Dress Form Arm - for Annabelle

I like the idea of having an arm (or two) for my dress form. 

I found some sources, one being on the McCall's site, but unfortunately this particular product only

 ships to the US and  it attaches with magnets.

My dress form, (which I named "Annabelle") is the 

Uniquely You pinable foam dress form, not a PGM dress form so the magnetic arm wouldn't work,  but I can easily make my "Annabelle" an arm.

I found this  great video tutorial by Diane Deziel.

I should have made one years ago!!

I'd like to  Congratulate  Andrea at "Sew-to-Fit" on getting her 

Club Sew to Fit Learning Library up and going!
Learn from Andrea!

I am so excited for you Andrea. 

Your Fit Friday's have been a lot of fun as well as all your wonderful videos .
 I am sure

this new Library of yours will be a wonderful asset to all :) 

Thank You for doing what you do!

House cleaning!!

Or should I say Blog Cleaning.

I didn't realize how many of my links are no longer current.

Updating this resource list was fun.

Definitely a work in progress!

But I will get through it.

Have a wonderful day.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful start to 2017!

I don't usually make new years resolutions but one thing I do know is that I need  to improve my

blogging....and  it certainly feels like my blogging and my sewing mojo have returned.....

Yay.

So to start off the year I will highlight a few past projects that I made  ~ These were quick items to make but extremely fun to do.

I had made my husband a fleece jacket some time ago and 

our grandson wanted a fleece top just like Grandad. 

Apparently Grandad can only wear his top when my grandson says he can!
There are rules when you have the same jacket.

For my husbands fleece jacket I used   McPhee 420- No Sweat Shirt.

 I made the full zipped front version.

My Grandson's top is McPhee 425- Kids No sweat, and his is the pullover version.

I bought the fleece from Tonitex in Montreal. 

It is an excellent quality fleece and a pleasure to work with.

Both jackets were a hit and are favorites on cold winter days.

                               

  

This next project was a Halloween costume.  

An adorable Dopey Dwarf!!

The mom had given me a picture of what she wanted and I pretty much 

made it identical to her inspiration picture.

This  fleece is from my local Fabricville.

I used Burda 9428 for the top and modified it. (yes it's a dress pattern but it worked great).
 I self drafted the neck piece (scarf) as a separate piece to wear over the top.

I also drafted the hat and ears.

  

For Christmas I embroidered bath towels for some special little kids.
 I purchased the embroidery appliques from
Loves Applique site. What a great find.
They embroidered beautifully and I love how they turned out.

Happy Sewing!

My little helper modelling a headband I made.

Checking in!!

Just checking in. Wow I can't believe I haven't posted since Oct last year!!!!
I have been sewing and keeping busy!

I have also been reading blogs, watching periscope and blab videos and loving these new to me 

Social media. Lots of fun and interesting people.

Will try to post some projects soon.

Have a great day.

Power Sewing Membership Renewal and Jalie Sewing.

I know it appears as if I have given up on blogging but

I haven't and now I'm back. ...once again.

My mojo for blogging has returned. 

Today my husband  gave me an unexpected gift: a subscription renewal to

Power Sewing!! Yay!! Thank You so very much.
I so  missed watching Sandra and Ron.

I have been putting together some patterns for a fall wardrobe, using mainly

 Jalie patterns.

More to follow on this.

Happy to be back!

Change is Good!!

I've been working on changing my blog but I'm not  quite capturing the look that I want with Blogger.

I've been trying other sites but I am not a fan of starting over!!

A little more pondering to figure This out ;)

Skirt Length Calculator

Found this  skirt length calculator at Iconic Patterns site.(side bar)

I couldn't get the link to embed so you may have to go to their site for the calculator to work.
I wanted to post it here for reference.

Perfect skirt length calculator

Your height in CM :

Maxi

Midito

Knee lengthor

Minito

Micro mini

www.iconicpatterns.com

.

European Pattern Making

I started a pattern making course!!
The European Patternmaking Course, from
 Le Grand Chic School of Fashion and Design.
It is taught by a lady in Ontario. I will write more about the course as I progress through it.
But so far I am Loving it. The course starts with drafting skirts so
I am sewing up lots of mock ups ~ Skirts, for me,
and my girls ~ my daughter and my sons girlfriend.

I have been neglecting my blog  so
I can concentrate on my work but I will
post  more details on this great course....

I'm still making activewear, tights and tops.
I will post more about that also.

Just a short post to check in and
Even  though I am not posting often I am sewing.

Have a great day!

Jalie ~ Onesie

Jalie 3244 ~ Footed Pajamas ~ or as we like to call them Onesies!!

These are for my husband.

I made the version with the cuffs at the leg, not the "footed" version.

I had to add some length to the body.

Jalie's instructions are excellent for this adjustment. 

They fit him perfectly.

The fabric is a very soft fleece and very warm.

Quite often my husband will come with me when I have to do that "quick" stop

into my local  Fabricville.

On one of these stops, he saw this fabric and thought it would be perfect

for this pattern, which he also picked.

He is  truly "a keeper"!!

Of course I  want a pair too.

Happy Sewing!!

"Share in Style" ~ Black and White

I made this dress awhile back and for some reason I had never blogged about it.

I thought it would be the perfect garment to share for this "Share in Style".
The wool scarf is a RTW and I just love the fabric design!

I used a Ponte de Roma knit fabric and the weight is perfect for our winter weather!

Black and White ~ Share in Style

                                                                                   Draped Collar and pleats

Back Tab and pleats

.

Butterick 5523

.

Share in Style ~ Shoes

My project for this Share in Style is truly a very simple, not elegant in any way, but an outfit that is so very much required
 these days :)

I found this fun, bright, colourful
 "flip flop/ flower" print ~ in  flannel ~ my favourite,

 and thought It would be perfect for pj's.

The pants and sleeves are a heavy fleece.... so comfortable!!
A perfect weight for this cooler weather that we've been getting
and  I know I will appreciate the warmth of this fabric on cold winter days.

I used McCall's 6250 for the top and Butterick 5571 for the bottoms.

Bradley had to match too!

"Share in Style" ~ Halloween

Spider web skirt and shawl for the Share~in~Style - Halloween!!

I used New Look 6843 View A for the skirt.

A very easy pattern with great results.

For the waist finish I made a facing instead of a waist band and inserted an invisible zipper.

The shawl is lace ~ with a spider and web design like the skirt fabric.

A fun outfit to put together for the Share~in~Style!

It is Not every day you get to wear a flashing necklace and a mask :)

Have a fun Halloween!

Pj's for a special Boy!

My grandson made a very special request.

He wanted flannel pj's just like Mommy.

(She was given pj's for her birthday, different print)

How could I not make them!

I used Butterick 5586 for the top and McCall's 6194 for the bottoms.
I made size 4. The waist was shortened by by 3" and pant leg shortened by 2 1/2".
I used the McCall's pattern for the bottoms because I had made him pj pants before
so I knew these would fit.


Adorable!



Share in Style - "Favourite Print"

This "Share in Style" I am Rosy's partner!

Rosy asked me a couple of months ago to be her partner for one

of the up coming "Share in Styles". I said yes of course, but I was a little (ok~ a lot)nervous!!    Being Rosy's partner?...I mean this is Rosy....I've been reading Rosy's blog for quite some time and  she absolutely amazes me!!

Her garments are so stylish and she always uses such pretty fabrics.And of course the beautiful pictures she posts!!!

She does not disappoint in this Share in Style.

Her outfit is, as always, stylish and beautiful!! I absolutely love the colour  and print she chose.

It was a challenge deciding what print was my favourite. Not as easy as it sounds. I love so many prints ~ but truly my  favourite fabrics(prints) are boucles...is that considered a print?

Well I figure it is...and a boucle in sweater knit!!...that is awesome and so warm and so cosy. Especially this time of year.

I used Vogue 8817, Katherine Tilton pattern.It is such a great pattern and there are so many possibilities.



I used Sarah Veblen's neckline binding method.

My favourite....

because this method works ~ every time!!

I made the top with 4 knit fabrics ~

I love combining prints together and I also try to choose

prints that are textured.

 a boucle sweater weight knit,

a floral textured knit,

a black pebbly textured mesh knit (kind of rubber feeling pebbles)

and a plain gray sweater knit ~ which is layered under the black pebble knit.

These fabrics are somewhat heavier than the pattern description suggests however I love the end result.

This top is  so very comfortable!

I also like the high/low hem design. (I did shorten the top by 5")

I look forward to making more tops with this pattern!!

Have a great day!

"Share in Style" - Favourite Print"

I am Participating in the Favourite Print - "Share in Style"!

Post to follow shortly!

Alameda Dress *** Inspiration***

The dresses Pauline choose for inspiration are all gorgeous.

I love the striped one and the pink one.(without the bow for me)

I am actually thinking of making mine a LBD!

but could end up being a floral print.

Still pondering what look I want.

Related Sew-Along post:
Alameda Sew-Along
Fabric Choices

Happy Sewing!!



Alameda Dress - Pauline Alice

I love the style of this dress.

Pauline Alice will be doing a SewAlong. 

I can't wait to see this pattern made up.

I too will make one......

But first I must finish some tights and a Monkey Bar skirt  for a special little girl!

Such a cute skirt and the name is adorable!

I am still here....just like many...sew busy :)

.....But I am still here....busy as always.

Once in awhile I  drop in on some of my favourite  blogs and catch up,

 and now and then I even get  a comment, or two, in.  

I am hoping to have some garments made up

next week and then get back to posting on my blog.

Something I've truly missed! 

I have been enjoying a Crafsty class on Pattern Drafting Basics,The Sloper, by Suzy Furrer.

I purchased her pattern drafting book and so far it looks like it will

be a very useful book.

So many things I want to sew. 

Hope you are all having a great time sewing!!

Some Sewing has been taking place...

I haven't been blogging much but I have been sewing a little.
Nothing too complicated but at least I am sewing!!
 

Here are pictures of a few garments I've made.
 

Dress ~ New Look 6210

I Love the back of this dress!
It was an easy dress to make and very quick!
Fabric is a stretch and I lined it with a light knit tricot lining.
It was a very comfortable dress to wear this summer!

 

Silhouettes Coat # 1825  

This pattern is for an unlined jacket but I lined my jacket.

I had to make some adjustments ~  a sway back adjustment, shoulder width(narrowed),  raised armhole and lengthened it.......

 I used four buttons instead of two and placed my buttons down the front. 

Burda 7066

This was the first time I made this Burda top so the top is a mock up ~ to see how the pattern Fit.
 I like how it looks with no adjustments but for the next one I will lengthen it...
It is a loose fitting top and
this mock up will be A very comfortable top for lounging.
I played around and sewed some print fabric on the bodice, side seams and sleeves!
I used my favorite method, the Sarah Veblen method,  for applying the neck band.

 

I've also been making curtains, pillowcases ~ for my Grandson, and some alterations but the biggest thing I've been finishing up is a "huge" quilt
for us!
Well the biggest I've ever made.
 I machine quilted it myself, with a long arm machine,  and just finished sewing the binding on.
That will be the next post.


A little brace humour to make me feel better ~ since I do wear braces now :)

 

Happy Sewing!

Ann

 

 

 

My Sewing Studio ~ Part 11

Life has been busy!  My blog posts always

seem to get pushed to the bottom of my to do list...so tonight I am going to play catch up and continue my Sewing Studio posts.

I have been sewing but will post about that later!

This section is the "Pattern Corner". The cubicle wall unit stores the larger patterns that do not fit in my pattern filing cabinets....such as Angela Wolf, Jalie, Cynthia Guffey, Vogue,

 Gail Patrice, Cecilia Podolak, Pamela's Patterns, Silhouette Patterns, Onion,

Style Arc, Brensan Studio, and Islander Sewing....just to name a few :)

These cubicles are great for storing my patterns and also for

 fabrics that I plan on using in the very near future.

(I do have a step stool to reach the higher bins.)

I love this section...browsing through my patterns and

planning my next project!

I bought one of these pattern cabinets years ago, from my local Fabricville when they changed their cabinets...the other one was given to me......these cabinets are perfect for  Vogue, McCalls, Butterick, Simplicity, New Look, Burda, Kwik Sew, Neue Mode....



This is another section that I simply call "The Work Station"!

More cubicles to store interfacing, elastic, trims, DVD's,

camera eqpt, rulers, tracing paper....but mostly I use

 this section as a work station

~ a comfortable spot, with lots of counter space to do my hand stitching ~

and maybe watch a sewing DVD while I work!

 ~ When I am in my Sewing Studio  ~ Bradley always keeps me company ~

but now I am fortunate to have two little sewing  buddies!

Meet Sammy!

An apricot poodle we inherited from my husbands parents.

He is an older fella, who is set in his ways but has quickly made himself comfortable and is such a joy to have around.

He is settling in perfectly and we are happy to have him!



My newest little Zen garden!

I do have more of my Sewing Studio to share but will leave it at this for tonight...

 Have a great weekend!

Ann