B5611 Tunic

I found a nice charcoal chambray awhile back from Sylvia at Delicate Stitches.  It marinated for awhile in my stash until I found a really cool printed stretch denim from Marcy Tilton to match.  Alas that fabric is sold out.  I should have got more.  LOL.

Butterick 5611 came out early this year.  The pattern says very loose-fitting, hip length shirts have button closures, forward shoulder and stitched hems, collar with collar band and pleated lower back.  Recommended fabrics are Chambray, lightweight Denim, lightweight Broadcloth, Satin and Cotton Gauze.

I decided to make view A with the pleated lower back.  I believe I'll make the denim into skinny pants to go with the tunic/shirt.



The shirt is cut out and mostly constructed.  I've tried it on with the side seams pinned together and true to the pattern, it is VERY loose.  I cut out my normal 16 and angled out to the 18 at the hip.  I could have cut a 14 or even a 12 and still had a loose fit.  Also I've noticed the armhole is very low cut for the sleeveless version.  Your bra will show if you raise your arm.  Too late for this version but I will be making a note of it if I make another.  Its very long too.  I'm 5'8" and usually have to add a couple of inches (sometimes as much as 3) to any patterns and I didn't have to add anything to this one.  Patterns are drafted for a 5'5"-5'6" height so I imagine this would be longer than pictured or described on the pattern.   The pleated bottom does not hang straight down as shown on the pattern envelope.  The way the pleats are inserted makes them actually cup your butt.  LOL.  I'm not sure I like it butt but we'll see.

I think the recommended fabrics should have had a tighter fit.  If they had said something like a silk or even a poly Charmeuse, it would drape much nicer.

Blogger and Pictures...

Geezzz!  What's going on with Blogger this morning?  Its being very contrary in allowing me to upload pictures.  Get it together Blogger!!!

Marth Pullen's Market in Arlington

I was fortunate enough to attend the Market this year.  I've seen a couple of other blog posts regarding classes taken and thought I would post on the beautiful items entered in the contest for the Babylock Ellisimo People's Choice grand prize.  The quality of the work was phenomenal.  Here are some/most of the items entered:

Now, lest you think all I did was take pictures of christening dresses, here are a few pictures in a different category.  LOL.

Can you believe the costumes on these dolls?  Aren't they wonderful?

And this miniature Baltimore Album quilt was just gorgeous!

Martha's Market...

This will be my first time to attend Martha Pullen's Market in Arlington, Texas.  A couple of girlfriends and I are driving down shortly and will be returning sometime Saturday evening.  I can hardly wait!!!  LOL.  I'm taking my camera so will take lots of pictures and I'll have a blog post just pertaining to the Market. 

Don't do anything I wouldn't do!  LOL

Butterick 5354 TNT

I've made this pattern once before out of some old (like 20 years old LOL) cotton interlock I had hanging around.  I made up view C the first go around.  I'm going to make that view again but I think I'll make the longer length and add an inch or so to the sleeves.  They were just a touch short for me. 

Once you get the pleats in the front, it makes up in a couple of hours.  Totally easy t-shirt.  This time I made it up in a really nice cotton/rayon knit from Sawyer Brook Fabrics.  They said it was a print made up for Chicos.  I only purchased 1.5 yards so I had to put a seam in the back.  There are no darts but the pleats provide plenty of room for boobage.  LOL.

 Here's a closeup of the pleat detail at the neckline.  I really love the hand of the fabric, its almost crepe-like but not, if that makes any sense.  LOL.   This time I made up view D with 3/4 sleeves.

Instead of using a facing, as they do in the pattern, this time I cut bias stripes of the fabric and just sewed a bias finish to the neckline.  But that's pretty much the only thing I changed. 

I have a turquoise knit I'll be making up next in this pattern; view C short sleeves this time. 


Next time...

Finished Nightie!

Well it didn't take me long to finish the nightie.  But I did wrestle with the neckline facing.  Otherwise it was really, really easy.  I used french seams on the sides and a tiny narrow hem.  So without further ado...

 I like it and it fits.  Alan called it a moo moo.  LOL.
Oh well.  I like it and that's what counts.

Ahhh, now that I've made it...it does look like a typical old lady nightgown.  Gah!  LOL.

Matching Nightie...

I don't know about you but I don't have to wear a nightie that looks like a typical nightgown.  I'm not using a nightgown pattern.  I take a look at the summer dress patterns out on the sewing market and choose something that won't be too complicated and will be comfy at the same time.  In this instance, I choose a McCall's pattern, #5659 a very simple, loose dress with a contrasting self-faced yoke.  The silky fabric from JoAnn's I showed in my last post is a border print and I'm going to make use of it.  I'm going to have the dark reddish/purple band arrive at the hem.  I'll cut the self-faced front and back yokes also out of the dark border.  

Here's a picture of the first piece laid out.  You can see how it takes advantage of the border.

It's funny; I didn't remember buying so much fabric.  I must have gotten 4 yards.  There's still almost 2 yards left.  LOL.

I've got all the pieces cut out and the interfacing applied to the yokes.  I've also embroidered my little name label on the inside back yoke.

I'll probably do more sewing today but I have a bunch of blueberries to pick.  I've picked over 3 pounds in one week!

More later...

Summer Robe - 3176

Kwik Sew patterns are fast becoming a favorite with me.  It seems whenever I want to make something new, Kwik Sew has a pattern for it.  I've not found that to be true of the Big 4. 

This particular pattern was super, super easy.  I made the robe up in 2 sessions.  You know I can't just make it up as the pattern is supplied.  I just have to change it up a bit.  LOL.  So besides adding the bit of embroidery on the inside yoke facing, I squared the pockets and laid my fabric out to take advantage of the scalloped edge of the eyelet.  I did the same with the pockets; the upper edge is scalloped too.  Laying it out in this manner eliminated 3 hems, the bottom of the robe itself and both pockets.   Oh and I should mention that I did have to square the hem of the robe to use the edge of the eyelet too.   I forgot to mention I eliminated the back seam.  I couldn't see a reason for it except maybe to save fabric in certain layouts.  There was no shaping to it at all.

Did you know there is almost nothing on the internet dealing with sewing Eyelet?  NOTHING.  NADA.  When dealing with an embroidered fabric, there are threads that can catch on your feed dogs.  Ask me how I know.  LOL.  I always make up a test swatch of fabric to check stitch length, thread color, etc.  When I was checking out the stitches, the fabric started bunching up behind the foot.   Arghhhh!  Now what?  So when I noticed that starting to happen, I pulled out a product called Stitch & Ditch Stabilizer.  It comes in a roll about 8 inches wide and almost an inch thick & costs about $8.  That's enough to last for a very long time.  For those who haven't encountered it before, its a very lightweight paper used to stabilize all sorts of stitches, such as the decorative stitches on your sewing/embroidery machine.  In my case, I cut about 12 inches of it off the roll and then cut it into strips about 1.5 inches wide.  I laid these strips underneath the fabric, on top of the feed dogs and sewed through the fabric and the paper, thus eliminating the emb catching on the feed dogs.  When done sewing the seam, you just gently tear the paper away.

I choose view B, the knee length version.  This is a fairly lightweight fabric and the pattern suggests medium to heavyweight fabrics such as terry cloth, chenille, flannel, cotton and cotton types.   I cut a medium at the neck, arm and bust areas widening out to a large at the hip.   I used my serger on almost every seam.  The construction was very straight forward.  Make the pockets and attach them.  Assemble the facings and because this is eyelet, I didn't use any interfacing.  Sew the facing to the assembled front and back.  Turn under the hem for the sleeves.  Sew the side seams.  Embroider buttonholes.  Sew on buttons.  See?  Really, really easy pattern to make up. 

Oh, btw, eyelet sheds like a you know what.  LOL.  I now need to do a major vacuum & dusting.  Its all over the place including my clothes. 

So here's a picture of the finished robe.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  It fits me perfectly.  Below is a closeup of the inside yoke.

Now to get started on the nightie!

Later...

Kwik Sew 3176 - Summer Robe & Nightie

Things have settled down a bit here and I was able to start & almost finish a new project I mentioned a few days ago.  I found a really nice eyelet fabric from The Cloth Merchants in a deep dusty plum.   The print fabric is a poly silky from Jo-Ann's that has been marinating in my stash from some time.   I've been needing a new summer robe & nightgown and finally have a chance to make it. 

Now...you all know I like to embroider.  I'd like to put my mark on everything I make even if its just a little label inside of a garment.  I made up a nice little label for the last couple of garments - Belinda E with a little swoosh under it.  I like it; it's simple and is a nice personal touch.  Now eyelet has holes in it.  So how do you embroider a fabric with holes in it and make it look like it doesn't have stabilizer used on it?  I thought about it and was looking at my wall of stabilizers and saw my roll of black silk organza.  HA!  I hooped a piece of organza large enough to fit in my 5X7 hoop.  Then I sprayed some KK2000 on the back of a piece of test fabric for the embroidery tryout.  If you sprayed the organza, the fabric wouldn't stick.  Underneath the hoop I pinned 2 pieces of Sulky Tear-Easy.  Then I did the embroidery.  Here's the result.  This is before I tore or removed any of the layers.

Remember you can click on the picture to enlarge it.  Now this is the back of the embroidery.  I've started by removing each layer of the white tear-away first.

I used my serger tweezers to remove as much of the white tear-away as possible.  I started at the bottom and worked my way up.  That picture shows it partially removed.  Then I just cutaway the organza.  Voila!

Here is a picture of the completed embroidery and the piece actually cut out and ready to sew.

I should be finishing up with the robe construction in the morning and I'll have finished pictures for you.  Then I'll start on the nightie!

More later...

Pictures...

Hopefully the Google/Blogger Gods will be kind today and let me post pictures.  LOL.

So here are the promised picture of the finished blouse.

The pictures turned out crappy.  Sorry.  Even though you can't see them, the buttons are really cool. 

Ta Da!!!! Finally done...

Wow...it's been really busy lately.  Its blueberry season and I've been picking nearly every day.  Also we've really stepped up our cycling around the neighborhood.  We're doing about 12 miles and in the saddle about an hour each morning 4-6 times a week.  So I'm reallllly late in reporting on the finished gingham shirt.  But here it is.  Completely done!  LOL.

Well...I actually tried to load pictures of the blouse and Blogger says they are performing maintenance.  On Monday?  Isn't that weekend work?  So I'll try again tomorrow.  I'm off to start looking at my next project.  I've found a really nice cotton eyelet in a dusty plum color and I'm going to make a summer robe. 

More tomorrow!