Simplicity 2504-X2

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!! I hope Santa was good to yall!!

I am trying to get my sewing groove back so I have been working on a few things. I decided since I liked two of these jackets from this pattern that I would just sew them back to back to get it over with. I made Views A and B.






Fabric used: White fleece

Complexity of pattern: I think this is an advanced beginner. Putting in separating zippers are easier than regular ones IMO. Nothing about the pattern was really difficult.

How long did it take to complete: About 7 hours

Overall Review: I like how this jacket turned out. The sleeves and collar are what I like most. The slanting zipper is a great touch as well. I don't think the pockets are deep enough though. Other than that, it's a cute little jacket. I might make this version again. I have some corduroy I have been having for awhile that I have been trying use up forever.







Fabric used: Quilted plaid outerwear-now I must say I don't know why I like to torture myself with sewing plaid. Somewhere and somehow the lines are not going to match up hahahaha!! At least for me..maybe I need to study up on working with plaids. The fabric has that filling or batting material or whatever you call it so the jacket is kind of warm.

Complexity of pattern: Advanced beginner..the zippers on the sleeves are a little tricky.

How long did it take to complete: About 9 hours..maybe more..the matching the plaid gave me a few issues.

Overall Review: I do like this pattern. I love the zipper detail on this view. Again the pockets could be a little deeper. I forgot to put the snap in both the jackets up by the collar. I don't think the white one needs it but the plaid one does so I will go back an put it in.

Butterick 5394/McCall 5975

I whipped these two pieces up awhile ago.














Fabric used: Grey knit-I have had this fabric in my stash for awhile and it was perfect for this.

Complexity of pattern: Beginner..very easy. I made View C

How long did it take to complete: About 2 hours

Overall Review: This is the second time I have used this pattern. I made View B with orange fleece. The review is in a previous post. It is a really easy pattern to work with and has several options. I love the fringe look. I can see doing one in a red or even a purple.







Fabric used: Burgundy matte jersey-I have had this fabric in my stash for awhile too

Complexity of pattern: I would say advanced beginner but I didn't follow the directions and did my own thing with the dress that was easier. I did not put in a zipper and I made view B with long sleeves.

How long did it take to complete: About 3 hours

Overall Review: This is a very cute pattern. I did find it odd that it called for a zipper being that you are to use some type of knit but I guess depending on the knit, you might need a zipper. I don't think matte jersey has that much stretch and I got the dress on with no problems.

McCall 5859/Vogue 8601 and 8603

I guess I have fallen in the "once a month" updating mode LOL! I am going to try and do better but I am thinking about letting my son play basketball when football season is over so I may be stuck in this mode for awhile. At least I haven't put my sewing totally in the back burner :-) We had a surprise birthday party for my mom and it was a major hit! She was so shocked and happy she cried for 3 or 4 minutes. I was trying to upload the video to here but it wouldn't work but it is priceless!!








Fabric used: Animal printed cotton. It's thicker almost like a decorator fabric.

Complexity of pattern: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate. Nothing to difficult. It is lined so it took extra time. It seemed to have a lot of pieces to the pattern for such a small jacket but that is normal I guess for ones with princess seams. I made View B in size 14.

How long did it take to complete: About 7 hours

Overall Review: I like this pattern. Very nice. The pockets and the way the sleeves are made is really cute. I like the collar as well. I had planned on making the short sleeve version this summer but never got around to it so I decided to make the long sleeve version and use some the rest of that animal print fabric I have had forever. I wish I had of took up close pics of the buttons and sleeves.





Sorry for the glare but I wanted you to see the jacket has black in it because the other pictures look goldish in color.









Fabric used: Paisley printed Brocade. It is mainly black and has gold and like a mauvish color. I made View C in size 12.

Complexity of pattern: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate. This one wasn't hard either and it is lined as well. The bottom button is set inside the seam which I like. Saves time from doing button holes. I normally don't buy Vogue patterns but I found a few I liked when they had the online pattern sale about 3 weeks to a month ago.

How long did it take to complete: About 9 hours

Overall Review: I love this pattern. Everything went together well. I don't know why I expected the tail portion to be difficult. The darts in the elbow area are a different little touch. I had more issues with the collar but that was my fault. The tails don't seem to hang down as far on me as it shows on the envelope though. I think my butt is just huge and it's hiking them up some hahaha...I wore it to my mother's party. I got loads of compliments and my little sister wants me to make her one in emerald green one lol! I might make this again somewhere down the road. I have a couple of similar patterns that I want to try out first.







I don't know why I am sticking my butt out like that and the skirt is a little crooked hahahaha




Fabric used: Grey polyester blend..I bought about 4 yards of this awhile ago and I am slowly using it up. I made View A in size 12 or 14 I can't remember.

Complexity of pattern: Beginner..this was an easy one.

How long did it take to complete: About 4 hours

Overall Review: I LOVE pattern!! I did have some reservations that the gathering on the sides was going to make me look extra wide but they don't hahaha..Love the gathering in the back as well. I want to make this again and I already bought some plaid fabric for it but something is telling me that the way the gathers are, it might be best to use solid colored fabric so you can see them better but maybe not. I still might do it.

Some reviews

Long time no blog hahaha. A few things have been going on the last month that have kept me from blogging and sewing that much. My machine was in the shop for a week, I was working on an embroidery project for the ladies in my church group, football season is here which takes up alot of my time and just pure laziness of course. I managed to sew up a few easy projects this month though. This may or may not be the last time you see any orange items which is the color of my son's football team. He may quit the team. Long story but the decision isn't final yet but if he doesn't, I will be making a few more orange items and possibly some burgundy ones which is the color of my other son's team. I bought this orange furry fabric and this orange velveteen that has me thinking wth was I thinking hahahahahahhaa...but knowing me, I will make something with it and wear it like I am the bomb!




hahaha..ol school rabbit ears..my daughter is so in to Michael Jackson that she listens to it everywhere we go.




My girl Monica came out to support my son




Fabric used: Orange crinkly 4 way stretch fabric

Complexity of pattern: Beginner. This pattern is similar to M5241

How long did it take to complete: About 2 hours

Overall Review: I like this pattern. It was really simple and just warm enough for a breezy day. The hem is time consuming because of the way it's made. I like the way it ties in the back. I made the McCall version of this some time ago in black and have misplaced it or lost it. I might have left it on the train so I will probably use this pattern to make another one in black.









Fabric used: Orange fleece

Complexity of pattern: Beginner. Nothing difficult about this pattern at all. I made View B in size M.

How long did it take to complete: About 3 hours

Overall Review: I like this pattern too. Very cute. Some of the other football Moms were asking where I bought it from hahaha..the pockets seemed a bit small to me. They could of been a smidge bigger IMO..also I think interfacing the collar with a light weight interfacing would make it stand up a little more. I should of listened to my first mind and did it but decided not to but it turned out alright. I have some burgundy fleece in my stash so I may make it again when I go to one of my other son's games.







Fabric used: Multi colored rayon..I had to have this fabric when I saw it but it was only 1 1/4 yards left on the bolt. I was going to make a skirt but I am on a mission to use old patterns and stash fabric so I decided on this shrug pattern I have been having over a year or so.

Complexity of pattern: Beginner. Pretty easy to make. I made View C in a size 12.

How long did it take to complete: About 3 hours

Overall Review: This pattern was nice. I like the way the collar part and the flared out sleeves are made.

McCall 5845

I had tea again at The Mandarin Oriental with the ladies church group that I am in. There are about 12 of us but only a few could make the tea. They are a great group of women. Very positive.









Fabric used: Black, yellow and white printed cotton from Joanns. I think it was from their Cosmopolitan line. It was a good weight, easy to work with and I probably could of gotten away without lining it if I wanted to.

Complexity of pattern: Advanced Beginner probably..it wasn't difficult. I did the hem and slit in in the back a little different and easier than the directions.

How long did it take to complete: About 7 hours

Overall Review: I absolutely LOVE how this dress turned out. It fits really well. I really like the back of the dress and the bow tie belt. I am giving it a 8 out of 10.

A few more reviews

I sewed up a few things for my recent trip back to Nebraska. As usual, I waited until the last minute and got everything done in about 2 days hahaha..for the most part everything was easy to throw together. I think I am officially done sewing maxi dresses for the year. I think I might try and start my fall wardrobe a bit early this year. I made the black and pink dress Saturday night for something cute to wear for my date with my husband on Sunday. He was returning from a trip to Georgia.

McCall 5889






Fabric used: White Linen-I made a jumpsuit using this pattern for the pants and a simple self drafted pattern for the top portion.

How long did it take to complete: I put this together in about an hour and half.

Overall Review: The pants pattern is super easy and has a relaxed fit. Just the look I was going for. Instead of using elastic at the bottom, I made ties. I might use this pattern again to have some quick, comfortable pants to wear.

SIMPLICITY 2590





Fabric used: Jungle printed rayon

Complexity of pattern: Not hard at all..I made the halter version in size 12.

How long did it take to complete: About an hour and half

Overall Review: This pattern was great. The sizing said the finished bust would be 39and 1/2 which I was scared is was going to be too big and gappy looking on me but it fit perfect.

SIMPLICITY 2647






Fabric used: Purple knit-the picture doesn't show the color too well or do the dress justice cause my husband was sitting down when he took the pic LOL! and I forgot to take a pic of it the night I actually wore the dress. I had on this real pretty purple necklace and earrings.

Complexity of pattern: This pattern was easier than I expected. I thought the ruffle looking thing in the front was going to take extra time but it didn't really. I decided to make View E in size 12 in a strapless version to cut back on time too.

How long did it take to complete: I swear I finished this in little over an hour.

Overall Review: This pattern was nice. No problems at all. The sizing said the finished bust would be 32 which I didn't notice until I was almost finished with the dress hahaha..I thought it was going to be extra tight across my chest but it wasn't. It stayed in place when I was wearing it. I danced in the dress and don't remember having to pull it up at all.

KWIK SEW 3333







Fabric used: Black and pink knit-again, the picture doesn't really show the pink too well. Maybe I have a raggedy camera hahaha..I made the top from View A and the bottom from View B.

Complexity of pattern: This pattern was extra easy. Only 4 pieces. It called for clear elastic to be used in the waist area which I have never worked with before. It was easy to use but I don't understand why regular elastic couldn't be used.

How long did it take to complete: It took close to 2 hours for this one. It was late and I was moving kinda slow.

Overall Review: This pattern was ok BUT, the sizing was off IMO. I made a medium which was for bust size 37-38 1/2, waist size 27 1/2-29 and hip size 38 1/2 to 40First of all, it said use 1/4 seam allowances which was strange to me so I didn't do it. I used 5/8. I did follow the instructions about using 3/8 seam allowance to sew the bodice to the skirt because the elastic that is used for the waist is 3/8. Even with using 5/8 seam allowances, I had to take the dress in TWICE,it was too dang big. And really, I could of taken it in again but didn't feel like it. It still fits ok. I don't think I have sewn a Kwik Sew pattern before so maybe this is the norm for them. I just know to make a small next time and still might have to take it in hahaha.