Tag Archives: 9-2003-134

Collars and Buttons

9 Jun

It’s a beautiful day here in Baltimore. I actually started my morning at 7:00 a.m. at the Waverly Farmer’s Market before coming home to sew. Well, I puttered around for a few hours, took a nap and then got up and started sewing.

I love lemonade.

I have pressed the pleats into the BWOF 5-2007-121 skirt, pin basted and have sewn the front and back together. I shortened the skirt by a good six inches. I wanted it to be just above the knee and it was hitting me mid calf in the muslin. Which put the eyelet at medical exam height. Needless to say, I will be lining the skirt.


I finished the pleats in the bodice, have sewn it together at the shoulders and attached the collar. Umm, oops.


It’s hard to explain, but I haven’t done this correctly. The collar does not turn out the way it should. There’s a pleat or wrinkle or something. It’s better on one side than the other. I think I know how to fix it. But, I have to run out to my friend T.’s engagement party. I’ll try to sort it out in the a.m.


Our staff photographer got this shot of me last week in my BWOF Dolman while I was intently reading my Crackberry. The hem looks uneven and I look a little pregnant, but I’m and it’s not. Just very bad posture and late for a meeting.

BWOF Dolman Redux

13 May

My best friend Julia had to talk me into the coral. I thought I would be better in the teal option. But, she said, “Girlfriend. Trust.” I shall never doubt her again.

This fabric was going to be the Cosmopolitan. Then it was going to be the new Vogue wrap dress. Now, it’s the BWOF Dolman from August 2003.

I am 100 percent in love with this dress now that it’s in the amazing coral and brown, poly jersery, chain link print from Gorgeous Fabrics. It’s a little busy, but I love it. While I like the black version fine, this suits me far better. Plus, all kinks worked out in this edition.

I am not however in love with how I look without makeup. But, I went swimming this morning and well, it’s Sunday……

Best of all, I went all matchy matchy. Took my time, double cut, etc. and lookit!!! My seams match up.

This time I omitted the zipper completely. The fabric had enough stretch to accomodate my broad shoulders. Plus I widened and lengthed the tie and cuffs.

I do think I’m going to take a few inches off the bottom. But, that can wait.

Coral Dolman

11 May

This is about my fourth excursion with medical paper for tracing. I had been using grid/ pattern interfacing for the past 10 years. But, I read about this online and bought three rolls. It’s definitely cheaper. I do love that I shouldn’t run out anytime soon. I would buy 10 yards of the other stuff at a time and always run out at the worst times.

I’m going to do the Dolman WOF dress in this coral and brown knit from Gorgeous Things. I hesitated because I thought it might be heavy for summer and I love it so much that I want it to work.

I’m going to be doing some careful cutting to try my best to match up prints.

The fabric is 60 inches wide, but it’s still not wide enough to accomodate the front on on double fabric. So, I have to cut out the front pieces twice. Also, as you can see, I’m pushing it with the back too.

My hope is to have this cut out by the end of the weekend and sewn within two weeks.

Happy Friday everyone!

Pattern Review: BWOF Dolman Dress

5 May

Even though this pattern is four years old, it looks very contemporary with the dolman sleeves and duro style mid section.

Sometimes I think BWOF should be called BWTF.

Pattern Description:
From the magazine: “Feminine dresses are the must have of the season! Our style has trendy dolman sleeves and a flattering corset inset in shimmering satin that seductively accentuates your figure”

There are just six pattern pieces needed for this dress which I think makes it very simple. It’s a two dot pattern.

Pattern Sizing:
36-42. I made a 38.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes. Well, I wasn’t lounging like a cabaret singer, but it still looks the same.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I muddled through. The facing instructions were pretty poor I thought.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I’ve been wanting to make this dress for four years. I finally got around to it this week. I have my mom’s retitrement party next week and thought this would be dressy without being too much.

I think the straps and cuff should be made wider and longer. I am also really unclear as to why you must use stretch satin for the waist insert. Because, the way they have you cut and interface, there isn’t any stretch left.

Fabric Used:
One way poly jersey and poly satin from Spandex House in NYC. $4 a yard, so dress cost $16 (plus zipper).

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
Erg. I omitted the back zipper and cut on the fold. When I realized I wasn’t going to squeeze into the dress I put a 7 inch invisible zipper in the left and placed my ties in the right seam. One tie is longer than the other when wrapped, but I like it. I also sewed the neckline up by 1/4 to 1/2 an inch for modesty’s sake.

I sewed this up with a straight stitch and my walking foot. I finished the inside with serging.

Conclusion
Everyone needs a LBD. Now, I have one.

Haste makes waist (It’s a pun. You’ll see)

4 May

This morning I was running errands and picked up a zipper for BWOF 9-2003-134 and muslin fabric for my capris.

I got the zipper in on the side, the fit is fine. Then I realized I didn’t put in the sash / tie around the waist. Common problem for me. I left it out of the Hot Patterns Cosmopolitan several times in making it up.

I go to put in the waist ties. Ummmm. There’s a reason the BWOF calls for a back zipper. The tie needs to go in at the waist. Really tough to do with an invisible zipper.

Grrrrr.

I really liked that tie. Maybe I’ll put both in the non-zipper side and have it wrap around? Sigh.

This weekend’s project

1 May

I’m a little stuck on the BWOF black jersey dress. I thought I could omit the back zipper and get it on, but I can’t. So I need a 7 inch invisible zipper for the side to finish. I don’t have one and the fabric store is on the other side of town, so it will have to wait until I’m running some errands. From the test fit, it’s fine. Not fabulous. But, maybe when I’m not holding one side closed I’ll like it better.

I am also not sure if I got the layout for the satin correct. The way I ended up cutting, there was no stretch to it, plus I interfaced it.

So, I traced a 38 from this April 2007 BWOF this morning and will hopefully work on it Friday or Saturday (I took Friday off since I worked last Sunday and will work this Sunday).


BWOF April 2007 #120 Cropped Pants


A twill with quite a bit of lycra from Joanns. It’s been in the stash for a year now. The editorial drawing from the front of the magazine had these looking a little on the skinny side. I think I’ll need the stretch.


I like the scooped vs. slant pockets. I’d like to play with the grain a bit and have the yoke stripes in a different direction. We’ll see if it happens.

If the pants work, I’d like to do a little matching jacket so I have a business casual outfit for work.

Bargaining

28 Apr


I wasn’t going to let myself sew today until I took care of the Amazon forest that has become my front yard. But, it rained last night and I certainly can’t mow the lawn when it’s wet. Right? Right?

All that’s left on McCall 5314 is attaching the bodice and skirt. I’m hoping to finish this dress today and start sewing the BWOF 9-2003-134. I got it cut out Thursday night. No muslin (it might be too slim in the lower thigh but that’s what control top pantyhose are for).


My mom is a full bird Colonel in the Army and retiring in a big ceremony in two weeks. I think this is the kind of dress that will stand the test of time in photos. Unlike my too thin eyebrows in the above photo from her last promotion ceremony.

Up Next: BWOF 09-2003-134

17 Apr

I’m really into dresses this year. They are so easy when you are getting ready in the morning. They are incredibly feminine and sexy. Really, it’s the only thing that women can wear and men can’t.

While watching Lost this week, I traced off my next project. This 2003 Burda WOF dress. “Feminine dresses are the must have of the season! Our style has trendy dolman sleeves and a flattering corset inset in shimmering satin that seductively accentuates your figure”

Here’s what you have to love about Burda. They had a Duro style dress with dolman sleeves back in 2003! Other companies just started cranking these out in 2005. I have been in love with this dress since I first saw it. In fact, it’s the only item from this edition that I liked. I picked up a one-way stretch black jersey in New York last weekend and the stretch satin too.

Hopefully I can get the muslin cut out over the weekend. I still need to finish the cosmopolitan!

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