a swimsuit for me

I was planning to make myself a few swimsuits this year, so when Heather released the new Bombshell Swimsuit pattern I was ready.

 (It was also love at first sight!) I made view A, the blue one, this time. I'm pretty sure my next one will be view B in white with gold dots.  I love this pattern! If you make this, follow the directions exactly. If you read all the way through the instructions first, you will understand. If not, you might be scratching your head, but trust her. She won't steer you wrong.

Here is mine!

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.

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.

How I saved my pattern...

So remember in my last post how I told you I had cut my Renfrew pattern too small?  Well that pattern seems to be sold out everywhere right now, and I really, really want to try again for the right size.  So I dug through my trash (ewww, right?) and found all the pieces I had cut with the larger sizes.  They were wadded up inside the extra fabric bits, so it really wasn't all that gross to go through the trash.  I headed to the store and bought some fusible interfacing (the non-woven kind).  I fused the pattern pieces to the interfacing (like Tasia did) and then very carefully set the cut off sizes on the interfacing and fused them in place.  So now I have my full size pattern pieces!  Well, all except for the neck band for view B (the V-neck).  The pieces were so little and I don't think they made it into the same trash can.  No idea where they went.  I think I can fudge that piece though.  Now I just have to find some fabric so I can try again...

Gray Renfrew

I finished my Renfrew top.  I am very sad.  I made it too small!  I think a stretchier knit would have been better with the size I cut.  The worst part is that I cut my pattern to that size.  Guess now I have to buy another one!  I should have started out with a bigger size- going down to the smaller would have been a whole lot easier.  I can still review the pattern, as the top is great other than my sizing error.  I am actually taking it in a little and giving it to a friend.  So it isn't a total waste.

The pattern is pretty straightforward.  The pictures are great- I didn't have any questions as to what was going on in them.  The instructions are pretty basic, not a lot of steps.  This was a quick sew!  I was running errands all morning and sewing in between.  I started around 9am and finished by 12:30pm.  So I'd say it took me 2 hours max to sew.  I cut it out last night, but even the cutting didn't take long.  Now that I've made this I think it will take even less time on the next one.

I used a gray ponte roma from JoAnns.  I made mine with the neckline from view B and the sleeve length from view C. I didn't use a zigzag stitch around the neckline.  Instead, I used a double needle with a straight stitch.  I just like the look better.  Everything else was done as per instructed.  I used a stretch (double) stitch for the seams and then finished them with the serger.  This pattern does not require a serger, though.  I can't wait to make another one in the correct size!  I also look forward to making the other views.  It is a great pattern, perfect for anyone who is new to sewing knits.  It is also a great basic pattern to have in my stash.

I will try to add a picture in a bit.

Renfrew arrived!

My Renfrew pattern arrived in the mail, probably a few days ago but I finally checked the mail today.  Oops.  My grey double knit is washing now.  I read through the pattern instructions and it looks easy enough.  I am thinking the v-neck with 3/4 length sleeve.  I am excited!  The weather is supposed to drop down to the low 60s by the end of the week and I have no warm clothes!  I know 60s in November may sound warm to some, but it is quite a drop from the 80s we've been having.

wardrobe planning?

I have been trying to formulate a plan for what I would like to sew/what I need in my wardrobe for my year of RTW fasting.  I set up a board on Pinterest where I can pin inspiration and patterns. You can find it here.

I would like to make some pencil skirts.  I think a double knit would be great for that.  Maybe a stretch woven fabric as well.  I am thinking of trying Pamela's Magic Pencil Skirt pattern.

Last night I bought some double knit at JoAnns for Sewaholic's Renfrew pattern.  I found a nicer double knit there in a charcoal gray color, pictured above.  They only had a few colors in the good double knit.  I bought a black and off-white print fabric for a button down blouse (also pictured above) while I was there that I plan to use with McCalls 6035.  I also grabbed a few yards of denim to try out a jeans pattern.  I have Vogue 1034 for the jeans.  We'll see if I like that one.

So, I have 3 projects ready to be started, and many more in mind.  I'm leaning toward wearing more skirts and dresses every day, but we'll see how cold that makes me this winter!

Challenge of the Year

Sarah, over at Goodbye Valentino, went a year without buying Ready To Wear (RTW) clothes, opting for making her own clothing.  Now that her year is complete, she is continuing on and inviting others to join in the fun.  So for the next 365 days (actually starting yesterday) I will not buy any RTW clothes.   My goal is to master making jeans, as well as casual yet stylish clothing.  So follow along over the next year to see what I can add to my wardrobe!