Sew Miss Oz

What have I sewn lately? Nada, nothing, zip is completed! We’ve had so many personal things going on that I haven’t found time to do much sewing at the machines. Then when I did decide to sew the fabric I selected was atrocious, this was truly vile fabric I picked up years ago from the Wal-Mart Dollar table. The question is why I even cut the shirt pattern out from the fabric, a real what-was-I-thinking issue here. To somewhat defend myself I have this penny-pinching idea that if I bought something I have to use it! I mean after all I spent hard earned money on that item, therefore it has to be used, right? I decided not for something like this. It was not worth more of my time in the construction for this nasty fabric. I must have not noticed all the bleeding, spotty issues on the fabric when I purchased it, or maybe I didn’t care enough about my own product. Enough already, the fabric is in the trash, DH isn’t getting a new shirt right now, and I feel better that I didn’t create something that was horrible just because of the fabric selection. Lesson learned cheap fabric does not produce quality items. This doesn’t mean a good sale can’t be a sewer’s best friend :-smile-:

I did purchase more fabric; did you hear me fall off the wagon? It is all fabric for T, that has patterns all lined up. When digging through my stash it is apparent fabric I buy for T is completed into it final destination. Fabric for DH or me is questionable whether it will be completed. That is okay, T needs that fitting, DH and I can generally find RTW that works unlike some of the items for T.

In the next few days I will get my new fabric purchases posted, yep I have even already received the fabric. In fact, it is washed and prepped to cut out. While I waited to receive the fabric, I traced the patterns for T that I will use these fabrics for. To get my sewing bug under control I have slowly been working on a two-year-old UFO. I cut out Burda 8072 two years ago, right before I started Weight Watchers. I never constructed the garment as my weight loss was changing my size rather rapidly. As those that know me, I lost those 40 pounds, only to put them back on. So now 2 years later I wear that exact size again, a non-smoker though :-wink-: This dress is really going together very easily, and would be fast if I spent dedicated time to it! I am at the invisible zipper spot (something I am still working at mastering). When I started the dress two years ago, I picked out a light pink colored suiting fabric from JoAnn’s. This fabric is all wrong really for a nice summer dress, especially for my lifestyle today (non-corporate), and the color is all wrong too! :-mad-: I realized I have learned a little in the last two years. One item is the type of fabrics that work with my casual lifestyle. This dress would work in a fabric with more drape, lighter weight, a rayon, or lightweight cotton/poly (I don’t like 100% cotton - :-eek-: ironing!). I also noticed more recently that my going natural with my hair color has changed what colors look good on me. I have always known I was a ‘winter’ style type, but had gotten away with lighter colors when I wanted. However, with my silver-white hair light colors give me a washed out and drained look. When I tried on those deep jewel tones, I got color back to my face, and my silver-white hair looked better! Now to clean out my stash fabric :-lol-:

I’ll put together another post to show the fabrics I bought, patterns I’m working on for T!

Pattern Picture:

Project Photo:

Pattern Rating:

I like the ease of this pattern, it was quite quick and painless to put together. Now that I’ve made it this once, I know it needs alterations, therefore not a straight out of the package pattern :dreamin:

Pattern Description:

This pattern is for a blouse with front and back darts, a back tie, with or without a fold-over (not collar stand) collar, and with sleeve variations

Pattern Sizing/Sizing Used:

The pattern itself comes in a range of Misses sizes 8 – 18 in one package. The size range is one thing I love about New Look patterns. I have a tendency to flex my weight, and in the last few years it has been a 40 lb flex. I put the 40 lbs on, get frustrated, take the 40 lbs off, back and forth I go. Been doing these 40 lbs now since my 30’s and giving birth to my second daughter! I should maintain a size range of clothing from size 6 to size 12 in RTW! On this particular pattern I decided to sew a size 18 straight through based on the finished bust measurement given on the envelope. As you might notice that was a mistake.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Although the pattern website shows a photo with the pattern the actual pattern does not have a photo, only pencil style draws all colored in. I resembles the drawings though!

Were the instructions easy to follow?

The instructions were straightforward although I noticed they left some item out of the instructions. Although I’ve been sewing for a long time, I was still surprised that nowhere in the instructions did it say when to do the button, buttonholes, etc. I also don’t know why I didn’t understand what they wanted me to do with the back neck-facing piece, the written instructions were sparse on this, and the picture was slim. In the end, I skipped the back neckpiece because I’ve made other shirt similar, on those shirts the collar was folded down, hem folded up, and then stitched in the ditch from the right side to close up the collar. I stitched in the ditch on the shoulder seams also to hold down the facing to be tacked. I don’t like to hand sew anything!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I like the ease of the pattern. I don’t like the fit at this moment. Using a size 18, the armholes were too deep, the shoulder seams are too long, and the overall fit is just too big. I think I need to start with a 16 then see if I need a full-bust adjustment. I also noticed the shoulder seams don’t fit me right, I’m not sure what the deal is with that, I could dig out my fitting books The shoulder seam next to the shoulder socket is in the right location, but by my neck it is 1 inch to far forward. It is almost as if they tried to do a forward shoulder adjustment in the pattern, but is too much of an adjustment for me. You notice that it is even too full in waist for me, although I like my tops fuller in the waist since I’ve had three kiddos. I did adjust the darts for the right location!

Fabric & Notions Used:

A 100% cotton shirting, but looser weave purchased through a coop several years ago.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:

Absolutely no design changes or alterations made, this is kind of my muslin! I like to have wearable muslins if possible. Now I’m trying to decide if I want this one again, just making my noted alterations.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I’m not sure if I want to try again on this or try a similar one, New Look 6952 . In the end I’ll probably do both because these are the type of tops I love to wear, sleeveless, short-sleeve, and long-sleeve. I want several to wear with skirts.

Tips:

I really don’t have any tips except skipping the back neck facing. I have looked at my RTW blouses like this, none have a back neck facing! I completed my neckline similar to those I found in my RTW shirts.

Conclusion:

I’ll probably wear this shirt even if it is a little big. Too big can still be worn, too small cannot Next time I’ll try a size 16 with alterations.

I have those times that blood gets on the clothing in my house. Anybody that has kids knows that blood happens with those childhood accidents. I knew a good way to usually get blood out, but the other day I really got to put my method to the test. T had a bloody nose the other morning. There was blood down the front of her shirt, and a blood filled washcloth (white of course). The worst part was T didn’t clean the blood out of these items, being a child of 8 years old it really is to be expected. But to top things off she threw these bloody items on top of a brand new pair of white Capri’s I had bought (I hadn’t even worn them yet!). A few days later when I was sorting clothes all these bloody items were found, all dried now. I set them aside, had truly believed that was the end of those items, including my new white Capri’s with a big blood dried spot on the upper leg. Yesterday I just decided to tackle a save on these items. I had found that cold water and regular dish soap were the best cleaners for blood, even on my clothes. I put dish soap on all the blood spots, then threw them in a pail, filled the pail with cold water. From there I’ve let that pail sit for the last 24 hours. I just pulled out the clothes to see if I might need to do some scrubbing – nope! All the blood was rinsed out completely with just some simple soaking! Gee, I’m so glad I gave that a chance!

My blog shows Sunday as my last post, which is obviously correct!

I was busy Monday, and don’t even remember what I was busy doing! I believe I went shopping that day with T, we bought flowers for her to plant and a few other things. T & I also went out to lunch and to the park that day. After we got home we planted her new flowers, put things away, and I worked on some laundry.

Tuesday was interesting to say the least! On Tuesday we had a court hearing for my 2^nd daughter who requested she be emancipated from us. The hearing didn’t turn out as she hoped, the judge told her to suck it up, as parents we do have the right to set rules, even the ones she doesn’t like, and she has to live with them until she is legally 18 years of age. For her though 18 years of age is only a few months away, so this whole thing is rather silly, and stems around a relationship that we feel in inappropriate at this stage of her life. The whole issue wouldn’t be so bad as the amount of lies she began telling, then the way she started talking to us since she started this relationship. The actual court hearing went pretty fast, we weren’t gone more than 2 hours, even with the 1 hour drive round trip. After I got home I updated all my pictures over at Pattern Review, I didn’t realize how many of my pictures were not showing up. All the pictures are correct now. I also tried to do a blog posting for some more pattern reviews, had one all typed up when my Microsoft 2007 decided to just close up shop :grrr: Then I was frustrated that I spent all that time typing, adding pictures, for it to be dumped. It is my own fault I know I need to save from time to time because these products sometimes get minds of their own! I also started fighting the laptop this night, it for some reason was locked up with the CPU showing 100% usage. It was also a Sheriff ride night for my DH, so he wasn’t home from around 5 pm until 5 am – so that meant all the chores were mine again for the evening.

Wednesday was a busy day, a day that made feel completed! Of course I felt completed because of the items that got completed! I worked around the house in the morning, did morning chores, than sewed! I sewed until my 2^nd daughter was ready to go to work, which I drove her to work. Once home from that chore I got busy on other things that needed to get done. I lightly tilled the garden where weeds were coming in. I found that I am totally missing several plants, I’m not sure if I should blame the deer or the bunnies. The deer are a big possibility as have caught them recently eating the apples off my trees in the orchard lately. After I got my garden area tilled I mowed. I mowed not just the garden area but finished mowing the yard the DH didn’t get finished Monday night. We have approximately 5 acres for a yard, and with that size it takes several hours to mow the entire yard, more hours than squeezable within a night. I vacuumed the pool, something I dread doing. I picked up J (daughter #2) from work, took both the girls out for dinner (McDonald’s), than we got ice cream for dessert later. After we got home, I did the dishes, and those little tedious chores, than I sewed! I sewed for several hours. I completed an apron for my mother-in-law! I’ll do a review of it on here within the next day or so. DH was gone again tonight with the Sheriff’s Department. As a reserve deputy they have to provide security for all the fairs in the county, and unfortunately there is one this week, which is why he has been gone so many nights this week.

Thursday which is today, I’m not sure what well be completed. I am thinking about some painting, J has to work again today, and DH has NO Sheriff stuff tonight! I have a several things cut out ready to sew but not sure where to start. I have a skirt that I actually cut out during winter break from school that I never got around to sewing. My problem is I’m worried that the skirt will not fit now. I have been gaining weight! I am so mad and upset about it, but I guess not mad enough to head back to Weight Watchers. The 40 lbs that I had taken off is all back. It took me a little over a year to put it all back on, but hey I am a non-smoker now, does that count? My doctor says she prefers the non-smoker over the 40 lbs for my health, but I seriously need to work on the 40 lbs. Anyway the skirt I cut out as size 12 last winter which shows like a 38″ hip. I was already putting my weight on at winter break so I know I was probably 20 lbs over at that point. I measured my hips now, they measure 41″. So I am debating if I use 1/4 ” seams instead of the 5/8″ seams will it give me enough extra? This is a gored skirt, so I do have several panels. I hate sewing something that maybe a complete waste of my time in the end, but I would just love to have a brown skirt. I also would like an easy was to lose 40 lbs! I hate being so restricted as what I can eat as the Weight Watchers system, or any systematic diet. I know what I really need is to find a good exercise routine, I generally don’t eat terrible, except those chips I picked up since I quit smoking they are an addiction, especially the Sun Chips Garden Salsa!

Well I better get this rainy day moving! I have reviews I need to work on, painting, and sewing!

T-T-F-N!

Not too much sewing done today, it was a day of working on other family projects mostly. I did work on another pair of the Jalie 2327 briefs for DH tonight just briefly. What did I do with my day besides sew?

• Took care of the animals & swimming pool this morning, that generally takes at least an hour
• Watched Norte Dame mass on TV – I need to find a church to drive to
• Did my 2^nd coat of paint in the dining room, see my Family & Remodel Blog on the work I’m doing
• Made a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies – yeah we needed those, right? Yep the cookies from the other day are gone
• Scrubbed & cleaned the walls to a small room off a larger room off the garage, ready to prime the room
• Ordered more powder dry from Malden Mills for more briefs for DH (got 5 yards, some black silk weight powder dry was on sale for $3.99 per yard!)
• Looked for fabric for curtains in my newly painted dining room
• Did some sewing
• Made some dinner for T & I (DH is doing his Sheriff duty at one of the local fairs, they play security)
• Cleaned Kitchen, sweep the dining room & steps
• Then did animals again, there went almost another hour!

See how my day goes! Tomorrow I need to run to town for meds for the dogs, might take T to lunch while we’re in town. She wants to get some plants to make her own little garden also. Not sure if I’ll get any more painting done in the next few days so maybe time for some sewing !!

I’m back - at least for now that is! If read my personal blog then you know I had problems with my blogs and the databases for them. I have updated, corrected, and fixed the issues for now - but I lost my old posts. If I get time I’ll put back some of the reviews I did with my sewing, and my digital scrapping. I hope to keep my hobby blogging up, alas though with going to college my hobbies often fall to the wayside for homework and family.