BWOF 10-2008-119 - Floral wrap top

Oops! I know I wrote about all the completed projects from last week I had to post here. This week has been super busy for some reason. We were suddenly out of everything, including pants for my 4 year old that didn't have holes in the knees. So I've been running here and there purchasing things... But here's my new blouse!

It's a simple wrap top made of stretch satin from Jo-Anne's. I really love the fabric and was excited to see this blouse in the October issue of BWOF (Burda World of Fashion), also made from stretch satin. The front is cut on the bias giving it some lovely drape. Here you can see the invisible side zip:

And the other side with the gathers:

I so enjoyed making this blouse. I had zero fit issues, the fabric was a dream to work with, and everything went together smoothly. Plus, since it has some stretch to it, it's very comfortable.

Okay, here's a few detail shots. As you probably know by now, I like the bias tape. I couldn't find a light gray to match the background, but I thought this fuchsia/red matched pretty well. This is the inside neckline and facings.

This is the shoulder seam. I did french seams here and more bias tape around the armhole seam:

At the bottom hem I also used bias tape. I usually don't do this, but since in the front there were two layers of bias cut fabric, it would have been too bulky to do my usual turned under invisible hem. Plus the bias tape kept the fabric from stretching out while I stitched the hem. I used gray thread for the top and fuchsia/red for the bobbin. That way the gray showed through (barely) on the front hemline but the bias tape didn't have gray stitching showing on the inside. Here you can also see the side french hem.

Here's the sleeve hem. This is what I usually do, turning under the edge so there's no exposed raw fabric that needs to be finished.

Here's the line drawing:

You might notice my blouse wraps in the other direction. This is because after I'd cut it out, I noticed some marks on the right front of the fabric. That problem was easily solved by sewing the left side on top instead of the right.

I intended to wear this blouse with a matching gray skirt. I started this skirt last week with the intention of having it completed last weekend. I'm having fit issue upon fit issue with this dumb thing. I want to wave the white flag of defeat, but I just purchased this fabric so the cost is fresh on my mind. And I think the style is cute with that side ruffle and inverted pleat at the bottom. So I might just set it aside and come back to it in the fall. Which is something I never do. Once I start a project, I follow through until it's either completed or in the wadder pile.

Anyhow, I have a sweater completed that I need to have photographed. I guess I'll get around to that on Saturday. Have a great weekend!

Simplicity 2758 - Gray skirt w/ white topstitching

This is one of several garments made while my boys were off in west Texas with their grandparents. It is a simple design and I had zero fit issues, but all that precise white running-stitch really slowed me down. Completely worth it, though, IMO. This skirt has a front pleat and little pleated patch pockets, which totally sold me on the pattern.

I made this skirt to match this blouse, but while wearing the outfit to church this morning, I dribbled coffee all down the front. *Sigh.* This is what I call having an "Amanda moment". So you're seeing it paired with a super plain white blouse and my not-so-plain new pink pumps.

This design also features the running-stitch around the hem. Twice. That might look really cute, but I was D-O-N-E after the waistband and pockets. The waistband closes at the side and has an invisible zipper.

In this close-up you can see the white stitching and pockets better. The pattern directions have you topstitch the pockets to the skirt. I did that but it was distracting with all that other white stitching. So I sewed them invisibly by hand to the skirt instead. I love how the front pleat starts lower on the body and doesn't begin right under the waistband.

Here's a few close-up. This is the invisible zipper:

I added a full lining. When I cut the lining fabric, I decided to omit the pleat since it's purely decorative. I also attached the white running-stitch to the front side of the waistband only, so that it wouldn't show on the inside of the skirt. You know how I prefer neat insides and such. :)

I made view E, pictured on the bottom right side. I also love the white blouse they've paired it with, so might be making that one of these days.

Questions & Answers

SO, my kids are off at the in-laws until Friday - kind of a spur of the moment thing - and I have tons of time to sew and knit. I already have a skirt finished, but you'll have to wait until this weekend since my photographer (Justin) works until dark and our indoor lighting is so poor.

Here are some questions I've received lately and their answers:

1. Of Large print green shift Carolyn asked:
This is a cute dress on you and as you say be fantastic come summer! Can I ask a question - Do you own a serger? I was a little confused by the raw edges? Thanks!

No, I do not own a serger. I have a very small place set up to sew and nowhere to put one.

2. Of Black and orange floral dress w/ side gathers Lisa asked:
Amanda you sew really fast ! I love the lines of that dress . Tell me when doing the lining did you simply cut an extra front and back and make it up the same ? I am yet to attempt a lining.

Yes, for this dress I did simply cut an extra front and back for the lining. I cut the facing pieces out of interfacing and fused them to the lining pieces. That way I get the stability of the interfacing without the added bulk of a facing.

3.Of Red fitted blouse Cennetta asked:
Cute blouse. Where do you buy your shoes? Love them!

Believe it or not I buy 95% of my shoes online. I use to buy from Endless.com when they were first starting out and would mark things really low. But now I find the same shoes for super low prices at Amazon.com. I browse around Endless because you can search by certain parameters, like shoe size or specific color. Then I put them in a wishlist on Amazon and wait for them to be marked down. I don't get too attached to anything because I already have too many at home. If a shoe starts out at around $80, I usually don't buy it unless it gets marked down to around $20.

For example, I just bought these shoes:

Paris Hilton Women's Glitzy Pump in pink

They started off at $79.95, and I just snagged them for $15.81! There are some really good deals to be had online, you just have to be patient. Oops, am I giving away all my secrets? Enough about shoes...

4. Of Side ruched animal print dress EmilyA asked:
I recently made a similar knit dress and was frustrated by the way the bottom hem turned out. The 5/8 inch looked very rounded in the end since it was a synthetic knit and didn't press that well. How do you do your hemlines on knits so neatly? Any tips? I am actually about to make the dress from this post next.

I usually do an invisible hem on knits, actually. My only advice is to press it as best as possible and pin it to death. If the iron doesn't get it, try squirting some water on it and then pressing it some more. Sometimes that works better then steam.

Now, I have a question for you! What the heck does RTW mean?!!! I figured out LBD (little black dress), FBA (full bust adjustment), TNT (tried and true), but never RTW! Is is ReTail World? I have no idea. Clue me in, please.