McCalls 7000

Hahaha I can't help it.  I love this.  McCalls has released a "Winter Princess" pattern as a special release at the end of May...  I guess some pattern drafters have been burning the midnight oil for a while now, and now that it's ready, McCalls just can't wait.  I'm sure there will be some happy little girls this summer.

McCalls 6949 and McCalls 6918

I've been in a bit of a funk since forgetting to enter my SWAP pieces.  I started a dress with a vintage pattern, but it was not attractive, so I just ripped out the zipper and let it go (into the trash) last night. It was an older tweed fabric that was left over from a skirt I made years ago.  Hubs found it humorous I didn't want to part with the $3 zipper, though. :-)

Last night, I still wanted to sew, and not on the little quilted table runner thing that's half finished on my ironing board. I wanted to sew something for me, so I found a bunch of blue jersey up in my stash and paired it with McCalls 6713.  I cut it out and sewed up the bodice and so far so good!

As for Me Made May, I've been doing... ok.  I had two funerals to sing for this week, and I have three, yes, three black dresses I've made for such occasions, but one never fit quite right, and the other two are, um, a bit too snug.  It's seriously time to just get rid of all the things in my closet that are a skosh too tight.  Let 'em go, Jenny.  Other than those days, I've been doing well, but have failed at my photo taking this week.

Today, I want to share some cuties I made for one of my nieces, just because.  Meanwhile I need to make a birthday present for another niece, and I'm thinking I'll use these same patterns (minus the sweater since it's almost summer).

The sweater and top are from McCalls 6949.  I doubled the number of ruffles on the top, and I really prefer this look.  The sweater came together really easily and I think it's so cute.  It's so big, though, that I'm sure it will fit her next winter.  The skort, McCalls 6918, was also easy to make and looks really cute.  All in all, this made for a comfy outfit, all in knits, and I hope she likes it.  If not, I may try to squeeze into it!

Simplicity 2245

Oh I can be such a doofus!  I've been sewing for months for the Sewing With a Plan contest (SWAP) at Stitcher's Guild, and I finished on time... but I totally spaced out and missed the deadline to get photos in yesterday.  So frustrated with myself.  Oh well, at least I have some great new things.

ANYWAY, moving on.  I have to catch up on showing my me-made photos, but trust I have still been participating.  For now, I'll show something brand new, finished up just yesterday - Simplicity 2245, which is apparently so out-of-print that it isn't on the Simplicity website anymore.

Now, I have mixed feelings about this.  I fear that it won't be very popular.  It has a distinct whiff of muumuu.  However, the fabric is so pretty, and it fits well, and the pockets are just so handy for toting around my iPod that I am in love.

The height of fashion?  No.  Not even with the cute little star buttons which probably push it into twee-town.

But goodness help me, I just like it.  Is it super "becky-home ec-y"?  Do I care?  I tried it with a couple different pairs of leggings, but I like it best with some white shorts just peeking out the bottom.  Hubs thinks it is super retro... like 1950s housewife housedress.  Not his least favorite thing I've made but not his most favorite either.

Do the pockets make it look like a nurse's smock?  I can't decide.  Again, though, I can't be bothered to get too worked up about it either way.  Maybe if I'd made the yoke and cuffs from the same fabric as the body, it would look more conventional?  I don't know.  Practicality wins me over either way.  I just am in love with these big pockets.

I know using a quilting cotton for a garment is the ultimate faux pas for some seamstresses, but I just can't get worked up about it.  I know this is not the latest thing from a catwalk, but I just don't care.  The fabric makes me happy.  I just hope I'm not a walking billboard for "why not to sew your own clothes."  :-)

Oh, the fabric is by Moda.

Me Made May 5, 6, and 7

Hello!  Look at me, keeping up with my Me Made May pledge for a whole week!

Monday, (day 5), I wore this tee shirt dress with a belt and this cardi in the morning.  No photo, sorry.

Yesterday, (day 6), I wore a new twist front top.  This is a great success, but I feel I don't have much to blog about it.  I had one almost the exact same color from Banana Republic.  LOVED it!  Wore it until it was a pilled, stretched-out mess.  Just a couple weeks ago, I cut it apart along the seams and used the pieces as pattern pieces on this rayon jersey.  I wasn't sure how it would come out, but it's a perfect copy!  I have saved the old pieces, also, so I can make it in more colors if I want.

The pants are a recent purchase (bad Jenny - I'm still on my year-long clothes shopping fast until June) with my mom for $10.  As much as I try to convince her and my husband and friends that wide-leg, patterned jersey pants are a trend, they just don't believe me.  Oh well, joke's on them since I basically get to wear jammies around all day in the name of trendiness.  Unfortunately, they did shrink in the dryer and I wish they were 2 inches longer now.

Today, I kind of feel like I'm cheating, but I'm still adhering to my pledge to wear one handmade item each day.  Today, it's my earrings. :-)

Have a great Wednesday, everyone!  I have some little girl sewing to show off soon.  I can't keep from making those cute little outfits for my nieces.  Perfect use for leftovers from my own projects.

Vogue 1382 and Me Made May 4

I employed the services of my 7-year-old photographer today.  I think he did pretty well.  :-)

Yesterday was rainy... all... day... long.  Of course, this filled me with glee since it meant a day of sewing!  I had a new dress for church today to show for it.

Vogue 1382 was very straightforward to make out of some crisp linen from JoAnn's.  I've had the blue in my stash for years, and I picked up the white recently when I decided to make this dress.  I think I quite like the combo.

 I like the easy shift shape.  It's a nice change of pace from my usual body-conscious silhouette.  I blended a size 10 in the bust and waist to a 12 in the hips and the fit is perfect - skims over the hips with a little extra room in the middle.  The pockets are a nice detail on this simple dress.

 Crazy photographer making me laugh...

 Of course, I had to show off the invisible zipper insertion across the colors. Not too shabby.

Me Made May 2-3

So far, so good for Me Made May.  :-)  

Friday, I wore this blouse with some purchased shorts.  Very comfy.

Today was a rainy one, and truth be told, it took my a while to get up the energy to get dressed. I did have the energy to make a new dress for church tomorrow, though!  In the end, Hubs and I went out for a dinner alone, so when I did get dressed, I brought along this shawl.  I just spent a crazy long time looking for a blog post about in the archives, but I can't find one.  I guess I never blogged about it!

Me Made May 1

So it begins... always with enthusiasm.  :-)  Me Made May begins today.  Are you participating?  Zoe has a giveaway to kick it off.

Here is my first offering, my funky Vogue 1259 tee with a purchased skirt.  A bit squinty in the photo, but what am I to do?  It IS the sunshine state!