NPRINS

Hello Readers, I've completed the Vogue 1197 tunic, pictured below (taking advantage of the evening light). . . I made this garment twice (as I cut off the hem of this tunic 8" short on my first try last weekend!).   And let's not talk about the stripes lining up on the previous garment!  This was made with my vintage serger. I wanted a garment that I could wear "jeggings" with - and this one was perfect.  I bought the fabric at Mood, a knit jersey - with much more stretch than the pattern called for.   For my second try, I made the tunic version in the smallest size - it had so much ease it was ridiculous! On the final garment I made the bust size 32, for example (and I am a RTW 38B-C).   I love the garment - the first one was a disaster in many ways - I even got lost serging the raglan sleeves.   Wow - serging is EASY and FAST!  As you can see from the view below my serging is not quite right (no getting that fall bob haircut now!).  I lazi...

Hello Readers, A few months ago I asked you whether I should buy a serger - the answer was a general Yes!! So, I've been looking for used Babylock Imagine Wave Sergers (the Enlighten, now) - which is normally on "sale" for my dealer for 1699 (Imagine 1399) but I "imagine" I could talk them down:)   So, I've been scouring craigs list in the LA area with no luck. Today I walk into my Bernina dealer who says, hey Pam (he knows me) we got an awesome machine in trade - the Bernina Bernette 334D  (made by Juki) known as a real workhorse.  Some of the sewers I know loved theirs.  After checking reviews, I ended up buying it for 300.00 (which is a fair price) from the Bernina dealer - it's barely used.  I had them thread it for me.  It has a complicated threading system. It's quiet, heavy with a great stitch - looks like a bear to thread and perhaps some fiddling with the tension may be necessary in the future. I do return home and am generally pricing serge...

Thanks to Katie  for this recommendation.  I'm really bad at posting about myself (perhaps I'm not self-aware enough or alternatively, perhaps I'm too private) - however, I'm thrilled to have the time to post!  Here are 10 things you don't know about me: (1) I'm a former and current skateboarder.  I love my Vans.  Living in Ventura allows me to occasionally indulge this passion! (2)  I'm retired military (hurray!  a retiree) - even though I am a practicing attorney - I'm retired from the Reserves as an Navy Oceanographer.  (3) I want to learn to play guitar and keep delaying buying one and/or getting lessons! (4)  I only have a few really close friends! (And none that sew garments:)). I'd rather have a few people I'm really close to than a group of friends who are not that close.   (5)  I'm intensely loyal to my family and those close to me. (6)  I love living with my dogs (oh, wait, something you DON'T know!). . .okay then, I ...

Hello Readers! I've finally finished the Colette Macaron - despite a blunder with my blind stitch hem this morning. I'm fairly pleased with it.  I made it out of Echino Fabric (from the fabulous  Sew-LA ). . . which is a very thin cotton linen blend.  I took my time to make the dress - and I think the two mistakes I made were:  (1)  the upper band isn't totally straight (I'm thinking of re-attaching), and (2) the side with the invisible zipper doesn't match! (Update:  Late morning day of post - the pictures on this blog convinced me to re-sew/re-attach the upper midriff band - it looks a lot better now!!). I've posted the pix below: I did some new techniques on this dress - I stabilized the neck with silk ribbon and did the armholes the same way.  I lined the dress with a very thin high quality cotton - although I've had a hard time getting the lining perfect. I topstitched both the neckline and sleeves because of the light weight quality of the fabric...

Dear readers, Yes! I've finally 90% done with the Macaron. All I need to do is press and hem tomorrow!   Here I am below lining up the skirt to the bodice. . . Here, I actually took the time to line up  and mark the straight lines so that the waistline is seemingly straight. . .  I am doing a quick lining.  Which means lining to the neck and sleeve line.  So to reinforce the neckline and sleeves I have not only used my lightweight interfacing but also sewing in some silk ribbon I had bought "just in case" for this project!  It has worked out wonderfully.  I also used the silk ribbon to line invisible zipper to reinforce it.   Of course, every project has its mistakes it seems.  Two of mine:  I couldn't figure out the lining!  For example, my last dress I lined easily - but now I remember that it has a back zipper - this dress has a side zipper.  I must have forgot how I did the lining on my other macaron!   And, I made my ...