Fun stuff in the mail!

Hello! It's been a few weeks since I've posted because we've all been sick. First my boys were ill for 4-5 days, then they passed it to my husband, then I got sick for another 4-5 days, and then poor baby Rachel got sick despite my best efforts to keep the germs away from her. This is the first week in nearly a month that nobody has fever/chills/pukes etc. Whew! To celebrate our wellness and also because the weather was just beautiful, we took the day off from school and went to the zoo.

On the sewing front, after I finally started feeling better, I managed to create two wadders in a row. Well, really just one and a half because I was able to salvage the second one into something other then my original vision for the fabric. I'll have that to show you in a few days if DH happens to get home from work at a decent time. The sun hasn't been setting until 6:15 around here lately.

I usually make at least one online purchase a month from my various fabric haunts but don't always get around to posting them. However, I always like to see what other people have gotten, so thought you might be interested in what the mailman has delivered in the past few days. This first picture is a recent haul from Gorgeous Fabrics during a 20% off sale:

From left to right there's a poly panel print, a cotton stretch sateen with yellows/reds/greens, a fun madras-type fabric with more yellow (my favorite color, btw), an interesting jersey animal print atop ruffles, and (my fav) a gorgeous purple tie-dyed poly that has thin bias strips sewn on in flower designs.

But wait, these next two items are the most exciting! Last year Fabricmartfabrics.com had a 50% off sale on their animal skins, and while I was thinking about how cool it would be to sew something with leather, most of it sold out! When they got a new shipment last fall I put a few colors in my wish list and waited for the sale. It was a week ago and today the mailman delivered my order:

This first one is a beautiful lipstick red lambskin that is incredibly soft. They were advertised as being 5-6.5 sqft each so I bought 3. I am planning to make a pencil skirt of some kind. This will be my very first project out of leather and I'll definitely be making a muslin first and doing some research.

I also got two skins of black lambskin. These were 9-11 sqft and I thought I might have enough for some pants if they were on the 11 sqft end. But they are both right around 9 and I doubt there's enough for pants. So possibly these will become another skirt or I might use some for trims here and there.

Please, no hateful comments about my purchasing leather. I wear leather shoes/belts/purses. I eat meat. I married into a cattle ranching family. I am not at all opposed to sewing with leather. If you are, please keep it to yourself. Thanks!

Mail Call!

I've gotten several deliveries lately and thought y'all might like to see. It's mostly fabric. No, I do not need more fabric. But I LOVE it. I love interesting textures, fun prints, luxurious silks, fine wools. I also love a good bargain. So when I received an email from Fabricmart.com notifying me of their current 20% off sale, a perusal of their site was inevitable. It can't hurt to just look, right?

This first fabric is a cotton border print with textured circles that I became aware of thanks to Jessica. I tried to order it a month or two ago, but they ran out somewhere between when I paid and when they went to cut it. I was very disappointed and ended up canceling the other things that had been purchased at the same time. (I don't think the online order lady was too happy with me, but it's not my fault they didn't update their database.) Anyway, more of it became available, so it was the first on my list. I paid for 2 yards but received 2.5. It's 53" wide, and I know I want some sort of summer dress. This must have been a popular choice because it sold out in record speed. Aren't the colors just gorgeous?

On the left is an ivory stretch medium wale corduroy from Jones New York. I've wanted an ivory corduroy skirt for a few years now. I paid for 1 yard and received 1.5. They must have been in a super generous mood because all of my fabrics came with a lot of extra yardage. I'm planning to use Burda 6/2009/104, minus the front welt pockets and second row of decorative buttons.

On the right is a black silk chiffon dotted swiss that I'm planning to make using the Wenlan blouse design shown in the book Twinkle Sews which is available through BurdaStyle. When I first looked at this design 6 months ago, it was free. Too bad I didn't download it then because it's now costing $7.99. I love it, so I'm going to purchase it despite the cost hike. But darn it, that's a lot of money for something I have to print out and tape together!

This next cut is a large geometric graphic print rayon and silk burnout. These are not my typical colors, but something about it begged to be purchased. The black areas are sheer, and it has a wonderful silky feel and drape. I'm planning to use McCall's 5631 - view C with the tucks at the bottom. I'm thinking of leaving off the fabric tie belt since it's to be worn with the black Wenlen blouse above and that has a tie around the neck.

On the left is a funky polyester stretch woven with gold thread throughout. This will be a simple long sleeved dress - probably McCall's 5975 - with long sleeves and rounded plain neckline. Picture it with a matching fabric tie belt, chunky gold necklace, maroon tights and tall black boots. For winter, of course.

On the right is a white sweater knit that I'll either use for Simplicity 2603 view D or Vogue 8616 view C. Opinions?

That completes the order from Fabricmart and I should have stopped there. But of course I had to check out my other online fabric haunts, finding more good stuff at Fabric.com. You guys know you can always find online coupons for 20% off for Fabric.com, right? That coupled with free shipping on orders over $35 makes them a great deal in my book.

This pink and brown cotton madras fabric jumped out as a must buy. Gorgeous fabrics had a bunch of these madras prints a month or two ago. But I was feeling cheap at the time so I passed, and most have since sold out. This fabric was $6.98/yard, $5.58 after the discount. The color combo is super cute. I'm thinking a simple shift dress for summer with plenty left over to use for baby sister if it's still in style in a year or two.

Of course I have to get the free shipping so go looking for something else. They have a bunch of tropical wools in all different colors for $9.98/yard, $7.98 with the discount. Buying wool online can sometimes be a gamble because you can't feel it and sometimes it's super scratchy. These were both listed as 100% worsted wool, but they are very different drapes and weaves. The gray has more body and is a tighter weave. But seeing as I bought it for the Rebecca Taylor suit from Vogue 1169, it'll be perfect. The red is much more fluid and has a looser weave. That was purchased for Burda 4-2010-125, minus the back bow, which it will be perfect for as well. I am 9 for 9 with all of these fabrics, and could not be more thrilled with them.

Okay, that's enough of that. Waiting for me when I got back from Disney were two pairs of boots that were recently purchased from Amazon.com. I wear boots all winter but only have had the choice of black or brown in past years. How boring. This year I was determined to get some more color in my footwear, so put several pairs of bright boots in a shoe wishlist and waited for the spring sales. These two came down to a price my cheap self could live with. Plus I put the entire vacation on my Amazon.com Visa for which I accrue Amazon gift certificates. So that made them even less expensive. Did I happen to mention I love a good bargain?

These first ones are J. Renee red booties, and are actually quite comfortable. Although I probably wouldn't want to wear them for a day long shopping excursion. They were originally priced at $89.95, came down to a sale price of $38.49, and only $13.49 when paired with a $25 gift certificate!

The purple pair are Sam Edelman (which I had never before heard of) and made of purple suede. They match the slew of purple garments I have either made or am planning to make for fall. Original price was $149, sale price was $59.58, with yet another $25 gift certificate I paid $34.58. Which was not such a great bargain as the red boots but still a wonderful deal.

And that's it! You've probably grown bored of reading this post. I am surely tired of writing it, and am off to work on my latest project, a gray wool dress for fall. Pictures coming soon!

Mini Wardrobe Contest plans

FIRST, thanks so much for all your wonderful comments on my Vogue 1150 dress. This is the first time I've ever received over 50 comments on a post. I'm blown away by all the feedback!

The Mini Wardrobe Contest over at Patternreview.com is set to kick off March 16th and run through April 15th. I am determined to enter and finish this one, even though I'll be out of town for part of one week. But it's only 4 garments. I should be able to do that easily, and hopefully won't get tired of my color pallet in that short amount of time.

Here are the fabrics I've chosen. I'm usually more of a vibrant color lover and pink is not my favorite. Especially this pale color pink. But somehow I've amassed a small array of coordinating fabrics and I do love pink and gray together.

As you can see I have 5 fabrics chosen and only need to make 4 garments. The three in the middle are definites and the outer two I can't decide between.

On the left is a black tweed suiting weight polyester with flecks of gray and white in it. I've got Burda's skirt 120 from the November 2009 issue paired with it.
The pink crinkled silky-type-polyester-something-or-another (augh! I never know the names of fabrics!) is going to be made from NewLook 6831, view D (top right drawing). It is low cut and I plan to wear either a black cami or white cami underneath, depending on what it's paired with.

For the middle pink printed silk - my favorite from the bunch - I'm planning to make a simple knee-length bias skirt using Simplicity 4881. BUT, I don't do elastic waisted anything, so will be drafting a waistband for it.

For the gray wool suiting I'm planning a fitted jacket. I love jacket 129 from Burda's September 2008 issue, and have been saving it for the perfect fabric. I plan to do the topstitching in thick black thread. It'll pop just a little off the gray color, but not enough to distract from what I'll be wearing underneath. Although the bow from the pink blouse and the ends of the jacket lapels might make too much fabric in one area. I'll probably make the blouse first and then decide on the jacket design.

The pink on the far right is actually a thin textured knit. Thin and see-through and delicate. I've had this fabric in my stash for several years and have struggled with what to make out of it. A church friend of mine has the cutest tiered knit skirt that I've been thinking about replicating for awhile now. Then I found a similarly spaced tiered dress on Kwik Sew's website. You may think - Oh Horror! - unflattering ruffles and no body definition!!! But I think if I make this out of the thin pink knit in a figure-hugging smaller size and sew the ruffles in the back as well as the front that it just might turn out super cute and flattering too. I think. And it would look nice under a fitted gray jacket as well.

So, do I make the black tweed skirt to pair with the pink blouse? It might look kind of bland from behind when wearing with the gray jacket. Or do I take my chances with the pink tiered dress that might go horribly wrong but would look better with the gray jacket?

***Where to find the contests at Patternreview.com***

I totally understand any confusion about upcoming contests. I found that site a bit hard to navigate at first as well. Okay, click on the "Message Board" tab at the top of the site. Sometimes you have to click it twice because the first click only shows new pattern releases and such. Click on "Contest Discussions" under the "Contests" bar. There you can find a complete list of all the contests for the year under "2010 Contests" as well as all the discussion threads for each contest. HTH!

For Rachel:

Looks like flowers with green stamens or leaves to me. Hope this helps.

More acquired sewing paraphernalia

Yesterday morning I bustled around the house in somewhat of a panic. It was already almost 9 and I hadn't gotten the kids in the van yet. We were suppose to leave at 8:45 to make Jo-Ann's opening time of 9 for the first day of $3.99 Vogues. When I drove into the parking lot, I scrutinized the other people parking and walking into the shopping area. I hurried the kids inside - well, it was raining, in my defense - and headed straight to the pattern drawers. There was no one remotely close by, and probably only 3 or 4 other customers in the store. I felt a little sheepish but got every pattern on my list. Hey, I really love these designs!

Hunting through the stash I pulled this red embroidered silk shantung for V1157. I'm trying to picture it made up and am hoping it won't be overly dressy looking.

Then I pulled these two stripes for V1158. I don't know if I have enough of the silk on the left, and am thinking the stripes might be a little too wide. Then I'd have to find the perfect color to match for the bias bands, and it almost certainly couldn't be found in silk. The white linen blend on the right might work better. I'd do the bias binding in yellow or some other bright color. Hmm, still thinking about that one.

The other patterns I have no current plans for. But check out my new fabrics from Denverfabrics.com. Recently I wrote that I've been stalking their website, waiting for new knits. They finally got some in and were immediately put on sale for $3.95/yard. There were a few other fabrics on sale that I purchased at the same time, mostly wool.

On the left is a gorgeous wool double knit in turquoise. It is incredibly soft and just the perfect weight. I'm kicking myself for not buying a few other colors since it is now completely sold out. Next to it is a royal blue matte jersey. I'm currently in love with that color blue. The next three are ITY knits that I liked the colors and patterns of. The blue matte jersey is the only one I have concrete plans for.

These other two didn't even make it out of the box. The blue is a wool jersey that is so thin I can see my hand through it. The color is beautiful, but I just can't warrant spending $12.50/yard for thin T-shirt material. The other is a burgundy wool knit, the same type Lindsay T just did a post about. She described it as French Terry, and I've got to agree. Blah! It is being sent back. I usually have really great luck with Denverfabrics. This is only the second time I've had to send something back.

Anyway, still plugging away at Vogue 8480, and I'm actually enjoying myself. Hopefully my sewing slump has passed.

Online Thanksgiving sales

A few weeks ago a bunch of the online fabric stores were having sales, and I decided there were some fabrics I could no longer live without.

These first two are from Gorgeous Fabrics. They only cut in whole yard increments, but always seem to be generous on most items (except for silks, as I've noticed.) So, I tend to buy 60" wide fabrics from them, and only get 1 yard. On the left is a stretch sateen in red, white, navy and tan. I'm planning to use Butterick 5351 view A to make a little dress for summer, which will match perfectly with this jacket. The one on the right is a thin white cotton called Instantly Heirloom Cotton. I'm thinking a summer tunic of some sort, maybe with 3/4 sleeves. No pattern has been selected.

These next two are also from Gorgeous Fabrics. The turquoise & yellow snake print is a jersey knit. No plans for it yet. The one on the right is a thin silk chiffon. It makes your eyes a little crossed to look at it all folded up, since you are seeing multiple layers from the top. I'm thinking Butterick 5355 view D, but not with the contrast neck binding. This will look great over white linen pants for summer.

All the others are from Fabricmartfabrics.com. They had 20% off everything, and there were a few things there that I've had my eye on for awhile. This first one is a slinky Maggie London border print knit. I've laid it out on my couch to show you the whole thing. It's very wide. This will have to be used for some sort of simple t-shirt. Perhaps I will include a neck binding of the solid mauve, so I'm not washed out by all that flesh color at the top. Or maybe I need a simple dress in order to utilize the flowers on the bottom.

I splurged on some fabulous silks, which they have wonderful prices on. This is an Anna Sui tie dyed China silk fabric, now sold out. I think the vertical vertebrae looking design is really interesting. I have no idea of what to do with it yet, but do have a little over 2 yards to work with. Maybe a fall/spring top with long sleeves? Suggestions???

Here are the other two silks, also Anna Sui designs. Does anyone know who exactly Anna Sui is? I confess ignorance in the area of fashion designers or labels. It would be interesting to see what she did with the same fabrics if she's got a collection somewhere. Maybe I should just search the web for that information... Well, anyway, the one on the left is a fun wide stripe of patriotic colors. I am planning a bias skirt, with seams of diagonal stripes meeting on the sides and the center front/center back. I use to have the perfect pattern for this, but can't seem to find it. These stripes will make cutting on the bias a snap. On the right is a silk I couldn't pass up, with stripes and embroidered butterflies along both selvages. I purchased 2.5 yards because it is somewhat narrow. No designs are springing to mind for this, either.

Did you happen to know that yellow is my second favorite color? I love it and am buying quite a few cuts of it lately. On the left is a polyester charmeuse that I bought for it's gorgeous print. A blouse? A dress? Not sure. The right side is a yellow cotton velveteen bought for Burda 11-2009-119, which I would link for you but it's in archive limbo land on their site. It's actually a little paler than desired. But since it's made of cotton, I thought I could dye it a darker yellow without any problems. However, draped over it is another yellow I happen to have in the stash, which matches perfectly. A monochromatic yellow ensemble might be a really great look. Thoughts?

Augh! I am buying fabrics faster than I can make garments!!! Why can't I help myself?

Amanda's Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan - in eggplant

Another knit is finished! I'm getting closer and closer to my 2009 goal of 6 knits for the year. This pattern is Wendy Bernard's "Marilyn's Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan". In all honesty it wasn't even on my radar to make. But then I saw Lynn's awesome pink cardigan made this past summer, and I had to have one. I already had this yarn in my extremely small stash from last year and the printed gauge was the same, so I went for it. By the way, I made this fun white blouse in January. Isn't it the perfect top for wearing under this sweater? I love the look!

The yarn is Knit Pick's Merino style 100% wool and it is super warm. I feel like I have discovered a new thing in wool sweaters. They just don't seem to sell them much in Texas, or perhaps they've been out of my price range. Anyway, I hate to be cold, even with our light southern winters, so wool sweaters are great to have on hand.

This pattern is suppose to be looser - hence the name - but I wanted something more form-fitting. I separated the sleeves from the body at 9" diagonally from the CO edge, instead of the called for 10". I just knew this would be a perfect fit. When I finally tried it on after I had done the bottom ribbing, I thought it was a bit snug. Hmmm. I guess I'll check my gauge now. Instead of getting 22 stitches per 4 inches per the pattern, I was getting 24 stitches! Duh! Totally a rookie mistake. I ended up knitting a wider button band and putting the ruffle directly on it. It was still snug, but not too bad.

And then do you know what happened?! I washed it and blocked it and the thing grew to the perfect size!!! Huh? Is this normal behavior for wool fibers? Do you knitters out there expect your wool to grow and knit sweaters smaller because of it? I'd really like to know, because while I know a lot about the behavior of fabrics, I know nothing about yarns.

Aren't these ruffles cute? Thanks, Lynn, for sharing your great modifications. I found the perfect buttons at JoAnn's. After I made both button band and buttonhole band and tried to close it, the buttons kept popping out. I had to go back with needle and thread and whip-stitch around the buttonholes for reinforcement. I'm just learning new knitting techniques left and right with this one!

I chose this purple yarn because I love the color but don't have anything like it in my closet. I also have some wonderful matching fabrics built up to make coordinating garments with, if I ever get finished with the wardrobe contest.

This and that

Remember how much I loved this jacket from the October Burda magazine? But then I was lamenting about where to find some leather or possibly faux leather. Y'all had some great advice about where to go to get skins. I was thinking it over, wondering if I should start with something a little more simple for a first leather project.

And then while perusing through some new fabrics at Hancock's I ran across this:

It's a wonderful fake leather in a great shade of tan with light and dark areas to it. Talk about perfection! It was a steal at $10.99/yard for 60" wide fabric. But wait! Hancock's takes JoAnn's coupons and I just happened to have one for 50% off. I got 2 1/4 yards and hope that's enough. The pattern calls for 3 skins of 30" X 30".

There's not been much sewing going on around here. We went to Houston this weekend to visit my sister and brother-in-law and attend the Texas Renaissance Festival in Magnolia. It had some fun parts but entirely too many freaky people walking around. Exactly what does an S&M costume have to do with the Renaissance, I ask you? Or a chain metal halter top with nothing else on underneath? Yikes! I'm glad my boys aren't old enough to really take notice of those things.

In other news, I'm really struggling with my enthusiasm for this wardrobe contest. I am super bored with aqua and brown, and would really like to be making some other things for fall. Perhaps that is why I've only completed one garment and it's past the middle of this month. I feel like I have to be working on wardrobe garments in order to get them all done, and I hate that feeling. I want to rebel and just forget the whole thing. But then I really do want to complete it. At this point I'm not sure what I'll do.

Houndstooth information

I've gotten several questions about this houndstooth that happened to be sitting on the top pile in a drawer during my last post. It is actually a recent buy from Hancock Fabrics. I think I bought it just a month or two back when they got a bunch of new fall fabrics in. They are hard to come across, right? It has great texture and a somewhat large weave. If you are near a Hancock's, go get yourself some!!! I've currently paired it with this jacket from last year's December Burda, but that's not set in stone.

Out with the old, in with the cold

Okay, so technically it's not cold around here yet. I think the high for today was in the mid 80's. But seeing as it's already October, I thought I'd do the semi-annual changing of the seasons with my fabrics and patterns. I have too much, you see, to keep it all out in neat piles or drawers, and have to put the warm stuff away to wait for next spring. Happily it only took up 1 and a half bins.

I unpacked all my winter stuff that I either didn't get to last year or bought on sale at the end of last winter. It was so much fun! I felt like I was greeting old friends I hadn't seen in awhile.

I did notice a trend, though. There are a lot of jackets waiting to be made. Two pants, a few tops, a hand full of dresses, and the rest jackets. In six drawers of fabric!

I have decided that in order to not carry over all the same things year after year, I'm really going to have to get after those jackets. The plan is to make at least one each month, if not two. I actually don't mind making them. Most things that are fitted and lined seem to turn out great for me. But it does take extra time and I think I've been making easier things for the last year or so.

Here is my sad sad array of jackets, all made by me. (I don't think I've ever actually bought a RTW jacket, come to think of it.) The zebra and the white linen (an orphan) on the left are short sleeve and the black quilt-look on the right is the only long sleeved.

Have any of you done the old switch-a-roo lately? Got any major sewing plans in the works?

Mail call!

Ever buy vintage? I can't say I ever have before, but check these out!

My mom called me about the one on the left that she found among some boxes. I've been wanting to make some matching belts for dresses but couldn't find the kits anywhere. Well after she called, I did a search on Ebay and found an auction for the other two on the right. With shipping they were under $10 for both. I'm pretty excited about these!

And look what else the postman delivered today - my new fabrics from Denverfabrics.com. They just put up a whole slew of ITY jersey knits for $4.45/yard.

The red & white polka dots is for Butterick 5318, view A. The black and white with royal blue print is for NewLook 6429, view A. This will be for winter and I plan to pair it with tall black boots.

The aqua and brown print I was hoping to use for the upcoming wardrobe contest at Patternreview.com, but it does not match the fabric for skirt #3. Oh well, I still like it. I planning to make some winter tops with both of these. No definite pattern selection yet.

I'm planning NewLook 6429 (again) for this black and white swirl print, view E. The collar and waist tie will be done in the white.

Still plugging away on McCall's 5859. The sleeves are extremely poofy!!! So much so that I'm having to borrow a sleeve from another pattern and recut them. But other than that I'm having no problems with it. Hopefully it will be completed by Saturday. Have a great weekend, y'all!

Attention linen experts!

I have a question for you. A few months ago I bought this cute 100% linen print from Denverfabrics.com. I've ordered linen from them before without incident. But this stuff is super stiff!!!

I have washed it in the washing machine on cold and line dried it 3 times now thinking the more you wash linen the softer it becomes. Is this actually true? It is still very stiff. I wanted to make a cute little skirt to match this sweater, but if it won't get any softer I'm going to have to find another project to use it for. I don't like to use fabric softener because my skin is allergic to the perfumes in it. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Wardrobe Contest - Update

Okay, I've filled in a few question marks. Back in late spring when I bought the coordinating Monaco fabrics from JoAnn's, there was this brown brocade that I thought very lovely. It unfortunately sold out before I could purchase any. I was daydreaming about what I could possibly do for a "topper" and thinking what a pity it was not to have the brown brocade. Then I got a wild hair and searched the JoAnn's website. Low and behold they had some! And it was marked down to $6.80/yard! (Although I don't know how you find anything on their site if you don't know the specific fabric line name.) I ordered 2 yards of it and here's what it looks like:

I'm thinking I'll use this jacket pattern from Burda's May 2009 issue:

And even though I will be dressed in a lot of brown, at least with the brocade there will be a floral pattern to break it up.

As for the border print sequin fabric, I think I'll go with NewLook 6829, view D. For the neck trim and front placket I'm planning to use the satin side of some turquoise crepe back satin. That way I'll have a stable fabric to hold it up and close it. I can't tell if the bottom portion is cut on the bias, but if so I'll simply cut it straight grain and put in a side zipper.

The only thing I'm not sure of is the white stretch poplin. I'm going to have to comb through my Burdas and pattern stash to figure it out.

I'm still plugging away on Simplicity 3775. Hopefully I'll find some time tomorrow to finish it up.