Some progress has been made. . .

I've never stitched a complete garment by hand, but this was absolutely satisfying.  I made the "muslin" for the crafty class for Alabama Chanin in navy, as suggested.  It fits beautifully, so I cut out my  A. Chanin organic cottons.  my "muslin" matches my beaded skirt ( see former post),  so am eager to have a jacket to go with. . . .

   I finally found embroidery floss, after three tries (thank you, Jo Ann, for the returns). #926  DMC

Then, my Jo Ann's in Florida did not have Jacquard paints, so I kept trying to mix paints. . . Cutting out the stencil from the course, in the meantime.

Finding myself back in winter tundra land, ie WI, I looked through my repertoire of Jacquard paints and went a whole 'nother route from turquoise, namely indigo. . . 

I am so happy with this choice.  Now to "marry" my two layers and start the hand embroidery. . . . 

Trust me, I plan to live long enough to finish this project ( but wish me luck)

and it begins. . . Fl bound with a project in mind. . .

I really got into Craftsy when they first began, and purchased Natalie chanin's course, because I loved all three of her books.  And, when I first retired, before cataracts, made three garments, culminating in this uber piece (which I seldom wear from fear of bead thread failure) 

This made from her skirt pattern, details below.

Muted Japanese Ragu bugle beads, from the sadly demised Turtle Beads in Baraboo, WI.

So, my current project is from Alabama chanin's organic cotton (above project is from fabric.com organic cotton). The latter is thinner and more appropriate for the skirt project.  The new fabric will make a better jacket from the great Vogue DKNY pattern from the Craftsy class.

The new fabric arrived yesterday in this nifty packaging:

 I started over on the Craftsy class (they let you do that!).   

My color choice is denim and dusk. . . .wish me luck. . . .

homage to our new yoga instructor

Alexsa, at Pinnacle, is so wonderful, that her class and a chocolate croissant from Batch bakery on Willy street totally rock my Sunday morning.

So, I had to make a new set of yoga threads, to go with the new teacher situation.  (Lu, we miss you wherever you are)

The first new garment was a racer back yoga top.  I used a copy of a Marika brand one, my fav yoga top of all times.  The fabric is from Marcy Tilton, fairly recently, so it might still be available (it's rayon and cotton and Lycra and I bought it in navy blue as well.)

My tshirt coverup is from the same fabric and is made with this S. Betzina tshirt pattern, that I love.   I made it a tad longer for all those down dog positions. . . 

namista

And, whomever said that Epic hasn't brought wonderful, new, multitalented people to Madison?  Eh!   

December rain. . .

What to do?   Make a raincoat, and don't forget the hat.

Used Marcy's V8934 pattern in a medium (I'd normally cut a Large), but added in the hips and down for fit assurance.  

Ordered a great SF designer's expreso brown pleated raincoat fabric from MarcyTilton.com.  The sewing was quick and easy.  Great instructions.  Used View A technique of bias binding for hem, as that's what's my other great ready to wear raincoats from SF did.  But, for the most part, made View B, without the lining.  Buttons were expensive but not good looking, so view b's hidden placket did the job.

Then, I decided I liked the results so much, I should add a hat.  Used Amy Butler's Blue sky hat pattern, cutting about 1 1/2 inches off the outer edge of the brim.  Marcy sent me another yard of the yummy expreso raincoat fabric fast, fast, fast ( guess she recognised fabric emergency in my voice.  HA)

The results deserve to go somewhere other than the mailbox, right?

Tutorial on knit buttonholes, using a Solvy sandwich

By popular request, I decided to post S. Betzina's method for preventing buttonhole stretch out on a knit jacket.

This knit jacket was very boring without buttons, but I was a bit intimidated by the task.  Found some great stone buttons at Gayfeather Fabrics, in Madison, WI that had dots ground into them.  The buttons are sitting on the jacket above, but it might be hard to see.

So, you put a bit of Solvy over the place you plan to buttonhole and underneath, making a Solvy sandwich.

Then, you make your buttonhole.

Then, gently tear away the Solvy.  

Don't worry if it doesn't all come off, as a steam iron over the buttonhole after you cut the slit will take care of leftover Solvy and any minor wobbly sides.

Wonderful buttonholes every time.  And, thanks to Gayfeathers for jazzing up my jacket.

52 degrees in Florida??

Yes, it finally got to be winter here.  How odd, as last year we had this weather in January.  I've already packed up several jackets to take back to Madison, as it's been too hot and sticky most of the winter for much other than a short sleeved tshirt.  Even Linen tunics are too hot until my bathing suit gets wet!

Nevertheless, jackets are one of my favorite things to sew.  I usually have lots of jacket weight pieces of fabric hoarded and waiting for a good jacket pattern.  Thank you so much, Marcy, for Vogue 8982.

I first made this in a bright blue polyester I ordered from Gorgeous Fabrics.  I hated the hand of the fabric when it arrived and it seemed way too thin for a jacket.  But, the pattern is sized for knits and the darts helped tame the cheesy look.  And, this fabric is perfect for travel!

Then came the dreaded buttonhole phase.  Fortunately, I've been watching Sandra Betzina and Ron Collins sewing videos.  In one, she emphasizes several times, that a Solvy sandwich (Solvy on the top and bottom of the buttonhole area) will tame most potential buttonhole disasters.  She was right, even for this largish (over 1") set of buttonholes.  And, Ron (I feel I know him virtually well enough to call him that) has an incredible Western Canada way of pronouncing "buttonholes".  These shows are some of the best tutorials I've ever seen BTW.  They are now filming and releasing episodes on each of Sandra's Today's Fit patterns, even the older ones.

This version of the jacket is in a cotton ponte from that orlando fabric store I blogged about in November.  I love the bright colors worked into the animal print and plan to wear this today.

There are separate pattern pieces in this pattern for wovens.  So, I just completed this version in a brown printed linen I found here last season at Jo Ann's.  This jacket gets packed, as I have a marvelous E. Fisher brown sundress just waiting for this fresh topper.  

Yes, Madison, it will be summer before too long!!!!

Early 'March, my favorite sewing time of the year

While it is not yet even early Spring where I live most of the year, I just love this time of year.  My birthday time, when the redbuds bloom where I grew up, in Southern Oklahoma.  Also, the time for the biggest sewing expo event of the year in Pewallup, WA.  I've only attended once, what a fabulous trip!!!

But, all the independent pattern companies and many of the Vogue pattern designers go all out with their new patterns right before the show begins.

This is Sewing Workshop's new Helix tshirt pattern.  I ordered some very fine Hugo Boss knit from them as well, as they said it was perfect for this design.  Another blog said a fabric was like sewing on jello.  Well, this wasn't quite that bad, but it wasn't much fun, either.

I do like the resulting shape which has a seam running around the body.  Will have to wait until I return to WI to wear it as Florida is pretty much a short sleeve cotton tshirt place this winter.