To Do List

So I have decided that I never like anything I find in stores anymore.  When patterns go on sale at work I have been grabbing them up in large quantities.  Today I brought home a few Simplicity patterns before we sent them back as discontinued product, as well as two from the new fall collection that just came in.  My favorite of these is Simplicity 1777 which I just cant seem to take my eyes off of and cannot wait to begin working on.

I bought a whole eight yards a while back of a pretty black peachskin silky with big orange flowers for a dollar a yard and i am thinking this here is absolutly perfect for this fabric! But I bet this is the sprt of pattern tat just begs for a muslin for a good fit, and there is just something about it that drives me crazy.

Another of the new patterns for fall is Simplicity 1755 by designer Leanne Marshall.  I believe she is knew to Simplicity as I do not remember seeing her name around before.  I saw this pattern while I was stocking the new fall collection yesterday and stopped then and there to flip the envelope over and read the back.  It is not often I find a pattern and want to recreate the exact garment on the pattern envelope.  Normally I fall in love with a fabric, buy 5 yds of it and then wait around for the perfect garment to make with it.  In the case of this dress however I intend to make a plaid dress, with corduroy sleeves and collar. 

Also on my list is Simplicity 2180.  Views C, and D in particular.


Tonight, even though it is past 11 pm, I think I will go and start working on a pattern from my last pattern shop.  I havent even picked a fabric for it yet, but I really want to work it based on its simply construction alone and the fact that I am dying for an "instant gratifacation" kind of project and McCall's 6599 Fashion Star pattern seems to be just that.


Another super simple project is another of Mcall's fall collection, 6603.  I thought Iwould make one as a gift for my mom and now I want one for myself and a friend has asked for one as well.

There are loads more have bought over the past two months, but these are the ones screaming to be made right now.  Hopefully, with the addition of a shiny new serger in a couple more weeks I will fly through these easy to work up projects and again be in the mood to tackle something more time consuming and challenging, like the Leanne Marshall dress, and the that 1940's reprint!

Zip Pouch tutorial

Zip Pouches!

To make all three pouches you will need 3\4 of a yard of Outer fabric and Lining Fabric.  You will need 1 yard of lightweight fusible interfacing.  Each individual pouch can be made with one fat quarter.  You will need at the longest 12” zippers, the zipper can always be cut down to fit any size pouch.  You can add zipper pulls to your pouch with jewelry findings, pendants, buttons, or beads.  If you wish to decorate your pouch in any way do so before assembling the bag but after you have applied the interfacing to your outer pieces.  It may be helpful to draw your ½” seam allowance on the fabric with chalk to help you keep your decoration from being sewn into your seams.

Large Pouch: 9x11 with pattern piece measuring 10x12

Medium Pouch: 6x5.5 with pattern piece measuring 7x6.5

Little Pouch: 5x3 with pattern piece measuring 6x4

Steps 3 through 5 are optional and will work best on the Large and Medium sized pouch.

1.       Cut 2 of outer fabric, lining fabric and lightweight interfacing  

 

2.       Fuse interfacing to wrong sides of the outer fabric

3.       Cut band of lining fabric 2” by 12” and a strip of interfacing 1” by 12”.  Fuse interfacing to wrong side of band centered leaving half an inch on top and bottom.  For medium pouch cut fabric 2” by 8” and interfacing 1” by 8”

4.       Fold down and press the half inch on top and bottom of band making a 1” band

5.       Pin band to right side of one of the Outer pieces 3.5” from top edge and top stitch band to Outer piece

6.       Pin one Outer piece to zipper with right sides together

7.       Match up one lining piece and pin to zipper with right side of the fabric to wrong side of the zipper

8.       The zipper with be sandwiched between the Outer and Lining fabrics which will now be right sides together with the top of the zipper facing the right side of the Outer Fabric

9.       Sew in zipper with ¼” seam allowance

10.   Repeat steps 6 through 9 with remaining Outer and Lining pieces

11.   Open Zipper halfway!!  Pin around pouch matching right sides of Outer fabric together and right sides of Lining Fabric together.  Pin zipper teeth folded down towards the lining fabric. 

12.   Sew all the way around pouch, going over zipper on both sides, leaving a 3” opening in bottom of lining.  Use ½” seam allowance.

13.   Clip all 4 corners.

14.   Turn pouch through opening in the lining.

15.   Fold edges of the opening in the lining inward and sew opening closed.

16.   Tuck lining into the pouch.

Zip Pouches

Today I sewed up several Zip Pouches and decided to write up a set of instructions for a friend just learning how to sew.  I have them all typed up, but still need to take a few pictures to add in.  Hopefully I can get the whole deal posted tonight! :)

The Bra Top

So, a while back I drafted a pattern for a 40's style beach bra.  I wouldnt call it a failure, but it wasnt something I was proud of.  Now I have set out to create a bra top with a vintagey flair.  In the long run I would like it to turn into a playsuit set to sell.  So, if i ever get warm enough here to get to work, i hope to have one at least assembled if not finished by tomorrow night.  I also would like to redraft the original pattern I made.  It was that it was too big, or too small, but something about it just wasnt right.  Perhaps it needs another set of darts for some added fitting around the bust.  And I think I regret interfacing the halter strap even if it was the lightest of lightwieght interfacings I could have used.  Alos, as much as I didnt want to, I think it needs a band under the cups since I really dont want to get into underwires.  I just cant get ahold of them anywhere other than the internet.  I had really wanted this project to be something that didnt take much yardage or extra stuff to complete, and dammit I'll figure it out here soon.

Where I'm At

So, when I started this blog I had every intention of really posting activly.  But a lot has happened in a short time.  I moved to Florida a year ago this week.  I loved Florida.  Leaving four months later was not easy.  When I returned to New York I began a relationship with somebody i thought i had known for years only to find that the person i knew was just a front and in reality he was a lying, lazy, tunnel visioned bum who could not afford the rent he signed a lease to pay for.  We moved in in december and broke up about 3 months ago.  He broke his lease and the landlords have been attacking us for his part of the rent rather than hold him to his lease.  On top of that the landlords have left the house in disrepair and our yard filled with trash from the previous tennets.  My life has been pretty occupied with other things that have kept me from really focusing on Sew Purty as a business.

Things at work have become incredibly frustrating with certain people being promoted causing grudges to be held and expressed inappropriatly amongst what used to be a great team.  As a result I find it very hard to want to go to a job that I really do love.  For a couple years now I have wanted to be able to cut my hours back and be able to focus on Sew Purty.  I have now realized that there is never really going to be a good time to this.  The job market where I live is pretty tight, just like everywhere else.  Rather than go looking for a second job again now that things are tight I have decided to double my efforts with Sew Purty.  The first go I gave at this didnt go well and I think it was more discouraging than I realized.  This time around I am not going to give up on etsy just because i have not yet made a sale.  I am proud of my work, even more so now that i am putting that much more effort into everythin I make. 

The Roomie and I have been seriously beginning to plan our move back to Florida.  In an effort to save as much as possible I am hoping that Sew Purty will take off.  I am also hoping to find a space in Florida where i can really treat this as my business.  We have been looking for places with guest housing in the back for me to use as a studio space.  It won't be easy to find but i am keeping my fingers crossed.

There's been a lot going on for me this past year.  Its been hard and I know I have probably been a little depressed.  But I feel better having set some goals for myself.  To work harder with Sew Purty, and to get back to Florida where I desperatly want to be, and lately i have been more and more tempted to somehow start saving to buy a house.  I want to start doing an occasional craft fair to get my product out there.

So that's it.  It's nine at night, I've been guzzeling coffee all day despite being sick all last night, I've been sitting here at the house all stressed out waiting for the landlords to come and take care of some things like they said this morning that they would.  It's been a long day off.  It kinda sucked for the most part.  I'm going to through a pair of pajamas together for my mom for mothers day, and i might have a little fun with a new cricut cartridge I picked up, mostly i am hoping a get a good night's sleep since they are few and far between lately.

Sweet Sweet Interwebs! How I missed you so!

Well, christmas is over.  My room is back in order after the bomb that went off called christmas.  I managed to make everybody something from my stash this year.  So here it is, January 10th and we just had two goegeous days here in upstate New York.  It was in the 50's and sunny and we just went and turned off the furnace and opened the windows and it was wonderful.  Now, its freezing again.  Just plain freezing.  But those two days got me into Spring Mode.  So, i am working up another of my signiture flouffy apron in bright colors, apples, and seersucker! Also, i am working up some simple summery skirts!  One with black and white checks and cherries, and another in some yellow and grey prints that i have had my eyes on for a while now.  I plan to have the apron done today, and with that I'll head off to my little room in the basement for the afternoon.

Finally in business again

Well, I am all moved in to the new house, but waaaay behind on Xmas projects. And now that I have the most basic set up in the new sewing room I can at least try and catch up