Hello Mojo

The mojo was back with a vengeance today, and all I can say is it's about time!

First up was clearing the mending and UFO's off the sewing table, and by clearing I mean actually doing the work. Two pairs of DS's shorts needed pocket repair. One on the front inside pocket bag. The other, to re-attach a back cargo pocket which had come unsewn down one side. (Sometimes I think I would like to be a fly on the wall at school to see exactly WHAT he does to his clothes.) Last was to *finally* hem the CJ wrap top I almost finished weeks ago.

With a clear conscience and clear table, I was free to sew the Jalie 2806 I had cut out last night. Get out your sunglasses, this print is not dull. ;-)



I bought this fabric on a whim a few months ago with a bunch of other prints. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not, especially with all that black in it and me not wearing black. The next worry was where all the circular designs would land. I had only bought 1.5 yds so there wasn't much wiggle room and I had to just lay down the pattern, cut, and hope for the best.

I'm quite pleased with this top and the fabric now that it's done, except I think I need a pair of white capris to wear with it. The motifs are not smack on the boobs or the butt. Whew! The fabric is one of the "good" polys — great drape and feels comfortable even during the 90+ degree days we're now stuck with for the next 6 months.

This is the view of this pattern with the foldover neckline gathers. It's my 3rd time making it (4th if you count my PJ top/muslin) and it won't be the last.



Pardon Zillie's rear end. The photographer (me!) didn't notice the fabric was hung up until the card was out of the camera and into the card reader. Oops.



The mojo was still in high gear after finishing that top, so I thought I'd get out my TNT Ottobre gathered neckline pattern and make that again. Except as I was starting to put away the Jalie, it occurred to me that the Jalie was also a gathered neckline tee and, well, what the heck, let's try it.



This fabric is much more Florida-friendly cotton/Lycra jersey. Very nice stuff from The Fabric Fairy.

This top is a keeper too, but I still prefer the Ottobre tee. The Jalie is much more gathered and looser all the way down the front. But since I've made at least 10 Ottobres, a little change isn't a bad thing, especially since I know I'll be making many more of the Ottobres for years to come. On this top, I bound the neckline and the sleeve hems with a brown knit from the stash.



Before the mojo starting begging for mercy, I got out my new J Stern jeans pattern and pressed the tissue so it's ready to cut and muslin in the morning. If it works for me and I can find some white denim, it will be the white capris I now want for the bright top above.



This last shot is just to show that I have actually hemmed this top. I think it hung on Zillie for a month with threads dangling. For some reason, I just could never make myself sew the hems until today. Weird, because I have been wanting to wear it and the coverstitch machine was already set up with the correct brown threads and needle positions. Mojo is odd that way and there's just no fighting the direction it takes.



So now I have three new tops to pick from tomorrow for my exciting outing to the grocery store.