Laid to Rest

     .....for right now. It’s been recovered! I was attempting to take a stab at Butterick 5884.

It’s part of my items for the 2013 Style Your Stash Sew-a-Long.

    

However, I thought I’d enough fabric. Nope. For some evil reason pattern piece 2. Hid from me while laying and cutting the fashion fabric. I had all, or so I thought, the pieces laid on the fabric in such a way that all the pieces were matched with the stripes in the fabric. Viola, they all, or so I thought, fit. Ok, let’s move on to the lining pieces. Front bodice lining, back bodice lining, front skirt lining and back skirt lining. Whoa, back bodice! How did you get here and why are you now showing your face!? Yeah, since now I am out of fashion fabric and the only piece left was claimed by a 9-year old for a head scarf.

    Yeah, so, umm, I am going back to Hancock and see they, hope that they, pray that they still have this fabric. It’s one of the newer stash additions. It, a zebra print, and two other stripe fabrics. It was during their spot the bolt sale they’d had a couple months back.

     If this fails, then I I will use my lining fabric as the fashion fabric as well, since the cape of the sleeve extends all the way across the back.

     With this being said, Butterick 5884 has been laid to rest for a while and on to the next project(s).

While typing this post, the smart side of me said to go get the ‘said’ scarf and just see. Just see. I did. It worked! Even though the stripes aren’t lined with the bodice, it doesn’t make a difference because they match with themselves and that is enough. After Erica Bunker had made her number, I knew I wanted to go ahead and get mine out of the way so I, too, can wear my caped out dress. I already had the pattern in my stash but was timid because I was lazy and didn’t want to tackle all those itty bitty steps. But if I wanted my dress, I had to do it. So, I did it; and with a lot of frustration and ripping and whining and well just ugh! BUT, it’s not perfect, BUT, I love it. 

I used a sheer poly that was on the spot the bolt clearance at Hancock a few months back. It’s one of four that I’d gotten for a great price. They were all some kind of stripe. The seams of the fashion fabric are instructed to be in French seams. Done. The lining is done in double stitching as instructed. BEWARE: if you don’t like super narrow hems, just get ready because the sleeves are super narrow hems. The top and the bottom.

You can’t see it in this photo, though.

I cut the 14 and should have graded out just a tad for the waist and in just a tad for the front bodice. I didn’t recognize the bodice until it was all sewn and forgot to do the waist. It is wearable and I will be wearing it. I have a few more pounds to loose anyhow, so I should be good in a couple of months or so.

I like everything about this dress. Now the other view, View A, is just ordinary and looks like any other dress I’ve seen. The open and airy sleeves really gives this dress some out-of-the-ordinary pizzazz.

    

My nine-year-old added the belt. I kind of like it!

My dislikes are totally on me. Let’s see - for one I wanted this dress in a stripe. Check. A blue stripe. Check. To line up stripes. Not checked! I couldn’t for the life of me get most of those seams to line up. One would then the next wouldn’t. It5 just kept going. So I said fudge it, I was tired of fooling around with it and just put it together.

Another dislike, and again, totally on me, was that darn invisible zipper that took me a whole friggin day to put in and it’s NOT perfect by any means! I had the hardest time simply because I just wasn’t ready to tackle so many itty bitty steps, but I WANTED this dress with that darn invisible zipper that I’d put in with a regular foot because I have yet to buy a foot for the invisible zipper. Ok, I put it in VERY.SLOW! Yay! I love it! It’s in! Time to put it on Aloe and test it out. S*#@! That zipper stopped midways and didn’t move. Ok, a little giggle and it’ll be ok. It giggled up. Cool. Now to try it on me. Since it had a bit of trouble the first time, I’d scraped it with soap to get it slide a bit better. Nope. Stuck. Darn! Help. I call me 9 year old and we worked and tugged and POP went that darn zipper! I spent a whole day trying to put it back on, zip it without too many hiccups, but with no success. I WAS NOT, do I repeat myself - WAS NOT going to take it out, buy another and put it in! NOPE, not going to do it. I got the zipper back on and right where the zipper keeps popping, I slipped that baby together wrapping the zipper shut with the thread. This right at the waist seam, so the zipper doesn’t go any further than that. Now I have to wiggle the dress over my head instead of stepping into it, and then wiggle out of it. No problem. Besides who would know besides my blogging sphere, right?

So long with my blabbing. I do recommend this pattern if you’re up for some super duper narrow seams and some hand sewing. Go for it! I love it.

My horrible photo shoot was done in a rush. I wanted to get this done so I can move on, really, I’m moving, and get other things done.

Oh, what the heck, here are the photos that were edited out. We’ll call them Bloopers:

Falling out of a pose! Who does that?! LOL

No quite ready! I was still talking.

Looks like I am about to do the Dougie! LOL

All I have to do now is put in the hook and eye.

Up next:

Month of July project: Simplicity 2700 Amazing Fit in a vibrant Blue McCall’s 6553 in a very cute pink and white print.

Mini projects for July: 7 bowties for a client in a variety of fabrics and colors; No sewing will be done for clients until I settle. Burda Kids 9491 for one of my Munchkins; and Simplicity 2380 for another Munchkin.

I am not doing any special 4th of July sewing. (You see, I was supposed to post this on the 1st but, hey, things happen.)

Until later,

Scheryka

Finally, B5471

fi·nal·ly/ˈfīnl-ē/

Adverb: After a long time, typically involving difficulty or delay: "he finally arrived".

***For the purpose of this dress, I started this post 11/7/2012 with hopes of having it made for Thanksgiving. Instead, it was finished just in time for Easter ‘13. ***

    

     This dress was a long time coming. It is Butterick 5471.

When I first saw this pattern I knew I had to make it. I waited for Butterick to go on sale at the local Hancock Fabrics store. Well, wadaya know? They didn’t have it in stock. Or maybe that’s what they wanted their customers to believe. But me being me, and I know it’s you, too, I went through the box sitting in the corner at the end of the file cabinets. And hey, Butterick 5471 stuck her pretty little head up! I grabbed it like I had struck gold and I was the only one who knew about it. LOL

 

Every outfit on the pack pleased my eye. That giraffe print fabric was what had done it for me. Yeah, I know. I could have easily used pieces from other patterns, but no, that’s not what I wanted to do. I wanted this pattern and this very fabric.

 

The pattern is part of  Butterick’s Lifestyle Wardrobe collection that came out in 2010; labeled: Easy. Misses’ lined, loose-fit, princess-seamed, long and short sleeved jackets with side-front seam pockets! The tunic and dress with has front detail, topstitching, and back zipper. The pants are semi-fitted with darts and a mock fly. Now what I don’t understand from looking at the pack (I haven’t looked at the directions, yet.) is that if there’s a mock fly why does notions says View E, the pants, need a 7 inch zipper and a hook and eye? The line drawings doesn’t indicate a back or side zipper. It doesn’t really matter because I’m not making the pants - yet. It just sparked my curiosity.

This pattern comes in sizes AA (6-12) and EE(14-20). I chose the EE because I measured to the 14; except for that 28 in the waist. It’s easy to make the waist two inches wider.

 

Now this fabric. I wanted that very fabric that is shown on the envelope. Hancock carried the fabric! It was way out of my league to buy though. I usually do not pay more than $4.00 a yard for fabric. It was one their polyester prints that usually sold for $11.99 per yard. I waited and waited for this fabric to go on sale. It would go on sale; I wouldn’t have the money. It would go on sale; I’d miss the sale. This went on for about a year! Then one lovely Sunday, I aimlessly traipsed into Hancock (That was the story my hubby got; but of course he didn’t believe it.) and MY.FABRIC.WAS.ON.SALE! It was $3.49 a yard! WOO! HOO! My heals clicked, my heart skipped a beat, and I suddenly felt a rush of heat move to my throat when I saw another lady waltz her little rose garden dress wearing self over to MY fabric! “Oh, no you don’t Garden of Eden. That is MY fabric!” I said to myself. I rushed over to the table (looks like someone had just finished getting some cut for themselves), “dropped” my notepad (because I have to mark off what I want to get and mark a special mark for what was not in stock or maybe something I thought I wanted but when I saw it, I didn’t...stuff like that.) I act like my daughter dropped it and asked her if she would pick up her book. “Tell the lady excuse me”. The lady politely moved out of the way to let my unknowingly daughter get ‘her’ notebook. When she slid to the side, I knew she was going to either help my daughter or look at her like ‘awe, she’s so cute.’ ...it was the latter. She turned, I grabbed. Yeah, it was that serious to me. That was the only bolt I saw and that meant to me it was the last. There was only 2 yards left, so I bought that. Isn’t it lovely?

 

The pattern called for exactly 2 yards. But with a little manipulation, one could actually have enough to make the mistake of cutting the front bodice in two instead of on the fold. Yeah, I did that! Here’s what it’s supposed to look like from the pattern layout.

Sorry for the blurriness.
This is how NOT to place your front pattern piece!

Recut....

Ok, I’ve had the dress sewn up and have worn it a couple times. It was my dress for Easter 2013. I was able to get pictures today. I need one of those doodads Erica B has. Push the button in your hands and not worry the need for a photographer!
Also, check out Sew Luva's make on this very dress. I was surprise to know that our story was very similar. I mean, I got absolutely excited about it!


        
        

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t wear much of any other adornments. I wanted the dress to speak for itself. Although, I could’ve worn a simple necklace. And, I wish I could have gotten a few live shots but I don’t believe my cell would have survived the rain.

I think I am going to eventually make the jacket and pant set that’s on the envelope. Even though I do LOVE this dress, I don’t believe I’ll make another one unless I find some extraordinary fabric for it.

Love it.

Until later, Smooches and Blesses.

PS. Today was Mens Day at church and the message was from Genesis 6: 5-6, 8.

Subject: But Noah...Was Different.

Point: If want to make a difference you must be different.

Peace!

A Couple of Stash Starts

Sitting back wondering what might be a few things I want to start on for the Style Your Stash Sew A Long and I came up with two items that need to be done soon. McCall’s 6700 is for my son’s high school graduation ceremony in a poly blend knit that’s been in the stash since forever ago. I know why I’ve never cut into it. I wanted that perfect pattern that would make great use of the design. What better way than a maxi that is labeled one the Fashion Star patterns? It has yielded some very delightful results for those who have sewn it before me.

This one would HAVE to be finished by the 5th. That’s G-Day! Yay! Oh, and by the way, he’s chosen the great USC Gamecocks as his college home for the fall!

I am a Roll Tide fan, but since my son has chosen USC, I can adapt and overcome! But my attire would still be Red, Black, and White! Hey, win win!

My choice second in line is McCall’s 6653 so that I can finish my Pinterest Inspired look. It will be my outfit to my husband’s graduation. Yeap, I have two graduates at once. Yay. winning!

I can’t seem to get a better shot. The color is actually very close to the color on the model. I’ll be doing view A.

Both fabrics and patterns are stash so, I’m really stash busting, huh?

A couple of other ideas I want to sew up are:

Vogue 8711 and

Butterick 5884. I just can’t choose which fabric to use. Both fabric is airy and flows just right for this pattern. I am leaning more towards the blue. I am just wondering how would the stripes actually turn out since the pattern does says *not suitable for obvious diagonals*. I believe I would have to place a few pieces in order for the stripes to stay horizontal. I don’t know, but maybe I’ll find out soon enough. What do you all think?

Scheryka

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way

    I have been sewing. Even though I haven't blogged ONE SINGLE ITEM! You see life got a bit busy and complicated. I mean with an 8-month-old, a graduating senior, and in-between jobs (yeah, one would think that being in-between would give me more time to sew and be creative - NOT!). And a lot of other things, too. Anyhow, I have photos of some and no photos of others. Some are to come later when I complete the outfits to them. Since I am not in denial, I am lazy and don't want to go back and do any reviews of them, I'll just post the photos and tell and brief story of the item.

Donna Karan New York for Vogue 1250

   

 

My version:

          

 



Easy dress! I used a very thin sweater knit in black and white flecks. It looks grey to the naked eye. There is nothing to dislike. And post-baby - I think I look good! Now, does anyone know of a shop where I can buy a GOOD maternity bra! The one's I used previously is just not doing their job!

 

New Look 6130:

 

  My version: I love this in polka dot. It was a rave all over the .com and I had to have one. It is a cotton shirting from the stash. In fact, everything lately is from the stash. I don't have a photo of me wearing this one because I lacked a photographer every time I wore it. Believe me, I will be making this one again.

 

 

Last for the blog, but definitely not the last item made, is a revisit to Butterick 5497:

 

 My first version was in a black and white zebra print. For my birthday: Happy Birthday to Me. My youngest sister acquired that top this past Spring Break. My new version:  On me:

One more before I sign out. I made my sister a ball dress for the Kappa Ball. Color Scheme: Black and White. My sister chose McCall's 6283:
 She wanted the gold gown with the black top. NO PROBLEM! Welp, sewing long distance and not being to get a fit during construction, the bust came out too big. And this is with measuring three times and cutting once. The instructions were followed to the T. So, I am not sure where I went wrong or if it was me at all. I went to the PR site to see if any others had the same problem. No one mentioned that, however, a few mentioned with modifications. So maybe they'd forgotten to mention that part? I don't know. But here it is on Aloe since my sister couldn't fit the bodice and therefore didn't wear it to the Ball.

Beautiful dress. What a shame.
Well, until next time everyone! Smooches and Be Happy!
Scheryka