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Little Apples by Aneela Hoey

Little apples is all about what happens in the fall, the kids are playing in the park with their scarves flapping in the wind and singing rhyming songs, round and round they go, just like the seasons. The little apples are falling off the trees and spied by a tortoise who has momentarily peeked out from under his shell and decided to take a stroll. The leaves are swirling around on the wind, providing a brilliantly coloured backdrop to all the goings on, the beauty of fall is definitely here!

Business has been pretty good at my little ol’ Etsy Shop recently which as enabled me to order some new fabric. I saw this new line featured on a few fabric blogs and knew it was the one I wanted to add. I’m really limiting my new fabric purchases to ones that I think will be hot sellers and judging by how “Sherbet Pips” flew off the virtual shelves all over the internet I’m hoping I have a winner here. It arrived today and I plan on getting it listed tomorrow or Wednesday. It will be listed by the yard in my shop but as usual, if you need larger cuts just send me a convo on etsy and I’ll set up a reserved listing just for you! (If you are local, shoot me off an email and we can arrange a personal drug deal fabric shopping day.)

Kwik Sew 3658–Missoni Dress

You get a headless full-body photo this time because my photographer was in a hurry to get to Homecoming last night and her friends were about to arrive and she didn't want to be seen taking photos of her Mom. She also deleted the pictures of herself and her friends from my SD card before I could transfer them to my computer. So I guess you'll just have to hope you are cool enough to be her Facebook friend and can see them there. Emma went to a friend's to get ready for the dance so I didn't see her in her full ensemble and will have to rely on her friend's mom to send me some eventually.

Anyway, I did get my Missoni knock off dress done. Like the shirt from this pattern, it took longer to trace the pattern and convert my serger to cover-stitch than it did to make the whole thing. Speaking of Missoni did you see this? Missoni for Target rain boots hit eBay for $31,000 Why do I have a feeling she is heavy into Beanie Babies too? Can't knock a girl for trying though I guess.

<b>Pattern Description: </b>
Fitted pull-over dress and top have V-neckline and draped collar. Front extends forming collar and facing.
<b>Pattern Sizing:</b>
Large graded out to XL at hips.
<b>Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?</b>
Yes
<b>Were the instructions easy to follow?</b>
Very easy.
<b>What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?</b>
I made this pattern before in the top version and loved it. I like the ease of construction most of all. It goes together fast and perfectly every time.
<b>Fabric Used:</b>
Polyester ITY in a Missoni inspired print. Purchased at Sew Generously, St. Charles, IL
Loved this fabric because thanks to Target Missoni is all the rage right now and I love that the busy-ness of the print hides my figure flaws. Plus it is super comfortable.
<b>Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:</b>
The only change I made was to grade out to the XL at the hips. With KS 1/4" seams I didn't want to take the chance that it would be too tight across my stomach. I also lengthened it about 1.5" As you can see on the pattern envelope, it is designed to hit just above the knee. I didn't think that would be the most flattering length on me and I didn't want it too short to make it difficult to wear to work.
<b>Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?</b>
Absolutely. I know for sure that this will be a TNT pattern for the top view and I'm really happy with the way the dress turned out so I'm sure it will get made again too.
<b>Conclusion: </b>
Easily one of my favorite dresses to wear right now. I wore it last night to usher at the theater and to a cast party afterward. I got compliments on it and it was comfortable to wear all night. I'm thinking that I will pair it with my black boots for winter.

Closely Knit

I haven’t done any new sewing this week. I did get a little machine embroidery project done that I’ll post at a later time. It still needs a little tweaking. I also had a minor alteration project for Emma’s freshman Homecoming dress. Again, pictures will be posted soon. Her complete ensemble is ADORABLE!

I have been planning my next projects but of course a quick trip to Joann’s for last minute supplies for the alteration project led to unplanned purchases and new ideas. First off, the best time of year is coming; Halloween! My friend and I are going as a “couple” costume this year. I’m going to keep it a bit of a secret for now but I did pick up a bolt (yes, BOLT!) of cheap fabric for these costumes. I will have to get to these very soon.  On a trip down the clearance sale aisle I spotted a bolt of $5/yd. ITY knit that I had eyed on a previous trip. I wasn’t sure about the pattern/color but because it had caught my attention twice now I figured that it was definitely sending me a message. I took it to the cutting table and asked for 3 yds. After she measured and cut it she gave me the exciting news that it was actually $2.50/yard. WINNING! Add to that that the pink costume fabric was also $2.50/yard I was having a very good day.

This is the fabric. What do you think? Is it retro-funky cute or horribly old-fashioned and frumpy? The young girl at the cutting table (mid-20s is my guess at her age) thought it was retro-cute and I agree. I’m not completely sure about the color but at least it isn’t orange! I also picked up Butterick 5030 on the $.99 sale and thought I’d use this fabric as my muslin. Now I’m not so sure. I thought it was designed for knits and was a mock-wrap dress but it isn’t. I think I had it confused with another pattern I had looked at earlier. Do I really want to attempt yet another wrap dress? Not really. So far I’ve only been marginally happy with the ones I’ve made and I may just be over it now. I do think this fabric calls for something retro styled however. I’m visualizing DVF inspired dress with a collar. For now it goes up on the shelf and marinates for a while because I have other things to work on now.

The fabric on the left is what is on the table for today. (Dang! It’s already 2:00 and I haven’t gotten started!) This ITY knit is from work. Another of the fabulous apparel fabrics we got in recently. It is obviously a Missoni knock-off and with the recent Missoni collection at Target, very much on trend right now. I’m going to make the Kwik Sew 3658 dress out of it. I just made the top and liked the way it fit and it was fast and easy to construct. I also chose this pattern because of its simple styling. This busy pattern fabric needs to be in something simple. I’m thinking of adding a black belt to break it up a little but I’ll see after it is done and decide what looks best. I’m also hoping the busy-ness of the fabric will help camouflage my body issues. (That and the help of Spanxx of course.)

 

In the top picture you may also notice a red ITY and a purple knit (might be ponte, don’t remember, just know it is a bit heavier than ITY). Those two have been brought to the cutting table and then moved back to the shelf a couple times each over the past few months. The purple is definitely going to be Vogue 8593. I’ve seen reviewed on Pattern Review and a couple blogs and really like the dress. I think it will be a nice classy dress for fall and winter. But I have a few concerns. One is the constant fear that it will be too tight across my belly and be unflattering. The second is that it might be too dressy for my lifestyle. Not that I have no need for a dressy dress. But just not often. I could wear it to work but it might be too much. So for now, back on the shelf it goes. The red ITY was originally intended to become the Kwik Sew dress above and if I like the print one, it still might be. Or it might become another “Perfect Knit Dress.” I’m sure some Gallery stalking at Pattern Review will bring up other possibilities. I love the color, one of my favorites to wear, so it has to become something soon.

So that’s what I am, should be working on right now. If I stay focused and don’t jinx myself by mentioning that I’ve gotten really good at switching my serger back and forth from over-lock to cover-stitch I might be able to get a dress made before dinner tonight. Did I mention that one of my co-workers calls me the “Chinese Take-out Seamstress”? I’m fast, good and give some people a headache. (She didn’t say the headache part, she’s too nice!)  Also when I finish one garment, in an hour I’m ready to start another one.

Zai Jian (That’s good-bye in Chinese, I think, if not, blame YahooAnswers)

Kwik Sew 3658 (top) & 3003 (skirt)

I’m ready for back to school. Too bad I have no class! LOL

But seriously what says fall more than a cute plaid skirt with a top to match? So easy and quick to make too.

I’ll start with the top: I bought this pattern during the Fabric.com sale this spring with the intention of making the dress version. Now that I’ve seen myself in the top version I’m reconsidering that idea. I don’t think a big expanse of clingy knit across my most troublesome area is a good idea, even with the miracle of Spanxx. But as a top I love it. I have an almost identical top in a heavier purple interlock that I bought somewhere in the last couple of years (how’s that for specifics) and when I saw this pattern I thought, hey I can make that. So I did.

The pattern couldn’t me simpler, three pieces, no interfacing. I sewed all but one seam on the serger and hemmed it with a narrow coverstitch. Overall a couple hours work. Now that I have the pattern traced, next time it will be about 20 minutes faster. I swear if I cut out internet breaks I could make it in 45 minutes.

Now for the skirt: Even easier. I made this entire thing in about an hour or less last night before dinner. It is a basic bias-cut, elastic waist, pull-on skirt. I cut the front piece, flipped it over and matched up the plaids and cut the back. Then all I had to do was seam the sides (4-thread overlock), finish the top and bottom edges, put in the elastic and top stitch the casing down and hem. I did cut about 2” off the bottom before hemming to get the length I liked. The fabric is some “suiting” fabric (don’t you love how specific they are at Joann’s?) I picked up on sale and it has some stretch to it. I was going to make a more tapered pencil silhouette with it but decided for quick and easy. I think this A-line is flattering on me and I love comfortable, easy to wear clothes with a bit of style, I think this outfit fits that bill perfectly.

I bought these basic black pumps yesterday at DSW. They are a good heel height for work and they have a lot of cushioning in the foot to make them easy to wear all day. And as you can see, they show off the new ink very nicely. I think when the weather gets cold, my black leather boots will also look good with this outfit. 

Tattoo You

Happy Labor Day!

It’s been a pretty low key day around here. Got up early, fed the neighbor’s cats for them while they are on vacation and came home a made a dress.

This particular dress is nothing all that exciting. I pick up the fabric (polyester ITY) in Grand Rapids last spring. Bought it with the intentions of making McCall’s 5974. I had attempted this Perfect Knit Dress before but didn’t have enough fabric to make the ties so I made the scoop neck version and was less than happy with it.

I also discovered in a rather “well duh!” moment that the basis of this dress is pretty much the same as the tunic (McCalls 6120) that I’ve so far made two of and loved. This led me to start to wonder if I really wanted the ties at the waist after all. But I had the material and decided, “what the hell” and put them on. I like them. Also the skirt on the dress is pleated and it isn’t in the tunic. In the future I make modify the dress to be more like the tunic and eliminate the waist pleats.

Okay now for the interesting part of this post. You see it was in the mid-50s this morning when I got out of bed. Fall is definitely right around the corner. I was inspired to come up here and sew some plaid skirts and turtlenecks. But you see, last night I did something kind of awesome. Something I’ve been thinking about doing for a few years now and it inspired me to grab this black and grey swirly print instead.

Some of my friends took me to get my first tattoo. I’ve wanted one for years but after Shadow, then Heidi died I knew for sure that I wanted a tribute tattoo, But I didn’t want big ol’ portraits of my dead dogs on  my back or something. I wanted something pretty and delicate and something that I could add to in the future when the inevitable happens with Maizey and Castiel. If you look closely there are three tiny pawprints incorporated into the design. One is red, for Heidi. One purple, for Sophie. One Black, for Shadow. There is room to add more paws as needed.

I had been warned that foot tattoos in particular were quite painful. I’ve been asked numerous times already how bad it really hurt. I’m sure most of you won’t believe this but it really wasn’t all that bad. Sure there were moments that I had to remember to breath but overall it was nothing. Does this mean I’d be up for a total, full color back piece? No. Not because of the pain, because I’d get bored out of my mind sitting still for that long.

On the way home after it was done (I won’t bore you with the LONG dramatic story of how the entire evening went) and my friend was driving us back to my house I was still kind of quiet and in a weird place. He kept asking me what was wrong, I think he was worried that I already regretted it. I explained that I wasn’t the same woman who had left my house with him and our other two friends a few hours earlier. I was now a middle aged woman with a fucking foot tattoo! But seriously, this is kind of life changing. Not only is it literally permanent, it does change who I am in a very slight but very real way.

Do you have tattoos (I know MANY of my friends who read my blog do) and did getting them change you or how you perceived yourself? How? I know that having a visible to the world tattoo changes how others perceive you, I’m just waiting anxiously for the first day I work this week, do you perceive people with tattoos differently? Of course there is a difference between a tasteful foot tattoo and a prison neck tattoo right? Tell me your tattoo stories, here in comments (not on facebook comments, not all my readers are my facebook friends and I want everyone to participate in the conversation.)

Kwik Sew 3258 (skirt) & 3784 (Top)

I finally got another outfit completed, sort of, the skirt needs a little reworking but it is serviceable for now.

We got this Anna Maria Horner Voile (skirt) fabric into the store in the spring and I loved it immediately and knew that I wanted a skirt out of it. But I didn’t have anything to match with it and hadn’t come across the right fabric for a top. That is until we got in a great selection of tencel knits a couple  months ago. The dusky lavender was perfect.

I bought the KS3258 pattern during a Fabric.com sale earlier this summer. I have a couple RTW skirts in my closet with roughly this silhouette that I really like and I’ve had a Chanel-style jacket swimming around in my head for quite a long time. I’m not sure now that the gored construction was right for this fabric. I did my best to line up the motifs but I don’t like how they meet up at the waist. I probably should’ve gone with my initial idea and just made a simple straight pull-on elastic waist skirt. But if I wear the shirt un-tucked and cover the part I don’t like, it is pretty. The pattern calls for interfaced facings and a zipper. I didn’t have enough fabric for the facings and the RTW skirt I have like this just has grosgrain ribbon facing at the waist. I like this so I tried it on this skirt. It worked nicely but the waist is too big because I once again had a fat-girl-sizing-panic and worried that it wouldn’t fit and sewed the back seams at 3/8” instead of 5/8” in addition to cutting the XL instead of the L size. So now the waist is about 3” too big. Matilda has more junk in her trunk than I do so on her it sits differently, on me it is too big in the waist and just right in the hips, I really need a fitting mannequin that closer reflects my size. The hips fit fine so I may just have to do some minor adjusting. One idea is to remove the grosgrain facing and the zipper and put in fold over elastic as originally planned. That would be fussy (I hate ripping stitches, especially on something as delicate as this) but probably the best. The other idea is to re-stitch the back seams deeper and then reapply the grosgrain. Or I could take off the grosgrain, shorten it and then ease the skirt edges to the ribbon at the proper circumference. No matter what I choose, it will be a pain in the butt, but over all probably worth it because as it is now the skirt sits really low on my hips and if I do manage to lose even a minimal amount of weight, it will be in danger of falling off. I loved this fabric for so long that I really must remedy this skirt someday. I’m not sure when that day will be because even though we are enjoying (?) a very warm Labor Day weekend right now, I know the weather will be cooling off soon and this outfit just won’t be season appropriate for much longer. Maybe I’ll stick it in my closet for a few months and pull it back out for Easter and re-do it then.

The T-shirt Pattern 3784, is a success however. Again I took inspiration from RTW items that I already own and know that I like. I did kind of Frankenstein the pattern views together to get the look I wanted. I wanted the flounced neckline but I wanted sleeves, but short sleeves. Not a hard thing to do. The sleeveless version has a slightly different armhole so I used the body and sleeve pieces from view A, shortened the sleeves and added the flounce from View B. I left the edges of the flounce raw because this knit doesn’t ravel or curl when cut on the bias or in a circle such as this. One of my co-workers was experimenting with it at the store and found that it didn’t hold a rolled hem very well plus I didn’t want the added bulk along the edge of a serged rolled hem. I don’t have problems with the narrow facings flipping out, they are under-stitched and top-stitched under the flounce, but I don have some problems with the flounce flipping in. I also like the depth of the V-neck, not too low, not too high and no gaposis. I’m sure I will be pulling this pattern out again for more shirts of varying sleeve lengths.

I did wear this to work this week and my boss and co-workers had nice things to say. I’m really trying to add more wardrobe pieces made from patterns and fabrics that we sell to help promote fashion sewing to our customers. It’s a hard sell in the deeply entrenched quilting world that I live in here in the Midwest but I know there are more kindred spirits out there!

On another only slightly related note. I did spend some time this week updating and organizing my Etsy shop. I had ordered some Moda It’s A Hoot fabric this summer and never got around to listing it in my shop. While working on that I noticed a number of other fabrics missing from my store and got those relisted. Whenever I do this it generates a nice little burst of activity and sales. Always good! So if you have been looking for It’s a Hoot  or Tula Pink Hushabye fabrics I suggest you get over there quick and get them while they last because some of them are getting low already. There are also some older but still great looking and high quality Moda and Freespirit fabrics at great prices, some barely over what I paid for them wholesale!