My first real alteration

Sherril graciously volunteered to help me with the fit of my Burda top. In the meantime, I decided to start on a project I've been putting off for a while.
As you may know, I've been exercising and watching what I eat for a number of months now. This has resulted in some weight loss. It has also meant that my work pants now sit lower on my waist/hip area.

Since I wasn't sure if the alterations should be made at the side seams, back seam, or if I needed to increase dart sizes, I began to search for information online. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did find many references to the book pictured here.

I decided that the alteration on page 51 - "Removing the Waistband and Taking in the Sides" - most suited what I was looking for. I did have to add an extra step, since my waistand has a back center seam. This ended up making the alteration easier in the long run because I did not have to move the closures in the front.

The steps for me were:
1. Remove the waistband from the pants, keeping the seams intact at both front closure ends.
2. Resew the side seams at the desired with, tapering to the existing side seam at hip-level.
3. Remove the same width from the waistband's center back seam.
4. Pin waistband back on and try the pants on.
5. If satisfied, cut off excess fabric and refinish seams.
6. Reconnect the waistband to the pants.

Y la voila! Pants that fit better than ever. I really like the resulting fit. The pants are closer to my waist and very comfortable.

I took some (pretty lousy -I miss my old camera!) pictures to illustrate the difference between my other pair of unaltered pants, and my newly altered pants. Here they are. First the unaltered, then the altered. I'm very happy with the results!




















Front view

and Side View

Burda 8360 Muslin

I absolutely love the style of this shirt. The collar and the center front seam caught my eye. I also love that the center front seam gives you options for closures. I made a muslin of the third view (View C) without any closure, and short sleeves.

(Picture compiled from pattern pictures on burdafashion.com)

My muslin, however, leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not sure which wrinkles/lines are acceptable and which ones are not. I think that I might have sloping shoulders, and thus have to lower the shoulders, but I'm not exactly sure. I also think I need to increase the size of the armhole, shorten the sleeve cap, and make the sleeve a little wider. And maybe I need to do (I'm dreading this) a Full bust adjustment? Again, I'm not completely certain. Part of me just wants to make this as-is and live with the imperfections, but I know if I can get the fit down, I will have a FABULOUS pattern that I can use over and over. I've taken a number of pictures, anyone have suggestions please?

Why cant I do this?

So, I went for a wedding on my husband's side of the family last weekend. I didn't have anything "American" to wear, and even after hours shopping for a dress, couldn't find anything that fit properly.

Last resort, I pulled out some of the clothes my Mom brought for me on her last visit here. This one fit perfectly, so it's what I ended up wearing to the wedding.
When I inspect it, it seems like a relatively easy garment to put together (though it's fully lined). The skirt is simple - it actually has a drawstring waist, so there is some gathered fabric at my waist, but the top?! HOW IN THE WORLD can I just send my bust and waist measurements and a tailor makes something that fits my body EXACTLY from thousands of miles away?

There are two waist darts in the front up to the bust point, and two darts in the back. Also notice that the back darts take in just enough fabric and then leave enough to fit around my behind. The zipper is in the back, and the sleeves are actually raglan. This makes me want to cry, because I know I can do the SEWING, I just am having problems with FIT. Why can't I make clothes that fit me like this?

Oh yah, I know, I look silly with my arm on my tummy like that, wasn't sure what to do with it while the picture was being taken.
Deep sigh...

Response to comment from hautemany

Yes, I'm laying low. I haven't finished the muslin for my Burda 8360, so I'm in hiding until I have something to show.
However, I received a question from a commenter, hautemany, that I wanted to answer before I forgot.
hautemany said "...The classes you took sound so interesting- "patternmaking by draping", etc.- where did you go- PCC or LA Trade Tech?"
I took my classes at PCC. As it turns out, the teacher I had for draping also teaches draping classes at LA Trade Tech. She wouldn't tell us which of the Fashion programs was better, however (conflict of interest and all that), but just based on the schedules, I think Trade Tech might give you more class time to perfect your skills. That's just my opinion though! I'd like to try a class at Trade Tech but work during the day, and am unwilling to give up most of my Saturday for a class, so... I'll just have to make do with what I've got. Hope that answers your question. If you need any more details, feel free to email me - sewshy - yahoo. I don't check that mail very often though...

Eureka!

I found it! Very much after the fact, but I finally found the part that is missing from my 925D serger. This part (or lack of the part, rather) gave me much angst when I discovered it was missing from my ebay purchase.
I was just browsing the website reviews on Patternreview.com, and came across a review for the site www.sewingstyle.com. I clicked the link without reading the review, and scrolled down the page. Then, on a whim, I decided to search the sewing parts - selecting the "loopers" category. Lo and behold - on the last page - the item that has evaded me for months - with a picture even!! The Brother guide calls it a "stitch finger". This site calls it a "stitch tongue". Doesn't matter - never have I been so happy to see a machine PART!
Okay, just wanted to say that. I'll be ordering it. Just too lazy to get up and go find my purse right now...
STOP! DON'T GO TO THAT SITE! I JUST READ THE REVIEWS, AND THEY ARE MOSTLY NEGATIVE! Hmmm, who knew my laziness would pay off? I think I'll hold off on ordering the part rather than give up my credit card info and possibly have fraud issues to deal with later. So, in spite of the fact that the reviews are negative, PatternReview has proven to be a useful source again! Whew!

Responses to comments...

I realize I've gotten a few questions in response to one of my recent posts. Here my responses:

1. Carolyn said "I hope you do have a TNT pattern to take advantage of the wonderful haul!" -I wish I did, Carolyn, but I don't yet. I haven't made a single dress yet - and I really want to! I need to grow some cojones and put in the necessary work to get a TNT pattern done.
   
2. Reethi asked "Also, BWOF, how tall are you?" - I'm 5'11'', Reethi, and most of my height is in my legs. Hmmm... that means I shouldn't have to lengthen a BWOF top/bodice by that much, huh?
3. Cidell said "Also, BWOF isn't too hard to alter for height. I can send you a PDF of how to do so if you'd like." - Thanks for the offer, Cidell. I'm going to hold off on that for now though. I was seriously considering asking my hubby for a subscription to BWOF for my birthday, but I'm not so sure now - especially since I really should sew a little more before accumulating more patterns! So that's the condition I've given myself - no BWOF till I'm sewing more consistently. It's tough, but I've got to be tough on myself sometimes. I'm actually going to try a Burda top (actual pattern - in fact, the one sitting on my new ironing board in previous post) and see how I like the results as part of the process.
   

And thanks for all the congrats on my weight loss!!

June is the best month!

Being born in June is the best. I'm sure most people feel the same way about their birth month, but... Anyway, one of the things I like about being born in this month (besides the mostly great weather) is that it's also when VSecret and B&Bworks have their semi-annual sales. It's my chance to stock up on the bath products I like. LOL! You thought I was going to say something more profound than that, didn't you? Sorry to disappoint. I do have to say though, I thought my birth month was ill-appointed when I was in elementary school, because I never got to have my birthday in school like some of the other kids. Go figure.

So, my birthday was on the 10th. I went to work, because I had already scheduled Friday off (doing this when my parents are staying with me to get more quality with them). Before work that morning, I decided to weigh myself, something I normally do just once a week - on Saturday. How thrilled was I that I had finally hit ONEDERLAND?! 198.8 baby! Yah, excellent birthday gift.

My brother, sis-in-law and adorable neice got me two tops and some yummy smelling body cream from said B&Bworks. I asked my parents for an ironing board to replace the dangerously unstable one I've had since I moved out here after college 9 years ago (wow, it's been THAT long?). This is what they bought me. Not only is it sturdy - my only request - but they also were considerate enough to get me something with an iron rest, so I can actually use the whole board for ironing. Yaaay! I just pressed the shirt pattern that you see there. Next step - tracing and alterations - my least favorite part. Yes, you guessed it. I'm procrastinating.




In addition to the ironing board, my parents gave me some $$ to spend, and spend it I did. I got a few cute poly-blend tops for work, and yesterday, I got these really cute shoes. I've been looking for a pair of almost-flats that I can wear either to work or with a pair of jeans. I've finally found them. I actually got these for $40, and was thinking of getting two other pairs of shoes for $20 each instead (the thrifty person in me sometimes goes for quantity rather than quality, unfortunately). Thank goodness I finally knocked some sense into my head - these are leather, the others were not - these have the heel height I was seeking, the others were a little higher - these were a little more comfortable - DUH! I almost had to smack myself for thinking irrationally. I really needed to talk myself out of settling for things I like "enough". So the shoes I "really like" finally came home with me.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

L.A. weather has taken a turn for the hotter, and I'm definitely feeling it. Since I spend most of my days incubated in a cool building, I'm usually oblivious to what everyone else outdoors is feeling. I was off from work today though, and took my parents to the airport, so it's been a rude awakening for me. At my last job, I would sometimes look out of the window and daydream about being a construction worker - doing my work, being outdoors, not taking work home with you (literally and mentally)... not on a day like today!!

All this to say what? Erm... I haven't sewn anything new... I bought some new clothes! But nothing sewn. With my parents here, I've just wanted to relax with them, and the thought of carting out the large table and taking up half the living room to trace and cut and whatnot, was too daunting. I finally went to Joann's and picked up a few more Simplicity patterns after I dropped them off at the airport. (Whaaat? Didn't she say no more patterns?). I'm going to look them up on PR now to see what others have done with them. Hopefully my sewing mojo will fly back in the door... like tomorrow morning... hopefully.

Oh, before I go... I once mentioned a Nigerian snack called Chin Chin that I made for my brothers at Christmas time. My parents brought me some as well, and I took a picture. When you roll out the dough and cut it, you can decide what shapes you want. In my family, we usually make twisted "8"s out of the dough. Takes a lot longer, but for some reason the shape makes it seem yummier (kinda like different pasta shapes, right?). Okay, enough talk. I give you..... CHIN CHIN! (click pic for a close up)

Oh yah, and by the way, I'm now 31! I'm hoping the batch of memory cells that seem to have turned off in my brain when I turned 30 will find a way to renew themselves? I'm having a hard time dealing with the memory loss that comes with age... aren't I too young to start forgetting things, or is it just me?

This and that

You know how sometimes you stay up so far past your bedtime that it's difficult to get to sleep when you finally want to? That's me right now. I figured I'd just post in the hopes that I'd get sleepy.

First of all - THANKS for all the comments on my last (and other) posts. It's such a treat to know that other people find my little corner of the net interesting and/or entertaining. It's quite another treat to realize that your pattern stash of 100+ is actually considered miniscule when compared to others! Honestly, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I bought some of those. But there are a large number of them I hope to get to sometime in this lifetime (not sure if I'm going to make it at my current sewing pace). So, no more patterns for me. At least not until I've made up some of the ones I have high hopes for. I've thought of subscribing to Burda in the past (didn't I just say no more patterns for me?), but I'm not sure if I'm up to all the modifications to accommodate my height. Or maybe I'll just buy one issue (I repeat, didn't I just say no more patterns for me?). Hmmm.... I don't know. Maybe I should ask for one for my birthday in June. Technically, that means I am not getting more patterns right? They would be gifted to me.

In other news, my cousin got married at the beginning of this month. I wasn't able to go, but their wedding actually got featured in Southern Wedding Style Magazine! HERE is a link to the pictures on the magazine's blog. Lucky girl!

On another happy note - I've now dropped 14lbs. I was quite surprised when I weighed myself this morning. I have 2 more pounds to go to re-enter "onederland". For those of you who don't know what that is, it's when your weight actually starts with the digit 1. I haven't been there since hmmm... lemme think... about 5 years ago? They warned me about the college "freshman 15" - little did I know the real challenge was going to be the "marriage 40"!

My parents are here visiting from Nigeria, so I haven't had any time/space to sew anything yet. I'm hoping that I can use my Mom as a resource for getting all my measurements and personal style critiques and such. However, as I realized recently when shopping with my mom - her sense of style is quite different from mine. Obviously, I'm younger.
The one really neat thing about them coming to visit? I got my mom to bring some FABRIC! Here is what she picked out for me. I see at least two dresses in my future (uh oh, quick, do I have any dress patterns?!)
Please click on the picture to get a better view.
Now I just have to find - I mean MAKE - some time to sew...

More than 100 patterns?!!!

I decided to take photos of all my patterns and upload them to a site where I could view them all at once. I did. It turns out I have more than 100 patterns. The only ones missing are the ones I've made or have cut out. How did I get so many patterns?!! I've got to stop falling for those 99c pattern sales and start using the ones I already have. Yikes!