Sew What It's Summer - The End

So I've decided to end Sew What It's Summer a couple of weeks early. Originally it was suppose to run from Memorial Day through Labor Day but then we extended it a couple weeks to make room for a break in the middle.  Now that Labor Day has past, the weather in Maine has turned definitively cooler and summer seems to have left us for good. I have to admit my heart is just not in the summer challenge anymore. My sister ended awhile ago ( check out her blog for the projects she made) and although I kept my motivation up for most of the summer it's dwindling now.

What did I learn from these challenges?
No matter how excited I was about the challenges early on, no matter how carefully I planned the material and pattern for each challenge by about half way through the summer I found myself making items for the sake of the challenge rather than wearability. Don't get my wrong, i created some great items that I wear all the time, but I think I would have made some different items had I not been trying to adhere to the challenge rules.  I also found myself putting aside project solely bc I didn't have enough time to make two items in one week. I have some beautiful white circle eyelet material that I bought in may and planned on making a summer jacket with but never did bc it didn't fit anywhere in the challenges. It's definitely something I would have made early in the summer and worn often.

Going Forward
I'm definitely going to keep sewing but from now on I think I'll stick to smaller timelines for projects.

So onto the next project!

Sew What It's Summer - Week #13

For this week's challenge, Hidden Treasure, I decided to make a little purse.  It's the first time I've ever made a bag this small so it seemed to be super easy and hard at the same time.  I used a Simplicity pattern so the piecing the purse was very easy. The zipper however definitely came out a little funky. I'm sure next time will be a little easier.

So what was the hidden treasure in this purse? Well I went back and forth with this one, but in the end I decided to use a pale fabric on the outside and have the inside be SURPRISE polka dots. I thought it was a nice contrast to the outside.

Sew What It's Summer - Week #12

I skipped another challenge to keep up but I think I'll be able to finish week 11 this week along with the upcoming challenge.  So what did I skip a week to make? Week 12's challenge was Anthropology Knock-off and I  LOVE the way this week's item turned out.

When I think of Anthropology I think of summer. Breezy shirts and dresses, intricate details, old world feel and always a touch of "this could be homemade". . . . in a good way on that last one :)

I decided to use Butterick 5610 to make a cap sleeved, pin tucked tee in a light weight, white jersey cotton. The fabric was a bit difficult to deal with as it was this odd fuzzy stretch knit that stuck to it's self like glue. However that soft, fuzzy, knit coupled with the intricate swirled design on the fabric is exactly why I wanted it. It feels cool and warm against the skin making it instantly a cozy summer favorite.

I did alter the pattern a bit. The pin tucks on the front were only suppose to be stitched an inch or two at the top and bottom. After reading a few reviews on Pattern Review I chose to stitch them down from top to bottom. I also added a small band to the end of the sleeves and another wider band to the bottom of the shirt. I  The bottom band I added bc the shirt just seemed a bit short to me, but the sleeve bands i added just to make hemming a little easier.

I love the way the shirt turned out. I can guarantee I will be wearing this quite a bit!

Sew What It's Summer - Week #10

I'm so far behind in sewing and in posting. Summer has gotten the best of me and my temptation to relax and chill before the lazy summer days are gone has completely taken over.  Although I'm two week behind I did manage to complete Week #10 challenge - Nautical.

For the nautical challenge I create a two toned shirt with a navy theme. The top was a slightly stretchy polka dotted blue chiffon and the bottom was a striped blue and gray tissue knit. Both of the fabrics matched perfectly, which I've said before is a rare occurrence in my little corner of the world.

I used Vogue 8877 to create the shirt. Mostly I wanted something comfy and breezy and summery. I don't know why but once summer arrives I seem to wear everything two sizes two big. Maybe it's the heat.

I was diligent and read the pattern reviews online, learning that some people
thought the shirt was too big, so I cut exactly my size and then opted for a wide seam allowance and to do french seams. I can concur that after all of that, the first time I tried on the shirt is seemed huge. Weird part is the bottom fit great but the top was big in an odd drapey way.    The "short" sleeves came down to at least my elbow  and there was an excess gather of fabric in the armpit area. I was not impressed.  Right is a picture of me in the unimpressive shirt. It doesn't look to bad in the pic but something about it in person just didn't look right.

I ended up removing about three inches from each sleeve and moving the armpit hole up about three inches as well.  Once that was done the shirt looked much better. Below are some pictures of the finished product - you can see I still have not polished my self-picture taking skills.

So onto next week's challenge. maybe I can find a few extra days to try and catch up!

 

Sew What It's Summer - Week 9

I had a major case of indecisiveness while creating this week's Bejeweled project. First I decided to make a shirt that was jewel colored and picked out my pattern. Then I changed the pattern, followed by changing what I wanted to use for material. Then I changed the pattern and the material once again. Followed finally by a change back to the original pattern and material.  Indecisiveness.

I, after all that changing, made a simple t-shirt, using a New Look pattern from two jersey materials: a striped purple jersey and a thin plain purple.  All of a sudden I have been feeling like I don't have any t-shirts to wear, so that's why I went for something simple. At the same time I wanted to make something with at least a little character.  I picked up the striped material at a discount store last year and was lucky enough to find a jersey in a color that perfect match  the striped material this past weekend. My local fabric store in small, and even the larger stores in Portland and Boston are smallish by NYC and LA comparisons. To find a matching material a full year after buying fabric, in my area AND on sale is an absolute miracle.


Here is the resulting project. Sorry about the pictures, I haven't quite figured out this self portrait thing yet. I really need to get a tripod and a gorrilacam tripod.

Sew What It's Summer - Week 7 Finally Completed

It took another week but I finally completed Week 7's challenge - Retro Rundown. I used a Vintage inspired Simplicity pattern to make a 1940's-esque blouse. I love the fashion of the 40's. The 40s were a decade of change and that definitely influenced fashion.  Women began to break away from the every day dress to pants, jeans, blouses and even the beginnings of the t-shirt.  It was a great decade for fashion.

I altered a few items on the pattern. First I had to enlarge the sleeve, bc as i've said before my fat arms need room. Second I loved the pleats in this top- they flatter in all the right places but I didn't like the little flutter one made on the back of the shirt. Instead of two pleats on the back I only did one.  Third the shirt seemed just a little short so I added a band to the bottom. This was my favorite addition and it didn't even change the look of the shirt. It instantly made it more comfortable though. Fourth I didn't add the ties and bows. every opening and gather on this shirt seemed to have a tie attached to it. I opted not to include them.

So here's the final product. I love it and will definitely be wearing this one to work.

    

Sew What It's Summer - Week 7

So I started this week's challenge, Retro Rundown, I swear I did, however it's definitely not done for today.   Last week was a busy week but in a good way.

I worked on this little dress for my niece (Challenge #6)

I met a friend for lunch and walked around shopping here:

And then I spent the rest of the weekend at my sister's, where I played and swam with this little goofball at Nantasket Beach.

So today I feel like I need a weekend to recover from my weekend, and I never finished my project but it was a great weekend.  hopefully this week I will be able to catch-up and finish Retro Rundown and Chambray.

Sew What It's Summer - Week 6

For this week's challenge, Maxi Dress, I deviated a bit. I still made a dress but not quite a maxi dress.  I have piles and piles of patterns scattered throughout my house. Every time there is a sale on pattern's at Joann's (which is often) I stock up. They go from costing $10 - $20 down to about $2 a pattern. I would be crazy to pass that up. The result is piles and piles of patterns. So a couple months ago my niece found this princess pattern on my coffee table and immediately wanted it.  She's turning 5 this Friday and in her sweetest little voice asked "Auntie Manda will you make this for me?" Of course I said yes, that I would make it for her birthday. She picked out the dress style and the color fabric and I picked out the trims. A week ago when the dress was still sleeve and peplum-less she tried on the dress for a fitting and twirled around my kitchen like a little princess.

I used a medium weight hot pink/raspberry color linen and even managed to find thread and a zipper that matched the fabric exactly.  I then used a white & pink daisy trim on the collar and a pre-gathered pink satin trim at the wait.  The peplum was suppose to be removable but I know my niece - if the peplum was not attached this would be the only time it would not be lost somewhere hidden in a pile.  I stitched the peplum and waistband to the dress front, just past the back sides, leaving the ties free in the back.  I will say that although the pattern was very easy to follow their construction steps were a little odd. They had items completely finished, hemmed and trimmed on the top before the skirt was even attached.  It seemed a little odd to me.

Over all I think the dress came out great and my niece is going to love it. I'll post pictures next week of the princess in her dress :)

Sew What It's Summer - Week 5

This week summer definitely arrived in Maine. It's has been sunny and warm for days  - today it's 90 but with humidity it's peaking around 98. I nearly melted in the 20 minutes I modeled this week's project with jeans.  Anyway back to sewing, this week's project was ombre and I had the perfect fabric - a sheer dark to light blue I picked up on sale a few years ago. I love the fabric, I just wish the top had turned out a little better. I can't decide if I cut the pattern a size too big or if the fabric was just not drapey enough. Either way, I like the design but I'm going to need to go back and rework it a big. The back of the shirt looks and feels huge and billowy, the front is a little short and the sleeves cause a weird fold when my arms are down. It also just feels wide and from pictures it makes me look like I've instantly gained 20lbs.  All that said I still like the shirt.

I will advise anyone following this pattern (Simplicity 1660) to pay attention closely to what you are cutting. There are several size lines on each piece according to what design you are following. I messed up a couple times, fortunately it was just over cutting so I was able to trim down.



Maybe you'll see this shirt again later on as a reworked item. Hopefully I have a chance to attack this shirt again and iron out the problems bc I really do love the fabric.

Sew What It's Summer - Week 4

I had a lot of fun with this week's challenge - swim coverup. They way I approached this is that you don't need to look fantastic in a beach coverup. It should be comfy, easy to get on and off and made of something that will dry quickly.  

I have had this pattern, Simplicity #2702 for years and always wanted to use it but I knew from looking at the picture is would like like a sack on me. I jumped at the chance to use it for this week's challenge though.  I was so happy when I found almost identical fabric to the pattern picture on a 50% off redline shelf at Joanns. Lightweight, slightly stretchy and absorbent this fabric was perfect.   The dress was easy to construct but definitely needed some alterations. It was so huge that I could have easily cut two sizes smaller and it still would have been big. I took almost 2" off each side of the waist and shaped the bottom a bit. The top however was a perfect fit and for a little more fun I added some beading to the neck - like the picture in the pattern. 

So I may not have the skinniest legs but as a swimmer I am looking forward to using this coverup all summer long :) Next week Ombre!

Sew What It's Summer - Week 3

I would love to be able to write about the cute pair of pants I made this week however the picture to the left shows just about as far as i got with this challenge. I managed to pin and cut everything out by Monday night, but then real life interfered with my plans for sewing.  In the real world, I'm a webmaster and I released a new website this week. It meant a lot of 10-12 hour work days. Saturday I drove a four hour roundtrip to spend some time in my college campus and today a hospital visit took a huge chunk of the day. I could spend the afternoon sewing and possibly get most of it together but i have to admit - I'm exhausted! Maybe I can finish this one up if I complete week 4's challenge early :)

Sew What It's Summer - Week 2

Week 1 Challenge: Polka Dots

I really enjoyed this week's challenge: Polka Dots - one of my sister Margie's choices. In a rare coincidence I had a couple of polka dot fabrics to choose from and in an even rarer occurrence I was able to use a pattern with the fabric I bought specifically for that pattern. That never happens to me! I always change my mind between purchase and execution so this was a nice change.

After last week's epic failure, this week was a welcome success. I used McCalls 6550 to create a short sleeved, high necked shirt with a button up back and slight gathering in the front. The brown polka dot material I used was a lightweight polyester with a silky feel to it.  I'm very happy with the way this shirt came out and will definitely be using this pattern again.  Below are are a few pictures I took of the finished result.  It has been extremely hot here in the northeast this week, hitting the upper 90's with 80% humidity,  so the 10 minutes I had this outfit on nearly killed me but it was worth it :)

Remember to checkout my sister Margie's blog to see what she made this week.
         

Sew What It's Summer - Week 1

Week 1 Challenge: Work & Play

I am lucky enough to work at a place with a corporate casual dress code that loosens up a bit during the summer to allow for capris, sleeveless shirts and cool summer dresses. We're Mainers - we can withstand 9 months of freezing cold and snow while maintaining a dress code but when the summer heat and humidity comes along our wardrobe goes straight for comfort.

This lightened dress code in mind - I planned to make a dressy t-shirt. Long in the back, short in the front made from a lightweight knit and covered in the front with a sheer panel using Butterick Pattern #5754. I was thinking breezy, cool and comfortable while in style and easy to construct.

It should have been such an easy project to complete but instead it turned out absolutely horrible! I've been making clothes for years and it has been awhile since I have messed something up this badly. I knew immediately after I cut out the pattern that something was amiss but I kept thinking I could fix it.  I cut out an XL - what I would buy in the store but it was huge.  I should definitely have cut a L or even M. The sheer panel never matched up correctly so I kept compensating or altering the cut on the hem, neck and even sleeves. The sleeves were also a horrible mix of long and short in all the wrong places. Once hemmed is where the real tragedy happened - totally uneven and rolling all over the place.

While I was sewing I knew it was turning out poorly but figured it would be more play that work. I hate to say it but I think this may be one for the "never going to wear, send to the scrap pile".

So I'm going to take this week as a lessons learned and move on to next week. Polka Dots up next!