Gray Renfrew - Take 2!

I finally got around to that second try on my gray ponte Renfrew.  This time I went for the cowl neck and long sleeves.  This is the first long sleeve shirt I've owned in at least 5 years.  I have been freezing, so it is just perfect!  Okay, the shirt itself isn't perfect, but at least it is warm.
After the first try, in the exact same fabric, turned out too small I just couldn't give up on it.  This time it is too big in the shoulders.  It seems I just can't win.  I think the problem is that the ponte just doesn't have enough stretch.  The first one would fit just fine if it were made in, say, a jersey knit.

I absolutely love the cowl neck.  I will refrain from filling my closet with the exact same shirt in every color, and make this with the various necklines.  This is a great basic pattern.  I think I have planned to make 5 Renfrew shirts this coming year.  (I had 4 shirts in my wardrobe before this one was made, all of which have holes in them.  I am sadly lacking in clothing.)  I figure I can make it with different sleeve lengths as well.

Don't mind the spot created by the flash!

This pattern is definitely a keeper!

And here is a better picture of me wearing it- because I don't always look so bad.

Premo Primavera Blog Award

 This award is all about the last 9 commenters on this blog.  This award is supposed to be a Thank You for showing support and encouragement through comments.  It gives more exposure to all of us in blogland.

So Sew Easy got me laughing with her recent cycling pattern post, because who doesn't cycle in a dress?

as I sew it just made a fun cowboy boots Christmas runner!  Of course, I love the dress she recently made.

Snazzy Sew 'n' Sew made a gorgeous couture dress and great polka dot blouse.

Faye's Sewing Adventure - what an inspiration her blog is!  She just celebrated a birthday, too.

Spotty Dog Social Club gave me this award.  She made the most hilarious set of mittens for her brother and his wife.  I love the fun prints she has been using for her new clothes.

Kadiddlehopper churns out clothing like nobody's business.  She's the one who inspired me to finally get the Renfrew pattern.

SewFit's lastest little number is a fun paisley top.

Sheilaz CTK is always whipping up something new.  I love all of the skirts she has been up to making lately.

SEW20SOMETHING just made a great blue skirt with a little special touch.

Jeans

My current sewing project is a pair of jeans, using Vogue 1034.  I cut out a muslin and sewed it up.  The size isn't too bad, but there are definitely some fitting issues.  The back crotch is way short.  Although maybe the real problem is that the front crotch is all wrong and pulls the back out of place.  I feel like the seam where the two join is way too far forward.  Alas, I cannot find anything on the subject of where this seam should fall.  The front waistband is super high up, while the back is super low.  I also need to make an adjustment for my upper thigh.  This adjustment (if done as the pattern instructs) may help with the back crotch issue.  Not sure though.  I've pulled out my Fitting & Pattern Alteration book and will see what I can find in there.

finally finished- the saga of 2 love seats

So about 2 years ago I agreed to recover a pair of love seats for someone I know.  I thought it would be easy. Boy, was I ever wrong!  These things were ancient.  They had been recovered last in the 70's (I'm guessing based on the fabric used).  I doubt that was the first time they were recovered.  I got the first one in the set and started to strip it down.  I think that is, by far, the worst part of recovering/reupholstering anything!  I eventually enlisted my husband's help. My hand were hurting and scratched and cut. Of course, as I'm taking this thing apart I am realizing that it is not made like any of the newer furniture I've worked with (not that I've worked on a lot of furniture).  It is more labor intensive.  The back piece was stapled across the straighter part of the top and hand sewn around the curved upper edges and sides.  I don't see hand sewing on modern furniture! Needless to say, I learned a whole lot working on the love seat.  Want to see what it looked like?

The fabric is a little dirty and faded, but in its day it was a glorious gem! (Oh, seventies, what were you thinking?)  By the way, the cushions are not foam.  No, they are springs wrapped in horse hair and dacron/batting stuff.  I've never seen that before!  They are heavy compared to most cushions.  They definitely hold their shape over the years, though.  This is a quality piece!

Once I got the first one half way finished, I realized that the wood trim looked pretty bad and should be refinished.  So I sent them back to their owners.  Wow, what a difference the new stain color made.  All those dings and dents in the wood were gone, and the cherry finish really went well with the red fabric we were using.  It took me a year, but I finished the first love seat.  Want to see what it looks like now?

Okay, so this is actually the second love seat.  I forgot to take a picture of the first one before it went home.  It only took me another year to finish the second one.  The cushions just need to be sat on a few times to fit perfectly.  Those springs were enjoying being let loose while I used the old cover as a pattern to make new ones.  The nap on this fabric makes for a rich velvet look with wonderful texture.  I am so pleased with how they turned out, even though I wanted to run and hide many times in the process!  I've learned so much and have a wonderful sense of accomplishment now.  I didn't think I would at a few points in the process.  I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out how best to get the fabric straight on the sides (outside sides).  It was tricky, and I finally figured it out- on the second one!  I am so glad that both love seats are home and appreciated by their owners.

I am also glad to have my living room back!

 It went from this:

To this:

Okay, so the laundry is still on the couch, but the rest is back to normal.