So you don't think I'm ignoring you all

I have been working on sewing a new bra.

Cats are fighting with puppy.

I sewed a cotton tank to wear dancing (and had complements on it too.)

Puppy is still driving me crazy.

I bought a pattern to sew my daughter a skirt.

Cat had to have stitches...not from puppy though (just an injury...ugh.)

Animals are driving me crazy.

Oh, and here's a video of Penny playing in the sprinkler.
Click the video to watch if it doesn't embed right. I still have to resize my blog pages I think.

Just happy, and busy

Oh my...I really don't know what to say. This house has been turned upside down and inside out.

I finished a bra, yeehaw. Only specific details are that I am still working on the "PinUp Girls" pattern. This version is the 36E with the apex dropped about 1/2". It feels a tad tight, though the fabric has less stretch than some. I want to go up one size, do the same alterations, use the same fabric and see what I come up with.

Oh, I am using the band from Anne's "Classic Elite" in a size 34, drafted to a 35.

I would also like to do exactly the same cup in a stretchier fabric.

Also, I'm redrafting to take out a bit on the band under the armpit. So it will actually be a 35" at the bottom of the band and a 34 or so at the top.

Complicated, huh? But talk about cute....

At the same time I was taking photos of the bra, there was a quilt I'd done sewn many years past on the bed.


Since I can't really hang out for hours on end in my sewing room, I've started another knitting project. I'm kinda checking out the shops around town. I bought some yarn for a bag at a new shop, found out about their free knit time, and promptly started knitting and doing it wrong. Cables...oops. I ripped it out and will start anew.

Life is what it is when it is...don't fret it.

So darn busy

This little puppy is exhausting, but she's oh so cute.


It's not so easy to plop myself in my sewing room for hours on end, sewing and watching Netflix (I'm going through the old X-Files episodes.) But I have gotten some sewing done. I did another bra for myself and it fits pretty well. I still prefer a bit more coverage, so it's a process of continually tweaking a pattern.

I've learned that I prefer a 1" strap as this one is too narrow. I need a bit more coverage up near the underarm area to hold in my extra "plumpage." This band is a 36, the 34's seem a tad tight, so now I'm going to make a 35. Gotta love the customization part of it.

I've decided to take up some knitting. Now I'm not a great knitter, but I have a bit of a built in knowledge as my mother grew up in Germany where all little girls were expected to knit and such. She learned as a child and insisted I learn as a child. Oh how I hated it as it was so difficult, but I'm quite capable today. So I can figure out basic patterns and the internet is great for teaching new techniques.

I've ordered a few books from Amazon and they should be here soon. I started on a slipper pattern I bought and made up a pair the weekend we went to the dance workshop. But I had some errors and they weren't "perfect." I've started another pair.

I have to not let myself get carried away, buying yarn is as fun as fabric.

Here's the start of my slipper with a lovely bag my mother made me, perfect for a knitting project.


And I got a lovely selection of grab bag goodies from Fay's Fabrics. I was so excited by all the goodies and plan on ordering a few more grab bags since I'm so happy.

My daughter and step-daughter were already happily picking out the supplies for their new bras.

And just because I can't resist, more puppy pictures.

KwikSew 3300 for Kaylyn

Kaylyn is my 20 year old daughter with a lovely bustline (ha ha...she's going to kill me for that.) She also has a taste for fancy (i.e. expensive) lingerie. It will be fun to perfect a bra for her. My stepdaughter is waiting patiently in line for me to sew one for her too.

The pattern we chose to start with is KwikSew 3300. It is a young stylish design with the vertical seaming. I'm still reading about the different seaming in "The Bra-makers Manual." There is so much to learn.


I measured her as instructed (and it's the same in the book mentioned above) which would have put her at a 36C. She said she buys 32DD's sometimes 32D. The cup size is equivalent, so I traced out the 32D cup and we went for it. The cup seemed to fit okay when we held it over her bust.

I sewed up the entire bra in 32D except for attaching straps, and when she tried it on, the center front piece was too wide for her bust. Darn, so since it was supposed to be a muslin (ha ha) I cut it in half, took out as much as I could, sewed it back together, then covered the seam.

Here's the original bra before redoing the center front section:

And afterwards (when I do it again, I will have the underwires almost touching):



This is the final bra with the straps attached. I don't have any rings or sliders, and a personalized bra doesn't actually need them. The only issue I'm having is that the fashion fabric lining the lower cup is actually stretching out more than the lining fabric, so I'm getting a bit of bunching. I'll have to work on that issue. The top cup is lined in the same fabric, which is a very stretchy ITY. I thought the stretchy fabric would be good for Kaylyn as her breasts are noticeably different sized (to her at least.) She doesn't need to worry about support at this time.


And for the puppy photos for today:

Boobs

Finished up another bra today. I guess it's time I got brave and made some pretty ones. I did the Pinup Girls pattern I ordered, sized in 36 E. It totally fits except for a bit of extra right at the top upper cup. I'm going to "pinch" out 1/2 inch on the pattern and try yet again.

But I'm really happy with the shape. Oh yea, it's a big bigger than the wires I have, so I will redraft it a bit lower in the center front.

I'm also having lots of fun reading different Yahoo groups on bras.

I feel bad, no photos to post, but "guess who" chewed through my camera power cord already. Yup, the silly little pup who is still so adorable. I have another cord somewhere in my daughter's stuff to hunt down.

I painted my nails "Ruby Pumps from China Glaze as tomorrow is Red White and Blue at our line dance place. It's the most amazing color.

Yup, I'm still tired. Gotta love that puppy.

I'm a new mom...yup, me

Yesterday we welcomed Penelope (Penny) to our family.





I probably won't be getting much sewing done.

I did pick up lots of bra supplies when down in Wichita this past weekend and just this evening tried fitting my daughter. We'll see how that goes.

Pretty

Take a moment and watch this video.

Try this link to view it at You Tube.



My page doesn't fit it right and I don't want to resize it too small.