#isew – The Sewcial Sewist

Me made may – 2020 UFO’s Completed

I was busy…

I love when my sewing plans fall into place and I am able to make something or in this case, finish up some things I started. May was a busy month and I ABSOLUTELY love it. I always look forward to Me Made May every year, seems that’s when I am most productive.

Besides my me made garments I was also able to make over 500 face covers for local veteran’s, local hospitals, and family and friends that were in need.I was happy to be able to make and provide them, it was tough making them knowing that this may be the new normal for a while. I just hope and pray that will be a vaccine to help with the virus.

One thing that I did that I am so proud of, is that I went through my stack of Unfinished Outfits (UFO’s) and started finishing those off. I found some of the garments I could wear and others were just way too big, I am a good 12-15 pounds lighter than when I started some of these projects. So with that comes the good and the bad.

Simplicity 8638

So let’s start with the bad….it’s not a bad pattern, but was a bad fabric choice, wondering if that’s how it ended up in the UFO stack. The fabric as you can see is completely see through and it is really, cheaply made if that’s a word. It wouldn’t hold up for a everyday summer dress.

McCall’s 7741

This one I absolutely love, the fabric is fun, the dress is cute, but…it’s way too big. So big that I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking a photo of myself and posting it, as the whole left side of my girlie parts (boob) is completely out of the dress. I would love to take it apart and size it down to fit, but not sure if that will happen. I may take the fabric and make something else out of what I can salvage. This dress was the dress I was going to wear to my daughter’s college graduation 2 years ago. I ended up wearing a store bought dress instead.

Vogue 9112

If you know me, you know I love a good jumpsuit and this one was no different. I started making this one 2 years ago, I must have had a lot going on in 2018 to have so many UFO’s. This one fits, I did have to seam rip the bodice and shorten the elastic a bit, but other than that it works perfect. I can’t remember where I purchased this fabric from, but I definitely need some more.

Butterick 6330

This one fits also. I used a border print on this on this one. Fabric was purchased from Michael Levine’s about 3 years ago. I did make a rookie mistake on this one. I should have cut the back on the fold, to not interrupt the pattern on the back. It’s okay, I usually wear a cardigan over my dresses when working in the office, so it wouldn’t be seen and if I wear it at home, no one really cares. LOL!!!

Still in the stack…

Here are a few that are still in the stack.

Style Sew Me – Bree

I do plan on completing this one, just haven’t gotten to it. This is a great dress and the fabric I have chosen is super soft and great for the heat we are already getting here. Today it is a high of 104 degrees, that’s okay as I am currently working from home.

Simplicity 8334

This one I am going to have to work some magic on. I don’t know what I did to the area on the front of the dress for the front facing goes, but it is definitely cut the wrong way. I am going to get creative with it, I can’t just let some good camo fabric go to waste. Like a good jumpsuit, I love camo.

Simplicity 8601

This one is coming soon. I started it and the pattern didn’t line up and I took it apart, did it again and the same thing. I need to get the walking foot out and get started. I made this one and love it. I need tops in my wardrobe. I feel as though I wear the same ones all the time.

There are also a few coats, which I won’t post on this blog post, as they will not see the light of day, it’s too hot for that. Look for a blog post next week, with all the new garments and a few collaborations that I have done in May. I will also be re-taking pictures of me in the UFO garments, my lighting was horrible on the ones I took and now I have access to more lighting.

Please remember to stay safe! Happy Sewing!

Bye for now, time to go Sew Something!!!!

May 26, 2020

The Sewcial Sewist4 Comments

McCall’s 7946 Misses’ Dresses

I bought this pattern last summer for a quick summer. I typically lean towards the quick, Learn to Sew for Fun Patterns for quick outfits. Mostly when I need to get my sewing inspiration back up. It feels good to have a completed garment and it encourages me to keep sewing. This one did not disappoint.

I used some fabric in my stash that I purchased from Fabric Mart maybe 2 years ago. It was on sale and I bought about 2 yards of it. It has been sitting on my shelf that long.

I went with View A, although View D is also cute and I may end making it later. I love sleeveless or off the shoulder dresses, maybe because I like the way my arms look and I don’t feel constricted in sleeves during the summer months.

I love the sun on my skin, the warm sun makes me happy and gives me that natural glow. Love it!!!!

Pattern Description: Misses’ Dresses Learn to Sew for Fun Level 2

Pattern Sizing:4- 12 I cut a size 10

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it came out just like the pattern envelope photo.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were easy to follow .

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that is was quick, easy, and very stylish.

Fabric Used: It’s a cotton blend of something. I have had this fabric for over 2 years and couldn’t remember exactly what it was, so the best way to describe it is a cotton blend.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I only used 2 rows of elastic, instead of 3, this was a personal choice, I am top heavy and have a tummy, I was trying to avoid the stuffed sausage look.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I would sew this again, because it was easy and I love the look, but I think one dress in this pattern is good enough for me.

Conclusion: I loved the dress and how it turned out. The fit for me was perfect.

Happy Sewing!!!!

May 16, 2020May 16, 2020

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February Makes – Black History Month Designers and Fabric

It’s February, which means it’s Black History Month. In honor of Black History Month and showing support to Black owned businesses in the Sewing Industry I joined the Instagram challenge hosted by @sewnaturaldane and @onesweetsew.

My first make for February is this Lisa top from Style Sew Me Patterns. I love this top it is a quick and easy make. This is the second one I have made using this pattern and I love them both. I need to find the other make it is in a Pink Camouflage, my favorite fabric and I can’t find it.

This one is made out of a Vino Camouflage I purchased at the San Francisco Fabric Outlet. It can be found here. The Vino is no longer available online, but the same fabric can be found in brown, grey, green. purple, pink, white, and black camouflage combinations.

This is Vogue 1314, by Tracy Reece, a Black Pattern Designer for Vogue, it is now Out-of-Print (OOP). I tried sewing this dress when I started sewing 5 years ago and it did not come out as planned. I had no idea how to line a dress, do the rousing or any of that in the construction of the garment. So this year for Valentine’s Day I decided to make this again and it came out great. I have no plans for Valentine’s Day, but I love this color and the dress, so it became an honorary Valentine’s Day Dress! This fabric was purchased at Michael Levine’s in Los Angeles, about 4 years ago. Still sewing from my stash.

This fabric is from My Daily Threadz

And as much as I love this dress and the way it turned out, the bodice is too tight. I can’t move in it, the struggle was real getting out of it. LOL!!! I do know that I need to adjust the bodice moving forward when making garments out of non-stretch materials. I am so sad, because I even added pockets to the dress, who doesn’t love a dress with pockets. I am going to salvage this fabric. I don’t know how yet, but I might extend the opening down the front and have it be an open shirt dress. Not sure, but I am sure I will figure something out. This fabric is too fabulous for it to be a Mannequin dress. No ma’am.

February 22, 2020February 20, 2020

The Sewcial Sewist4 Comments

Me Made January – McCall’s 7531

For the month of January I completed 8 pieces. Here you will find 3 of the dresses completed using McCall’s 7531, one of my TNT’s and an absolute favorite dress to make. It can be styled with a printed or solid fabric and look absolutely different each time you make it. I went with prints for all of these. I love a good fun print, it’s kind of how I make my garments my OWN.

Yes you will see this dress again as part of my Spring/Summer collection, which I will start the first week in March. I plan to do some solid colors using View C.

This fabric is a knit border print that I purchased from Michael Levine a few years back. I say a few years because I can’t remember when I actually purchased it. Too much fabric shopping over the years. Did I really just admit that? Oh well!!!!

This green snakeskin like fabric was also purchased at Michael Levine, I think, if not there it was from Angels Textiles. I did a lot of fabric shopping during time I spent in Los Angeles and of course I can’t find my fabric album. I usually take photos of all the fabric from each trip in order to reference back when posting a blog in case someone wants to know where to purchase the fabric or something similar in print.

The last dress is out of this knit, but I am sure what kind of knit this one is. There is a good amount of stretch to it, but it has a silky feel to the fabric. I need to learn more about this fabric because I love how it feels against the skin and it was a nice and easy sew. I didn’t have any issues sewing this one. I have about 1.5 yards to make a tank top for the Spring.

These 2 dresses were made in the past using the same pattern. I guess you can see why I love it so much it.

I blogged about this one here.

Pattern Description: McCall’s 7531 Misses’ Knit Bodycon Dresses – Learn to Sew

Pattern Sizing: 4-14, I cut a size 12

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looks just like the pattern envelope when I completed it.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were so easy, by the time I made it to the 2nd dress, I have made this dress 5 times, I didn’t need the instructions.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? How easy the pattern is to make and the endless possibilities you have with the sleeve variations. Also depending on the fabric used, this dress can look so different each time it is created.

Fabric Used: Green Snakeskin look is an ITY Fabric, Black white tan look is a knit, Rose and white border print look is a knit, Floral print is a double knit, and the Blue white, black look is a double knit. All this fabric is fabric that was in my stash and purchased a few years back. I am sewing down my stash. The floral and blue dresses were the first made, but I hadn’t added to the Review until now. I want to say I made them both in 2018 or 2019. The other 3 looks were just made in January of 2020.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No alterations needed I made view B for all of these looks. For summer I plan to make View C

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes as you can tell this pattern is one of my Tried and True (TNT) patterns. It’s quick and easy. What girl doesn’t want a new dress that she can she made herself?

Conclusion: Great pattern and I can’t wait for Spring/Summer Sewing. I will more than likely start that collection first week in March. Happy Sewing!!!

February 19, 2020March 21, 2020

The Sewcial Sewist3 Comments

Goodbye 2019!!!

Is that right? Is it almost 2020? Yes, it is so hard to believe that I have wrapped up another year of sewing. I didn’t sew as much as I wanted to in 2019, after I had foot surgery, but now that I am healing and things are going back to normal there is nothing I won’t try. I am actually excited for the year 2020. I have so many plans to do things and I can’t wait to get started. Lingerie, swimwear, pants, bags, scarves, and athletic/lounge-wear just to name a few.

In 2018 I did the Ready to Wear Fast, no shopping for store bought clothes, and that worked out great for me. Read the post here. There were so many garments that I was able to make because of this fast and I plan on doing it again for 2020, in a Facebook Group. I am so ready to start.

I have my space all organized and TONS of fabric to start with. I do plan on going to the Garment District in Los Angeles, CA in April. I’ll see how that goes it will be my 45th birthday then and what girl doesn’t want new fabric for her birthday? My girlfriend always says how my fabric stash gives her anxiety. She is way too funny! I really do need to use this up and that is my goal plan. I have actually already started on it, buy using a few for some of the end of year garments I have made.

Drum roll please!!!!! These are the garments I was able to complete in 2019 with a few on the sewing table now. I plan on working on them in the next few weeks to complete them by December 30. I have 3 sets of PJ’s I’m working on as well. Good thing I have my Sew JO back.