New Look 6754

I finally finished New Look 6754. The original pattern looks like the picture on the left. This is view D - which I decided to make. I made a number of changes on my version. First of all, after making the muslin, I realized I really disliked the way they bound the neckline. The binding seemed skinny and awkward. Of course, that could also be attributed to my lack of experience, but I prefer my alternative. I decided to use piping/cording to embellish and finish off the neckline and the sleeves. I also did not like having the zipper in the back of the shirt. It was an awkward length and too difficult to operate, so I moved it to the side seam.

Here is the front of the blouse.

Here with arm extended so you can see the volume in the sleeve. Also, the one thing I'm having trouble with - using a sz 20 fits my shoulders, arms, waist and hips. However, it's too wide from the bottom of the armsyce to the waistline. I'm going to have to figure out how to get rid of the excess fabric on the side bust/under arm side seam. I'm not sure how though...

The sleeves didn't drape as nicely as they seem to in the line drawing.
I guess that's one of the drawbacks to using a pattern without an actual model...
I did a shoddy job finishing the inside. I completely forgot to serge the neckline and sleeve hem edges before attaching the binding. Ah well...

Another side shot demonstrating the [lack of] drape in the sleeves.

And finally, a back view. I had to lighten the picture a bit for this.

Hmmm... my hair's looking pretty frazzled in these pictures. That would be thanks to the sweat from this morning's workout plus the water I got on it in the shower. I ended up leaving it out to dry, so it's looking a hot mess.

Okay. Bedtime. I'll get around to putting a full review on PR sometime soon.

I got tagged...

... by Sherril today. Apparently, the rules are as follows:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Turn to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and acknowledge who tagged you.

The nearest book is one of those Reader's Digest collections with four condensed bestsellers in it. I found a bunch of these at a Salvation Army store nearby and walked out with 12 of them! I know, that's a lot of reading material. I have a soft spot for these Reader's Digest editions because my parents had a few back home in Nigeria and what with me being a bookworm back then, I read and reread all the different stories.
Anyway, I digress. Back to the point. Page 123, sentences 5 - 7:
"I can't."
"Anyone who ever hurt you. Any loss, Dana. ..."
The story in the book that this quote comes from is called Safe Harbor by Luanne Rice.

I know I'm owing pictures of my top. I just need to hem it before I take pictures...

Yawn!

I'm almost done with New Look 6754. I was discouraged for a while because I couldn't get the fit right. Not quite ready to give up, I tackled it yesterday and today. It just needs a hem right now. Although it turned out a little "dressier" than I anticipated, I like it. I do feel it makes me look a tad matronly though. I don't have pictures yet, but will try to post them tomorrow after hemming. Good night.

New Look 6754 muslin

I'm sitting here watching Discovery Health's ER Trauma show, and all I can think is "Wow...thank God for these people who dedicate their lives to helping others". Anyway, I don't usually flip this high on the cable channels, but I'm procrastinating on getting back to work on my next project.
I spent Sunday evening working on a muslin for New Look 6754. I picked this pattern because I'd like to work on a few basic woven tops to add to my wardrobe for the summer. So, here is my first muslin of view D - the version with 4 pleats in the front.
Although you may not notice, the neckline is waaaay too low. You can actually see my delicates if I wear this. So, alteration number 1 - go back to the pattern piece for the front and raise the neckline.
I'm not sure how that modification will affect the band for the neckline. I think I will compare the ratio in lengths and just try to maintain that ratio after the front pattern piece is changed.

Alteration number 2 is to deepen the back darts. I had to do the same on another pattern, so hopefully that will be worry-free. I think I may have to shift them up a bit as well.
I noticed in the side picture that the back neck area sticks out a bit. Hmmm... Not going to bother with it at this point.
The pattern calls for a back zipper - starting about halfway down. I'm not sure if I like a zipper in the back. I haven't yet decided if I'll move it to the side though. We'll see...
And of course, after seeing how low the neck was, I didn't bother putting on the sleeves. I'll re-cut the front and redo the back darts, so I'll have to dig out that seam ripper... blech.

Okay. That's it for now. Just wanted to post since I am actually doing *some* work.

Almost a citizen!

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At about 1:30pm today, my application for naturalization in this country was APPROVED. I'm going to become a citizen! I also took the liberty of finally changing my last name - to my husband's. He's been really good about not giving me grief in the almost six years we've been married. Now that I'm going to be a citizen, it's a good time to change my name.
So... once we have kids, will they be straight up "American" or "Mexican-American/Nigerian-American"? Hmmm...

I have bought way too much fabric in the last couple of weeks, and my credit card bill definitely shows it. Erm... have to sew. It's time to get back to pattern-tracing - especially since I added to my pattern stash this week. Hello, I'm SewShy, and I'm a PROUD stasher. Okay, off to start something (hopefully).

Simplicity 4076 - again

I wanted to start and finish an item of clothing today, however I didn't feel like tracing a new pattern (especially since I finally got my sewing mojo back at about 5pm). Thus, Simplicity 4076 was made again. I used another $1/yd fabric find - this time in a black and white shell print. I made the sleeves about two inches longer as well, so the top looks a little less casual, and I can wear it to work - yaay! Okay. Enough talk. Here is what it looks like.

Time to sew again?

I finally added reviews of my last two garments to the Patternreview site. I'm hoping that I now can move forward and sew more. I definitely want to make the 4076 t-shirt again, but not sure if I should just do that, or start on my next jacket... Decisions, decisions... I've accumulated so many patterns in so little time that just choosing what to do next is such a chore. Ah well...

Lost motivation?

Thanks for the great comments on my t-shirt! I certainly can't take any credit for the beautiful print fabric - but I'm glad I chose it, because I love it too. And to think, it was a last minute impulse buy!!
I had a busy weekend and wasn't able to sew, and now I feel like I've lost my motivation. The community college where I take gym classes is on spring break, so I actually have my evenings free this week. You'd think with the extra hours after work I'd be churning out garments, right? Not happening. I'm actually not sure what I want to make next. I'm thinking another jacket - slightly more fitted this time - but I can't decide which. Right now it's a toss-up between these three:

Simplicity 3628
Simplicity 4275
Simplicity 4302

Choices, choices. None of them is particularly difficult. I looove the details in the different views of 3628. I'm not sure why I'm having issues... sigh...

Simplicity 4076 DONE!

Wow. The folks over at PatternReview aren't joking when they say knits are quick and easy to sew. Whaaat?! I didn't have to press anything, and I made a muslin and the actual garment (Simplicity 4076) in less than a week. I'm ecstatic right now. I'm slacking on my pattern reviews, but I'll get round to putting the full reviews on the site - sometime soon. Here are the pictures of the finished garment.
Using the serger made for quick and easy seam construction. I DID remember to use a ballpoint needle and ballpoint pins. I also managed to (completely by chance) center the pattern on my body. I even have almost perfectly matched seams on the side in the picture - yaaay (pure luck!). I really like this top. Will probably be making it again sometime. Till then... I wonder what I'll make next...

Simplicity 4076 progress

I finally got round to working on this tonight. However, bedtime came too soon. I've just got the hem and the sleeves to do. Hopefully will finish tomorrow night. I'm so excited! This truly is a quick top - and I like it!
The fabric is one of the ones I got for $1/yd at the little store in Rosemead on Friday. It's so cool to have bought and washed the fabric just two days ago and already have something to show for it! Hmmm... should have taken Monday off too...