Still Fighting

I re-traced the top I'm working on.  I'm struggling with the sway back adjustment. The great news is I have a sewing angel who is providing great tips as I muddle my way through this.  She prodded me to me to check my measurements because perhaps I needed more length in the CF.  I've taken enough measurements to adjust the top.  I decided that I may as well keep going, so I'll knock out my hips and crotch curve next. Pray for me.

The Battle Continues

The quest for clothes that fit continues!  I'm tackling my first sway back alteration in a top.  Rather than doing the wedge and tapering to the side seam, I decided to try this method.  If you use this one, you don't have to worry about straightening the hem and fixing the grain line. 

I'm working on my second Kwik Sew 3740 muslin.  The first one I put aside when I realized I'd cut the collar and the top of the bodice too large. I decided to make things easy and simple and just start over; I'd already done an FBA and I didn't want to get confused.

This is definitely an iterative process.  No pics until I get the pattern adjusted properly. I started with taking out 7/8".  For this next round, I think I used the right waistline marking on the pattern and I've taken out 1 1/2".  I can't wait to get into my cowl neck ponteroma knit top!

On a separate note, I thought I'd be getting my new sewing machine this weekend.  Looks like I'll be putting that off for another month.  I decided to stop working on Kwik Sew 3221 until I have more technology to help me with the slippery sheer I am using. Also, I was a little disappointed after I tried it on. I thought it would look great with this top; I didn't like the way it looked over the long sleeves. 

It was completely God's grace that got the design centered! I gave that absolutely no thought when laying out the pattern.  I've realized that not only did I have problems sewing the fabric, but I butchered it while cutting too.  If you see this value fabric at Hancock, please give me a shout! I need two yards.

Organizing

I can't do anything that requires a lot of skill when I come home from work; my capacity to concentrate is shot.  Since I couldn't sew tonight (okay morning now), I reorganized and catalogued my fabric stash. Organizing the fabric was no big deal. I kept things in bins by garment. I just reordered the fabric according to sewing priority.

The cataloging was the meaningful part. I've been worried about how I was going to keep track of the fabric care info after a garment was finished. Enter spiral-bound index cards!  When I first saw these, I thought they were so cool.  I'm such a nerd.  Hey, it's been about 20 years since I used an index card. I was impressed by the improvement.

Each side of the cards should have a swatch and some key info.  When adding swatches, make sure you alternate them so that the book won't lopsided.  My first swatch was a pretty 2x2 square. It was cut from scrap fabric.  I was a little stingy when cutting swatches from my real fabric.

I used Deepika's handy form as a guide to know what info needed to be on the card.  I also wrote down any patterns I was considering for the fabric, if the fabric was pre-washed and any notions I needed to complete a particular project. I also noted if the fabric was a favorite.  Things like fiber content I wrote in ink. If I needed thread, I wrote that in pencil.

To make things easier while shopping, I flagged swatches that needed notions with those Post-It tabs.

I love this because the 3x5 cards fit perfectly into my purse.  (And this book helps me work that obsessive thing out.) Here it is with my stash all nicely, and sort of neatly catalogued.

This works for me because my stash has fewer than 100 pieces. If your collection is bigger, you'll need a binder for your cards or you can make multiple books. A great tip on Pattern Review suggested using a CD case. I can't seem to find the link to that post again.

Enjoi.

Butterick Spring 2010

The new Butterick patterns are here!  Right on time for part of  last night's discussion because there are many that include at least a size 24. 

The first two are from Butterick's new The Cut Line -- top to dress options.

Love these dresses.

I'm really excited about the next two.  They give me more options for my intended Easter ensemble.

Rounding out my picks are another dress and tunic.

After seeing so many patterns that I liked, I started to wonder if Butterick could be my favorite brand, based on the number of patterns I owned.  So, the nerd in me kicked in and I made a pie chart of the patterns I owned. If you keep track of your patterns at Pattern Review, you can get the numbers easily.  There is a rounding error in the chart below; I have one pattern each from Jalie, Hot Patterns and Amy Butler.

Which brand do you love the most? First think about it and then do the math. Are the answers the same?  What does it say about your personal style?

Read This!!!

Gertie interviewed Carolyn about sewing for a plus-sized woman.  As you know, I'm new to the sewing community, so I found this very enlightening.  BTW, if you're not folloing both blogs, you're missing out. Enjoi.

Thoughts on Plus Size Sewing from a Fellow Blogger

New Arrivals

I have some new additions to the stash!

First is what may be Easter 2010.  It is a plaid from Hancock Fabrics.  I've had it for a few months (gotta love the value fabrics and a coupon).  I want to make a long jacket with it, but I'm about 3/8 yd short.  The satin is for a sheath dress to complete the outfit.  Got that from Vogue Fabric Store on Friday for $2.99/yd.  I really wanted a crepe for the dress, but when I found the crepe back satin at Vogue, it was $11/yd. (I'm sorry. The economy and my skill level do not warrant me paying more than $6.00/yd for fabric.) I was worried about such a formal fabric for Sunday service, but my mind was put at ease when I noticed someone wearing a beautiful boucle with crystals in it last Sunday.

Here's what I fought with UPS over on Friday. It's from Fabric.com. I apologize for the picture quality; I don't know why I struggle with photographing red (must be the AKA in me.) A red and a chocolate sateen and an emerald silk/rayon blend -- all from the $1.95 section.  I like the sateen so much that I ordered the last of the fuchsia yesterday.  It's the last of it.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I get it.  Grabbed some denim too.

Here are my plans for the sateen: