My World in Pictures

Hiya!!
I miss my blog family!!😖😭

I realize they got apps for pics, but I wanna unload'em all here.

Yeah I got Insta, but this is my gram!

Mocha-gram!!😃😆

This post is pic heavy and not all sewing related. 

Hey Fam!!!✋🙈

I'm Still Here! and Coverstitch Machines

Hello fellow bloggers, I'm still around, lol!
It's been a very busy and rather hot summer here in Houston. I do have quite a few projects that I've worked on this summer, just haven't had time to post them, however I will get to that very soon! School is about to start again, (yey, lol!) which gives me mornings to sew. I've been reading some of my favorite blogs, in the evenings during the work week, which keeps me motivated ( Sunday's is my only full day to sew, btw). Between work and keeping the kids busy this "Super Hot" summer, I've managed to complete one or two projects a week! So basically, I'm still doing my thing, lol. Unfortunately, the construction of my sewing room hasn't happened, even tho I keep hinting at my DH, who also promised to get me a coverstitch.....

Speaking of which, I'm sort of torn between two models. Firstly, quite a few peeps on PR, seem to love the Janome CP 1000, and there's also a following for the Brother 2340CV. Now, I must admit that I like the extra room the Janome has, kinda reminds me of a regular sewing machine, but where do u buy those special needles? The Brother uses pretty attainable needles, and the price is good online, but some people have problems with tention and basic operating of this one. I dont kno, do I really need one? Okay, maybe it's more of a want, but I really think i need/want one! I love how they finish hems on knits and apply binding, eew, and that's another bonus too! I think I need an intervention or something, I have too many machines as it iz,....but they all do something different, ya kno.

My attempt at copying....and drafting

Although I've been M.I.A for a while, I've still managed to find time to work on a few projects. I've always wanted to duplicate some of my favorite RTW pieces, in different colors, fabrics and better fit. Because of my height, some tops fall too short on me, and of course the inseam of some pants are short too. I decided to conquer a top first.

Here's the top I'm copying, nothing fancy but I really like it.

Now, I've had this top for,.... lets say many sizes ago, lol. It's nothing fancy but I love the smocking/shirring details on it, and I've held onto it for quite some time, with hopes to one day duplicate it.

Since I have some new pattern tools, (yeah) a much needed new cutting table, and a big roll of masking paper (from Lowes), I guess I'm ready!

Here's a pic of my pieces all cut out with fabric pinned. I actually started off by lying the top down on my paper, pinning it to the paper to keep it straight and tracing around. After I traced, I added length and width where I needed, then added in my allowances.

Around the neckline and below the breast is this shirred band so I used elastic thread, hand wounded onto my bobbin to recreate the look. The funny thing is, when I attempted this on my computerized machine, it would not work, it just made, well straight stitches. So I had to pull out my Singer machine to get shirring, lol. With a long stitch and contrasting thread in my needle, it worked perfectly!

I used my serger to roll the edges on the band, before I shirred it. I also used it through-out the construction which made completing it a little faster. Here's a close-up of the top after I finished it.

The outcome was exactly what I wanted, with a much better fit!

Here's both tops