Catch-up - Where have I been AND Stash Busters #39-46 (of 48)

I have had VERY busy days since my last (published) post on September 4 - A massive project in my paying job has been tying me up - and in all my non-paying roles adjusting to the new back to school hours, 7 weeks of CrossFit training, and one heck of a lot of MRIs, Mammograms, Ultrasounds and other unpleasant appointments.

I have found myself holding back on sewing my intended projects - hoping 7 weeks of CrossFit would mean new measurements (nope, it didn't have the intended measurements impact - but I AM much fitter)  - and knowing that I was going to have some significant changes in my measurements over the coming months (I have been identified with Cowden's Syndrome and will be having a double mastectomy and other procedures soon).  - Isn't that the craziest parenthetical announcement ever?  I am trying to compartmentalize and that Pandora's () has slammed back shut again.

SO - what have I been sewing?  STUFF:  Non. Stop. Keeping. Sane, Sewing.

I had to do a little alteration on this raincoat to get it back from the Extended-to-4T to a 2T

Stash Buster #39:

I made another M7093, but changed the neckline to the one from View A of 7251.  I originally planned on making 7251, but  I was short the necessary yardage for pattern placement/matching.  My friend Nicole from Sartorial Sewing gifted me this wonderful woven and I have worn the top about 8 times (in 8 weeks).

Stash Busters #40 and 41 are a Hallowe'en costume, so pictures and post later.

Stash Buster #42:

This is the Shwin Designs Johnny B Good Hoodie - cute as hell and reviewed here.

 Stash Buster #43:

I followed this tutorial from The Crazy Tailor to make a doll carrier (here is a pin for you)

Stash Buster #44 was a wadder organza skirt.

 Stash Buster #45 wasn't - I made another Julia Cardigan:

and #46 - my entry to the PR Sweater Knit Sewing Contest:

A Nancy Zieman Santa Fe Top - here's my review

So - #47 is almost 1/2 way (a Plantain T with blousy arms).

Next,  I am onto the massive Mrs Claus project (Due November 21) - and that's a whole blog post on its own.

So - the most pleasant of all the appointments in the last month was the routine mammogram -
The Ontario Breast Screening Program is awesome.
The appointment was 25 mins start to finish - and I was only 5 minutes in the exam room.

Go. 

Stash Buster #8: Dream Realized! Lavender Stretch Lace Bronte Top

1993.  

(or was it 1994?)

We were organizing for my BFF'S wedding, and selected lace tops to wear with pretty skirts.  We even bought the tops before my GF got super-clever and simplified her wedding (just me in a nice outfit as her MoH).  I have no idea what happened to the top.  I have looked for it over the tears to no avail.  I dream about that pretty, golden and taupe lace once in a while; wearing it with a navy blazer, or a pair of palazzo pants (it WAS the 90's).

So a while ago in the remnant bin at Fabricland I found 1.5 metres of stretch lace fabric, and I pictured wearing it as that top.  Sure, it wasn't gold - it was pink and grey - but I wanted the top.  Into my stash went the fabric.

Recently I have pulled out the lace and fondled it, I wondered how difficult it was going to be to work with, I read articles that had you cutting around the lace to make invisible seams, read  Threads 175 about a Guipure skirt, and (the proverbial straw) I have been considering a six item capsule wardrobe for a Patternreview.com

So I was in a manic sewing mood and I am out of tracing paper - so I am limited to a recent pattern - Hudson Pants?  another Julia Cardigan?

OOOOOOOH!  A Bronte Top!  

I was thrilled with how easily this sewed up - I shortened the arm by (cough4inchescough).  It looks like I should do a FBA next time (there's a self correcting "dart" there).  My serger is off sprouting angel wings somewhere, so it was stitched with a little zigzag and it looks great!  I used self-fabric for the binding - and it worked (but I DID topstitch in the same little 1.5x1.5 zigzag).  It looks great!

I know - I need to wear a cami with it, but I LOVE THIS TOP!

WOOOOOOFREAKING HOOOOO!

Meters Used on this projects: 1.5

Total Meters Busted 2/07/2015: 13

Stash Busting Project #2 (of 48) - Blue/Black Interlock Julia Cardigan

Check out this crazy fabric:

I pictured a great tunic-y cardigan I could wear with a belt over and spice up a black jeans ensemble.

Tonight, though, I was looking for instant gratification and I think I may have blundered.

This is what I got:

I need to wear it all day and decide if I like how it looks.  I am always far more critical of my creations when I am wearing them.

Meters Used on this project: 1.8

Total Meters Busted 1/7/2015: 3.8

Stash Busting Project #1 (of 48) - Gold Julia Cardigan

The Julia Cardigan is my current most used pattern. I completed 6 versions for 2014, my 7th is this lovely one, and my 8th (finally: one for me!) is on my sewing table - just waiting for me to thread black into my serger.

This version is for my lovely SIL (my Brother's Wife) who is a conservative dresser, and who has challenged herself to step away from her comfort zone of grey, white and black.  I gave SIL a choice of fabrics from my stash, and didn't tell her I actually chose this one for her, and she picked it!!!!

The cardigan has turned out lovely - I hope she loves it on as much as I love it.  She's very lucky that she wears a different size and needed a wide shoulder adjustment!  I am coveting her cardi (never mind that the colour is not the best choice for my complexion - it feels awesome).

I did a neat shoulder adjustment on this version I split the  shoulder and pivoted at the arm scythe.

It seems to have worked very well - and was very easy - I just trued up the shoulder after I cut the other sides and it sewed together great, and looks good on the dress-form.

I'm looking forward to seeing it on her.

Meters Used on this project: 2

Total Meters Busted 1/6/2015: 2

The Julia Cardigan - palooza

There is a really great promo that rears up on the Internet from time to time at Perfect Pattern Parcel

It's a package of patterns that you buy en masse at your self-determined price.

Recently, Parcel #6 was available and I splurged:

Mostly it was the first 3 I wanted, but now I regret not paying a little more to unlock the bonus pattern.

The Bronte Top and Hudson Pant became a wonderful pair of matchy match PJs - I don't think I want to share a body shot photo.....  The fabric is an adorable silky knit (to which velcro on baby bibs absolutely ADHERES...)

I do want to make more of both that I might wear for public consumption - I need to do a FBA on the Bronte Top - I made the size that matched my measurements, but I am not fully thrilled with the fit, I think I will go down 1 size and then do a FBA.

The Hudson Pant is comfy and fits exactly as all the images on Google portray - I find them a manish, low rise, and sloppy - BUT COMFORTABLE!

Now I am making a bunch of The Julia Cardigan

It suits a lot of testers, so I am giving it to people for Christmas (shhhh!)   I had some great vintage fabric that made a wonderful bohemian in the capped sleeve version, and another in two fabrics in 3/4 length, I have 3 more cut out that I am whipping together this weekend.  I'll post photos of the finished objets once they gifts have been unwrapped.