So Excited

I have two great reasons to be excited. Scratch that. Let me start by saying how unbelievably happy I am to be home from work. It just that ridiculous right now. I digress. Back to my two reasons. First, I'm a winner!  Barbara @Sewing on the Edge gave away a piece of fabric and I won.  I love this rayon knit.



Secondly, I'm having my measurements taken tomorrow! I can't wait. I'm glad I've learned to take pleasure in the little things.

Summer -- Brought to You By Butterick

Butterick has released the new summer patterns! This makes two great collections in a row for Butterick. This one is all about the dress. Some of these have multiple cup sizes. Sweet!

This dress, 5638, may not work on me, but I love the style.

5641 has multiple cup sizes.

5637 has multiple cup sizes too. This one is on the "sew it soon" list.

I love 5642 too. 

5655 is probably going to New Orleans with me.

5643 will see NOLA too. (I know this is wishful thinking.) Great for chilly restaurants and sweltering streets. I wish this was sized for jersey. Can't I just make it a size smaller? Of course I want the long version.

I want no part of the pockets on 5640.  I thought about this one a lot because it reminds me of KS3856. I decided I like the band around the waist in this one better.

I did see a top that piqued my interest, 5644. I think I want a shorter version.

And that's all folks!

A Break in the Action

Guess what. I'm going to have my measurements taken by a professional! The sewing instructor at Vogue Fabrics knows my plight and is willing to help me figure things out. We're trying to schedule something for next weekend.  I can't wait. I'll be showing up with this:

I've had the tape and the book for years and now I will finally have all of the correct measurements filled in on the worksheet. I think the only thing this book may not cover is Nancy's Zieman's Right Size Measurement as described in Pattern Fitting With Confidence. Please know that I will be getting that taken too.

In the meantime, this means KS3740 is on hold. Not forgotten or abandoned, just on hold. So what am I'm I doing as I anxiously await my date with the tape? Looking at skirt patterns. My wardrobe needs everything, but I figured skirts would be the easiest and quickest way for me to go.

Here's the short list:

Kwik Sew 3877 and 3819


Simplicity 2257, 2411 and 2655

  

And the winner is? I'm not sure yet. I'm leaning toward the two Kwik Sew patterns. I'm waiting for 3877 to arrive in the mail *hopefully today*. I think the other one would look best in a double knit, so I'm not sure how much wear I would get out of it before the weather turns in Chicago. 

New Look Summer 2011

The latest collection from New Look is here.  There's a new line called New Look Workroom and it's associated with Project Runway. As a marketer, this makes no sense to me. Anyhoo, even with New Look Workroom, I like only one pattern in the collection, 6047.

Shouldering the Burden

I made square shoulder adjustments to the muslin today. Y'all, some stuff is just hard without a sewing buddy. And unfortunately, Ruby and I are not twins in the shoulder and chest areas. The shoulders on the muslin are better, but now the "darts" I have above the girls are even more noticeable. Here is my list of potential suspects, listed in order of likelihood. Fitting & Pattern Alteration (2010) makes me like the people who use WebMD to incorrectly self-diagnose all types of illnesses:

• High bust position --  distance from shoulder to bust is shorter and longer from waist to bust
• dart shaping lies below the bust contour
• fabric is tight across the bust and loose below the dart
• bodice front bust dart needs to be raised to accomodate the bust contour 
• Shorter shoulder joint -- the body is shorter between the shoulder and arm hinge than average
• bodice too long between shoulder and arm hinge 
• bodice armhole drops too far below the arm hinge, hindering arm movement 
• dart shaping is below the crown of the bust
• loose folds may form at the waist, the armhole, chest and upper back need less fabric length
• Prominent bust -- measurements at bust level are longer, wider and deeper than average; the breast forms a lifted conical shape
• fabric is tight across the bust
• horizontal wrinkles form between the bust
• diagonal wrinkles radiate from the bust to the garment edges
• waistline and/or hemline rise across the center front
• bodice needs more length, width and larger dart

So, what do you think the culprit is? Please keep in mind that this pattern has no dart. I also think I could stand a 1/4" narrow shoulder adjustment. Speaking of shoulders, do you think I have forward shoulders?

I have my instructions for the next set of changes. (Seriously, if you have any type of fitting issue, I highly suggest Perfect Sew and Fit. Post a picture; they diagnose the problem and provide solutions.) Eventually, I will have to cut two more muslins. I just have to think long and hard about my next sacrificial fabric. Pouring over the swatches from the stash with a glass of wine might take the edge off. The problem is that the ITY "muslin" I bought from Hancock's value section is cute enough to be a real garment ... Rescue me Fabric.com.

I have had a busy day, including a trip to the office. I'm going to wind down now. Peace, love and soul!