My Jalie Patterns Came Today

The two newest Jalie patterns I ordered came from PR today. I really like them both and think there might be some fabric in my stash to try them out. One of my DDILs wears about the same size pattern as me so if it doesn't look good on me, she can wear it. They are both in style and young enough looking that she will like them. She has a lovely figure and I have a grandmotherly one but in some things, like knits, we can use the same pattern. One is that new scarf collar top and one is a cardi with little pin tuck looking pleats down the front. Very cute. I also have some other fabric to make some cardi or vest tops out of woven fabric....some pretty georgette and some loose weave zig zaggy woven that has a Missoni look to it. One of the things I do not understand is why you have to have 4 way stretch to make my new patterns. If they stretch going around, why do you need stretch up and down? Obviously, there is something I am missing??

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful day at DS#2 house. DS#1 called 4 times from Switzerland but nobody heard DS#2 cell phone ringing so we did not get to talk to him. By the time we discovered it, it was about 1 in the morning where he is so we didn't try to call back. Here are the girls in their new shirts and baby Sam in his Santa suit, held by his Daddy. Great dinner and fun under the tree. Now tomorrow, I need to start cleaning up around here so I can start in again. I still have 2 projects to finish. Then, it's time to start sewing for me again. Yay!

It's Christmas Eve (long and chatty)

It's Christmas Eve and I am about ready to turn in. In the morning I need to get up early, toilette self, make a salad, clean kitchen, load car and take off for DS#2 house. This year I did not get all my sewing done and for some reason, I am fairly exhausted. It is a good thing I do not have to do Christmas this year. I offered and thank heavens nobody took me up on it.

Jalie 2804 has been retired! At least for a few months. I finished DDIL shirt and hope it fits. I love the print. It is a Pucci looking print RPL from Lucy's with a flat finish and really nice hand. It came out of the dryer feeling so soft. I ordered 2 more Jalie patterns and can hardly wait to try them. I still have at least two more things to sew that I did not get done for Christmas and then, I am going to start making myself a new wardrobe.

Yay! 30 pounds gone this year. I started last February and took it slow. Unfortunately, most of my old wardrobe still does not fit. I weigh the same as when I bought the clothes...but alas...things have dropped and bulged. Very sad.....Many new fitting problems now. But, on the bright side, I have Matilda. Yippee Skippee!! Somebody from SG is going to help me fit the cover. I am so excited and can hardly wait to get started. In January, I am taking a pants fitting class over at Josephines. I have already taken one class from the instructor and really like her. That's important when you are going to be parading around in your undies, don't you think? ;-)

The fabric I am using for my pants is a wool/rayon twill with a smidge of silk (5%) in it. It was advertised as chartreuse but when it came, it looked "mustard" to me. I would never buy that color if I saw it first but it is growing on me and the fabric is really nice. Very soft but weighty enough for pants. I hope I can find something nice to line them with...I may have to go for a silk print because I don't think there is much of a chance of matching the color.

Oh, I get to see my little KK and little Sam tomorrow. It is Sam's first Christmas. I made him this little bib to wear tomorrow. KK will be wearing her Christmas dress too. I put her old Christmas bib in with my packages. She thinks she is far too old to wear a bib but maybe she would if it was only for 15 or 20 minutes. I don't want to insult her but don't want food on her taffeta Christmas dress either??? I just put my camera in my purse so I won't forget it in the morning.

Usually I am not anxious to turn another year. I have no wish for my life to pass any faster. But, I will not be sorry to see the end of 2009 and I have heard so many other people express the same thought lately. Maybe it is the economy? The war? Maybe it is the constant bombardment of bad news on the radio and television? It could be because so many people, like me, got notified that their credit card interest rate has just almost doubled in addition to home foreclosures and lost jobs? Who knows? But, I hope 2010 is better.

I have several goals for 2010 but prefer, at this point, to keep them to myself until my ideas are worked out more clearly.

I hope everybody has a very Merry Christmas and that 2010 is healthy and happy. ;-)

New Jalie for DD...This One Fits

This fabric is prettier in person than in the photo. The red is actually a deep, blue red. DD picked out this fabric when I sent her some links. I can't remember if I bought it at Gorgeous Fabrics or Fabric.com.

I know this fits because I basted and tried it on her before I sewed it up. It ruined the surprise but it's better than making another one that doesn't fit. I had some black PL stretch in my stash but it was so stretchy that I am a little worried that the wrap in the front is going to ride up in the center.

One more of these to finish for Christmas. Then I will be glad to switch to something more interesting. It's just that the girls like this pattern.

My Little Christmas Cherubs

The little cousins....How cute is that???

KK Christmas dress WIP

Here is the beading, both as WIP and finished. With no pattern and no way to mark on the taffeta, I think it turned out pretty well. I hope the beads don't fall off. The lining will go over the stitching on the back so if threads break, I won't be able to get into the back to fix it. I had my fingers crossed for the entire process. It only has to survive through a photo session and Christmas day.

DDIL and KK's dress

DS sent this photo of Pam this morning. Cute! Glad the Jalie shirt is not going to waste.

Have worked a little on KK dress today. Can't get the neckline corners the way I want...nice and flat. I have to get them right before I can put the beads on. At the tearing hair out stage so I put it away for the night. It is clipped all the way to the corners.

Beading on the Fly

I thought maybe a little snowflake would look nice on the little scalloped neckline. These simple little ideas don't always work out so simply for me? Especially when I'm in a hurry. I remember my SIL picking up beads with her needle from little dishes on the table beside her chair. She was so fast and did such beautiful beading. I wish I had paid more attention when I had the chance.

KK dress...I don't know what I'm doing?

This is the pattern I am using for KK dress, view A. I am making it out of taffeta. We are going to have an overskirt which will tie on. She doesn't like scratchy fabric so I decided to do it that way. I also bought some silver bugle beads to put some little doo dads around the neckline. Honestly, I hope this project is not a disaster. I basically don't know how to handle this fabric at all. I can't decide whether to use a rolled hem on the overskirt or to just hem with a ¼" hem. Also, I have no clue what to do with the beads or how wide to make the ties or the waistband...a learning experience on a deadline. My favorite! Yeah...

Shirt Update/Classes/Catching Up

Welllll....... The shirt was too small in the shoulders and too short through the bodice for DD. That is because she is so thin that in order to get something to fit around, it can be too short. Without being able to try things on, it did not fit. It DID fit DDIL#2 though, so at least somebody will get good use out of it. DD liked the fabric but I don't have enough to cut her another shirt exactly like it. But, maybe that is a good thing as she and DDIL#2 would probably rather not show up wearing the same shirt. I will cut DD one out of the contrast print and her contrast will be the plain color.

I signed up for 2 classes at Josephine's today. It has been 30 years since I put in an invisible zipper so I signed up for a zipper class. The other class is a pants fitting class in January of 2010. I am thinking by then I should be ready to fit pants...assuming my plans work out. I hope they have another jacket class in the near future. One of the SG women took that class and made a really pretty LH bolero jacket. It has been 30 years since I made/tailored a lined jacket too! I do not remember anything about "sleeve heads." Huh?

I went to the Quilt Expo over in Portland last month and saw some beautiful quilts. I still do not want to do quilting but I can appreciate what other people can do. This horse one, named Vision of Horses, by June Jaeger was my favorite. It was gorgeous. It received a Judges Choice award and well deserved, I thought.

Adele P. Margolis passed away at the age of 100 yesterday. Carolyn had a nice tribute on her blog (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) which prompted me to buy 2 of her books, including her tailoring book. I think I had that in my original sewing room?

I finally did 2 sensor buttonholes on my Janome 6600 today. This was after I realized that DS had moved my thread guide and that's why it wasn't working correctly. Oh, Geez...

DD Birthday shirt...Retro fabric from the 70's

Yippee Skippee! I finally finished Jalie 2804 shirt for DD birthday in spite of machine problems. (A different post) Yikes! This fabric is really awful to sew on. It is single knit poly and slippery. I bought it from an estate sale and am almost sure it is from the 70's. Actually, it is a pretty color and the stripe that coordinates with it is cute. DD saw this fabric in my stash and liked it. I hope it fits her. If she were any thinner, she would disappear. I cut 4 sizes smaller than for DDIL. So, this is a bit of a test shirt and that is why I didn't want to use good fabric until I know it fits her. I have other Jalie patterns and fabric to use for DD but haven't been able to fit her lately. I keep going down a size but she is smaller than Small...as in too small. This is size "S" I was afraid if I made it any smaller, it would be too short and the seam connecting the lower bodice to the top would hit her across her bust instead of under bust. But, she is not available to try things on and this is supposed to be a present anyway. We shall see. We are celebrating her BD on Sunday so I will have her try it on.

Small project for Myself

I just finished this hoody jacket to replace the one that was stolen out of my car. I should have straightened it on my shoulders before the picture was taken. I still have more weight to lose before I start sewing for myself but this didn't take any fitting. Matilda, my new dress form is waiting to be fit too.

Knitting Tote for Lunch Buddy

I made a needle wrap for my Lunch Buddy to carry her knitting needles in for Valentine's Day. Her birthday is next week so I made her a knitting tote bag to carry her needles and yarn. She loves poodles. She will be 9 years old.

Introducing........

Samuel Joseph, born July 1, 2009.

I am so happy and proud of my new grandson.

A Good Start...

I have not had a sewing room for years. Finally, I have a good start in my new apartment. No decor yet. Also my computer is still out in the living room. It will be moved into the sewing room soon and I plan to hang a small TV on the wall so I can play sewing DVD's etc. My coverhem is stashed in the sewing cabinet and my embroidery machine is in the closet. This room is small but even after the computer is in here, I think I will be able to extend the table for cutting. I don't think I will be able to have the table extended and the ironing board up at the same time. Still, so much better than my old apartment. Yay!

A Little Change in Plans

I haven't been tracing many patterns lately. I moved! It seemed like the right time. Anyway, it certainly interrupted my sewing plans. But, even though I am not completely settled in, I did manage to prepare the bassinet for the new grandson coming in July. I am very excited and happy about it.

The bassinet just needed a new liner and new ribbons. When DGD was born 4 years ago, I completely refurbished it. I slept in this.

These roses are from my back yard. Aren't they beautiful?

Tracing Patterns, Again..........Ugh!!

I spent the afternoon tracing patterns for tops for DDIL. Tomorrow I will spend the day making maternity patterns out of them. I don't remember all this work just to get a pattern to test? I hope this will be a happy experiment?

DD Needs Window Treatments

DD and I need to shop for fabric for her windows. We went through my Singer "Window Treatments" book and she decided she liked the "Mock Cornice" with valence skirt look. I agreed with her choice. I did make some drapes many years ago and was not happy with the results. We went to the fabric store and she really liked several prints that were in the quilting department. She liked the idea of using fusible fleece on the mock cornice. She wants a stripe on the cornice and coordinating print on the skirt. In the living room area, we are just going to use the cornice idea and skip the skirt. I am keeping my fingers crossed as I have never done anything like this before.

Does this make me look more productive?

No More Vintage Patterns for Me...

I just finished tracing this vintage Vogue jacket pattern from 1954. It was so fragile I had to carry it loosely folded on a cookie sheet. This was after carefully pressing each piece and taping torn places and pieces together that had been cut. Next time, I will get a modern pattern and adapt it, using the design features of the vintage pattern.