Off the Clock

Yes I know, it's been almost a month. Since my last post I turned in my last paper and wrote my last final exam for my degree, I had to prep my wardrobe for a vacation to Cuba, and I had Steve's German Shepherd "Thor" move back in with me. All on top of working full-time six and seven days a week. Life has been hectic to say the least!  dress after alterations I was shopping at Costco last month with my lovely daughter when I ran across this beautiful red sheath dress. It is beautifully made (in Italy as opposed to a third world country) with proper facings and serged seam edges. At $20, how could I go wrong? I "ummmed" and "awwwed" over whether to get the medium or the large. Since my usual adjustment is to add an inch to the length at the waist, I decided to play it safe and go for the large, with the theory that I could always take it in if needed. Turns out I swam in it! I was going to exchange it for the medium but the bust darts fell...

The weather is finally(!) starting to break and so I've started on my sunwear sewing, beginning with Vogue 8390 .  I went with the halter version to wear with this green and fuchsia below-knee skirt that I bought in England a few years ago.   As there are already lots of reviews about this pattern on Pattern Review  I will limit my comments to the changes I made. Like many others I decided to leave out the full facings on the front - especially as I was using a ponte knit, I thought four thicknesses of fabric for a summer top would be like wearing a coat. I noticed that many used a stretch band to finish the neckline.  Instead I folded over the seam allowanced and topstitched with a double needle.  I recommend using a walking foot for this part so as not to stretch out the fabric while sewing.  The IDT system on my Pfaff worked this beautifully.  I used the same method to turn the hems; fold under the seam allowances and topstitch with a double nee...

Well Phoebe has finished her first project. This is New Look 6098 . From past experience with New Look patterns I made it one size smaller than what my measurements called for and it is just right size-wise.  I'm still not sold on the kimono sleeves but they are so easy to sew and are very comfortable so they are growing on me.  I love the length of this top - I find it figure-flattering.  And I have shoes to match - who knew! I had a heck of a time with the hem - it took three times to get it right.  First I serged the edge and then tried to sew a 1 1/2" hem with a double needle.  There is too much flare in the skirt for that deep of a hem and all I did was make a huge mess that had to be picked out.  So next try I folded the serged edge under and did a 3/4" double fold hem, again with the double needle.  This was too much bulk and therefore too stiff for the very soft drapey (is that a word?  Spellcheck says no) knit fabric.  I contem...

Yay! Technically she was here two days ago but I haven't had a chance to take some pics until now. So far I have been test driving her with a thin knit fabric I am using to make New Look 6098 . This fabric is a pain in the butt to work with because it is a bit slippery but Phoebe is handling it like a pro. As I'm still learning to sew with knits I'm at the low end of the learning curve and had to quit last night when things weren't going so well with the bottom hem. I did the sleeve hems by serging the edges and then using a double needle to turn a 5/8" hem. There were no skipped stitches like I had when Betty did this hem and the stitching was nice and even. Then when I went to do the bottom hem I wasn't really thinking it through. There is an 1 1/2" hem and I tried doing it the same way as the sleeves. This is too deep of a hem to absorb all the curve because the top is quite flared and I just made a big mess that had to be picked out. I'll get back ...

The countdown is on - Phebe's should be here in the next week or two. Had another call from my dealer the other day just to touch base. Ivana at the Sewing Superstore in London has been such a pleasure to deal with. So to pass some time I found another Pfaff video...

While I'm still im patiently waiting for Phoebe to get here, Lynn Rowe from Pattern Review found a link for the new Pfaff . There is a youtube video for it as well. So now, for your viewing pleasure, may I present the Pfaff Ambition 2.0!

When Jeff is not here Mallory tends to sleep on his side of the bed. Then there is always a problem of cat fur all over his pillow and sheets. Holly prefers the foot of the bed so is not so much of a problem. So in an effort to keep harmony in the house I decided Mallory needs a cat bed to sleep in on the bed. I have a store-bought bed that she lays in next to me on the couch which is the one on the right. The problem is the hole in the middle is too small for her and she ends up half in and half out. So of course I decided to make one. I used the safari fabric I used to make Sergio's cover for the base and I had scraps of animal print fleece to use for the top and sides. I sandwiched a layer of quilt batting between the base and top and stuffed the sides with craft batting/stuffing. First I basted the quilt sandwich together and then I basted one edge of the sides to it. In hindsight I could have done that in one step rather than two but I was making this up as I went. I th...