FNSI the *ahem* results...

Sometimes I amaze even myself with how little I can do before I just say forget it and move on. Last nigth I decided that I would work on a top pattern from the Ottobre woman 2 2010 issue. It's a very easy top. One that should have took me all of 30 minutes. So, do you think i'm supprised that it's not done? Don't be, because i'm not.

So, here's what happened. I think. I cut my pattern and fabric, sewed the side and shoulder seams, THEN I went against my better judgement and decided to finsh the top per the Ottobre directions. WHich is to baste clear eleastic to the armholes, then turn once and stitch with a double needle.

I don't understand this technique. It makes everything look so handmade. Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes the handmade look is ok, but this isn't one of those times. I tried to sew on the elastic, and all it did was bunch up my seam. So, I had to unpick it all, and that's where my sewjo went away. I'm going to try to get back to it tonight. And this time I won't waste my time on a technique I know I can't make work. Personally, I like facings or bands that are serged on.

I did get a bunch of tracing done yesterday afternoon, so the who day wasn't lost.

Friday Night Sew In is tonight

Don't forget, tonight is the FNSI!

If you haven't already signed up, what are you waiting for?

I'm going to be working from the 2/2010 issue of Ottobre Woman magazine. This is my first Ottobre woman magazine, and I just love this issue. I just got this issue 2 or 3 days ago, and I already have 3 things traced. There are a few otehr things I like as well. If I make 4 things from this issue, that will be a record for me. I don't think I have ever made 4 things from a Burda magazine.

Also, here is the new 2/2011 issue. Looks very promising. I decided to get a year sub to Ottobre woman when I bought the 2/2010 issue. I doubt i'll be disappointed.

FNSI post...

I'm going to make my FNSI post now, just in case I can't get to it over the weekend.

I'm making Vogue 1051. Misses slim pants.

One of my biggest sewing 'fears' is welt pockets. Well, this pattern has welts. I have one front done so far, and I gotta say, it doesn't look bad. So ok, it's not great either, but at least it looks like a welt! lol Of course, I also have 3 more to do on this pair of pants too. There is a lot of room for error with 3 more pockets to go!

I would also like to mention that I am going to be using Sandra Betzinas easy, fly front zipper technique for the first time. It's looks far to easy to be true, but it's worth a shot!

January Friday Night Sew In

Friday Night Sew In for this month is January 21st.

I have lots of stuff to work on.

I have a pair of Vogue pants cut and ready to go. The only problem is they have welt pockets, and I FEAR welt pockets.

I also have the fabic for a 'skirt' to go around my sewing table. I need the skirt so I can hide all my crap under the table. After all, my sewing room is in the living room now. I'm a bit bummed that this fabric won't count fromt he stash contest on PR, but oh well, I need the skirt.

FNSI and Simpliciy 2374

Ok, i'm just come right out and say that I barely did much last nigth. What I DID do was watch clips of Bill Cosby standup on youtube.

Anyway, on with the show.

I got my My Image pattern cut (I traced it the day before). I did go out to the garage to find my fabric and I tore up the upstairs to find my rotary cutter blades. Other than than that, that was about all I did.

I'm blaming Bill Cosby for not getting anything done.

A few days ago, I finished up the first muslin on Simplicity 2374. Oh...the humanity. I don't normally make muslins, but I did this time. I'm glad I did, because this thing won't be seeing the light of day anytime soon.

Friday night sew in...

Oh gosh! I forgot all about it! Tonight is the Friday night sew-in.

Yesterday I got the first issue of My Image magazine. It's a cute little pattern magazine with 16 designs in it. The designs are cute and usable, and the pattern sheets are printed on nice paper. They look to be a lot easier to trace than Burda is too.

One thing though, and I know a few people won't like this because this magazine is new, and for some reason some people don't think a new company should get any criticism. BUT the instructions suck. Bad. I can't make heads or tails out of them. Don't get me wrong, they made an honest effort, but the translation is ridiculous. There designs aren't too out there though, so I can probably get away without them. We will see.

Friday Night Sew In - the results

I'm in a hurry, so here is just a quick rundown of what I did.

I was able to cut two pairs of jammies.

I got one of them done. I was only able to get about half of the second pair done.

That's it for now. Gotta go work on getting a sewing group together.

Wee!

Friday Night Sew In December 10th

For those of you who may not know already, there are two scheduled FNSI's this month. The first is the 10th and the second is on the 17th. I plan on participating in both. I don't have any gifts planned, but I do have some garment projects planned for me. I need clothes badly, so now that i'm (basically) unemployed, I should make the best of it.

For those of you don't already know, I moved from the Detroit area to the Charlotte, NC area in November. I'm not sure how I feel about this anymore. At first I was all excited, but I think I was a bit delusional about the Charlotte area before I got here.

First, the weather has sucked since I got here. It's been 20 degress below average for the last ten days! It's almost as cold as it is in Michigan. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Second, can I just bitch about the fabric stores for a minute? I have two Hancocks in the area, and a place called MaryJo's. I have made a total of 5 vists to these 3 stores and I haven't purchaced a single yard of fabric. I'm not sure if it's because I just moved my whole stash half way across the country and I can no longer deny that I still need more stuff, or if it's just that i'm really not all that impressed with these stores. I really think it's the later, and yes, I know people are going to think i'm crazy because i'm not impressed with MJ's. Let me briefly tell you about MaryJo's. They have got a TON of stuff. It's a huge warehouse full of fabric, but unless you're a quilter or plannign home dec projects, most of the fashion fabric was just 'meh'. There was plenty of cottons, but what I was really looking for was some cool knits. I couldn't find anything decient. I can tell you, I won't be planning many trips there.

As for the Hancocks. Well, two dirty little stores with a crappy selection of fashion fabric. The one hancocks didn't even have any of the new patterns, and really at this point these patterns are not all that new. So it looks like it will be ClubBMV and Fabric.com for me. What a disappointment.

Oh well.