A "muslin" that may get finished

I found this pattern in a sack of patterns that were given to me by one our guild members with the instruction to keep what I wanted and find homes or toss the rest. She needed to get them out of the way.



I thought the View A (the flowered top) might work with the flowered linen in my last post (from the big buy). Not knowing if I would like how this looked on me (and not wanting to waste the flowered linen), I remembered I had some 80% rayon/ 20% poly that I had purchased a couple of years ago. I figured it would mimic the drape and texture of the linen pretty well. I pulled it out and realized it matches the new linen. hmm. I could make slacks of the green and top of this linen. Since I had plenty of the green (probably 6-8 yds), I could still use it to make the test top.

At first, I just planned to sew the front to back--quick/dirty and see how it looked with the sleeves a bit longer than View A. Well, it raveled badly, so I serged all the edges. (more time spent) Then I liked the way it looked when sewn together--hmm--I'll go ahead and cut the facings and see how it looked.

I used a Louise Cutting method for the facing by using only a back center seam. Just take the back facing and match sewing lines at the shoulder and tape it together. Then add a seam allowance at the center back of the facing. This way, you eliminate the bulk at the shoulder seams.



Here it is - sewn at the center back:


and sewn to the garment:


At this point, I've decided to finish it. It just needs hemming and the button/button hole. I needed a break, so that's where it is as of now. I think the barrel button will look good. think?



Now I'm thinking green slacks and a different pattern for the flowered linen. Perhaps a remake of this Kwik Sew top adding a bit of length to the hem.

The Linen and jacket beginnings

Below is a photo of the 3 linen pieces that I purchased in my "big buy" last week. They are short yardages; they were in the sample bin. They are each 1 to 1.5 yds. I should be able to get a top or shell from each.

They have been through the washer dryer four times now, and they have come out nice and soft.




Yesterday I got to spend most of the afternoon in the sewing room. This is the Louise Cutting A Subtle Twist jacket I've made this before out of a linen blend and absolutely love it. This one is not quite finished. I ran into some diffficulties (operator error) that I'll post about later. This is from the 100% cotton from the "big buy."

Retail Therapy and 118.5 yards later......

Yes, it's been a while since I added to the stash. As many of you know, I've been trying to whittle the stash down some. But I had a hankering to go to the Dallas fabric district area and see what "good deals" my two favorite places had.

A friend of mine had been to Super Textiles last week and an 18-wheeler had just been unloaded. None of the rolls had been put onto bolts and there was no getting down the isles that day. The owner said, come back next week ,and we should have most of it available.

Few of the places there are airconditioned--need I say, one needs to get there as soon as they open at 9:30 a.m.? Yesterday the high was 102 with a heat index of 110. Can you say HOT????

Well, I arrived at 9:30 and what fun I had--SWEATING and all! They do have some fans set up at spots throughout the warehouse, so when the sweat is pouring off, the strategy is to get in front of one of them and let the evaporation cool you down. (And I always have a bottle of water in my purse.) Most of the recent arrival had come from Coldwater Creek and a Western store that I wasn't familiar with.

All of this fabric was just under $200 - SUCH A DEAL!

Fabric on the bolt - had to buy the whole bolt. Most had about 15 yds on them and were either $1.50/yd or $1.75/yd. From l to r - 100% cotton, 100% cotton, 70% rayon/29% cotton 1% lycra





l to r: 100% cotton; 98% cotton/2% lycra; 100% cotton lightweight denim ($1/yd)



l to r: cotton/rayon jaquard; rayon blend; rayon blend (and the photo doesn't show flower detail here on the black) Each of these were $2/yd



closer shot of the red jaquard shown above:



cotton - I plan to use a pattern that will show both right and wrong side.



cotton/lycra - nice soft hand



ITY knit - only $2/yd



Rayon/lycra - oh so soft (Paid the most for these at $5/yd - the one on the right is white dots on black; it's not showing up as that on my monitor)



Melon/apricot rayon crinkle for $1/yd




Not pictured is some navy rayon/poly/lycra pant weight navy knit. It was $1/yd, but navy wasn't photographing well. Also not pictured are 3 pieces of linen that are in the washer as I type.

Can you say, "I need to get busy sewing for Sis and me?????"

Some sewing therapy

I want to thank each of you who took time to leave me some comforting words on the loss of Jac. Each comment is very much appreciated.

I'm trying to get back into a routine. I was able to get into the sewing room a bit yesterday afternoon and today. I needed some "instant gratification." I had been wanting to sew up view E of Simplicity 4020. (It appears to be OOP; I couldn't find it on the Simplicity site.)

It was not quite "instant gratification." I cut a 14 in the uppper bodice and a 16 for the bottom of the bodice. I used a rayon/lycra knit from the stash. The lower part when sewed was tighter/form fitting than I like. I don't like my "rolls" or "muffin top" to be outlined by the knit. Luckily, I had more than enough fabric left, so I cut another lower section with 1" side seams. I barely took a 3/8" seam--did some fiddling to get it to fit the upper gather section, and it's not perfect, but I will wear it.

I will probably make this top again. I've noted on the pattern tissue what adjustments to make, and, hopefully, the next one will be more "perfect" the first time around.

Here it is on Saphroni:

Sad Day

Jac Pierre Bordeaux
June 10, 1984 - June 18, 2009


A World Champion:



Playing the "Reindeer" for me:



"Just being retired" with buddy Nino



I miss you terribly already............

Silk Outfit

I have been sewing. I ordered this fabric from fabric.com several years ago. It was called "silk denim." It's a type of raw silk. I washed it before cutting and it came out a nice soft hand.

The top is Louise Cutting's "By Popular Demand" top. I made the top a long time ago. I couldn't decide whether to make a skirt or slacks at the time so I guess I lost interest. I would see the top hanging in the closet and think, "I must do something with the rest of that fabric!"

I didn't have enough for full length slacks so I used my "one seam capri" pattern. I had some white china silk in the stash so the capris were lined with that.

I think I will enjoy this outfit, and I'm really glad it is finally finished!

I've also finished another pair of capris (not one seams), and I almost have the matching knit top completed. Hopefully, I be able to post about it and share a photo in the next couple of days.

Pure & Simple Silk

Can you say slippery? It's been a while since I've sewn with fabric that was so slippery. But the result was well worth it. This is the second time I've sewn this Louise Cutting pattern.

The pattern is well drafted and her instructions are so thorough and clear. Using the steam a seam makes the top stitching go well (especially on this slippery silk). I just had to take my time with this one.



I must get more silk charmeuse. I LOVE the way it feels.

I've got a pair of cotton fun print capris started. I'll report back on them when done!

A Texas Sized Onion

I don't think I've seen an onion this BIG before! One of my Sewing Guild sisters brought me some things from her garden. Among about 10 onions was THIS ONE. That's my fist next to it to give you some perspective. I'm going to have to make a double batch of spaghetti sauce just to use the entire onion!



OK, on to sewing. Not much of it has been going on here lately. Have been spending lots of time on yard work, and I have begun mowing the pasture. That project takes several days and I've just begun.

I did cut out another Louise Cutting "Pure and Simple Shell" yesterday from some silk charmeuse (I love the 'girly print') I purchased a few months ago. I'm planning to wear it with my black linen capris, and I'm hoping to make another pair of capris from some black silk twill that's in the stash. I have to finish fusing the interfacing to facings and then I'll be ready to sew. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to sit down at the machine.



Louise will be here (in Arlington) for the Martha Pullen Market. I plan to go to there on June 18 to take in all the sewing sites. Can't wait to see some of the fabric that Louise will bring.