June Wrap-up and July Plans

Hey, remember me?  I have had such little sew-jo, and June was absolutely insane. 

I lost a couple days at the start of the month to a migraine. I'm sure the near 100 degree temps didn't help.

June 4: Grabbed my daughter's cap and gown from her college, bought some (expensive!) fabric from Sewing Lounge to make a simple cami style dress for her for commencement (she graduated last year but the ceremony was virtual)
June 6: Picked up daughter, sil, and grandson from the airport
June 6-8: Sewed the dress
June 8: Commencement 
June 9: Picked my parents up from the airport
June 10: Niece's birthday party
June 11: My dad's birthday, younger niece's HS graduation, cousin's bday dinner
June 12: Younger niece's grad party, aunt's bday dinner (dad's sister that traveled up for his bday)
June 13: Cousin's (mentioned above) birthday, dropped kids and grandkid at the airport
June 14: Started my new job (exciting but exhausting!)
June 19: Parent's last weekend, family dinner
June 20: Father's Day
June 23: Dropped my parents off at the airport
June 25-29: Girl's trip to Savannah

Like, seriously! 

This month I sewed 1 thing, total of 1 1/4 yards of fabric. Sighhh

I used the Kommatia patterns (Studio Calicot) Claire bodysuit pattern lengthened to a dress using M6886

Yep. That's it. No photos on her...I took these two pics from my IG stories

I tried various methods of using my Brother Coverstitch bias binding tool...it did great with a woven fabric (with either knit or woven binding), but not so great with knit-on-knit binding. And I was running out of time so I did it all on the sewing machine.

It turned out really well!

Now, this weekend is the 4th, my birthday is Tuesday, and I'm tired y'all! I want to make an outfit for Saturday, but I just do not see myself having the ability to get it done. If I can get the pattern cut out and adjusted tomorrow (doubtful), I can sew it Friday evening/Saturday morning & afternoon. Maaaaybe if I switch my idea from a jumpsuit to a dress, it'll be doable. We'll see :)

Otherwise, I really need to do a massive clean-up. My closet feels stale and is a mess, my sewing room is a mess, I've been having weird (for me) self-doubt. Like, it took me days to start that dress because I was worried about the binding. I look at patterns and think, "too complicated" and then, it sits. Wah. 

I try not to sweat it when the mojo goes...it just seems like I'm in a looooong slump right now. 

A Bunch of Tops

I didn't get a chance to update here but put a post on Instagram (here) explaining why I was postponing Faye's Tops That Pop. It took a bit for me to wrap my head around my feelings about everything and ultimately, I don't feel good uplifting brands that are choosing to be silent. So, soon. We will do this soon.

These tops were made pre-challenge.  I've made all of these patterns before so they're getting lumped into this post. 

This fabric is a cotton lycra knit from Girl Charlee. I haven't ordered from there in years because of a bad experience and reading about many others' experiences. 

This fabric felt really nice when I pulled it out of the package - soft and smooth! It was much, much less so after washing. I wore it and washed it again and bleh. It won't last long :(

Size 14 with sleeve hack mentioned here and lengthened it 6" (the top in the pattern is a peplum). I intended to length the sleeves but forgot. 

Next up was another version of the Kommatia tee pattern in this printed cotton knit, also from Girl Charlee. Same pattern adjustments here - size Medium with an extra 2.5" added at the hip. 

When I made this Ottobre tee, I liked the cute print but I joked that it looked like I should be working in the pediatric wing of the hospital. This gives me the same vibes! WAHHHHH. I'm not making any more cotton knit print tees! LOL!!!

On the right, I tried it with a few garments before sewing the neckband and hemming to be sure I should finish it. I do not love it. I love the print, but the garment is meh for me. 

Next up was this top intended to copy a top I saw at LOFT. I made this pattern previously here. I chopped the sleeve but should have cut it a bit shorter. I was aiming for more of an extended shoulder look vs. a short sleeve.

The color is so me, the fabric felt really nice even after washing, but it was HORRIBLY off grain and had a giant hole in it. 

I was not pleased and will not be ordering from them again. 

Lastly, I saw this Jason Wu top during some of my RTW idea gathering time and decided to use the Ogden to copy it. 

I used my normal size 12, chopped off 6" and decided on an 8" ruffle at 2.2x the width.

I used a cotton poplin that was in my donate bin. I hated the top I made with it but I thought it was perfect for this little summer top. 

Also, I really wish I had made the ties like twice as long!!

I hemmed the gazillion miles of ruffle with my rolled hem foot. I've mentioned before that I had lots of trouble making rolled hems until I got my new machine and used the foot that came with it. EFFORTLESS. I think it's the foot design and if you have a rolled hem foot that gives you the blues, try another one! Especially if you have a machine that takes universal feet.

I promise you, rolled hems are absolutely effortless now!

Vogue 1501 and Kommatia Patterns Relaxed Tee

Vogue 1501 is a Rachel Comey design that was pretty popular when it was first released. The dress version is super cool (though I can do without the shoulder pads!) but the skirt!!

When I made the dress, I tried the skirt on mid-way and was sold. I sewed a skirt from the same fabric is the dress immediately after then made a yellow version. When I decided this crepe from Mood needed to become a full skirt, V1501 was the immediate choice. 

This fabric! Swoon! It's a polyester crepe and with a little steam and a clapper, it takes a press pretty decently. To be a poly fabric, it handled very nicely and the print is beautifully vibrant. I would definitely recommend it!

Same as previous versions, I cut a size 18 and skipped the french seaming on the pockets. Be sure to take the time to baste the pleats!! 

And then, I got a bit ahead of myself. I cut the backs out and went right ahead and insert the zipper. Once it was time to add the waistband I had a ruh-roh! moment. 

I improvised and added an extension and a button. It isn't perfect but it works!

Aside from that, everything is finished nicely :-D

Skirt is pictured with the Kommatia patterns relaxed tee. I scored 7 patterns from the Makerist during a $2 sale. Then I had them all printed as copyshop patterns. I measured the tee before I even looked at the size chart and decided on a size medium - the chart confirms.

Then I sewed up a muslin 

The top was riding up on the hips so I sliced the side seams, as seen. On the paper pattern, I did a slash and spread on the front pattern piece and added 1/2"; on the back, 3/4". This is an extra 2.5" in the hip! Oy!  But again, as you can see, if I had gone up a size, that would have resulted in a poor fit everywhere else. 

Fabric is a sandwashed poly/Modal jersey from Cali Fabrics. I almost blew up my fast when I got this fabric and washed it up! Very nice for knit basics!

It does still have a little too much back length even though I did a cheater swayback adjustment and I could use an FBA. But also, it's a tee. I don't get too worked up at times on those types of fit issues on tees/other simple garments.

Things I like - it has a nice silhouette (I forgot to take a pic untucked, but the muslin shows it) and the rolled cuff sleeves are cute (wrong side of fabric will show).

Things I do not like - The excess fabric in the back sleeve. I'm not quite sure what to do to correct it. Also, the neck binding. It's overly complicated. However, Barbara Emodi who blogs at Sewing on the Edge *just* did a tutorial for crossover neckband and it makes SO much sense! I wish I'd seen this first but will definitely do it this way next time. Also, the neckband in the pattern is 1 to 1 but Barbara mentions needing to stretch the back - yes. Do this. Mine sits away from my neck so I'll shorten it through the center back next time. 

I did small zigzag stitching on the sleeve cuffs vs actual bartacks.

I've applied for a board member position with a local non profit organization and wore this outfit for the interview :-D

Oh, and I know you've seen that new Vogue collection. Did you swoon? Not much for you?

I, somehow both shamelessly and shamefully, added 7 to the stash! :-p