The Last of Simiplicity 2850

Hoping all had a beautiful Thanksgiving.

I've completed my final top for the Month of Tops and like to give a big Thank You to Faye for hosting a great sew along.  Also, would like to give a shout-out to all the ladies that participated and created beautiful garments.  This sew along allowed me to create tops that added some pop to my wardrobe - and I mean POP by going with vibrant prints that I can use in my wardrobe repertoire. 

The fabric is another poly/lycra from Walmart @ $2.00/yd during one of my shopping excursions. The print is interesting and reminds me of an asian inspired print.  I did the same pattern alterations as the others, but there was some repeated positioning to get the print on the sleeve and body of the blouse to line up... think its close enough.

With 3 days remaining, I would like to get started on a coat. I made a coat this Spring, but the warmer temps came fast and wasn't able to get a good wear out of it.  However, with the Fall temps I have been wearing the dickins' out the coat, which I used upholstery fabric in a rust color.  I did not do any underlining to add warmth and used a polyester lining, so it works well for now.  The fabric is washing machine friendly and does not wrinkle and no sign of shrinkage.  So another coat is in order.

I visited Sav-a-thon who was hosting a sale on faux fur and selected a Wheat colored faux fur with 80/20% Acrylic/Modacrylica with a short pile, minimal one-way stretch and soft.  The top fabric is Sandstone in color and a textured polyester blend used for curtains, which I'll be used as an underlining.  Since the faux fur has one-way stretch, I will use the stretch vertically and hope that issues will not crop up wherein hindsight I should be using an underling with the same characteristics.

My next fabric trip was to Fulton fabrics where they had a new selection of upholstery fabrics.  There were 8 different colors to chose from and I purchased a deep seaform fabric with a very tight stitch, and smooth to the touch on the fashion fabric side. The underside has some type of weaved backing with a coating and to soften the underside I tossed it in the washing machine on a cold setting and tumbled dry.  As for shrinkage, I started out with 2-1/2 yds and after washing & drying, ended with 2-3/8 yds.

Here is a pic of the fabrics after washing & drying... used a lot of fabric softner.

Little if any wrinkling.

 I explained to the clerk that I wanted some type of windbreak lining and he suggested using - as he like to call it umbrella fabric, I like to call it shower curtain fabric.  Very smooth and subtle, but with some type of coating on the back.  I washed it together with the fabric pictured above and ended up with the same shrinkage of 2-3/8 yds.  The fabrics that I will be using for underlining salvage edge reads PKaufman - Flame Retardant....umm good to know.



Purchased the same fabric as above but in a Wine color and coordinating fabric for underlining.  I still need to find buttons and lining. 

These are the patterns I've selected for my coats and although the patterns call for more yards of fabric than I purchased, making the jackets shorter will balance it out.... I hope...teehee.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - JFK

Simplicity 2850 - MOT #4

At it again with Simplicity 2850.... what could I add to this post that's different from MOT #2 and MOT #3, just that I nearly cut this top too short in an attempt to make it look more like.... what else a top...lol - instead of a tunic.

Used another poly/lycra, which was purchased from N&M Fabric Center.  During one of my daughter's shopping excursions on Jamaica Avenue, she came across this fabric store and called me excited about  it.  The following week we schlepped there where there were loads of knits. It's a small shop crammed with knits and tons of Indian fabrics in beautiful colors and intricate embroidery and gems.  Also there is a small  selection of african print fabrics in cotton batiks, metallic prints, and mudcloth.  The trip back home was totally comical, b/c we must have had 20+ yds of fabric and she realized that fabric can be a heavy load to carry.  Back in April I used 4 yards from the batch to make two blouses, one in a yellow abstract print and one in a red/black/white print.  To date, those blouses have become short-sleeve tops and worked well during the summer days.

This is how I will wear it today...

MOT #3 w/ Simplicity 2850 - Take II

My 3rd blouse for the Month of Tops Sew Along using Simplicity 2850.  This blouse went together quickly, while chatting with my Sewing Sister Andrea last night I was able to sew all the pieces together, and this morning serged the armholes and hemmed the sleeves and the bottom of the blouse. I used another poly/lycra fabric, purchased at Virgo Fabrics & Notions, Inc. for a $1.00/yd.

I failed to mention in my previous post that the fabric for the 1st one  is from Metro Textiles, which I purchased during the Pattern Review Fabric Excursion on November 7th).  Let me detour for a little and tell you about my first Fabric Excursion... It was totally Awesome.  I finally got to meet my Sewing Sister Andrea (a sister from another mother) we have known each other for almost 2 years via blogging, sewing & knitting communities.  We are always on the phone.. and I mean alwayyyyyyys....lol.  We put our phones on speaker and talk sewing, knitting, inspirations, ideas and just about anything until our ears are seeping threads. 

Andrea and I met at Starbucks and enjoyed coffee and chatted like we normally do on the phone.  Anyone looking at us would not have known we were meeting in real life for the first time.  Of course, I gushed over her argyle sweater, being an argyle queen and all... it looked great on her.  We gave each other big hugs and started chatting like always before heading off to Metro Textiles.

Enter Metro Textiles where I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Kashi, a total sweetheart.  I controlled myself and didn't do too much damage.  I walked out of there with just 4 yards of fabric, which is out of character for me, but I was determined to behave.

The fabric selection was plenty... I think I did more caressing than anything else...teehee

I will say there was some serious fabric purchasing going on up in there... can I say peer pressure was intense, just seeing others purchasing will make you spend more, but again I remained in control... until the next time...lol, which is very soon there are some fabrics I was eyeing and need to go back and get them.

Our next stop was Mood, the day was beautiful and enjoyed chatting with the other participants as we walked over to Mood.  I think I did a 360 degree turn, just WoW... I was so overwhelmed that I forgot to buy a Mood bag... dagnamit.... O' well next time. 

After the Wow factor I noticed this beautiful draped dress... talk about skills, I was told that a young lady that works there did it during her downtime..... just gorgeous..

There is fabric for days... one would've thought I was roaming around looking for my mind... b/c I was spellbound by the huge selection.

We sauntered on over to Greenberg & Hammer and let me tell you the weather was gorgeous as we strolled along New York City streets as others bustled and strolled about us.  What a pleasant surprise to see a lovely display board, Mimosa & pastries welcoming us.

 The staff was extremely friendly, helpful  and knowledgeable.  They have a great selection of notions, I purchased buttons, sewing tools, bias tape & interfacing.  I also got the opportunity to meet members from the American Sewing Guild and actually members from my local area.  As we were saying our goodbyes we were presented with cute gift bags. 

To rest our feet, bags and fill our bellies, we stopped at Village 38, where everyone sat at a long table and got the chance to talk fabric, sewing and more.

After lunch we headed over to Rosen & Chadick, where I spent most of my time browsing through their selection of cottons with beautiful prints.  Also, their Wool selection is incredible... pricey, but incredibly gorgeous.

Andrea and I ventured off on our own and visited Habu Textiles, a quaint studio that emits serenity as soon as you walk-in.  I barely said anything fearful that my deep voice would break the peacefulness....lol and quitely browsed their hand-dyed yarns and home accessories.  For a moment I felt compelled to sit among the various baskets filled with gorgeous yarns and meditate.

We headed back uptown and took in the night sites of New York City while discussing our beautiful day and the people we had the pleasure of meeting, then bidding goodbye and vowing to participate in another fabric excursion... possibly PR's Canada trip.

Ok... where was I....ummm - Oh... Simplicity 2850 Take II. I did the same alterations as the 1st one, which made this project even quicker than the last one.  If anyone is looking to bust their knit stash, this pattern will defintiely make a dent.  Off to do another one.... cya

Month of Tops #2 w/ Simplicity 2850

Simplicity 2850: Misses knit dress, tunic & hat

View A:

I loooooooooooove this top, super comfortable and great for those overcast rainy days.  The garment went together so fast I had to double check to make sure I hadn't left out any pattern pieces.  I barely looked at the instructions after a quick review.   I went with View A - the dress, I didn't like the neckband application for View C and opted out of the pockets for View A.  The front and back was cut on the fold - immediately loving the pattern before I finished it.  The top has centered gathers at the neckline, which I ran a basting stitch between the notches and pulled closely and knotted.  The neckband was easy, cut one piece, sewed the ends together, folded in half with wrong sides together using no interfacing and with raw edges straight stitched to neckline.  However, I noticed dipping at the front of the neckline, but solved that issue by doing another straight stitch 1/2" from the first row of stitching.  The sleeves for this garment were voluminous and since the pattern was busy, I didn't think I needed voluminous sleeves.  I initially cut the size 14 at the sleeve cap and graded down to a size 10 for the remainder of the sleeves, but once I cut the fabric and fit it to my arm, there was still excess fabric and removed an additional 2" from the sleeves doing a broke-down pivot and cut move.  Although I straight stitched the neckband to the neckline as well as the sleeve seams, I thereafter serged them.  For the sleeve edges & the top hem, I did my usual - serged and folded to the inside and final straight stitched.

Did I tell you that I looooooooooove this top, the fit, the boldness and comfort.  You know what's going to happen next right.... Repeat.

New Look 6407

I was so happy that I'd finished my first top for the Month of Tops hosted by Faye @ Faye's Sewing Adventure that I couldn't see the clouds for the sun. However, when I woke up this morning the clouds made me realize that what I thought would be satisfactory wasn't so. I used New Look 6407 with a poly/cotton fabric in soft blue and tweaked the pattern sleeves for french cuffs. The pattern called for bracelet sleeves, I wanted long sleeves and extended the sleeves 3" and also lengthened the sleeve band. Some where along the line I lost sight of what I was doing and my cuff opening was in the wrong direction. I initially thought I would be satisfied with them, but ummm nerp...lol At 7:30 am I took on the task of removing the cuffs from the sleeves and positioning it correctly. Ahhh, I feel so much better... it was a tedious task, but in the end I am very happy. Matter of fact I'm going back to the men's boutique shop that I'd purchased the cufflinks from, the sales clerk showed me a lovely cufflink set with a light blue stone and thinking it would look better than the onyx ones I purchased. New Look 6407: Misses Blouse with collar, sleeve and cuff variations. The blouse went together effortlessly. I serged all the seams and did a straight stitch to keep the serged edges flat. At some point I thought I would take flight, the collar on this blouse is definitely boeing 747 potential....lol.

Here is the cuff right side

and the wrong side

All in all the blouse is a great addition to any wardrobe. I would love to do another one and hope to be able to tweak the collar for less flair.

Month of Tops Sew-Along

I have joined Faye's Month of Tops Sew-Along.

I pulled out 18 blouse patterns and narrowed it down to 4 (thinking to myself that I had to be realistic with the time I have remaining to get them done). Here is my run down of patterns, which is subject to changes...*hehe*

I'm starting with New Look 6407, which is a button-down blouse with darts, and sleeve variations. I will be using a poly/cotton fabric in a light blue and tweaking the pattern by lengthening the sleeves and using the sleeve band to create a French Cuff look , possibly extending the band for the right circumference. I checked PR and this blouse was reviewed 51 times... Wowzer!

I like the ruffle on blouse E and will do long sleeves, and again using the sleeve band to mimic french cuffs and the peter pan collar. Also this will be my first time doing ruffles. Any tips would be helpful.
This season I am seeing a lot of blouses with tuck detailing and thinking this blouse would be perfect.

I like the style of this pullover blouse and like the look of it with a vest.

I'm hoping to get started on cutting out NL6407 tonight and narrowing down my fabrics for the rest of the patterns. This is so exciting and looking forward to the other participants lovely creations.