It's a Blackout!!!

Viva Vogue Italia!!!! I just want to scream that you must run out and get the July issue of Italian Vogue. I mean RUN, don't walk. The issue is dedicated to Black models!!! http://www.lerockbox.com/?p=437. I heard about Vogue dedicating the whole July issue to Black models due to the disapearance of Black models on the runways in recent years, I think about a month ago. So July 1st I started scouring the bookstores for it, but sadly to no avail. I found that I was actually rapidly becoming obsecessed with it. It got to the point that the salespeople would see me and before I could even say anything, they would say we still don't have it yet Ma'am. So last night my friend calls me, because I have told practically everyone that I know that I have to have this issue of Vogue Italia, short of hopping a plane to Italy. You know I figured the more eyes out looking for it the better. Well to my great pleasure my friend told her friend about it and last night he bought it for moi!!!! So in my eyes he is the MAN!!! So now I have it in my hot little hands I just have to say that the magazine is way FABULOUS!!! I think that I might even sleep with it tonight

New Vogue Patterns

I just noticed that the new Vogue Fall patterns are out. Of course they came out after the sale was over!!! I think that they do that on purpose, I swear! Anyway I am going to hold out until they go on sale again, because I refuse to pay full price for patterns. Anyway I picked out a few patterns that I really like. I picked out these patterns because in the Fall I really want to concentrate on making suits, so I can build my business/work capsule wardrobe.

Vogue 1063

Vogue 1064
Vogue 1065
Vogue 1066

A Little Animal Magnetism

I really love prints, especially animal prints because they go with just about everything at least in my closet. Luckily I had enough of this leopard sort of print that I bought a while ago to make Vogue top 8419 View A. It was really simple to do. This sleeveless top has front and back waist darts and and then upper back darts, pleats at the neckline, and a back zipper closure. Surprisingly I was able to make this top in just a few hours.



These are the cute little upper back darts
Back view

The apron that wasn't

Well I did it again!!! I have been planning to make this incredibly simple apron for the 4th of July for the last 5 years and once again I didn't do it. As you can see it is a very simple panel, so I really have no excuse. All I had to do was cut out the ties and apron, finish the edges with a 1/4 inch hem and then attach the ties to the top and sides. It probably would have taken 30 to 45 minutes tops, but did I do it? No, I didn't. So since I could not get it together again this year, what I have decided to do is to go ahead and make the apron now and then just put it away until the next 4th of July. So look for this apron next year, because I will be wearing it on July 4th, 2009!!!!

Skirting the issue

After tending to my backyard for most of the weekend I ended up only making one skirt New Look 6163. This is one of my favorite skirts to make because it always turns out well. It is a simple A-line skirt. I used a stretch twill fabric in a black and white floral print. So now I have a new outfit to wear to work this week. I am going to use this same pattern to make a white linen skirt, but I will add a lining to that one. Oh how I wish that I didn't have to do anything else, so I could just sew all the time.

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Have a great holiday!

First comes the Tops

I made a couple of tops and a jacket. First up, I finally made the top and jacket from Simplicity 3800, both pieces are made out of a black knit. I think that Erica B. used this same pattern a while back. I got the idea to make the top and jacket from her, because the ones she made came out so cute. This pattern is part of the Threads collection, but I think that it is actually out of print now. However I always say better late than never. I wonder if it would be possible to sew all of the the patterns that I have at least once before they go out of print. Hmmmm......I don't think so!! I have way too many patterns to even attempt to try such a feat.

The second top I made is New Look 6753 View C. I bought this fabric back in March I think during PR weekend and since I had so much left over I plan to make a dress out of it also at some point. This upcoming 4th of July weekend I am planning on making a black and white skirt and a solid black skirt to go with these tops and maybe a few other things if I have time.

Fair is fair

I decided to make a dress that I can wear to work, since I made a dress that is just for the weekends. "It's so easy" Simplicity pattern 3724 is so easy!!!!!! I made View B, which is the shorter length dress. I think that I could whip out a couple of these suckers in a matter of hours. I used a linen mix cream and black fabric that has been in my stash for 2 years!! Ahh....... now I have one less item in my stash and one one in my closet. As an added bonus the dress goes well with my Vogue 2817 wardrobe pattern jacket. I might be getting my mojo back after all??

It's been a while

It's actually been a long long while. I sort of lost interest in my linen wardrobe that I was making, so I stopped working on it and pretty much everything else. I will go back to it before the summer is over hopefully otherwise it will go into my UFO bin. Oh no Oh no!!! The truth is I haven't really been sewing much. In fact, I have only been sewing about half as much as I normally would. I have cut out several patterns, but that is about it. I don't know if it is the lazy days of summer that got a hold of me or what? Anyway, to get myself going again and in honor of summer, I decided to make a weekend dress to lay around in, do whatever in or here's an idea...........maybe I will sew in it! I made McCalls 5653 View A. I used 7/8 in slate blue grosgrain ribbon to make the button rosettes and then sewed decorative buttons on top.

Lutterloh not forgotten

Oh Lutterloh I won't let you stump me!!! I refuse to let Lutterloh get the better of me. Long story short, I drafted my first Lutterloh pattern several several weeks ago, but the pattern turned out sort of funky so I just put it away. So much for the golden rule!!! I think that women's clothing sizes were very different in the 60's, which is probably why the pattern came out funky. I think that us Millenium girls have to make adjustments. Anyway, I decided to pull out the pattern that I made and see what I could do to make it work. Actually it has been haunting me for a while. Fortunately, I have been learning a lot about tissue fitting, so I decided to use that method to salvage the pattern. Based on the tissue fitting I added 1.5 inches to the hip area and decided to add darts to the back of the dress. I think that I have made all of the alterations needed on the pattern, so I will be cutting it out this week. However, I plan to add 1 inch side seams for a little extra insurance. No matter what I plan to end up with a wearable garment!!!!

A Dress for Summer

Once again I was not able to sew much this weekend. I have been slammed lately with multiple assignments, so free time is a thing of the past for the moment. However.........I did work on my in between project, which is a dress that I am making for when the weather gets a little warmer. I am using McCall's 5315 View A. I chose a cotton batik in black and white for the fabric. I was all set to whip this one out, but I did not pay attention to the finished garment measurements for this dress when I cut it out so I have to take in in a lot!!!!! and then reposition the straps. I just pinned it together on my dressform so everyone could see what I have been doing. Hopefully, I will be able to come up for air by the end of the week and actually complete it.

Vogue 2817 jacket

Unfortutately I did not get much sewing done in the past couple of days but I did finish the jacket from my Vogue 2817 wardrobe pattern. This is a super easy pattern. It just requires a lot of stitching. I just have the skirt and pants left to do out of black linen as well and then a couple of tops in different linen colors. I don't know now if I am still going to make another jacket from the same pattern in the silver foil linen fabric that I bought, because I don't know how much I am actually feeling the jacket. I am going to have to think about it for a little while, I don't know if I should use a different pattern instead. In the picture I paired the jacket with the top that I already made from the same pattern and a black linen embroidered skirt that I made last year. The skirt was my original inspiration for a linen wardrobe. I also paired the jacket with the black and white linen embroidered dress that I just made.

Good Forture

Last week the mailman came bearing gifts. Caroline, who I met at PR weekend was gracious enough to think of me and to send me her unused Burda WOF patterns. Wow, the power of human connection is great! Woo Hoo!! Thanks again Caroline, they will be put to good use. I promise.

E for Excellent!

A big big thank you to the wonderful seamstresses Cennetta at the Mahogany Stylist and Pirouette at Krustallos for nominating me for the Excellent Blog Award. I will try to live up to it.

The Fabric That Spoke

I put off continuing to work on my Vogue 2817 wardrobe pattern to make something out of the fabric that spoke to me. I must say that I just love this dress!!!!! I used Simplicity 2975 View A. The pattern was quite easy to make. I lengthened the dress by 2 inches because I am tall and then took in the side seams at the arm 1 inch so that the armhole did not gape. I plan to get a lot of use out of this dress this summer. I might even wear it to work with a jacket. Love it!!!!!

When fabric speaks to you

I went to Joann's to pick up some sewing needles and saw some graphic print black and white embroidered linen, of course I walked right past it, because I don't need any more fabric. I mean I really don't need any more fabric. So, I just kept going, but the fabric spoke to me "Psst. Psst". "Check me out." I was strong at first, but it kept speaking to me. "Where are you going?" "Oh come on, come on just come closer." So I did and the voice got louder and more persuasive. "Just touch me." So I did. Then then fabric said "You know you want me !!!" Well somehow I entered into a trance and found myself picking up the bolt of fabric, walking to the cutting table, and then to the cashier. To make a long story short the fabric ended up in my passenger side seat and on it's way home with me. When I got home I riffled thru my patterns and chose Simplicity 2975 to use to make it. This style is actually very popular right now. I have seen it several times in different stores, so I think the pattern was a good choice. I am going to be be making the dress, View A.

PR weekend follow-up

I thought that I would finally take some time out to say something about PR weekend. In a word it was a blast! I will definitely be going to more of them. I had so much fun and I bought way way too much fabric, but I did not win the most yardage purchased prize, surprisingly. I actually bought so much fabric that I struggled to find a place to put it all. So, it all sat in my trunk until this past weekend. I can't say enough about how much fun I had and how much I laughed and was inspired to sew even more. The best part of it all is that I met a lot of great people, like Krystin, MelissaB, Betsysbobbin, Leslie in Austin, Christina, Cat, dvmcindy, Leslie, Deepika, Markie1, Jeanette, Cidell, and Nancywin. All I can say is that women who sew rock!!!!!

Disregard the dates. I used my spare camera and it was not set.