Self Stitched Days 7, 8 and 9.

Before I post these, mind you my photography is an 8 year old boy who reluctantly takes these for me.

Day 7 - Top is the sadly out of print Simplicity 4020 in a lovely silk jersey is super happy colors. I'm sorry the photo didn't turn out well here but the fabric is seriously fun. I bought it from Fashionista Fabrics awhile back. Sorry no longer available as far as I can tell. The pants are a Burda Magazine pattern 7-2009-102 out of black RPL from Gorgeous Fabrics.

Day 8 - I hope this counts. The skirt is a hand knit present from my mom. It's a gored skirt out of variegated silk/cotton yarn. Everything else is RTW.

Day 9 - Burda 7-2009-109A. This is a big tent but has some great sleeve details. I like this dress despite it's 'tent-ness.' It does not photograph well at all. I really don't think I look this huge in it or at least I hope not. Everytime I wear it I get oodles of compliments. It's a great seasonal transition dress. In the winter I've worn it with tights and long sleeved blouse under it.

Day 10 is yet to be photographed...running late in the morning and Day 6 was a bust. I was home cleaning house.

New Burda Envelope Patterns

I was at Joann's yesterday and couldn't believe my luck when I saw they actually had a pattern book and the new patterns. So I bought a couple. I wasn't even planning on buying any of them from this fall's offer but these grew on me. These are the one's I bought. I love the fact that the models have some curves. I don't think I would have bought these if the model had been rail thin. Seeing her on the cover with the curves made me think I could wear these as well.




This one, the dress version, I already cut outlast night in some of the emerald green Vera Wang poly knit from Fabric Mart. It was one of their $1 or $2 a yard sales so I figured if I didn't like it then oh well. I think the pockets will lay down pretty nicely with a drapey fabric. I love the jumpsuit but I don't think I can pull it off. The top is doubled and the skirt is lined. I'm afraid this dress will end up extremely heavy. I'm going to try and not line the skirt and see how it goes. The construction should be very quick and simple. There was a lot of cutting out though.



I am seriously considering this one. I have some fabric similar to the short version of the dress on the envelope package that would look wonderful.

Self Stitched Days 3,4 and 5

I was gone those three days play Flyball so I wore my team jacket that I made last year. It's a Burda Magazine pattern which for the life of me I can't figure out how to find a link for. Could Burda make it any more difficult? Nope, I don't think so :-( No wonder everyone is complaining!

Anyway, it is a great jacket. It's out of some really nice quality Polartec fleece (not the cheapy blizzard stuff). I made my son one too in a pullover variety. I took it to a local embroiderer who put our team name and logo on it. It's a princess seamed jacket with side zip pockets. If I make it again, which is highly likely, I'll leave off the pockets. They are too small and pretty useless and only add bulk. The other odd thing that I remember is that it didn't have any front facings...hmmmm, so I drafted some. This is all from my old lady memory so I may be wrong.

Yeah, I found the link to the archive of the Burda. It's 1-2010-105.




Slammers Flyball Team

I have some pictures for Days 6, 7 and 8 but I'll post those tomorrow.

Self Stitched September

Well I saw this awhile ago and wanted to join but got busy doing all the landscaping and lost track of time, so I missed the signup before September 1. I love the idea of wearing something you made every day for a month. I do try to do that on a regular basis anyways. It's gotten to the point at work that everyone asks me if I made what I'm wearing and I get disappointed looks if I say no. If nothing else I throw on a scarf that I've made. I've also made a cami/short set that I wear to bed. I've got a couple nightgowns on the cutting table as well.

Self Stitched September

So I'll be participating in spirit. This week, since I was off and exhausted from landscaping my evening attire included a couple of these from a free pattern on Fabric.com.

Nancy Dress

Non sewing activities

So, I've been a bit of a bad sewing blogger again. I have been sewing a bit but not much. It's been too hot to sew winter stuff and I'm over sewing summer things. Our furnace took a caput this spring so we've been without AC and with a sewing area upstairs, it's been nearly unbearable.

Here's what I have been working on!

We put in the patio last year but finished the walkway and the retaining wall this year. Added about 8 yards of topsoil to help with the grade, another 150 or so blocks to go around the tree, 2 yards of rocks, and 100 square yards of sod!



The dogs are going to be relegated to their new "play" area so the humans can enjoy the patio.



Ah, Happy Feet!



The next phase will include more blocks in front of the deck, more river rocks, and a fieldstone retaining wall along with probably more sod. I'll never plant grass seed again after finding out how cheap sod it. Maybe I'm lucky that we have several sod farms in my area but at $1 a sq. yard it's so worth it!

To do:

Hip, hip, hip, hippie chick....

I'm going through a hippie chick phase this summer. I've made several of these New Look 4699 skirts and have one more planned. I highly recommend this pattern especially if you are looking to teach a young girl how to sew.

Orange Parfait

I'm a bad blogger! I've been sewing, a lot actually, but I just can't keep up with the sewing, reviewing and blogging. Most of the stuff I've made has been from tried and true patterns that others have reviewed many times. I did, however, just make the cutest dress from Colette Patterns, The Parfait Dress. Reviewed here:

Review

Colette - Parfait



This is a great pattern, especially if you are full busted. I didn't do anything in the way of a full bust adjustment and it fit pretty well. The next one will get a smidge of a dart in the bust or maybe some more gathers, it gapes slightly. No one else would probably notice, but I know it's there.

I can't believe I waited this long to buy this pattern!