NPRINS

Dear readers, Upon returning home from a buying spree at Seattle Fabrics -   Website,  I decided to "whip" up a project using some scrap Malden Mills polartec -- quickee shorts.  Some materials just shouldn't be shorts.  Like heavy duty fleecy Polartec -- you cannot see in the pictures - but the pile is large on this and tends to catch between my legs.  I don't care --  I like 'em.  Perfect for dog walking on cool mornings. They are not my favorite.  I didn't really use a pattern -- merely Judy Kessinger's pants sloper to test it (don't blame her -- I modified it). Anyway, after a few glasses of wine -- J. was like -- those shorts are terrible, they are garbage.  They are not good.  I had to laugh.  They aren't good but I don't care:)  He normally loves my projects.  These smurfs didn't do the trick for him though. Anyway, off I go on the dog walk wearing them. Hey, I sew for me:)  So, dear readers, do you ever make anything y

Dear readers, Finally, this project was a LOT more difficult than I expected.  This is New Look 6166 -- a wonderful pattern.  I based it on the following inspiration below: It's not exactly the same.  I missed buying it (and it was pricey) when it came in last season. This year they also have another evening star-ish vest on their Fall line right now: A little closer view of the matching and fitted arms.  Boy, there is a reason that these Pendleton garments are expensive.  This fabric - Evening Star, a light to mid - weight blanket fabric was unwieldy and difficult to put together.  I ripped out the sides six times the first time I tried to match up the pattern.  Finally, I put in pins and actually sewed over them (no needles broken in case you were wondering).  This is after using jeans needles and a roller foot.  I thought it would take an hours to put together - NOPE.  Two days after cutting.  I picked up the frog/finding at my knitting store I really like it.

Dear readers, My takeout for two leg warmers almost became an UFO (unfinished object).  Fun and easy -- but knitting very long tubes on very small DPNs (double pointed needles) has ruined me.  I'm glad they are finished.  Now, I am merely finishing some yoga socks (more). . and I'm ready for my big sweater project, Funky Grandpa Sweater. The original picture from the knitting book, Joy of Socks, below: These were fairly cost efficient as I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light wool to knit.  Unfortunately, we are in the middle of a heat wave, with an accompanying drought, and random fires, so it may be awhile for me to finally wear them.   I chose this pattern for my pilates and barre warmups.  And, these leg warmers are indeed WARM!  My link to the project page in  Ravelry  is  HERE - TAKEOUT FOR TWO PROJECT . The model had very very long legs apparently -- I'm not that short either (especially my legs - a 31" inseam and I'm 5'6.5").   I coul

Dear readers, I'm taking a craftsy class "The Perfect Tailored shirt."  However, I am only around half way through the class.  So, I am starting my shirt project anyway -- although I am modifying to use a princess seam pattern, for the first one. Here is the fabric I'm using -- a cotton print, a little bit vintage inspired, from Mood.  This is the pattern I selected and I modified it using my sloper (or basic bodice blocks) Although the class calls for a pattern without princess, such as this one below: Vogue 8689.  Maybe next time. I'm tempted to get a Connie Crawford pattern now that I've seen how good they are drafted. Here is where I stand below.   I'm missing about a half yard of fabric (I'm going to Mood Monday afternoon -- fingers crossed).  Last time I was there about three months ago -- a few hundred yards remained on the roll. As a result of the process, I've been researching tailored shirts.  Here is a women's Navy Of

Dear readers, I've been dying to make a Pendleton vest with a shawl collar from this inspiration: I finally found a pattern that has a Shawl Collar, with princess seaming.  New Look 6166 -- and it only takes 7/8 yard fabric from 60" roll. So, using some Pendleton Fabric in my stash (I blogged about it HERE), I planned to make this vest.   View E (the middle vest on the left side column).  I have one yard from a 60 inch roll.  I tissue fit the pattern vest -- making only adjustments to add length to the shoulder seam and moved the shoulder seam forward (I have slightly tilted forward wide and high shoulders, thicker neck than the norm). Here are my pinned cuts on the dress form without the shawl collar.  Pendleton has named this fabric Evening Star.   One piece I cut slightly short.  The vest is 2" longer than the pattern calls for I have a long body -- so the shorter cut may not be a problem, I can crop it without problem due to the extra fabric. However, I d

Dear readers, The stash-bustin' continues.  Today's quickie -- a new TNT pattern for me -- the Jalie Scarf Collar Top.  It is as good as everyone says! It is Jalie 2921.  A shirt a day this weekend. This pattern is as good as everyone says -- I love the "burrito" technique for the scarf -- fantastic.  I didn't realize the SA was 1/4".  Oops.  But I probably did the sides 1/4" anyway.  It is a perfect fit.  It is a bit low in the bust -- but I think a tank will help.  I cut a "W" size and made the largest sleeves and eased them in.   This only took 6 pieces to cut out.  Fully serged (with some sewing in the collar area). Here is the copy of the pattern photo below:  I didn't expect to love this top but I did.  I added my standard 3/8" to both shoulder seam allowances.  I have a large neck so this is the best alteration (thanks to Connie Crawford at ASG for suggesting this!).  This pattern was so good I went ahead

Dear readers, My stash-bustin' continues!  I've recently finished the classic shirt - from Butterick 5678  -- and with tips from Craftsy's Perfectly Tailored Shirt class.  This is a vintage-inspired cotton searsucker (light seer suckering:)) Sorry the photos are so large -- I was trying to capture the details here. It is perfected fitted -- but not perfectly executed.  I highly recommend this pattern, Butterick 5678, a princess seam classic shirt.  I've never been able to buy a shirt off the rack with perfect fit.  So, I'm thrilled.  It was easy to modify this pattern since I've got bodice blocks to compare the pattern with. I'm last to the party with a classic shirt -- but thrilled to have finally made one!  I ran out of fabric 3/4 of the way through the project -- and had to run back to Mood, panicked.  I can't say enough how comfortable this is.  Pamela's video Craftsy class really helped when I got stuck on the execution.  Th

Hello readers, I'm planning two blog posts on finished knitted items -- the grandpa sweater and also the fingerless mitts.  But I desperately need my sewing mojo (sew-jo)  back.  I've been traveling extensively and at the same time dealing with some family emergencies. Well, a few weeks ago -- I did buy a new pair of glasses -- this is my Gregory Peck - To kill a Mockingbird look, as demonstrated below in seersucker (this reminds me of the wonderful grey seersucker in my stash.  I have got to start sewing. . . uggg!): I'm glad to be home and nursing quite the nasty head cold caught in Hawaii!  Day 4 1/2. I love reading all about my fellow blogger's sewing results while I have been traveling!  Now, I'm hoping some of that excitement transfers over to my intentions. XOXO, Pammie

Dear readers, Still in the mood for a quick fix -- I made these Polartec Yoga Pants - My TNT pattern from Kwik Sew in Medium.  I've made them before and blogged about them Here in Black Polartec. A perfect fit - but I didn't hem the pants (nor did I serge) Polartec does not unravel.  If I wanted to hem -- I'd definitely add an inch or two (please not I have a 31 inch inseam).    I cut them out last night and made them today in less than an hour (and after a candle zippo type of lighter exploded in my hand causing very little burns - so lucky).  I've worn my black ones (in thicker fabric) totally to death.   I still take those fuzzys everywhere I go. I also used this drawcord elastic below (instead of the 3/8" elastic called for and cut it 30").  It is available on Judy Kessinger's  Website Fitnice System . I love them.  I made these a bit snug, but I can live with that.  Plus, post-surgery I need to lose a few pounds.   Don't you

Dear readers, One of the lucky things I got into was a very highly valued sweater class at Anacapa Fine Yarns.  I signed up early (without remembering the project) -- it's a new sweater pattern picked out by Anacapa's popular instructor, Anne (whose blog is Moonlight Stitches).   Luckily, Anne has excellent taste -- and picked out this sweater - Funky Grandpa.  This fits my style perfectly!  I wear cashmere grandpa sweaters almost everyday at work (goes with my lawyer-geek style). The pattern is available on Ravelry, just search for "Funky Grandpa."  Rililie is the designer and her blog is Lamaisonrililie.  I love her designs and have downloaded her fingerless mitts and cap patterns as well. Now the fun is to pick out the yarn -- I'm leaning toward Madeline Tosh Merino Light -- either dark grey for the main bodice color and black for the arms.  Or, a dark denim blue for the bodice and darker arms.  The denim blue would be great with jeans and movie dat