A few random things to share

Yesterday I finally cut Vogue 7862. This Sandra Betzina pattern for a bag, I have made several times before. One of those times I made it for my cousin who loved it and requested another one; this was a few years ago, I figure by now the original one has been put to rest so I'm sending her a new one. This one I'm making from a cool synthetic leather I bought from Emma one Sock a long time ago. Pictures to follow...

These two necklaces I made after taking a beading class. The pendant is made from early 20th century pressings(molds?) that I purchased at a bead show. I enjoy beading but I struggle with bead combinations.

I finally decided to buy the Kai gift set, since they have been highly recommended it on the net. I still haven't tried them, I'll let you know how they hold up.

I'm still knitting a pattern for my friend's yarn shop. I hope to finish it before Easter. I'm using Berroco's Comfort Chunky. This yarn feels wonderful against the skin, it is a mix of acrylic/nylon and once you touch it you'll love it. It also comes in worsted,DK, baby and sock. Go check it out! (NAVY, just love the yarn)

Vogue 8379 Wrap Knit Dress

I am so glad I finally made this pattern! I know this design has been made over and over by the sewing community and no wonder, the best part is the no gap neckline! The last knit wrap dress I made (a Butterick design) was very disappointing; I won't blame it on the pattern, maybe I did something wrong when I made my regular modifications.



The fabric I had been saving for the right pattern. It was the first fabric that Ann from Gorgeous Fabrics sold. This black and white poly/lycra knit came with a border that I used for the collar, cuffs and also for the front facings.



I had 3 yards and I used every scrap;after cutting all my pieces I realized I had forgotten the front facings and all I had left was a piece of the border...I did a faced facing following the instructions in Easy Guide to Sewing Blouses. Basically you sew the fusible to the unfinished edge of the facing (right sides together), turn the fusible to the wrong side and fuse and you get a very neat finish on your facing.





I recently treated myself to my own labels and this is the first garment to get one

I wanted to show how my bodice pattern looks after lengthening. I cut just above the waist (Vogue gives you a lengthening/shortening line) and moved the pieces along the grain line, this gives you a misalignment at the side seam which you need to fill in. The I add the same amount at the same place in the facing and the back. I know that this alteration always scared me when I first started to sew, especially on pieces that have darts or pleats (like in this pattern).



This is not a difficult pattern to sew but it does have a lot of pieces if you choose to do view B. I finished it last night and because is still pretty cold in the Baltimore area I wore it to work today with a cardigan and boots.

Clubbing and Ozomatli

This past weekend my husband and I did something we have not done in at least 15 years, we went to a club to enjoy a live performance. Of course not just any group would get us excited enough, it was Ozomatli.

When I found out they would be in Baltimore I contacted Cidell, after all she is young and hip, so I figure she might know about Club Sonar. Of course she did! and she recommended it. Right away I bought tickets and off we went Friday night.

Well we had a blast, Ozomatli knows how to put on a show. For those of you who might not have heard of them, they are from Los Angeles and they play a "fusion of Latin, Hip Hop and Rock". Just in case you are curious, here they are performing a favorite...

Burda WOF 12/2008 113 A Overblouse

As soon as I saw this pattern I knew I had the perfect fabric in my stash. The pattern is for knits and it has that pretty pleated neckline that we keep seeing lately in patterns and RTW. The fabric is a net with flocked flowers with the leopard print. Because of its sheerness and the fact that it didn't feel the softest against my skin I had held off for the perfect pattern. I had to use the lengthwise grain for the crosswise grain because that is where the stretch was. I lined the bodice with tricot from Emma One Sock that I originally bought for a skirt and never used.

This was an easy top to construct although Burda had some strange way of sewing in the sleeves that did not make sense to me. I sewed the shoulder/upper sleeve seam then attached front and back bodice to sleeve, finished the neckline and then sewed side seam and sleeve.

I'm happy with the result, I think I'll get more use out of it next fall.

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Thanks Ann for nominating me for the Sisterhood Award, I enjoy being part of the internet sewing community very much. Now if there was someone left to nominate....

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And thank you all for your birthday wishes. I had a nice day watching the snow fall and my kids enjoying our biggest snow storm. I also got some good sewing time, more FOs coming up.

A snowy birthday

Today is my birthday and I did not ask for snow, I asked for a spring day. Right now we are in the middle of a snow storm and of course the kids are off from school. On the bright side maybe I will get that knit dress done since we are not going anywhere...

I finished the two knit tops from my list and now I am going to make the dress. The fabric is a geometric so I have to play with placing the pattern pieces, wish me luck.

Yesterday to celebrate my birthday we went to Longwood Gardens. The conservatory was bursting with fragrance, color and orchids (there is an orchid show until March 31). We did take a walk through the grounds but there wasn't much to see as my family kept telling me.





These colors just say Spring!




Son #2 trying to get the Venus flytraps to close up