12-4-12 *Jacket Numero Uno*

Pattern:  Butterick 5567 - view D

 Size:  size 8 - no alterations

Fabric:  navy blue (very subtly striated with dark plum) tropical weight worsted wool gabardine from Fabric Mart

Project Photo:

Comments:  Since joining the Jacket a Month (12-4-12) sewalong on Stitcher's Guild, I have been seeing amazing jackets and coats everywhere.  Whether in pattern form or on retail shopping sites, I am bombarded by inspiration.  Oddly enough though, this first jacket sprang forth without any outside influence.  I picked up the pattern at the last BMV sale and while going through my stash, this wool seemed like the perfect match. 

This jacket sewed up very quickly and easily.  The pattern is drafted well, the instructions are good and all the pattern pieces fit together perfectly.  This would be an ideal project for a beginning sewist looking for a simple intro jacket project.  There is essentially no fitting due to the dropped shoulders and the large amount of ease built into the design.  Also, the jacket closes with a single snap at the neck, so there are no finicky closures (like buttons or zippers) to fret about.

I'm not sure this would be the best design for the busty gals in the crowd - due to the limited fitting options.  However, the rest of us boobically impaired ladies don't need much fitting.  Flat pattern, flat chest - it's all good.

Conclusion:  Nice little jacket.  I won't likely be making it again, as I prefer jackets with some more waist shaping, but this one will be a nice addition to my professional wardrobe.

2011 - So Far, Not So Good

This has been a tough week in my neck of the woods.

On Monday, a friend of mine lost her father.  He died of a massive heart attack.  There were no warnings, so no one had a chance for proper good-byes.  It's tragic.

Also on Monday, a colleague of mine was laid to rest.  Marlene was a 31 year old teacher at my school.  She died suddenly of septic shock just after the holidays.  I can't imagine the grief and disbelief that her husband of three years, her parents and her friends are feeling.  I was not close to Marlene.  In fact, I barely knew her.  And that makes me sad.  Sometimes, the pace of life is so quick that we forget to cherish those around us.  I hope not to make that mistake again.

Butterick 5523

Pattern:  Butterick 5523

Size:  size 8, with modifications discussed below

Fabric:  coral wool blend knit from Fabric Mart

Project Photo:

Comments:  I love this dress.  It's such a wonderful addition to my work wardrobe for the winter months.  The combination of the long sleeves and the heavy knit fabric allows me to wear a dress in the dead of winter and still keep all my important bits warm and cozy.  Also, this dress is so comfortable and easy to wear.  And the best part?  People kept complimenting me all day long (even the clueless men in my department that never notice anything!).

The dress is sewed up straight out of the package, with only minor alterations.   The instructions would have you construct the bodice (complete with sleeves), followed by the skirt and then attach the two parts together.

Instead, I sewed in a different order.  I completed the  entire front, followed by the entire back.  Then, I set the sleeves in flat.  Finally, I sewed the side seams for the entire length of the dress (from sleeve cuff to armpit to hem).  Since my fabric was a very stable knit, with only minor stretchiness, I wanted to have the ability to sew smaller side seams if I needed the extra room.  In the end, I used 1/4" seams, instead of the typical 5/8" seams and this helped me avoid the stuffed sausage look.

My only qualm is with the depth of the neckline.  It's a wee bit too low for my taste.  I will be raising it by 1/2" to 1" in the next version.  I like to be able to bend over at school and not have all my wares on display (however, paltry those wares may be). 

I styled the dress with an enamel bee pin (Joan Rivers, similar here), worn at the waistline, a pair of opaque black tights and my fabulous new black leather boots (Clarks Wyld Polka).

Before I sign off, let me take a minute to gush about my boots.  I always have problems finding boots that will fit my monster calves (they are 15" in circumference in case you're wondering), but these babies zip right up, no problemo.  They are nicely cushioned in the sole, they have rounded toes and a lower heel, which is so important for a gal on her feet all day long.  I wore them for eight hours with nary a pinch, twinge or ouchie.  Also, the leather is soft and they are well made.  An extra added bonus was that I got them for an excellent price ($90 CDN, regular $160 CDN).  I will most certainly be looking for these bad boys in brown as well.  So ladies, if you have problem feet, combined with the calves of a Russian weight lifter like I do, then give these awesome boots a whirl.  You might be glad you did.

Conclusion:  This cutie pie of a cowl neck dress is a definite winner!  I can see myself making up several more versions of this little number.

Hartley vs Guinness

I have a riddle for you.  

What do you get when mix a 4-pack of beer and very rambunctious pup with very strong teeth?

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Don't worry.  No vizslas were harmed during the making of this riddle.

One/One/One One

I'm gonna be honest.  I can't bring myself to do a recap of 2010.  The first six months of the year were some of the most grief stricken times that I have ever lived through and the final six months were some of the most joyous.  Either way, it's just too exhausting to think about.

Did I keep my New Year's Resolutions from last year?  I'm guessing probably not.  I refuse to look them up and find out.

Do I have any resolutions for the year going forward?  Not really.  I'd like to sew an outfit a month and I'd like to start exercising more.  But, other than that, I'm pretty flexible.

I finally feel like I have myself in a positive place and I won't dwell on the past.  My sewing mojo has returned, my fabric buying habit is back in full gear, we're prepping to build our dream house and Hartley keeps me laughing everyday.

Things are good.

A Sh-tload of Shetland

Fabric Mart has a fab fabric sale on now.  They are offering 50% of their huge selection of Shetland wools.  That means that they shake out to $9 US per yard.  If you are in need of a few winter coats like I am, you may want to follow my lead and pick up a few good wools.

From amongst all the delectable hues, I narrowed it down to these choices (Watermelon Rose, Heathered Rust, Goldenrod, Concord Blue, Spring Green and Heathered Palm Leaf in order from top to bottom).  Now, I'm pretty sure these guys are going to be scratchy little rotters, but I couldn't resist the rainbow of beautiful saturated colours.

While there, I also picked up a super cool teal and black plaid wool gabardine.  This little beauty will become a nifty circle skirt.

So, enlighten me folks, has anyone else bought some of the Shetland wool?  Is it a picky, pokey nightmare? Will I rue the day that I snatched up all this fabric yardage?  Or will I marvel at my bargain hunting skills while I stroke my new soft and cosy acquisitions?

A Few More Retail Goodies

I've hate the word "goodies."  I had an aunt that always used this word to refer to candy and there was something in the way she said it that would make my skin crawl.  Otherwise, she was a wonderful aunt, but every time she said "goodies," I wanted to poke ice picks in my ears.  Just thought I'd share that bit of family trivia before I get to the point today.

Now, onward to the point...

What with all the double knit/ponte knit/RPL knit love that has been going around on sewing blogs lately, I was inspired to pick up a couple of pieces of Sophia Knit in Sweet Violet and Teal from Fabric.com (20% off sale, dontcha know).  These puppies will become some fabu knit dresses in my future professional winter wardrobe.

And, in other news, aside from the fabric, I also picked up the knitting pattern book, Thrown Together, by Kim Hargreaves.  I was inspired into single-minded obsession for this book after seeing Amy's version of the Aimee Shrug (which is pictured on the book's cover).  For a peek at the other fab patterns in this book, check out this link.

Oh, so you didn't know that I can knit?  Yesiree bub, it's just another of my varied and spectacular skills.  I truly am a domestic goddess!

12-4-12 *Vintage Pattern Picks*

Yesterday, I showed a bunch of modern jacket/coat patterns that are on my short list to be made during the 12-4-12 Jacket Sew-a-long.  Today, I want to send out some vintage pattern love.

Aren't they all just delicious?