Final Photos for September

First, the sewing that we saw at Ginny’s! A pretty full house with attendees from Texas and West Virginia 🙂

And then Debbie and Kristin’s garments:

Debbie’s Garments:

Purple Floral “Cabin Wear” Zip Jacket

This is a quick and easy topper that I have made before.

My fitting adjustments were previously made including petiting and narrow shoulder adjustment. I also narrowed the width of the collar and eliminated the pockets – too small to be of any use.

The next time I make the topper I will add a facing to center front to stabilize and improve appearance of zipper. I would also like to add side seam pockets.

Just another tee to wear under my “cabin wear” jacket.

I like this tee pattern because of the boat neck and close fitting shaping.

Instead of using the neckband facing included in the pattern, I did a serged bias neckband.

Lavender Slouchy Tee (no photo)

Neckline from Jalie Women’s Tee #2805 with Jalie Dolman Tee # 3352

Rayon/Cotton Rib Knit Jersey

Another Tee to go with my “cabin wear” jacket.

Two TNT patterns that work well with a variety of knits create different looks and can fit into capsule wardrobes easily.

This is a fail for me due to the very poor pattern instructions and my choice of fabric.

I made a quick muslin, shortening 1 inch between bust and waist and 1 inch between hip and hem. Sleeves were shortened 2 inches.

I like to make one piece welt pockets so I eliminated the pleats on the welt because I couldn’t figure out how to incorporate them – unfortunate because that detail was one reason why I wanted to make the jacket!

I wanted to believe the fabric was navy – it’s not. Therefore I had difficulty finding a contrast for the sleeves so I settled – the contrast was another reason I was drawn to the pattern!

In the back of my mind all along I knew this make was doomed. Between the pattern, instructions, lack of notches, fabric and construction details, there was little success. Failure brings growth – right?! There won’t be a next time for this jacket but I will recycle the jacquard fabric along with my leftover fabric some day but not for awhile!

This is a TNT blouse pattern mainly because it can easily be switched up to create different looks.

For this version I Changed the V-neck to a round neckline and added a seam to the center back with button closure. I also added a facing instead of a serged bias edge for the neckline.

I especially like the elastic cuffs – just a fun feature.

Kristin’s Garments:

I have had much fun wearing the navy gored skirt inspired by the same magazine so was excited to try the pleated skirt.

Linen was my first choice but as I thought about tracing a line or pulling a thread on a solid linen I saw too many opportunities for frustration. So I chose a fabric with a woven line!

The repeat of the weave gave me the three pleats I needed and in close to the same placement as the darts in the pattern. I stitched down the four lines of each pleat and then added the darts in the four pleats that were in the right place.

Then I cut out the pattern for shaping of the skirt.

The pattern has a waistband facing as does the “skirt”. I topstitched the facing at the bottom edge for the same look. I have no closure as I put skirt on over my head.

The hem took a bit as I had to rip out my pleat stitching to turn up the hem and then resew the pleat stitching but now I know how to treat hems when I pleat-just stop stitching when you get to hem area!

It’s a different look than if it was linen but I think I like the movement/crunchiness/lack of wrinkling that this fabric gives. I think the weave is also small enough to play with other prints well.

Elastic Tie Sweater from The Assembly Line (photo above), barkcloth

My inspiration was a jewel neck simple top in a bold print and this pattern has always been easy to wear so I sewed up the darts that would normally just fold softly with the eyelets and tie and cut off the front neckline. The back already has an additional neck stand so it was eliminated to get the jewel neck.

The barkcloth feels soft but frays and smooshes a bit so I stabilized the shoulder seams and used a not-very-bias binding on the neck edge. A facing may have been a better choice.

The sleeve has an elbow dart and a facing, which is nice as the barkcloth’s wrong side is a stark contrast to the printed right side of fabric.

Inspired by Everyday Style’s podcast on wearing nice things all the time I wanted to have a classic pair of pajamas but not all the fuss of a button front shirt (and I may have a little fabric that was begging to finally be used!!!)

I started with the Holiday Shirt which features a conventional collar and a sewn together center front-eliminating buttons and fuss. I thought I had made this in flannel but it was bigger and baggier than the flannel so back to the drawing board.

Which brought me to the Band Camp Shirt which has a cut on facing so I stitched it up on the center front from hem to center front opening, applied the collar, stitched the facing to neck and I’m really happy with the fit and construction and versatility of the pattern!

On to the pants-I’ve always been a fan of the baggy bum boxer and Jalie had just what I needed. I chose the pattern according to my hip and they are amazing! Long, not too baggy or wide legged and in almost every size-what more can I say! I tried them in a grandchild size and they walked away on the grandchild (after I told him he had them on backwards and his father explained the baggy bum advantage 🙂 And did I mention-the fly is squared off?? No more tight curve topstitching!

October Garment Sewing Group

Wednesday, October 8, Ginny’s Fine Fabrics, Rochester

Thursday, October 9, Creative Sewing, Apple Valley

Saturday, October 11, Sewing Lounge, St. Paul