Simplicity 3789 / 3990 (Khaliah Ali - Misses Shirts)

This was actually sewn over a year (maybe even two) ago, but after wearing it once I decided I didn't like it. So it hung, wrinkled from the dryer and dejected in my closet... until recently. I've gained weight in the last two months and needed more roomy tops for work. This now actually looks decent on me, haha! I'm thinking of making more.

I used a quilting cotton from Joann's which is holding up well and irons beautifully. 

The back needs some work, but I'm fine with it for now.

I previously made tops from this pattern twice, but those were the crossover versions. This was the first button-down version. I have to say, I liked being able to choose where my buttons would go. 

The buttons are also covered buttons made using a black and white polka-dot fabric.

I really am trying to get back into the sewing spirit. I have so many ideas and patterns, just need to turn that potential into reality. Have a great day all!

I sewed something! Simplicity 1736 hat

I know, I've let this blog stagnate... but I sewed something small and figured I would post it.
I'm copying my review text from patternreview because I'm too lazy to give you the details from scratch again, lol!

With the brim down:

With the brim up (and tucked under the flower):

Pattern Description: 
Misses' vintage style hats in three sizes. I made View A

Pattern Sizing: 
S(21"), M(22"), L(23") I used size L

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? 
I made view A. Yes, except for the flower accent.

Were the instructions easy to follow? 
Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? 
I like that it went together really quickly and has several other views I'd like to try.
I dislike that the hat isn't quite deep enough for me to wear it with the brim rolled up. I plan to wear it down, as seen in the photo provided above. However if I wanted a version to wear rolled up, I would have to make the brim a little wider.

Fabric Used: 
Fleece

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: 
I didn't use the provided pattern for the flower accent petals as they were larger than I wanted. I made my own flower, attached it with a grey button, and added some random overcast stitching to the petals in grey thread.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? 
Yes and Yes. I may not sew the same exact view, but this is a great basic hat for the winter.

Conclusion: 
This was a great simple project to get me back into sewing. I completed it in a short time.

Oh my!

I've certainly let this poor blog languish while concentrating on my nail polish one, haven't I? It's been a year since I last posted. I can't promise I'll be back as I'm still working up the mojo to deal with sewing again. I just got too discouraged last year...

No sewing

Well, that's not exactly true. I did finish a shirt - a different view of a pattern I've used before, but have not had a chance to take a picture of it yet.

I haven't felt like sewing lately. I guess my "sewjo" is on vacation...

Another thing on my mind lately is my parents and the situation in the city in which I spent most of my growing years. Some of you may be up on your international news and have seen Jos in the news lately. For me, this city is/was home. My family has lived there since I was about 3, and my parents still live there. The city had always been known as a peaceful one, where people of various ethnicities and religions lived harmoniously. Yet the atrocities that have been committed in the last few years has shattered everyone. There have also been threats of more violence.

Please pray for Jos...

I'm still here, I promise!

What is this, my second post this year? Sigh... Still working (extremely slowly, obviously) on tidying up the sewing room. I just don't feel like sewing when there is chaos. It doesn't have to be perfectly put away by any means. I just have to be able to work without having to work around piles of stuff that have nothing to do with the current project.

The shorts are done, but I'm still not quite happy with the fit. I used a non-stretch twill, so I will try a lightweight stretch denim next and see if it's any better.

Ok, just wanted to touch base and let you know I'm alive!

A slow (sewing) start to the new year.

I joined the Month of Pants sewalong at the end of last year, and am yet to produce a pair. However, I produced a muslin for the pattern below. After an awesome day getting fitting help from Sherrill Miller, we determined what alterations I would need to get this to fit better. A 7/8 inch wedge alteration to be precise. Yes, that was it - these fit quite well straight out of the envelope! I plan to also add 1/2 inch to the top just for my comfort.

On to my first pair - which will be shorts. I had made the crotch on the muslin according to the instructions included in the pattern. This is my sloppy result

Not so pretty, right? So I pulled out my "Power Sewing..." book by Sandra Betzina and used her instructions to create a sample fly front zipper. I'll switch the opening side on my shorts, but here is the resulting sample.
Much much better...


I did manage to complete one thing I've been procrastinating on. I came back from my visit home with some sand art - something I've always loved but never bothered to purchase while I was there previously. My parents actually purchased these for me. The artist only had a few, so had to create more, and he mounted them on/in a black border. They needed framing, and I finally used a Joann gift card I got from my bro. and fam. for Christmas (thanks gigis!) to get these. Project completed.

And of course, my nails got some love from me too. FingerPaints "Natural Talent" is a color I love because it gives me that straight-from-the-nail-salon look. I took these pics before cleaning up my cuticles, but I hope you can see what I mean. I got this at Sally Beauty Supply.


Sally Hansen's "Berry Pretty" beckoned to me from a display in CVS, and I don't regret the purchase - especially at half price.


I plan to have finished shots of the shorts this weekend!

Moving right along.

Phew! Done with posting reviews of the last few items I sewed. Now I can move on to the next thing that's blocking my creativity:Yes, it's time to deal with the mess. The scary thing is that this is the traditional living room space (as opposed to the "family room" a little further in the house). That means this is the first thing people see when they walk in the front door. The last time my brother-in-law was here, he and my hubby touched on it - and all I overheard was something along the lines of "[SewShy] has a lot of cr*p". Well, it may be that to them, but it's a room full of potential to me, so hmph. I do need to organize though. I have an Ikea wishlist... but have to make do for now.

PR backlog

I realized recently that I haven't been good about writing pattern reviews on the PR site for the garments I've created. Since I'm not sewing, I figured I can at least make progress by writing my reviews, so I'll try to get those done this weekend.
In the meantime - my usual filler - nail pics. I've had this combo on since Thursday night, and it's really stayed put!
(Please bear with the cell phone pictures. I'm just not ready to purchase a new camera yet...)
Sation "Plaza Plum" + Sally Hansen "Star Crossed"

Nice and sparkly in the sunlight. I always keep my colors super shiny with my favorite quick dry topcoat - "Out the Door" from my local Sally beauty supply store. There are people who swear by Seche Vite, but this one dries faster - I actually compared recently.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Pattern for the cowl neck top

I dug up the pattern I used for the top mentioned in the last post. It's Butterick 3344, now out of print:

I'm back!

To blogging, that is. I went home to Nigeria for two weeks in early October. Most of the trip was good, but it was overshadowed by Delta's employees taking my carry-on luggage on the second flight, and taking it off the plane at the wrong airport. By the time I got it back (4 days later), their employees in either Dakar(most likely) or Abuja had gone through it and stolen money, my camera, and my gold jewelry. Very sad, very frustrating. This was on the way to Nigeria, so not a good thing for the start of a trip. Anyway, I don't want to speak more on that since it makes me very upset.
I've been back for a few weeks now, but just was not in the mood to blog (or sew even!). During that time, my hubby got strep throat, and a week and a half later (last Thursday) I also got it. Mine was caught just in time, however, so I didn't have to suffer like he did - he had been misdiagnosed as having the flu, and suffered fevers, chills, and the painful throat for over a week before being properly diagnosed and put on an antibiotic. Poor sweetie...

Bits and pieces... I did purchase some fabric while with my parents. I had planned to buy much more, but there was no electricity for the bulk of the day my Mom and I went fabric shopping. Unfortunately the owners of the one stall where she said there was a lot of great fabric had run out of petrol (gasoline) and so could not run their generator to provide electricity for their lights. Bummer. So below is a picture of the six fabrics I got.


This past weekend, I wanted to sew. However, my sewing area is a mess and I just didn't feel like tidying up or figuring out where everything should go. The previous weekend I had pulled out an unfinished project - a cowl neck blouse that I'd had hanging on the rack for over a year because it was too big. I finally got it finished on Sunday morning and wore it to church. I can't remember the pattern specifics (see it's been THAT long!), but will post once I do.


Of course, I couldn't leave the (still) unfinished jacket there, so I threw it on over the blouse. Here is the full ensemble. I still have to topstitch the edges and put buttons on, but I figured it's wearable either way.2/3 of my Sunday outfit made by me... a really nice feeling!