Another reason I haven't blogged is that I'm so far behind on my posts, that I dread typing them all up. So while I wanted a blog for each new item, that is just not going to happen. I'm going to briefly write up all my recent makes in this post. Then I'll do a blog recapping a couple trips/fun things we've done. And then I can start fresh.
Lets begin.
I made these leggings in December. They were one of the first things I made. I never blogged about them because I wanted to repurpose a shirt to go with them. See the peach top I'm wearing in the picture? It is way too big and long. I bought it online and what I got was a piece of crap. :) It was awful, but I never returned it. So I wanted to alter it to fit, and the color matches these leggings perfectly. I got half way through the shirt and then stopped. It's still not done, but I'll finish it one day. I made these leggings with Teagan White Acorn Trail knit. I added french seams because I love me some french seams. Easy peasy.
Things I need improvement on: nothing
Do I love it? Yes, they stretch out so I have to wash after each wear.
Garment item #: 8 (not the 8th garment I made, but more like one of the first 8 I made)
Next up was my Shoreline Boatneck in January. I wanted to make this as soon as I saw this version. It has a plaid front, and a black knit back. I had a gaping problem with the neckline. I'll have to research how to fix this, do I just make my front panel narrower? Or maybe just the neck opening narrower or raise the neckline higher? I just added a pleat to the front and called it a day. I think the pleat adds some detail to the front, so I like it. There is also a pocket, but I pattern matched it and you can't even see it! Sadly, the hem of the back is a disaster. But luckily it's black so you can't really tell. I had a hard time hemming the curve. I saw a tip (that I can no longer find) about gathering the curves first before you hem. I'll have to try that.
Things I learned: nothing new
Things I need improvement on: fitting the neck, and sewing curves with knits
Do I love it? Yes!
Garment item #: 9
Next up were Clover pants. I made these pants 3 times before I got the fit right. I never really took pictures of them, so I just have this one below. No butt photos, but the fit is good. My waist is a 4, my hips are a 0, my knees are 00, my calfs are a 0/2 and my ankles are a 00. I had no idea my body was so curvy! I also lowered the front rise by an inch, but kept the height of the back rise (to prevent plumbers crack). I did a contrasting waistband facing unit with bias binding. I used a cheap denim fabric that I picked up in Paris. It stretches after each wear, but that's too be expected with this low quality fabric. This was actually a test run before I make another pair. My next pair will be out of a black twill. I really hope the fit will be similar with this new material. Since the twill has less stretch I'm guessing I will need to size up in some areas (mainly my calfs).
Things I learned: how to make pants, improving on my invisible zip, faux flat seam
Things I need improvement on: hardest part was the corner of the waistband were it meets the zip. I could never get it to be a nice crisp corner.
Do I love it? Yes!
Garment item #: 10
Things I learned: nothing new
Things I need improvement on: getting my neckline to hit just right (not too low, not too high)
Do I love it? Yes!
Garment item #: 11
Next us was my fifth Necessary Clutch Wallet. This one was for my mother who is a huge Alabama fan. I bought this fabric last year to make her a tote bag, and I still have enough fabric to make her one more thing. I'm thinking of making her a purse, similar to this. This was my first time adding a double zipper . I like it. I made the security tab in the middle too long (this feature is not in the pattern), but other than that I love it.
Things I learned: double zipper
Things I need improvement on: length of security tab, and I want to position the security tab so it does not cover both zippers (it's annoying to undo the tab every time you want to open a zipper.
Do I love it? Yes! And my mother loved it too.
Purse #: 5
Next is my Union St. Tee. Who doesn't need more Tshirts?! Now that I don't have a Target to stock up on comfy tees, I was excited to make my own. I used a stretch rayon jersey knit. The neckline is a little low for me (again I'm a prude). And sadly the sleeve are not symmetrical (one is longer) and I stretched out the fabric as I sewed the sleeve cuffs. I strategically turned my body so you can't tell. :) I used my walking foot, and the shirt came together easily. My neck binding was a little short, so I did some serious stretching.
Things I learned: how to sew with knits
Things I need improvement on: sleeves
Do I love it? I like it, but it needs improvement with the sleeves
Garment item #: 12
Then I got a serger!!!! Yay!
And finally I made another Union St. Tee with my serger. I raised the neckline by 1.5". I used a Ponte de Roma from fabric.com. I got this fabric for a pair of Hudson Pants, and hopefully I still have enough fabric left for them. The neck binding and back are a solid black knit. It fits and I love it, but the Ponte has less drape then the other one so I could have gone up a size. This was the first item I serged, and I love it. The insides look so nice, and it's so quick to do. I'm happy with the V on my neckband. It is nice and pointy. I already have the fabric picked out for my next Union St. Tee.
 |
| Hard to tell with the white thread, but I serged all my insides. It's so neat and tidy. |
Things I need improvement on: my sleeves are much better, but I think I'm stretching them out as I sew.
Do I love it? Yes!
Garment item #: 13
OK. That's all the garments I've made. I have lots lined up for the future. I don't know when I'll get to them all! I need spring dresses (that double as work dresses), more clover pants, Tshirts, cotton shorts, blouses, pajamas, purses and I want to start making my own running clothes. But first I need to make a couple of baby items.
And here's a few pictures of Tuck that I had on my phone.
