The things you can do with a nightgown pattern...

This is my tunic. I fell in love with a simple tunic from Cabi. It took me months to find the right pattern with the right lines that I could then change. I landed on a nightgown. Butterick 5688. That's right, a nightgown. 
So all I did was leave off the sleeves.

And add a ruffle, which I used from another pattern...one of those bias ruffles that are like a big ampersand symbol  @. After learning how to overcast the edge, it turned out pretty much the way I wanted it to. This ruffle is what I used to finish the neckline...sort of like a reverse facing. then I stitched it down the center front of the tunic.

I would say that I like this tunic very much.  And you know what it's made from?  Some sort of charmeuse that I picked up at Walmart a few years ago...one of those $1.50 a yard  "content unknown." bolts.  Well, I washed it and washed it, and it's soft and silky and relaxed and pewtery and the perfect weight to layer under something.

I wore it yesterday to church with this very cool GAP velveteen double-breasted jacket that I got at the thrift store for $3.50. It had some buttons missing. I changed the buttons. It's perfect.

And if I ever get sick of wearing this as a tunic, I just may wear it as a nightgown.

What can your feet do?

For three days, I have been obsessing about something...
How to hem a bias ruffle edge.
I've had some failures...big time. And because of those failures, I nearly ditched an entire project.

Then a light bulb lit. The heavens opened...a chorus of angels sang, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
My sewing machine feet! I remembered somewhere, in the back of my obsessed mind, that my machine does overlock edge stitching, and that there just may be a special presser foot for that purpose.

See that? That is an overedge foot. And it's been living in my sewing room for two years....sort of like a guest...you're glad to have one around, but they don't really do any work.  It's designed to fold and roll your fabric and overedge stitch  all on it's own! Who knew?

So got out the book, I practiced for two days, and finally took the plunge on that bias ruffle edge.

And by golly, it works! So while it's not a Merrow edge, it sure does the trick for me!

So, My Cabi reproduction blouse is well on it's way to being completed. And I've learned something new. 

And I've also just ordered two more specialty feet for my sewing machine! So, do you have a special foot that is your favorite? Do tell! I'm excited!

Ten on Tuesday on Wednesday

Ten Things I'd like to do in 2012:

• Finish the Scotty Renovation
• Lose that 10 pounds for good!
• Bike a long distance.
• Commit to some personal, deeper, spiritual goals
• Sew more slipcovers.
• Organize and Revamp my closet!
• Make three new friends.
• Throw a party.
• Do a mini makeover of the master bedroom.
• Do an antique/ vintage/ re-make show and sell.

I love these lists. Of course, I'm all about lists, and I will want to achieve these goals just so I can check them off the list! I think sometimes I like to make lists just so I can check things off...it's a good feeling.


And how about some personal hi-lites from last year?

 A budget kitchen makeover (still not finished, that should be on my list for 2012!) and


                     A quick guest room makeover.

                              Our first Tent Camping

            Followed by the purchase of a 1961 Scotty.


                                    A got new job, and then another new job, and finally, a new job!

                              A visit from Lori, followed by my first ever podcast interview, and...

                                              A meet-up with Elizabeth, my knitting blog buddy!

                                     I made a custom slipcover. Which was a Very Big Deal for me.

     And best of all, a New Baby named Henry.

And Let's Not Forget Knitting 2011

Which, I realize, was way below what I have knitted other years. I guess I realized that although I love hand knit garments, I am not wearing the sweaters that I've made nearly enough to justify knitting more. There are a few sweaters that I wear regularly, but the others add more bulk than I'd like. And my knitted skirts? Love them. In fact, I've thought about doing a simple cable knit skirt like I saw so much of at Anthropologie early this winter.  I have resumed a beginner's knitting class, and  i am SO proud of their accomplishments in just  a few short months! That's where my real love is...teaching others to knit. So, in 2011,  I didn't do much, and what I did was smaller projects. We'll start with the most recent:

The Gaptastic Cowl

A Very Merry Christmas Stocking by Joy Green

                                                            Purl Bee Fuzzy Easter Chick

                                                                        Elijah times two.

Jess Hutchison Bear and Bunny

Lady Eleanor

                                                   Striped Baby Sweater by Martin Storey

And the last two are patterns that I created, and wrote, based on two pricey scarves by Fossil. Yup...I directly copied them, and will share the pattern with anyone who wants it.

                                                                   Facil Keyhole Scarf

                                                                    Facil Button Scarf

So that's my knitting 2011 year in review...somewhat paltry results, but enough to keep me more than
                  inspired to finish some stuff in my knitting bag and to try some new things in 2012!  I even have the slightest urge to knit a pair of mittens and socks!

A Year in Review...Sewing

I've never done one of these "look back" posts...maybe  to keep myself from the reality of how I have actually spent my time and money!

I was challanged this year, and I was disappointed many times. But I was also surprised at what I am able to do when faced with a fit issue or a pattern problem. So I have selected some of my favorite garments...favorite because they were a knock-off of something ready to wear, or because they represent a fit challenge that I conquered, or because it's something that I made and wore ALOT!

New Look 6007, with heavy modifications to create a knock off of an Anthropologie Cape. I wore this all                   of last winter and I'm wearing it again this year.

Simplicity 2284. Lori and I made a knock-off of a Cabi jacket. I was also able to overcome the FBA and make a perfect fit jacket for me!

Denim Shirt with modifications, made from McCall's 5433. I wear this shirt all of the time. Again,               conquered a full bust fit issue, and also added some fun pockets and tab sleeves.

                                                                             

Vogue1236. Love this dress (even though I look very sad wearing it!) ...and it made                                  the Vogue Facebook page!

My Cabi-inspired Military Jacket! have worn this SO much. I usually put lots of different gold toned bar, tack and stick pins on it.

Simplicity 2182. Oh, the pattern construction. Oh, the confusing FBA. But I did it! 

HotPatterns Kyoto Skirt, with my own modifications. Denim, cargo pockets...what's not to love? And it was featured in the HotPatterns email!

      Butterick 5495. A basic knit dress, which I wear so much.  Featured on the Butterick Facebook page!

                                                 Simplicity 2728. The perfect white jacket.

McCall's 6073. It's a maxi dress which I wore all summer long.

                                                  Vogue 1205. Red. Dress. What's not to love?

 And one more...just for 2012...My first pants! Which I plan to make again and again in the new year! Muslin after muslin until I found the perfect fit.

And that's my top twelve!  And the most awesome thing is, I learned as I made each garment,  I wear them all, and I realized that  I would rather take the time to sew anything for a perfect fit than to shop for hours and hours or spend dollars and dollars to buy something that isn't quite right. As with knitting, sewing bloggers have provided incredible inspiration and encouragement, and I look forward each day to see what you are up to in your world!  Thank you for sharing what you do, and thank you for reading my little blog! 

VOGUE 1257

My Last Finished Garment of 2011!

This is Vogue 1257, which I blogged about HERE.
It was a disturbing pattern in the way that it was designed, but I worked my way around it as follows:

After carefully reading the reviews on Pattern Review, I decided, since I already had the pattern and I already had the fabric, to plunge forward, even though brave seamstresses before me advised against it. But I had the pattern, and I had the fabric.

This dress has a very interesting construction, and had I known that, I probably would have never gotten the pattern.  The bodice/sleeve are all one piece, but only in the front. It’s the wonkiest thing I’ve ever seen, but what this means is that the sleeve, because it’s cut across the grain, ends up being very, very, very tight.

The instructions also clearly state that this is intended for a 2-way knit. I had gray ponte. So there you go. Ponte is NOT a two way knit.

AB Canada decided to cut the bodice/sleeve cross grain, which would give the sleeve more stretch. I tried that, and it was still waaaaaaaay too tight, and I didn’t have the energy or desire to figure out how to add a verysubstantial sleeve gusset like another reviewer did.  I thought about that sleeve all night, and then it hit me…

Duh…just cut the dang thing off and draft a  new, normal sleeve.

So that’s just what I did.  I used another dress pattern which had a similar bodice and a long sleeve option. I lined up that pattern on my existing bodice pieces and cut out a new arm hole,  and then cut a new separate sleeve. Easy peasy.

The dress then becomes a pretty basic piece to construct, and a great basic for my wardrobe!  So, there will be one more project off the list!

And, to top it off, I really, really like this dress! It was worth every bit of modification, and I  loved wearing it to work this week.

How are you going to finish out your Holidays?

The fact of the matter is, as much as I love Christmas, and I could live in a Christmas house year round,  I’m sort of glad all the  intensity of this week is drawing to a close. The last of the gifts have been distributed and we’re ready for a bit of relaxing over this extra long weekend ahead. It will be nice to sit back and enjoy a warm fire and the Christmas-ness of my house and just chill.

Of course,  I’m already envisioning the Spring Pantone colors and the upcoming season’s “must-haves…” oh good gravy and it’s still only December!

Actually, I am DYING to get into my sewing room again to boost up my winter-dreary wardrobe. I have so many projects piled up and would love to just dig in. Dig in and not come up for a few days. I wonder if I can make that happen?  I made that gray ponte Vogue dress  a few weeks back?  Well she's just been hanging around the dress form waiting for a hem...which I should reasonably be able to do tonight so I can wear her tomorrow.

Well an interesting thing happened a few days ago. My husband and I joined a gym. We are both meeting with a trainer next week…and no, it’s not the “Silver Sneakers” trainer that was offered!  We chose the pregnant trainer instead. This should be very interesting.   We’ve been talking about the fact that we will probably be much more motivated to go together. Not to mention the fact that we can be on the competitive side once this gets rolling….you know, a chart on the fridge and all.

I think I’m excited about it. 

I think we’ll make it work.

And I’m looking forward to the free smoothies that came with our package.


And that's what I'm planning to finish out the Holiday Season. What are you up to the rest of the week?