Eye on the Prize

It took me a few days, but I finally decided what to spend my gift certificate on at Above All Fabric.  I'm still participating in the Style Stitches sew along over at Jem Jam and each month, she gives away a gift certificate from Above All Fabric and another from Fat Quarter Shop to two lucky ducks.  I entered my Key Keeper Coin Purse and was randomly chosen as a winner for July!
Instead of just buying more fabric because I thought it was pretty (I reeeeeally wanted some of that Joel Dewberry Heirloom voile!!!), I thought I should evaluate what it is that I want to sew in the near future and see if I have the fabric I need for it.
Long story shortened, I chose Michael Miller's interlock knit in Brown TaDot to make a cozy fall shirt using McCall's 6203.
I've got plenty of cotton quilting fabric and even some rayon and some voile, but no knits to make these shirts and I NEED a couple for Self-Stitched September.

In other news, I've decided to take a break from my shop for a bit.  I haven't really been sewing for it a whole lot anyway, but I'm going to put my Molly Blossom patterns away, clear my sewing table of fabric I've designated for bag use and let go of the guilt I put on myself for not doing great at stocking my shop.  I need to feel totally free to sew for myself and my babies for a bit and I think putting Molly Blossom aside will help.  My Etsy shop will still stay open (I'm not going to turn away some PayPal!) and I might add something on a whim, but I'm just going to focus on "fun" sewing. for a while.

:)

Self-Stitched September

It's almost here!  Self-Stitched September.  When Me Made June ended, I thought September seemed so far away.  I started thinking about all the holes in my me made wardrobe... my very tiny me made wardrobe.  I made a flurry of things for summer, but I'm starting at square one again for cold weather.  I started doing some research and thinking about doing a lot of layering with pieces I already own.
Now, not only is September fast approaching and I have made not one fall item and to top it off, my family will be staying in DC for the second half of September!  What that means is, that I won't be able to fake it with my warm weather pieces, like I would be able to in Mississippi.
I have a coat pattern, a long-sleeved shirt pattern, a trouser pattern and plans to draft a knit cardigan, but I still feel like my wardrobe will be fairly lacking.
Nevertheless!  Here it goes.  My commitment:
'I, Sara Upshaw, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-Sept '11. I endeavour to wear one me-made or me-altered item of clothing each day for the duration of September 2011'


Just as before, I will make a Flickr album and will post to the group's album regularly.  I'm really looking forward to it and the new pieces it will spur me on to create!

Baby Bump

Just because I always seem to have babies on the brain and because I LOVE maternity clothes...
This is for someone out there:  Here is a pattern that is not meant for maternity, but would probably work fabulously in either version because of the side ruching on one and the blousy hem on the other.

McCall's 6356

A Vision in Plaid

I just caught a vision and I have to share before I forget.
I received my Lola Goes Shoppin' bag pattern from Izzy and Ivy this week and just stuck it in my pattern bin with all the others waiting for some love.

THEN... I ran across this brand called Ness and caught a vision for my Lola bag.

I'm not usually interested in plaid, but these tartan bags from Ness are too cute.  I think a Lola in tartan would be perfect for cold weather.  

Now to find a tartan as cute as the ones on the Ness website...

McCall's 6078

In my McCall's order with sewingpatterns.com, I couldn't resist adding  number 6078 simply because of the back of View A.  I already have a cowl neck tank patern, but I couldn't resist at $2.99... and I knew my hubby would like it.  

I was right.  I showed him the pattern and he said something I won't repeat here, but, suffice it to say, he wanted to see that top on me.

Behold.

I made this up in a slightly stretchy olive green polyester rayon something or other that I found on the remnant table.  This shirt cost me about $10 including the pattern and thread.

It was only a few hours of work.  Nothing really difficult, just a lot of tedious pleating, but the pleating looks very sophisticated, so it was worth it.

The design of the shirt is great because, even with the exposed back, it allows for a bra.  I wore this out on a date the night I made it and was so glad that I could wear a regular bra.  I do have to mention that this shirt just rests on the shoulders.  There is nothing holding it up, so I was pretty nervous all evening.  A couple of safety pins on the bra straps would've been a good idea...

I left the sleeves unfinished.  I've seen plenty of rtw clothing with an unfinished edge like this, so I have no shame.

If I made this again, I would use it as the bodice of a dress and connect it to the skirt of another pattern.  That could be a really va va voom dress.

The only difficulty in this pattern is the pleating.  Three pattern pieces, no closures and easy-to-follow instructions make this a definite thumbs up from me.

Fall Wardrobe Patterns

SewingPatterns.com had a $2.99 sale on McCalls and then a $5.99 sale on Vogue!  Did they read my last blog post??

I bought:

from McCalls

and

from Vogue.

SewingPatterns.com didn't have the wrap shirt pattern.  :(  and I was too scared of the wrap dress I picked, so I chose another one.  Vogue 8631.  This version from Green Apples cinched it for me.

I intend this to be a long-sleeved dress, but I've also seen this in short-sleeves with a long-sleeved shrit underneath and it looked pretty good to me.

Updates will come when available!

Some Fall Picks

Me Made June was so fun and inspirational for me.  I was challenged to wear and appreciate the things I'd put the time and effort (and expense) into making, but also encouraged to look at my wardrobe with a critical eye.  I was able to identify some gaping holes and better plan for future sewing.
Speaking of planning, Self-stitched September will be here before I know it, so I'm already starting to strategically plan my me made fall wardrobe.
Here are some picks from both new and old patterns published by various brands.

McCall's 6203 Misses' Tunics

I like all versions of this top and think it could look very Anthro.

next:

Vogue 7876

I like the look on the main girl there to the right.  I also like the short-sleeved and sleeveless versions of this same top, so this could be a very useful pattern.

I'm so scared of pants, but this is Very Easy Vogue...

Vogue 8751

I can see these as khakis, in a tweed, or even in denim.

Now for a dress, DKNY, no less:

Vogue 1257

I believe this is a faux wrap dress.  I'm a little nervous about that detail at the waist.  I have a sneaking suspicion that it could go very wrong.  I may be waiting to see some reviews on this one.

And last, but not least, because seeing a version of this pattern in the Me Made June Flickr group is really what got me started thinking about my fall wardrobe...

McCalls 5525

My fave is the version on the top right.  The collar, the sleeves, oh yes please.  I think it would be nice to have a short trench like the one on the bottom right as well, so, once again, this is a pattern I can see myself getting some good use out of.

Of course, if I do actually make any of these, I'll post them here!