August Wrap-up

I am again uncertain how I sewed 9 things (and 14.75 yards) this month when I feel like I had SO many non-sewing days!! I will say that my 2nd weekend of travel didn't happen which is when I got my V1323 shirt sewn. And I did repeat patterns which makes things go by faster...and one item is actually a UFO.

• McCall's 7728 top - 1 yd (this bodice used less than that I'm sure)
• Ankara wax fabric and Bemberg lining
• zipper

• Simplicity 8446 - 2.5 yds (this skirt may have used more because of cutting on the crossgrain)
• Ankara wax fabric
• buttons

• Baste+Gather Birkin flares - 2.5 yds (uhmm, I never realized this called for stretch denim! My fabric doesn't even have mechanical stretch and they were just way too small as basted. I have not released the side seams yet. Soon)
• striped denim
• zipper, button

• Burda 7/2018 top - 1.25 yards each
• blue rayon jersey, grey rayon/poly jersey
• snaps for lingerie straps

• Burda 8/2018 top - 1 yd each
• print poly/lycra crepe knit, print ITY knit

• Vogue 1323 top (plus scarf!) - 2 yards (I'm almost certain I used more than this much fabric but the top consumed 2 yards. I had a near 6-yard cut which is quite unwieldy so I was cutting off smaller chunks to use as I cut pattern pieces out)
• print rayon crepe challis
• buttons

• McCall's 6884 dress - 2 1/4 yards  (this is coming to the blog soon. Where did this come from?! :) I was so annoyed at my lack of solid colored dresses on a few cool days (to pair with cardigans or jackets and needed something NOW because, of course I did. Plus, easy knit project after V1323!)
• emerald green rayon poly lycra jersey 

Favorite: :jumps up and down: V1323! I love every single bit of that 'make'! Even the wobbly bits!!

FAILS: So far the jeans. Oy. We'll see how that pans out!

Accomplishment: I am very proud of my work on the Vogue top. I am also very proud of working and reworking the sleeveless Burda to get what I want!

Number of things sewn from my "August plans"? 0
Doh.

-The trench was partially traced and in a bigger size than I would choose now so I abandoned it for now :( It'll be a spring project because I really, really DO want a trench. But feel like, if I didn't get it done in August, it wasn't worth it for fall. After about mid-October most days would be too cool for it.

-I muslined  M7547 but didn't get to them. I will be making them though!

-Burnside bibs - I'm not sure why I didn't get back to these. We'll see if they make it during fall.

I posted my plans for September / the Pattern Review wardrobe contest. And then I got my fabric order from the always-leaves-something-to-be-desired Fabric.com. And the striped fabric which was kind of bold and the centerpiece of my mini wardrobe, was wrong. I get that colors can appear different but it appeared as if I received a wholly different colorway of the fabric (I now think they just have a BAD photo and description. One of the other fabrics I ordered also looked extremely different in person).

I sent them an email asking if I received the correct fabric, with this pic:

This is the response I received:

Yeah. Leave the package outside, "for days" possibly, and someone will stroll by eventually to pick it up.

Uhmm, WHAT?! So I did what I do and ended up sending everything back. All of it went back. Ugh. Not to mention before my order even shipped I got the email that an item had sold out, fine. Sent an item number for a similar blush-colored jersey. They responded that I could not choose that item; my replacement had to be equal or lesser value. Confused I went back to the two items...there was a 50 cent difference in price. Good grief. I get that you can't consistently give away the farm, but 50 cent on a $75 order feels unnecessarily nitpicky. Hell, BILL ME for it!

This is why they spent 3 years (I've only been sewing 5.5 years!!) on the banned list. Their customer service SUCKS. Sure they have prices and selection but I'd rather spend my money with Fabric Mart or Cali Fabrics where you get decent fabric at decent prices with good customer service. There are other online sites with great service! I'm not intending to exclude them...just pointing to the more discounted retailers.

I went back to my fall plans to try to rework them for a new wardrobe and it just felt forced. And I vowed to never sew items for a contest just to do it, especially when there are things I genuinely feel I need in my wardrobe right now. So, I will sew, and we will see if I end up with a mini wardrobe in the end.

Normally, I make a list of garment types and then match pattern and fabric. I got inspired by my fabric this time while cleaning up and organizing. So I pulled everything that was speaking to me and we'll see what they become!

pale grey suiting with a shimmery finish - I don't think there's actual lurex in it (Metro Textiles)

light semi-sheer poly woven in navy with grey abstract print (SR Harris)

plaid cotton shirting in black/white/blue (Fabric Mart)

grey silk georgette (SR Harris)

Black & white print woven (Fabric Mart)

green silk charmeuse (SR Harris)

black and grey sweater knit (Fabric Mart)

grey shirting with very thin black stripe (Fashion Fabrics Club)

orange & white ITY (Fabric Mart)

black & white print jersey (Fabric Mart)

If you're in the US enjoy the long holiday weekend! This isn't a sewing weekend for me but that's okay, it'll be a fun one :)

Until later!