Ending a year and starting sewing again.

Well I was determined to end my 49th year actually sewing, not just dreaming about it, and on that count I have been successful.

Last night I finally sat down and finished the blue tee.  This was originally supposed to be a "muslin" but I liked it so much that I had to finish it.  I am going to finish the purple printed tee as well, although I must have, in a fit of pique, put the remaining fabric away for a later project.  Rather than storing that fabric in my muslin pile, it got moved, following Judith’s excellent suggestion that it looked like a skirt, into a future project box that is currently stored at the top of the master bedroom closet.   Since it was late, it seemed best not to go hauling things out of the top of the closet in the dark, so it will wait until I get tired of UFO’s or get around to that box of fabric.

Taking pictures of a dark blue tee is not easy:

It is meant to be loose and fairly boxy and I am quite happy with it, even though I did have trouble sewing the neck band and I messed it up more than once before it went in correctly. But basically I love the tee.  The fabric is really nice, a beefy cotton knit from Wazoodle and I love the shape and size.  The neckline lies perfectly at the back of my neck and the tee does not slide back, threatening to strangle me they way most purchased boxy tees do.    This is going to be a great hang-out and exercise tee.

To refresh your memory, this tee is a morph of two patterns: Christine Johnson’s 3 tees pattern and an old Vogue pattern, Vogue  8253:

When I think about what I actually did, I realize this top is mostly the Vogue pattern,  using the Christine’s back neckline, which fits me much better, but using the shape of the shoulders, front neckline, and sleeve shaping from the Vogue, sized up to be somewhere between a CJ small and medium.  Actually the back is cut more in a trapeze shape between a small at the under arm and a medium at the hem, and the front is closer to a small all the way down, except that I added a little fullness at the center front for the bust..

So I have no idea how I am going to file this in the pattern file:  under the Vogue number I suppose.

I have plans to cut out another top in a really interesting textured charcoal gray knit.  But first I am making a pair of one-seam pants in a neat French terry I got from Textile Studio.  I am actually going to keep the light gray (shown in the photo) on the inside and leave the dark charcoal on the outside:


I was surprised to see that I had enough for two pairs of pants, another sign of successful weight loss.  Previously I would have had to cut them differently, using side seams, and staggering the pieces so I would have needed more length even though there would have been more waste.   This is also a boon to having TNT patterns.  I know how much yardage it takes and what to expect, whereas when fitting new patterns I have experienced some unpleasant surprises and therefore tend to buy more fabric than I need if I am not sure what I am making or how it will fit. 

I only cut one pair now, if I like them I will sew up another pair before changing the serger thread.  It shouldn’t take long.

This morning I cut the pants and serged all the edges.  This probably isn’t necessary as it is a pretty stable knit, but it just looks nicer.  I also serged the edges of the blue cotton border eyelet I got from Kashi in the spring: 

I am washing that and some ambiance lining since a skirt made from Simplicity 4186 will be my next project after the pants and tee are done.

I will be only using the border half of the blue cotton, so the remainder, which will be significant will be used for something else, what I don’t yet know.

I have not been working steadily or at any great pace, but I have been enjoying myself.  I think I need to learn to work with more interruptions, and with an audience, and I am slowly getting used to the idea.

The new Patrones arrived today  and it is ok, but not my favorite issue so far.  That shouldn’t surprise me, as generally speaking, summer clothes aren’t my favorites.  I also have finally spent some time perusing the new Threads which is definitely one of the best issues they have produced recently.

I might still get some more sewing done today, but I also want to write another blog post over at that other place, and catch up with some emails so I might not get to it.  I do need to go to the gym even though it is my birthday.    I need to think of working out as being good to myself, rather than as a chore to be endured.

But I can’t complain.  It is turning out to be a good day.