A New Adventure

Every sewing day is a new adventure. When I started again this morning, I compared back and front yokes.  They are different, with the neck swooping lower in the front. So I did have the yokes right on the first shirt. What I had wrong was the gathers, but that didn't really cause any issues.
That was the good news.
Now for the bad news.  Last night I cut out the fabric for the second shirt. This morning as I was marking details on each piece, I realized I had only cut out one sleeve yesterday.  The sleeves are huge and cut on the fold.  So I had 2 layers of fabric and a brain fart. Two layers does not equal two sleeves.  Last night we had to go get another yard of fabric for the yokes. I insisted that was all I needed to cut out 2 yokes.  So when I found out I needed a whole sleeve still, I didn't have enough fabric. Again. And my boyfriend was on his way far away to a friend's house for the day. He said he'd have to get another yard on his way home.

Being short on time, I was able to continue on with other parts. I gathered up the top edge of the sleeves and lower front and back. It kept getting bound up so it took me forever. Thank goodness I'd run 2 parallel rows of stitching because one broke under the pressure. It was actually easier to gather it with just one thread.
I applied all the iron on interfacing.  I got the cuffs ready.  I got the collar and neck facings ready. So I'm really hoping I get the shirt done tomorrow.  That gives him a day to dye both shirts. And then I won't feel like I'm under so much pressure. Sewing sure goes a lot faster when you don't make mistakes.

I'm taking the rest of the night off and I got to enjoy a great California sunset.

When my boyfriend got home around 7 PM I knew the fabric store closed at 7.  So I said, "Yay, you made it to the fabric store just in time".  He was taking bags out of the truck. He said, "Oops, forgot all about it."  He'd gone to the grocery store, not the fabric store! We'll have to go tomorrow. I left the iron and ironing board and pattern board and other stuff out on the patio so I can cut the last piece out tomorrow.  My window is right by the patio.  All of a sudden I hear raindrops. So up I get again, and had just got everything inside the house, when it started to pour.  Close one.

First Shirt is Done But...

I just sewed the last button on the last cuff of the shirt. It is done.  But, I just realized I made another error.  This must be the record number of mistakes I ever made on one sewing project.

This shirt has a front yoke and a back yoke.  On the front yoke because of the neck slot, you leave an ungathered section about 4" wide. But when I sewed the placket on I thought, "Wow, there sure are a lot of gathers here." Then just now when my boyfriend put the shirt on, I could see this flat 4" gap on the back. Jeebus, I put the front of the shirt in the back.  Holy cow. The shirt looks fine.  I think the only difference in the front and back yoke is that flat spot.  I guess I'll find out when I sew the second shirt in the next few days. I'm lucky this shirt is useable at all. I feel like such a dunce. But you can bet your bottom dollar I'm going to scroll on the wrong side of each piece tomorrow 'front yoke', 'front side', 'back yoke', 'back side', and so one.

Now you may ask yourself why I would admit in public that I make sewing mistakes.  I do it so all of you who sew can see that everyone makes mistakes, and you just have to be persistent and keep moving forward. It's not always fun, it's not always a leisurely stroll from beginning to end, but it gives you the freedom to make things you wouldn't otherwise get a chance to own.

Pattern Piece

Me with the missing piece wearing the shirt.

I just went outside to get a photo of the shirt I'm making. I started thinking of where else I might have had my pattern pieces. I had cut the pattern out on the front porch.  I remembered one piece blowing off and landing under a rose bush and my boyfriend had picked it up on his way in the door. So I looked in that direction.  I mean I'd looked everywhere else right? And there it was, nestled behind the jade plant, under the window. It's been out there for days but it was still in good condition. Now I'm thankful that the automatic sprinklers under that bush are broken and it hasn't rained or anything. Whew. I was wearing the shirt with the cuffs still unfinished. And I snagged myself but good on the rosebush when I bent over to rescue the pattern piece.  Trapped! I slowly and carefully untangled myself. I wasn't worried about scratching myself...I was worried about ripping the shirt that's 90% done! 

The Sewing Saga Continues

Today I cut out the second shirt. I wasn't sure I'd have enough fabric, especially since I decided to make this shirt 6" longer all around.   Just when I was patting myself on the back I found another piece I needed to cut.  It was for the back yoke.  Oh *@#). That means I hadn't cut out the front yoke either. So I will need another yard of fabric. All the scraps I have left from the first shirt are too narrow.  Even worse, I can't find the pattern piece for the front yoke. I've already looked through the pattern, the bag, the scraps, and around all my work areas. I'm guessing the ceiling fan gave it a lift somewhere, but for right now, I'm taking a break.

Sewing For Someone Else

After yesterday's wedding I'm pretty tired. But I still have an Oct. 3 deadline to make 2 peasant shirts for my boyfriend. So I'm working away trying to sew the gathered yoke to the shirt front and back.  Seeing how badly the fabric is already raveling I decided to serge that seam to stabilize it. That worked out fine so I decided to serge some other raw edges.  But I snagged the fabric on something and the knife on the serger cut too deeply on the seam line. Ack!  I think I can save it by making the seam there a wee bit wider. Glad it wasn't any worse, but I decided it was a good time to take a break. Gads.

Sewing a Man's Peasant Shirt

My boyfriend had great plans to sew not one but two shirts for the upcoming SCA event dubbed the Great Western War. I don't even get to go. As the date looms closer he had one of those, 'I don't even know how to sew clothes' moments. And before you can say jumping jack flash I found myself the new owner of two shirt projects. He sews bow cases, pavilion sidewalls, and all kinds of utilitarian things, but never got around to how to make garments.

The pattern calls for 4 yards of 45" wide fabric, and he got 8 yards of linen. Normally it wouldn't matter, but this pattern needs exactly 45" of width for the shirt front and back if I cut them the way the pattern shows (folded selvage to selvage). The fabric has already been pre-washed so maybe it shrank, and when I measured it,  it's only 42" wide so it won't work the narrow way.  I had to refold it the broad way to get the width I needed.  After cutting out one shirt, I only have 3 yards left for the second one, but I can use the narrow strips left from the first one for the cuffs, the collar, and other small pieces. I think I can squeak it out. If not, it's back to the store for another yard.

I could have saved time by cutting out both shirts, but I want to make sure he likes the fit of the first shirt so I can modify it if necessary. It's a very full shirt. He plans to dye at least one of them.

I have to wonder about my sanity when I don't even so my own clothes because it's too cluttered to turn around in here, but now I'm sewing his. Maybe I don't love myself enough.

Staying Home to Sew

I have so much sewing to do! And I'm staying home all day tomorrow to do some of it. I usually go to a cycling event with my boyfriend, but it takes up an entire day.  He has fun running the snack table at the Amtrak 100, but I just sit and draw or work on crafts all day so it's not the best use of my time.  He hardly knows I'm there he's so super busy.  So this year I opted out.  I'm sitting at home and making my sewing machine my best friend.

The color scheme of my fall wardrobe are red, pink and gray.

Sewing a Blouse

Yesterday I went to M&L Fabric, which is very close to me and picked out some prints to use for a wrap-around tunic style blouse. By the time I got them all pre-washed and dried it was dark out and I like to cut my patterns out on a table outside.  So today I hope to get it cut out. I'll have to alter the pattern to fit me.  As I've come to learn, if you want to sew accurately, you have to adjust each and every pattern. Women are all lumpy and bumpy and every lump and bump requires a pattern adjustment. Every time I try to take a shortcut and just sew it as it is, I regret it. The pattern is McCalls M5233. Wish me luck.

Yoga Socks

Back between the age of dinosaurs and the 1980's, I took many a jazz and modern dance class.  We weren't allowed to wear socks in class. Those would be way too slippery for the waxed dance floors.  Most of us had regular tights, and had to cut the toes and heels out of them.  But then stirrup tights came around, and those looked a lot nicer. So when I ran across a free pattern for yoga socks at a store, I was intrigued.  Those sure brought back some happy memories. So I of course want to design my own yoga socks. So I looked it up on Google, and evidently a lot of people know about yoga socks. I guess you wear them for Pilates too.  I haven't had an official yoga class in years so I guess I'm out of the loop.

My daughter was taking yoga during her pregnancy. Maybe she'd appreciate a pair of hand knit or crocheted yoga socks.

My New Sewing Buddy

Yesterday on Etsy I found myself a sewing buddy. She may live on the East coast while I live in California, but we can still cheer each other on via Facebook, Etsy and our blogs. As soon as she gives me her blog address I'll share it so you can see her awesome sewing skills. I just don't know how she does all that as well as working full time.

I have tons of sewing to do. I have to get some of it done, because it's taking up so much space in my apartment.

Here is a snood I just finished. I already got it listed on Etsy.

Flowery Sundress

I'm happy to say my new wardrobe website got about 50 viewers today, and I just started it yesterday.

For my second outfit, I took a wrap dress/ skirt that I sewed in high school, and by sewing just one seam on it, I made a sundress that is ever so comfortable. I've been wearing it all day and I feel great. It's slinky, flirty and ever so fun to wear. And it's driving my boyfriend crazy because it's both short and low cut. Scandalous!

Since I bought the fabric in the 70's, it is now considered vintage fabric. Now I'm glad I never threw it away. I'm even happier that I'm getting some use out of it. And somewhere I have a matching triangular shawl.

Tiger Baby

About 3 AM this morning I was surfing the web and came across a video that triggered an old goal I had. Namely, to go a whole year and only wear clothing, accessories, shoes, handbags and fashions I'd either re-purposed, embellished, or created from scratch. So today I'm making the commitment. I wanted to dress that way today so I had to chose things I had on hand already in my wardrobe. So here is the look for day 1.

I have never worn these 3 pieces with each other. The skirt I made for a belly dancing costume. The t-shirt I painted for a dance group I was starting. The hair ties I made to sell on Etsy but never got around to listing them. Somehow the colors all work together and I feel fabulous in them.

The navy pumps were so damaged I'd actually thrown them away yesterday. But this morning I rescued them and started gluing on buttons and beads and odd bits of earrings. It's going to take me awhile.

The best thing is I feel fabulous and totally me!

SCAMPS

I just founded a group called S.C.A.M.P.S. which stands for the Sewing, Crochet, Art, Metalwork, Patchwork Superstars. I made a NING group. Still working out the bugs, but it will be my version of a Stich-N-Bitch only much more expansive. One of the things I hope to do is make up for the lack of art education in public schools by passing arts and crafts to a new generation.

Men Who Sew

I'm not the only sewer in the family. Here's my boyfriend using his Mitsubishi sewing machine.

He's making bowsocks for archery. Not only is he sewing them, he dyed them all as well.

Retro '60s

Simplicity 3833 dress pattern

Simplicity 3559 dress pattern

I just bought 2 retro 60's sewing patterns. I was born in 1958 and I miss the fashions that were around when I was a teenager. In fact, one of the dresses I saw in the pattern book looked just like a dress I make in sewing class in Jr. High School in  1971. I thought my teacher was daft for making us sew a lined dress in S. California but I did learn a lot making it. It has princess seams and set in sleeves and a zipper sewn in by hand. I think my teacher's head was stuck in the 1950's. Sewing classes in high school were much more pleasant. We could make anything we wanted provided it was a skirt during the skirt lesson or a dress during the dress segment. In Jr. High the teacher would pick maybe five patterns, the class would vote, and you'd be stuck with whatever pattern won.

Blouse and Corset

Here are some Halloween photos of me wearing items I've made, namely the purple blouse and the purple corset. I use them for both my pirate garb and my witch outfit. Also I made the headband with the coins out of stretch velour and decorated the hat myself.

Gotta Get a Move On

I need to start sewing again or I'm going to lose my mind. I suddenly fine myself with more to do than time to do it in! Ack! At the very least I have to make a lemur for a friend who's been very patient so far but I'm sure he's beginning to think I flaked out on him.
It's just that I'm having a wee issue with my sewing machine. Namely the tension isn't cooperating. The stitches are pulling out. I have to fiddle with it some more. Ultimately I may have to take it to a repair shop but usually I can solve my own problems. There seems to be a lot of slop in the tension wheel. I don't think that's normal. I was going to use my back up machine, but I think it's buried somewhere. I haven't needed it in four or five years and I'm just not sure where we put it when we moved. I wish I'd thought to finish the aprons before tomorrow, and then my daughter, who is going to visit from Central CA could have hand carried them back to Santa Maria for me. Now I'll have to mail them, which is both expensive and more impersonal. Oh well, unless I want to drop everything and sew all day straight that's not going to happen. I also have to work on my novel and I have a writer's meeting tonight. So many goals, so little organization.

Aprons

If you are one of my daughters, don't read this.

I'm suddenly in the mood to sew aprons. So today I went to M & L Fabric and bought enough for two aprons. I'm aiming for a retro look. For one apron I chose a reddish orange main fabric with chili peppers on it. The contrasting pockets and strap will be orange with yellow polka dots.

The second one will be a colorful swirl print. For the contrast I found a brown fabric with pink stars (two of the colors in the main fabric). I also got some ric-rac to highlight the pockets and bib. I'd show you photos but the fabric is in the washing machine at the moment.  I'm not usually a fan of brown, but my daughter's new kitchen has brown as the main color.

Whatever Happened to Culottes

For a few days I've been wondering whatever happened to cullottes, those half breed between pants and skirts. And I actually found an online pattern for making your own here: http://www.earnestlycontending.com/KT/Studies/living/culottes/culottes.html Since I don't look good in pants anymore, I thought maybe culottes would be the solution.

I've also been watching old episodes of the original Star Trek and I could swear what the women are wearing on the ship is a version of culottes.

Repairing a Gypsy Skirt With a Ruffle

One of my favorite gypsy skirts has a severe rip in it. I thought it was a goner. But I just figured out a way to make it a skirt with a ruffled side slit. I'm going to cut around the tear in a hair pin shape, and fill it in with a vertical ruffle. And now I see I inadvertently made another tear with the safety pin. But I should be able to eliminate that in the same cut. I told my boyfriend my clever idea and he said it would be much easier to just patch it. First, I disagree, as the rip includes 3 seam lines that touch it, and second, it will be way sexier the way I have in mind. He said it would be a lot more work. Maybe. He said I could patch it from the back, but I hate the way that feels when there is a big heavy square of 'iron on stuff' on a light flowing fabric. We'll see.

At any rate I can't do it today. I have a custom hat order I need to finish first.