Sewaholic Minoru #2

 

I have needed a second Minoru in my closet since I made my first one a couple of years ago. I wear the polka-dotted one constantly and if people always see me with a jacket on it must seem like I always wear the same thing!

I used a red twill from Mood for the shell and cheap satin-y stuff for the inside.  I like the elastic waist that provides shaping.

The pattern doesn't come with outer pockets so I added them because I think that's a necessity in a jacket.

The pattern does include handy inner pockets though! Back view:

My first Minoru will always be my favorite but it will be nice to have a second version. If you haven't made one yet you definitely should! The pattern is easy and the sewalong is extremely thorough. 

Christine Haynes Sylvie Dress #2

I love this dress! I recently spent several weeks working on a blazer that ended badly and almost completely crushed my spirit.  I needed a sewing cleanse after that and this dress worked like a charm.

This is my first attempt at taking pictures with a tripod and the help of my little kids, which is why they are all crooked.  Working on that....

For my first Sylvie here, I chose a size 8 based on my measurements.  It was very big and I had to shave a lot off the back, so for this version I went with a straight 4 and it fits perfectly. 





I'm in love with this fabric that I purchased on Amazon.  It never occurred to me to look there for fabric until Oonaballoona posted about it.  It's very floaty, so I underlined it in a lightweight muslin. 

You'll have to turn your head to the side for this one because things aren't cooperating today, but that's a close up of the pockets and gathered skirt...



...and another sideways close-up of the three darts at the bust to provide shape. 

I wore this at the park and a 6 year old girl told me my dress was pretty.  You know 6 year old girls don't lie!

SBCC Brooklyn Hoodie Revisited

I went back for seconds of the Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Brooklyn Hoodie and I'm so glad I did.  I love this pattern! This time I chose the shorter version and added rib knit trim for the hem and wrist bands, and I'm happy with both of those changes.  After sewing the longer version and also trying the Seamwork Oslo, I've decided that I really don't like things that go too far below my hips.

The french terry fabric and coordinating rib knit are from Hell Gate Fabrics and both are amazing. It's the same fabric that is used on the SBCC pattern sewalong and envelope.   

I cut a small but shaved off an additional 1/4 inch when I pushed the side seams through my serger.  The terry is very stretchy and I wanted to start with a slimmer fit. SBCC patterns are made for petites.  I'm just a smidge under 5'4 and I have a long torso, but the short version is perfect on me without lengthening it. 

I will be making this pattern again and again.  I think I've done a good job of keeping my focus on making pieces that fit into my every day life instead of sewing things I won't get as much use out of.  In the sewing world I think that's called making cake instead of frosting.  And I don't wear a party dress out with these two hoodlums.  They took my pictures for this post and I think they did pretty good considering they didn't want to do it at all.  Happy sewing!

 

 



SBCC Moto Chic Jacket

 This is my second make from the Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick pattern company and I've enjoyed both. This jacket turned out just like I wanted it to. I like the moto jacket look but didn't feel like working with leather, so I chose a mustard yellow corduroy from Mood for the shell and a rayon from Cotton+Steel for the lining. 

I don't usually wear anything with a peplum, but I do like this one a lot.  The gathering adds a nice feminine detail. 

The instructions for this are pretty sparse without a lot of diagrams, but there is a sewalong to help you out. The trickiest part in my opinion is sewing the zipper on because you are sewing each half to two different pieces. In the picture below, the top zipper is on the side front panel, while the bottom zipper is on the center front panel. They are two different lengths and shapes, so I pinned the shoulder seams together to help make sure it was all lined up right. 

Then I put the other center front piece over the side front panel to make sure it looked ok before I stitched the zipper.  Don't rush through this part or you might be off a little bit and have to rely on your seam ripper. 

When it came time to bag the lining, one of my center front panels was flapping around at the waist seam.  I don't know if I missed something in the directions, but I eventually stopped reading the instructions and just fiddled with it until I figured out how to attach that part and then sew the lining on. 

My apologies for the poor indoor lighting, but I wanted to show the lining.  I'm not crazy about how it doesn't extend down to the hem.  I didn't plan ahead and used white serger thread (because I'm lazy) which is kind of glaring against the yellow.  If I had it to do over again, I would draft a lining for the peplum and then hand stitch it to the hem. 

This is what it looks like unzipped so you can see how it goes together:

I recommend this pattern, but not for someone who has never made a jacket before .  Try something more straight-forward without the side zipper and overlapping panels, and then come back to this.  Happy sewing!

SBCC Brooklyn Hoodie

This is a new pattern company for me and I enjoyed my first time sewing with them.  Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Patterns recently released the Brooklyn Hoodie and I jumped on that bandwagon because my hoodie situation is sad.  There is a sewalong that goes along with it that was helpful, but the instructions are clear enough that you can do it without the sewalong. 

This was my first time sewing with french terry.  It's always fun to try something you've never had experience with before.  I ordered this fabric (and the fabric for what is going to be my last Granville this season at the end of this post) from Hell Gate Fabrics, which is new on the scene.  I enjoyed my shopping experience, and would recommend it to others.  I love independent pattern companies and fabric suppliers because they are so accessible.  The shipping is quick, and she even refunds your change on shipping if it comes under what she quoted. 

The quality is very nice and also very warm.  The sewalong gives some nice tips for this material.  I chose size small and if I had to do it over again I would have gone down a size just for this material.  It steams back into shape really well, but it's very stretchy as you wear it.

I attempted to sew twill tape along the hood seam and that proved to be a disaster.  I didn't like how it looked so I ripped it out and tore some big holes in my fabric while I was at it.  I sewed the hood seam again to encase those holes in my serger thread.  That little remnant of twill tape is staying put!

 

And here's my last Granville until next fall/winter.  This is a Japanese print from Hell Gate Fabrics and I had to have it because it was so unique.  I like to look in my closet and see four handmade button ups in happy prints. 

Muse Jenna Cardi + Sewaholic Renfrew

I have wanted to add handmade cardigans to my wardrobe for quite awhile since my RTW cardigans are starting to look a little raggedy. I used the Muse Jenna Cardi pattern and paired it with the mustard yellow fabric from Cloud 9.  I've never used their fabric before but I was impressed with how soft it is.  I was pleased to discover that it goes with a lot of tops in my closet already, like this Granville and this Granville. It adds a nice pop of color. 



Do you see the waves along the hem band?  Is that a tension issue with my serger or an issue with the fabric I used?  The blue polka dot top Renfrew top is also from Cloud 9 (and also super soft, by the way).  I used the same tension and had no waves.  I thought using a twin needle to topstitch the seam allowance might help.  It didn't.   Speaking of the Sewaholic Renfrew pattern, it's the best tshirt pattern in the entire world in my humble opinion. 

The Jenna Cardi is a very quick make.  I would like for it to become a wardrobe staple but I'm not sure if I like how the shoulder seam hits below my shoulder.  I prefer it when the shoulder seam sits on my shoulder like in a button up top, so I'll have to decide if I can live with this. The sleeve piece is also incredibly long.  I think I ended up cutting off about 3 inches so that the cuff wouldn't go past my fingers. 

Winston and I are trying to pretend like it's not freezing outside in Kansas today.  Happy sewing!

2015 Wrap Up! My 5 Favorites

I love year-end wrap ups! I didn't sew as much this year as I did last year, but I did go way outside my usual sewing zone which feels pretty productive. My favorites:

I have a lot of love for the Deer&Doe Pavot jacket with the triangular buttonholes.  I highly recommend the pattern.  It's a great spring coat. 

McCalls 6506 was my first ever make from a Big-4 pattern (I'm not kidding) and it turned out really well.  My fabric choice ended up feeling a little dressier than I was going for initially, so I'll probably revisit this pattern next summer in a more casual fabric. 

I've made the Sewaholic Granville three times now, so it definitely makes the cut for favorites.  This was my first. 

I ventured into the world of Spandex with the Closet Case Files Bombshell swimsuit and I have to admit it wasn't all that bad. 

I only have one Sewaholic Oakridge but I love wearing it.  Such a happy print!

Overall I'm pleased with the work I produced.  I participated in the Goodbye Valentino RTW fast for two years and that had a very positive impact on my sewing skills.  A big bright world opens up when the focus shifts to making instead of buying.