Vogue 1224

As promised, here is last night's disaster, which looks a little bit better in the light of day than it did in the mirror last night.

 Maybe if I got rid of the giant bow...

I'm just not feeling this at all.  Such a disappointment after my fabric excitement.  The pattern is Vogue 1224, which I don't blame for my failure here.  I know others have had great success with this pattern.  I think I just don't like the gathered neckline and big sleeves.  It's just not me, especially when paired with the cute print. 

If there was any doubt in my  mind that this will not be worn, it was laid to rest when I showed Hubs. 
me: "This may be the ugliest thing I've ever made."
him: "Well, it's NOT... pretty..."

He just calls 'em as he sees 'em.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this.  The frontrunner right now is cut strips and make a breezey scarf.  Any suggestions?

Big Mess

This pattern

plus this fabric

equals the ugliest thing I have ever made.  :-(  Pictures to follow tomorrow just because it's so comical.

Vogue 8379

I'll be honest, I was doubting whether I'd ever finish this!  This is my Vogue 8379, made from Sawyer Brook's carboncino sweater knit.  Oh, and with the addition of hours of decorative hand stitching.

It was a windy day on Sunday, but I managed to get some acceptable photos.  My sweet pup wanted to play!

 I lengthened the bodice pieces about 2 inches.  I made no other changes.  I wore this to church without a cami and had no trouble with gaping.  Perfect!

 Here you can actually see that edge stitching.

Simplicity 2365

Here is my completed Simplicity 2365, first mentioned here.  I wore this yesterday for my big guy's 5th birthday party - see the Spiderman banner and bounce house cord in the background.

 Hubs says it looks like a maternity shirt but assures me I do not look pregnant. :-)

 The fabric is cotton voile from Gorgeous Fabrics several years ago.

 I took these hanger photos after wearing the top all day - hence the wrinkles.

 Buttons for the sleeve tabs are from JoAnns.

 I made a narrow machine hem on the machine - very easy.

This top wasn't too difficult. The trickiest part was trying to make all the tucks at the front even.  I used an eraseable marker to mark the folds.  I used silk organze to interface the collar and sleeve tabs.  I didn't interface the sleeve cuffs to keep a really relaxed roll.

I'm very happy with how this came out - light and airy and perfect for the coming summer.

Off the Fabric Wagon

Yep, I fell off the wagon with my self-imposed NO MORE FABRIC rule (except emergencies, of course!).  I had successfully been avoiding unsepeakable temptations every time I opened my email box, and then I went to JoAnn's today for some buttons.  I came home with these cotton lawn cuties.

for a loose, flowy top for fast-approaching summer

for a loose, flowy dress for same summer

probably a good thing I didn't see this at my store, or it would be with me as well, destined to become the cutest (most likely age-inappropriate) skirt ever.


I do now have three (yes, three) completed pojects to show off as soon as I get in a photo shoot - this, this, and a knitted sweater rescued from the UFO pile!

Simplicity 2365 started

I haven't given up on this hand-stitching dress but I needed a little break and cut out a top.

The patter is Simplicity 2365, view B, and the fabric is cotton voile from Gorgeous Fabrics several years ago.  A continuation of my quest to sew down the stash.  This fabric is a classic purchase of the "gorgeous-but-I-have-no-plan" variety.  It is beautiful and floaty and slightly sheer but I feer it will wrinkle like the bejesus.  We'll see.  So far, so good.

Oh, I think I'm going to modify the neckline, too.  I've learned that I just don't really like shirt collars, even the banded collar variety. They flap around and drive me nuts. I think I'll give it a subtle V-neck above the slit and leave off the collar.

Hand-Stitching Madenss

Why is this taking me so long?

1.  Those ties are long - that's quite a bit of extra stitching.
2.  Picking out my red guide stitches is taking forever! 
3.  I have about a one-hour limit before I go nuts and move over to knitting, which I can do while watching TV.  I really have to watch what I'm doing with the running stitch.

Just the hem to go, and I'll be finished!