Better Fit or Bust

Yesterday was my day off and I spent the entire day doing things I enjoy. I started the day off planning a mini-wardrobe and cut out this Christine Jonson pattern #426,Princess Wrap.

Her patterns go up to a size 22 but I still needed a bit of adjustment to fit my body. Before I started my usual adjustments, I picked up my copy of Threads magazine, May 2009, No.142. It's the fitting issue and ironically it was on the floor by my bed,opened to the article by Louise Cutting ,"Add a Bust Darts".

It features instructions on getting the right bra size. I looked down (way down) at the girls and decided they must be wearing the wrong size. I grabbed my tape measure and followed Louise's measuring instructions and headed out to buy a bra in the right size.

Now I was ready to adjust my pattern for these newly hoisted boobs. I still needed a FBA,but my girls were uplifted,so my measurements was accurate. Here is my new top, the first piece of my mini-wardrobe.

The lightweight knit fabric, is a purchase from Ebbyj Fabrics. This pattern was a breeze to work with. The instructions and illustrations are clear and un-complicated. Most of the construction was done on my serger,which made this a really fast project. I plan on trying several of Christine Jonson's patterns.

My Maxi,City,Town Dress

I've been seeing all the fabulous maxi dresses,city dresses,and town gowns on all the different blogs and it made me wonder....could I pull this style off? I am 5'5 and quite fluffy. My friend Linda says,"Wear what you like. If you like it you should wear it." I think about her words often when I'm freaking out about my pattern or fabric selection and how it will look on my plus size body,and immediately feel good about what I have chosen.

I wanted something with some coverage and would not give me the maternity look. I choose this pattern. I have made this dress before and found it to be a great fit and fast to put together. No zippers,buttons or elastic. Don't you just love summer sewing?

I added some length and left the back ties off. No other adjustment were needed.

I purchased this cool ,cotton jersey fabric, from my friend Ebony's Etsy store, EbbyJ's Fabrics .

I wore it to work Thursday(with total confidence) and was cool and comfortable all day. I will be making this dress again. Next time, with shorter sleeves.

I'm A Record Holder

I think I hold the record for "longest time away from blogging"! It seem there is never enough time to do all the things I enjoy...or....maybe I don't use my time wisely. Twenty four hour per day is a generous gift from God that I receive daily. I need to get better at managing my time.
That being said,I not going to waste your time with whining and excuses.
I apologise to my blog friends (readers) for leaving you hanging. Thank you for checking up on me from time to time. I will do better.

I have been sewing lately. I made this cool comfortable dress using Simplicity 3877 and wonderfully soft cotton fabric from my friend Ebony's ,Etsy shop.


This is the second time I've used this pattern. It features a bodice with cup sizes B,C and D,so I didn't have to do a FBA. The pattern calls for side zipper which I decided to leave out after basting the side closed and trying it on first. It pulls over the head just fine. It's perfect for the extremely hot weather here. I will definitely make it again. I need more dresses in my life.

Easy-Peasy Sewing

My sewing time has been limited lately, because of my work schedule. But I refuse to let it rob me completely of my joy. I just decided to do a couple of easy projects. I choose a couple of unlined jackets. Butterick 4817 and Shapes-Nine Lives Vest
The Butterick 4817 jacket is made using 4 pattern pieces,front back,sleeves and facings. I
wanted to try a couple of techniques I learned recently,at the sewing expo. I learned about matching large prints and adding a little extra to the front of a jacket so that it doesn't gap open with every move. I haven't hemmed it yet. This fabric is a linen blend,given to me by my friend,Ebony.

The Shapes-Nine Live Vest,is a new pattern by Louise Cutting and Linda Lee. I purchased it at the sewing expo. It consist of 4 pieces,two fronts,a back and a collar. I made it right out of the package to get an idea of how it would fit. The vest has an asymmetrical cut front. I haven't found the right buttons yet. I'd like something really different. This fabric is another piece of linen blend given to me by Ebony.I have the day off tomorrow, and I plan to spend it in my sewing room. I just recieved my Speigel and Coldwater Creek catalogs and my head is swimming with ideas.

Sewing Expo Weekend

My weekend was filled with good friends,good food and a good sewing event. I went to the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo,in Atlanta Ga. It was so much fun and educational also. I think it is a great way to get inspiration and learn the new techniques and tools to take your sewing to the next level.

It get even better when you can take in the activity with friends who enjoy sewing just as much.

I spent my time with Ebony(in the purple top),Linda(in the rust jacket) and met Carla(in the white top). Here's my haul. I purchased four pieces of fabric,four patterns from Cutting Lines, a tailoring board and a box of Steam-A-Seam.I also took two classes and won a door prize from Kathy Ruddy. It is one of her instructional booklets and it is filled with wonderful fitting alternatives and style options.
The minute we got into our hotel room,Ebony went right into cutting and sewing.

Linda and I read blogs,sewing books until wee hours. We were still rested enough to enjoy a late breakfast and head out to the expo.

As I mentioned earlier,I took two classed. The first one was Kathy Ruddy's "The Fit You Need & Style You Want". The second one was Sandy Miller's "How Many Ways Can You Make A Jacket". Both classes were good. I plan to put the things I learn into action immediately. If you have not gone to a sewing expo,you should make plans to attend one. You'll be glad you did. On a different note some wonderful blog friends have nominated me for this award.

I feel totally honored. Thank you Linda, Julia ,Knit Machine Queen, Mimi Satin and Cindy. I will pass the great honor on to 10 other sweet sisters and list the rules in my next post.

Guy Laroche Jacket-Finished !

It's finally finished and I love it!This jacket gave me a hissy fit.The under arm is cut in the strangest way. If I were to sew it the way it was designed,I would not be able to move my arms enough to drink a cup of coffee,without busting a seam. To remedy this situation,I had to learn how to make a gusset. A gusset is a diamond or triangular piece of fabric that give a garment extra space,while allowing it to hang close to the body. I use a diamond shaped insert under the arm of this jacket. I had to hit the old school sewing books,to learn about gussets. My trusted guide for this operation was "The Vogue Sewing Book"copyright 1973(Thanks Mom). The instructions allowed me to make this jacket suitable for wear. Here I am wearing with my TNT pattern,Sewing Workshop's Plaza pants.I had to make my usual FBA and I think I should have shortened the sleeves.They are at an odd area,between 3/4 length and looking too short.I figure if I wear a cute bracelet, no one will notice.

Here is a picture of the gusset under the sleeve of my jacket. I'm happy with my new jacket,now that it is finally finished and I learned a new skill. I don't think I will make it again. Besides,I just bought 4 new jacket patterns this weekend.

Claire is wearing the jacket for now. It's the first thing I see when I walk into my sewing room until I make something else. This is my last winter garment. It's all spring wear from here.

Cool Off Cardigan

Do you ever get so frustrated with a project, that you have to completely stop and find something else to do? Well that was exactly what I had to do while working on this jacket .

Nothing was going right. I was ready to throw it in the trash can. It was clearly time to walk away. So after a day of sulking,I decided to sew something else. I pulled out this OOP pattern, and some $1 fabric from Walmart and have some non-complicated sewing fun. I morphed this pattern into this cardigan jacket.After rounding off the neckline, shortening the lengthened sleeves,I cut 2 inch bias strips and did rolled edges on my serger.Then I used my ruffler foot to gather this stretchy fabric into an evenly gathered ruffle.This gave me about two yards of new embellishment,which I applied around the neck and down the front of my new cardigan.
I wore it to work today and it was very comfortable. As for the jacket that I almost threw in the trash...I have returned to it with a renewed mind. More on it in a later post.