Simplicity 2443

Since I don't have anything brand new to show you...

I made this maxi for the NYC PR weekend in May and I loved wearing it. It was super comfy and I loved that my vision turned out the way I hoped!

 I had a piece of the purple ponte knit, leftover from another project and I loved how it looked next to the geometric ITY so after looking through my patterns I paired them with this pattern to make a maxi.

 I love the racer back!

Because the skirt was just a rectangle I just added the length I wanted at the hem. Due to shortage of the ITY the back skirt/rectangle is wider, therefore more there are more gathers than the front.  This pattern has been reviewed at PR I believe 66 times, of course some of those are for the jacket which is also a very nice pattern; I added mine since no one had turned it into a maxi.

Next post something new, the Vogue skirt has been cut, the top I had to change because I did not have enough fabric for the top in that pattern. But that has been cut too,  I  leave the details for the next post!

Star-Spangled Sailabration

So this was another weekend without sewing, but it was a very fun weekend! Today I will share with you pictures from Saturday which I spent with my family in Baltimore being part of the Sailabration. For the start of the celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, 40 ships (tall and military) are docking at the Baltimore Harbor, the public can visit the ships, enjoy daily air shows (Blue Angels are featured!), fire works, etc.

My family and I started at the Inner Harbor and partially walked and took public transportation to get to Fells Point where we could tour military vessels.

Once in Fells Point we had lunch at Stuggy's, best hot dog I've ever had!

My husband and youngest had fun taking the above pictures with my husband's phone. Aren't they fun?

We toured the HMCS Iroquois a Canadian Navy Destroyer

While waiting on line and after the ship's tour we had a chance to see the Blue Angels performing, super impressive!

Pictures from the ship's deck

Fell's Point neighborhood

Do you remember the series Homicide:Life on the street? Then the above building should look familiar. So sad that it is boarded up.

In the late afternoon there were more people at the harbor than when we first arrived...

Mexican tall ship detail

We had a wonderful day with beautiful weather, pleasant and helpful people from the tourists to those working the booths and  driving the buses. It is  a well organized event and congratulations should go out to all those responsible. If you still can make it do so, you won't regret it!.

New to me patterns and the next project

During PR weekend we had a pattern exchange. I took quite a few patterns with me with the idea that no patterns would follow me home. Of course I couldn't resist looking and therefore I found. Of the above patterns the two Vogues I picked up at the exchange, the Jalie vest I won at the dinner and the dress I bought. I liked the Jalie dress pattern since it first came out and then I was told that the Jalie method for binding the neckline was worth the price of the pattern, of course I caved in.

The vintage patterns below came from the exchange, they are all small sizes, but I figure if I didn't want to alter them for me I could use them in theater sewing in the future.

Right now I'm in the middle of organizing my cellar. We bought racks and extra bins and I'm almost done! I have enough room to also put my sewing and knitting magazines there which will clear up space in a few rooms, so I'm thrilled. What do I want to work on next? Well, these two fabrics jumped out at me to use in Vogue 1247, I hope there's enough fabric, I'll keep you posted! 

Pushing Daisies

The first DVD for this show was on my Netflix list and it came a few days ago. I had heard about the fashions in the show and was curious enough to take a look. It is a very visually pleasing show, beautiful sets, beautiful clothes and actually very funny, I found myself laughing out loud quite often.
I have only watched one episode and was surprised to see the dress below

 Of course my crochet dress came to mind!

Apparently the same dress from the show was available at Macy's at some point, but I made my own, thank you!

Burda Style 2/2007 Dress 123

This dress was on my list to make a long time. I made it to take with me to PR weekend, and I did but never wore it. The sash that comes with the pattern turned out too short, don't ask me why and since I don't have enough fabric to make another one I will wear it with a belt; I think it also looks ok sans belt.

Nothing exciting going on in the back

Be aware when making this pattern that the front is doubled, since it is a mock wrap, only the bodice is a wrap. You will need a pretty lightweight fabric and make sure the shoulder seams are stabilized with your preferred notion.

When I put on this outfit this morning I thought I was giving Sally from Already Pretty, the self-claimed matchy-matchy queen some competition. After all take a look at my jewelry also...

Necklace is a souvenir from the flea market I went to in NYC

I do like the sweetheart neckline in this pattern, but it is low...

Shirley Paden Square Bodice Pullover

I was reading a post by The Sewing Lawyer about what she called The World's Oldest UFO; while mine doesn't compete (started in 2008), it is still old, and now is finished yay! This is the Square Bodice Pullover Interweave Knits Magazine Spring 2003.

I'm very pleased with how this turned out after all I struggled. The yarn Paton's Grace is very pretty and pleasant to work with. I modified the neckline and made it not as wide as the original by binding off less stitches in the center, with my narrow shoulders wide necklines just fall off. Because of this the crochet neckline finish had to change, which I explain in my Ravelry project page for those of you that are interested.

I had the perfect weather day today to wear it, cool and breezy!

By the way I am loving my short haircut; I have no patience for hair and my stylist knowing me has given a minimum fuzz cut, this is the look of just wash and go, I didn't even have time this morning for any hair product!

Sewing up the seams in this sweater has been the only sewing I have done since my weekend in NYC, I have a zillion projects in my wish list, let's see which one makes it to the top!

A crazy busy week

This past week was graduation week for my oldest son. It was full of awards dinners, senior showcase, parties and of course graduation.

Performing Bye Bye Bye with fellow seniors, he is on the right.

Seasons of Love, final number and when some started to cry

I am so thankful to the good friend who got him involved in theater. By performing on stage, managing and writing for theater he has acquired incredible confidence, and he has made friends that I believe he will keep for a very long time.

Pattern Review NYC weekend

I had more fun than I thought was possible this past weekend. The hotel was conveniently located on 25th near 7th avenue with Truemart fabrics at the corner, and City Quilter a few doors down, which I visited with Connie and Kyle on Thurs afternoon.

All these pictures are courtesy of Kyle (Thanks Kyle!)

I was waiting early Thurs afternoon at the entrance to Penn Station for Connie to arrive when Kyle came by on her way to the hotel. So together we chatted and waited for Connie. Once we were all together we walked to the hotel and checked in and proceeded to walk to Madison Square Park where we bought lunch and found a bench to enjoy the food.

We walked back to the hotel but stopped first at City Quilter and enjoyed looking at the fabrics as well as an art quilt exhibit. Connie had to get ready for registration so Kyle, Cassy (who I had the pleasure to meet ) and me went to FIT. The museum there was closed but we wondered through several buildings looking at the students final projects. For dinner a bunch of us went to Whole Foods (I love that place!) where I had delicious Indian food which I ate with very good company at the hotel's patio. Later we all gathered again at the patio to share conversation and wine.

 Wearing Burda 5/2012 108 pants,

Breakfast on the patio on Fri before the shopping extravaganza, photo courtesy of Patternreview.com

 Friday was the craziest of days, Connie and I who shared a room woke up around 6:30 am since she had be at the lobby for registration. We had time to get breakfast at Whole Foods and waited for the rest of the group to arrive (among them Karen, my other roommate, and Andrea). Some of us had early Simplicity tours those who didn't, began with shopping. My tour was late in the day so I headed to Metro Textiles first. I don't know where we went next but I know I visited Mood, Pacific Trimmings, Spandex House and Elliott Berman before going to Simplicity for a tour. We did take a break for lunch at the perfectly named Stitch Bar &Lounge.

At Mood, photo courtesy of Patternreview.com

Photo courtesy of Bonnie

 In the picture from right to left, Connie, Karen (also my roomie!), Ann from Sew Baby, mrsbewley and me.

After the Simplicity tour, Connie and I took a taxi to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we were to meet with others from the group to see the Schiaparelli and Prada exhibit. At the exhibit I loved this Prada skirt

It will be a future project since Karen graciously offered to give me some of her leather scraps.

After the exhibit we went to dinner, I don't remember the name of the restaurant, since Elizabeth (great to meet you!) was guiding us I did not pay attention but the food was delicious and afterwards she took us to another place for gelato, yum!

Mrs America contest?

At the hotel lobby we once again gathered this time to share our purchases and model those garments we made. I am wearing a maxi I made using Simplicity 2443.

 On Saturday we went to listen to the speakers at Pace University. We arrived a bit late since the taxi driver did not know where the school was and we wondered around for a bit trying to find it. As always Kenneth King was hilarious and I was introduced to another sewing author Diana Rupp from Make Workshop.

 For lunch we visited Crisp

Courtesy of Bonnie

In the picture, top right is Emilie (Emilieatjalie on PR) from Jalie patterns. I had the chance to not only meet her but we chatted a number of times during the weekend. Jalie's new patterns include a raglan sleeve top which Emilie modeled with different design variations and fabrics; they were all beautiful and we were all excited about its release sometime soon.

Some of us decided to skip the last speaker, it was a beautiful day and we went to the Southstreet Market looking for a yarn shop that had moved, oh well. We took some pictures and headed back to the hotel to rest a bit before going to the group dinner.

Clio, Nancy, Karen and Andrea

I'm wearing a Burda maxi and top. Andrea is wearing the great suit she made!

Dinner at Tony's Di Napoli at Times Square was delicious. They were lots of raffles, I won a Jalie pattern! I sat next to Clio sporting her purple hair and wearing a stunning color blocked Burda dress. A big group decided to walk back from Times Square and we had such fun! Here we are posing in front of M&J Trimmings because who could resist?

I wore a Burda magazine dress, picture courtesy of Kyle

For one more night we sat on the patio and laughed and wondered if other guests or hotel staff would come and complain...

On Sunday morning after breakfast (at Whole Foods again!) Karen, mrsbewley and I walked to a flea market down the street where we found some shiny goodies. Karen and I said goodbye and after checking out I found myself on the patio again chatting, I had lunch, said goodbye to Jacqui and mrsbewly and took the train home.

Whew! Was I exhausted? oh yes, will I do it again? I sure hope so!

I will share patterns, fabrics and other goodies from the trip on the next post;this post took a few days to write and it is already long enough!