McCall's 8487 Skirt

There is something wholesome about vintage patterns.  They are simple and true.  They are my favorite patterns to sew from and the McCall's 8487 is no exception.  The skirt came together so easy.  I bought this fabric from www.fabricmartfabrics.com some time last year and it's has been hid on the shelf.  It's a cotton stretch in a linen color.  I figure I could use all the stretch I could get.  The only piece that made me think was the lay out for the waistband.  I didn't wan't stretch with  that, so I laid it out perpendicular to the selvage.  Turned out perfect!

McCall's 8487 Skirt

I made the Simplicity 1197  dress with the same type pleat in the front but starts at the waist, I din't like it so much, so I was a little skeptical but I went ahead and made the front pleat skirt version.  Luckily the pleat starts much lower and I like that it looks so summery and casual and modest.

The pattern did call for a 2-1/4" hem along the bottom and I serged around the bottom and only hemmed 1-1/2".  I like the little extra length.

McCall's 8487 Skirt Front View-Pleat

McCall's 8487 Skirt Pleat

McCall's 8487 Skirt Back View

The fabric does need some serious pressing.  I ironed the pieces as I went but it may need to be starched too.

I had enough fabric left over to make 8 luncheon napkins with a rolled hem with my new serger.  

Rolled hem cloth napkins

I have shelves full of fabric and I need to get serious on using it up.  I have always searched a pattern I like then went shopping in the fabric corner.  I think I'm going to mix things up a bit and go in blindly and just pick a fabric then go find a pattern to go with it. (I'm wild like that sometimes).  

Fabric Stash

I'll let you know what's on the agenda for the next project soon.

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

Bonnie

Butterick 4443 Princess Seam Dress

Over the weekend I made another dress!  I have a little story behind this fabric:  I went last month to get my hair done by a very special friend.  She had a cape of this beautiful shades of purple watercolor like fabric.  She told me a customer had made it for them.  So while sitting waiting for my coloring to finish, I worked my way around the outer seam of the cape and found a selvage spot!  Jo-Ann's fabric!  On my next visit to Jo-Ann's I found it in the quilting cotton section.  The fabric has a nice thickness to it and I thought it would still be ok to use for a dress.  The only thing was when I laid out the the pattern for the skirt I was about 6" too short along the selvage width!   I finally folded the fabric crosswise for the skirt so that the pattern went the same way for both the bodice and the skirt.  Perfect!  I had about 6" of fabric left!

Butterick 4443 Princess Seam Dress

Butterick 4443 Princess Seam Dress-Purple

I'm thinking of wearing it with a purple cardigan I already have or maybe a white one.  I also have some purple grosgrain ribbon to use as a waist tie.  I will try to get a photo of me wearing it too.

My next project is going to be a skirt.  I found McCall 8487.  It's a vintage skirt pattern in my drawer of patterns.  I'm going to have to enlarge the pattern (what else is new!).  I had to add 2.15" to the waist and 2.5" to the hips.  :(.  

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

Bonnie

Butterick 5616 Spring Vest

I am a sucker for clothing magazines.  I love to tear out the pages and save pictures of clothing that I like, in hopes that maybe one day, I will make it. (Especially if I can make it cheaper!)

I found this picture in the www.womanwithin.com mailer.  It's SPRINGY, it's versatile and I think I can make it A LOT cheaper than $29.99!

Magazine Vest 

My Vest Idea

On my visit to Jo-Ann's I could not find a white background denim fabric.  I thought that this red, orange, white, purple & yellow stretch denim screamed SPRING!

I have made this pattern two other times.  I made a short sleeved cropped jacket in white denim and a 3/4 length sleeve jacket in brown floral from a curtain panel I bought at the thrift store.

Butterick 5616 Brown Floral Jacket 

Butterick 5616 White Denim Crop Jacket

I have wore both these jackets many times.  Over dresses or with a tank and jeans.  The pattern is easy to work with.  I always have a little trouble with the collar, but looks ok in the end.

Floral Butterick 5616 Spring Vest

Back view Butterick 5616 Vest

I think that this vest turned out just as I expected and I can't wait to wear it soon.  

The FedEx man just brought me a box from FabricMartFabrics.com!  I can't wait to dig in!

My next project is the Butterick 4443 dress with princess seams and full skirt.  I have to alter the pattern to fit my bust.  All those pieces........ wish me luck!

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

Bonnie

  

First Serger Project

I wanted to try out my new serger on making cloth napkins with a rolled hem.  I was a little nervous to change the dials on the machine.  Changing from a 4-thread stitch to a rolled hem was easy and I even changed thread color, then changed back to 4-thread stitch and thread color again.

EASY PEASY!

Rolled hem cloth napkins

I like to throw them in a basket in the dining room.  It makes me feel a little bit better for not using as much paper.  I just throw them in the washer when I do wash.

Basket of napkins

 I'm working on an apron project.  I have a favorite apron but I have been unable to find a pattern similar.  I decided to trace the apron out on paper and sew it up.  

Until next time.....

Bonnie

Something New!

Sorry for the absence, life sometimes gets in the way!

Well, I have something NEW to show you!

New Serger from the Dear Husband!

For my birthday this past week my wonderful husband told me to get a Serger!  I always hesitate about buying my own present, but I gave in since I knew deep down I REALLY REALLY wanted one!  

My old Serger, I found at a thrift store a few years ago.  It gave me more headache than three kids home on a rainy day from school!

Old Toyota Serger

I have sewn many items in the past 8 months while I have been away but I won't bore you with all that history.  I hope to be re-energized to continue posting.  

Until next time.......

Bonnie

Butterick 4957 Version 3 & Version 4

I seem to really like this Butterick 4957 pattern.  I made another dress from it.  I found this fabric at a local thrift shop for $4.00.  I thought it was a bit pricey for thrifting but once I got the fabric home, I think it is vintage and I LOVE the colors!

I reminds me of a vintage party dress!

A close up of the rose bouquet on the fabric.

 I wore this version with a red ribbon belt and red sandals.  It is so comfortable and cool for wearing here in the humid Florida weather.

Once I get going on a pattern I like I just can't stop.  I also made Version 4.  I found this sheet at another local thrift shop for only $2.99 and I thought with navy blue piping at the waist and  bias fold tape at the neckline and armholes would bring out more of the darker blue colors.

I also made the version with the scoop neck instead of the v-neck.  I had to make some adjustments to the neckline since it was chocking me!  I also skipped the zipper in the back.

I don't think I will ever get tired of making this dress.  I really love the fit and the ease of sewing the pattern.  I hope to get the mojo to sew something new soon.

My sewing mojo comes and goes.  I am always sewing something but not always things I want.  I just finished hemming 6 pair of work pants for Dear Hubby and a dog harness for Mr. Bojangles.  School will be starting in just a few weeks and as much as I am going to miss the kids I miss me sewing time.  We're going to be taking one last trip this summer with the kids and since we'll be gone 5 days to a remote area I am thinking of bring a hand quilting project that I need to finish.  We'll see how that goes.

Until next time......

Bonnie

Busy Busy!

We took the kids to the beach last weekend.  It sure was nice to just kick back and relax for the day.  No worries!

I have done a lot of sewing but just altering and fixing for the kids. I did shorten three pair of shorts for Boy T's girlfriend's dad.  I am not a big fan of alterations but when I do them I seem to amaze myself.

I had just enough fabric left over from my blue roses dress to make another dress and an apron to match.  I am almost done with the apron so I'll have pictures of that soon.

Blue Roses Dress #2 Front View

Blue Roses Dress # 2 Back View


Blogger is killing me today, so until next time....


Bonnie