New Reading...

Looky, looky... Amazon dropped these off at my door yesterday.  I snagged these because at some point in the new year, I'm going to sew my first faux suede projects.  Sawyer Brook had a great sale on Equestrian Suede, a lovely muted grape color.  I got it for $10 a yard; it was $40 a yard.  I just couldn't pass it up.  4 yards made it into my hot little hands.  LOL.  When I received it, it was pretty stiff and I wondered if I had made a mistake.  I wrote to Sawyer Brooks staff and asked for washing instructions.  You just wash on cool and dry on low.  It came out so soft and lovely.  I'm really happy with the hand.  

I figure that's enough to make a vest for a starter and then move onto suede jacket of some sort.  So once I read and then select patterns, I'll be off to a great start at learning to work with a fabric I've never tried before.  

More later...

Quiet but busy...

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  Alan and I had a quiet dinner and enjoyed the leftovers yesterday.  We roasted a large chicken instead of a turkey but the rest of our dinner was quite traditional.  

I know I haven't posted for a little bit, but I have been sewing.  An outfit to be exact.  LOL.  I finished another pair of the Burda jeans; this time in a brushed grey cotton twill with a touch of lycra purchased from The Cloth Merchants.  I'm in love with this pattern.  I did wind up cutting it down to an 18 and still took in the back seam (at the waist) about an inch.  Other than those 2 changes, that was it.  I used a brass 6" jeans zip from Atlanta Thread Supply.  I used 2 spools of thread threaded in my Ellisimo to do the top stitching.  I had a pretty paisley cotton which I used for the pocket bags and inside waist facing.   Again, I didn't use any back pockets or belt loops.  I don't use either so I won't spend all that time on something that won't even be seen much less used.  LOL.

Oh...I forgot; I did make one other change.   In the latest issue of Threads, on page 54, is an article on pocket stays.  Talk about perfect timing!  So I drafted the pieces as they show it in the article.  I really believe this gives my jeans a real, professional look on the inside.

I did use Debbie's Cooks tutorials on the waistband and the fly front.  

I think I have about 5 pairs of jeans in the queue to make with this pattern.  I won't ever purchase another pair of jeans since these are so comfortable.  In fact, right now I'm wearing the blue pair I made as a muslin for this pattern.  Love it!!!!

Now for the matching shirt.  In another issue of Threads, Gee I sound like a broken record.  LOL.  In issue 156, on page 36, I used their example of hem detail to add to my favorite shirt pattern Simplicity 2339.  Here are a few pics of it.

As I've said before, I really love this shirt pattern and have totally made it my own.  LOL.  The fabrics in the shirt all go well with the grey jeans and I've several more tops to make that will coordinate with them.

Burda Jeans Done!!!

The jeans are complete!  I'm pretty surprised at well they fit me right out of the box so to speak.  Remember I cut a size 20, but I think I could have gotten away with an 18 or possibly a 16.  I think I'll keep the sizing as is and adjust for each fabric type.  I would need the extra room in the hips for fabric with less stretch.   I had to nip out 1.5" at the waist.  They turned out pretty nice except for a few mistakes I made.  This is the first "real" pair of pants I've made in over 20 years.  This pattern doesn't include a fly shield; I'll put one in on the next pair.  I didn't make my waistband long enough so I had to add an extension so I could attach the button.  I didn't use the back pockets on this pair.  I was really trying for the look of a pair of "Not Your Daughters Jeans" that I really love and they've come really close.  I got a package of jeans buttons from JoAnn's and when I installed it, the screw bent and went in at an angle.  Its functional and no one is really going to see it so no big deal.  LOL.  I'll have to work on my hammering technique.  

Oh...I must mention, I used Debbie Cook's waistband tutorial.  And on the next pair of jeans, I'll use her fly installation tutorial.  If you're not familiar with Debbie's blog its Stitchesandseams.blogspot.com.  Debbie has lots of very helpful tutorials not only on garment construction but also on serger and coverstitch techniques.  Check it out if you get a chance.  Debbie's blog is one of the very first I started following when I discovered Blogland.  LOL.

And here I am in my new jeans.  I'm going to wear them all day today and see if they pass the wear test.  If they get too baggy, I'll know to take in the next pair a bit more.   The sun was in my eyes, hence the squinting, and its windy and chilly.  I was telling Alan to hurry the heck up.  LOL.

More Later!

Jean Pattern Decision Made...

Well I read through all 3 patterns from my last posting and decided to try to work with the Burda jean pattern.  Since my hips are 43", I cut the size 20 (UGH).  That just wrong.  LOL.  I added 2 inches for my height.  Burda designs for a person who is 5.5 height and I'm 5.8.  I've put the back together and now I'm working on the front.  

I'm cleaning house but hope to have some progress pictures for you soon.

Lata!

To Jean or not to Jean...

That is the question.  LOL.  Really.  I want to make jeans and I have quite a few patterns to pick from.  I prefer denim with bit of lycra for comfort as I'm all about comfort these days.  

Okay...the first pattern I'm considering is the Jalie jean (2908) that everyone was just nuts over a couple of years ago.  View B the regular rise (in tan) would be my choice.  I don't go for low rise but do like them to sit just an inch or so below my belly button.  I really don't go for the "MOM" jean look.  LOL.


I followed the jean sewalong at Stitcher's Guild and got lots of notes for making this pattern.  So hopefully I'll have a head start when it comes to using this pattern.


I also have a favorite pair of jeans that I'm going to use to try to replicate the fit.

 View A (in black) is my preference here.  I need to read up on PatternReview to see if anyone has made these jeans.  You never know, it could help with my decision. 

And finally Kwik Sew 3315.  View B but with the straight legs.  


So here are my picks from the 11 jeans patterns I own.  The others are Butterick 5403, McCall's 5142 & 5894, McCall's 6405 and finally Vogue 7608.

I'm going to do a little more reading and then I'll post back with the final pattern choice.

Later...

Earthquake

We had a bit of an Earthquake last night; 5.6 on the Richter scale.  We were getting ready for bed about 10:55 pm and heard, what we thought, was a low-flying airplane.  But the sound and then shaking, picked up and it seemed to take forever for it to stop.  The authorities say this was the most powerful quake in Oklahoma recorded history & we have earthquakes all the time, over 100 for 2010.  But this is our first experience.  All I can say is "Weird"!!!

Taking a little time...

It's the time of year when I start making more soups and stews to match up with the cooler weather we're now getting.  The other day we had a yummy Loaded Baked Potato Soup.

Soup and a couple pieces of a crusty Asiago french bread make up a perfect meal. 

I'm getting started on a couple of T's and to fit a jeans pattern.  I'm not sure which jeans pattern yet but I'll take a look at what I've got and show you the narrowed down choices.

More soon!