MOT #1, and more!

My first entry in the," Month of Tops." is NewLook 6952.

This is my 2nd attempt @ a FBA, so i think I'm getting better. I love button down type shirts so I plan to make a few more for work.

Simplicity 2579

Simplicity 2579

As I mentioned in a couple of posts back, I'm playing catch-up! This was one of my many summer dresses which I love, the color is so vibrant! Now, anyone who knows me, also knows that I kinda stear clear of color,lol. I'm a "Black-Out" chic, open my closet and that's all you get, lol!

Well, after my client asked me, do I ever wear any color? It got me to thinking, this year, I will only make and buy fabrics in color....time for a change.

McCalls 5972, and my first FBA

First off, when I saw this I thought it was adorable! I love the ruffles and of course a sheath dress is a classic. But seriously, ...I have fitting issues, ... and this is a fitted dress! I really wanted this dress for a holiday party, but I have never done a bust adjustment, ...which is really needed. Well, I purchased this pattern when it was on sale, and traced the front and back bodice pieces to practice on. I also found my only and favorite book on fitting, Fit for Real People, by Palmer Pletsch.
I followed the instructions and they were really good, but I know I need more work on this. I made several muslins for 5972, and my dart placement is still questionable, lol.

It's not complete, I still need to finish the arm holes and hemming. I'll consider this a wearable muslin, lol. Eeeew, I could just scream, the chiffon, the chiffon well it wasn't very hard to work with as I thought. A little starch and she was easy to cut and sew, however, once again I did this......

Yep, I burned a hole, right in the front..............uh, huh, yes i did. I've lost several cool points for that, lol. And, and... my darts are too, I dont know..lol.

 Basically, I'm unsure on HOW to correctly place them after the adjustment. The fit is okay, but them darts are pointing to high upwards, or something, lol.

I love the dress, the instructions overall were very easy to follow. So I will muster up the courage to try this again, the party isnt until November so I do have a lil time.

I just need to go to FBA school, before I conquer another fitted bodice that's not a knit!

Seeya!

Hold up! I've got a parting shot for ya, see if you can figure out what happened here, lol....

Yes, it is what you think, like I said .....muslin!

B.W.O.F. 7/09 - 117

Up until now, I've never sewn anything from BWOF, I've actually been quite intimidated by the whole tracing aspect, and sewing without actual construction pictures, lol. Well, the July issue I must say was really my style'. I heard soo many reviews on PR, about the 2/09 issue, (which I am still hunting for, btw) I was sure I missed the better issues. Then, my mag arrived and I almost couldn't decide what I wanted to try first, so I kept it simple for my first try!

I picked this top, since it was one dot and considered pretty easy, and believe me it was! I decided to use one of the vibrant border fabrics from High Fashion Fabrics, it's very light-wt and cool. The instructions originally called for 10 rows of shirring, but I seriously needed like 15 more, in a addition to that! The top perimeter band, i decided to use a rolled hem, in a contrasting black instead of hemming. It seems to pop against the red. I also hemmed the bottom using a rolled hem to match the top.

I added about 4 extra inches to the length to show off the print. It's originally tunic length, but i rock this as a dress with leggings of course! Instead of using the zig-zag stitch across the elastic, i used the elastic thread in my bobbin for shirring which worked out better imo!

Overall, I really like this simple but cute top, It's been worn several times this summer, lol.
I've got even more, pieces out of this issue that i will be reviewing coming up soon.
Seeya!

Fabric Store Visit (catch-upz)

It's been a while so I'm catching up, lol! Okay, months ago I visited one of my favorite fabric stores here in Houston, "High Fashion Fabrics" I scored some really nice pieces! Which btw, I've already managed to sew up.

The one on the left is a navy knit, The red which I love is dotted, with a great border, you'll see
what I've done with that coming up!

Great cotton prints which I love.

This knit fabric feels so fab, and the colors are tdf!

I can never get enuff cotton sateen fabrics and these have stretch! I've sewn
these up already as well.

Okay what ya think, I got more ......seeya!

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.