2 Summer 6 PACS

Well My friends, SWAP 2013 is over, my photos are submitted, I have a post drafted but not published yet, and we're onto summer 6PACs now. These are sew-alongs with my pals at Stitcher's Guild Sewing Forum.  I did a purge of my closets/racks a couple weeks ago and gave 9 bags of clothes to Purple Heart (for Veterans) foundation.  So I found where the holes were in my wardrobe.  Definitely needed comfortable pants to wear to work. and I wanted summer dresses.  So when the Summer 6PAC finally rolled out, I was excited, and figured I'd do 2 pants and 4 dresses. However, when the ladies do 6PACs, they are usually capsules of certain pieces, with certain schematics involved.  This summer, the guidelines are to choose a neutral (white/khaki/olive/black, etc).... and a "color", and choose these pieces:

1 a jacket or cardigan that will set the tone for the whole collection - in neutral

2 a pair of trousers, shorts, or skirt in the same neutral (but not necessarily EXACTLY the same --can vary in shade or texture)

3 another bottom in the second colour

4 an underlayer top in the neutral

5 an underlayer top in the colour

6 an overlayer top in a linking print or in the colour

So you can see my 2 pants and 4 dresses were not in the spirit of this 6PAC, so I had to determine whether I was going to do my 6PAC, and sit this one out from the forum, or do both?  You got it - I decided to do both.  So, 12 pieces in another 3 months...I already have 2 done, so 10 really to do....

So, I needed some patterns to fit in the SG 6PAC, and JA's was having a 5 for $5 sale on Simplicity, so off I went.... and found some nice ones.  Then I had to go through stash to see what all I had.  Oh -- did I tell you that I had chosen my two colors to be cream/pale yellow & Lavender...

Stash audit yielded that I have a lot of "junk" in there of scraps... I have 4 tubs and probably 2 of them are scraps.  Hmmmm what do people do with these scraps???  I've gotta organize those tubs - but that's another day.

I found a good handful of good yardage to choose from for my 6PACs, and then I ordered about 30 swatches and samples from Fashion Fabrics, Fabric.Com, and Online Fabric Store. I basically stopped there because I wore myself out.  I still need to learn my fabrics, so I ordered quite an assortment and range so I could see what different fabrics are.  Then maybe one day I can say "Oh I can see that in a nice Chambray".  Right now I have no idea what a chambray is. :-)

So enough chatter - here are my two Summer 6PAC's

This one is for the Forum's Summer 6PAC:

So far I have two fabrics chosen. For the 4127 C top, it is a pale yellow stretch cotton with a hint of glitter.  For the Burda it is a lavender heather knit.

Here is my "JDol Summer-dress 6PAC"

2 of these are done already, (checked) and I have fabric for 3 of the others. It's Mother's Day today... Shall I sew something?  I would actually like to get that second pair of pants done.  I have a DH project on the board, too.

Here's me in the summer-dress M6115 above:

Of course with black knee boots, it was a wintery summer-dress I guess.

That's it for now.

Happy Mother's Day!

SWAP Butterfly Goth Top

2nd Piece in my Ruffle Collection

 

This top is a Vogue 7733 view C:

 

 

I loved it and bought it near when I first got my machine in 2011. It's been in my drawer ever since.  Have you ever been addicted to patterns?  I am for sure.  but it's a binge addiction, i go in spurts... LOL...

 

So I began my adventure, there were many pieces to this pattern, so I started one day cutting the pieces, to get ready for cutting the fabric...

 

 

All cut, but they are still from out of the envelope, so need to iron them...

 

 

Now that's much better....

 

Now I purchased a fabulous new toy, a roll cutter and cutting board.  I must say at first I was thrilled with the roll cutter, however, I may need a learning curve because it doesn't always cut through the fabrics, it leaves like a few threads attached.  Anyway, I ended up back with my scissors eventually.  I do, however, like the cutting board as opposed to the bare carpeted floor.

 

 

I was cutting out the pattern for two blouses. This is the second blouse's contrast pieces.

 

The roll cutter totally did not cut through the velvet x2.  Oh Well.

 

 

All cut... Starting the bodice...

 

I totally veered off of the directions for getting this bodice done, the front closure, but it came out exactly how I wanted it...

 

Now here's something I didn't catch - the pattern calls for a  open belly. Like curtains, well that ain't for me!  So I had to figure out what to do to close the gap.  What else can I do, but add a panel.  I had enough scrap, to do this, boy was I fortunate... I even had enough that I could decide where on the fabric design I wanted to cut the panel piece.  I couldn't just cut a strip, I had to cut a triangle that would fit into the open space.  Did the measuring, and drafted a pattern piece.

 

You can't even tell the piece was added...

 

Then went to work on the sleeves. To say this is a bell sleeve seems like an understatement.... But I got to do my ruffles...

 

Now sleeves attached, but the shoulders keep dropping.  Hmmmm well they said in the pattern that it was supposed to be fitted and this top was a little loose.  So as soon as I took it in, the shoulders don't drop any longer

 

I totally do not know how to photograph the top to show the body and the sleeves

 

I'm wearing this with my SWAP Denim skirt...

 

All done!

 

 

 

 

 

SWAP Denim Skirt

Black Denim Skirt...

Well, after making my 5th iteration of my SWAP, due to moving my Motorcycle Jacket over to be my bridging piece, I was going to make this skirt in matching denim to the Denim Motorcycle outfit, but much to my dismay, Fabric.Com ran out and has been out since last year.  I'm not hopeful of their re-stocking, so I made iteration #6, and made Black Denim skirt, which matches the jacket, and then went back to the older iteration of the Butterfly Goth top to have a black velvet bodice, so now it ties to the black skirt, So a little shifting and we're okay again.

This is the XOX Skirt from a tute I found from Weekend Designer.  XOX Skirt Tutorial   The tute is not a tutorial for the skirt pictured on the website.  You do not get that skirt from following that tute.  I was however able to figure out about how to make the ruffles the way they show on the pictured skirt - on the outside, not on the inside.

So basically here is the layout as the tute directions call for:

 

You are basically making a block diagram, Top 1 Block, Middle: 2 blocks, Bottom, 3  blocks.  All times 2.  (Post Production Note:  I think next time I will make the top block shorter than the others, I would say  on this skirt, 5 inches. in stead of 8. then make the others 11 inches.)  All my blocks were 8 inches tall.  The top comes out too boxy that way, not very flattering. I think it's too boxy because in actuality my waist is only about 5 inches from my hips, not 8 plus the belt... The skirt is in the dryer at the moment fluffing out the fray from the cut edges of the denim.

So I start out by drawing out the diagram onto the back of the fabric, after making my calculations according to the directions.  Hips + 2 1/2  divided by 2, rounding up if you like.  Then length of skirt + 2 divided by 3.

 

Project start time

 

Laid out/Drawn out  My fabric was only 54" wide, so instead of the 60" that I would have made it, I went with the 54" x2 and then 37 x2, keeping the 20 x2 for the top piece. (cause of my hips)...

 

Start to cut...

 

All cut ready to go sew...

 

Sew seams so you will have tier circles. (And press the seams)

 

Pink the seam allowance,

 

Now this is one of my new toys... I forget what the foot is called already but it makes rolled hems... I have a 4mm and a 6mm.  I used the 4mm to make a RAVENS bandanna for Hubby - really came out great! So after sewing the tiers into circles, I had to roll the bottom hem. These feet were the best!  I'm still getting the hang of using them, so my hems aren't perfect yet - workin' on it....

 

 

Now who couldn't use a spool of nylon thread the size of a soda bottle??? Ha!  This was the perfect thread to zig zag through the denim in order to gather each tier.

 

Perfect...

 

The gathering and pinning took a while for both tiers, had to do one side an then the other, I matched the side seams first and then spread the in-between...

 

Tier one complete and sewn...  Did the same with tier two, and pinned and sewed.  Then installed the elastic belt that I had in my notions bin... (below)  I used over lock stitch for that, while stretching the belt, after pinning the 4 spots (front, back and each side)...

 

 

Neatened up all seams, allowances, pressed stitches, and was ready to wash to get that frayed look that demin gets from cut edges.

 

Done.... what was that 3 1/2 hours?

 

 

The try on was OK, it fit, but was not the flattering fit that I wanted... For the most part this skirt will be worn with blouses/tops over it, as opposed to tucked in or anything, so I will be alright...  So, while I can't say this piece is a high quality piece, it is satisfactory.  Time will tell if it gets replaced or left in my SWAP.  For now it's in.

 

Finished:

 

 

Modeled with my Denim Jacket from my Denim Motorcycle outfit, and also my Bridging jacket for SWAP...

 

 

 

SWAP 2013

My very first SWAP...

A SWAP - Sewing With A Plan.... It is a contest they run on the forum I belong to Stitcher's Guild (Artisan's Square) The have one every year. It is a contest where you sew a certain amount of garments (I think it's usually 11) within a period of time.  This year it starts Dec 26th.  The rules are out already, this year it will be sewing 2 capsules either 5+5+1 or 4+4+1 (or combo of those two).  Within that grouping the pieces are set, meaning the 4+4 is 2 tops, 1 bottom and 1 dress, and the 5+5 is 3 tops and two bottoms. then the +1 is a garment that ties to both groups.  (many people do a jacket for this piece)  I am in the planning stage, so here is my first draft...

I still don't know what fabrics yet, but there's more to plan....

 

 

So, it's a few days later and I've changed up because I kept looking at the poster and a few pieces I just almost knew I wouldn't wear, and I want to wear everything I make...You know I really want the pieces to be enjoyable - there's no purpose for me just to sew pieces to make a quota or something :-) So, i threw out that dress that was going to take almost 7 yards of fabric, and while nice, I didn't think I would get enough wear form it.. whatever the reason, it just didn't work for me, and I went on to look for a replacement pattern... I ended up getting nowhere fast, and came up with the idea that i didn't have to have a pattern after all! I could make my own design!!!!!  So that's what I am doing! My own dress, my first design.  It will have a silky solid-color shell and a patterned sheer overlay, with a dropped waist, and asymmetrical hemline, lined with ruffles.

 

There's so much to do still - colors? and shopping for fabrics?  I think I will make the other side also 1 dress, two tops and 1 bottom.  I still want to make the knickerbockers, and the cuff top, We are allowed to have one pre-sewn item, so i think i will enter my jumper.

 

8-Nov-2012

 

Well I went shopping today for fabrics for this SWAP, what fun!!! there is nothing better than shopping for fabrics!  It's great to have such a blank canvas - I hadn't had any ideas yet of my colors.  It was still open... So i was going shopping with a blank canvas - which can be real tough when there's so many choices... I have to find the one fabric that i absolutely fall in love with to be my centerpiece and then work the colors from there...  This go 'round it turned out to be my self designed dress.  I found a sheer that was so gorgeous - a must have - and so i am building from there. After the first decision was made, some more fell into place and I had my next piece.  Didn't find anything for my Winter capsule at that store, but stopped at the other one on my way home and it worked out - found a fab flannel I loved for my cuff shirt, then the sweater knit, and black denim, so there you have it - grays, blacks, splashed with red would be my winter capsule.

 

So my plan has evolved and here's my 2nd Draft!

 

 

My bridging piece will be the poncho mainly because with the ruffle top (2nd one from the top) I wouldn't want to be wearing a jacket with sleeves, so the poncho would keep the sleeves fresh.  It will have removable fur along the front, for winter/spring conversion.

 

So I have all the fabrics for my winter capsule which i want to sew first anyway, so there you have it.  I am allowed to cut things out before the 26th, and I'm still not sure that i like the top on the lower left corner.. I might like it if I take the sleeves off.

 

I bought muslin material so i can make my dress first to make sure I have it right before I cut into the real fabric.  ( I learned about "doing a muslin" from the forum.)

 

More to come...

 

November 12th

 

Ha!  I just found out my Jumper dress is actually considered a 'pinafore' and therefore will be considered as a bottom, so i needed to reconstruct my winter capsule, to 2 bottoms, and 3 tops - perfect excuse to do another of my favorite tops! (the ruffle sleeve)  I will need to go pick out fabric for this top, not sure what I'd like yet... need to stay with the grays/blacks/red theme... anyway i re-did my poster - Version #3 :-)...

Also, I redesigned my dress, and am going to do this design instead.  I like it better.

 

 

I hope to stick with this plan... just need to pick out more fabric... I plan on making a muslin of my dress before Dec 26th, just to make sure I have it basically as a good design.  Like I'm not sure if I will need a zipper or not - if so, it will be on the side...

 

November 30th

 

Okay, Here we go - more changes!  I think I am closer, I will have to make final decisions soon!  My latest Poster:

 

I do really like the Motorcycle capsule idea with the custom embroidery... Here is the 1st draft of the design for the back of the jacket:

 

 

It will be Tone on Tone.  I ordered the faux leather and the wine denim, I hope the leather is not too thin.  The description indicated "soft leather" so i hope that doesn't mean paper thin.  I hope it has some weight to it.  If not, then I'll have to go with the other one I saw.  But it was more upholstery weight.  Nice color though.  This one said it would be good for jackets... Anyway I'd like to make two suits (Jacket and Pants) and a matching cap.  I am going to do a muslin of each piece over the next couple weeks, starting today if I can.  I am doing Burda "Larissa" #6032 jacket and Burda "Bella" 6011 Pants. Then the cap is from a tutorial Eddie Cap Tutorial from Website: All Free Sewing.

I haven't tried any of these patterns yet, so I want to make sure they will all turn out before I make the final drafts.  however, for me, doing mock ups isn't as appealing as diving right in and making the garment. But logically it makes sense because then I can tweak it of course, and figure out any potential mistakes all before working on the fashion fabric... but it's just not appealing to me; it just seams like a lot of potential extra work.  it seems like something you would do if you were designing something on your own, but if you have a pattern, I'm not sure about it.  I do, but I don't.  I'm torn in other words.  I guess that's why I haven't started them yet.  I am more of a "just go for it" kind of gal....  Well I'll kepp you posted on whether I change my plan again or if I do any muslins....

 

Pieces of my Motorcycle Suit:

 

 

JANUARY 2013

 

Here is the Latest and Greatest update.  I had to do a little shuffling to keep within the contest rules...  Also, 3 of my pieces are done so far and I put those pictures in my current poster...