the Classics: Simplicity 9825 and McCall's 4922

For the third time now I made up S9825. It has become my go-to pencil skirt pattern, and I love it.

This time I decided to go wild with animal print fabric I ordered from Fabric.com. 

I had previously cut this pattern in a size 10, which is now too small (too many cookies), so using the a-line version which I had previously cut in a 12 as a guide, I kind of winged the resizing from a 10 to a 12, and surprisingly it turned out great. 

And now on to the shirt I'm wearing. I've had McCall's 4922 in my stash for ages, years, centuries. And just now I finally made it.

I was really REALLY excited about the fabric. It is a woven cotton stretch pique in a great white WHITE color. I bought it from fabric.com more than a year ago. It was one of those fabrics that I loved so much I was scared to cut into it. It's not even like it was expensive or irreplaceable or anything like that. I think I just couldn't stand the thought of me wasting such a classic, lovely piece of fabric. 

At any rate, I finally garnered the courage.

I franken-sleeved it using the cap sleeves from Simplicity 2473. It fits great. I had to take it in at the sides by about an inch total (so 1/2 inch on each side). It's a great shirt to tuck in, but untucked it's a bit unfitted and lame. The hip area is kind of baggy. Could I fix it? Sure. But with the tail hem line it was obviously meant for tucking, so I've decided that it's a tuck-in shirt, and I'm not going to bother with the baggy hips.

 Oh, and I didn't even have to lengthen it like I usually do. 

Now on to the shoes: They are Guess Florie in cream. They are "all manmade materials" which I typically try to avoid, but still pretty comfortable. They were discounted at DSW when I bought them last month. I feel just a little bit "real housewives of NJ" in the shoes and the animal print skirt, but overall, I love the outfit. I think the white button-down grounds the whole outfit in reality? I don't know.

Under pressure

Sinus pressure, that is. TC assured me that sinus pressure cannot break my cheek bones or dislocate my teeth, so I'm feeling a bit relieved (emotionally).

I finished the red pleated neck Vogue 8593 dress. It's fuzzy. And fitted. I'll take pictures when I lose a few pounds or something.

My impatience definitely interferes with my ability to really do a stand-up job on sewing projects. If I were more patient, I would sew up a muslin first, perfect the fitting, then sew up the item in the real fabric. But muslins just seem time consuming. And fabric consuming. So for now I cut things out of the real fabric, cross my fingers and hope for the best. Of course, I'm careful to choose the correct size and all. But sometimes that can be a bit difficult. Like in the case of the red pleated neck dress, I wanted it to be fitted, because that is the style, but I didn't want it to be TOO fitted. So the question was this: do I cut it out of my regular size (which is a 12 in patterns, vanity sizing has not taken over the pattern world) and hope that the dress will be fitted, but not obscene, OR do I cut it out a size bigger and scale it down where needed? Looking at the finished garment measurements on the pattern pieces, I determined that my body is not proportioned with the proportions of the pattern (My waist puts me at a size 16 while my hips and bust put me at a size 14, but if I actually make anything in a size 14 I swim in it. From what I've read this "disproportion" is common among women.) so I made my best guess, which was to cut it in a size 12, a size that normally works for me, cross my fingers and hope for the best.

The dress isn't obscene, just fitted. But I do feel like I need some Spanx or something underneath in order to successfully wear it. Like if I have a big meal, or drink too much water or slouch I'll have a pudge. I typically like a little more wiggle room in dresses, you know?

But now that I'm back to my normal routine, and not taking any more sick days, I'll get off my saltines and Sprite diet and start eating a bit better.

One other thing for this morning, I'm wearing the houndstooth skirt again. I tacked down the lining and am wearing a slip, and that seems to be doing the trick to keep the lining from clinging to my legs. No wire hangers needed. YAY!

Have a great Friday!

Shirt dress as promised

Here it is, my friends. Not the best photo of me, but it shows the dress pretty well. The front has little pleats:

which are supposed to be repeated on the back side, but the pleats just made the fabric stick out awkwardly, making me look like I had blocks for a back side, so I made the pleats into a long dart, which I don't have a picture of because I'm not that kind of girl. :)

I tried to take photos of the fabric, but I have no idea what I'm doing. This is the best photo I got.

Hopefully it conveys how silky smooth, yet warm and fuzzy the fabric really is.


Update: Sept 2010, new photos of shirtdress.

In other news, I finished the houndstooth skirt.


It's just a simple a-line.


Here's the fabric close-up. It's a loosely woven wool so it's also warm and fuzzy.


I lined it, however the lining is ridiculously clingy due to static. It was tricky to wear it on Friday. So, I will tack the lining to the hem of the skirt and see if that does the trick. If it doesn't, I'll have to get creative I suppose.


I'm still working on the pink top (McCall's 5323 view B), but hope to have that pounded out in the next couple of days. I will likely cut out the pleated neck dress (Vogue 8593) tonight.

Plotting and Scheming

I've been reading blogs like this one, and this one, and have felt inspired by their loveliness and ability to complete projects, and sewing ability. It makes me want to create and make and be lovely like these ladies, so I planned some sewing projects.

First off, I actually finished something over the weekend:

This dress, Vogue 8028 in a navy cotton sateen. I bought the fabric in September when Fabric.com had a lot of great fabric on sale for $1.95/yard. The fabric is soft and warm and hangs well. It's a dream. I'll have the Huz take photos of the dress tonight and post them.

Next up are these little doosies:

Vogue 8593 in a red sueded stretch knit that is on it's way and should arrive today (I love packages).

McCall's 5323 view B (the pink ruffly one) in a hot pink stretch cotton. I have loved this top from the moment I saw it. I'm so excited to sew it up. I'm hoping to start and finish this one this week.

Simplicity 9825 View F (A line, knee length) in a black and cream houndstooth wool with black lining.

So here's my pledge to you (and me):

1. I will finish these projects.
2. I will follow up with pictures.
3. I will not weenie out of this.

I have some more advanced and involved projects coming up, like this one, this one, and this one, but I need to build up my confidence before I delve into those.