This saddens me...

The Joann's closest to my house is closing. I really like this store and all the employees know me. I don't know if that is a bad or good thing hahaha...The closest one to me now will be the one in Greenbelt. The ones in Columbia and Annapolis are nice but I can really only make it to those locations on the weekend. Oh well, I guess I will get over it.I am going to stop in there this week probably for the last time. They make it such a secret when they think the actual last day will be. Some of the discounts weren't that great IMO especially if they need to get rid of everything. We shall see...

McCall 5858

It's HAMMER time!! hahaha..one of my girlfriends HATES the new fad of the infamous Hammer pants that are back in style. I told her I was going to make some just to get on her nerves. I self drafted a plain tube top with two rows of elastic to wear with them.









Fabric used: Teal Rayon Challis...the fabric was easy to work with but I don't like how it gets really wrinkled fairly quick. I ironed the pants several times and even put some starch on them to try and combat the wrinkles but it just must be the fabric.

Complexity of pattern: Beginner to Intermediate..I had no issues with this pattern. Very easy construction. I like the back zipper. There are pleats in the front and the back.

How long did it take to complete: 3 1/2 hours including top.

Overall Review: I like this pattern! I think they look really good on me hahaha..they weren't as "hammerish" as some of the ones I have seen in magazines and on the Internet. I wore them to have lunch with a few friends and I received several compliments. I may make these again in the long version if I can find some fabric that drapes the same way but doesn't get so wrinkled.

McCall 5893/Simplicity 3503

Maxidresses are my thing now a days. They are so comfortable and you can pretty much let it all hang out underneath them hahaha. These are the latest ones I finished up. I plan on sewing up at least 3 more over the next couple weeks with a few other patterns I have.






Fabric used: Green knit..it has a textured crinkly look to it. It looks better on the dress form than it does on me hahaha. The fabric is neat the way the texture looks. I wore it to work with a jacket.

Complexity of pattern: Beginner..it can't get any easier than this. The pattern has 3or 4 pieces depending on which view you choose.

How long did it take to complete: 1 1/2 hours..maybe a little less

Overall Review: This is one of the easiest patterns I have ever sewn. I probably will make this again. It is something quick and easy to throw on for work or just being out and about.

SIMPLICITY 3503

I used this pattern a few times last year for some maxi dresses so I was familiar with it. I altered the pattern to get the multi colored look this time.






Fabric used: Several knits in different colors. I don't know how I feel about it now. Maybe I should have only used 3 or 4 colors. It looks a tad busy hahaha..I have been having all of them in my stash since last summer so I needed to figure out something to do with them. I believe I got all of them at Walmart for 1.00 a yard.

Complexity of pattern: Beginner to Intermediate. I made the view with the halter but I cut the bottom part of the dress with all the different knit colors.

How long did it take to complete: It took about 7 hours or so. I had to gather each color for a proper fit when I was sewing them together. If I had of sewn it with just one fabric, it probably would of been around 3 hours or less.

Overall Review: I like the look of the this pattern with just one fabric and the multi colored way I did it. You are supposed to use tricot for lining the bodice but that is hard to find around here so I used the same fabric I used for the bodice to line it. I think I am going to sew the view showed with the tannish looking color fabric.

McCall 5852

I was doing a little window shopping a few days ago and saw this ruffly blouse at The Gap. It immediately made me think of this pattern I have had for awhile so I decided to sew it up this weekend. My sweetie and I were going on a date on Saturday to take an Argentine Tango lesson (LOL) and I thought the blouse would be pretty. I have attached some tango pics as well for your enjoyment hahaha!!












Fabric used: I am unsure. It may be some type of Crepe. Maybe Gauze. I have had it for 2 years in my stash. It wasn't the easiest to sew with that is for sure. At first I was going to use this silky Japanese print but for whatever reason I can't bring myself to use it for anything. It is so pretty!! haha

Complexity of pattern: Beginner to Intermediate. I did do some changes to the ruffles. Instead of hemming the ruffles, I did a small overcast on them. Very similar to how the one from The Gap is made. Trying to hem this fabric was basically a nightmare. It worked out well and saved me alot of time.

How long did it take to complete: 4 1/2 hours

Overall Review: I really really like this pattern. I definitely plan on sewing this pattern again. I have several fabric pieces I could use for this. I think I could wear this blouse to work with a jacket over it.

Butterick 5088 and 5330

I have had this jacket 95% completed for over a month. I just needed to do the buttonholes and sew on the buttons. I love big buttons on certain pieces and I was a bit discouraged because both of my sewing machines only do buttonholes that are a maximum in size of 1 1/4. I am just realizing this after using one machine for 2 years and the other one for 6 months and I had no clue as to how I was going to make the buttonholes. The buttons I used were 1 3/8 and the pattern called for 1 1/4. Someone suggested a satin stitch which sounded more complicated than I cared to try. I decided that I would just make 2 zig zags and a bar tack at each end and my usual stabilizer on the front and back. They actually turned out well. Pay no mind to my weird facial expressions hahaha.



zig zag buttonhole








Fabric used: I made view A with Zebra stripped linen with just a plain white cotton lining. At first I was going to use a yellow lining but the zebra fabric is really thin and the yellow would have been seen.


Complexity of pattern: Beginner to Intermediate. It wasn't hard at all. I had no major issues.

How long did it take to complete: 8 hours(maybe 9 or 10) I can't really remember.

Overall Review: The jacket looks great. The sleeves are what I like most about this pattern. I think the buttons that I chose compliment the fabric well. I ordered them off of ebay and they came in a bag of 20 so you may see them on another piece that I make hahaha. I have this kelly green material that would look fab made from this pattern. Decisions Decisions.


Butterick 5330

I had the pleasure of finally meeting my beautiful sister-in-law Curetta and her daughter Jasmine as well as some other family this weekend when we went down to Georgia for Jasmine's graduation. I knew the graduation was going to be held outdoors so I made something nice and cool to wear.






Fabric used: Broadcloth in white, yellow and orange. I made view C but I shortened the main part of the skirt and added an extra ruffle.

Complexity of pattern: Beginner. As easy as it gets probably even with the changes I made.

How long did it take to complete: almost 2 hours but I think I could of completed it quicker.

Overall Review: If you love long skirts and want to whip up something quick, this is the pattern for you. It wound up being a tad shorter than it was suppose to be due to the changes I made and my bum measurements hahaha. I am liking the multi colored skirts and maxi dresses so I am going to make this again maybe with 3 ruffles this time with different colors. I am planning on making a multi colored maxi dress within the next couple weeks as well.