Just Sew It

I am going to be making some changes with my blog. I’m going in a different direction with it. I will still talk sewing as I just love to sew but it’s hard to keep it interesting as I don’t get to sew as much as I like. Having young kids, a husband and pets keeps me so busy. So, my blog will be different.

I’ve finished the base part of my jacket. I have to stitch the bottom part of my coat on. I think this coat is going to look good. I do have a beef with the pattern company though. If a company is going to sell patterns, review the pattern BEFORE you sell it. Some of the pattern pieces do not have marked grain lines and no notches. WTH? But other than that it seems to be a good fit.

I’ve also been working on making some headbands for my dd. Thanks to KC Quilts for her tutorial I was able to make these. I’ll post some photos of my headbands later.

Project Runway Canada has been good. I’m glad the french gal has been booted off. Her attitude irritated me and she definitely deserved to get the boot after her lack of listening to the opera singer’s requests. I am sad to see Carlie go. She is an extremely talented designer who just made a wrong decision with her last creation. But, I think she will do well. If you want to read blogs of the contestants, etc. go here.

Christmas is coming and I’m just pumped. I just love the decorations.

I stumbled across a couple of interesting blogs. Treat and the Scoop. I love looking at anything design wise. Love it!

I also was browsing through this site. Great for inspiration.

I am almost finished my dd’s halloween costume. I just have to add the trim. I’ll do a review on it once I’m finished.

As for my muslin for the Indygo Junction Trench topper, I have cut out the pieces. I only cut out the main sleeve and the body. I didn’t bother with the collar and facings. I just want to get the fit right.

A beautiful day at the park:

This weekend I plan on sewing my daughter’s Halloween costume. She is going to be a flapper girl. I’d also like to cut out my muslin for the trench coat I’m sewing.

Sheila has lost weight or should I say I have. I’ve lost 15 lbs.! How? By watching my calorie and sodium intake. I do not eat burgers and fries at McDonalds any more and I have cut out 99% of processed foods. Fresh food. That’s it. So, now I have to adjust Sheila which makes me feel good to see her thinner.

I found some fabric at Marshall Fabric for my trench coat. I’m not sure what type of fabric it is as this store does not really properly label their fabrics. I do know this much it is for outerwear. It has the right texture though. I’d like to line this coat with something from Amy Butler. The lining is going to cost more than the main fabric. Oh well.

Project Runway Canada has started and it’s good. Different host and mentor but just as good. I could never do that show if I was a designer. Very competitive and very very stressful. Some of the challenges they give are extremely difficult. You’d have to be a quick thinker and work very fast. One gal competing cannot sew. How can anyone be on that show and not sew. She hand sewed her garments. Weird. I would have liked to see her get the boot as she was also very arrogant.

I am almost finished my dress for that upcoming wedding in early October. I’ve been dragging my bum on that one. I’ve also neglected my blog so much that I think I’ve lost all of my readers. I don’t blame them. Nothing to read.

On Pattern Review there is a sew along going on trench coats. For about a year, I have wanted to make the trench coat by Indygo Junction. It’s cute and stylish. So, this is forcing me to buy the pattern and make it.

I have been wanting to duplicate my own body for some time now. I have had my dummy so to speak for about 13 years. Last year I took a class called, “draping on a dressform” and the instructor suggested to purchase ribbing and then stuff it with quilt batting to match our porportions. I found it did not work the best for me. Threads has an article on how to duct tape oneself and then cover it. I was stalling and stalling to do this and one day while reading my latest issue of Threads magazine, someone gave a much simplier idea for padding your dress form.

I put a bra of mine on my dressform and stuffed it to fill it out. I then put the ribbing back on and while the both of us stood in front of the mirror I padded her to match my body. Very close but not perfect. I measured her about three times to ensure she was the same size.

I had to name her and the name “Sheila” came to mind. Why Sheila? Not sure. I just like that name for her. She is such a trooper. Never complains and is always there for me.

Now Sheila is modeling my test pattern. It seems to fit great except I will be adding 4 cm to the length as I do with all tops and jackets. My body is a little longer than normal (what is normal?) and I have to make this adjustment. I find this a problem with RTW tops. Too short and my tummy will stick out at times.

I love Kwik Sew patterns. Very thorough and I love their instructions. I highly recommend using Kwik Sew to start with if you are a beginner sewer.

Rocky is my buddy. He is an old man with one eye. He hates kids and loves his mommy.