It's only fabric. It's only fabric...

I've been busy at work with various projects, but tonight while watching the Academy Awards I traced out Jalie 2793. This is a banded tunic top with inset sleeves. I like the look, especially since this version already comes with a insert. I imagine that I'll work this pattern to death make it up several times so I'll have a TNT (Tried N True) pattern.

Now comes fabric selection. I have a large stash of fabric from a variety of sources. I'm planning on using the dark brown jersey for the band (top row, second from the right). I'm still deciding on the other fabric. Fabric sources from left to right, top row: Happy Stop, Fashionista Fabrics, Diva Friend, Diva Friend; second row, Happy Stop, Fabric store in New Orleans (Garden District I can't remember the name), Fashionista Fabrics, and Happy Stop. I didn't pull the two brown animal print fabrics, or the dark brown and turquoise dots (more abstract) from my stash bins. I like having a selection, but sometimes too much fabric makes it difficult for me to make a decision.



I hadn't realized that two fabrics have the same colors, but different patterns (one is brown paisley, the other is the brown larger scale floral): these two fabrics along with the blue pucci style have an olivey green in them. This presents some fun sewing opportunities: using the paisley as bands for the larger floral and/or finding an olivey green to use as a border for the blue piece. Or use the olivey green as the main fabric and the patterned fabric as the border. Of course, I'll have to look for the olivey green jersey. I could also look for a light brown/tan jersey and do the same thing with the other fabrics. :)

I think that I'll start with the abstract brown and beige fabric in the upper left with the brown bands. It's a pretty fabric, but it's the one I like the least. I can get paralyzed by too many options, so I just need to get a move on it.

Sigh, I broke down this weekend and participated in an online sale and bought more fabric. Way more that I needed, but I'm sure I *knew* that as I decided to purchase. Sigh.

Another Tea Cozy, another hard-won yard!

While sipping my morning tea, I was disappointed that it got cold fairly quickly. So I made another tea cozy! after selecting the fabric, it took me 2 hours. I added some appliques to the outside again. I like have the ravens disappear into the fabric, and I couldn't imagine using the owl for anything else.



I'm also including a link to show how the different pattern pieces work together. The red part is the lining, the brown is the stripe, and the yellow is the outside.




Stash usage = 1 more to the total!, 12.75 for the 2009 so far!

pic of the other side

Ten to Midnight

This wasn't on my list, but I decided to sew a tea cozy.  I made one for a friend for Christmas, so I  know how to make it.  The pattern has been cut out.  I have no qualms cutting a craft pattern because there are no fitting problems.  clothing patterns are usually traced, unless I have a second copy.  Oh! those pattern sales! :)

It took me about 3 hours to make this, including ironing the fabric that I had stored in one of those huge ziploc bags.  I wasn't certain if I was going to finish it.  But I stopped sewing at ten to midnight.  I was reaching that dangerous time:  tired, but wanting to finish before I went to sleep, the time when you can't judge if you are making a mistake that you will rip out later or if you will work!  And you then you think twice, then three times, and then you know you are tired and but you keep going, until you need to rip something out.  I think that I did okay--my mind didn't range that far.  Nothing looks like it should be ripped out, but I'll know for sure in the morning! LOL !  I had better make certain that I have unplugged my iron, though.  I know that my sewing machine is turned off.

I used Simplicity Pattern 4341, view A (the larger cozy), which uses about a yard of fabric all together and a 1/4 of insulated lining.  For whimsy, I sewed on some appliques that I purchased at an estate sale:  some flowers on one side and a ladybug on the other.  The outside fabric is so busy (some aubergine colored quilting fabric with wine labels, that the appliques kind of disappear, which I like.  It does make me wish I had some ant appliques to sew onto a cake-patterned cozy).  To close it, I used some knit drawstring (similar to that found in commercial sweatpants) from SF SCRAP and some stretchy round elastic that I had in my stash.  When I have time, I'll do a formal review:  you need three different colors (or patterns) of fabric to make the pattern look good.  Also, the lining fabric  (which should be dark, I think, because it's gonna get tea all over it), peeks out on top.  I'm going to take it into work to use on the teapot at my desk.  

I took this to work today and I was able to take a couple of pictures before left for the day.

Tea at my desk 

1 yard to add to the stash total.  I think that this would make a nice gift (quick, pretty, and it can be personalized) so I'll add the label it as a gift.  

[Edited to add]  Three hours to remove one yard of fabric from my stash!  Yikes, I need to make a dress.  Or think quality, not quantity.  Or don't worry at all.  

Off to sleep, perchance to dream....

Words Clouds Tags

[the direct link is here http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/499755/February_2009 ]

Wordle.net is starting to travel around the blogosphere, so let me and an image of this infant blog.  Maybe I'll run it on a regular basis so I can see where my interests travel.  This is my first image and I find it ironic that my first image is one of words...

No sewing tonight--it was time to do my laundry.  

Recounting January

Several people are adding end-of-month posts that summarizes what the month's accomplishments.   I think that I did okay regarding some of my 2009 goals:  I did not buy any fabric from stores or online.  I did succumb to some fabric from an estate sale and when I went to SCRAP in SF.   At SCRAP, a shopping bag of fabric was $5.  I could not resist.  I also got some rhinestone buckles (10 cents each!) and some fold over elastic.  Total cost = about $8  (the lady who works the register kind of eyeballs the stuff you  have on the counter and tells you how much you owe. 

Other goals need more work.  I did buy new sewing patterns, too.   I need to figure out how to break the pattern buying habit:  those pattern sales are my downfall.    I don't think that I could ever purchase a pattern at full price.  In the mean time, I have boxes of patterns in my living space.  Sigh.

Sewing:  I made Burda Sweater top (from November 2007), so that used about 1.75 yards.   I have made this pattern before.   Wait!  I messed up the assembly, so I had to re-cut several of the pieces- another 0.5 yard!  (2.25 yards)   I am not certain if I will hold onto this top--the fabric is a raschel/flat sweater knit that I bought from Fabrix in SF several years ago.  I think that the fiber content is synthetic--the fabric looks very shiny and cheap (as opposed to being fabric was just inexpensive).

Burda 7970--I'm trying to make this one a TNT pattern. I think that I have succeeded--I can practically make it in my sleep.   I made a black and white (jersey knit) version of Burda 7970,  as well as a purple stretch velvet version (with a white collar accent), so that is another 1.75 yards.  I also used that pattern to make a black/white/pink floral mesh blouse, which I lined with black mesh, so that mean I used 3.5 yards for this version (7 yards total!)

Over this past weekend, I made fleece socks from KwikSew 2527.  I have made these before--they are are great to wear around my apartment (I remove my shoes after entering my home).  I also wear them when I go to sleep--no cold toes!  I made two pairs from some fleece scraps I bought at Joann's in December.  I bought the fleece for some Christmas gifts before I found different material to use.  Now I can discard my earlier/wornout versions of these socks.  I used about 1 yard of fabric for the socks.

I also made a camisole top from KwikSew 3115, also made from mesh, also lined.  I skipped the shelf bra, because I'm planning on wearing it over my regular bra.  The pattern takes about  0.5 yards, doubled (because of the lining), that's 1 yard.  I was also able to use some of the foldover elastic from SCRAP.

Jeesh!  I think that is 9 10.75  yards!   When I add it up, that number looks pretty good!  When I add the previous figure, it's 13.25 15  yards sewn for 2009!

February projects on deck:  

1. I need to make certain I have flattering dance costume I can wear later this month at a performance.   This will be a folkloric costume:  I have the sparkly black and white, I have the pattern (a variant of Jalie's polo shirt pattern).  I have also done this before, so it shouldn't be so bad.  
2. I also like the idea of working a pattern to death and making it a TNT (TNT = Tried and True, I think that many sewists has adopted this terminology from Carolyn).  I think that I have done this with several patterns (e.g. KS 3115, both top and bottom views), as well as several BWOF tops.  I traced out a skirt pattern and I made a muslin (Oh! more yardage 1.75 yards), so I do have adjust it.  While digging through the pattern stash I found a copy of Burda 7947, which is a skirt that has interesting piecing . I will need to alter the pattern to fit, as I am out of the size range.
3. I'm expecting 2 pattern magazines:  the February issue of BWOF, as well as Patrones.  I received the Burda Plus issue.  I might make something from one of these issues.

Two sewing goals are enough.  That's all for now!

Galactica Night!

No sewing.  Sigh. :)

Checking in

Not much going on.  I managed to sew one more Burda 7970 top--a white cotton lycra with 3/4 sleeves (fabric purchased from Fabrics R Us in San Jose over a year ago).    So another 1 and 7/8 yards down.   Year to date total = 4.25 yards!  95.75 to go!

I'm going through my (massive) pattern collection,  for a skirt pattern.  Skirts seem to be less daunting than trousers.  Burda 8269 is a lovely pieced skirt--when I read though the pattern pattern instructions, I saw that the pattern required laying it out flat, in a single layer.  Yuck. I have the energy to trace out the pattern, and then lay it out:  10 separate pieces (2 that are facings).  Maybe I'll be able to do it this (long) weekend.