Got an idea swirling in my head - S2154

Jeez, I don't blog in awhile (okay, so ages) and I come back and absolutely everything is different.  Hopefully this will work out.

I've complained in the past of having ordered a bunch of fashion magazines and then doing nothing with them.  Most the time I thumb through them, see something that does catch my eye, but I forget about it and once again, nothing is done.

Ah ha....a cute little jacket caught my eye yesterday as I've been thinking about a small jacket/sweater to wear over sleeveless summer dresses.  Here is a photo from an ad in Elle magazine.  The jewelry the ad is for didn't catch my eye, but look how sweet the eyelet jacket is.



So off to hunt down a pattern and I see Simplicity has a cute match in their S2154, a retro outfit.  Also, take a cute at the little top.  I think it is a beautiful classic and I can see myself possibly wearing it too.  I'm not much of a bow person, so that might have to be left off, but the lines are pretty.

A new top for a new body

Today I went to buy a new sports bra at a really nice Running Store. While there I took a quick look at tops and shorts, dreaming of when I can wear something so skimpy and adorable. I had on a t-shirt I had made recently and realized it fit me quite well and would be a great basis for a tank.

So I got home and literally just whipped it out.

Hot dog, how cool am I?

It's the top in the post below this one, though the 2nd top I made is a size smaller and better fitting. I made the tank exactly the same though I took out the center back seam. The armholes are the same size as well as the neckline, I just turned those under about 3/8" and basted them down by hand, pressed well then used the coverstitch close to the edge.

Oh, and the material was one I got over a year ago from Fabric.com that was specially for fitness garments. I have enough for another top and want to try to bind the edges. I'm still not too good at binding, but I have to learn some time.

And yes, I'm flexing my muscles and showing off how much slimmer I am now.

New Look 6735

I haven't done a PR review yet as I need to make this a 2nd time, without the alterations I started with (silly silly me.)

I decided to sew a size 12 then do the pivot/slide technique to add at the bust, waist and hips. The top fits well, just not as well as it might have had I left well enough alone.

Pivot/slide at the bust causes too much width for me right above the bust, at least in this fabric, which seems to be growing. It was an ITY I bought at Hancock's once.

So the plan for the next top is this, cut a size 12 above the bust, and a 14 at the bust and hips with a bit less of a waist curve than the pattern has. I also will do about a 1/2" forward shoulder.

The fabric could also use a bit of stablizing at the neckline seams I believe.




And here is top two of the KwikSew pattern I have shown in the post before this one. I sewed the top one size smaller than before, so I think it is a Small. It fits better. What I'd like to do is extend it to a dress length and wear it with a simple belt for summer.

KwikSew 3593

Ha, I sewed something finally.

Okay, I do have to explain why I've not been around. I've been busy working hard on dieting, and sewing and dieting just don't go well together. I still have a good 10-15 yet to go, but I got back down to my Weight Watchers Lifetime Goal, so I'm pleased. I've lost about 25 so far, and 37 since my all time high some time back.


I'm really satisfied with the new Points Plus plan and definitely recommend it to you if you're at all interested in something new.


Also, I love my new toy, the Fitbit. You can look for that online if interested and also if you end up getting one, let me know so we can be "friends." It's a type of calorie tracker, like the BodyBugg or BodyMedia. I had the BodyMedia GoWearFit in the past, and LOVED it...but I was allergic to the metallic contact.

Here's the top I made, review is completed and up on PR.


As anyone knows who's lost weight and sews....it is so darn difficult. It's starting new. I haven't had much luck sewing, but I wanted to start up again. I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Merry Christmas to you all

I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I've not been doing much sewing at all lately as I've been working and the last few weeks have been pretty much full time. I haven't quite figured out how to fit sewing in with working. Oh, and I've gone back to Weight Watchers, which mentally takes up my time too.

For the New Year I really want to learn how to prioritize what is important to me, which is sewing. I'm so very happy when I'm holed up in my sewing room with a Netflix movie playing and working on a project.

The last bra I was making has ended up in the trash. I think I need to continue to work on the pattern that fits me right now. Though it won't fit as I drop weight, but that's easy enough to deal with also.

So for now I leave you with one of my favorite family Christmas photos from 2001.

Dying to match

Another joke here. I started a bra using the tricot and matching lace from an old half slip I bought at Goodwill. I have a small piece of pink powernet that matches close enough to use in the band, but no other trims seem to match.

My goal was to try to match the color using RIT dye. The plan was good, it just didn't work. Of course if I spent the time and effort perfecting it, it would have worked, I'm just too lazy.

The RIT Dye website has lots of great information and a mixing guide to make 500 colors. I will plan on using this again, but when I want to dye all the items to match, not to match something else.

Here's what I came out with. Oh, and I'm going to go ahead and use it anyway. I need to be less particular.


Bra I'm making:


I have a great mistake to share too. I cut the length of channeling I needed, but dyed the long piece I cut it from instead. What a bother.

Sewing Panties

I decided to sew 4 pairs of the same sized panties hoping the 4 girls in this family could each try them on, see how they fit, etc. and then maybe I can sew some more....oh, just for fun.

HAH!

I really am not crazy about sewing panties. Now it could be due to the fact that I used tricot, a not-fun fabric to sew. I have problems with the slipperiness and then the stretching of the elastic. I guess it takes practice.

I'm thinking though that I will try my old sewing machine as the feeddog are set wider on my newer one, which makes it hard to grab the fabric.

I made 3 pairs with the picot elastic and I don't like the outcome. Even washed the elastic did not get smaller. Maybe the tricot is too light to handle the weight of the elastic.

I do like the single other pair I made with the light elastic lace.

We'll see what the girls have to say.