Neue Mode 23150

Next up is a pattern I've had in the stash for close to 10 years, Neue Mode 23150. I'm not sure why it's taken me this long to try it but its time has finally come. It's printed multi-sized on tissue but without seam or hem allowances, so it does need to be traced. Fortunately, there are only 4 pieces so tracing went quickly.

I'm making View B, the shorter version, from black ponte knit. Yes, another black skirt. I'm double-topstitching the seams with a triple straight stitch. Black on black, so it will be subtle. I'm also going to leave open short slits in the sideseams, instead of making a CB slit per the pattern.

And that's all I have for tonight. :-)

Men at Work

In honor of the upcoming 237th Marine Corps Birthday (November 10, 2012), and because … well, he's my son,  I'm posting the video Tyler shot and edited while sailing around the Pacific the last couple of months.

(Please comment on YouTube if you can. My son is a comment 'ho too. LOL)

Modeling the Makes

I wore the new outfit to work today, and remembered to snap a pic when I got home. Unfortunately, I didn't set the scene very well and I have a lamp growing out of my head. Now that it's dark early, I had to scramble for some light in the house that didn't show clutter. Yes, I still haven't unpacked every box and I'm beginning to think I never will. I mean, when in the heck will I need to set up china and crystal?

Here's the polka-dotted dress remade into a drape neck top and the newest brown Magic Pencil.

RTW top with the Simplicity skirt. I still need to add a hook and eye above the zip, but the replacement zip is in and went in just as perfectly. Whew. Not really loving this combo, though. The top is too long and it will be a major PITA to hem so it might be going back.

Goofy twirl and jazz hands shot.

All that modeling wore me out so now I'm sitting here writing this in my PJs. lol

There's not going to be a lot of sewing this week since it's the start of my firm's 2-week United Way blitz/drive and there are a number of after-work activities planned. Tomorrow night is bowling, dinner, and drinking at Splitsville. Uh oh. Good thing I voted early. Did YOU???

Parting shot: He's been to the Philippines, Malaysia, and spent Halloween at Disney Hong Kong and is on his way back to Japan and then home sometime next month. I can't wait. He's posted on Facebook a few times along the way, but it's been a while since I've heard his voice. I miss my Marine!

Two-Piece Dress Finished

It's nice to start the weekend with a new outfit to wear when the weekend is over and it's back to work. There was no sewing last night. My sister called and that wiped out my sewing time, since we gabbed for about 2 hours. So I got up this morning and finished the Simplicity 1849 top and then spent 2 minutes sewing the matching Magic Pencil skirt. OK, a little longer than 2 minutes, but not much. ;-)

Here's the finished top, now fully hemmed.

And with the skirt, to make a 2-piece "dress." I have the feeling that these 2 pieces will get a lot of mileage, worn both together and separately. They are so *my* colors. And I do love me a print or two. Totally unplanned, but I like the way the print does NOT match across the bust but does further down where the 2 pieces meet up. Adds to the dress illusion while also breaking up the horizontal striping a little bit. The only thing better would be if the dark area hit the waist but one can't have everything in a quickie project and 2 yds of fabric.

Here's a closer view of the twist/knot area. You can see that there is a fair amount of pull/gathering going on here so why the smaller overlay was drafted to end up with virtually no stretch is beyond me. I'm glad I caught that and changed it.

Nancy K asked about the clear elastic applied to the neckline. I'll do a full photo tutorial on that soon-ish, but for now ... go back about 3 or so posts and you'll see more detail from the post on my brown dotty drape neck top. And yes, after stitching on the elastic I turn and coverstitch, as you can see below. For those without a CS machine, you can twin needle it instead. You want some stretch but also recovery, which is why I wouldn't recommend just a straight stitch to finish. On this top, I applied the clear elastic in 3 separate passes - once for each side of the vee (leaving a little tail hanging center front) and then the back neckline separately. I then attached at the shoulder seams and coverstitched in one pass, starting at the point of the vee (where those little tails come in handy to grab on to). It didn't have to be perfect at the point since the overlay covers it, but mine turned out pretty well anyway. Probably precisely because it IS covered up. Hah.

Now I'm off to run some errands, including a stop a Joann's for another black invisible zip for that black skirt above which mocks me. I'll get some me-modeled pics of the recent new makes soon.

I also almost forgot that this top is actually a "muslin," so I'll be cutting the originally planned solid knit top when I get back. Maybe I'll have TWO new outfits for next week.

Don't forget to change your clocks tonight! I think I'll be sewing for that extra hour. :-)

I (Heart) NY

I'm sitting here writing this with an eye on Rock Center with Brian Williams on the TV and I'm overcome by sadness for the victims of Sandy. I feel a kinship and loss from far away. I'm a native New Yorker, born in Queens, although it's been a long, long time since I lived in the state. My grandparents and/or great-grandparents all came through Ellis Island and stayed. All of my family are New Yorkers. I've personally been to every place being shown hit by Sandy at one time or another in my life. My maternal grandparents moved to the Jersey Shore when I was a very young girl and we used to go to Seaside Heights regularly. It now almost doesn't exist, although it always will live in my memories. The pictures on TV pang my heart and I sincerely pray for everyone affected by the storm.

It feels kind of silly to be posting my sewing progress now but since that's what I started out to do, I'll go ahead and finish.

I finished the neck edges with clear elastic and a turn under and then basted the sideseams for a try-on. Although it would have been passable, I decided the left (your right) side piece really did need to be cut with more stretch so I removed the first one, cut a new piece, and then continued on. This pic below is with the original piece. You can't really see a difference between this pic and the next with the replacement piece, but I can feel it. Less unnatural pull on that side.

Pardon the non-matching dress underneath, but that's what I wore to work and I didn't change to sew. All that's left for the top are the hems, which I'll tackle tomorrow night and then maybe sew up the skirt. 

And on Zillie, with more accurate colors.

Good night.