Next project

Before I go on, I want to thank all of those who took a moment to comment on my last (first) dress project. I really appreciate the encouragement and suggestions! The dress made its debut at church two weeks ago. In spite of the fit issues, I felt very comfortable in it, and can't wait to make another one! I also really liked the lining in the Kona cotton muslin fabric. The muslin itself wrinkles easily, but does a great job of keeping the outer fabric from wrinkling. This dress helped to to realize the importance of that concept.

This past Sunday, it seemed like all the ladies were wearing sleeveless cotton dresses like mine. I guess I was one week ahead of that trend! I will have to work on the pattern some more to perfect the fit, but for now I wanted to try another simple dress. I chose the dress pattern from the May 2009 Burda World of Fashion (Dress 131)
As you can see, it's a simple dress. The muslin was completed yesterday and fits relatively well. The only change I will be making is to redraft the V of the front neckline so it is not as low. I will post a picture of the muslin as soon as I get a chance to do so! Hopefully I'll be able to start on the actual dress tomorrow evening.

Out of town

I've been quiet lately because I'm out of town for a conference in Boston. Hopefully will sew another dress or a top this weekend...

My first dress! Simplicity 4118

I made my first dress this weekend - which is so exciting for me! The pattern is Simplicity 4118, a Threads pattern.

(still needs hemming) I made minimal changes to the pattern, and actually did make a muslin first. I can see if I make this again I will have to do at least the following:
1. Swayback adjustment
2. Use the original side seam allowances and blend to a larger size in the hips.
3. Figure out how to keep the top of the center back seam (see below) from sticking out.



I used a cotton print from Joann and lined it with Kona cotton muslin. It's very comfortable...

I also used an invisible zipper, so I had to change the construction steps a little. It was surprisingly easy, although I still didn't get it quite even at the top.

I'm ready to try another dress pattern. This one will probably get hemmed and worn - in spite of the fitting issues. It took me a day and a half to make, but the instructions were pretty good, and great for a first dress.

Almost finished...

I recently joined the American Sewing Guild, and have attended two of the neighborhood group meetings for my area. My group is made up of some wonderful ladies, all with a plethora of skills. Our last meeting was a UFO (unfinished object) challenge, where we were supposed to bring in something we had finally finished the week before.
Well, it's still not finished, but it was pretty close, so I brought in the Simplicity 3628 jacket. Here are pictures taken during the meeting (thanks Peggy!).

What's left? The hem and buttons/buttonholes...

A little progress

I've been procrastinating on my current jacket because I absolutely LOATHE putting sleeves in. Here is what is done so far. I messed up the binding on the corners of the collar, so I have to figure out how to fix it without having to take take the collar off completely...
I also realized (after stitching a pattern into the sleeve hems, of course) that the sleeves should probably be much shorter than they currently are.

Honestly, I'm sewing a lot in my head - I have a closet full of summery cotton blouses and fabulously fitting pants and jeans already(in my mind) - if I could just make that a reality...

It was a busy day at work yesterday and I wanted something quick and easy to work on. I have been into making my own earrings lately, so I decided to make a bracelet to match a pair of earrings I made recently. Well, 4 bracelets and two pairs of earring later:
I already had the top left and bottom right earrings made, but everything else was started and finished this evening. I'm still an amateur, obviously, but it's so amazing how easily and cheaply some jewelry can be made. All the beads are glass or polished stone. I had fun!

Memorial day, more nails, and new project.

Memorial day weekend was gorgeous. My in-laws came over on the Saturday of the weekend, and we spent most of the day like this...
That's my mother-in-law and my niece - faces blurred for privacy, of course. The water felt awesome!

Next I give you... more nailpolish pictures! I know, I know, this is getting ridiculous. But hey, I'm just starting to get my sewing mojo back, so there will be a finished project soon.

Sation - "18K gold", covered by Sally Hansen "Gold Star"


Sally Girl - "Pea-body" - an exact match to a ring I got at Laila Rowe a few months ago. These are cute polishes in mini-bottles for 99 cents (89 if you have a Sally card) and are great for trying out colors you wouldn't normally wear.


On the sewing front: I had a jacket cut out for a few weeks and finally started working on it Monday night. Of course, after such a long sewing hiatus, I had to do something wrong, right? I sewed the wrong two pieces of the front together. If you notice, one side has the blue line running the length of the grain, and the other doesn't. Sigh...
More on this jacket - and the piping dilemma on the collar - later!

It works :)

I sat down and cleaned up the new machine this afternoon. It was actually quite clean already, just very dusty on the back - which means it was probably stored away for a long time. I also temporarily moved the knee pedal to the floor since my legs are too long to fit under the table. I plan to get some risers later today so the machine can sit higher. Then I'll put the pedal back to the knee position.
Then I tried it out - adjusting the tension, trying out a buttonhole, trying out a few cams. It works beautifully. It's so interesting to see cams make the same stitches that are now automatic in modern machines. I also was amazed at just how quiet this machine is. It has an engine and belt, so I expected it to sound like an industrial, but no way! I'll probably give the machine some oiling before I use it properly. Nice! Now I just have to figure out what to sew next. I have a short sleeve jacket cut out. We'll see if I get to it this weekend.

Since I'm not sewing, more nailpolish

I didn't sew. So what else is new? Here are pictures of polish I had on this last week, however. I'm trying China Glaze for the first time because they have a lot of non-standard colors I'm attracted to. I tried the colors "Recycle"(gray) " and Shower Together" (blue) . Love the colors, but neither seemed to stay on as long as the Sation brand that I've recently been using.

Yummy color - I just HAD to post it

After today's house cleaning, my old nail polish was barely hanging on. I decided to paint my nails while I looked through the new sewing machine manual. Now, as much as I love nail polish, I didn't really plan to start posting about it (I've been reading alot of polish blogs lately though!), but I stumbled on a color I just have to share. I decided to dig into my stash of nail polish because I'm trying to wear all my old polishes so I can decide which ones work for me and which I should give away.

Enter Revlon Street Wear. The color I picked is called "Drab", which I think is pretty descriptive. I've had this bottle for... hmmm... probably 8 or 9 years? Surprisingly enough, the back of the bottle says "Formaldehyde and Toluene free". I was surprised at this, because it seems some of the more popular (aka salon laquers) nail polishes only started leaving these ingredients out in the past couple of years. I guess Revlon was ahead of the game.
Anyway, I digress. As soon as I put the first coat on, I was wowed. It's a gorgeous color that immediately made me feel like putting on my hubby's old army jacket just so I could wear something to match my nails! Silly, I know, but the color is a rich creme that is just delicious to look at. Looks like I won't be giving this one away!

Score!

Today was "get some of that housework you've been slacking on done" day. Once I was finished with the cleaning I had planned for the day, I went to the Salvation Army store to drop off some books, shoes, and pants (the latter two brand new, so hopefully they'll make someone really happy!)
Well, you know how it is. You drop your donations behind the store and then, naturally, you go in to take a peek at what they've got for sale.
I've been needing a little lamp on a tall dresser I have, and here are two beauties I found!!

When I tried them in the store, I couldn't figure out where the knobs were, so I assumed there were none and the bulbs had gone out. In spite of that, I couldn't resist the price - $2.99 each - so I figured they'd just be pretty display items if they didn't work.

Well, I just tried them at home and realized they're the kind of lamps you tap to turn on - and they're three-way. I have a lamp like this already, but it's more modern. I was so excited about having these with the same feature, I called my hubby to show him (not a small feat, as he was watching a movie and very much into it). His response? "Oh, of course, my mother has a lamp like that, didn't you know?" Well duh, if I did I wouldn't have dragged you away from your movie, would I? Tee hee...

I'm actually thinking since I got a "pair" (they're similar enough to call them that) I think I'll use them in the guest room instead - and move the one lamp I have in there to the spot where I needed one on my dresser. Problem solved!

Okay, so of course I saved the best for last. What else did I stumble into? I was perusing the furniture and stumbled into a curious looking little desk. It looked so plain, I was intrigued. Well guess what it turned out to be?! A sewing machine!!! You should have seen me, I looked around to make sure no one else had seen it first. And it was donated just yesterday too! Now, I don't need another sewing machine. I already have two and one serger. But come on, could you have resisted? I couldn't. You know why? The price was right. How much was it, you ask?
$29

Okay. Breathe.... Look at her... she needs a dusting, but she works!

It's a Montgomery Ward - Model number URR 1839. I have no idea if it's any good, but the light came on and it ran when I pushed the knee pedal. It also came with a box of cams, the manual, two feet, six bobbins, and some screwdrivers. The strange thing is, when I was browsing the store prior to this discovery, I saw a box of cams in the "bric brac" area, and was a little sad, thinking someone had a machine somewhere that could use them, but they had been orphaned.
It turns out it was the same brand! I went back after finding the machine and grabbed that box in addition to the one included with the machine.
Well, off I go to clean up my thrift store finds (see what can happen when you go in to donate stuff you don't use?) It's amazing, because I'd been meaning to go drop off that stuff for months, and finally got a chance to drive over today... Yaaay!