Love those knits...

Really I do.  I could have a closet full of knits and be happy with life.  Since I started sewing with knits in 2009, I've loved working with them.  Seriously.  I love them!

This is Simplicity 2804 that I bought years ago.  Seriously years!  And I made the aqua colored top from this pattern (in white with black polka dots).  Sometimes I pull out my patterns and see what else I can make from them.  I decided on the third one in.  Joann's has this great new Project Runway line from April Johnston.  The fabric is generally very expensive but it was 50% off so I bought this awesome black with silver polka dot stripes and made this:

Now you may think the bottom is a mistake but it's not.  I did that on purpose for two reasons.  The first is to make it look unique and the second is horizontal stripes to enhance the bust and vertical stripes to slim the hips.  ;)

I also worked on a dress today that ended up in the garbage.  (Well, half of it anyway.)  I don't know what I did wrong and couldn't for the life of me fix it so I turned the lower half into a skirt which just needs elastic.  I'm bummed but at least it's not a total loss.

Um yeah I made this...

And I never posted it.  Lame.

From this pattern:

What's worse is I never got a chance to wear it because it warmed up really quickly.  :/

Anyway, very flattering don't you think?  I love Project Runway patterns.

Bernie's firsts...

Isn't the fabric pretty!  I actually bought it for a Project Runway dress and I always buy too much fabric for Project Runway patterns.  Math eludes me.

Okay so I saw this knit and fell in love.  I had to have it for my 80s dress.  I love these ridiculous sleeves.  They make me look busty!

Bernie's done for tonite.  My back hurts from crawling on the floor cutting out patterns.

Wait'll ya see what I'm cookin' up for next time.  ;)

Fixed...

This is the Project Runway top with the fixed cuffs:

Looks much better.  Sorry but my face refused to look good in this picture.

Just kidding...

Found some leftover fabric.  So I made another Project Runway tunic.  I didn't have enough of the black so the cuffs are a little tiny.  I'll probably fix that at a later date.

I am for sure done now.  My back hurts and I'm hungry and still stuffy.  Plus I need a shower.  Yeah, definitely done.

This is the last of it...

Not forever (now don't get excited) just for little bit.  I have to go back to work tomorrow. 

Well, I finally got the three Project Runway patterns in the mail.

The hem isn't finished in the photo.  Do you remember me raving about this fabric that I bought before I had the pattern?  That's it.  I FREAKIN' LOVE IT!  It looks like galaxies in space.  And the best news of all is that I have about a yard extra so I can use it as a contrast in something else.  Win! 

This is the pattern:

At the last minute I decided I would cut the flat sleeve (far bottom right) because I've done so many things with puff sleeves lately (not that I don't love them, just needed different).  This is by far my favorite of all the vacation sewing I've done.  I decided on contrast bows rather than matching bows.  I made them with bias tape and don't care what anyone thinks about that!  :p

Bow detail & fabric close up:

I think I'll definitely make this again.

Next:

Again, forgive the unfinished hem.  I think I bought a baby knit.  It was with other baby knits but it doesn't really look like one.  So whatever, I guess.  I forgot to put in the elastic at the waist.  I'm still debating whether it needs it or not.  I really like how this turned out but I am surprised how low the neckline ended up being.

From this pattern:

I bought this 80s pattern ages ago and just couldn't decided on a fabric.  I settled on broadcloth and to be honest I kinda don't really like this.  Is it just me?  Or is this weird looking?  Plus, the neck feels like it's choking me.  I'd appreciate your input, positive or negative.

 

Finally, I made this sweater:

I know it's kinda hard to see because of the black pants.  This is way weird  The sleeves sit oddly on me and I thought maybe it might be me but on http://sewing.patternreview.com damn near everyone who made this was not happy with it.  I wish I would have read that before doing this.

Well that's it folks.  I've had a blast sewing this vacation and I hope you've enjoyed everything I've made.  :)

First of the new year...

I'm afraid the massive onslaught of sewing is going to slow tremendously in a few days when I go back to work.  :(

I love my job.  I really do but staying home with nothing to do but sew and cook make me happypants.

Would you believe my luck when my trip to Joann's yesterday warranted four new patterns because McCall's is on sale for 99 cents!

Anyway, this is officially the first 2010 project (made yesterday):

I'm sure you know just by looking that I fell in love with this fabric immediately. 

From this pattern:

McCall's like Simplicity has something similar to Project Runway with these Create It! patterns.  I can't tell you how much I hate patterns that list each segment separately.  Seriously pick one of these up and you too will be annoyed.

I made this today (please forgive the unfinished hem):

Funny thing.   The Beatle boots I'm wearing in the above picture I got at Goodwill today for $5.  That was after I bought the above fabric.  Well, I had forgotten about the fabric and when compared lo and behold they match pretty well.  So I guess the Beatle boots were destined to come home with me.  :)

From this pattern:

I have one more cut out but I don't have elastic to finish it.  Next week I have new Joann's coupons too.  I'm having the best vacation!

Another sewing day...

I really need to have more weeks off and a disposable income so I could make clothes all day every day.

So I did up the hem on that pink polka Jem dress.  And I got two patterns today in the mail.  One I had already bought fabric for so I went ahead and made it.

I would like to try wearing this with something other than Spongebob Squarepants jammies. 

Pattern:

I had one issue with this pattern.  The directions said to turn in the sleeves and sew them like a hem.  Well I had a terrible time with that so I just said fuck it and cut out some facing and faced these sleeves.  It turned out fine I think.

In addition to leaving my wallet at Joann's (I almost had a heart attack but it was right where I left it) I found some new patterns.  Project Runway is sneaky.  The have tunics and dresses within the same pattern so I found three really cute ones and went home and promptly ordered them off eBay for way cheap.  I even bought THE BEST fabric for one.  I just hope it gets here before the 6th when the vacation is officially over.

Sigh.  Love = sewing.

I am smilin'...

I really like this tunic okay!  So I just finished this like just now.  I bought this fabric a while ago for a dress and it has been sitting in my sewing closet ever since.  I couldn't let such pretty fabric go unnoticed.  Alas, another Project Runway tunic:

Here's a close up of the fabric:

Success!

So it's 11:45PM and I've just finished my first Project Runway pattern.  They're weird.  They have a create your own design system and the measurements for fabric pieces are listed separately.  Assembling isn't hard at all though.  I'm on this tunic kick right now.  Like I need to have a closet full of tunics.  They hide my body flaws so I love them.  Anyway, I made this:

I love the fabric I chose.  I should.  I forever agonized over fabric combos while in the store.

Here's a close up of the main fabric:

Finally the pattern:

Bottom right is the one I made.

I totally want to make this again as it turned out really cute!