sunday

Still just breezing along with the breeze.  Although I didn't do any sewing Saturday or today due to feeling crappy; I still decided to watch some sewing videos.  I really like Silhouette Patterns.  I went on to the sewing forum in the U.K. and a woman referred me to the Silhouette sight.  I saw this lady at the sewing expo, she is a teacher and makes this look so easy.  Yesterday I watched the blue jean video on the website.  These are videos are around 30 minutes long.  The blue jean was really interesting, and the instructor stated in order to get the denim more pliable to let the denim soak or wash in two cans of coke.  It has something to do chemistry of the denim and coke.   I thought that was interesting.  Today I decide to look at the a blouse technique that is used in the industrial industry.   The blouse came out really nice and she didn't use a stabilizer for the collar, and it stood up just right.  Ordinarily I would use pellon.  This all depends on the fabric that you are using of course.   Well if I am feeling up to it I will go back to working on something tomorrow.  I am keeping my word though, if I am not doing something in sewing, I will be reading something in sewing, or viewing something in sewing.  

dawdling

Well today I just looked at the dress that I am making.  Instead I decided to just go see what the girls are up to, and again that will give me some incentive to go forward.  Although I will admit it's hard concentrating when you know something is going on with your wisdom tooth.  Always something isn't it?   I am also looking at fashion a little more and think this is going to be beneficial.  Something that one of the ladies on a youtube video said: "if you want to spend all that money for a sewing machine go right ahead, it's not how is expensive the machine is, but what you can do with the sewing machine.   I just went to another friends house today.  His wife has a 9000 memory craft Janome! 

The machine is sitting in the box.  Every time I find someone with a machine that they are not using just makes me want to scream.  It's  almost unbearable for me to see.  I have another friend that has a sewing machine and it sits there.   I tell you I could just blow a gasket.  Well I guess the good thing is they have them.  Me I use mine.  However I am going to take into consideration that having the top of the has it's perks, but also there is some validity to using what you have and it's practical.  Now a days getting a new machine is not all it's cracked up to be.  I will admit I am a sewing machine nut, and fabriholic, you can never get too much of either.  I just find them fascinating.  I like how they sound, look, feel, just everything about them.  I am noticing to that some of the women have vintage machines. I think they look so classy.

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday I worked my this dress.  I had to reposition the darts at the top of the dress, one was higher than the other and slightly off center.  Don't know how I did that,  also made the dress too wide and will have to cut down the seems.  Boy do I hate taking out seems!  This time it will teach me to fit with clothes off, instead of on.  It's easy to misjudge the width of the fabric.  Thank goodness I did this with the muslin as well.  So maybe today if I am so inclined I will continue on the dress, although I doubt it because it is too hot.  That means I would have to open the blinds in this room.  My rule of practice is to suffer until 7:00 pm.   I will say I liked how the electric bill looked for this month, and all because of my methods.    Switch reels................I am looking for other sources of fabric.  Have noticed that the the online fabric stores have really been coming up with good sales.  I've been getting feed back from: "sew -what's-new.com and the ladies list a few places that I can save money.  That's always good news.  Right now I am still going along with the program of getting rid of some material.  Will check with the girls to see what they are doing.  Every time I check it gives me an incentive to move my arse.

attempted dress

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I decided to make a dress out of this fabric.  I already made a skirt out of it and wore it last summer.  I cut out the pattern but this time used muslin because I wanted to see if this was going to fit. My goal is to use the remainder of my fabric stash so that I can collect more.   Lo and behold the pattern was too small and thank God for the muslin.  I had to cut an inch for both the front and back.  After cutting out the actual fabric for the front part of the dress; I realized that there wasn't going to be enough fabric for the back.  With the remainder of the fabric I decided to cut in pieces and then so them back.  So actually there are three pieces to the back of the dress.  I decided to use this seem for decorative.  Although I must admit it isn't too clear, but I will do better nexk time.    I am undecided whether to put sleeves on this or just leave it sleeveless.  I might do the latter.  

last touches

Even though I screwed up on the button holes I decided to put some more on the opposite side of the shirt.  I know this looks tacky but when I put the shirt on it looks decorative.  I am thinking about really embellishing the button holes.  It was suppose to be a mock up.   I am glad I moved both the buttons holes and the buttons over more towards the edge, had I not it would not have fit.  I will just wear this with jeans.

In the first place I hadn't used the Bernina auto button hole in a long time.  You have a choice to use either the automatic or just do it manually.  I like the auto one better.  I screwed up because I forgot how to use it, and then I place it on the fabric crooked, even though I thought I place it straight. I know I am suppose to test drive the button hole and I did that, but wouldn't you know it; when I actually got on the fabric the machine seemed temper mental, of course we all know that it was more than likely user error.  I would like to blame this on the machine.  Much easier lol! I learned a lot from making this shirt.  Now the next one I make will be much better without the mistakes at least not as noticeable.  From a distance the shirt looks not too shabby lol!  I really have to figure out what design to cover up the button holes. Well on to the next project.

blog cruising

I think I am going to do a check on the girls two days out of the week and once on the weekends.  It kind of gets my juices flowing.  I emailed one of the ladies, because we are built up practically the same, and I'd like to know where she got her dress form.    One of my friends suggested that I get one of the old wire forms. They are not that easy to get it seems.  I will keep looking around.  Today was another scorcher and I had every intention of putting the buttons on the shirt, but the phone rang.  I am not the type of person to be side tracked I tell you.  Maybe I shouldn't answer the phone.  I have another friend that calls me every other day from Seattle and when she calls I can't get anything done, further more I don't feel like doing anything because she is all over the place in conversation and I am tired when we are through talking.  She might start out talking about lettuce, but then end up on duck boots!  Go figure. What's really unfair is that she can clean the house, wash the dishes and everything while on the phone.  I don't do that, today she called and sounded like she was in a man hole...........I knew she was doing something because she sounded a bit distant.  She thinks I don't know..........well tomorrow is another day.

shirt today

At last! I am practically done with this shirt.  Now that I have it together, I feel the material is heavy for a shirt.  More than likely I will wear this in the winter. I will shorten the sleeves to my elbow.  That's more comfortable for me.   I will put on the buttons later and do the hem it's just too hot. I'm sweating too much and really don't want to feel any fabric on my skin.    In the mean time when I use this pattern again I will remember to check notches where they say. This time I stapled the directions together so it looked like a little magazine.  That worked well and from now on will do that, guess everything really has to be orderly for me. I am learning that I follow format far better in order.  I think that maybe I will make a few notations on the pattern as well and maybe that will help me more.  I am determined not to be intimidated by these patterns.   I remembered the notches in the collar, but not at the base of the shirt where you connect the collar and that was my probably my problem.  Once I visually remember how they are suppose to meet it became easier for me to sew the shirt.   It is just too hot to do anything .  It feels like it's a 103 out there, and I won't put the air on until 6:30.   I am going to work on making my own pattern from the book I just purchased on patterns and see how that works.  

another collar

After working and manipulating the fabric for the past two hours, I placed the shirt on the cutting table having hand sewn the collar in, and finally realizing that the collar was upside down.  I copied from the diagram.

I meant to put this picture on here yesterday.  I also realize that the ends of the collar were slightly off, so I thought i could fudge on it a bit and cut the right side to evenly match the left side of the collar, however it didn't fit well, just slightly off.  At one point I was going to let this be a UFO and get some white material and make a collar.  That would be attractive if I don't get the second collar right.  So I will try again tomorrow.  Almost finished, but will have to put the buttons on, and I don't have new buttons so just maybe I can make this look a little retro and used some used buttons, I will look the buttons.  last year a lady in the former building I lived in died and had a whole box of buttons used, and some old.  I just found five buttons that were 39 cents.  I wonder what year that was?  Now buttons cost 2.35 or more for just a few.   Thank goodness I do have a few referral books to help out. 

frustrated

I am using McCalls perfect shirt number M6076 and again the instructions are not clear.  They show a picture of how to put the collar together and then the next direction is : pin collar to neck edge of shirt, matching notches, center backs, triangles and large circles, clipping shirt neck edge where necessary.  Baste, keeping pressed-under edge free.   The diagram just shows the collar sewn on, but it is clear to my eye that it doesn't show how to get to that point.  So I am going to take the collar apart it put it together my way.  This makes no sense to me what ever.  I know ink is expensive but having a full clear picture would be better.  I even went to you tube to see how to put a collar together, but there is a different type collar, I believe it's the stand up collar.  So that didn't help.  Will work on this tomorrow.  I believe if I do it buy hand then I can see how it is to be pieced together.  

what a day

For got this part..............how did I do this?

I decide I am in a sewing mood today, only to find out as I am cutting out the collar and interface that just maybe I should check to see if I got things right.   I wondered why the blouse wasn't closing just right.  In my mind I pictured out it was going to go and looked at the diagram that has the layout of the pattern.  That's alright I now have done the interface. Started at 2:00 and already it's 5:29.    I think I am going to have to get one of those lights to work with..........for the time being I don't cut on the air conditioner until 5:00 or 6:00 pm and keep it on until 11:30. Then the house is good and cool and will remain so until 3:00 in the afternoon.  I am really going to be curious to find out what the bill will be this day.  In the mean time I have to work with the blinds open in the sewing room and it gets to warm in here.  I don't like sewing at night because I will end up sewing until four in the morning, especially if I have music going.  Ah sweet music!   I will attempt tomorrow to finish the rest of this, but I am so glad I rechecked the pattern.  It's bad enough I had to make up the sleeves.   Well at least I am learning from my mistakes. Still thinking about my Janome 7700 it will be home in just a couple of months.  Count down. 

 Last night I answered something on: "sew what's new.com"  It appears that the ladies in Canada are complaining about fabric being to high there, and are even coming to New York to get fabric.  So naturally I decided to make a remark.  I can remember in the 90's going to Vancouver and getting my stash with only a 100.00 and now it seems those days are over.  That's such a shame.  The ladies are also remarking that it's a good idea to go on line and some of them are listing places to go.   I just found a sight: "Carmens warehouse" and then there is one in  Canada called: "Tristans Italian Threads"  the prices are pretty good.  I was surprised, but the ladies say they get you with shipping charges.  Carmens seems to be cheaper with the thread.   I think I am going to use these sites instead of waiting for a sale from JoAnnes. 

mess up

Today I've working on the sleeves since 2:00 and just getting to this point of trying it on, I am going to shorten the sleeves.   Somehow the sleeve was smaller and the armhole was larger.  So I had to make my own sleeve.  Totally unsure about the directions on sleeve pattern it says cut one, so that's what I did and I must be missing something though I haven't figured it out yet.  Oh the adventures of a self taught sewer.  However I just decided to make my own sleeve.  This is going to be a tad different from the pattern.  So if I feel up to it after tomorrow visit from the doctor I will finish up the shirt. 

blouse

Okay..............yesterday I made myself serge the all parts of the blouse that needed serging.  I really forced myself to this, after being outside it what seemed like 104 degree weather.  I've never felt anything like that in my life, and I still feel tire from it.  This type of weather really makes zaps me of all of my energy.  It took me close to an hour to get my serger working.  I forgot how to thread for a three flatlock design.  I also had to change the thread from black to white.   That's a pill.  Sometimes i will luck out and pull the threads through just right and other times I have to thread the eye of the needles.  This was the day to thread the needles.  Sometimes I really think about having the Babylock Evolve, with the air, that would be so much easier.  I still love my Janome compulock, but sometimes I just don't feel like fiddling with it, by the time I remember how to thread it again, I almost lose interest in sewing.   I did force myself to follow through.  Now today I may or may not work on the blouse and stitch the rest of it out.  I just remembered I've not cut out the sleeves only on the muslin.......so now I have to go cut out the sleeves.  Maybe this music help me to move. 

sewing mini break

Okay I didn't work on the shirt today, instead I watched video on sew-what's new, and went to a few more sewing sites.  At least I am keeping my word.   Now, I got detoured and ended up watching........a horse being trapped in ice (suppose to be sewing) an elephant trapped in a mote and then getting electrocuted.  Don't you just hate it when things take you away from what you are suppose to be doing?  Another thing I went to look at Buffalo, New York to see how many sewing and fabric shops they have there.  I'm back to Buffalo again in my mind.  To stay or not to stay here in Minnesota is the question.  I do know what I want to be doing though, for the time being there is a lot on my plate mentally at the moment and I guess these distractions are helping some.  Tomorrow i will put the sleeves in the shirt.  Mind you I've not looked at one direction.  My mind sees how the pieces are suppose to go.  I was determined though to cut the pattern out.  This time I stapled all of the directions together so I can read them like a book. 

shirt

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I have had a time with this shirt.  First off I cut the pattern and I shouldn't have done that, I should have known from experience that it would probably be too small.  Well it was, so now that I've cut it out I wanted to add ............then I used the muslin but I gooffed on that as well because it was too large.   So then I thought I would just baste this material.   Every time I thought I had the fit right, I noticed that I had to take out half and inch on both sides.   Next time I am going to try something a little more different to make it easier the error was on my part though.  I was determined not to mess up this shirt, because I got the fabric from Toronto last year. At least I am still keeping my promise in working on something daily.

books today

These are the latest of my sewing arsenal. Make your own patterns by Rene Bergh seems to be the best so far, because it has good pictures, so therefore I will be able to reference it easily. I've just scanned through the book but I like what I see and I am going to play around with it as soon as I finish the shirt that I am going to make. I really have to get over the fear of these patterns. But the lines on the patterns drive me crazy and that's why I've been looking for other options. The lines are so close together until I am not able to tell if it means 18,20 because they seem to run together.

The couture sewing is by Claire Shaffer and practically anything she puts together is informative even if there aren't a lot of pictures I can follow the way she writes. I've also skimmed over this book and think it is primarily talking about the origin of Couture and then there are a few examples of various other designers that she refers to as well. Also there are the basics from pockets, to sleeves, skirts ect. This book is updated and I caught the review on Amazon and thought that I would give it a try. I am quite sure that while my sewing gets better this book will be of greater value. I am really forcing myself to do this pattern. There is the lazy way...........I had a 90.00 blouse that I brought from Nordstrom some time back and I wore that white blouse until I wore the white out, but I didn't want to throw it away. I like the style because it was the first time that I brought a blouse that fit my body and I didn't look boxy. So I took the blouse apart and use it as a pattern. I also want to learn how to put on a fancy collar.

Most of the time I get ideas from these books even though I might not be able to follow the written word from them. It makes sense when I am reading it, but if there is no pictures it's hard for me to put things in place sometimes. There is another book with DVD with Claire Shaffer and I will get that next because it goes along with the book. I read the reviews on it and they have been pretty positive. So I will keep looking over these books and reading until something clicks. Once I see the picture in my head I'm good to go. When I was going to beauty school many moons ago, I would tell the teacher to show me..........don't tell me about degrees and angles. The pictures or watching it puts things right into place. That's how I became a really good hair cutter, now if I can just apply this to sewing I am going to be fine. Already though I have people fooled. They really think I know what I'm doing and I just laugh inside. I think You just have to have the eye for it.

finished skirt

I decided to leave the bottom of the skirt frayed. For some reason I like that look. I have been working on this since 2:00 this afternoon and finished around 4:00 this afternoon, but that was due to bobbin problems. My error of course. Stuck with it, but I finished at last. I had trouble with my bobbin and it kept jamming. Then I noticed that the machine doesn't like to mix two different types of threads sometimes. I had blue jean thread on the spool, and because I couldn't seem to get the button hole right and the bobbin kept jamming I decided that I would change the bobbin thread. Instead of having blue jean in the bobbin I switched to Egyptian cotton thread, and then every thing ran smoothly. In the mean time I will have to take some more of the waist in but for the time being I will do that later on. I also decided to put a zigzag stitch to support the frayed bottom. Now I am going to work on making a cop blouse. Don't know if I will do the pattern or not, just want to make a couple of things to wear for the summer.

hit and miss

I had every intention of working on the skirt. I am using my Bernina 160 and forgot how to use the manual button hole foot, not the one that works automatically. Then the bobbin thread started to tangle. I attempted to make a buttonhole three times. I think I going to change the bobbin thread to a lighter thread and see if that works better tomorrow. At least I was on the machine for an hour trying to set things up. I'll pat myself on the back. I have to thank my pal Ernie............this woman can screw up any day I have, because I know that if she calls it will be my reason not to do anything, because she will keep me on the phone for at least two hours. The trouble with that: she's doing something while she is talking on the phone with me, but if I am on the sewing machine I have to stop what I'm doing and because if I don't I will make a mistake. That my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

pushing myself

Today I forced myself to go out of the house. Primarily to keep my promise that I made to myself to complete my UFO. So I did get the blue jean thread. Then I brought gutterman thread 1094 yard. 8.00 ! Joanne's out to be shot. Yes that's right shot! but still I bitch and sew. I brought a black and a white spool. The blue jean was high as well. Then of course I walk over to get some needles. Viking has a section right there in Joanne's but they are separate from the store. They sell inspira and I got three packs of those. I like them because I get more use out of them than the smetz needles. I still am going to find a way to possibly get the organ needles. For the time being I will stick with what I am using. I hurried up and got out of the store. To tell the truth I am never tempted to buy anything in Joann's only when the have a sale. I really wanted to go to Mill end fabrics but then I would have walked out of the store without getting the needles. So I did the right thing. I'll go to mill end in the next couple of weeks............and that's a big maybe.

train of thought

I think I am going to devote time just following the blogs on a weekly basis. I notice when I do that.....that it makes me want to go and sew something. Even if I am on it for just a few minutes. Sometimes though, I forget to take the pictures. I notice that on some of the blogs women take pictures of projects in progress. So that is something I have to remember to do, in addition to just forcing myself to do something. I believe when I get my 7700 that I will be on the sewing machine everyday.

For the time being, I am starting and stopping. Just like with the blue jean skirt and running out of thread. It's a habit I should get into, involving picking up thread even when I don't need it. I am out of white thread, and black thread because, they are two most common thread used. Even though some time back I picked up blue jean thread and didn't have the denim at the time. It was a 6months or more before I got the denim, but the thread was there. These woman all seem to have their stuff in order, and looking at the blogs I feel so disorganized. So what to do? Start organizing! Just a few simple steps. It's sure nice to follow the ladies. Sometimes my jaw drops or I get an ah ha moment on something. They are all incredible with their blogs, and the dedication. It appears that even though some don't have a big following; just the idea of blogging and showing, taking pictures is cathartic.

For this period in my life I think I am really going to have to concentrate on the sewing fact. Sometimes you don't want to think about your health and what's bothering you. So I am going to make it a weekly habit of checking in with the ladies and looking at what they do. It will help me, and inspire me. It feels great just to look at the creativity out there. The ladies don't know it but these blogs really make a person feel worth while in that there is a common bond, with ladies who don't know each other yet encourage either directly or indirectly. It is still a constructive day even when you can read what someone did, because the underlying thought is: "I'm going to make something" I just want to put that out there, because there may be someone out there like me who may be going through something, or just may be stuck in a rut. Going back and forth on these blogs gives you ideas and incentive.

skirt in progress

This is the band that I put on the blue jean skirt. I wanted a more flatter fitting look. I put the zipper in, and just when I was going to complete the skirt..........I ran out of thread. So now this is going to be a UFO until I get the thread. Haven't decided whether or not to put a hem in the skirt. This is the heavy denim so I think I am going to leave it alone. So far though it doesn't look that bad. I didn't quite measure the waist right, and it appears I will have to take half an inch in, the weight of the denim alone has made the waist larger, but I would much rather have it too large than to small. I really like how the flat felled seem came out.........I finally got the picture of how this is to go, had to watch the video on youtube three times. I really need to learn how to arrange stuff on this page. Design it yourself clothes is really good with the pictures. Haven't tried anything yet, but I am going on the right track.

Just got the muslin in and I will attempt to make some blouses or shirts. My goal is to use up the stash that I have while adding on, and so far I've not been able to do that....but I am taking one step at a time. Who could ask for anything more?