Burda 10-2005-114 Cowl Neck Sweater

Here is my latest creation, the oft-reviewed Burda Cowl neck sweater. I searched on e-bay for over a year looking for this magazine just for this sweater to no avail. I finally resorted to grovelling on pattern review. Melissa B. took pity on my and we traded this for a copy of one of my patterns. Thanks!

I did change the sleeves, belling them at the bottom so I could turn up a casing for a drawstring bow. I lengthened them about 3" longer than a full length sleeve so there would be some fullness when they were done. I used a twin needle for all the hemming which worked beautifully on my newly tuned up Bernina!

The fabric has been in my stash a long time. I bought it on line and it is a wool-blend jersey with a large flower print in shades of gray. It's thin and drapey and worked well for this pattern, hemmed & pressed perfectly!

Jalie 2679

Action shot: Volleyball!

Jalie 2679 is a great fleece jacket with lots of RTW detailing. It's my entry into the Patternreview Activewear contest. Jalie makes such great activewear patterns, they always look so professional! My topstitching is not up to great snuff on this one. My Bernina has gone into the shop to correct the cams which are gapping or something, adjusting the timing & for a much needed tune up (bonus, local dealer's tuneup is $69!)

This is made from some really nice printed fleece that has a water resistant treatment. I didn't buy it when it appeared at Fabricland, because it was a bit stiff, but I guess that's because of the treatment. Must be a manufacturer's end. When I realized the luck of the find, it had moved to the clearance table and I got about 3M for $15. The pocket lining, zips and reflective piping were the most expensive part of this jacket!!




I had trouble lining up the second side of zipper with the match points (collar seam & piping) on the first side (of course I didn't baste it first, duh) so I just picked out the stitching near those area, marked where they needed to match on the zipper tape & lined them up. Worked perfectly!




Here is the action shot "Biking!" where you can see the back of the jacket - I inserted reflective piping in the shoulder seamlines, the front seams and between the sleeve ends & cuffs.

Action Shot - Camping!

Here is an inside shot of the pocket lining. One great feature of this pattern is the large pocket. My other fleece jacket patterns have just a small pocket at the front. DH is jealous.




I split the left sleeve into 3 so I could insert a little strap for my MP3 player. Below you can see the pattern adjustment:

Below is the back on the dressform:

And the finished front -- Admire It now !!!

Riviera Annisette Top Variation

Here is the newest version of the Hotpatterns Riviera Annisette Top in a lovely soft Navy jersey with rayon and lycra or perhaps modal and lycra that was part of the manufacturers ends from Pink Tartan sold by Fabricland.

I omitted the bottom band and slightly scooped out the front neckline more. Oh, and I didn't sew the back panel backwards like the striped version (not that anyone could tell!)

2009 Resolutions - how'd I do?

Time to take stock of my 2009 sewing plans - here are my resolutions and results from last year:
1. Sew with a plan whenever possible. Kinda sorta followed this. I think this is a work in progress that gets interrupted by life & the fact I can't sew an entire wardrobe in one season!
2. Add some trend to my wardrobe. I did sew a few trendy tops. I think this is also accomplished by accessories & jewellery, which I did buy more of this year, particularly necklaces & belts.
3. Sew a coat. I haven't had a nice winter coat in ages. I think this will be my first project for 2009. Done! I have also purchased more boiled wool for another coat.
4. Use my Burda Magazines more. Not so successful!!
5. Exercise more. We eat pretty well (both my husband and I love to cook) but I definitely need to compensate for the delicious food and wine we enjoy. OK on the excercising, could still add some more. Would like to drop 10 lbs or so this year!

2010 Resolutions:

1. Buy less fabric. I have a TON of fabric. Oh, wait I already bought some this year. And I need some supplex for pants. Can we start in February???
2. Use my Burda Magazines more.
3. Drop 10 lbs.

Maybe I can achieve only 3 if I am very very good!

Happy New Year!

Butterick 5328

Yes, I have been sewing. December was a whirlwind of Sewing for Others, Xmas PJ's for the kids, workout pants for DH, hemming some drapes.

In September I made the fabulous Butterick wrap top from some stretch cotton with woven stripes. I don't like the hanging hemline at the bottom, I think I will sew in a snap to keep it even. You definitely need to put in a hook and eye at the neckline to keep it in any way decent!

In November I turned 50! Yikes!!

Cool Silkscreened label from Marcy Tilton!!

Hotpatterns 1021 Riviera Anisette Top from the back. I took in the sides to the hemline to give it a bit more shape for me.

Here is the front view with my collapsed neckline due to poor slouchy posture, although I do have to say the neckline is higher than shown on the pattern envelope

Here it is on my dressform with the neckline looking perfect.

Here is my latest top, I wanted a higher neckline top to show off some necklaces I have been given recently. I love the boat neckline silhouette, but always have problems with the front collapsing due to rounded shoulders & slouchy posture. This is a wearable muslin made from stash remnants. I like the stripes (just like the pattern, how creative :-) ).

Next version I will cut the front yoke narrower in the centre by about 1" and scoop out the front to be a bit more like the pattern illustration. I already extended the back shoulder seamline for the rounded shoulder problem. Note to self: stand straight!!

Next projects, another one of these in a nice solid Navy jersey, trouser-cut jeans and Simplicity Cardi-wrap before it goes out of style!!

The solid navy for the next version is a lovely silky jersey from Fabricland. They had a manufacturers buy out of fabric from Pink Tartan, an expensive Canadian label and I scooped some heavy gunmetal rayon silky doubleknit, some grey print tissue knit with a stylized Mackintosh rose pattern and some nice silky plain jerseys in white and navy. All for $3/m. Love a bargoon!!

July Sewing Projects & Miscellaneous

Simplicity 2554, View C

So far this month I have drafted a pattern based on a Hot Patterns pattern (basic trouser pants) for a wider leg dress pant with slight flare and side seam zipper, facings and no pocket. I made a muslin in a drapey ottoman weave polyester. Happily it is wearable and now can be the base for a pair of pants in a nice pinstripe (fabric just as cheap, but nicer! and basic black!!).

Luckily DH is away for a few days so I have had a few self indulgent sewing/shopping, evenings. I only bought ONE piece of fabric (stripe shirting at fabricland), one on-line pattern. Shopping my stash I found this gorgeous print that co-ordinated with my wearable muslin.

It is a lovely burnout rayon jersey tie-dye print purchased from the classifieds on patternreview.com -- I think the original origin is the now defunct fabric store from Textile Studios. It is very drapey, but stable and quite delicate. It was a perfect match for Simplicity 2554, view C and also fits my sewing goal of sewing more trendy items! Yay Me!!

The fabric was beautiful to sew. Because it was delicate, I chose a serged finish on the ruffles. Glad I did, as I needed the length (sans hemming) to form the cap sleeve. I think a cover-stitch hem would work as well. Choosing two colours of tan for the thread was a happy accident, but helps blend in with the colours on a print!

Here is a detail of the underarm gussett. This is NOT a one hour knit top pattern! Be prepared to gather the ruffles, baste them in place and pick out the basting. Anyway, I think it turned out cutely, no?

Besides sewing, I took a day off and took my sons to Canada's Wonderland. I go on rollercoasters, but my stomach (or inner ear) can't take the spinning rides any more! Sucks to get old!! Sorry abut the sideways pic above, but it is the newest coaster there, the Behemoth. DS #1 (13) went on it 3 times! I went on it once. 70ft vertical, you hit 77 kph in the first drop, with a great view from the top.

What's been happening in May & June?

This months been busy, but I did manage to get some sewing done...pj's for my step-daughter and Simplicity 2599 which is a knock off of an Anthropologie top that I liked - yes Anthropologie opened a store in Toronto!

Our first wedding anniversary was June 7, we were in London, Ontario for a friend's birthday, so we both got tatoos to celebrate, here I am getting mine -- the guy did it really quickly but it turned out well, it's a little sketch of a white pine tree.

And some relatives came from Wales to visit here, they came for a BBQ to our house. Add onto that a wild weekend in Wasaga beach for volleyball and it's a busy start to the summer!