SWAP Wine Denim Outfit

Well although I've not been blogging or been on My Favorite Forum, in almost 4 weeks, I have been sewing 2 pieces of my SWAP.  One of my motorcycle outfits: The wine denim pants and wine denim jacket.  These are BURDA patterns: Larissa Jacket #6032, and Bella #6011 Trousers.  (Link not available at this time for trousers). 
The Jacket went *fairly* smooth, and the trousers, I had already done up a muslin, so I had an idea about it, but it was still a little tricky... I am pleased with the results, though. I have to still make the cap. Here we go...

 

Lay out the trouser pattern - this was a download and print out.  I put it together one morning at the office before work in the big floor area.

 

After cutting the trousers pieces out, laid out the jacket pieces, and cut them out...

 

The jacket is lined, so after spending 45 minutes at JA trying to find a lining, I found one that ended up to be perfect.  It is a batik. Laid that out and cut it out.  Phew... that was all done a while ago... and it sat until ready to sew.... gee the prep was enough to tucker me out.... no I didn't do all of that at once, either...  Those were over the spans of several days..

 

The day is finally here to begin sewing.  I am starting with the jacket.  Back panel together, because I am going to embroider a design on the back.  This is, after all, one motorcycle outfit.

 

Begin...

 

Lady Rider Design.  The rose is "Inky Rose" design from Embroidery Library...  Inky Rose Border

 

 

 

Top Stitching....

 

Back panel...

 

 

Panel with Gussets for shoulder easement. I forgot what they called those pieces...

 

Pockets... you sew the pieces to the outside first, you sew the outline of the pocket, can you see that above?

 

Then you cut the slot and snip on each corner so you can turn the pocket piece over to the inside... then top stitch....

 

Now you have the pocket zipper opening.. cool, huh?

 

Zipper installed and pocket lining....

 

Front zipper now installed... This was tricky because i didn't know where to have the beginning (Bottom) of the zipper, but we plunged forward with our best supposition...

 

Yaye the zipper works....

 

The facing is going to be installed...

 

How the back looks now....

 

How the front looks now....

 

View of lined pocket....

 

Shoulder taps - My first Snap Installations ....

 

Sleeves - facings on elbows, and zippered wrists.  These were very tricky, did I tell you that the directions leave a lot to the imagination?  I had a lot of "making it up as I went a long" type things to do... It all came together, though - and as with all of my projects, there will always be things that are just between me, my machine, and my sewing room. Ha Ha...

 

Sleeves attached, and collar pinned....

 

View from the back...

 

Side view....

 

Front zippered...

 

I love how the lining looked with this denim... Lining is in the jacket and arms...

 

Bottom snap and showing snap installation tool....

 

That was the finishing touch of the jacket!  DONE!

 

 

Starting the Trousers...

 

A pile of pieces....

 

Step One - Installing pockets

 

Pleating pocket inner liners

 

Rear Pockets...

 

Assembling onto back pant legs...

 

Assemble front to back legs...

 

Waist pieces...

 

1/2 Waist outer seam done...

 

Inner waist seam assembled, center seam of pants now together....

All that is left now is to install a zipper.  The pattern called for a button fly but I didn't like that on my muslin, I totally made up how to install the zipper, but hey, I figured it out... I think it's OK.  it works Ha Ha. 

 

Completed Outfit

 

 

Pants

 

Jacket..

 

Back of outfit...

 

Jacket/embroidery...

 

Finito.. as soon as it gets warmer I will go for a cruise on my bike in the outfit... I wore the outfit to work.  Not bad.  Comfy.

 

2 pieces of my SWAP complete and several more to go. Sewing some fun tidbits in between...Just sewed  Baltimore Ravens pyjamas today.  Might blog it later on. Need to take a picture of the outfit.  Didn't take any as I went. 

 

Ciao!

Beary Good!

Special Little Bears!

I have been off of blogging for about 3 or 4 weeks. Life gets in the way sometimes...  I spent some time sewing during that time, however.  I started making some cute little bears from an adorable pattern: Carol's Zoo Bears Pattern.  The first one I made out of fur, then I deviated from there and made some with different cotton fabric prints on the front and the fur on the back.  I made one out of complete cotton, but I like the ones with fur best.  I got an idea during playoff weekend to make a Ravens and Redskins teddy bears, #10 (RG III) and #52 Ray Lewis. I had fun making these. I needed the distraction at the time...

 

 

The Backs (Black Fur) and three redskins fronts...

 

Front together...

 

Added Eyes and nose...

 

Sew front to back...

 

Stuff , put on #10 for RG III, and add a pretty maroon ribbon - All Done!

 

This is TG III

 

Little Name Badge on back of Ribbon....

 

Here is "Ted Lewis" #52 Ravens...

 

Here is "Theo"

 

Here is "F-Stop" 

I made this for my friend Liz for her birthday. It is next week.  She like to take pictures, so I used a snuggle flannel with cameras on it.

 

This is "Tommie" who has sewing craft body to her...

 

Here is "Toby"  with crayons....

 

And last but not least (for now) is "Tabby" she is made from Batik.

 

These bears are so easy to make.  The possibilities are endless, and fun to come up with.. I have more backs cut out, waiting for inspired fronts to go on them.  They sew up in about 45 minutes.  I ordered some plastic beads for stuffing, so I mix the beads with fiberfill, and the bears come out cute.  the tricks to stuffing are to leave "joints" in the legs for sitting and in the shoulders, and also a bit in the ears.  Also of note when using cotton fabric for the front, is to round off the pattern of the nose/face when you sew it, or it comes out too pointed...

 

These are fun to make...

 

Ciao!