Very Quick Sunday Update

I managed to do only a few things on my ambitious list, but the cammi purse was one of them and it's now done and boxed up ready to ship. Whew!

I also went to see Act of Valor with Alex and one of his friends last night. It was a good movie, but not quite as good as I was hoping for. Hard to explain, but there *was* a lot of hype to live up to. Still, mega kudos to the actual SEALs both in the movie (uncredited to protect their identities) and not. Special Forces do so many things that we never know about, but we would surely know and feel it if they weren't there.

Semi-related, someone (Meredith?) asked where Tyler will be deploying. Sometime around June after pre-D leave and then pre-D training, he'll be on a ship, not boots on the ground, so that's safer and makes me happy. But I won't say on the blog exactly where they're headed because military families are not supposed to give out troop movement details and I will, of course, honor that. But his final destination besides floating around on the ocean should be an interesting and fun adventure for him and I will certainly share more details when he gets back.

I didn't do any of the alterations I have lined up, but they'll keep a while longer. Why do we stitchers HATE doing alterations so much? lol Instead, I went through my pattern pile and picked out some I want on the short list. Unfortunately, it was still about 20 patterns and there's no way I will make them all anytime soon. But a girl can dream.

I did decide what's next and tomorrow night I will press the pattern pieces (hi Carolyn!) and do some preliminary tissue fitting to decide on a size to cut. All the reviews say the pattern runs really big so some sort of muslin/tissue will definitely be in order.

The pattern, you ask?

Photo "borrowed" from http://allisoncsewinggallery.blogspot.com/2009/01/hot-patterns-no-sweat-easy-sew.html

I want to make the cape version on the left, but without the neck tie, and I also want to make the skirt. I haven't picked out fabrics yet, but I'm hopeful the stash will cough up something suitable. And not a hairball. ;-)

Pictureless Planning Post

Today, I MUST finish sewing a cammi bag and key fob. They have been hanging over my head, gobbling up my sewing mojo. What's sad is that the bag is already cut out and it's one of my easier patterns so it really won't take that long. It's just procrastination rearing its ugly head. After that, I think I'm going to suspend the cammi bag sales because I will soon have too much to do to take on additional projects.

If I clear that off the sewing table table … no … WHEN I clear that, I'm going to tackle some alterations on a couple of me-made dresses that I'm not ready to give up on and which I'll want to wear soon because our temps are definitely getting into the 80s now. The alterations will not be hard — just sewing straight up the sideseams into the sleeves. They just need to be done. If those go well, and fast, maybe I'll be inspired to fix up some of the projects on my ironing board, none of which is too difficult, just not exciting.

After that, I need to put some casual tops on my radar. I'm running seriously low on things to wear AFTER work and I have lots of nice knit prints so I do want to make them, not buy them.

Plus, there's shopping for wedding undergarments, house hunting, laundry, going to a movie, grocery shopping, thinking about packing, and more to do. Last weekend was a bust, but I really needed to do a lot of nothing after working so hard and so long, so it's OK. But this weekend, I need to get stuff done.

What's on your weekend schedule?

Distracted (Again)

So there I was, plugging away on sewing back together all the little squares I cut apart for the placements, when an idea popped into my head. Maybe piecing isn't so mindless after all?

What was the idea? I'm glad you asked. Does this pic give you a hint?

Now imagine it in official USMC camouflage fabric, with embroidered name tapes. Yep, I'm making a Marine Mom purse. A little hokey, yes, but kind of fun too.

I spent way too much time yesterday looking at downloadable purse patterns on Etsy before I decided I should just try my hand at my own pattern, save the purchase money, and end up with exactly what I wanted. I worked up a pattern after dinner and what you're seeing in the pic is my first muslin. I need to enlarge the bag a little so the pockets will fit better on a sharper angle. Real USMC cammie blouse pockets are set on that same angle. Why? I don't know. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I found some official fabric and I'm going to ask my son's recruiter next week if I can borrow one of his cammie blouses for a few days so I can measure things and note details. He doesn't wear cammies in his recruiter job, and I think he owes me for taking my son away, don't you? ;-)

After I make the pattern adjustments and another muslin, I'll return to the placemats either this afternoon or tomorrow. For now, they've been shifted to the ironing board awaiting their turn. Poor little squares.

In MPB Men's Shirt Sew-Along news, and I think the final chapter in this saga, here is Michael in his new shirt. You can read more details on his blog, here. He's happy. I'm happy. Life is good. And aren't these great photos? (Thanks Peter!)

Rethinking

OK, so the mostly-finished jeans are out due to a fabric deficiency. I haven't tried any washing additives, but I might, so I haven't tossed them yet. But this wrench in my plans got me to re-evaluate what I already have and think about a new direction.

I still want jeans, but I'm not desperate so I'll put those on the back burner for the moment. I always have the Turkey Pants if needed and it will be Thanksgiving after all. ;-)

I've decided these green doubleknit HP Marrakesh pants are definitely going on the trip. They fit well, look nice, and are comfortable. The ginger colored Riviera jacket you can see peeking at the edges might be going on the trip too. Depends on what I actually get made from my new plan and what goes with what when I'm done.



I still have enough of the green doubleknit left to make a simple jacket or vest, so I'm going to do that. These pants will also go with the red floral print I've picked for the denim jacket (which is still on my list, just a little further down at the moment).

My main goal right now is to be able to look nicer than jeans and a tee shirt but still pack sensibly and, as much as possible, to avoid garments that need ironing. We'll be packed pretty tight in the car once we get my son's gear loaded in. So, I'm going to try to stick to mostly knits, without looking like I'm wearing sweat pants. ;-) I'll probably plan on repeat outfits since we'll have access to my mom's laundry room and that will allow me to pack/make less.

I also have these brown doubleknit pants made from one of my TNT pants patterns. They're cool weather favorites so I think they'll be going too, but I need to add some length to them because right now, they aren't hemmed and are just raw-edged. That's OK for around home, but not for a trip. I still have some of this fabric too, so I'll probably just face the hems or add a band. I should have done this already, but was just too complacent.



The jacket is good to go, but I think I'd rather have something a little nicer/newer (this jacket saw a LOT of wear last year — I'm tired of it) and so I may also make a jacket or cardigan out of the leftovers.

What I do need is some long-sleeved tops. It shouldn't be that cold in SC at the end of November, but it will definitely be long-sleeve weather for me and I don't have many in the closet. I'll pull out TNT patterns and knit prints for those tops.

Easy jacket patterns I'm thinking about, which hopefully will not require much in the way of alterations:

Vogue 8546



McCall's 5981

What's Up Next?

What's up next for the sewing room? Good question. I've got at least 10 new patterns twirling around in my brain right now, a couple of UFOs, and my eyes on some TNTs — like another HP Sunshine top.

I cut/sewed a muslin for these HP Marrakesh drawstring pants. They will need adjustment. I bought them on a whim. It's that darn Trudy on YouTube, I tell you! She sucks me right in every time. I will have another look at them but I may end up just morphing them with a similar TNT pattern. I do like some of the details on the HP, like the pockets — which is notable since I don't usually like sideseam pockets. These should be a quick project and I need long pants since lower temps will come here one of these days months. Like as soon as high school football season ends and I don't have to sit in the bleachers and sweat. Yeah, that's how it works around here. There are prices to be paid for 362 sunny days a year. ;-)



Moving along and speaking of long pants. These JStern jeans languish on my treadle table. I may not dust and vacuum as often as I could/should but I hate clutter and usually avoid it by putting things away, right away. Every time I see this pattern pretty much strewn over the treadle table, it irritates me. These have a high chance of moving to the top of the list just so I can clear out that corner. I've already fitted the pattern and just need to make a better fabric choice the next time. The unfinished too-tight first-run capris will hang until I drop 20 lbs. Which could be a while. (See comment re sitting in bleachers, and it looks like the team is going to make the playoffs) ;-)



And the new pretties. They arrived yesterday and have been calling my name ever since, with lies promises of how they'll fit right out of the envelope, make me look 20 lbs slimmer, pay off my mortgage, end world hunger, and so on.

The HP Tie-Me-Down top may actually not be completely lying to me, judging on others' reviews of it on PR. This one is near the top of the list, but not *at* the top of it yet. But its day is coming soon, I know it. (I don't think it will end world hunger though.)



This HP Riviera Cardigan/Jacket is fighting with the pants to be next up. Well, not fighting with the pants but with my OCD sense of *needing* to finish up UFOs before starting something new. I *want* to make this one next, but my urge to clear out the clutter will probably win and push this one to right-after-the-pants status. So, instead of sewing it right away, I ordered some fabric this morning for it. That will keep me from starting on it this weekend. Maybe.



And then there's the Coldwater Creek catalogs that keep appearing in my mailbox, taunting me with their classic, comfortable, rich-looking pieces. Like this, which they call a Poet Shirt. I really *need* a white blouse, especially one that's as easy to wear as this tunic-y style. I already have the perfect fabric for it too.



I bought this during a recent Club BMV sale. (Am I really saving money with Club BMV? Hahahahaha!) The sleeves will need some changing and I'll have to add gathers and reshape the placket, but all quite do-able. I don't need an outright clone, just the essence will be fine.



The next CWC temptation. Gorgeous, no?



And this is the pattern that "fell" into my cart for it. You can't really see too clearly with the print and the small drawing, but it has pintucks down the front like the CWC inspiration. I probably won't use this actual pattern for anything more than to copy the pintuck ease onto a TNT and maybe the sleeve, but who knows — it could be one of those magical patterns that will fit perfectly right out of the envelope. Oh, sorry. I must've dozed off. ;-)



And still in the CWC mood, I'm sure everyone is familiar with all of their great denim-type jackets in those great fabrics they very rarely share with us in the sewing world. (I swear, if there was a CWC *fabric* catalog, I'd be bankrupt! Coldwater Creek - ARE YOU LISTENING?)

For jackets, there's this new-to-me pattern:



And this one:



But what I really should do is pull out this one, since it's already altered with lining pieces made, and now a TNT:



And I wore the HECK out of it last fall/winter, and can't wait until it's cool enough to pull it out again. (Note to self: Check Joann's Home Dec dept next time I'm in for thread.)



Now moving on from CWC and toward the Lemming inspiration. There's been a sew-a-long for these type cardi patterns on PR and I seem to be moving, trance-like, toward the edge of the cliff.





They look quick and easy and comfortable. Perfect for Florida "winter." I don't think I'll make the really long and drapey version of either, but I will probably give one of them a go.

And finally, Christmas is coming. (Bah humbug. Oh, did I say that out loud?) I haven't made my sister any new scrubs in a long time. My mother is retiring this week and moving to a new house and new state (about 12 hours closer to me, but still a long-a$$ drive) and a homemade housewarming/holiday gift is on the list too. I did order fabric for both projects, which arrived a couple of days ago. I want to try a new scrubs pattern for my sister. For mom, I ordered a quick pieced/quilt-as-you-go tablerunner pattern. I read through the pattern and it really seems like it will quick. (Famous last words.) Both of those will need to be squeezed into the next month.

Whew! That's a lot of stuff. I wonder how much I'll actually get done. Stay tuned. Whatever comes out of the sewing room will end up here. And, of course, all of this is subject to change. ;-)

Hopefully Soon To Be Sewing

Things are starting to calm down around here and I can start to think about what's next on the sewing horizon.

Our guests left Monday evening, new pooch Dani is settling in quite nicely, and DS#2's last day of school is tomorrow. I just finished putting the final touches on our real world job stuff and now there's only a couple of things I need to finish up before I can lose myself for a few days in the sewing room.

Tonight, I'll curl up on the bed with patterns and magazines and try to whittle the want-to-make list into 2 or 3 priorities. However, I really need some simple tees since mine get worn a lot here in Florida and last year's makes are starting to look like last year's makes. ;-) I'll probably pull out a TNT pattern or two for those. I also need new underwear, but the thought of that project isn't thrilling me this week so I'll put that off for a little while longer. And finally, there's a pair of DH's pants to be hemmed and also finishing the armholes and rehemming my graduation dress. I don't like things hanging over my head, so to speak, so I'll probably start with those just to have a clean slate.

Thank you everyone for the supportive comments about our new family member. I'm a sucker for furry beasts and I'd probably have 10 times as many if it were financially and otherwise feasible. But it's still rewarding to be able to save one at a time when we can. It's amazing how quickly a pet becomes a family member and you can't imagine a day without them. It's also amazing how LOUD two dogs running around the house for a game of canine tag can be. Pepper is doing her best to stay off the racetrack. ;-) But she obviously isn't minding too much.

Decisions, Decisions

I was paging through some of my pattern magazines today to see what was catching my eye. Pardon the burriness and overall poor quality but I was taking these pics as the magazines, notepad, pen, and I were sprawled across my bed. With two nosy dogs sniffing to see what was going on.

First is #128 from the 03/2007 issue of Burda WOF. It's a pretty dress with some nice details. Look at the back seaming — very interesting.



And #130 from the same issue. Nothing striking here except they look like a fast sew for some more summer capris but with a little more detailing.


This one is from Diana Mode, Nr.22/#17F (or however they number them). I like the use of trim and the basic shaping, even though the pinheaded model is swimming in this plus sized top and thereby doing everything possible to hide what could be a nice tee. This would also be an easy way to try out one of the Diana patterns without too much of a time investment.


The line drawing looks entirely boxy but the pattern pieces do have some shape.


This is a Patrones "Grande" jeans pattern from the 11/2006 issue.


Look at those pattern pieces. This may be just the thing my full thighs and caboose need. I'm going to try this in muslin if nothing else, just to see what I learn.


This skirt will be getting made soon — View D as on the adult model and in the upper left, the paneled skirt with the flounce. I like that this pattern is for knits. I think I'll get a slimmer fit since it won't need so much gathering at the top in order to make it past the hips. I can see this being a *very* comfortable skirt, almost like yoga pants but in a skirt. ;-)


Next, there's the latest issue of Ottobre Woman. I'm definitely trying one or two of the tees, the 10-gore skirt, and the drawstring bottom capris (without side cargo pockets though). I'd also like to try the flared curvy skirt but I may be tired of skirts by the time I get to it.


And finally, this 06/2005 #111 Burda WOF pattern that I've already made twice. I want to make it at least once more with short sleeves (longer than the cap sleeves shown) because it is one of my favorite tops both for comfort and flattering-on-me style. I just need to pick the fabric wisely for this since it may not look as nice on me in a less drapey knit. (Or, who knows, maybe it would.)


So, what to make next? Probably nothing until next week. Tonight my now 18-year old son is having a co-birthday bonfire party here with his girlfriend (hers was this past Monday) and 30+ guests. And tomorrow I really need to be doing some paperwork.

But if you had a vote, for which would it be? I'm thinking the Diana Mode tee because it will be fast. Of course, it's all subject to change on a whim since I haven't included my on-deck non-magazine patterns in the mix.