Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!!!!! In 2007, I renewed my love for (or became addicted yet again) to sewing and jewelry making and I learned how to knit and decorate cakes. I discovered blogs and I started one myself. I have learned from, been in awe, and creatively inspired by so many of you. This year I hope to learn more, expand my skills, stick to my sewing resolutions and to feed my jones on a regular basis. I especially want to express a big THANK YOU to each and every person who stopped by my blog this year. I hope that you will continue to stop by, offer encouragement and comment on what I am doing or share what you are doing. I hope that 2008 will be both a blessing and an adventure for all of you. So I wish you gorgeous fabric, great sewing experiences, and many many good looking garments.

007 gurl

2008 Sewing Resolutions

In 2008:

1. I will sew for someone else other than myself.

2. I will start making muslins

3. I will not be seduced by 40% or 50% off coupons at Joann's every week.

4. I will learn to make accessories like purses, belts, and hats.

5. I will start sewing Burda patterns.

6. I will not allow the color of the thread on my serger to determine what I sew. I will just change the thread color on my serger without complaining.

7. I will sew with the goal of building a capsule wardrobe. My ultimate dream is that I never have to say "I don't have a thing to wear".

8. I will attempt to do a SWAP (or actually a couple of mini-SWAPs). I have been thinking that I should do a weekend/casual wear SWAP and an evening wear SWAP.

9. I will learn more about pattern construction. I took a flat pattern making class a long long time ago, but I think that I need a refresher course.

10. I will also learn more about tailoring and acheiving a proper fit.

11. I will do my very best to stay ahead of the season when sewing.

12. I will learn how to do a rolled hem on my serger.

13. Lastly, in 2008 I will sew boldly!!!!!!

Ready to get my sewing on!!!

Yes, I know I haven't posted in quite a while, but I have a good excuse. I was busy spending time with my family who came for Christmas, now that they are gone I can sew again (I certainly have been thinking about it non-stop). So while I didn't sew while they were here, I did manage to cut out some things which I plan to sew this week. January's sewing will mostly be for my mother because one of my sewing resolutions for 2008 is to sew for other people (I will post the full list tomorrow). So I am getting a jumpstart on it by cutting out several things to sew a small travel SWAP for my mother who is going to Senegal and Paris in February. I also cut out a whole bunch of stuff for myself , but that will be for another posting.

These are the fabrics that I bought to make the garments for my MOM. The main color is navy. So I bought a navy woven fabric to make a long sleeved jacket, skirt and pants out of Butterick 3532, and an additional skirt in the bottom left rayon print, then Butterick 5948 for 2 different tops in the two different rayon cotton prints and finally a dress in the bottom right print fabric using a Simplicity out of pattern (9260).
I still don't know exactly what I am going to do with this tan and navy pin stripped jean fabric just yet.




These are the patterns that I am using for now.

Lutterloh Vintage patterns

A couple of months ago I purchased some sixties vintage Lutterloh pattern books and this is one of them. The patterns are based on the "the golden rule" in which you only need two measurements (hip and bust) to make a pattern using a special ruler. I love these patterns they are so cute. I have included a sampling of the patterns, but the book has like 400 different patterns in it. I am hoping to make some of them for spring.

Burda on my mind

I have been watching with great awe some of the people who sew Burda WOF patterns. After seeing so many great BWOF garments, I too wanted to sew Burda patterns. Although, first I had to figure out that they were not regular patterns that could be found in a file cabinet in a fabric store, but instead a set of patterns contained in a magazine. Anyway a couple of weeks ago I set out to look for a Burda WOF magazine and I came up empty. It wasn't at any of the fabric stores (which is kind of crazy!). They had Australian Stitches why not Burda World of Fashion? Next I tried the bookstores and nada! Then Ebay, they had it, but I refused to pay $15.95 plus shipping for a single issue. I didn't even care that when you dollar cost average the number of patterns you get with the overall price, it turns out to be mere pennies. I just could not do it. So while I was lamenting about the whole thing I actually wrote Burda and they said that they would send me a complimentary copy (Yeah!) but being as impatient as I am I couldn't wait and what about that September issue that I desperately wanted? All I could think of is there must be a way and there was! This is where the LAW of ATTRACTION comes into play. While surfing the net, I came across a reply to a comment directing someone to go to a newsstand called Santa Monica World News for Burda WOF magazines! I called them and asked if they actually had them and they did. So I promptly left work (luckily it was lunch time) and made the journey to West Hollywood and purchased the August, September and November editions. Now I have all of the Fall editions and I have officially subscribed to the magazine to boot. So very soon I too will be styling like Tany, Cidell, and Laura in my Burda WOF garments.

Moving On

After having to make the trek back to Joanns to pick up another pattern, since the one I had was missing in action, I finally finished my Mccalls jacket. I really like how it turned out. I was looking for a feature button to use on it, but I could not find one that I liked, so I ended up making a covered button. I still have to hand sew the hem at the bottom and then it will head to the closet.

Next up is a grey stretch velour sweatsuit for lounging around the house and for running local errands (notice I did not say exercise). I am using Mccalls 4261 (view A & E).

Good intentions

Wouldn't you know that I got up this morning all set to finish my McCalls jacket 5276. I made some coffee, walked the dog while it was brewing, came back home and poured a cup, sat down to finish the jacket and discovered that page 3 of the pattern instructions were missing. Of course I thought how can this be!!! So I started looking for it. Maybe I put the instructions in with another pattern, mistakenly threw it away or it was not there to begin with. Bottom line I DON'T HAVE IT!!! Needless to say I am not happy about this right now, because now in addition to cleaning up, finally decorating the house for Xmas, addressing some Christmas cards, and giving the dog a bath I have to wait for Joann's to open and go pick up another pattern so I can finish my jacket. Note to self: Always make sure that all the instructions are in the pattern before you leave the store.

Brocade jacket

McCalls 5276 View B is almost done. I used a satin brocade which I found out ravels alot, but I still love it. I love brocade fabric because it is so very glam and it makes every thing look good! However it shows stitching marks so it is best to use a really small size needle when working with this fabric, otherwise your basting marks will show.

Wrapping up loose ends

I finished my Built by Wendy top (Simplicity 3835). It is actually the second time that I made this top. I used a cotton batik fabric for both tops to give it an ethnic feel. For Spring I plan to make a skirt to go with each top, probably a white linen skirt and a denim wrap skirt. I still need to map out what I am going to do for spring. Maybe I will do a mini-SWAP. Who knows?



This is the first Built by Wendy top that I made.

This is my finished classic knits tank top in burgundy Woolease Thick and Quick. I am going work on my Bobbalious sweater in black Woolease Quick and Thick yarn over the Xmas holiday and then that will be my last sweater for the season (maybe because knitting is addicting).

New patterns

These are some of the new patterns that I picked up at Joann's this weekend. Vogue patterns were $3.99 each and McCall's patterns were $1.99 each. I love love love the Guy Laroche suit (Vogue 2752) and the cocktail dress patterns.

Faux snakeskin jacket

Last week I was perusing the Neiman Marcus website and saw this jacket and I thought the construction looks really simple yet stylish. Hmmm I think that I have a pattern and some fabric that while not leather will sort of have the same effect. I came home and went through my stuff and found a pattern and a cool fabric that I could use for the jacket. Now keep in mind that my McCalls skirt still needs to be altered, but instead I decided to make myself feel better by making a quick jacket. I used a brown and black snakeskin patterned moleskin fabric for this jacket and added a frog closure to the top of it. The pattern is really simple and quick. It was so easy that I am thinking about making the dress (View A) in a brown satin.

McCalls skirt update

Well my McCall's 5523 skirt is not working out like I would have liked. I am going to make some more alterations this weekend and hopefully I can salvage it. So wish me luck! I am so happy that I used my $1.00/yd mystery fabric, which I actually think is a rayon/polyester with alot of stretch to it. If it doesn't work out then it will become a muslin if I decide to make another one. As it stands now the waist is too big and it just is not hanging right, but the pleats are okay(even though it is hard to tell from the picture). I think that the fabric has way too much stretch to it. I feel like it is a spandex skirt (LOL). I'll do a pattern review this weekend after I figure out how to fix this thing.

Knockoff dress

My Lucky magazine dress (see previous post) is done. It is actually an Alisha Levine dress. I made my Alisha Levine knock off using Butterick 5040 in a grey ponte knit. I think that it is a pretty close copy except the original is a mini dress. Sadly my mini dress days are a thing of the past so my dress is right above the knee. The pattern is really easy. It is basically a lot of gathering. I love ponte knit fabric it sews really well. I will probably make something else in the same fabric because I like it so much.

Gearing up for the weekend

This weekend my sewing hiatus ends. I plan to watch movies and sew sew sew. Since I have several projects that are already cut out I will sew some of them and then cut out a couple of new pieces. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have a few new pieces to squeeze into my closet. Does anyone else have this challenge (I won't call it a problem)? This brings up a great question for all of you fabulously talented sewists that sew on a regular basis. How do you manage your wardrobe if you make new pieces all the time? Do you constantly edit your closet and get rid of items that you have made in the past? What do you do? I am on the verge of being able to open a clothing store myself because I find it hard to edit.

I decided to change up and make a different skirt for once. I bought some black rayon? fabric for $1.00/yd. Don't laugh it is actually a very nice fabric and if I mess it up I won't be mad. I am going to make McCalls 5523 view C.

I love this Built by Wendy top (Simplicity 3835 view C). I made it once before and it turned out well so I cut it out in a pink cotton batik 2 months ago and have yet to work on it, but this weekend I will complete it. It only takes about an hour to actually sew it.
I cut this jacket out 2 months ago also, in a turquoise satin brocade. I plan to make McCalls 5276 view B. I think that it will be a cute dressy jacket to wear with jeans.


I was going through old magazines that I plan to throw away and I saw this dress in an old Lucky magazine (August 2007 issue). I think that Butterick 5040 view B is a very close match so I plan to make it in a dark grey ponte knit.