Archive | April, 2008

I am *such* a liar

29 Apr

Remember how in my last two posts I said I was going to work on some easy knit tops? Dude, I am such a liar. Instead of some easy, uncomplicated knit tops, I’m tackling this flirty vest from the February 2008 edition of BWOF. My fashion fabric is black on black cotton seersucker that Carolyn kindly picked up for me in NYC after Cindy sent me a sample.

What’s making this a little more complicated? Well, for this one, I’m using a lot of the techniques from Sandra Betzina’s Power Sewing. She’s got a great chapter on vests. I thought this would be a good way to break me in to the tailored jacket I’m going to do (with G*d as my witness) before the year is over.

How, you might ask, did I arrive at this despite last week’s declarations? Well, I’ve had two different vests in mind since early March (the BWOF and the Patrones on the left). But, over the weekend I was talking to a supercute guy and said I was thinking of making a vest and he said, and I quote, “I think women in vests are very sexy.” Really. Next thing I know I’m thinking through the whole process of making this vest and couldn’t focus on the rest of the movie. I think a man with an interest in what women wear (who is himself not interested in wearing said women’s clothes) is very sexy. Later this week I’ll show some of the tailoring elements I’m incorporating into it.

The rest of the weekend was spent tooling around the house and attending a fondue-fueled, mani-pedi bachelorette send off for my BFF Julia (bottom left) who gets married next month. I’m wearing #107 from the July 2007 BWOF reviewed here. I’ll be getting on that modesty panel this weekend I think :) Ok. I’m a prude. I’ll leave the neckline alone, lol.

Patrones

25 Apr

My friend Beery went to Spain last week and brought back not one but two Patrones magazines. She also got engaged while she was there. She was thoughtful enough to give me the magazines first and then show me her ring, lol! When I tried to pay her back and she said. “Don’t worry about it. They were on every newstand and were just a couple of Euros.” Just a couple of Euros?? On every newstand? Sigh. Clearly, I owe her a bottle of champagne.

The first is Fiesta Especial #266 which Tany specifically suggested I look for. Now, I know why. Below, are my favorites.

How pretty is this orange dress? I’m not sure what the crinkle fabric is called, but you can bet I’ll be looking for some this summer. Mama needs another formal and a cocktail dress before the year is over. You can actually see this dress on the Matilde Cano website.

Just click on her name, enter / entrar, catalgo, and alma de tango.  It’s there in the middle of the slideshow. Gorgeous.

I don’t like the keyhole of this Toypes dress, but I really love the style of the dress.

And the back is wonderful.


I love all the frothy layers of this wedding dress

She also found the Joven edition, #267. There were fewer things I was enthralled with in this edition.

But, I am 100 percent in love with this Gucci dress. But, I have nowhere to possibly wear it. But, I will lust in my heart for it. Actually, with another inch or too, it might work for a cocktail dress.

I think I owned this in 1983, but it was in terry cloth and I was eight years old.
Love the Chanel blouse, love the Prada mini skirt. I haven’t worn a mini skirt in about seven years because they are always too big in the waist. Maybe this summer will be my last mini skirt hurrah. 
This is very simple, but so elegant.

Ahh Patrones! If you want to see something truly beautiful and creative from Patrones, take a stroll over to Assorted Notions and see what Christina made with some fabric I sent her from Ghana. A-mazing.


Oh, and the directions for Patrones are no better than BWOF, and in Spanish. Which, I don’t read. Yet, the clothes can be a little more complicated.

She also picked up the April Burda in Spanish. Over the weekend, I’ll show you a comparison with the English version.

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You know, it’s a knit dress

23 Apr

I love an easy project. There’s something to be said about the simplicity of an easy, uncomplicated dress.

Over Christmas I picked up McCalls 5468 from Joann. Armed with my measurements, I did a flat pattern measure on View D and saw that I could cut a size 10 rather than the size 14 that the Big 4 pattern companies tell me I should be in. I actually didn’t even use the directions on the dress.

I adore the sleeves! I omitted the inside waistband facing and used fold over elastic (FOE) on the neckline using a three-step zig zag. Please don’t think I am brilliant, the girls over at PatternReview told me how to do it. The best thing I can say, is that my neckline didn’t stretch out! Oh happy day!


There are only two bad things I have to say about this pattern. First, I think the neck is w i d e. Because I didn’t remove the seam allowance for the FOE, it’s *ok*, but I’d be happier if it were a bit narrower. Also, the unaltered length was horrible. It hit me mid calf. I cut nine inches off the length to get it hovering around my knees. Hmmm, methinks I cut it too short. But, better here than there.


The fabric is a poly knit from Metro Textiles, NY PR Wknd 2007. Cute as I think this is, I actually think it would be better in another fabric. A solid or color blocked would serve it well. This one is on the thin side, which is why I went with a summer dress style for it. You know, it’s a $20 dress and it hardly takes anything to make it. Plus, I got to try out a new technique. Life is good.


And since I’m currently in the ‘I have nothing to wear’ and ‘I hate my clothes’ phase, this dress makes me happy. This phase also has me just cranking out some easy projects. So next, two knit tops I think. I like not changing my needle :)

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The Internet Made Me Do It

22 Apr

Well, I’ve spent the past month avoiding the Hot Patterns site because there was easily over $100 worth of patterns I wanted to order. But, today the CraftStylish blog (need to switch my bloglines feed to that from SewStylish) has an interview with Trudy Hanson from HotPatterns. (that’ s the HotPatterns Cosmo above)

Well, I’ve decided that’s a sign and I’ve placed an order for the two Hot Patterns that I feel I cannot live without. Must do my part to support women owned business, right? heh.

The Jeanius Jean and the Wong-Singh-Jones Kimono Wrap Dress will be in my hot little hands very, very soon. Ask me what my Blackberry roaming charges from Israel were tracking Ann’s progress on the Jeanius Jeans last October.

What have I put on hold for even longer? The Portebello Road Coat (need to find faux shearling), the Riviera Kiss Me Coat (a real contender for a rain coat) and the Riviera Sailor Pants (check out these from Anthropologie , the North Star Sailor Pants) . Hmmm, that’s three I want. Just the right number for a buy two get one free special. I’m just sayin’…

In other sewing news, I’ve got several projects in various stages of not being done. A McCalls dress (cut and partially sewn), an old BWOF top (cut), a new BWOF knit top (traced), a Patrones vest (traced), and a BWOF vest (traced).

Oh! And friend is back from Spain and has three Patrones waiting for me. I should get ahold of those tomorrow!

Oh! Oh! Have pretty, pretty, tone on tone white silk from another friend back from China. That might get moved to the top of my sewing list.

Oh! Oh! Oh! If you haven’t already, please pay Marji a visit. She’s laid up at home from an inline skating incident. But, she’s giving me some great black-tie dress advice (yeah, I need another one before fall).

And finally, thank you for the comments on my pants! I’m wearing them today and they are just a delight to wear. I’m looking forward to my next pair. Proably in a black-on-black seersucker.

People, We have PANTS!

20 Apr

I got an hour today to finish up the 9-2007-115 pants from BWOF. I’m really digging the higher waist looks. Especially since I think I’ve reached the age where it’s no longer cool (nor desirable) to show my stomach. I don’t love my fly front and it’s my fault. I didn’t add enough to the fly extension so the zipper head peaks out. The pants are wonderful, my workmanship is so-so. But, I have fully lined, basic colored pants that I should be able to wear all year. I, in fact, like the pattern enough to make them in another fabric soon.

I left off the belt loops. Mostly because I don’t have a belt to wear with these and the pants fit, so belt not needed to keep them up.

I did make a seam on the CB waistband so it would be easier to make alterations on the pant for fit. This one needed to come in about 2 inches at the CB to accommodate for my swayback. Not an actual alteration, just a taking in. Since I took them in that much / that high, I should have made about a 1/2 inch protruding seat alteration. I think that would take care of the wrinkles below my bum.

I know I don’t sound too positive. But, I really do like these. They just aren’t very well made. That being said, this is about the third pair of pants in my newfound sewing life and maybe the sixth I’ve ever made in 10 years. The fit is pretty good, the style is great, heaven knows I need basics.  I just need to practice a little more.

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New Mrs. Stylebook

16 Apr

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! It’s hard turning 27 for the sixth time, but I take it as a challange and succeed each year. My staff knows me well, there was a gift certificate to Michael’s / A Fabric Place on my desk when I came in yesterday.

I haven’t touched my sewing machine since last Wednesday. This is killing me! I’m going to a seder Saturday night, so hopefully I can make a little gift that morning. Oy vey.

Yes, yes, yes. I know I have yet to make anything from Mrs. Stylebook despite an arsenal of books to walk me through the process. But, that didn’t stop me from getting the latest edition over the weekend.

Which leads me to ask, maybe I should start a MSB Sloper Sew Along on Pattern Review? Or maybe someone who knows how to draft them could start one and I would be head cheerleader of that effort? Anyone? Anyone?

I like this edition for several reasons.

1. Making Navi. It’s fun to look at basic sewing technique descriptions in Japanese and guess what it means.



2. Simple frocks in this edition give me hope that I can make something.



3. Purses. There are about five different bags in this one. I am 100% in love with this bag! And, no fitting needed and it starts with a square. I think that I can manage.



Oh, and anyone know where I can find these Clover products in red? Even if it’s overseas? And while you’ve got your thinking hats on, where I can find the old pattern weights that look like donuts and have little feet or grippers on the bottom? Like the ones that Debbie Cook has (the yellow things).

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I’m published!

15 Apr

I’ve written an article for PatternReview on the different pattern magazines available internationally. Most of them I’ve talked about here. I owe a BIG thanks to Sigrid, Isabelle, Carolyn and Judith in NYC for thier translating, proofing, suggestions and general information help!

You can read the article here.

And, it was a good day

15 Apr

This post is super short because I spent ALL day in DC (for work and fun) and I’m pooped, but look what I got for my birthday! A trip to G Street and a visit from Christina (read her post here)! Yes, the photo is crooked and that is a finger in the upper left and we can’t stop laughing because the clerk was a caricature of someone who doesn’t know how to use a digital camera.

And, they have the raincoat fabric from last week’s post in baby blue and lavender. And they aren’t afraid to call it Burberry!

And, since I was in DC all day, I even got to see Trena who gave me this beautiful stretch silk charmeuse from her trip to Vietnam.

Whew. Getting older kinda sucked about 12:01 this morning, almost 24 hours later, it’s not so bad.

Apronista

12 Apr

One reason my pants are taking an eternity to finish, is that I’ve been making some stuff for other people. Yes, I swore it off. But, there was begging and pleading and money exchanged.

An apron for a friend of a friend. It’s Butterick 6567, View B. Easy peasey, no fitting needed. Intern Emily is modeling this reversible apron.


The fabric was from a New York fabric trip almost two years ago with Aunt Judy. Maybe $4 a yard?

It was also Intern Emily’s last day
Last week my dad stopped by and walked into my sewing room. After the shock of seeing where my disposable income goes, he picked up my sleeve board, asking where he could get one.

My dad is Jamaican and told me that when he was growing up, everyone had pressing tools and this one was called an “iron horse“. So much cooler sounding than sleeve board. I told him he could have mine and I’ll pick up another one.

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Perspective

10 Apr
I realize that it’s a little hard to tell quite how large the Betty Shopper bag by Amy Butler is. So, I asked a woman in my office to shoot a photo of me with it today.

I don’t think it’s crazy big. But, I have been describing it as my ‘suitcase’ or generally referencing it as ‘luggage’. Other than a basic inability to find my keys in it, it’s a great work bag.

Today actually felt like Spring and I wore my Hot Patterns Deco Vibe Cosmopolitan Dress today.  I forgot how fantastic this pattern is. I hope I can get around to making another version of it this year. You know it’s a good dress when three straight men tell you they like your dress!

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