Next! Sewing Mojo is Flowin!

I have been sewing like crazy!   But NEXT:  I am going to go back to the Seamster Dandelion top to make a leather shell!  Here's my last (and fitting perfectly after more than a dozen washes) version:

Can you see the lovely side panel?
 It curves from halfway to center back up under the arm to a princess seam

There's a center back zip
(which I don't use in this version, but I am sure I will need in a leather version)

The fabric is gorgeous - some kind of batik on a plaid cotton

Here is my first version:  made in a cotton lawn - I put this one up at the store - I made an identical one for myself by the invisible zipper ate the lawn on my first zip - I immediately went out an bought a proper invisible zipper foot.  These shots show the design lines nicely.

the curved side panel shows up well on this shot

So - what else have I sewn?

I made a BBQ shirt for my DH using the bits from a shirt we ordered online  (apparently an XXL for a child)

 -I think the main fabric is a Kaufman Interweave chambray (pepper? I think) - I bought a remnant.

My friend gifted me some crazy poly-knit, I love it!  So I made (another) Lisbon Cardigan

Here's another one I didn't blog from May (apparently that was my last haircut!):

I made a Plantain Tee out of a gorgeous Rayon jersey from my Nature's Fabrics prize pack

Plantain Tee

And - a Sophie Swimsuit that I will blog when I make one from the finalized pattern

Sophie Swimsuit

Today I will finish this dress.  I totally messed with a woven pattern to make a knit version of view C

phew!  two weeks of holidays, then I will tackle the leather shell - do you think denim will make a good test run?

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 #10: Upcycling for the Canadiens - A Repurposful Bronte

OOOOOOOH!  Another Bronte Top! 

Do you like the contrast binding?

This was a precious upcycle stash, and I am dieting, so I decided to make the shirt in the next smaller size - so it's pretty tight - but the jocks like that, right?

Hubby is VERY happy.

I cut the red and blue shirts at the seams (side, shoulder, armscythe) - leaving the hems in place.  I used the sleeves, retaining the cuff and centreing on the two arm top seams (it was a three piece sleeve).  I manipulated the front to centre the logo (which was off centre, hence for upcycling) and for both the front and back I retained the hems.

The original Tshirt label visible at the viewer's right hemline was retained (but is included in the seam allowance a tiny bit).

Meters Used on these projects: 2 (as 2 shirts)

Total Meters Busted 2/15/2015: 17

Making a Baby Blanket go a little further

It's no secret that I adore my Sister in Law and dote on her daughter.  Living in a house with boys at all stages (baby, tween, husband, and Father... and a boy-dog to top it off) means I desperately cultivate my girly realms.  A's pink dresses and ribbons and bows are like a cool drink of water on a hot summer day.

I can't say no to SIL and when she asked me to craft something out of her baby blanket I followed suit and said yes and accepted the package.  SIL was thinking "a purse" or an accessory for her dolls, but when I unpacked the TINY beautiful Minke (a silky fleece blanket from the fairy land of new babies) I could only imagine extending the cuddle.

The pattern is a big polkadot with animals popping out of some of the circles.

Minke is the softest velvet you can imagine, and this one had been washed a hundred times so I had confidence that I could trust it not to shrink any further and I thought if I carefully unpicked the binding and separated it from the pink fleece backing that I could  use it for some piece of clothing.

In my pattern stash I have a number of kids patterns including Simplicity 1926 (http://sewing.patternreview.com/patterns/51403 ) which is a cute coordinates package that includes a kimono sleeved bolero.  I had considered it a few times for A, so I pulled it out and voilà!  It fit! (JUST).

There were a few circles available in the arm pits of the patter, so I cut carefully to leave three animals for a coordinating Peek -a- Boo Pattern Shop Janey Jump Around  Dress ( http://www.peekaboopatternshop.com/janey-jump-around-dress/ )

The Jump Around Dress is a favorite, I have made it several times now, so I pulled some fuscia fleece and white jersey from my stash and used the three fabrics to make the two items.

The three remnant animals became appliqués on the dress, elbow patches and an elephant at centre chest.

So SIL was thrilled, and A was equally happy.