New Look 6920 and Adventures in Brocade

After a long absence from from blogging but not sewing, I thought it was time to get in here again.  No time like at the beginning of a new project.  On the machine now is New :Look 6920.  I've had this pattern in the stash for years ( It's copywrited 2009.  Yikes!)  I bought it for the jacket, view D: hip-length, princess seams in the bodice, tie front and 3/4 sleeves.  It's time has finally come.

I'll be using this brocade:

I got it for this jacket (probably around 2009 or '10 also) Fabric.com. so it's been ripening in fabric stash for a while.  I just love the play of the light on those blue, silver and gold geometric shapes. 
I've never worked in brocade before so this is a learning experience.

The jacket pattern is unlined but obviously I don't want to traipse around with fraying seams.  I doubt I have the ability to draft a lining for it; and it calls out for something more formal than serged seams.  So with the help of my trusty Vogue Sewing manual, I'm going to use organza Hong Kong seams.  Another new skill for me to learn.  I cut my strips tonight.  Tomorrow I start sewing.  Wish me luck.

New Look Fall/Winter

I finally got a chance to really look over the new offering from New Look for their Fall/Winter pattern collection.  I was really surprised that there were only three items that vaguely interested me.  Of those three items, I was also able to promptly to dissaude myself from adding to my Want List.  Two I already have very similar versions in my pattern collection from different companies already.  The third was a skirt with a lovely waistband detail that will rarely, if ever, be seen as I seldom tuck in my tops. So it would be work to no avail.  That leaves nothing new to be desired and a cabinet full of patterns vying to been sewn already.  So we stick to last year's plan of trying to use what I have more often--both in fabric and patterns. 

A Time to Refocus

I've been pondering shutting this blog down.  It seemed I had lost purpose, vision, and time.  What was I doing?  Why was I doing it and who was I doing it for. 

My sewing has lost some of that purpose and vision as well.  I've worked hard to get the idae of  Sewing With A Plan (SWAP) imbedded into my mind and into my work.  Try to make each piece work with other pieces in my wardrobe.  So far this is slowly becoming the habit. 

To help re-inforce this thought process, I unconscously found myself visting Pattern Review again.  These are such amazing sewists with so much to share.  From incredle knowledge bases to sheer enthusiam and support, they offer so much of their craft gladly to other sewists.  I was never really a poster on the boards but have decided to get my feet wet and have joined one of the sewing support groups.  More on that in another post perhaps.

 But another post about blogging got me thinking about this blog.  When do you call it quits?  Why do you blog?  What's to focus goal--membership or journaling?  So after chewing on these questions for a while, I re-thought my blog purpose.  I will continue to blog. I will continue to blog for an audience of one- me.  A journal of what I'm doing in sewing day to day or week to week.  No pressures and no guilt as there is no audience to try to attract or entertain. 

This is to focus me on what I'm doing an why.  How I'm doing overall.  Hopefully I'll hone my writing skills and perhaps a computer skill or two as they've gone rusty. It's a freer feeling re-starting this time without the pressures.  I'll see it goes......  

Butterick 5563

I've started a new project.  Yoohoo!  Compared to the last few months, I'm on a roll.  This new one is Butterick 5563, view B; pictured on the top far right.  I like the fitted sleeves, loose waist, and low cowl look of the wrapped neck.  

It looks easy and straitforward--only 3 pieces but a real fabric hog.  I got it cut out today and will get sewing time Tuesday.  I'm really excited.  The fabric is a lovely multicolor stripeof rayon jersey knit from Fabric.com. So soft.  Sigh.  When draped on my dress form, Zelda, looked rather like a chic serape.  So I guess my working title will be La Tapa Bonita -- the Pretty Top.

Kimono Envy

This past week has been Tokyo Kimono Week in Japan, their equivalent to Fashion Week here.  Despite the limiting title, their Kimono Week does feature western/modern  fashion as well as kimono.  The modern fashion ranges from anything you'd see on the runway here and in Paris to avante garde, to anime-type fashion.  This post is about the kimono, however, as I simply love the beauty of them, the skill involved in crafting them let alone wearing them.  Obi can have a variety of intricate tying to create lovely designs in back.  It's a beautiful and complicated-looking way to get ready for work in the morning.

This post is about the kimono, however, as I simply love the beauty of them, the skill involved in crafting them let alone wearing them.

Obi can have a variety of intricate tying to create lovely designs in back. I understand the government approves of common daily kimono use. 

 Looks like a beautiful and complicated-looking way to get ready for work in the morning.  I'll stick with work scrubs and home jeans.

The Nautical Sweater

Yeah!  Real sewing again.  Simple project that's been in my mind for a while with a small variant from ready to wear.  I used Simplicity 2560.  It's been done by everyone, including myself once already, but is so versatile and comfy, and such a quick stitch it's irresitible.

I saw a version a couple of months ago on Coldwater Creek's site but no longer see it now  where the draping on the front was held down with tabs.  Loved it abd knew this was the perfect pattern for it.  So everything is just like the regular pattern except the tabs.  They were borrowed from another pattern as I am so not design savvy like that, along with their directions.

I loved the pulled-back look and as this is for work it makes it even more convenient to access pockets.  The fabric is a very washable knit from Joann's, maybe a french terry not sure.  The buttons are from my stash and I think they give the sweater a nautical look.  I may add one of the jumbo hook/eye closures to the backside of the tabbing for the odd occassions I do want to close it.  I'm very happy with it as is though because it is soooo coooomfy.  And of course the joy of sewing again is priceless.  

Loose Ends

I just wanted to wrap up those dangling loose ends with pictures of the finished products of Simplicity 2501 , the Maggie Blouse.

Here's the finished product. It's one of my favorite tops to wear, I might add.  My neckband has some wave in it so apparently it got stretched some in the construction process as it is cut on the bias.  The waistband and peplum are very figure flattering.  The pattern is one of Simplicity's choose-a-cup multi-size patterns so size adjustments are a breeze.  The only one I had left to do was a forward shoulder adjustment. Nice.

The only thing I was scared of were the ruched sleeved.  But Simplicity has easy directions for that as well.  I love how they came out above.  Kind of channeling the spirit of the forties. They have it marked on the pattern for you to mark on the sleeve where to place elastic then sew over with casing.  Their process was easy if you 're slow and careful.


The other top finished is Simplicity's 2975, the view B top.  This should have flown together pretty quick but I decided to embellish it and then ran completely out of sewing steam ( or steam for anything for that matter).  So once I got done with the mending, I figured I have needle in hand let's go.  It took 3 night of sewing while watching TV to finish it out:

See just a simple yoked smock top.

And there's the embellishment: a simple straight stitch embroidered with the awfullest gold thread to work with ever! and some cute little brass dangly thingies from Joann's. The mottled fabric was a bonus 1yd boo-boo Fabric.com sent with an order.   I fell madly in love it and had to use and found some red cotton to work with it.  I have a pale grey Vera Wang sweater that works with it, too, so I can get some use from it before it turns cold.