Jeans

I made my first pair of jeans. Well maybe I almost made my first pair of jeans. What I mean is that I made them but they don't fit. Where did I go wrong you may ask, well I copied an old pair that still fit but were worn out and ripping. So I used my old jean for the new jean pattern. I went wrong when I chose the fabric. Don't know what I was thinking. Yes both fabrics had stretched just that my old pair had a lot more stretch then my new fabric. (I guess that why the old pair ripped hmm..... ) I sewed everything except the waist and hem. I figured why bother if they don't fit. I tried to think of all kinds of ways to make them work without making them look like they were homemade, impossible. So I decide (like my blog name "if you don't like something change it") so I will change me and lose some weight. I really like the jeans, they came out good. I surprised myself and it was easy. I always thought jean construction was difficulty and time consuming but to my surprise they weren't. I know it would be just easier to make another pair of jeans then to lose weight, but I can dream. Maybe in my next post I'll let you see a picture, of course I won't be wearing them!!!

Skirts

I still have not got the hang of this, but I'll try again. I was able to make a few skirts this summer. A white pencil skirt. Not sure if it was a good idea to make a fitting white skirt. It can have the tendacy of making you much larger than you want to look, but I needed it. I used McCall pattern 5590 Pencil Skirt

The fabric I had in my stash for a long time so I don't remember what it is, but it resembles a cotton twill. I cut a size 16 and tapered to a 14 (for the sexy). The skirt was a breeze to make, this is actually my 3rd skirt from this pattern. I made 2 other black skirts but in different lengths. One day I'll try to post them so you can see the differences. I guess this has become my TNT pattern for skirts. (Excuse the mess in the background I forgot to crop it out).

The other skirt was a Vogue 8606. This fabric also was from my stash. I'm not sure which fabric I had longer. This fabric is a black and off White stripe I believe Cotton but you are unable to see the stripes in the pictures. I made my skirt a little shorter as it is summer. This was also very quick and easy. I will probably make another skirt with this pattern but I think I want to do an exposed zipper. That seems to be the fashion now.

I have a few more skirts for the summer to show, will take pictures and post later.

Later!

Just A Few Tops

This top gave me problems. The fabric I purchased for the fabric district really cheap. It some kind of sheer fabric. The pattern was a peasant top with elastic around the neck, arms and beneath the breast all around. The top was looking too much like a maternity top. I took an inch off each side so that it would lay a little flatter. But it still shouted "maternity". I then decided to add some shirring under the elastic band under the breast. About 6 rows. Didn't help. Then I realized its not the shirt. Its all the sit ups I am not doing. LOL. So I took out the shirring and elastic and Viola I now have a wearable shirt.

This t-shirt was made from left over fabric from my thirty something dd's prom dress. I loved this fabric (stretchy, grey metalic jersey) and I had about 1 and 1/4 yards of fabric . I made this from my tnt (tried&true) pattern. I felt it needed something so I decided to add some rufffles. First one row of ruffles, then 4 rows, and then three. Perfect! A great fancy little t-shirt that I loved. Well along comes wash day and I need to wash the shirt as I wore it to work. Put in the wash and pull it out to hang dry and there are black streaks in the back of the shirt. Unbelieveable!! Something ran in the wash and was all over the shirt. So, sadly enough to say I had to lay it down to rest. I guess I was just to happy and pleased with my fancy little t-shirt. Well at least I had one wear out it. May it rest in peace.

This fabric is a brushed acrylic rib knit, melon color I purchased at fabric.com. This top I was not pleased with. The fabric was okay but the pattern made me look like I had "44 DDs". I think it was from the un-needed FBA. That was the first issue. The 2nd problem was the side front piece that overlaped . This would have been fine if it wasn't for the sit ups I'm still not doing. When I wore this the side piece kept blowing open and when the wind wasn't blowing it, it would open on its own. As you can see from the little peak show going on in the picture. Well, I don't have to tell you it was not a pretty sight. I decided this was not the top for me so, Salvation Army here it comes. But then I though, as my blog says "if you don't like it, change it", so I did. This has now become a summer sleeveless dress that I will post later. Which by the way, I love.

Vogue Fall

Boy oh boy! I am truly excited I just reviewed Vogue fall patterns. They hit it on point this time. So many gorgeous dresses. There just not enough time to sew them all but I want them all. Some are similar to last season but with a little umph if you know what I mean. I already selected the ones I want but have not placed the order (came out to $200) but soon as the have their discount sale I am on it. Heres a little peek. You can't see all the detail but believe they are awesome. They even had gloves!

RIP

My hearts feeling real heavy right now. Hard to believe Michael is gone. I feel like I grew up with him. Like he was a member of my family. Listening to the radio I hear DJ asking what are people's favorite songs and playing them. I can say I dont have a favorite as they all are. From "ABC" to "Thriller" on to "if your black or white" even "Ben" (a song about one of the most digusting creatures I know of). All his song were at different time period when I was in different places. During those times what ever was popolular was my favorite and continues to be. I'm thinking of so many good people that have moved on (Bernie, Luther, my parents, family members, etc. ) and this really brings me down.

Last night was truly a hard one. It really helped to have my two favorite people with me (my grandsons) to help lighten the feelings. The three year old asked me why I was sad (he noticed) I told him a friend had gone away. He said he was sorry and continued to demand my attention. Even though the two argued, fussed and fight, this helped me in so many ways to lighten the feeling I had felt and to try to truly enjoy the now. Thanks Lisa for letting them spend the night.

Today I am smiling as I listen to the tributes and songs of a true legend, some songs I had forgotten about. I promise myself I will try to spend today and the future in the now and enjoy all that it has to offer as life is truly to short.

McCalls 5853

At last, I actually created something I really like. This top was pretty easy and actually fun to see it take shape. I made the view C top on the McCalls pattern 5853.

As you can see I adjusted the the arms to add sleeves because you don't want to see these arms without them. LOL. I used a polyester knit which cost me next to nothing.

What I like best is that the layers I did not hem. I just used a rotary cutting for precision and just let it hang. I'm thinking I may what another top but in a different color. But not sure because I have so many patterns and so little time. But we will see.

Still Sewing

Still sewing but not posting. I spend a lot of time reading other people blogs. But I do have some items to show.

When I seen this fabric, I fell in love with it immediately. I had wanted 3 yards for a dress (maybe) but they only had 1 1/2 yards left. So, because I liked it so much I took what I could get and here are the results.

I was not happy with the results. The more I looked at it the more it reminded me of the tops the assistant's wear in the doctors office. lol. I placed brown trimming on the edge to throw this off but didn't work. Still yells "doctor's assistance". Another problem (can you see it) I put the wrap on the wrong side. The wrap is going left to right as opposed to right to left. This was easy top so I did not think about it and this is the result. How long will I wear this top? Not very long. Maybe 1 more time and off it will go in box to get rid of.

Here are a few gifts I made for x-mas for co-workers. I made the girls reversible bags, scarfs (lack of a better word) for the guys and a tie. The Tie was a first. I also embrodiered merry x-mas on it which was also a first. It was fun making all of these items I hope everyone enjoys them.