Lostinvegas0

Burda 7487 Pants Finished

2010-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

I Love these pants. They are made out of a light weight suiting perfect for the long Las Vegas Summers. I have reviewed the pattern on Pattern Review.

Unfinished Shirt Burda 7487

2010-06-15T18:41:00.001-07:00

I have a theory, maybe it's better called a superstition. Whenever I make a garment and have to go back to the fabric store to buy more fabric the garment never turns out. It's kind of like the Sewing Gods are trying to talk me out of it. In this case, I bought this fabric before I new what I wanted to do with it,I thought this pattern would be perfect. I had to go back to Joanne Fabrics and get more for the tie.
There were so many frustrations with this shirt. Not enough room in the armpits, so I adjusted them. The bust is to loose in places and to tight in others. There is to much gathering at the waist, and the tie looks weird. I think that some of the trouble is that I used french seams (which look nice) but I should have considered the extra seam allowance when I cut it out. I was so frustrated by outfit 1 altogether that I put this shirt aside and got to work on outfit 2. I might go back to this shirt later or try the entire thing again.

First garment finished.

2010-05-10T18:59:00.001-07:00

Burda 7590

I finished these pants tonight. There are good and bad things about them. When I look down at them I don't like them. However, when I look at them in a picture or in the mirror I do like them. Go Figure. I liked the fit that I managed to accomplish. I love the straight legs. (All of the pants in this wardrobe have straight legs).
I HATE the fabric. Stretch Gabardine. It looks ugly, and it feels gross. The most frustrating about this fabric is it stretches the wrong way. I always assumed that fabric stretches against the grain. This stretches on the grain. As a result the length stretches and the width doesn't. When I sewed them all together they were too small. I had to take them all apart and sew then with 1/4 inch seams rather then 5/8.
Next in like to make is the Burda 7487 blouse. I love this blouse and the fabric I am making it out of. But I am not sure if I like them with these pants anymore. I might make a flowey tunic for these pants. For now I am moving forward with the original plan.

Special Details on Burda Pants.

2010-05-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

I am playing with techniques that I have thought or read about.
For the Burda 7590 pants. I surged all of the edges before I sewed them. I like this idea because I get the finished edges, but I can still press them flat. More important if I have to rip out a seam I don't have to worry about the surged edges. (A nightmare to take out.)

Ready Set Sew

2010-05-03T00:19:00.000-07:00

I spent the week cutting and marking the garments I am making. This is my least favorite part of sewing. To keep organized after I cut out and marked each garment I put all the pieces, interfacing, thread, zippers ect that I needed into an individual freezer bag. I am still waiting on some fabric that I ordered from an online fabric store. I am a little worried about buying fabric online, I like to feel and see the fabric before I buy. But, the fabric stores around here didn't have what I wanted. That fabric should be here by Friday then I can cut out the rest of the pieces.
Tomorrow I will start sewing. The first thing I am making are the Burda 7590 pants in Dark Brown Gabardine. I am not in love with this fabric but I wanted the color. If I really can't stand the fabric then I will try the same pattern in denim.

6 Outfits

2010-04-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I have embedded a document.
To see it full screen click on the bottom right corner next to the word box.

Back to Blogging about sewing

2010-04-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a move, a two month camping trip, extended hours at work, and life in general, It has been a long time since I sewed with some thought beyond I want a pair of jeans or an apron. I moved out of my last house at the end of the last school year, at that time I thought it would be cathartic to get rid of any clothes in my closet that for what ever reason I didn't want. Just like a self imposed What Not To Wear intervention. I must admit that it was nice to say goodbye to things that I was holding onto in the hopes that one day they might fit, come back into fashion, mend themselves, or miraculously lose a stain. The only clothes I kept were a few items appropriate for camping. Before moving into a new house, my fiance and I went on a two month camping trip in the mountains of Utah. We came back just in time for the start of the new school year. In fact we moved into our new house the day before the first day of school for students. There in lies the problem, no clothes. Mental Note before you throw/give away all your clothes like on What Not To Wear, make sure you have $5000 to spend on a new wardrobe. I have spent the last 7 months wearing the same 5 or so outfits.
To remedy the lack luster wardrobe I have challenged myself to create a weeks worth of outfits appropriate for work. Unlike the the mini-wardrobe contest on pattern review that require a connective thread between the outfits. I want five distinct outfits.
Right now I am sorting through patterns and pre-shrinking fabric to decide what I have to use, and what I need to buy. Hopefully, by tomorrow I will have a good idea of what I will be making

Vogue 8469 Very Easy Dress

2008-08-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is Vogue 8469. I made it in red linen. It was a super easy dress and fits well. I reviewed the pattern on Pattern Review

Vogue 8451

2008-07-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is the shirt I made go with the McCall's skirt.

My Pattern Stash

2008-07-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of patterns that I have yet to sew.
Butterick
5227
3030
5219
4995
McCall"s
5633
5140
5105
5324
5479
5476
Simplicity
5684
4122
New Look
6945
Vogue
2912
8457
8081
8469
1035
2985
8383
8451
Burda
7991
8488
Kwik Sew
3093
2740
2948

Shirts to go with Mccalls 5631

2008-07-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

I am going to make 2 shirts to go with this skirt.
Vogue 8451 View A I might try to do the cuffs on the sleeves in the same fabric as the waist band as the skirt.

And Kwik Sew 2948 veiw A the shirt only.

More on Mccalls 5631

2008-07-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

As I was sewing the worlds worst dog (Doc Holiday) decided to help me finish it up. He added a nice decorative touch by chewing a hole in it. . Fortunately the hole is under one of the pleats so all was not lost.

MCCALLS 5631

2008-07-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

I love this skirt. I had my doubts as I was sewing it. I was not sure if a full skirt was for me. But I think it is fun. I can't wait to make the shirt and get back to work to wear it. Pictured with me is the world's worst behaved dog, he is sniffing my feet and wondering how I managed to have a pair of shoes he has not chewed.

Butterick 5177

2008-07-08T21:22:00.001-07:00

I am not thrilled with this dress. I posted a review in pattern review.

About my sewing

2008-07-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

I learned how to sew in middle school, and I have sewn off and on ever since. After I moved to Vegas and got settled in, I had my machines serviced and have been back at it with a vengeance. I like to sew clothes for myself and my fiance. I would like to sew for my house, but have not done much of that. I hate to mend or alter clothes. Right now I am trying to sew a spring wardrobe. I am engaged and I am thinking about making a bunch of wedding dresses until I make one I just treasure, then I 'll sell the rest. I love patternreview.com and all the tips I get from that website.

Spring Wardrobe

2008-07-07T17:36:00.001-07:00

With my ambition on high, I decided that I would make my own spring wardrobe. I
spent weeks searching the pattern websites then waited for the stores to have a sale. After I got the patterns I picked out fabrics I liked. These are my patterns and my thought process for choosing them.
My spring wardrobe has to accommodate the end of the regular school year, six weeks of teaching summer school (more casual) and the beginning of the next school year.
I picked out 3 dresses
Butterick 5177 I have finished this dress and will review it on pattern review. I made this dress for going out during the hot summer.
Vogue 8383 This is a nice dress for work when the temp. is over 100. I have not yet aquired the fabric for this dress, I am thinking just a light cotton.
Vogue 8469 I love this dress and can't wait to make it, I purchased a bright red linen and think I will make view B.
I picked out 2 skirts
Mccalls 5631 I am almost done with this one. I made view C. I am planning on doing a separate post on the progress of this one. I am making a shirt Vogue 8451 view A to match this skirt.
Mccalls 5140 I had a fabric in my spring color family, but I had to take it back it was way to see- through and I want to wear it to work. I am sure that finding a nice flowy fabric will not be that difficult. For a matching shirt I think that I will use Kwik Sew 2948 but I am still trying to find a perfect tank top pattern.
There are 3 pants patterns
Burda 8488 in a dark green linen with a white tee shirt maybe Butterick 3030
Butterick 4995 in a beige linen that will match the vogue 8451 shirt mentioned above.
Mccall 5633 I haven't got the fabric yet, I will wait to go to the store to be inspired.
Well there it is. I 'll keep everybody posted . Now that it is all on paper, it looks a little daunting (lol). Good thing I have a month off and can't afford the gas to go on vacation.