Not-So-Haute Couture

Jordan Marie has some cute sets. Some of them have just plain ole' serged edges, too.

Getting inspiration for Malachi's coming home outfit. Just something cute but not fussy. I'm thinkng a receiving gown and cap, with a WtP applique. There's this one, with snap shoulders and hand mitts, made of cotton knit:

This is what I'm going to try with the Unique pants: Debbie's Sewing Projects Fisheye Dart .

I whipped up a toile of the re-issued Unique pants pattern. At the risk of being in fitting denial (a phrase coined by internet friend and sister sewist Lori ), they look pretty darn good. Unique re-drafted this pattern to reflect my asymmetrical hips and the result is nice. There still is some bagginess in the back of the thighs; however, at first blush it doesn't seem too bad--perhaps because I used a less drapey fabric for this toile. A look through the pattern catalogs brought these 2 possiblities for my size 14 princess-seamed shirt experiment: 4922 and 4780

I've been looking for this site and Manolo found it! Thanks Manolo!

I've been trying to get a good fit from Butterick 3784 princess seam shirt: Based on some threads at the Pattern Review message board I decided to start with a size 16W so the neck/back/shoulders would fit better, then alter up for everything else (swayback, bust, waist, hips). After some hard work, basting, fitting, ripping, re-altering, etc., it's getting there. The back looks great . But (and here's where it gets weird) I have had to fold out tons of extra fabric in the center chest above the bust. FFRP says this alteration is usually only 1/8 to 1/4 inch--more than that and you're in the wrong size--go smaller. I'm talking way more than 1/4 inch--more like 6 inches all told. I know I added length with the fba, but all this extra is above the bust and the fba adds the length at and below the bust! Now, what with all those altered alterations, the dang thing needs to be re-traced, and I'm considering going to a Misses 14 to see how it fits in the chest leng...

Happy 5th Anniversary * to Seestor and Bro-in-Law! Then Now Fruit of their loins *Thanks to Toon Tracker for the demented toon tune. RealPlayer required.

Gotta see if I can get this from the library: Amazon.com: Books: Sewing A Travel Wardrobe: Versatile Clothes & Stylish Accessories for Every Adventure

I need this book: Madeleine Vionnet

Manda & Karen (both due in September) bump-to-bump at Karen's baby shower. Kathy made the cake for Karen's baby shower Kathy also made a bikini cake for Kim's lingerie shower last January. Cute!

Thanks to Manolo , here is a possible contender for my I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille link list: Hollywould

My re-drafted pants pattern has arrived from Unique--the drafter included a note saying that due to my high hip separate left and right sides were drafted. I think Unique shoulda figured that out at the very beginning by my scanned measurements--I even sent them pictures and an email letting them know about the scoliosis when I got scanned; plus they state in their advertising that they can handle such problems. Well--at least they are responsive to my concerns and re-draft at no charge. I haven't made a toile of the pants yet and the note didn't mention the twisting seams for the bagginess in back. I hope those things got fixed. And I hope I can whip up a toile tonight (it could happen!). I've been reading Ready to Wear by Mary Lou Andre. This is the best wardrobe planning/image/style book I have ever read--and I've read quite a few. This book has good, usable advice about clothes and is very up-to-date, having just recently been published. The more I get into...

I'm playing with Blogger Images. Here are the fabrics Londa's Creative Threads I posted about earlier, only now I have pictures of them: Pink French Shirting Sweater Fusion Knit

Blogspot has just launched Blogger Images to make it easy to include images in our posts. I shall test this by uploading an image of my niece: It works! Wahoo! In the olden times (last week) we Blogspotters had to use Hello from Picasa, which is a free picture instant-messaging software that worked well for me at home, but I couldn't get it running at work (maybe it was God telling me to get off the blog and do my job). Goodbye Hello , and hello Blogger Images . Thanks, Blogger !

Lookit this idea for a princess-seamed, collared shirt: Plus Size Invisible Zipper Blouse

This purse organizer looks verrry interesting: Purseket and Dig No More Make-your-own knock-off instructions here and here .

I really want this Pink French Shirting and this Fusion Sweater Knit .

Hey! I found bad sweater guy! This is what I call not-so-haute couture: Buried Lede | The KFS Sweater Project

Inspired by Manolo's Shoe Blog , I re-read my much loved copy of Shoes Never Lie by Mimi Pond . This is the book that helped me to recognize and come to terms with my love for shoes and it was an indispensible reference at that special time when I explained to my daughters the facts of shoes. It looks to be available through Amazon , but since there's no picture, I thought I'd oblige: A classic

In progress: Unfinished blue jacket--needs hem, lining & buttons

The blue jacket needs sleeves, hemming & lining (I decided to go with lavender). The sleeves are made & shaped-they just need to be inserted. It's looking real good, but it didn't until I used a clapper on the seams--what a difference it made! I'm still surprised at how much nicer, flatter and just more professional the clapped seams are. And I also used another pressing technique where you slip a piece of oaktag (I used a strip cut from a manila envelope) between the seam allowance and the fabric before pressing--it prevents the impression of the seam allowance from showing on the right side of the fabric. Next up is a a basic blouse. Due to my generous curves the best bet will be an armscye princess style. Butterick 3784 will do nicely. The line drawing shows the styling better.

The blue linen jacket is coming along nicely. I was going to cut out the lining this evening--I was sure I had some silvery-gray lining in the stash. But, nooooo. It's white. White won't work. So it's off to jojo's...surely I have a coupon somewhere.