BWOF 02/2009 108A

You didn't think I'd make it only once, did you? Gotta have a version I can wear to work too!

My first Burda World of Fashion project!!

But before I get to that...
I started on my mother-in-law's jacket last weekend - finally. All I have to show for many hours of work on it is the lining, however, which was quite disappointing. I'm hoping that the more I sew the faster I can put things together. I haven't even cut out the actual fleece for the body of the jacket. Sigh... Here is the completed lining. I'm hoping to work up the motivation to finish up the jacket this weekend.

And now.... I started my Burda World of Fashion subscription with the February issue. In it was #108 - a simple knit top. Perfect initiation project, right? According to their charts I'm a size 46. However, I figured since I was going to serge the whole blouse (which would mean 1/4 in. seam allowances), I'd be okay - and if I wasn't, didn't matter, at least I'd be more familiar with what size actually works for me. I chose a cheap knit fabric that I wouldn't mind wasting in case I ended up with a wadder. Quick and easy project, but WHY did I END UP SPENDING 2 HOURS trying to put the right combination of pencils and pens together to use for making my 5/8 in. seam allowance while I traced?!! I'm not even going to talk about that. Needless to say, I finally ended up taping a mechanical pencil, short color pencil, and my marker together. Yikes!
Everything was straight forward after that. I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to add the seam allowance to the center front fold as well - I just went ahead and did so. I'll have to find out if that was correct.
So here is my completed blouse. It's a gorgeous day here today, so I took my picture outside. Couldn't decide which one to post, so... Anyway, I'll write a pattern review later. Time to go out in my new top!

If wishes were garments...

...I'd have hundreds of clothes sewn up by now. But alas, they are not. I really truly have no excuse for not sewing. I still have the jacket for my mother in law in the queue. I also received my Burda World of Fashion magazine for February!! Woohoo! I just haven't had any sewing mojo lately. I have the time, so that's not it. I've told myself that making a simple top may cure me, but haven't gotten round to doing that yet.
I'm wearing my last jacket like crazy, and know I need to make more since the style works so well with my work wardrobe. I did have to re-create and replace the center back piece of my lining, however, as it was pulling apart at the seams. I guess I'll have to add some extra width across the back on my pattern.
So... the weekend looms. Will I be sewing? We'll see what tomorrow brings.

No fun!

My mother-in-law saw my almost complete jacket on New Year's eve and decided I would be making one for her. Mine fit her except at the shoulders - mine are about 1/2 inch broader, and of course the arms were too long for her. So.. I bought some more of the same black fleece, and another silky for her jacket lining. They've been pre-washed and have been just sitting there on the ironing board for the last two weeks. Why? Because sewing for other people just isn't as much fun! Yes, I want to make this jacket again. Yes, I want to move on to another project (I desperately need jeans!). But with this project in the way, I have no motivation.
So, I have nothing to show right now. I need to find out how to shorten the shoulder seam on a garment with princess seams to the shoulder. I'll probably just wing it, but again, since I'm procrastinating, I'm in no rush.
In other news... I subscribed to Burda World of Fashion (BWOF) magazine on the GLP news site. However, somehow my subscription didn't go through. Now I'm rethinking it completely. I want a subscription, but my only resolution for 2009 was to spend less and save more. Sigh... we'll see what happens.

Simplicity 3628 Finally Complete

Original Pattern picture here: Simplicity 3628

My version - which I luuurve!
Pic in bathroom Mirror; Front; Sleeve detail - I can wear the cuffs folded or unfolded - I love the sleeve length (with my 4 inch addition)!
Back view; Side view (too lazy to fix pic - sorry for the tag in the middle); Front open
My first lining (I added a little pocket too!); Closed with collar up; Inside out

Firsts for me: Lining, Covered buttons; More top stitching than usual.

Once the pieces started to come together, this was a fun jacket to work on, and I'll definitely be making it again (a TNT pattern, baby!). I did view B of the jacket, in a size 18, but decided to use the top stitching placement (cuff, pocket flaps, collar) from view C. It adds fabulous texture and interest to the jacket (see previous post for close-up pictures of these portions).
When I realized this jacket was lined, I groaned inwardly because I'd never lined a top or jacket before. Once I got past my whining (tee hee), I decided to do the lining first, then the jacket (a great idea from LindsayT). I really like my lining - which I got for $1/yd at the super-cheap store in Rosemead. I decided to add an extra pop of color by backing my buttons with bright red ones. Now I understand what people mean when they talk about the treats that only we get to see - since these items are on the inside of the jacket.
**Thanks to my hubbalicious for the pics (yes, I know, they're still not the best - but that's the camera and my fault [edited to add: Actually, it's blogger's fault - click on the picture to see larger, clearer version pls])!!

Almost done!

Staying up till 2am last night due to the fact that I have a cold and am sleeping when my body asks me to turned out to be a good thing! That's because I managed to complete all but the last step on my Simplicity 3628 jacket. I'm really excited about how it's come along, and in spite of my lining glitch earlier, I'm so proud of my first lining!! Here is what it looks like on my dress form. Will post more pics when it's completely finished.

For Aminat...

In response to your question - the fabric I'm using is just plain old FLEECE. It's not the anti-pill kind, which I used on my last jacket and was fuzzier/thicker. Just black fleece I bought at JoAnn, not anything special. The photo maybe makes it look different from fleece?

Hope this helps!

My soap fetish... and jacket progress

Every Christmas I ask for some soap as gifts. A lot of the time my request is met with strange looks of disbelief. I guess people can't believe that something so simple could make me so happy. A bar of nice soap is all it takes to make my day. I've already told my husband - "If you ever get that urge to bring home flowers for your wife, bring her some nice soap instead". Anyway, so this year I scored a lot of soap!! Here's all the soap I got this Christmas. My brothers and sisters-in-law, and my Mother-in-law have gotten me enough soap to last till my birthday in June... My nose is so happy! To me, there is absolutely nothing like starting each day with a pleasant smelling bar of soap.

My rendition of Simplicity 3628 is coming along. I was able to finish the lining and have gotten as far as creating the collar. Did most of this last night and early this morning. It's so fab not having to go to work!!

Argh! Ah well...

It's a beautiful morning. The hubby's still asleep and I've got my cup of coffee. The lining for my Simplicity 3628 jacket is coming together, but the edges are getting fuzzy and threatening to unravel. I decide to serge the seams that are finished so far. And then it happens. My serger takes a bite out of a portion of fabric that should have been far away from the blade.

Sigh... But hey, this is my first lining, right? I'll just have to hand sew it somehow to fix it. Good thing it's the lining not the jacket!!!

Like I mentioned before, the jacket itself is still in pieces...


Growing up, Christmas day was always the day we celebrated. Now, with me and my siblings married and part of other families, it's changed. I celebrated yesterday with my husband's extended family. Tomorrow some of my family will come over. That leaves Christmas day completely free! Well, free to um.. er.. ah... do housework and yard work

Next week we're hosting my husband's parents and my brother-in-law's family for New Year's eve into the New Year. I have to idea what to cook/buy for the occasion since we usually just have a quiet night in. Well, I've got a week to figure it out (and to do some serious house cleaning)!!

Merry Christmas!

I'm finally taking some time off from work! I also have started on my next project but construction-wise, am still working on the lining. The actual jacket pieces are only cut out and labelled (because this has more pieces than anything I've made before and I don't want to get confused!)
My blog's been awfully quiet lately because I have nothing new on the sewing front. My camera also doesn't want to turn on right now, so I can't even show you what little progress I've made. It's weird. Something similar happened to my last camera. I connected it to the computer to download all the pictures on it. We had to leave to go get my in-laws and go to the family Christmas celebration, so I left it in the process of copying the pictures from the camera to the computer. Well, not too long ago I went to the computer. It was no longer recognizing that the camera was connected. I disconnected, and the camera wouldn't turn on. I'm recharging the battery now - hoping that's the problem. Sigh... I refuse to have another camera quit on me just out of the blue.
Anyway, enough of that. There is so much other stuff going well in my life - I am truly blessed, so the camera issue is nothing in comparison. A merry Christmas to all!!