"SEWING/CRAFTING THROUGH THE WEEK WITH SEW MUCH TALENT" on Sew Much Talent

Here is what I completed during the week for the MAKE IT NEW MONDAY~~~~Start on a new project for the week and W.I.P. IT WEDNESDAY~~~~~~Complete a Work In Progress on www.sewmuchtalent.com. At least I think so. I thought I did 7 skirts but it was really 6. I had did two prior but didn't like the fit and one was too short. I used a “new to me” pattern company. So those two will go into the give-away bag. BUT, these six are from a made by me pattern. They are a bit form fitting, but I think I will do a looser top. Here they are!! Three are from a Ponte knit from on line and the other three are from a local fabric store. I think I posted this before. Here they are!!!

Self drafted knit skirts...

Hey there! This is what I am doing for the week. It's part of a group for www.sewmuchtalent.com that I am in. I got several pieces of knits from one of my online stores and my local neighborhood store. On Sunday, I cut out 6 skirts from some nice knits I got.

The pattern is self drafted by me. I am pretty happy with the fit and the length. It takes about 45 mins to an hour, maybe less to do up one. I am on a mission to make a skirt a night. So far I finished a brown and a Merlot. The brown was purchased from a local store and the Merlot was purchased from fabric.com. I love the Merlot color, it's a solid Ponte De Roma knit.

This is my first time working with the ponte de roma and I love.

All of the fabric was washed and dried prior to sewing/cutting...here is the fabric, once the skirts are finished I will post them....

Jeans...

I haven't posted in a while...I've been busy working as always. The jeans that took forever were completed and I wore them. 1st I knew the front was too high, like old man too high. As I said before the pattern was a single sized pattern that is OOP. The jeans were worn, but the fabric grew throughout the day. I did make my alterations to the pattern and will sew again...oh well better luck next time... :-)

I also tried a new pattern company, well it was new to me, called Pamela's Patterns. It was the "Perfect Tank Top". Well it didn't work for me. Will I try again, I don't think so... maybe. The back was way too low for me and I would fell very uncomfortable if I wore it to work. It makes pajama top, that is what I will use it for.

Thanks and happy sewing!!!!!

First pair of jeans...done!

They are finished. I had additional alterations to make for the 2nd pair. I will take in the waist about an 1" from each side and I have a huge gap at the waist band and should have added another carrier loop in the middle of the back. I am still going to wear them. with a longer loose fitting top or a jacket. Also, the only button I had was this cheap-o plastic one. I thought I had metal or brass in my hoard. Guess not! I have a coupon for Joann's, I'll go and check out their notions wall.

Oh, these were made on my $25.00 craigslist sewing machine. This will be for my heavier duty items as well as my bags, totes and hats...

25.00 Machine

My jeans journey...

Hi, here is the 1st of my jeans journey. The very 1st pair of jeans that I made were back in the very early '80s. I do recall wearing them a few times, but get even remember what pattern was used. Here I am using McCall's 9233. I've had this for years. It's one of the single sized patterns by Palmer/Pletsch.

The pattern was cut straight from the package. I wanted to see how the fit was. This pattern has 1" SA at the waistband, side seams and inseam.

McCall's 9233

I left the waistband at 5/8" SA and did the full inch for the inseam and an 1.25" for the outside seam. I also added an 1" to the length.

A few issues...there were a tad bit too baggy in the back. With this pattern they give you vertical lines in the back for tucks. The 2nd issue is, the front comes under my bust, like old man pants or mommy jeans...lol

Here is what I've done so far.

I am going to do these again, but with the following changes.

1. back tucks for the jeans back and the yoke
2. add about 2" for length
3. lower the rise about 3"
4. making the fly one piece. This drove me crazy the 1st time and who's going to know anyway?

I will post the finished product. Getting these done today!!!

I just finished another 6 day work week and I am beat. I did four loads of laundry, cleaned one of the bathrooms, sewed the yoke on the jeans that I've been working on for weeks and made two pots of soup. I wanted to give myself a mani/pedi but just have enough energy to fold the laundry and maybe just file and buff the nails and smooth the feet!

The plan is to finish the jeans this week and start to planing for a mini vacation. In June I am going on a cruise with my aunt, she thought it was free. I told her that if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. In addition to what I want to make for the trip, I will be making a few tailored shirts for the spring.

Seems to me that spring is the shortest of the seasons. It feels like winter will intrude and linger into "spring".
May will be will here before you know it...BAM...HEAT WAVE....

I was a co-sponser of a give-away on one of the blogs that I follow. Here is what the prize was. A pair of SS and Swarovski earrings in shades of green. That is the color of the year...right?. I plan on making me a pair....

It's done!! 'bout time...

Hello! This was supposed to be included it the March Mix up challenge that was on www.sewmuchtalent.com. I’ve been working 50-60 hours per week on my job and hadn’t had the time or energy to do much of anything in March.


Here is an old Butterick shirt/jacket from the Connie Crawford collection. It’s been in my collection a.k.a stash for a few years. I used a Kaufman 21 Wale Corduroy in Tan in 100% cotton that I got from fabric.com on 10/27/2011. I am thinking about getting two more pieces in black and red.

I went down a size in this pattern to an XXL instead of the 1X that was my size range according to the package.

This was a quick and easy project. I made no alterations, but will for the next one. I will add about 1.5” to the sleeve and use my one-piece collar method that I do. The one-piece collar method is from one of the DVDs from threads by Louise Cutting. I forgot which volume but it’s nice and you have less bulk to work with.

I didn’t use their button guide. I have ton of buttons in my collection and was able to find some that I liked instead of going out and buying new ones. I am happy with the finished garment and I’ve worn it twice. I wore it to a get-together with a rayon teal pashmina and jeans. I sported it again at work without the scarf. People were shocked that I made it!