Zyan’s Christening Dress

February: Christening Dress (McCall’s 4641)

God has his way of directing your paths. That’s called His Will being done. I had plans for my daughter to be christened when she was 6-8 weeks old. That didn’t happen for one reason or another. She is now 6 months old. I have been planning this for a while but since I kind of felt like things would take their course according to not my plans, I held off for a hot minute. I didn’t want anything off the rack, whether it was cheap or expensive. I wanted something that I’d made. That in itself would make it more personal.

It’s not a new pattern. It’s circa 2004. Actually, I’ve made it twice before for my two older daughters. Just not for a christening dress.

I think the little baby model is so adorable on the front. It’s an infants’ tops, dresses, pants, and hat pattern. I used View A as a guide since I made a few changes. I made the size small.

I used, again, stash fabric. It is actually a ‘silk-like’ lining fabric for the underlay and a poly-lace for the overlay. It’s very soft and a bit slippery, too.

There are several changes I made to the dress. ONE: I used a lace overlay. TWO: I used started to use elastic in the waistband. THREE: I made the button placket a little different than “standard”. FOUR: For the hat, I self lined it. FIVE: I put elastic around the whole hat. SIX: To make it a bit special, I used a design card to make some fancy button holes. I couldn’t find the design card so I used two snaps and called it a day. I also kind of botched the snaps because my snap doohicky tool is somewhere in the sewing hut - where? It only knows.

Photo of snaps. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of them. Yet.

I also made a pair of bloomers to go with the dress.

Photo of bloomers This part never happened.

The pattern is OOP but I like it because it’s a simple run-to. You can make it as fancy as silk or as playground-ready in denim as you want. There is really nothing to dislike.

Here are a few photos of the dress in try-on mode.

Until Later, Scheryka

Top for my sis...

I’ve made this top for myself. But when my sister came to visit, she claimed it! Then had the nerve to ask if I’d make her a “special” one. Ok, so she wanted a purple one, a blue one, an orange one... Ok, just a purple and blue one. First one is free, Sis. When I get you hooked, you’ll become a paying customer. She is not ‘photogenic’ ...that’s what she says, I think otherwise, so I honored her wish to take neck down photos.

The pattern is Very Easy Vogue 8581.

The short sleeve version.

This pattern goes together so quickly, one could easily do several in an assembly line action as long as the thread can be universally used.

MISSES' TUNIC: Tunics A, B, C have front and back upper gathers, neck binding, lower elastic casing and raglan sleeve variations. A: sleeves with elastic casing. B: three-quarter length flared sleeves. C: gathered sleeves and sleeve binding.

I made size 12, I believe, in a rich purple knit that I had stashed to make myself a halter.

I will be making this pattern again for myself because it goes well with the perfect pair of jeans. Here are four photos of my sister wearing her newly Scheryka-made top.

Until later, XOXO, Scheryka.

Capering in My Cape & Interview Ready

M5764 vs M5913 Easy Stitch n Save and Vogue 8751

January: cape. (Yes, it’s the middle of February, but hey...)

It is getting cold out! I mean, it is cold outside! So, that means I need new outerwear. I have a black leather jacket that’s about had its wear and a poo - I mean olive green wool pea coat that I wear most often. There’s also my Class A Trench from the Army but, really. I want (need) something new; something different. I got to wondering through the pattern stash and found a LOT of trench, jacket and coat patterns that I want to make. When I pulled out McCall’s 5913,

I thought I’d make a cape. But I mentally traveled back and forth between a cape and a trench. I really wasn’t ready to tackle an in-depth piece just yet, so I settled for a quick and easy cape. That’s the point when I also found McCall’s 5764. Which is OOP now.

Hmmm, these two patterns are the same. One difference though is that 5764 offers “4 Great Looks” with “One Easy Pattern” while the Easy offers only three. It took a hot minute to figure the difference. I found it! The fourth look was a collar variation.

 

I love the longer belted version. It’s just chic to me. I cut the 12 since it’s meant to fit loose. I didn’t want too much of a swing.

The instructions were GREAT. Nothing confusing or fussy. I also compared the instructions to the Easy version. They’re the same with just a few combined here and few separated there.

I used a black wool-like fabric with white-lined plaid that was mistakenly shipped to me. Instead of the company wanting the fabric back they happily replaced it with the right one free of charge. Yay! Win-win for me. And who doesn’t love a win-win situation?

I didn’t make any alterations. I did change the way it closes. I put in invisible snaps instead of buttons. I initially wanted a zipper but I’m trying to use stash items and I didn’t have a separating zipper on hand. So I settled on the invisible snaps. I also omitted the interfacing since this fabric is thick enough by itself and holds its own... even after the wash.

I love that it’s simple, fast and easy. I wore it with a pair of Vogue trouser pants I made for an interview. They were an in between item that I needed. These pants were SUPER EASY. I knew I needed a pair of dress pants a week in advance. My interview was on a Thursday. I cut them out Tuesday night and started construction Wednesday night. ....LATE Wednesday night. In fact I went to bed around 2 then decided to get back up and go ahead and finish them. I was done something to 4 am. I love them. Although I could make the hip area a tad wider. (I tell ya, post baby weight gain is a mess!) Hence the side pocket gaps. Everything else, just great... especially the waistband. I love a wide band. I also made a 2-inch hem. I’m 5’3” if you need a bit of reference.

Trousers: Very Easy Vogue 8751. I guess it’s because I have constructed several pairs of pants. This Very Easy Vogue lives up to it’s name. With taking care of home duties, school duties, and a nursing baby, total these trousers took 6 and half hours from start to finish, excluding pattern cutting. Originally, I was planning to make View A with the belt loops, but I was kind of strapped for time so I made View B.

I cut the 16. I’ve been having to go up a few sizes since having baby Zyan. I have got to get this weight off soon! It’s not me and since I do not trace my patterns, I refuse to have too many patterns cut too large for me.

I used a semi stretch suiting from the stash that was perfect for this pattern and its purpose. I needed some interview trousers - that I could fit - for a medical office.

I like everything about the pattern and pants except that the legs are a bit wide for my liking of this type garment. Had they been a little more flowing and for another purpose, I would love it. I am also a bit short, standing at only 5’3”. And now since I am a chunkster, it makes it worse. IMO. Next time, and I want to make them again, I’ll take off 3 inches of the leg width.

I made a few exceptions and changes. One, Since I procrastinated until the last moment, I did not have time to interface the waistband nor zipper placket. I’d sewn the waistband together and constructed it as one piece. I made a 2-inch hem for the legs. Oh, the legs are wide! And instead of using only 2 hook and eye that the pattern called for, I used 3 to make up for the interfacing that I did not use. It did the trick but only for a little while. As in - for the moment of the interview only. I can get away with that since it’s really due to the extra pull (killing) my belly is giving the band. That will SOON be history.

I had planned to do a little jacket to go with it but since I waited so long to get started that was surely a no-go at my station! I wore it to the interview with my leather jacket. Basic and nothing fancy. It was cold so I let my outerwear serve as my ‘jacket’. The office was cold, too, so I kept that bad baby on!

I pray I get that job. But even if I don’t, I’ll still be happy-go-blessed!

Until my February project,

x o x o

Scheryka

Holiday Bolero

Another project to post before the end of a good year and the beginning of an even better one. We had our Christmas program on the 23rd and I decided that I wanted to wear a skirt I had made previously. It is from my TNT and I’ve made it several times until I just don’t bother to review or post it.

The pattern I am blogging about is S2478.

There are nine different styles that you can get from this pattern. Even more if you are creative. I chose to make the Red one that the model is wearing. I didn’t have time to wear it with the sleeve ruffles because, me being who I am, I put the tucks in before the hem. It took sooo long to go back in and hem a piece that have a hundred million tucks in it.

The front without the sleeves. it looks just fine like it is but I wanted the look with the sleeves.

I used a Red moleskin fabric from the stash. It is thick enough not to require a lining and it feels delicious to the skin. I first fell in love with moleskin when I made my Anniversary Dress a while back. It has a slight stretch that gives just that perfect fit.

The back and side front.

I cut on the 14 but really really could have done the 12. Maybe make it a 10/12. It is not lined but if I made it again, I will surely line it. My inside doesn’t look all that hot because usually I would have serged the raw edges but my serger is broken. So to keep the inside edges maintainable I topstitched catching the allowance, then trimmed away the access.

I made no alterations or design changes. I did put it together a little different than the directions because of time restraints caused by human error. I love everything about the bolero except it could have been lined. The tucks make it seem sexy and depending on the type of fabric chosen it can be made casual out of denim to elegant if made out of satin.

Here is how I styled it after I put on the rest of the sleeves.

It was windy when I took the photos. The cream lace tank was last seen here.

I don’t have photo’s of me wearing it but here is how I wore it to service.

I can tell I will get some wear out of this outfit because it can be mixed and matched in several different ways. So, until next time, peace All.

Delicate Little Giraffe

New Look (Workroom from Project Runway) 6097

This dress is SUPERB! I am late to jump on the band wagon but I am on it because I truly love this dress. I had bought it once then I couldn’t find it. So, I set out to buy it again. But glory behold, no soon as I got home and put the bag on the table... I found my pattern under some fabric I had cut out for another project. I saved it for my sister since she was going to buy the pattern anyways. Now, when she actually gets the pattern is another story all in itself.

Description:  12 pieces; Misses’ seven sizes in one. I’d say one of the sexiest surplice top dress with sleeve and collar variations that is easy peasy to put together and wear.

Sizes:  It’s a New Look so it comes in size range 10-22 US; 38-50 French; and 36-48 European. I made size 14/16. I usually make the 12 but since I’ve had a baby I had to make some changes. Those changes were supposed to be a 14 in the back and a 16 in the front because I have become ‘busty’. Instead I made the mistake of doing a 14 in the front and 16 in a the back. It worked out somehow.

This dress looks just like the drawing and photos. With my fabric choice, I think it may look better.

 

Instructions: The instructions were so easy. The very beginner should be able to do this. Make sure you read instructions, make accurate marks, and go for it. For the seasoned sewist: close your eyes and go for it. It’s that easy.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT I DO NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS PATTERN. I LOVE EVERYTHIKNG ABOUT IT. Did I holler? Well, I mean what I said. I love it all. From the pockets to the interfaced collar to the on-point chest coverage. Oh yeah, and speaking of pockets; I love the one-piece pocket construction. I have never seen it this way before and it was EASY.

Fabric: I used this lovely ITY fabric from the stash that I ‘d bought a while ago from Fabric.com. I love the feel of this fabric. It just glides and slides across the body. It’s not clingy at all. It has one of the nicest drape to it that I’ve seen from the more luxurious fabrics.

Alterations and Changes:  Aside from what I’ve mentioned before, I interfaced only the bottom collar. I also interfaced the rolled part of the sleeve because I wanted it to have a little structure and not fall flimsy.

Before I could decide on my buttons.

I WILL DEFINITELY BE SEWING THIS AGAIN. I MAY DO ONE MORE FOR THE WINTER BUT SEVERAL ESPECIALLY FOR THE SPRING.

I haven’t taken any pictures with me wearing it. I am promising to either. I know how that story goes all too well with me. So, if I happen to take some, I’ll happen to post some.

Until laters, Peace and Hair grease.