Plain Jane No More!!!!

I had this wedding to go to last night, and I didn't know what I was going to wear. I did know that I didn't feel like going out and buying a new dress so that meant going through my closet. I purchased this dress at Target a couple of months ago. I figured it would work nicely, but it looked a little plain so I decided to jazz it up a bit. Now, I thought about this Thursday night, and had no idea what I was going to do. Now, like all my great ideas, they normally come to me when I wake up in the morning, and I mean literally while I'm waking up, and this idea was no different. I opened my eyes, wiped the sleep out of them and the first words to leave my mouth were tulle as my legs stretched out over the side of the bed. One trip to JoAnn Fabrics for 3 yards of tulle, a flower pin, and some swarovski crystals and this is what you get minus the crystals. I didn't have enough time to sew them on, and I was suffering from a very bad sinus headache so I had to settle for just the tulle. Even with a little bit of rain, the evening was a blast. Everyone had a great time, my wardrobe refashion was a hit, and the bride was beautiful.

In my last post I told you about a yard sale that I hit last week. Well, here are the pictures of everything I got for $15. Personally I think it was a steal, but I'm happy.

In sewing news, I've done absolutely nothing except for these bags I did for my friend Robin. She wanted some pouch bags to hold her knitting projects. A few months back I did a couple of bags for her. She doesn't sew, so I offered to make them for her. I figure, these should hold her for a while. I've got a few cut out for myself, I just have to sew them up. I've got a few patterns pulled out that I'm looking at to start working on, but I'm still undecided.

On the knitting front, I'm working on Ysolda Teague's Coraline. The yarn I'm using is Brooks Farm Acero. The sweater takes forever, but it's so worth it, plus I'm enjoying working with this yarn. It's beautiful.

That's pretty much it for me. I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Weekend Update!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I did. My weekend actually ended today, but I'll tell you about that in a bit. First, I want to thank all of you for the lovely comments you left me about Calypso and my strapless jumpsuit.

Mr. D and I don't always get a chance to spend time together as he works a lot of crazy hours with his job. Even though we've had some great weather lately, we've also had some stormy weather too, which means, we don't see each other. That combined with family obligations and friends, sometimes keep us apart. Well, Mr. D said this weekend was mine. Yesterday we went for an 8 mile bike ride through John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. It's about 2 miles from our home, and a great place to go if you want to get next to nature. To finish the night off, we rode the motorcycle to Media for Indian food at SHERE-E-PUNJAB. It was our first time there and the food was great. Today, we hung out around the house. We also took a trip to Home Depot, one of our favorite places for mulch(I'm so tired of the weeds), some potting dirt and a power drill. We also did some window shopping for future projects.

In knitting news, I hung out with my friend excel for the past 2 days and worked on finally typing up my lace chart for my newest shawl wrap design. It was tedious but rewarding. I ran into one problem, I am not using any special software besides excel and I didn't know the symbol for K3tog so I just made up one. If any of you have any suggestions, or knows what the actual excel symbol is, please let me know. I did keep all the other symbols consistent with the other standard symbols used for excel. Mr. D says it looks like an alien language to him, but I've got chills just looking at this chart.

I also joined Tour de Fleece last week on Ravelry. I was a little late since it started I think on July 4th, but I wanted to do it pretty much just to start spinning again. I finished a second bobbin today and started plying. I have to set the twist next. I haven't taken pictures yet. I'll try to while I'm setting the twist tomorrow.

I also got first dibs at a yard sale that was scheduled for this past Saturday. I got a private sit in as I call it on Thursday. The woman was a serious crafter. She sewed, knitted, weaved and made pottery. I got a half a box of fabric, a couple cones of yarn and some beads for jewelry. One of my friends is a friend of her niece. Supposedly, I've got thread cones coming. I tried to score one of her knitting machines, but she wasn't selling, at least not yet anyway. Oh well, as soon as I get the thread, I'll take pictures of the whole lot.

I didn't do any sewing over the weekend except for two garments I fixed for 2 of my neighbors. I think I'm starting to become the neighborhood seamstress/repair lady. I do hope to make something for myself this week. We'll see.

How was your weekend?

New Blog Header!!!!

My lovely, talented and beautiful friend Marissa of Vanillabean Knits painted this amazing header for me. Isn't it gorgeous? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. Please check out her blog if you get a chance. If you would like her to do an illustration for you, give her a shout and tell her I sent you.

Calypso and Review on Self Drafted Jumpsuit

I hope everyone had a great weekend filled with peace and quiet and lots of crafting. I buckled down this weekend with some knitting and I finally have a finished knitted garment to show you. I am so happy with the outcome.

This is Calypso. I've been working on her for the past few months off and on. I got a chance to test drive her last night at the Italian festival. Man were those pork sandwiches good. Now, if I can focus a bit, review all my notes, and channel some sizing issues, I might just have a pattern to share with you all.

I'm also happy to add that I finally started working out. I started with a half hour of yoga yesterday and I made it through 25 minutes of the DVD. Today I'll add and aerobic workout first and do the yoga afterwards. I hope I can make it. It's crazy how out of shape you can get when you don't work out for a few months.

On a lighter note, as promised, here is a review of the Self Drafted Jumpsuit I made.


Pattern Description:

one piece strapless jumpsuit

Pattern Sizing:

12

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Self drafted pattern

Were the instructions easy to follow?

I winged this one all the way, and love the outcome. Man do I love my serger. It makes things so much easier and faster to finish.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I put this jumpsuit together in about 2 hours.

Fabric Used:

Cotton or polyester jersey knit. Not really sure. I'm starting to think it's more of a polyester knit. I picked the fabric up at Walmart for a $1.50 a yard. That price alone has me smiling.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:

I didn't want an elastic casing to show at the top of the band so I stitched the elastic and tricot to the edge of the fabric at the top of the bodice. The band is then folded down and the tricot is in place hiding any inside work.

The bottom of the tricot is then serged to the waistline where the bottom of the bodice and pants meet. After that, I tacked/stitched a couple of stitches on the side seams right below the elastic (stitch in the ditch) to keep everything in place.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Definitely. I think I want one in red now.

Conclusion:

It was a wonderful idea that stemmed from a picture of a well known celebrity. The concept is pretty easy. Make a tube top making sure to place darts in the front and back of the bodice to get a more fitted look. If you have a TNT pants pattern you like with a wide leg, use it. The sky is the limit.

McCall 5621

McCalls 5621


Pattern Description:

Slim fitting tunic with gathered front and contrasting neckband.

Pattern Sizing:

10-18

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes very much so.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

I really didn't follow the instructions. I think I checked it once for the sleeves but that was it.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I liked it for the design. I was looking for a dress that I could easily pull on and off, and this fit the bill. It also had a 70s look to it and that pulled me in.

Fabric Used:

I remember when I purchased this fabric. I was in the check out line and someone walked up with it. I thought to myself, I have to have it. I ran back to the cutting table and bought it with no specific use in mine. I didn't know it then but it has a one way stretch to it.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:

I made view A/B but I wasn't crazy about the sleeves for view B so I did the sleeves for view C. I also lined the inside of the dress, so that I wouldn't have to wear a slip. It makes things so easier.

In doing the lining, I cut out the dress portion of the pattern. Sewed the 2 dresses separately not connecting the shoulder seams. I placed the lining inside the dress, then connected both pieces by serging the shoulder seams together. After that I basted for the gathers on the front of the dress, treating the 2 pieces as one.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I am going to be making this dress again, either in a solid or a print that isn't as busy as this one. My husband loves the dress, but isn't crazy about the print.

Conclusion:

I didn't have any problems with this pattern. I thought that is was a pretty easy pattern, and a nice addition to my wardrobe.

Inga, Matilda and My 1st Self Draft Pattern!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Mine was relaxing and uneventful. It's been a while, and a lot has happened. I think I needed a blog break/vacation. Although, I've been away, I still kept up with my reading even though I haven't done much commenting.

My birthday presents finally arrived in the mail. Meet Matilda, she arrived first. It's the Dell Inspiron mini, which I received from my wonderful husband. I like the fact of knowing that I can carry her around in my handbag. I'm still getting use to her, and I do like a regular laptop better, but she is growing on me.

My next lovely present was Inga!! She is the Singer 14CG754 ProFinish Serger. Can I tell you that I just love her. I've never owned a serger before, and I think I'm in for a lovely ride. She had me a little frazzled at first. After a phone call to Sheila,(she always calms me down. Thanks girl!!) and then one to Sew and Vac Direct, (One of my strings weren't caught in the tension dial tight enough. Shoot, I thought I'd broke the darn machine)I was up and running.

To commemorate the occasion, I decided to try and self draft my first pattern. Here she is. Adrienne, I hope you like her. I got the idea from you a while back. I think I like the cost even better(Nope, I LOVEEEEEEE the outfit too). The fabric was a find at Walmart for a mere $1.50 a yarn and it feels fabulous. I purchased 4 yards and only used 1 1/8 yards. I lined the bodice with black tricot that I purchased at Philadelphia Fabric Outlet in Philadelphia. Let me tell you. I will make sure I check there first for my tricot before going to JoAnn's again for it. JoAnns sells tricot for 9.99 a yard. I stocked up at the outlet. I got 2 yds of white tricot 64 inches for 98 or 99 cents a yard, cream tricot for a little less that 1.50 a yd at 64 inches, and the black tricot was 4.50 a yd at 100 inches. I'll do a more in depth review by the weekend, but I can tell you now that I would definitely make this one again!!

This past weekend I worked on McCall's 5621.I'll try to have a review with pics of me in the dress by the weekend. Mr. D says he likes the dress, but he's not feeling the pattern on the fabric. I think I'm going to make it again using a different pattern.

In other news, I got laid off from my job a few weeks ago. My whole office closed. We are suppose to reopen in September. I guess we'll see. I've been starting to get things done around the house. It's been a slow go, but it's getting done. My mother is loving it, I've taken her to all her doctor's appoints, which so far there has been one every week.

In knitting news, I'm still working on my shawl/wrap. It's coming along slowly, but I do like it. Here's a little taste.