft the pattern to size down.  I think a great fitting princess seam sheath dress is a pattern staple.  This pattern has the princess seams to to the armhole, I plan on looking for a pattern that the princess seams go to the shoulder.

Simplicity 7243

The brown kraft paper is my old pattern and the white vellum is my newest version.  Getting smaller!

Redrafted pattern pieces

Inspiration

I loved the coloring of the lace and the lace placement at the center.  I preferred a slimmer fitting skirt to the flared version.  I think this is a pretty good copy.

Simplicity 7243 

I top stitched the lace panel with invisible thread since I didn't have a tan colored thread to match.

Lace close-up

Back View

$8.49 Dress!

My new Twin Fit dress form has arrived!  You can't seem much difference in the picture between the new dress form on the left and the old plus size on the right.  But my dresses fit on the new form so much easier.  No more wrestling them on and off.  I may pad the belly/butt area a little but maybe I should just do more exercise.........

Dress Forms

I also ordered a magnetic seam guide from Wawak.  I thought that it would be helpful.  So far I really like this little gadget.

Magnetic Seam Guide

Magnetic Seam Guide

I'm off to find a shoulder princess seam pattern.

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

Simplicity 1612 & McCall 6074 Dresses

Since it's Girl M's Sweet Sixteenth Birthday I will post just about her. 

Two new dresses for Girl M.  Simplicity 1612 View A again.  I'm thinking I might just make me a dress out of this pattern! I thought green would look good with Girl M's hair color.  The only green fabric in my stash was this pique knit.  I had never sewn with pique knit.  It cut easily and sewed up beautifully.  It had a 2-way stretch which I didn't think about until she tried on the dress.  I could have given her just a little more circumference in the chest area.  But she said it was ok.

Simplicity 1612 Green pique Knit Dress

Back View

Simplicity 1612 Green Pique Knit

$2.00 dress!

McCall 6074

I bought the McCall 6074 pattern a few years back in hopes to make myself something.  Girl M got the first version.  It was an easy sew and she liked the fabric print I picked out for her.

I trimmed 1/2" from the neckline and used fold over elastic.  The armholes I just folded and top-stitched.

McCall 6074 ITY Knit Dress

 I lengthened the pattern by 2" for modesty's sake.  She never even mentioned it.

Back View

 Next time I will lower the elastic by 5/8".   She even like the way the print is split light on one side, dark on the other.  I could have turned the fabric print the other way but it wouldn't have given her much stretch around her.  But as long as she likes it, it's ok with me.

Waist Gathers

Simplicity 6074

$7.98 Dress

I'm getting dress jealous so I'm going to have to make me a dress next!!

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

Bonnie

Islander Sewing Systems

After watching a FREE weekend of classes at Craftsy I came across a lady named Janet Pray from Islander Sewing Systems.  I watched her MotoCity Jacket tutorial.  I really enjoyed the way she taught and her way of sewing.  I never intended to make this jacket but she kept me interested during the whole 2+ hours.  Her sewing technique really intrigued me. 

I tried to watch her shirt making class but I was unable to get time to watch it.  I hope that maybe in the near future Craftsy will have another free watching weekend. 

If you have any advise or comments about the Islander Sewing Systems, please let me know.

I FINALLY ordered my new Twinfit dress form from WAWAK.com!  It's expected to be here today!  I can't hardly wait.

I sewed up two sheath style dresses and I would love to show them to you but they won't fit on my current plus size dress form.  I tried to take a photo of them hanging on the hanger on the door, they looked like really bad Ebay picture. LOL!

I hope to get photos soon for you.

I saw Silhouette Patterns had new Spring patterns out.  I am really liking the #618 Bailey's Cape Sleeved Blouse. 

I'm not sure I can justify paying $15.99 for the pattern but I'm really liking it.

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

Bonnie