A Gift, a Fail + Randomness...

First up, my mom's late Mother's Day gift. I had some stuff happen that made me have to put it on the back burner but I was able to mail it the following weekend. She really liked it and I'm glad I chose this as I wanted one for myself :) 

V9305 was a little less interesting on the cover photo but the line drawings were nice enough to draw me in! And after Ann sewed her versions, I was sold. 

My mom loves the color brown in all shades and I decided this would be a great pattern to pair with Fabric Mart's designer linen (nayy). 

 

Ann is 5'9" and liked the length as is and it was LONG. I'm 5'5" and my mom is mayyyybe 5'2". So I knew it would need some major shortening.

I didn't want to use the l/s lines because I didn't want to chance the opening hitting too high on the body. I shortened it though the flounce by 4". If I made it for her again I'd shorten it 1" above the waist AND the 4" below.

I trued the side seam of the front and the outside curve of the flounce after folding out the excess

The neckline on this pattern is SO high. Eesh! I removed 2" on the paper pattern and ended up taking out a bunch more once it was sewn together.

My mom really hates stuff up around her neck and I didn't want to add a keyhole so she wouldn't have to fumble with buttons.

I was so glad I decided to bind the armholes instead of hemming them. It is such a nice finish.

This area came out so cleanly (ignore my extra threads)

It was a little big on her and still very long. For a long time we were the same size with similar measurements but very different composition. She also likes a loose fit (and I like close fitting clothes!) so it was pretty easy to sew for her before. She's lost weight now so I have to retake her measurements when I see her again. I can't wait to make my own!!!  Making hers allowed me to see what adjustments I need.

Fails...womp womp.

I was perusing the BMV site for missed opportunities and stumbled upon Butterick 6551. I thought it was such a cute little dress for summer and even though I had reservations about the shift on me. I'm also not a huge fan of A-line silhouettes on me but I thought mayyyyybe.

Well, it was a big ole fail.  And this is another of those times where I am over it and not looking for suggestions for this one. 

I sewed a size M with the dart lowered 1" and a 3/4" FBA. I did a full butt adjustment too (still don't have enough room). 

It looked really, really bad from the front so NO photos! LOL! The back catches up on my butt, makes me look super wide, the collar stands away from my neck. Meh.

And look how nice this hand sewing was!

AND I was channeling Carolyn and had used a piece of my Art Gallery knit for a backing for my label. Boooooo sewing fails!

Me Made May week 3!

Burda 8/2017 dress (now donated. I never liked it on me and this was just a reminder)

RTW coral sweater and Butterick 5760 TNT striped skirt

Burda 7136 chambray shirt and RTW eyelet skirt

RTW tank and Simplicity 2061 joggers (this was Sewapalooza Day!)

Burda 5/2018 top and RTW pants

Ogden Cami, RTW sweater and pants I LOVE THIS OUTFIT THE MOST!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like this really captures my style...or at least the style I aim for :)

Vogue 1522 top and RTW pants

Lastly, I tried my hand at dyeing for the first time! Woohoo!!!! I am thinking of dyeing this version of Simplicity 8014 dress. I made it over 2 years ago, it fits beautifully, but I don't love the fabric and have actually never worn it.

Well me being me, I went crazy and ordered a bunch of stuff for dyeing. I ordered this Dylon tropical green fabric and decided my "classic white shirt" would become a fun green shirt!

I don't wear this shirt very often. And I thought maybe I just don't like shirts much...but I think it's the *classic* part of it that isn't my fave/doesn't fit in with my style. I'm going to plan to make a new white shirt that's a little more casual. Just a little. But it didn't seem right for this top to just sit in my closet when it's a pretty nice garment!

I followed the directions and you're supposed to stir for 15 minutes. OMG THAT IS A LONG TIME!! I liked the color but then told myself I have to remember that there's excess dye and it's wet. So I left it in almost as long as suggested. It's a bit deeper than what I wanted. I should have used half to two-thirds of the dye. But I do like it! 

I followed it up with some RIT Dye Fixative then washed and dried it. It did shrink *a little* so I'll bear that in mind for any possible future projects. It was easy but it was boring because I don't have a lot of patience LOL! Next time maybe I'll bring the iPad to the kitchen and sit on a stool at the sink because whew. I was #sooverit

I must have had a chunk of undissolved dye. Drats. It's on the front but kind of off to the side. You can see the princes seam right there to the left.

I'm not sure if that dress will fit in my kitchen sink easily. I'll have to consider my options...but I do think I'll try the blue dye on the dress. Fingers crossed. Otherwise I'll have to make a new one because that dress is so cute on me!

What's up next? I have no clue. I cleaned up my fabric stash and got rid of A LOT of fabric. Two bins were "other stuff"; fleece and flannels and kid prints that I swore I'd use for gifts. I got rid of almost all of my scraps; I only kept what would fit in a 12x12 IKEA cube. And I purged some other stuff.

I'm torn between the M7745 dress (I am not with hemming and gathering all that ruffle but I want the ruffle! Why couldn't it be a 'shaped' ruffle? Why just gathered rectangles!!? Ughhhhh :)  and starting the Burda trench. Decisions, decisions :)

Weekend Sewapalooza!

This post is huge. Sorry not sorry! :-p

  

Because life, I finally had a chance to exhale this past Monday and decided that I would spend Friday night and all. day. Saturday sewing. I knew I'd have to come back to reality on Sunday :) but Friday after work through early Sunday morning would be mine.

First, a pic! Then, lots of words about my process, then reviews.



WORDS

I made 5.5 things. Because people ask (all the time! LOL!), I will talk about the sew-a-palooza process :-p

1) Just me being...Me
You all know I sew fast. There's no special sauce; it just...is. I am a Project Runway fan. (I'm sure I've told this story before!) Kini Zamora was on season 13 of PR. It aired in 2014 and I'd been sewing about a year and a half. If you watched, you know that Kini would turn out his garments and be sitting back, chilling, while the rest of the designers were working. Kini sewed FAST. Now, whether or not you liked his aesthetic, you'd have to acknowledge that he did NOT sew 'throw away' designs. He sewed fast, with detail and tailoring and fit and no one knew how he did it. I started calling Kini my brother from another mother...and I stopped questioning my ability to sew fast. And stopped feeling weird over the constant comments that I must not sleep. I totally do. 8-10 hours every night. Because I am a giant toddler in so many ways! AND I don't even sew "constantly"! More on that later.

1a) By the time I start cutting something out, I have the entire construction process mapped out mentally. I know what I'm going to do, in the order I'm going to do it, and I try to be as efficient as possible. I see a lot of commentary about "rushing" whenever someone mentions fast sewing. I don't rush...I just do pretty much everything, in a direct manner. I'm not a 'faffer'...with anything.

2) Plan
This was a planned binge-sewing event. Two or three times a year (we have 2.5 seasons soooo), I make a big list of garments that I want. I do not sew exclusively from that list, nor do I necessarily finish the list...but it guides my sewing to a degree. I'd mentioned needing more summer tops, tees/knits in particular. I have a lot(!!!) of blue and black & white print tops and dresses. That's okay...those are my favorite...but I felt like I didn't have enough SUMMER! work wear and decided to focus on those things.

2a) A good plan
Knowing what my focus was for the weekend, I chose to
1) only make patterns I'd sewn before. They didn't need to be "quick to sew" patterns...but I didn't want to bother with cutting pattern tissue, fitting, etc. I wanted to sew. By using patterns I'd sewn before, I was able to get right down to business!
2) focus on knits. I needed more knit tops but also, the fabrics I wanted to sew were primarily knits. So I rolled with it!

3) Organize
I decided to start with the simplest patterns (sewn as-is). I started with the Ottobre 2/2015 tee, then the McCall's 7465 dress, then the Burda 7107 wrap top, then the McCall's 6964 tee, then the McCall's 6612 dress (not actually more difficult than anything else but I wanted to play with a sleeve idea).

3a) I am not a sewer who cares much about serger threads matching. Sometimes I do...it depends on the garment and whether there's a chance it'll be seen. Otherwise I tend to come "close". I went with gray. I used it in all 5 garments.

4) Sew!
Friday I took my daughter to the airport (she's doing study abroad in Iceland and Denmark!), came home, got all of my fabric and patterns out, washed the orange jersey and lace and started sewing around 6:30.

so much words

Saturday I woke up and got started right away, a little before 7. The Ottobre tee and McCall's dress needed binding and hemming which, my machines are a bit loud (Brother serger and coverstitch) so I tend to wait until at least 9 a.m. to use them. My sewing room is in a bedroom now and the teenaged people are in the basement. I decided to work on the Burda wrap top during the 'quiet hours'.

Once, I was chatting with Carolyn and somehow mentioned that I don't sew continuously. I get restless...so I take frequent breaks. I sewed from around 7-9, stopped to eat and watch one of my DVRd shows that I'd missed during the week. I sewed from around 10-noon, then washed my hair and watched a hilariously awful Lifetime movie. At 2:30 I started again and this time I binged. I sewed until about 9:30 stopping at one point to order pizza (mmmmm!) and eat. And again to harass my son and his friends.

Sunday morning I cut out and sewed M6612. I was able to finish it last night at about 6:30. I'd taken all the other pics on a pit stop home around 2. While taking pics of the dress it was HILARIOUS seeing the sunlight in the room change as time moved. It was seriously like, different lighting 2 minutes after taking a pic.

My errands took me near the original SR Harris location so I decided why not! I found a rayon challis that I just loved. I was able to get another TNT, McCall's 6519 cut out and sewn (shoulder seams, side seams). I hope to finish it Monday or Tuesday.

EPIC sewing weekend for me! I think I'm ready to work on my Burda trench now! :)

REVIEWS

Ottobre Tee (previously reviewed here)

I realized that last time, I put the yoke in backwards! Doh! That explains why the neckline was weird! I played around with doing a gathered overlay on the yoke but the fabric was too heavy/bouncy. I finished the top and my binding was HORRID. I ended up ripping out all of the binding Friday night and cutting/sewing new bindings on Saturday. I still don't like the sleeve bindings. IF I used this pattern again, I'd just hem the sleeves.

I added some flat piping because why not!?

Size &Adjustments: 44 with slightly widened sleeve openings (cause, biceps)

Fabric: rayon jersey in an icy blue-grey from SR Harris that is heavy enough and opaque enough that it could have been a dress.

Construction: fully constructed on the serger, hemmed with the coverstitch

I like this top and will wear it. It's the perfect blue-grey, it fits fine and is a nice length. And the shoulder yoke adds a little something extra. But I probably won't use this pattern again.

McCall's 7465 (previously reviewed here)

I LOVE the pink version and wear it but it's a little clingy! I usually wear my tricot slip with it. This Art Gallery knit was purchased FOR this pattern. I bought it right after I made the pink version which was last June! Then I hurt my hand, didn't sew for forever, and then it was almost fall and a bright floral dress didn't make sense. I've been waiting for this and it did not disappoint!

Size & Adjustments: 14 neckline/shoulder, 16 through the rest. Based on the fit of the other one, ahem, I added 5/8" to the back skirt at the side seam. Next time I'll only add that from waist through thigh.

Fabric: Art Gallery cotton lycra knit from Fabric.com. I'd purchased 1.5 yards, because it's like $18 and I knew I didn't need 2 yards...but then I had to hunt for a scrap to make binding from! LOL! And I couldn't make 'traditional' binding from those scraps so I cut a strip 1.25", sewed it to the neckline, trimmed/graded seams, then turned it to the inside and top stitched.

Construction: Constructed on the serger except for the elastic waist casing and neckline finishing, hemmed with the coverstitch.

I LOVE THIS DRESS. I love every single thing about it. Fabric? Love. Fit? Love. Length? Love. Every single bit of it! I think this pattern elevates to TNT, no? I may try one of the other views someday. You know my "I love this face"...you see it? Right?! :)

 

I even managed to (mostly) match the striped with my miniscule amount of fabric!

Burda 7107 (previously reviewed here)

I wear that green top all.the.time. All the time. I love it so much. I will definitely end up with a black version at some point.

Size & Adjustments: 42 with 1" bicep adjustment and sleeves shortened based on fabric constraints. Side seams sewn at 1/4", waist seam sewn at 1/2"

Fabric: Oatmeal colored rayon jersey from Fashion Fabrics Club.

Construction: Primarily constructed on the sewing machine. Only the side seams and sleeves were done on the serger. I left the center back seam unserged since the fabric is slightly sheer. The ties were partially hemmed on the machine, the rest (bottom all the way around) on the coverstitch.

Swoon. I love this one just as much as the green one! I see myself wearing this a ton. And I love the fabric color and it feels great on...but tissue knits are of the devil. They are right there with stretch cotton poplin and solid rayon challis. EVIL!

Exhibit A of "clearly I am feeling myself in this top"!

McCall's 6964 (previously sewn in 2015 and reviewed on the old blog)

I talked about wanting a couple 'fancy' tees here. And when I found that orange lace at The Sewing Lounge, I could not wait for this to happen!!

 Size & Adjustments: 14 neckline, 16 for the rest. 1" Full bicep adjustment.

Fabric: Wool jersey from Fabric Mart, lace from The Sewing Lounge in St. Paul.

Construction: I tried on one of my other versions of this and decided where the front lace 'yoke' should be. I marked it on the pattern and cut out full fronts and backs and partial yokes (extending about 1" below the line I wanted). I attached the lace to the right side with a zig-zag and then cut away the main fabric. I used my duckbill Ginghers (best purchase ever!) to trim the lace. The binding was also done by machine.

If you mind your markings...

...and sew slowly, things should work out!!

(my neckline looked better (here) before I chose to coverstitch it...but it kept wanting to flip up!)

I think I was most excited about this tee. Maybe more than the Art Gallery print dress. I know that orange (and coral! and yellow!) really, really work for my skin tone so I could not wait. I love it, I adore it, it's awesome, none of that seems to actually sum it up! Perfect wardrobe addition.

I was watching Girlfriends while taking pics and that is a real, geniuine laugh there! LOL

McCall's 6612 (previously sewn here)

I really like both prior versions and wanted a new dress, in a print, for summer. Now, I know this print doesn't read "summer" as it's a little dark...but I thought the colors were nice and different from other things in my wardrobe currently. I saw this dress online and decided to copy the open sleeves with ties at end. SUMMER! LOL!

I realize now that the sleeves really work here because they're loose and blousy

and the bodice is loose and blousy.

No, I did not purposely match the darker 'stripes' on body/sleeves.

It's pretty close though. WIN!

Size & Adjustments: 14 neck/shoulders, 16 bust/waist, 18 hip. Lengthened 2",  1" bicep adjustment, sleeves shortened to 3/4 length and slit with tie closure.

I traced a new sleeve, slit it down the center, slightly curved it through the middle of the sleeve, and added back the seam allowance. I sewed the first 6" of the sleeve and hemmed it the rest of the way. I cut 3" strips of fabric so the bands and ties finished at about 1 1/4".

Fabric: Fabric Mart precut. I'd passed on this one before; I didn't like the striping/chevron much until I saw a dress made from it on Pattern Review. The next time precuts went on sale, I bought it!

Construction: Back neckline is hemmed and shoulder seam sewn on the sewing machine. Side seams and sleeve side seam serged. Slit and tie bands constructed on sewing machine. Sleeve serged to dress...hemmed on the coverstitch.

I was very torn when I had the body constructed. I was going to leave it sleeveless. But then decided it would be limited by the print. I would likely on pair it with black or denim toppers. I pinned the sleeve in place and liked it on the dress form so I decided to move forward. When I first finished it I was torn again! I toyed around with lots of other options for the sleeve (adding another tie just above the elbow, closing it up more, closing it all the way but just leave the tie at the end).

In an effort to ensure it wasn't gaping open (too snug), I actually made the sleeve too big. So it's a bit too loose at the cuff to close the rest of the sleeve (I pinned it and it would look odd) and there was NO WAY I was going to undo all the stitching from adding the lower band/tie to take in the sleeve seam. I do not dislike it! I'm just not sure it works as well as I hoped it would.

I've decided I have to wear it to really assess how I feel about the sleeve.

You're STILL here?! Either you love sewing talk as much as I do or you're just a gluton for punishment! :-p

Now of course, I've sewn these summer things and we're supposed to have rain and cloudy weather this whole week! Good grief!

Until later...

Finished: Burda 1/2018 #121 & Me Made May

I spent an embarrassing amount of time searching for the right skirt pattern for my black & white floral cotton pique I picked up at Metro Textiles. I knew it should be a full skirt, and I have a couple that I've made, but nothing seemed quite right.

And then I saw Allison's version...which I'd seen Dorcas’ version first but didn't register the pattern. I think I thought the skirt was RTW and the wrap top was handmade. Dorcas has made it twice - both fabulous! At any rate, I knew it would be the perfect pattern for my fabric!!



I used my normal Burda sizing for skirts - 42 front and 44 back. I did not add any hem allowances as usual and hemmed at 2 inches. I love the look of midi skirts but rarely like them on my body. I'm more of an 'any length from mini to *just* below the knee' kinda lady.

I used a 9" invisible zipper and made a facing instead of lining it. Once the pleats and darts were sewn, I traced the waistline onto tracing paper and then marked 2 1/4" from that line. I could have made the facing a little deeper.

I finished it with bias tape because why not?! I sewed the facing to the zipper tape by hand and was going to hem by hand but I wasn't sure if I liked it or not and went for the faster (read: FINISHED ALREADY!) route of blind hemming by machine.

I was going to try to "fix" my hem - you can see it dipping forward on the photo above and mine does the same. I decided potentially ruining the hemline wasn't worth it. I also had a bit of a tough time figuring out where on the body the waist is supposed to sit. I guess it's a high-waist skirt?? I think that contributed to me being uncertain about it - that and trying it on with 'night belly'. When I came back a day or two later and tried it on with several tops in the wardrobe, I liked it a lot more.

This skirt is a quick and simple sew. I did get a little messed up with the pockets though. They extend up to the waistline which makes them a bit of a pain to sew IMO! Also, I thought my pockets were gaping but looking at the line drawing now, I guess they're functioning as intended. The only problem is, this pique is pretty 'sticky' and the pockets shift around even though they're caught in the facing/skirt seam. It looks like I should have stitched down further from the waist.

I've also finished my mom's gift (and love it. and want one of my own)...and will review that once she has it in hand. I also have NL6107 to review!! I started tracing the Burda trench (omgomgomgomg so many pieces), really want to sew M7745 and my tees. I need to make a plan! :)

Look at that bias tape finish on the sleeve! *love*

Re: Me Made May...here is what I wore days 8-14.

Day 8: Burda 7107 wrap top, Simplicity 2061 pants, RTW tank
Day 9: True Bias Ogden cami, New Look 6481 jacket, RTW skirt
Day 10: Vogue 9032 pants, RTW shirt
Day 11: McCall's 6964 tee, RTW jeans and jacket
Day 12: Burda 7136 shirt, RTW jeans, Butterick 6244 jacket
Day 13: Burda 1/2016 dress
Day 14: Simplicity 2369 dress and McCall's 6996 cardigan

There was a post on the Sewcialists blog that got me thinking. Every year there's a ton of people who are completely annoyed by MMM and a bunch of people that sort of hem and haw over the "requirements". But there aren't any requirements. I mean, right?! Below is my comment on the blog post. Someone else commented and mentioning getting to where I am. That made me remember that I  am pretty good about being completely unbothered by what anyone else is doing that doesn't affect me. And that confidence/self-assurance/independence can look a different way to people who are unlike me. I will never not be me, be clear! LOL! I'm just offering some background.

I’m glad you are doing what works for you…but also recognize that the pressure you felt was self-imposed. I mean, lots of people do it. I hear this a lot my 5th year in re: MMM…Not having “enough” handmades to participate (if you have two handmade things then your pledge can include those 2 handmade things!!), etc. And the nature of social media itself makes it worse IMO.

So I think it’s totally a personality thing. I don’t choose my outfits because I’ll be sharing them…I wear what I wear because that’s what I want to wear! LOL!!! I have totally worn a garment on subsequent days…I don’t aim for ‘beautiful, staged’ photographs…I don’t sew new things “for” MMM, I don’t worry about wearing what’s “popular” or “trending”…I have to get dressed everyday (well, almost everyday) and then I take a pic and post it.

The best part for me is that I always have some sort of revelation about a garment or outfit combination. This year, as my pledge included wearing “full handmade outfits” twice per week, I’ve learned that that isn’t actually important to me. I realized how EXCITING it is that my handmades and my RTW purchases really meld together. I am very often mixing the two and really, that’s a GOOD thing for me! It means I’m making and buying things that actually work for me, for my body, for my lifestyle.

I also love that I find new-to-me patterns or patterns styled in way that makes me take notice, when I’d previously overlooked it.

Most importantly…there’s room for all of us no matter how we “use” sewing in our lives!!

I hope that anyone who wants to participate does so, without feeling pressured by what others are doing. Be it fully handmade outfits, wearing all the "of the moment" patterns, taking magazine quality pics, whatever you think you need/have/are required to do to participate in Me Made May...just know that there really is no sewing community police. Do you!

True Bias Ogden Cami

So by now you know I highly prefer Big4 and Burda patterns. I always clarify that I'm not anti-Indie; but I am one of those people who find the vast majority of them to be too basic to command the premium price tag (yes, I know we're spoiled by the cheap-o sales in the U.S.). I don't fit into a unique (for sewing patterns) demographic (plus/petite/pear/apple/etc)...and FAR too many are created by bloggers/hobby sewers turned "pattern designers" and they just don't look that good! So I'm very rarely overly excited to shell out or sew Indie patterns in general. Yes, I also know that that is a very broad brush...I wish Alexandra at In-House patterns had a larger catalog. I own all of the patterns I'm interested in because they are AWESOME!!!!!

There's not much else in True Bias' catalog that ever caught my interest but this cami did! I went bak and forth and back and forth and just couldn't jump. I searched Burda for something similar (as I always do!). I sewed S1366 but that was just okay.

I highly recommend this pattern!!

At Sew Camp, LaQuana broke out her black Ogden and SEVERAL of us tried it on and loved it :) Even though it wasn't my size, I really liked it on her and on me and knew I had to finally give it a shot.

I traced a size 14 even though the size chart indicated the 12 should work. After sewing the floral version and needing to take it in, the 12 was in fact the right size.

I did a 3/4" FBA and left the dart created. I shortened the straps about an 1.5". For the lining, I overlaid the piece over the FBA'd front and retraced the armhole/side seam.

I had a *little* extra fabric around the armhole

On the black/white version I took it down to a size 12 and added back 3/4" to the strap. I need to add another 1/2" back. 

much better...

I realized I didn't care for the flare in front and removed 3/4" from the hemline on the front only, tapering to nothing at about waist level (I just eyeballed).

The black and white version tucks in much better with that extra swinginess removed.

The overall fit on this version is so much better, but I need one more tweak. I have to add back that 3/8" I removed in sizing down to the back above the waist. It's a bit snug in the upper back.

Snug across the back here, pulling at the center back...

Whereas this looked pretty good

I think I'm ready to cut into my silk!! I'm not sure if it'll make into my May makes but we'll see. You never know :)

I'll likely get a little sewing done this upcoming weekend...hopefully I'll finish my Burda 1/2018 skirt and my mom's gift (late, late, late). I also hope to get the trench coat traced off this weekend, fingers crossed. I've been wearing my RTW version and it doesn't actually fit.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day! If you have lost your mom, or have longed to be a mom, my deepest condolences.

May you be comforted in your loss or in your longing. May your eyes be opened to those you have “mothered” through your love and care and nurturing, whether children have filled your home or not. And may you be filled with sweet memories of the special women in your own life who are as mothers to you, even if your own is gone.

Mothers and mother figures everywhere are deserving of our honor. You are appreciated… and I sincerely hope there’s someone in your life to help you know it.

-Adriel Booker

Only *slightly* Random!

Spring finally showed up here in Minneapolis and it got straight to the point! We went from 16" of snow on April 14 to 60 degree weather 10 days later. We've had a few 80+ degree days too (it's 86 today!!! OMG!).  In pulling out more spring/summer clothes, I decided I wanted some nicer tees. I went on a little spree with Target's A New Day line; those tees fit me very well. I couldn't say that about their old basic tees. But now I want a few that can stand alone for work. When I wear my basic tees it's usually under a cardigan or jacket; they feel too casual alone. Tees with a little bit of visual interest should solve that for me.

 

I'm thinking of making tees in orange, olive and white. I found some inspiration in these tops from ModCloth and LOFT:

 

 

 

This month for our monthly sewing meetup, we visited The Sewing Lounge; a small fabric shop in St. Paul. I bought this orange lace (among other things - there was a pitstop to JA too). I have an orange wool jersey in the lighter color in the lace that I plan to make tee #1 from.

  

I cannot wait to make that Tracy Reese dress!!!

 

Yes, I can wear wool jersey in the spring, even with the warmer temps. One, it isn't too humid yet. But also, remember I am in an office building for 40+ hours a week - it's FREEZING half the time! I am able to wear my navy wool jersey cardigan nearly year round.

 

Initially, this black tee is what I had in mind for the lace. But it was "fancier" than I wanted. I saw the coral tee online and thought THAT is it. I want it to clearly be a "tee shirt with lace accents". I'll use M6964 which I've made a couple times.

 

 

I ordered some colorful tassels to make another version of that Burda top. I saw this and thought it was so cute! Depending on how pretty the edging (what do you call the part that the tassels are attached to?!) is, I may spice up a RTW tee vs starting from scratch since this will be a trendy piece that will unlikely have much longevity in the wardrobe.

 

Otherwise, I have been sewing!  I made some adjustments and made another Ogden - review of the first 2 to come. I need one more tweak then I'm cutting my silk!!

I had lost my mojo for NL6107 but I realized it's because I really, really wanted to make that Ogden! LOL! Once I had that ready to hem, I was gung-ho on the NL top! I put the buttons on (it closes with self-fabric loops and buttons) so I could baste the side seams and one of my buttons broke!

 

I think it was a faulty button...it could also be that it was 8 p.m. and post-quesadillas & tortilla soup...idk...but luckily I had an extra. HOWEVER, now I have no extra! If I'm using buttons that are unique in any way, I like to have at least one more on hand. I feel like these were a little spendy at $.75 per button but, I'll grab more the next time I'm in St. Paul. In the meantime, I plan to glue it. I was just going to use regular household glue (super glue or guerilla glue) but someone on IG mentioned E6000 and I have some at home. Yay!

I swiped this pic from my IG stories:

 

I am CRAZY about the fit of this top! So dainty and pretty!

 

Sleeves up next (it's completely finished everywhere else except for the sleeves). Review to come (what else is new, right?)

 

Next up is my mom's gift (uhmm, Mother's Day is Sunday. DOH!), this black & white skirt I am now obsessing over, and then we'll see what's next! :)

Saving MMMay for last because I know it gives some people the eyerolls...so you can leave now if that's you! :-p

My pledge this year was at least 1 handmade a day and completely handmade outfits at least 2x per week. These are not actually in order...Oops! LOL!

• Simplicity 2369 top + Vogue 9032 pants
• Burda 1/2017 sweatshirt + Baste & Gather Kendall skinnies (not available for purchase unfortunately)
• McCall's 6519 top + Baste & Gather Birkin Flares
• Burda 6/2012 dress + RTW denim jacket
• Burda 3/2017 dress (that day I wore a RTW top and New Look 6530 skirt to work)
• McCall's 6996 cardigan + RTW tee and pants
• Simplicity 2246 shirtdress in a jersey knit (every time I wear this I tell everyone they need a knit shirtdress)

Hope your MMMay is off to a good start!