SEWmuchKNITting

Catching up with my summer sewing, next is my Mother of the Groom dress, worn to our son's wedding in June. Trust me, there are not a lot of choices for floor-length Mother of the Bride -or- Groom dresses in either RTW or sewing patterns, but  Butterick 5987  looked interesting. Initially, I considered View A, a cross-front halter top, similar to one that I liked from Nordstrom. I paid a visit to Haberman Fabrics , and purchased this lovely light blue poly georgette. In a brief moment of sanity, I decided I should muslin the bodice and thank the sewing goddesses I did....View A looked awful! But I wasn't too concerned, as I did like View C: the one shoulder....a style I had never worn. Below are pics of the bodice, which went together very nicely. This time I went straight to fabric without the muslin. Below are bathroom shots of the dress basted together. It was here that I could clearly see that this dress needed a waist stay. Instead of the three layers...

Hello There!!!! I've been absent from the blog for several months, I know.....it's been a busy year for our family! We have had 3 of our 4 kids get married this year...quite a year! I did do quite a bit of sewing since I last posted in the Spring, so let's get caught up...starting with the dress I made for our son's rehearsal and dinner. I really like the Amazing Fit line of patterns that Simplicity puts out. Using my usual set of alterations, along with the accommodations that Simplicity puts in with seaming and dart placement, I usually end up with a successful project. With that knowledge, I grabbed Simplicity 0593 out of my pattern collection, which I am sorry to say is out of print.  This very vibrant stretch cotton sateen came out of my stash. I have been hoarding it for several years, waiting for the right project. Below is the dress on my dress form, basted together. My usual alterations were needed: FBA, length added to the bodice and to the sk...

Week 3 was a busy week for me: 2 weeks away from my son's wedding! All our kids were home for the Memorial Day Weekend, when the Bachelor/Bachelorette parties were also scheduled for that Saturday. That explains the fall off of my pledge of 5 Me-Made garments/week. Oh well. Butterick 6028: Katharine Tilton pants (not yet blogged) seen here  in gray last week Hand-knit (7/2010): Broken Rib Tank Those pants again! worn clubbing with my sister-in-law Lois to celebrate the Bachelorette and her "sail before the veil": Cassie and the Moms Another busy week ahead, but I should make my 5 garment pledge....we'll see!

Week 2 of Me-Made-May 2015: I find I do wear the things I make, I'm just not used to taking pictures of myself this much LOL!   In no particular order:                       Simplicity 2345  (me and my Mom: Shirley on Mother's Day       Butterick 6028  (not blogged yet, a test garment to try a Katharine Tilton pants pattern)             Simplicity 2648  (hands down one of my favorite patterns)        McCalls 1318  (can you tell by the look on my facr that's is almost time for the end of a work week?!?)      Simplicity 4076 (not blogged, pattern is discontinued, not a favorite, but easy to wear)

A quick summary of the first week of my Me-Made-May 2015: McCall's 6996: New Look 6323:   McCall's 6966: McCall's 3678: Vogue 8880:            

It is a beautiful Spring day here in Michigan....finally! Feels good to crack out the sandals and summer clothes, and the new top I made using New Look 6323 , View C: I thought this tomato-red poly fabric was so cute.....the print looks like little kites! This is an old-school poly, dare I say vintage, fabric scored at the Salvation Army: 3 yds for $1.99. And though this pattern calls for a knit, this poly works okay....would work better if it had more drape. I found the neckline to be a little high for my taste, and will lower it a bit next time: Hope the weather is treating you well, too!  

This my first year to participate in the Me-Made-May Challenge, and I'm looking forward to being a part of a very talented  and creative community.  I plan to post a weekly synopsis of my 5 items...should be fun!  'I, Patty of sewmuchknitting.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15.  I endeavor to wear a handmade-by-me item 5 days/week for the duration of May 2015' McCalls 6996

I've been sewing those chiffon kimonos for my daughters that are all the rage right now, and thought: "Why not make one for me?" Although I don't follow the trends too much when sewing for myself, I consider the kimono to function like a lightweight jacket. I chose to use  Simplicity 1318 , View B, because I liked the look of the banded fronts and sleeves. Deciding to sew a test garment first from my stash, I found this rayon challis purchased online from Fashion Fabrics Club 3 years ago. I remember adding this fabric to my order back then to reach the minimum to receive free shipping.....we ALL do that, right?! I also remember opening the box on the day it was delivered, with the "WHAT was I thinking?" feeling......I really thought that it was an ugly duckling.  Fast forward 3 years, and now this fabric didn't look so bad that I couldn't try it with this 'wearable muslin'. It is soft and flowing, and the print looks a lot l...