Simplicity 7243 Woven to knit pattern

While on a trip to Alabama I visited one of the largest thrift store EVER!  It was a Wal-Mart at one time, now it's Harvest Thrift.  It takes me and DD a good two hours to go through it.  My favorite place to go to while in Alabama!

I purchased a bolt of knit fabric (still in the wrapper).  Along the selvage edge it's marked for Jo-Anne's.  It's a little thin but I think it will make a great muslin for knits.

I found a pattern that I think will work for the leopard print fall wardrobe fabric.  I have the pattern it's just too big.  I decided to give it a try and used the thrift store bolt fabric.

Simplicity 7243 Dress Pattern

Simplicity 7243 Dress Pattern knit muslin

The dress turned out GREAT!  I only had to add 1/2" at the seam allowances of the hip area.  I wore it to church last night and it was comfortable.  The fabric is thin but it's always summer in Florida so I think I will get a lot of wear out of it!

Simplicity 7243 Dress Neck View

I did not use the neck facing pieces in the pattern.  I just turned the seam allowances in and used a double needle to stitch around the neck.  I did the same thing on the hem and the sleeves.

Simplicity 7243 Dress Back View 

I also cut the back piece on the fold so I didn't have a back seam.  

I'm cutting out the leopard/cheetah print fabric now.  Wish me luck!

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

Bonnie

New Look 6853 Vest & Butterick 5649 Skirt Fall is Coming!

Fall is my F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E time of year!

I thought that since it's only Fall about a week here in Florida I would just go ahead and make my own Fall season!

August 4th I decorated the house in all my Fall stuff, then I thought I would just go ahead and work on a Fall wardrobe too!

New Look 6853 Vest Butterick 5649 Skirt

The New Look 6853 Vest was super easy to make, I only had to add my usual hip increase.  I like the princess seams for easy increase.  I take my increase and divide it by 12.  It's usually only about 1/2" or less at each seam allowance.  

I found this orange t-shirt in the closet and I thought it went very well.  The fabric also has lime green and purple, yellow and a little beige too.  The fabric I purchased over the summer at www.fabricmartfabrics.com I'm sure it was on sale cheap, It was wonderful to work with!  Soft as a baby's bottom and just a little stretch and noooooooo fuzz everywhere!

The Butterick 5649 skirt was easy too.  The only trouble I had with the directions was for the fly front zipper.  I watched a few youtube tutorials and it came out fine.  The length was perfect too.  Not too short!

I did have enough fabric left over I made DD the Butterick 5649 skirt too.  I love it on her, she's just ok with it.

New Look 6853 Vest 

Butterick 5649 Skirt

I'm making a muslin of a woven fabric pattern to make for a knit dress.  I have hundreds of patterns and NOT ONE for a knit dress I had in mind!  I will make due!

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

Bonnie

McCall's 3588 Skirts

I found a skirt pattern that was not only easy but looks nice too.  It's a straight skirt with a back vent and back zipper.  My first attempt was about two sizes too big!  I know I measured myself but it must have been a fat day!  I ended up taking the skirt half way apart and taking in over two inches of the sides.  Now it fits perfect in the waist and hips but it's a standing room only length.  When I sit at church I feel it shows a little too much knee.  The second version I added length to it and it's soooooo perfect!

McCall's 3588 Skirt pattern

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt Blue Twill

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt cutting layout

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt grey suiting front view 

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt grey suiting back view 

I've been working (slowly) on a McCall's 5057 jacket pattern also.  I made a muslin and it's ok, I made the muslin out of a tan cotton fabric and I had to piece the lining of silk shantung? for the sleeves and a lightweight cotton woven for the body and the front body is of the tan cotton.  This baby is HEAVY!  Maybe it's the heat here in Florida but every time I try it on, I just want to get out of it!  I have planned on using a boulce woven fabric with a polyester type lining for the final garment but I'm not sure if that's what I want to do.

McCall's 5057 Lined Jacket Pattern Tan floral

I'm more exited about making a fall wardrobe.  I have a group of fabrics that I am very interested into making skirts, vest, jackets, and dresses.

Fall wardrobe fabrics

Starting from the left:  Cheetah Print knit (Princess or sheath dress with 3/4 length sleeves), Brown suiting fabric (Skirt, Dress, Bolero Jacket), Corduroy Print (Straight Skirt, Vest, & skirt for DD), Tan suede (gore skirt, jacket), Plaid suiting (skirt or dress and jacket).

That's a lot of sewing!  I'm so excited!

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

Bonnie (Aunt B)

What a Summer!

The kids have gone back to school and Dear Hubby is at work today!  What to do with myself and ALL my free time?

Did 30 minutes of Pilates
Fixed two kids breakfast
Walked 2 miles
Took a shower
Took kids to bus stop & waited over 30 minutes for late buses
I've deep cleaned both bathrooms
Talked to my husband's uncle on the phone
Talked to my neighbor lady whose in a Rehabilitation facility with her husband
Cooked Dear Hubby Lunch
Washed/Dried/Put away 6 loads of laundry
Started dinner cooking...........................

And I wonder why I'm so tired at 2pm?

I'm glad to have the kids back to school.  I do miss them dearly but I need MY TIME!  I like the peace and quiet of no one home, no TV on, no one needing me to fix them something to eat!

We had a pretty good summer.  We went to St. Augustine for 5 days, played in softball All-Star games, did a lot of swimming in our pool, took a few naps.  The guys took a trip to Georgia to visit a friend of Dear Hubby who has retired, and one trip to Alabama to check on the hunt camp. Dear Daughter and I had a girls day out and had our hair colored & cut.  Couple of shopping trips.......  Lots of visits to my new nephew.  Who I am now "Aunt B", isn't that the sweetest!

July was a rough month for me, I had some back issues:  a bulging disc (I think). And that led to me walking funny and I damaged my meniscus in both my knees.  I am a Doctor dodger, but I finally had to bite the bullet and go.  I'm back to about 90%.  Knees are great, back still tires out during the day.  I'm getting older and it's no fun!

I did some sewing during the summer.  A dress here or there and a dress or two for Dear Daughter!  I couldn't believe she agreed to let me sew her something!  I made her the Butterick 5202 dress with a knit fabric I had bought from www.fabricmartfabrics.com.  The fabric was pretty slick to work with.  The pattern was easy enough, I will need to modify the top on the next version.  DD had to wear a tank top under it or a buttoned up sweater.

B5202 Butterick 5202 Knit Dress 

B5202 Butterick 5202 Knit Dress 

I didn't get a picture of DD wearing the dress.  It was just too much trouble to ask her.  12 year olds!!!

I did make the Butterick B4443 Dress for myself in a hot pink.  I really like how it turned out.  I also made the McCall's M5006 bolero style jacket to go with it.  

Butterick 4443 Dress

McCall 5006 Bolero

I made DD a dress from the same fabric as the McCall 5006 Bolero.  She loved the dress until she realized that I had something to match......................

McCall's 2442 Dress

DD wearing M2442 Dress

I'm planning on making some skirts soon.  Slim style at the knee.  Nothing fancy but basics to go with various tops/sweaters/jackets I have.  I am thinking a navy blue and a grey.  I already have a black.  I also have my eye on a beautiful blouce fabric from my dear neighbor that would make a lovely jacket.

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

Bonnie (Aunt B!)

New Look 6653 Daisies on Red Dress

I decided to sew up the New Look 6653 again.  I made this early last year for a day dress around the house.  I really like the dress, the only thing is that the dress is about 10" too big in the bust area.  I still wear it often it just looks a little funny.

The Red fabric with daisies and "he loves me"  "he loves me not...." sayings has been in my stash for a few years.  I like the feel and drape of this fabric and in the end the dress was perfect!

New Look 6653 Dress Front View

New Look 6653 Dress Back View

I have a new Nephew!  He was born June 3rd at 8:50AM, weighing in at 4lbs 8 oz.  He was Sooooooo little!  

I've made the mom to be two nursing tops and now that the baby has arrived I made her two more.  I used a pattern that I made shirts previously for myself and modified it to serve as a nursing top.  I could not find a pattern that I found suitable for her online.  Most of the nursing tops are a wrap style and she did not like a fitted top.  

I used the New Look 6891 top and made a under piece and an over piece.  On the under piece I left the breast areas exposed, serged the seams and any visible seams then added the over piece to conceal the exposed area.  I think the tops turned out pretty nice.

Nursing top under piece

New Look 6891 Nursing top

New Look 6891 Nursing Top

New Look 6891 Nursing Top 2

I'm going to see the new baby on Thursday!  I can't wait!  I'll take Mom her tops too. 

My next project on the table will probably be Simplicity 4265 sundress in hot pink!  and maybe even a bolero type jacket to match........................

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

Bonnie

New Look A6180 Second Time Around is A Charm!

It seems that whenever I make a pattern I can't just make one dress.  After Memorial Day and the compliments I received wearing the plaid dress, I HAD to make another one.  I worked on the fitting issue with the excessive ease in the bust/waist area.

I had the perfect fabric to make my second version with.  A stretch cotton from www.fabricmartfabrics.com that I bought some time ago.  I loved the Aqua/Green/Yellow/Hot Pink colors and floral and paisley too!

I have worn this version about 4 times since I made it.  It's a keeper!

New Look A6180 Aqua Paisley Shirt Dress Front View

New Look A6180 Aqua Paisley Shirt Dress Sleeve Detail View 

New Look A6180 Aqua Paisley Shirt Dress Back View

I know the back view is wrinkled, I wore it before I took a picture.  Wearing the dress, there are no wrinkles at the shoulders and back.

I have a red fabric with white daisies and "loves me"  "loves me now" saying all over.  I have been debating on making either New Look 6653 dress or the Butterick 5030 cross over dress with it.

You'll have to stay tuned to find out!

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

Bonnie

New Look A6180 Shirt Dress for Memorial Day!

I bought the New Look A6180 pattern a few months back and have wanted to make this dress since I first saw the pattern out.  Once I started my usual fitting measurements I noticed that there was 7-1/2" of ease in the chest area and waist!  That is A LOT of ease!  The lady on the cover picture does NOT have that much ease with her dress!

New Look A6180 Shirt dress

Doesn't this model look like Taylor Swift?

 

So I put the pattern away and made a note of the excessive ease, then on Thursday night I realized I didn't have anything patriotic or even red or blue to wear to church on Sunday.  I pulled out the pattern again and did my usual (Fitting Finesse with Nancy Zieman) changes to the pattern.  I only used 3" of ease in the bust area and waist and 10" in the hips.

I received so many compliments at church on the dress.  I am planning to make it again and I am thinking I will only make 2" of wearing ease on the top.  I now am a size 18.  On the second try I am thinking a straight 18 with my usual hip adjustments will work just fine!

New Look A6180 Shirt Dress Front View

Fabric Close up

I really like the fit of the dress and I love the back yoke.  The collar gave me a bit of a time and I do feel a little like Elvis when I wore it, I think I will just have to get use to it.  I may even put pockets in the next version.

New Look 6180 Back View

The matching fabric belt needed to be interfaced.  I wore it Sunday morning to church and by the time it was over the belt had crumpled into half it size and twisted like crazy.  I am thinking that a little structure to the belt will help a lot.

The sleeve design were really cute.  It perked up the otherwise plain sleeve.

New Look A6180 Sleeve View

I am going to make a muslin of the second attempt to try to remove some of the ease of the bodice I had to lower the armcycthe? 1-1/2" to fit for the sleeve increase.

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

Bonnie