One down, two to go, and maybe more.

 Well, I got my Lekala muslin done, and I don't know whether I measured wrong, or misunderstood their measurement charts, but I'm really disappointed. 

The muslin was too large in the shoulders, and girdle tight everywhere else. I may come back to it, but while my sewing room is STILL under construction, I'm doing a pallet cleanser. 

I purchased Pamela's Cap Sleeve Shell, which is a cute woven top. I did a quick muslin yesterday before work. There is a tiny bit of tweaking that needs to be done. I need to shorten the top above the bust line both front and back, and the pattern has markings for that alteration. I'll do that if I have time before work today and try on again. I'd also like to change the shoulder point slightly, and will be looking at alterations for a raglan sleeve today. The narrow shoulders saga once again. My search for cap sleeve adjustments didn't elicit any helpful information as yet. 

I think this pattern, like my TNT Pamela's Perfect Tee Shirt will become a staple in my closet and wardrobe. It fits my aesthetic quite well, fits our late Spring-Summer-Fall weather, and is easy and quick. 

I'm thinking for my "wedding" travel wardrobe, it's a bit more upscale than a tee shirt, and lends itself more to a "Grammy" vibe. Here's a picture of the line drawing pattern, not my muslin yet.

You can make either hip length or tunic length, and it comes with darted or plain fronts. Size range is limited to extra small to extra large, with High Bust measurements from X-Small at 31" to 33"  and X-Large from 43" to 45". I fit fine in the X-Large at this point. The PDF pattern does come with all sizes included, in letter or AO print files, and again, I had The Plotted Pattern print mine on the heavier paper. I am not a fan of pasting pattern sheets together, so the are my go-to if possible. If you would like more information: https://pamelaspatterns.com/products/123-cap-sleeve-shell

Wishing you a fabulous day!

And then there were sweatpants! And planning!

 Not a huge accomplishment, although a needed part of the wardrobe. I got them cut out, and then the sewing room went into husband disarray for what was supposed to be a day or so. Three weeks later, and a back injury requiring multiple visits to the chiropractor, I have been informed, he won't be back in there for another 2 weeks. AARGH! 

Before the mess started, I'd cut out a pair of sweatpants from some deep stash sweatshirt fabric. The kind with the nice, fleecey inside. I waited to get started thinking it'd be a couple of days until I could get into the sewing room. After a week, or so, I realized this is going to be anoyher of Dale's projects. Which involves a LOT of procrastination. I rearranged thing so I could get to the sewing machine and ironing board and did a little sewing in my spare time. 

He had told me recently, that I should always add pockets to my pants, so at the minimum I can carry my phone. He's attached to his, and it drives him slightly insane that I don't know where mine is half the time. I'm not one to want to be "on call" 24/7! Anyway, I went ahead and drafted a pocket, kind of a jeans style patch pocket for one side, Have to admit, I kinda like it. Place for dog poop bags at the minimum.👼

I used my heavily modified Burda 6613 pattern, and just added 2 1/2" at the top for a casing. The elastic is two scraps of 2 1/4" non-roll sewn together. As I mentioned, fabric is some nice, heavy sweatshirting fabric from deep stash. 

Moving forward, and I have semi-decided, maybe 80% that I want to use Lekala #2214 for the dress for the wedding. 

I really like the lines of the dress, and I had a similar style many years ago, that I felt made me look taller and more statuesque, which is great when you're only  5' 2" tall. It calls for chiffon sleeves and tie, but it will probably have short self-fabric sleeves and no tie. We'll see.

I bought the dress pattern which comes with both letter size and AO size patterns. Immediately sent the AO off to The Plotted Pattern for full size printing. I got the printed pattern Saturday, and yesterday after finishing the sweats, started getting it ready to make my muslin. I have to work in small increments, and with the sewing room torn up, I'm dancing around a lot of stuff to get things completed. I want to retrace the pattern, and will be adding seam allowances so I can do French seams throughout. 

If IRL this doesn't look like it does in my head, I have two other patterns I may be muslining to see what looks best. The other two are:

Butterick 6660

or Amazing Fit Simplicity 2174

I found this beautiful Viscose in an Instagram post by guthrie-ghani.co.uk and think it will be perfect. I fell in love with it immediately and even though it's in the UK, had to have it. It's wending it's way across the Atlantic and most of the US. Should be here sometime this week.

So I need to get moving. Hopefully, everyone's day is sew fabulous!

January Catch-up

 Despite big plans, January turned out a little light on sewing. 

As of January 5, I'm working for TurboTax. Love the company and the product. I had a very intense 2 weeks of training, which left me ga-ga at the end of the day, and went live as a full service tax expert January 23. I am doing general reviews and help, as well as actually preparing tax returns virtually. The taxes were no problem, although we have all 50 states which is new, but there is a lot of other software in use, most of which was new to me, and not basic programs. I'll still be learning the ins and outs of those probably throughout the year.

Because I'm working virtually, my top half needs to be professional, but downstairs is either jeans or sweatpants. I have pulled out my collared shirts, and thankfully, our dress code requirements are more relaxed than the prior company. Nice tee shirts are okay. 

I cut out a brown tee and somehow, (insert head scratch,) got the center front about 2" larger than it should have been. Got very frustrated, and set it aside for a while, while I was mulling a fix in the back of my head. Finally the light bulb lit. I pinned out the excess, and made an inside pleat at the front neck. Hooray! It worked perfectly, and the balance of the tee got finished on a Saturday when I wasn't working. It's a lovely cotton jersey purchased from Vogue Fabrics in September of 2021. As usual, it's my much altered Pamela's Perfect Tee shirt pattern. Added some flare at the front, from bust dart to hem, and about 1/2" at the side backs, armholes to hem. We had a good Christmas with lots of sweets! 

It fits well, the fabric is really nice to wear, and is in rotation already. 

It has been really cold and damp, and although the central heat runs, I'm having some adverse reactions to the weather, and my arthritis is acting up.

I have cut out a new pair of sweatpants because I realized all of mine are getting pretty old and threadbare, and one had developed a hole in the back seam due to the fabric being just worn out. 

Unfortunately, we're getting a new honeycomb blind in the sewing room, which takes a great deal of effort to install in a 1935 adobe building. Because of a lack of levels being used in construction, and old adobe exterior walls without interior drywall except for closets and such, Dale has had to add wood trim, and special bracing to install the interior mount blinds. There are currently ladders, partially completed wood trim and part of an added shelf above the window. I have been informed there is also some drywall repair that will be done at the same time to the window alcove. It should be done today, as it's my husband's afternoon off. Then a couple of pair of sweatpants, and off to more fun sewing.

I have a granddaughter getting married in June in the Los Angeles area, and there is mental planning going on for a travel wardrobe as well as a dress for the wedding. I'll share more as things come to fruitition. 

Happy sewing! More later,