Max's jacket is done, but the closure is wrong

I keep hoping I'll eventually get better at this "sewing thing."  My jacket is done and fits well, but the closure is too small and boring.  Plus, it would fit better if it would overlap (on other words, the jacket is a little bit big.)

I see what I come up with in the next few days and then photograph it on me.  But here it is for now.

Metro Embroidery Thread....look at all the pretty colors

Like others new to embroidery, I'm totally overwhelmed, but I want EVERYTHING.  I did some reading on thread and everything I read said Brothers are not very picky on thread.  I also read positive things about Metro Embroidery thread so I took a gamble and bought a big old box of it.

It came today and I went to work on sorting and organizing.  Right now it's still all sitting on my cutting table, I need little drawers to put it all in to.  Guess I'll go shopping this weekend.

This is where I was overwhelmed.  First I sort of organized them by color, but I finally decided it would be easier to just do them based on numbers and the charts.

Here they are sorted based on the printed out charts.  I also want to print out charts from the other companies to compare with.  There are lots of online conversion programs to play with too.  I was using the one from Metro Embroidery to start.

I did my first embroidery with these threads and it turned out great.  Not a single break or snag or nuttin'.

This is my very professional set up for thread and the conversion numbers for the next sample I'm working on.

This is not an "official" review as of yet, since I'm just starting, but so far I'm pleased.  For the price it did a great job.  I really don't have anything to compare to yet.  I'm sure I'll eventually start collecting thread from other companies too.  Maybe in a couple months I'll do my official review.

My first embroidery project ~ Two-sided pillow

Well, this was a fun little project.  I only have a few colors of thread right now, and I wanted to go "big" so I found the two larger images on the machine and went for it.  Then I sewed them together to make a two-sided pillow.  I think it's a wonderful idea and I think I'll be doing more two-sided pillows in the future.

My new machine ~ Brother Dreamweaver XE Innovis-is VM6200D

Phew, is that name long or what?  I'm thinking of just calling it the monster.  It totally dwarfs my regular machine, a Pfaff Expression 3.0, which is sitting right next to it.  I feel a little sorry for my Pfaff right now, I know it's having a bit of a "size" complex.  I will have to make sure it doesn't feel left out.

Okay, so no review or anything like that yet, I just got it today.  Somehow or other I lugged it upstairs, unpacked it, and then when I saw the manual, I almost fainted.  I'm not joking, the manual is 3/4" thick.  And that's not including the quick start guide and the accessory guide, etc.  And I kept unpacking part after part.

Wow, it's loaded.

Here's the first photo, set up on my sewing table, which really needs some cleaning up now.

I did start with just the sewing functions, went through the bobbin winding and threading and such.  The automatic thread just blew my mind.  I stitched through some basic stitches and a few others....but quickly left that for the embroidery portion.

It wasn't hard to figure out at all, and here is the very first motif I stitched up.  I only have a few colors of thread to start.  I've pretty much filled up that first 5x7 hoop with different preloaded designs.  And now I'm definitely read to shop for thread and such, and patterns of course.

A Zillion Stitches

I'll keep this short and sweet.  I think I stitched out a zillion stitches today.

My sewing machine is a Pfaff Expression 3.0 and I can finally say that I've stitched every programmed pattern.

There is still more to work on, but look at some of the cute things I can do:

The turtles are adorable, and the elephants are kind of fun too.  And cars and squigglies and all sorts of fun stuff.

Penny won it!

How cool is that?  There's a good reason to enter contests on Pattern Review, you can win some amazing things.  So far I've only won 2nd place (twice) and have won a really nice iron (which I didn't need, but oh well) and a pattern of my choice.  This time for 1st place I won a $100 gift certificate from Sawyer Brown Fabrics.

I'm kind of doing a few things at the same time.  I'm on my 3rd project in a SWAP, and working on Max's Jacket by Silhouette patterns.  I'm really trying to do it Peggy's way, and I've made a lot of mistakes along the way, and keep starting over.  But I'm wanting to learn, hence the do-overs, though Peggy says not to make a bunch of muslins.  I think I finally have a working muslin done correctly....almost that is, I still have a slight neck issue to deal with.

Some how or other the idea of an embroidery machine popped right in to my head and now it won't go away.  I was looking at jackets online and saw a cute denim one with embroidery on it, totally my style.  Of course now I want a a machine, and I want it NOW....but I've been sick these past few days and not able to do any test drives, only window shopping online.

I also told myself that I was going to learn how to use my machines to their maximum capacity.  I think I'll start today (since I'm on hold with the jacket.)  I want to stitch out every stitch on my sewing machine, and learn some of the other functions. I have a Pfaff Expression 3.0 which I love, but naturally only use the basic functions.  

There are also a lot of things I can do with my Babylock Enlighten which I haven't tried.  I have the entire giant manual that came with it, so after I finish up my sewing machine experiment, I will move on to the serger.

SureFit Designs - Blouse

Phew, completed.

The only thing I did different than my original muslin was that I did not do the single sloped shoulder.  I decided against it.

It fits quite well.  I did extend the front darts all the way in to the bottom hem (the hipline was too large).  The collar took two tries.  I like the style, but I didn't do the right application.  It's fine though.  The sleeves are still bunchy in the back, but I still don't know how to fix that.  At least the front sleeve is smooth.  The sleeves could be narrower, but I am actually able to move in this blouse.

The darts hit in the right place and it doesn't ride funky.  I did a little slit in the sleeve hem, but you can't really see it in the photos.

Bodice muslin is complete - now on to the real thing

I did a new adjustment today (once again, no photos yet) and made a larger sleeve.  My bodice is basically a 40" C cup bust, but I made a 44 sleeve, which is 15 inches at the bicep.  Even though the size that is for my bust fit by ease, it just was too tight.

I seriously was lying in bed this morning wondering why I hadn't thought to use Peggy Sager's idea of a larger sleeve and larger armscye in a bodice that fits.  I couldn't wait to get home from work to figure this out.

I was able to redraw on the muslin I had made, cut out new sleeves (short ones) and the fit was great!

So this weekend I will attempt my first SureFit Designs top using the muslin I created.  My plan is to make a tunic length top with a convertible collar (still need to draft) and 3/4 sleeves with some sort of hem option (no clue here yet.)

I think the designing is harder than the fitting.  Since I just did the convertible collar on the Ottobre blouse (the sheer blue one) it's still fresh in my mind.

Or I can do the blouse #600 from Silhouette Patterns, which actually would be easier as it has no facings.  I think that is my plan.  I can save the separate collar stand for a later date.

Wish me luck, I hope to have photos to share soon.

~~~~

Alterations to the muslin include the following:
rounded upper back ~3/4"
forward neck (removed about 1/2" from the front neckline)
Sloped right shoulder ~ 3/8"
Forward Shoulders (both) ~ 5/8"
Shorten mid back length and added to back hem.
Size 44 sleeve in size 40 bodice (used size 44 armscye)

SureFit bodice

No photos today, just some ramblings.

A while back I was working on fitting a good bodice for myself, but got sidetracked as I seem to have more fitting issues than I want to deal with.  Then I was watching the Silhouette Pattern webcasts, and Peggy says just make her pattern.

Which I did, but it still was a lot of work.

I'm back to working on my sloper bodice which I drafter from my SureFit Designs kit.

I swear, every single day my bust or waist or hips is a different measurement (okay, so I've put on a few pounds again...I'll admit it).

I drafted for a 40 bust, 35 waist (ouch) and 40 hips and C cup. I drew out the bodice and some of the hip using the Dress kit.

Made up my muslin and got to work on the fitting alterations.

My first adjustment is a rounded back, about 3/4-1" (I don't remember exactly) but that keeps me from choking and brings the shoulder a bit forward.

But now my back is a bit too long, so I take out about 3/4" in the mid back (long dart across) and now it fits great.

I put in the sleeves but things are all wonky, take out the sleeves.

With some more work and experimentation I come up with a 3/8" sloped shoulder on the right shoulder only, then 5/8" forward shoulder on both.

That seems pretty good, so I work this out on the sleeve too, shaving off extra fabric on the back sleeve.

Funny thing is, these are all alterations I do regularly, just fudging as I go.

I drew this all out on my paper pattern, even separate left/right fronts and backs.

Tomorrow I'll make up a new muslin, so wish me all the best.

Cute top ~ New Look 6817 OOP

Super duper cute top, I can't wait to make it again.  Sorry I'm not modeling it myself (same with the other tops lately, but it's so cold outside.)

I got this pattern at a resale shop in town and I LOVE it!!!  I did the view on the bottom right.  It has a seam in the back, and then two gathered sections.  One higher than the other on the different sides.  I cut a straight size 16 and my fitting issues were that I need to allow myself a bit more in the waistline, and take some out of the upper back.  The sleeves were flattened a bit in the back.  The upper chest could have been a smidge smaller, but that's so minute.  Oh yea, I drafted the neckline to be 3/4" closer on each side rather than such a wide boat neck.  That worked great, and I did end up raising the shoulder seams (shortened the sleeve portion.)

So there is some work I need to do on the pattern, but I love how it looks.

This is the 2nd top from my SWAP.  For some reason I thought I had a larger piece of fabric, but the wrap top wasn't going to fit so I had to come up with an alternate plan.  I'm really happy with this one.