A Bigger Narwhal Jacket!

Nora outgrew her narwhal jacket which I made her last year.  Why is that not surprising?

To recap, I got upset last year when, on Black Friday, it was 14 degrees and my daughter was putting her daughter in the car without a coat, because "they can't wear coats in the car!"  My dear friend GMarie later clarified for me that it's because jackets are too puffy and the kid could fly out of the car seat.  Whatever. This kid has a winter-long runny nose and cough, and I don't think it's right that she should be going out without a coat.  So, Ryan found me this cozy and pretty fleece, and demanded that I make something awesome out of it; a toddler's jacket it became!

I used the same pattern, S8759 from Simplicity.  Sadly, the pattern stops at 24 pounds.  So I added a little in girth, about 4" in length, and made a new one for this year.  Here you have Tigger modeling it for you. 

I did a great job of matching the narwhal pattern for the pockets; I have to thank GMarie for inspiring me to try.  Seriously, have you seen her mad pattern matching skills?  The lady is awesome.

 Excuse Tigger's tail blocking your view of the back; I hung it off Hepsibah to show it to you a little better.

I used plastic snaps to close it.  I did put some ribbon on the inside of the closure (which isn't really a placket, but I have no other word for it) for reinforcement, because I'm always afraid those snaps will pull right through the fabric.

And look at my nifty new labels for the children's clothes!  As long as I'm making them, I might as well flaunt it a little bit, right?

I'm going away with Shannon's family for a few days at the beginning of next month, so I'm going to bring this jacket along and give it to my girl then.  She will b very happy, I"m sure.  She seems to just love everything I make her.

Happy Weekending, everyone!

Pink Boucle Skirts

In one of the bundles I bought during the September Sew Camp, there were 6 pieces of skirt fabric.  Six!  That's a lot of skirts, leaving me drooling at the prospects.

One of the pieces was a lovely pink boucle.  I decided it would make a great A-line skirt, but when I cut it, I discovered that there was enough left over for a pencil skirt as well!  The down side of boucle is that it needs to be lined, at least in my opinion, in order to hang correctly and not stretch out with wearing.

So I started with the A-line skirt, using Simplicity pattern #S8885 (which I've made several times since I bought it this summer).  I lined it with a charcoal gray, diamond patterned lining fabric that I had around here.  An invisible zipper, and Boom! Done!  Since this skirt was lined, I didn't bother with either a waistband or facings, which makes it a little easier to finish.  I added a piece of black and white trim around the hem, but I'm not honestly certain if I love that detail.  It might just come off at some point.  (This picture was taken before I attached the trim, thus the part still hanging on the floor.)

The second skirt was McCalls #M3830.  Very simple, 2 piece skirt with darts front and back.  Nothing fancy, nothing special, just very classic.  I used the same lining for this skirt, and an invisible zipper.  In both skirts, I anchored the lining to the skirts by stitching in the seam line for the first 3" down from the top.  That prevents it fron deciding to turn itself inside out or otherwise get twisted in the wash.

Speaking of wash, I cut 4 identical pieces of the boucle, and finished all 4 edges of each 5" square.  I left one on the laundry room window sill, washed one by hand and laid it flat to dry, washed 2 in the machine and put one through the dryer while the other was also laid flat to dry.  I was delighted to see that all 4 were still identical after washing, which means that I don't have to take these skirts to the dry cleaner (which would probably be the kiss of death for them in my house).

And, I bought myself some garment labels; sometimes I even remember to use them! (And isn't that lining pretty?)

Happy Thursday, everyone!

4 Yards of Green Linen....

....yields so many things!

At the June Sew Camp, I got 4 yards of this green linen border print.  It's a really nice fabric, with plenty of body and drape all at the same time.  The first thing I did was make a Simplicity dress (which I've made 3 other times, as well).  I had some brown gauze on my shelf, so was able to use that for the waist ties (which are 4' long sashes sewn into the side seams, and wrapped around back before being tied in the front).  The picture in the mirror is me wearing it on the way out the door to fly to Kellie's house for a long weekend; the picture hanging gives you a better idea of how the pattern changes from the top to the bottom of the fabric.

I've been working on a maxi skirt pattern for a couple of months; I've made 2 previous ones, trying to get the waist and length correct.  Who knew that it would be this hard?  Finally, the weekend before last, I felt that I had it figured out enough to cut into the green linen.

I'm really delighted with how the border flows around the hem of the dress, while it isn't obvious that it doesn't exactly follow the curvature of the hem.  The pattern gradation from hem up is more evident in this skirt; I really like the change in the flowers over the distance from waist to hem.  I'm a little less delighted that Hepsibah is evidently shorter from waist to floor than I am;  I might have to make her taller.  This pattern is really easy; it only takes a couple of hours to assemble.  (I've also made several above knee length versions from this pattern, so you know I like it).

Finally, I fussy cut an 8 gore skirt from the remnants at the opposite end of the fabric, because I couldn't see throwing out so much fabric.  I like it.

There wasn't a long enough piece to make a waistband, so I put in a facing.  And the flowers are upside down, but that's OK.  It makes them look a little like modern art.

I figured out earlier this summer that facings would stay in place if I "stitch in the ditch" along the seam lines to hold the facing in place, and said stitching won't show.  Well, except from 4" away, where no one should be anyway unless they want me to clobber them. ;-)

So, green linen border print!  I'm so pleased with these garments!

Happy (late) Wednesday, everyone!

Apple Festival Dress!

I bought this pattern at a sale in either February or March, and have really wanted to make it since.  This weekend, the fabric and pattern came together for a nice soft dress from a pretty thick knit purchased in a bundle at the September Sew Camp.

The pattern is for a "mock wrap" dress with raglan sleeves.  It isn't complicated, but the directions for the dress were: Because they call it an "amazing fit" dress, they instruct you to baste it together entirely with the seams on the outside, try it on, adjust the seams as necessary and try on again, until the fit is right.  Then you're to mark up your pattern pieces, take it apart and sew it together properly.  OK, I get that they're telling you to fit the dress to yourself, but why not baste it together so the seams are inside, as is normal, which still enables you to try it on?  Then, if it needs adjustment, you can put it on inside out and mark up the dress on the inside, and from there mark up the pattern.  Not just duplicated work, but extra work.  I hate when people don't think things like that through.

The fit on this pattern was good, if you follow your measurements.  They have different front bodice pieces to configure to each individual's contours; likewise, the back comes in slim fit, normal fit or curvy pieces.  All of that is thoughtful, really, and does contribute to making the fit very good.

Another thing I didn't like: the instructions said to cut pieces of bias tape, stitch them to the neckline, then fold under and sew down.  Instead, I cut 1.5" wide pieces of the same fabric, folded it in half and serged along the neckline, then topstitched it so it would stand up.  A little stretch along the neckline pieces will surely make the fit that much better.

I have a piece of fabric which I purchased in June that looks very much like the dress on the front of the envelope, so this dress will probably make a reappearance next spring.  Meanwhile, I'll b wearing it to an apple festival with several of my children and grandchildren on Saturday.  They had me at apple dumplings and cider.  There might even be a picture of me wearing it; you never can tell.

Happy Monday, everyone!

What I wore Thursday

I made this top about 3 weeks ago, and the skirt last Wednesday.  Ordinarily, I wouldn't dream of wearing a top with little spots on it (to me, it looks almost like the starry sky out in Wyoming at a new moon) with a patterned skirt.  But the colors were so close to the same that it all just worked out.

I used a pattern I've had at least a decade for both of these.  The Simplicity  S4368 was an entire wardrobe pattern, with the top, skirt, pants and a jacket, and created by Threads magazine (judging by the envelope, anyway).  I've never made a non-stretch, pullover top before, and so was nervous about this one, however, the rayon performed very nicely, and looks good.  There are little pintucks at the neckline to give it a little shape.  It can be worn tucked in, as Hepsibah is modeling, or loose.  My preference, if worn loose, would be to add a belt over the top, so I retain some waistline definition.

  The skirt is a twill with a slight stretch and plenty of body.  The skirt fits closely to the hip and then flares out a fair amount, and I love this profile.  I've also gotten the invisible zipper insertion down pretty well, and I love how the tab hides with this fabric!  I've made a couple of skirts with this pattern since rediscovering it about 6 weeks ago, and 3 versions of the top.  This outfit felt good to wear, despite the fact that it turned cold Thursday, but this top is done for the season, as are its twins; even with the heat running, I feel the chill.

I'm going to try to post a little more here, but time passes by.  I'm currently working on a few pieces to take on vacation with Shannon's family in a few weeks.  You know the boys are going to be despondent without their personal chef around!

Happy Saturday, everyone!