I've Put My Pants on the Back Burner in Favor of Sweaters

This is what's going on in my sewing room.

The pants are on the back burner.

I feel like making sweaters and other various and sundry outwear items.

I want to make skirts and dresses.

The pants can wait until I'm in the mood.

Simplicity 2700

This is my first attempt at Simplicity 2700 -- Amazing Fit pants. Unfortunately, I did not get an amazing fit, but it's certainly better than anything I've tried in retail. The lack of amazing fit, of course, was due to operator error.
The fit wasn't too bad when I tried them on at home. The only thing that I knew I wanted to do was raise the back waist at CB 1.5 inches.
After wearing them all day, however, I realized my big mistake.
I picked the wrong size for the back. I decided to use the average fit in front and curvy in back. Big mistake. I'm not sure who I was making this pants for -- certainly not to fit me. I just assumed that I had to cover some ground in the back, but as you can see from this picture
there's just too much room back there. Now a small part of this was due to measuring and not wearing the knickers I planned to wear with this pants (I hate VPL!). But, it was a very small part. I came home after wearing these all day and measured myself again -- with and without these particular knickers (they are shapewear) and the difference was relatively negligible. It certainly didn't account for inches of extra fabric gathering in the back. The problem was my measurements. I must have just randomly added two inches to my hips and waist just for fun. Speaking of waist, the biggest frustration with this trousers was the waist. I couldn't seem to get the waistband small enough. So, I'll consult the many books I have and start a second pair, a size smaller, with a raised CB and wider darts and see what happens. One good thing, I don't mind trashing these when I eventually get my fit -- the fabric I'm using is a Ralph Lauren twill from Fabric.com that I got when they put it in the $1.95 /yard clearance. Add my 25 or 30% off coupon (don't remember which) and it came to approximately $1.79 / yard.

A part of me wants to scrap this entire fitting process, but the other part (and it's much louder) says to keep trying. It's all part of the learning process and by the time I'm finished, I'll be able to whip these babies out in a couple of hours. It is frustrating though...

I'm not sure when I'm going to attempt the second pair. I keep creating UFOs like it's a goal or something. Ah well...

Kwik Sew 3722

My latest Kwik Sew project was 3722. I have a thing for big sweatshirts, so I thought this would be fun to make. It was quite easy, though I'm still not sure about the shirts and that has everything to do with the fabric.
The fabric I chose is a fabric that's been hanging out in the closet for about a year. I bought it at Fabric.com in the $1.95/yard clearance with the intention of using it to practice making sweater sets. It's called: Cashmeri and is a polyester knit that is brushed on one side (inside) and ribbed on the outside. Since it's been sitting around so long and I have yet to make a sweater set, I used it. It is very lightweight, which is a good thing in Florida. Regular sweatshirts get very little use given the number of hot days we have versus cold.
These shirts do have their problems, and it's all in the fabric and my decision to use iron-ons. Let's just say that even with a press sheet, the fabric turned shiny and shiny did not come out in the wash, nor did it respond to a nice vinegar rub (I actually pulled out the vinegar because I managed to scorch the blue one).
I also had to ask myself why I was making such large tops. Yards and yards of fabric on me only serves to make me look like Shamu from behind.
So, I stuck the in the garage until I decided what to do with them -- Goodwill? Or do I stick with my original plan to wear them around the house on weekends with leggings during the Florida winter. (The pattern does not call for a drawcord, but what's a hoodie without one? -- Actually it's still a hoodie. I decided to add the drawcord to the blue one after I had assembled the purple one.)

The fabric really did change the look of the shirt. It was too drapey and therefore, doesn't really hold it's shape, per se.
But, it's not like I ever planned to go anywhere in them.
After doing my pictures last night, I've decided to keep them and go with the original plan. Lounge around the house wear, because, like I said, I really love huge sweatshirts. Always have.
As for the shiny spots and scorch mark...I can live with that too. I'll just consider them "lived in."
I actually fooled around with the idea of getting better fabric and making a new one, but decided against it. It's not like I'd go out in public with it on, so what's the point of making another one? Two is definitely enough.

As for the pattern -- easy peasy. I really do heart Kwik Sew.

Pattern retired.

Kwik Sew 3720 - Parts Deux et Trois

Before I retired KwikSew 3720, I decided to make two more tops. The first is the short sleeved version. The patterned knit came from Fabric.com and the solid is a Vera Wang knit from Fabric Mart Fabrics. I have to tell you, at first I wasn't impressed with the Vera knits...until I started working with it. Fabulous! It's even nicer to wear. Very luxurious.
The third, and final, version is a weekend top. Long sleeved again. I kind of goofed with this one. I wasn't paying attention when I put on the neck band. After I serged it, I realized that I serged wrong sides together. Arrgh. Rather than take it off and do it again, I decided to make it a design feature.
So, I made the same "mistakes" with the sleeves and the bottom band. Then I went back and stopstitched the serged edges flat to make it look flatlocked (my serger does not have that ability).
I have to say that I really like it for hanging around the house. I added an iron-on transfer from JoAnn's just for fun. All in all, I really like this pattern, but don't think I'll be using it again. I also realized that I need to make some leggings -- Ithink I've had this pair for 10 years. For some reason, there is a bleach stain on one knee. Go figure.

Happy Halloween -- The Costume Modeled

I thought I'd share the pictures of my goddaughter, Julien, in her costume.
Have a very safe and fun Halloween!!

Kwik Sew 3720 -- I Really, Really Heart Kwik Sew

Today was jeans day at work and since I didn't have a shirt that I wanted to wear, I whipped up Kwik Sew 3720 last night.Talk about a quick project! This pattern is written for serger sewing. It took less than an hour sewing time. I have to tell you, I really like this pattern! I used a knit jersey that I got from Fabric.com. I was saving it for a dress, but now that I've made this shirt, I'm glad I didn't hold on to it. I really love this top. It's so comfortable!

The one feature that I didn't like on the line drawing turned out to be my favorite feature of all...the sleeves!How cool are these? I like this shirt so much, that I cut one out in gray knit for casual wear and also grabbed a couple of fabrics to make the short sleeved, contract fabric version. I'll be starting on those tonight! I wish this wasn't such a distinctive shirt -- otherwise, I'd just sit around making multiples of this shirt.

Ah well....I'd better get to work.

Happy sewing!

Another Day, Another Scrappy Dog Pillow

Finally, my obligation to my dogs has been fulfilled and Mercedes bedside cushion is complete. Like the cushion for her crate, one side has been pieced together with scraps. (I have to admit, I had a lot of fun with this -- no rhyme or reason, just piecing it together in a devil may care manner.)
For the reverse side, I used the rest of the doggie themed flannel. I also managed to use the rest of the box of polyfill (yay!!).
I think it's a hit!