Closet Case Files Carolyn Pajamas

This pattern was used in the Super Online Sewing Match and it seemed like just the pattern for me. I didn't pay a lot of attention to detail since they obviously won't be worn outside, but when I finished I was left wishing I would have focused more.  My piping around the collar is a hot mess that I can't even bring myself to take a picture of.  The collar is the only place that I basted the piping to one side before sewing the two pieces together.  It seems like that would produce a better result, but it didn't.  I get much better results just pinning it all together and sewing with no basting.  I didn't care at first, but I was disappointed in the collar piping after I attached the facing piping and realized it was going to be cute.  I guess the lesson learned is that you always need to do your best!

I used Cotton+Steel double gauze.  It's very soft and I have trouble keeping it from stretching while it feeds through the machine.  I'm not sure if a walking foot would help with the stretching and feeding issues, but I've wanted to buy one and they're on sale this month at the Bernina store so this would provide a good excuse.  I do like double gauze and I believe I'll use it again in the future, but my finishing leaves a bit to be desired.

It's hard to figure out how to pose in pajamas.  I used to make quilts and I decided to throw a couple over my fence as a backdrop.  I miss making them, but once I started making garments that was the end of the quilts.  I would love to make time to make another one, but I only like labor intensive patterns that take me years to finish.  Do you quilt?

Christine Haynes Sylvie Dress

When you read this post it's going to seem like I don't like this pattern or the dress but that's not true.  Promise.

I follow Christine Haynes on Bloglovin' and Instagram but this is the first time I've sewn one of her patterns.  I like anything with a gathered skirt and big pocket bags, and the very simple neckline seemed like it would be good for every day wear. 

The sewing itself was very straight forward but the fit was a disaster for me.  It's still not where I want it but it will have to do. Based on my measurements I chose a size 6 in the chest and graded to an 8 right on top of the waistband.  My muslin seemed a little loose fitting but I was OK with it because form fitting bodices in the summer in Kansas aren't always the best choice.  I used Cotton+Steel double gauze for my main version (which is a good choice, by the way). 

When I put the zipper in and tried it on it was way too big.  I did French seams throughout the dress and felt my only viable option at that point was to take off fabric at the center back.  I probably removed a good 2 inches off each side of the back. 

I guess I stretched the neckline when I was working or maybe when I was handsewing the binding.  I staystitched but it appears that didn't work. 

Do you see the little ledge that sits above the waistband?  I believe that's from when I graded the from the 6 to the 8.  Fixing it would have involved a lot of unpicking that I wasn't sure I would be able to put back together correctly. You can also see how loose it is in the back. 

Do you like my gathers?! I used the dental floss method (sewing a long zig zag stitch over a strand of dental floss and then pulling it to gather).  I don't know why it works.  All I know is that it was quick and easy and I'm always doing it. 

On a bright note, I love the fabric. I've wanted to hand embroider on a garment and decided the pockets would be an easy way to do that.  Originally I had a Sublime Stitching iron on transfer but I ruined it while ironing so I had to go with Plan B which was the old reliable Aunt Martha's. 

After all the complaining, I am happy to say that I will actually end up wearing this dress quite often.  It's too bad when things don't turn out the way you had hoped but that's where the learning comes in!

Last year I was more interested in summer sewing.  This year I'm more interested in fall/winter sewing.  Even taking the summer pictures felt like, "Let's get this done as quick as possible and go back home" but I find myself looking around town for photo venues for winter plans. 

Deer & Doe Datura #2

Yes, you've seen this fabric before.  I just can't resist this Liberty print! I had enough left over from my Parfait to make another Datura because the yardage requirements are small.  It's also the lining to my Albion coat in case anybody is keeping tabs.  My first Datura is here.

 



I struggled deciding what fabric to choose for the yokes.  Originally I went with a solid orange but it was the wrong color.  Then I tried to pull out the blue flowers with a bright blue fabric but it didn't look right.  The green was my third choice.  Maybe I could have found something better but honestly I was tired of looking.

The corded piping is a bright orange wool crepe that is leftover from a skirt project I never wear.  When I have a sizable portion of fabric left over from a project, I always think I need to hang on to it.  Rarely do I ever use anything, but this was a perfect match.  It's almost neon orange by itself but when I put it with this top it looks ok. 

 

This is an easy enough top to put together, but I don't understand the shoulder seam construction at all so I skipped it.  I put the front yoke inside the back, started sewing where the neckline seam began and ended where the armhole line is.  I turned it right side out and it was fine.  The inside yoke is slipstitched in place, as is the inside of the green bias tape along the hem. 

 

Is anybody else participating in the Sew Mama Sew Community Sewing Match?  I'm tagging this one for it on Instagram.  Look up the contest if you've never heard of it! The contestants are on a deadline but the rest of us watching can play along at home until the end of August. 





Closet Case Files Bombshell Swimsuit

I once purchased a swimsuit from JCrew in the size I buy clothing in.  Big mistake. I managed to get it on but I honestly thought I was going to have to call someone over to my house to help me get out of it, like maybe a paramedic.  It was that tight.  The next year JCrew made a big announcement about how they were going to start selling swimsuits in sizes that corresponded to clothing sizes like it was the brightest idea ever. 

 

 

I'm very late to the Bombshell party and I have nothing to add that isn't already on the blogosphere or the very detailed sewalong on the Closet Case Files site. It's a great swimsuit pattern that is very flattering, which is something everybody says so it must be true, right?!

The peacock fabric makes another appearance here. It doesn't really have a retro vibe but I think the colors are very pretty.  There is a lot of gathering on this pattern which makes it very flattering but took me a long time to complete.  I love to wear gathers but I find them tedious to make.  I never can seem to make them even.  Do you see how it's nice and gathered around my waist in the above picture but then looks like I got tired and bored around the bum?

This was my first experience paddle boarding.  I loved it even though I was only on the board long enough to get the pictures. 

I'm done with spandex for awhile.  It's not really my favorite to sew with but when you need a new suit and you're a RTW faster you don't have many options.  I've missed wovens.  My next make is a woven and I find myself being more excited to sew because of the change in material. 

Anybody else making a swimsuit this season?  Or paddle boarding?!

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Dualthon Shorts (And A Little Chat About Flatlocking)

 

I've had zero desire to make workout clothing, but I'm a RTW faster and it became something I could no longer avoid.  I chose the Fehr Trade Duathlon pattern in the booty short length and then headed over to www.spandexhouse.com when I saw Claire's peacock fabric. 

The side seams are Supplex.  I've never heard of it before but it's listed on the Fehr Trade site as being ideal. I made an initial pair with just Supplex in an XS based on my measurements.  The Supplex doesn't have as much recovery and it feels more cotton-y than spandex-y if that makes any sense. I switched to an XXS for this pair and it fits more like I think Spandex shorts should fit as it's tighter and the slick material rebounds. 

 

Picking out spandex is much harder than I anticipated.  I told one of my non-sewing friends that it's so hard to pick out spandex for booty shorts because the prints are so loud.  She said, "Those are words I thought I would never hear you say."  I used about 1/2 a yard for this pair.  I was very excited thinking about how cheap workout gear was going to end up being until I got to the checkout and the freight charge for 4 yards of material was $19.50! That's more than the price of the fabric per yard.   

Now about flatlocking:  My Bernina manual lists something called "3 Thread Flatlock" that gives tensions settings for all four threads and "2 Thread Flatlock" that gives tension settings for three threads. I chose the 3 Thread Flatlock option because when I tried to sew with only 3 threads the looper threads kept slipping out.  I don't know about anybody else but threading my serger might be my most un-favorite thing ever.  Recommended tension settings are: left needle 1-2, right needle 1-2, upper looper 3-5 and lower looper 7-9. 

After I sewed right sides together and then pulled the material apart gently to expose the stitching, it looked like this:



I have no idea if that's how it's supposed to look but if it's wrong I suppose I'll find out when my shorts disintegrate. The inside looks like this with a ridge that is flattened against the short.  The seam allowance doesn't stick up.

You'll notice little loops sticking out every once in awhile.  I think that has something to do with moving the fabric around while I sew.  My serger lightbulb burnt out awhile ago.  Instead of getting a new one I just sew in the dark.  :)

 



These come together very quickly.  I love a good sewing challenge but it's also nice when you can go from un-cut fabric to wearable shorts in the time it takes to watch a baseball game.  Speaking of, I've had to resort to carrying my serger into the living room so I can get something done while I watch the Royals play.  Anybody else a Royals fan?!

Also, posing in workout wear feels very odd.  I decided I wanted to try leaping like they do in sportswear magazines but it looked like this so I quickly opted to stand still. 








McCall's 6506

For my first time sewing a Big Four pattern (yes, you read that right: first time ever!) I went with McCall's 6506 which has been lingering in a Pinterest folder forever.  I remember looking at McCall's pattern instructions years ago thinking they looked like a foreign language but now that I have the hang of it I was able to hang in there. If you're learning to sew, using independent pattern designers is well worth the money
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Two issues I had were the armhole facing and sizing. The armhole facing looked odd so I just did bias binding.  I cut a 12 based on my measurements and had to size down to an 8 after the muslin.

I used this rayon challis and was very impressed by the quality for the price.  It's very soft and fluid which is great for wearing but not great for cutting.  That took forever.  It is listed as black and tan on the website but in reality it looks like a blush pink.

I underlined the bodice with broadcloth and lined the skirt with the same.  After basting the pleats on the skirt pieces, I put the pieces on the broadcloth and traced them.  Not very scientific but it worked for me.  The skirt lining is sewn to the front band but then hangs free at the bottom. 

 



 

I widened the front band by just sewing with a narrower seam allowance because the 1/2 inch buttons were going to be too big.  Speaking of buttons, I absolutely destroyed the buttonholes by cutting the stitching with my Clover buttonhole cutter on almost every one of them.  The only way to save them was to zig zag the edges which looks horrendous but the buttons cover up most of the stitching. 

I like the big pockets.  Not so sure about the gigantic collar.  If I had it to do over again I think I would size it down a bit. 

I'm very happy with how this turned out.  I think I'll enjoy wearing it a lot. Now I need to decide what I'm going to sew next.  You might see a pair of jeans, a swimsuit or some running shorts.  Or none of the above. Stay tuned!