Making Progress!

And not just on my pretty Storyboard. Although that has changed:



Last night I fused interfacing to my V2989 top and Style skirt facings (very deep because it is a raised waistband). It is new interfacing and I was afraid of it, but remembering that "the perfect is the enemy of the good" -- or, in my case, "the done" -- I forged ahead and all was well. In fact, I love both interfacings. I was so happy.

Until I draped the V2989 top against me and realized that it is going to be pretty tight. The pattern calls for 5/8" seam allowance, think it'll work if I do 3/8" on the side seams, and adjust the arms accordingly? The fabric is a cotton/lycra blend.



Oh, and I cut my Textile Studios Madison Avenue Dress out one size too small, what was I thinking? It will be perfect for DD, but I want to wear it. So, I'm thinking 3/8" side seam allowances instead of the 1/2" the pattern calls for. That should be just enough, especially if I keep doing yoga. Any thoughts on how this will affect the drape, etc? Here's a pic in case you don't already have it in your pattern stash:



I do want to be able to wear it to work with a soft jacket. Someone at PR lined the back of their dress to prevent see-through. I have lots of Bemberg eggshell that is the right color, but no stretchiness. Any thoughts on what to line an ivory cotton/lycra dress with?

These are all in my wearable muslin fabric from fashionfabricsclub.com so nothing to cry about, except for the time involved. DD will be able to wear anything too small for me, and look great in them.

Further cutting into my sewing time is a trip to Chicago this Sunday. I'll be landing at about 5:00 p.m. and staying at a Hilton in "the Loop", in meetings Monday morning, and possibly free Monday afternoon. My plane leaves at 8:00 p.m. Anybody available for a quick late lunch or early dinner, and possibly a snoop shopping expedition?

Hunt Jacket - Suitability 5004

This is a hunt jacket made from a Suitability pattern. I made the Women's version. It was my first foray back into the world of sewing after a 15 year hiatus. A bit over the top for a first-time-after-awhile project, especially because it was more complicated than anything I've made before, but much easier than I expected. The Suitability instructions were superb, everything went together perfectly, and the result was more than I had hoped for.

This has to be the most worn UFO on the planet. I literally finished sewing on the snaps (the buttons are "temporarily" sewn on the front of the jacket) before throwing it on my daughter, who then leapt onto her horse and rode into the ring to win her class. An equitation class, where looks do count. I like to think that this jacket played a small role.

Anyway, no lining either, the pieces sit in one of my drawers waiting to be sewn up and inserted. A nice Bemberg fabric. It was wonderful to be able to make her a beautiful, fitted, lightweight jacket out of a lovely wool/rayon blend. Unless you go for top of the line, the riding jackets tend to look very stiff and be as hot as ovens. Even the expensive wool jackets are lined in polyester, unless you go very top of the line.

Now I have to make another for me because she won't let me wear hers anymore. And I need to make us each a dressage jacket. Grrr.

But first, back to my Timmel 2008 SWAP stuff!

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Edited to add a picture from a subsequent show.  This jacket got a lot of use!  

Timmel SWAP 2008 - Stage II (sort of)

Wow, this is fun! Here is my Stage II board, although as mentioned below it looks as thought the blouse and dress from V2989 (my original wardrobe pattern) may make it into Stage I. Back to cutting.

Timmel SWAP 2008

Inspired by all of the sewists at Artisanssquare.com and Patternreview.com, I'm jumping (late) into the blogging thing. I hope to spend more time actually sewing than laboring over this blog and otherwise thinking of sewing, which hasn't been the case up until now, and hopefully this blog will be one handy place to track my journey.

For now, here are my SWAP Stage I and II plans, always subject to change. In fact, I seem to be moving towards V2989 for two of my tops (blouse and dress). The fabric spoke to me.