The new house

We've been busy.  I haven't had much time to make anything new in months, since we've been busy getting our house on the market and buying a new one.

Here are photos of the new digs:

New Look 6843

This skirt was practically free!  I got the fabric in a bundle from Fabric Mart Fabrics.  Score!

Vogue 8138

I made two versions of this, in a maxi length.  I like them and I may just make another in black.

McCall 6078

Easy to make, very flattering.  I think I need a bunch more.

Vogue 1027

Here is my interpretation of the timeless Donna Karan design.  I wore this for my graduation on Saturday, and again today to work.  Now that I'm good with making this design, I owe one to my sister in Illinois.

Butterick 5333

I've been sewing like a madwoman, getting ready for my trip to Asia this week.  I'm making several versions of Butterick 5333 because it is lightweight and easy to put together in an evening.  Both these versions were made with Vera Wang fabrics which found their way to on line retailers beginning last fall.  This blue jacket is a $2/yard brocade from Fabric.com.  The red one is a stretch denim from Fabricmartfabrics.com.

Simon and Cha Cha at the park

She is wearing a red and white jumper I made her.  She loves the swings!

St Pat's Day

Charlotte on St. Patrick's Day.  I didn't make this outfit, but she is cute in it!

I think I just fell out of love

Um, I'm not feeling the love on this one anymore.  Yikes, this looks awful!  I look like I'm five months pregnant!

I was productive this weekend.

I made a bunch of new stuff on Saturday:

Simplicity 2605.  Easy going together, but I picked the wrong size!  I made a 14, should have made a 12.  Still it has been quite a while since I attempted a zippered skirt, and this one isn't bad.  I'll probably make another one and Goodwill this one.

A turtleneck from the February issue of La Mia Boutique.  It's basically a turtle neck with gathers at the neck. Only I screwed up the neck.  There are more gathers on one side and hardly any on the other.  I may just turn this into a crew neck tshirt.  Also, I made a size 44 (which according to my research, should be a size 10 in American RTW. But, this is quite loose on me all over, particularly in the shoulders.  I think the whole thing needs to be taken in.  I'm disappointed it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, but I think it's salvageable and I love the loud, loud print.  I will try this again in a different fabric and the next size or two down.

Of all this weekend's projects, this one turned out best.  It's Vogue 8597, lengthened into a dress.  Can't wait to wear this one to work.

Stash bustin'

I started sewing in July of 2009, inspired by the birth of my daughter and the adorable little clothes that can be made for tiny baby girls.

Since then, I have acquired machines (I have six), patterns and notions, and, um fabric.  Lots of fabric.  Around 300 yards of adult fashion fabric, give or take.  So for Lent this year, my sacrifice is to not purchase any fabric, patterns or machines for the duration, and to do significant stash reduction.  I've already sewn, waddered or donated 21.5 yards for the month of February.  I have a paper or two to write this weekend, but I should be able to knock out another 5-10 yards of projects this weekend.

McCall 5666

OK let's face it: this makes me look fat.  After I made this, I mentioned to my husband and son that I thought it made me look fat.  My son said, "yes it does."  I think 10 is a good age to discover that you should not agree when a woman says something makes her look fat.

This top has a ridiculous amount of ease.  I cut a 14, which is my usual size--corresponding to about a size medium in ready to wear.  I messed up when I was cutting this and cut an 8 in the sleeves.  As I was sewing, I found I needed to take in the sides quite a bit.  This sucker runs huge!

More pants--Burda 8513

I have been on a pants quest lately.  Having conquered one Burda pattern, I bought a few more and am slowly working my way through my stash of fabrics and patterns.

This weekend, I completed this "muslin" of Burda 8513.  I really like how these turned out, but somehow when I attached the waist band, it was slightly off and I wound up with some unintentional pleat/tuck thingies:

This fabric was from a bolt I scored from C&C Fabrics here in Dallas.  This place sells el cheapo bolts of fabric with flaws that I use for muslins.  Sometimes I get lucky and can actually use the fabric for something I'd wear in public.  Anyway, this was $1/yard for a 9.75 yard bolt.  The end of the bolt, about a yard or so, had some kind of weird flaw where it tapered off from 45" to 35" inches or so from selvage to selvage.  Very strange.  This is a stretch cotton lycra that I really like but that produces lap wrinkles like linen.  I'm going on a fabric fast for Lent so I don't know if I'll score any better bottom weight in the next week or so but that's OK.  I still have other pants patterns to be muslined.  Here's another shot with the wrinkles in sharper relief:

I think it's obvious I need more practice with zippers.  Here's my butt-ugly zipper:

Finally, a shot in the office bathroom:

I really do like these pants.  Unlike the other pair of Burdas I made, these are size 40s.  The last pair were a Misses style, and this pattern is from Burda's "Young" line.  Maybe they are cut more like junior sizes?  Not sure, but these fit me really well I'm a happy camper.  In the future, I'll make the larger size for muslins and sizing down as appropriate.  It's easier to size down than to size up!

I have a bunch more pants patterns to try.  I think I'll make these again in black denim with pockets and belt loops, then move onto another out of print style, Burda 8119 low-rise pants: