2014 Happy New Year!

 

 

 

     2014 is going to be a great year! I claim this in Jesus' name! The last two years of my life has been much chaos, disappointment after disappointment. I have been in such a place where I didn't know if I was coming or going. I have had my ups and a even more downs. I've been in a place where I had to make tough decisions and most depended on life or death. Some were good. Most turned out to be bad. All this started June of 2012. I found myself in a world wind of confusion and a discombobulated life. If you weren't part of my 'inner circle', of which I keep very small, you wouldn't have known the wiser. I cried almost everyday. Every night. Trying to hide it from my children who didn't need to be involved in things. Sadly, though, they were. I was talked about by a person who hurt me to the core of my being. My name was slandered by this said person. I was treated like the scum of the Earth by this very said person. I went from having a paid-up home, a ride that was just what I needed, a marriage, a life that was not perfect but was livable and I enjoyed it. I was put into a position where I had to finally stand up, dry my tears, hold my head up, and move on. I am not totally there but mentally, I am much better. I am thinking clearer. I am living more for God (and I thought I was before? Honey, I ain't seen nothing yet!). I am FAR from perfect but I can only work to being better. In a previous post I mentioned I landed a job, the start of my career (I know it), and that is just the tip of the ice berg. This was in November 2013. Today is January 1, 2014 and it will only get better from here!

    

Happy New Year 2014!

 

     Since starting my job, my sewing time had dwindled. I miss sewing so much! I do have a few projects that were left to parish. However, I have gotten into the swing of things and found to make time between times. I am currently working on V8576:

in a deep green knit already being put together.

NL6035:

in a gray suiting left over from a pair of trousers made earlier in 2013. This one was left with the fabric cut out.  

M6076:

in a chambray-like fabric. I love this

and S2508:

in white corduroy. I have yet to decide on the lining. I want to use a stretch sateen because my fashion fabric is stretch corduroy. I hope to finish it well before the spring! So I'd better get to it, huh?

 

     Sew, let the 'good times role'!

Smooches, peeps!

Breaking the Ice with Just a Small Roar

     This top really doesn’t need a post dedicated to it because it is so simple. I only made it because I’ve wanted a leopard print top like this for a while and just never took the little time to make it up. But there’s a time for everything and I guess now was the time for the top.

    

     I used only one yard of fabric. It’s a leopard print woven with a tad bit of stretch from the stash. It’s very confortable. I made the 14 based on my bust measurements.

     I used a short length of lingerie, or panty elastic, at the gathered part mid-bust just to see what works. It does and it yields a bit of give when putting the top over my big ole head.

     I used two small folds to finish the neckline. I used some Wright’s lace for the armhole and bottom hem. I love this stuff. It just might become a staple in place of facings and fabric bias in future garments. It was in the stash so I decided to use it.

     Here it is on Aloe. She’s such a good lady.

                        

Excuse the wrinkles. I’m in no mood to ironing for photos.

     There’s nothing really to brag about with this top. It’s a top that I’ve put off for a while and don’t really know why. It’s a wild thing print. It can be changed with many items in the wardrobe which makes it a staple and very versatile. I plan on wearing it with burgundy, orange, etc....

Until later,

Scheryka

Baby Blue Pique....

...’pearls’ and flowers. I had 2 yards of this baby blue pique in the stash for a while. It was originally meant to be a sheath dress for myself but I never got around to making it. It was claimed by Ann for a top that she’s wanted for about a year now. So I made her the top and she was able to model and wear it tonight.

McCall’s 4554 Easy Endless options OOP

I made View C but it’s not shown on the envelope front. This could easily be a go to top for Ann. It can be dolled up or down. The model on the envelope is wearing her top with vertical ruffles down the front and versions A and D are plain. I added some crocheted roses to the front of Ann’s top with some ‘pearls’ to simulate a pinned brooch and necklace.

Cut in the envelope size 10 for fit and 12 for length. It fits pretty well, being that I made it in a woven fabric instead of stretch like the patterns calls for.

There was no need to read the instructions since it’s just a basic top. Since my serger is still sick, I zigzagged the ends, done a small double turn at the neckline and a wider, probably and inch, at the bottom and sleeve hems.

The back is nice and simple. It’s a blank canvas to do what you want to it.

                                 

This is how she plans to wear her new shirt to school in the morning. I love Oxford shoes!

I also made the pants in the pattern but of another fabric and that’s going to be a post all in itself. And let’s just say there was a lesson to be learned by the rising sewist.

Until later. Be wonderfully blessed!

~~Scheryka and Ann

                                  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!

It’s been about two months since I’ve posted due to life. I am just taking the time out to say, “Thank you!”, to my followers. Thank you for taking the time to follow my sewing blog. I hope you are inspired in one way or another. Even if you learn how NOT to sew, wear, or style something . You all always give such nice comments. I am inspired by you and your blogs as well.

I do have to say, “Happy Birthday to Me!” I am the big 36 and loving it! It is a blessing to be alive these last and evil days.

My outfit for today has actually be an UFO for about 2 years. The story started when my sister Evoni and I had our little own personal sew-a-long. How ever this endeavor quickly ended when she lost mojo. No, wait, I think I lost the mojo. Or was it that sewing instructions were lost? I think it was because I couldn’t decide on a lining. See that’s what happens when you wait so long to sew things. You age. You forget. Then you blame others. Oh well. It’s all sewn up now.

It is Vogue 1214 (OOP)designed by Alice and Olivia. When I bought this pattern I was head over heals in love with it. It is rated as Average by Vogue and has a pattern for the vest, leggings, and belt. It’s described as close-fitting, lined top has front band extended into shawl collar, snap closure, front darts, side front pockets, back detailed seams, godets and topstitch trim. Belt has elasticized back and topstitch trim.

The back has detailed seams? Yes! It’s an 8 paneled back with a ton of top stitching AT. EACH. SEAM.

I had initially cut the 14 (two years ago) and now it’s too big. So, that is a plus in itself. And now it’s a year after a baby. She turned one August 27th. I believe the 12 would have been a better fit.

I love the godets and how they flow. I love the top stitching. Even though it is a ton of it, I love it. I love the collar. I love the self fabric belt. I love that it is not the basic vest. You know like the one’s worn in the day that coordinated with Uncle Bill’s and Aunt Mae’s boots. I love the twist on this vest. So me. There was nothing that I did not like.

I used a black and white suiting I’d purchased from Fabric.com probably 2 1/2 to 3 years ago. The black and white is so small it looks gray, just like the vest the model is wearing on the envelope. So it’s a stash and a UFO. The lining is a poly from the stash also. The snaps and the elastic are stash.

Initially when I started putting this vest together - after the long pause- I was NOT going to line it. But then I didn’t want to lose the look of it and didn’t want to have to draft facings. I am GLAD I went ahead and lined it because it looks, hangs, and feels so much better.

I did not put in the pockets because I will not be using them. I saved the time and just eliminated them. I also put in the lining my jacked up, kind of quick way. Actually I tried doing it the way I was shown by an alterations person who works at Men’s Wearhouse. Let’s just say I’ll be working on that so I can get it right. I tried to strategically place the snaps so that the panel does not gape. I put them on per the instructions then took them off and repositioned them. Well, it worked on Aloe. It’s not working on me. I will take these off and used a bigger size when I redo them. Oh, I did not self line the godets. I just turned up the seam allowance and stitched it down. I thought they would be stiff and look like log flags on a log truck.

I don’t think I will sew it again. It’s unique. I will attempt to go into the side seams and take it in because I really do like it. HOWEVER, if I find some white suiting in this same weight, I may just change my mind.

I don’t know how the center front got like this but it did and I’m not crying over it.

Until my next project. Apple cider and cinnamon sticks. Later Huns!

*gosh I need a good camera and some landscape*

*maybe I’ll learn how to photochop *

Orange Python

Trying to calm my nerves because the move hasn’t gone as planned, I set out to make myself happy and calibrate my emotions since a LOT has happened from the time I posted my last creation. To the stash I dashed! Stash fabric and stash patterns. What did I come up with?

This:

Palmer Pletsch for McCall’s 6440 and 6441. A pant and jacket duo that I’ve had for a while. I’ve been wanting a pair of some wild animal Made By Me printed pant for some time now. So, what better time is the present? I dashed to the fabric. Well, I kind of unpacked a few boxes to find what I was looking for. A great marriage, if you ask me.

After I’d made the pants, I didn’t want to make the jacket. I wanted something instant. So, I revisited the peplum top by New Look 6130. The first version was not reviewed nor worn yet because I am waiting for my mind to let me vividly print mix. I want a leopard pant to mix with the polka dots.

The polka peplum:

I had some orange, kind of not orange, broadcloth in the stash that was bought for a button down and was never made because, well, honestly, I am scared to death to make a button down! There, I said it. I’ve made pants, trousers, jeans, jackets, coats, tops, panties, hats. You name it. But I am scared to sew a button down blouse.

Here’s the second version of the New Look peplum:

It is very easy to make and goes together quite quick and used just under 2 yards. I modified the back of the peplum because I wanted the back to be longer than the front. The front comes to a silent point that I didn’t notice I started sewing. But I like it so it stays. I also used a white invisible zipper because it was in the stash and I kept it a bit exposed.

The pants were VERY easy and Palmer always, ALWAYS, have fitting instructions along with the construction which makes it seems like a heck of a lot. It really isn’t and it’s WELL worth the hassle.

I made view C with side slit, sans the front waistband invisible zipper pocket. I didn’t want that pocket and prefer to have side seam pockets. AND since the zipper is in the side seam and I’d forgotten to move it to the back, I have no pocket. I will if I make them again, though.

The other versions are with plain legs, side invisible zipper leg, and the wide cuff leg. The same is for the arms of the jacket on the other pattern. I cut the 14 and with all the intakes, I could have cut on the 12 and sewn with a smaller allowance. But I’ll keep like this because it’s not so bad, does not look bad at all, and if I gain a couple pounds they will still fit nice.

    

I used a python print. I don’t know the content. But it has a kind of sheen over print in irregular shaped dots that makes it look semi-shiny in some areas. It’s a little stretchy, not much though. I used 2 1/2 yards and had 4 total. I still want the jacket but do not have enough fabric, so I may do a color block style with black.

I had to do some errands today and wore my new outfit with much grace and confidence. Like?

My bag doesn’t match nor coordinate. But it’s the closest I have since most are packed.

Shoes are from Avon. They are one reason I was ok with the white exposed zipper.

The pant, front and back, without the top in the way. Also, I have no gaposis. I’ve mastered that skill but can’t instruct how to do it at all! :/

Until my next project that’s been sewn up and worn. I just need to right time to take those photos.

Bye bye! Come and see me again, soon,

Scheryka

~~~~~Hugs and Hugs!

I forgot to post my Pin-speration so I am adding it here: