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.