Self Stitched September!

I've been participating in Self Stitched September, but I have not been contributing pictures. We are 8 days into the month and I figure that this is worth a report. I've been wearing one of the several iterations of the Hotpatterns Marrakesh pants. It's still warm enough to wear the linen versions that I made earlier this summer, with one of the many knit tops (commonly the Hotpatterns Sunshine top).

I've also been working on the Jalie 2909 pattern. Right now I've decided to make a version out of denim for casual Fridays. Even though I have the Jalie Jeans pattern, I decided that I didn't want to take the time to trace out and fit the pattern, so I'm making it from Jalie 2909 (the very simple trousers pattern). I dug into my stash (literally, they were on the bottom shelf) and I pulled out some denim I purchased from an online coop. The denim is purported to be a factory overrun from 7 for all Mankind jeans. I prewashed it a while ago, and have had it tucked away until I had a great jeans pattern that fit me in a wonderful way. Well, I decided not to wait for a jeans pattern, but use a trousers pattern. I'm glad that I didn't wait.

I think that I have learned my lesson about cheap fabric---when I made my first pair of pants (about 2 years ago), I used cheap denim from a chain fabric store. Even though I've worn these jeans many times and I have laundered them roughly (no delicate wash for me!) , they are stiff and they have a waxy finish. When I folded away and stored the 7 for all Mankind denim (over a year ago), I didn't notice any difference from other denim but gracious, last night when I cut it out with my rotary cutter, it was like slicing butter. The quality of the fabric really comes through. I'm having a very easy time cutting, and sewing the fabric. It's got a lovely hand and I'm enjoying sewing this garment (when I sewed with the cheaper denim, I was almost fighting the fabric). I almost wish that I had purchased more of this lovely denim, but when I look at the volume of my stash, I'm glad that I didn't. But if I see premium denim for sale again, I will think twice! I should be able to finish the jeans tomorrow night during Project Runway--all I have to do is finish add the waistband and hem them.

There was some sad news earlier this week. Fred Bloebaum from La Fred passed away from pancreatic cancer. I'm glad that I have some of her patterns (her designs and from her personal collection). I know that I will enjoy sewing with them, and per her advice, I will always wear my favorite colors.

Catching up

I have been remiss in updating my blog. If you have been following my blog, thank you for your patience! It's been well over a month since I've made an entry. I've been busy though. Since my last post, I've:

• rehearsed and performed with a troupe at a dance festival (which also included creating and finishing my costume),
• helped a co-worker go fabric shopping with his visiting sisters,
• started working with a new manager at work (this a good thing),
• attended a work related conference,
• had a honeybee swarm invade my patio (if this happens to you, call a beekeeper and they can take care of it),
• had a U-pipe develop crack in my bathroom (thank goodness for two things: 1) I have a responsive landlady and 2) the damaged pipe drains water so I wasn't dealing with water pouring into my bathroom).

After I discovered the cracked U-pipe, I spent half the night re-arranging the sewing materials so that there would be room for the plumbers get around (my apartment looks like a ill-kempt fabric warehouse). But onward to sewing related things.

I've acquired more fabric under very sad circumstances. Last weekend, La Fred had a liquidation sale. Fred Bloembaum, the owner and creator was not there--she is very ill and her friends were running the sale. It was really two sales: one part were the sample clothes that Fred had made to demonstrate the patterns that she designs (it was advertised in Craigslist as Art to Wear). The other part of the sale was the dispersal of her sewing collection: her sewing books, patterns from her personal collection (e.g. Vogue, Butterick, etc), and her fabric and notions. I got to the sale in the late afternoon and by then the items were being discounted. I bought fabric (in great colors--coral and tangerine), sewing books, notions (needles, rotary blades, and petersham), patterns (mostly vogues and neue modes). It was very interesting to see her clothing merchandise and her sewing collection together in one room: it was a unique (if incomplete) view of the creative cycle. Fred is very artistic and creative in combining colors and textures--hopefully I can learn from her through her materials. In some ways, I'm very conservative when selecting/combining fabrics-- I was able to purchase some books that illustrate the different things: I'm enjoying reading "Modern Fashion in Detail" by Claire Wilcox and Valerie Mendes, which contains super close-up pictures of the clothing at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It's a great book to browse through. I'm still trying to find a place for my acquisitions.

I spent some time talking with Fred's friends. I did meet Fred at the Artistry in Fashion event, but I had not taken a workshop with her. Her friend and neighbor Mary told me that Fred is reading the messages sent to her at the CarePages (look for the group named FredFans) and she is touched and nicely overwhelmed by messages left by all people remember her from her workshops.

I have been sewing. I got tired of wearing the same clothing and I made 3 t-shirts from tried and true patterns: Simplicity 4076 and Burda 7970. I did use two fabrics from my LA trip, but they were not fabrics shown in previous post. One of the fabric was a remnant of a black and grey border print knit, the other is a orange/yellow/blue tie-dye mesh that a friend bought for me because I kept flirting bargaining with the store owner and his dad and she wanted to get out of there. I used a border knit print for the third shirt from my stash (purchased from Fabrix in SF). I also made some tea-cozies as gifts for my friends.

My next project is the Hot Patterns Marrakesh pants. I traced out the pattern over the weekend , read through a number of pattern reviews, and I actually cut out the fabric in muslin. I didn't compare the tracing to my previous pants draft, and I altered the tracing and made another muslin. Oh well, muslins are for learning--and I did figure out how the different pieces are assembled so it was a good time investment. I have altered my tracing for my curvy booty (lengthening the crotch after consulting Pants for Real People), pin fit the tracing paper. I feel comfortable that my next step is to cut out the pattern in real fashion fabric--one of the many pieces of inexpensive pieces of yardage that I have in my apartment. It this one works, then I'll use the good stuff.

No Sewing on Saturday or Sunday

Yesterday I got together with several Bay Area sewers (members of BABES from "Bay Area Bash Expressly for Sewists") at Cañada college's Artistry in Fashion event. It was a frightfully hot day, and I arrived sometime after 10:00. I was only able to stay for a short time, but I saw the independent fashion designer fashion show, featuring La Fred, Decades of Style and Loes Hinse. Each designer was able to show 10 different outfits and discuss their design principles, inspirations, etc. Afterwards, Lisa, Irene and I went sales room where the designers were selling their patterns (way beyond the the art to wear sales tables--lots of yummy stuff there) and tried on different garments made up from the outfits. That was really fun-it was great to see if a garment works on different body types, etc. I ended up buying 4 patterns, more that I expected, but I think that I'll enjoy them. From La Fred, I purchased the Daphne Pant and the Maia Jacket. And from Decades of Style, I purchased the 1931 Lily Jacket pattern (# 3006) and the 1950's Diamond Dress (#5002).

I forgot to allow time to look at the student displays. They had a re-cycle/re-use competition--I'm sure the results were great. I did wander through the art to wear tables--there was a lot of cool stuff, but a lot of it was very arty, not what I would like to wear to work. As I was leaving, I did come across another room with sales tables. I will have to allow more time next year.

After this event, I went to two cultural club meeting and then a barbecue. I didn't get home until close 10:30. I'm exhausted. I was happy to see the new Burda World of Fashion (October 2009) issue in my mailbox, as well as the two missing Netflix DVDs. I had given up on ever seeing those discs and had reported them missed last week. Well, back into the mail they go. The new BWOF has some great patterns. I'll also try to finish the olive green pants--I just have the waistband and the hems. More later. I'm recovering today and tonight is Mad Men.