Three books....

Since I am having a little issue with patterns fitting me properly, I decided to go to the library and get some books out ....
1) Fast Fit from Sandra Betzina

2) Life is not a dress size by Rita Farro 3)No Time to Sew also from Sandra Betzina

So far I am beginning to get a better understanding on how to manipulate the patterns. I will post my progress with the dress. So far I have pinned the bust on my form and it looks alright, the only problem is the under arm area, but I think I will gather that area and see what it looks like. Wish me luck.
Ambitious Sewer

Working on Butterick b5243...

Hey everyone,
Well I just wanted to update on my progress on pattern b5243 so far, I cut out the pattern pieces but had a little issue with the fitting...It really doesn't surprise me since this is a problem I encounter every time I start a new project....the only thing though is that most of my midsection is about three inches larger than the piece...I wasn't sure whether or not to extend the garment by three inches...since it is a jersey knit.
I mean the fabric stretches but how far can it stretch? I wasn't sure so I retraced the pattern on tracing paper and made the adjustments...now what it comes down too is cutting the fabric out...I am kind of intimidated, because I never cut on my own...and once you cut it's final...well hopefully I have nothing too worry about.
Anyway that's about it I will post pictures on the before and after pattern adjustment...if anyone has any suggestions on how to extend a pattern without having to go through all the trouble of making new ones it would be very much appreciated.
Well I hope everyone had a good week and God Bless.
Ambitious Sewer

Journey to JoAnn's!

I have to say in the last 4 days, I have been ridiculously buying fabrics. For what! I have no clue. It all started out so innocently. I went to the store just to get a jersey knit fabric.
No big deal! Until I saw the clearence rack. I thought hey why not check it out. I figure what was the harm just go and see what they got. Dumb mistake!
I saw a fabric they call Avon, I am not sure what the hell it is or what it does all I knew was $3.00 a yard, and I was happy. Mind you on the label it specifically states do not dry clean, machine wash, or use dryer only hand-wash.
At the time I should of said nope not worth it. But no... all I saw was three dollars a yard and Ooh what a pretty color and I took it. Then my confused behind continued my search for a stretchy fabric... so I went to the isle that said all stretch fabrics....these people need to set up specific signs for people like me because I don't have a clue...NONE!
I saw a burgundy fabric and assumed it was jersey knit only to bring it home and see it was a fabric called PONTE mixed with polyester...What was real stupid was the fact they only had 2 yards left...and I needed THREE!!! I PURCHASED IT ANYWAY!!!!! Tell me the logic in that...again in my mind all I thought was OOOHHHH pretty color! Jesus, I need help!!!
About $45 dollars into this ridiculousness, I had the nerve to go back to JoAnn's ( I just don't learn) . But really I went back because my confused behind left in such a haste I forgot the pattern and socks on the counter after purchasing them. So I had to go back and get my things...I didn't spend money to give my stuff away hell no!!!
I shouldn't continue this story because this should change people's perception of me by the time I am done....but since you guys are so kind I figured why not?
Guess what I did!!! Before I went back to get my things....I went to another JoAnn's...lol, and guess what I brought 4 yards of burgundy jersey knit. It cost me $32 dollars....I don't need all that fabric!!! But I am crazy, so of course I am going to buy all that fabric! I just yell out a number that sounds good to me and put yards behind it...At that point I think I am accomplishing something... Yes!!! Accomplishing to buy more fabrics than I need!!! Because in my head I must be the size of a baby elephant!!!
So now I have 10 yards of fabric that will just sit there until I either give it away or make something with it! Send prayers out because I am losing it!!!
Then after my little journey I come to find out that I am not too crazy about jersey knits! All in all, it was a pay week I must of wanted to spend money, and now I have to commit to a fabric that I might not like...Next time I want to experiment I will go to Wal-mart then and there it will be allot cheaper!

I have been inspired!!!!

Thanks to you lovely folks!!! I have been inspired to go on and pursue new projects...I have learned a real good lesson from this experience even if you have measured and re-adjusted your patterns it never hurts to re-check before doing the final fitting...
1) I am really considering taking the dress to a tailor and getting it done...at this point I much rather pay then take it apart and doing it over again.
2) I love my dress so what if it's busy, it's mine I made it, I want it and I am going to wear it!!! Maybe I will start off by wearing it in the basement then I work my way to the surface...but if one a-hole snickers at me...I will...I will... I will give them a real dirty look and run back too my house and bury it in the backyard...lol
Now to my new evil creations...you can't stop me!!!! I will murder all these patterns before I get it right...(can you hear my evil laughter)...no...okay...I will type it out for you (HAH,HAH,HAH,HAH*cough*)
Now thanks to Mimi Goodwin and her beautiful outcome...I decided on doing two patterns that she has done...I guarantee her version is much better...I know this because...just take my word for it so here they are...



I absolutely adore this dress from butterick, but after purchasing it I wonder if I could make it work...but we will see.


And this one I always wanted to do if you look at my wish list from the past postings you will recognize it...
Well this is pretty much it for right now!!!
Talk to you later

There it is!!!!

Well here it is the dress!!! I had a problem with the collar it stood to high so I bend it so it would look a little better!!!

Anyway here it is!!! Please feel free to be brutally honest! I plan on fixing the collar first I have to steam it out then bend it again!!! Plus I have to re-adjust the sleeves so it won't be so tight...I am thinking of bringing it to a tailor so I can finally be done with this one...My mother told be I would be robbing myself of a learning experience and to do it on my own...But I am just tired and want this to be done...OVER!!!
What I am going to do is put it too the side and see if I should finish it or let the professionals handle this!

I really don't have any excuse!!!

I have been debating whether or not to post the final look of the dress...and I am mostly hanging on no...I don't hate the dress it's just after it's all done I realize I may not be able to wear it...this is the umteenth time I have made a garment and decided it was just too busy to wear...Plus I still have to get shoes to go with the outfit...on me it looks like a cross between a pimp and a church girl...I love the fabric and the print but maybe it's too much for a whole dress anyway, I will be posting pictures of it tomorrow...please let me know what you think.
Later

Update!!!!

So here is the dress with the sleeves and collar done....I still have the other waistband to put on and hem the skirt and add the zipper and I will finally be done!!!
Here is a close up of the collar...I hate the fact it looks a little flimsy I put in the interfacing and top stitched the collar so it can be a little more stiff...but it didn't work out so well...I am going to have to figure something out....
Here is the sleeve with the lapel I didn't get my buttons yet but you get the idea....

My biggest issue right now is the back of the bodice it's real tight, constricted and really uncomfortable...
Well other than that my blue shirt is coming along pretty well ...I will post about that next time but ...as of right now I am concentrating on my new project ....I originally was going to use Mc Call's M555 dress...but I thought it was kind of boring so...I thought about combining it with Burda 7783 ...I am too crazy about the collar, well actually I love the collar but it's too trendy and might not be able to use it for long...so I thought I use McCall's collar and use the sleeves and pockets on Burda....
Now I am not too sure about the combination...I thought it was a good idea a while ago but looking back I am not too sure...I love the silver/gray and black combo but the black has a pattern on it's own so wouldn't that be a little much?
I was hoping to use the black for the body of the garment and the grey would be used on the collar and the band of the sleeves...
Well that's about it for now... I will be posting real soon!!!!