Coco 3!

I had to make another Coco dress from Tilly and the Buttons.  Such a great little pattern and wow, I love my new dress!  Here is Tilly and her adorable pattern!

This fabric is from FabricMart and I recently was gifted a membership to Julie's picks....dangerous!  My stash has multiplied like a whole slew of rabbits and I am challenging myself to sew 15 pieces from my stash before even looking at or considering any other fabric purchases.  Do you have any idea how difficult this is for a junkie like me?

Anyway back onto what's important....

 This was an instant gratification project, a perfect pattern for a new to knits seamstress as it the directions are all photographs of the work in progress and the written directions are easy to follow as well!

I made a straight up size 5 (Tilly's sizing is different than other patterns).  Since this is my third go around, my modifications are the same:
1.  1/2" swayback adjustment
2.  Elasticize the shoulder seams with clear elastic

I am hoping this dress will lend itself to the spring-like weather that should arrive in the next few weeks!  I wanted 3 quarter length sleeves and love them!  I debated on the funnel neck and this is such a fun little detail that I included it.  I'm super happy with how my stripes match up on the side seams!

All in all, a great pattern, an easy gratification project, and these comfortable dresses are ME!  I'm not done with this pattern yet....

Thanks for reading and I love hearing your remarks!

Sue

2014 in review--the good, the bad, the downright ugly!

So here it is again, that time of year to reflect on what we've done and make goals to be a better person for the following year!  No, I won't bore you with my new year's resolutions to eat better, exercise more, etc.... but I will will let you know what my thoughts are related to sewing!  Isn't that why you're here?




The good---I made quite a few garments in '14 that I am very proud of and love wearing!  I also made many wads that didn't even make it to the charity pile but rather went right into the good old dumpster.  I hate it when I waste time and fabric on wadders but that's how I get better!  Wadders are typically due to poor fabric choices based on the pattern or a pattern style that simply doesn't look good on me.

First let's look at my top favs!
1.  Sewaholic Minuro jacket!

 

This is a great pattern and I love the water resistant fabric in gray and the colorful lining!  The orange zipper was a must!  I wear this coat every change I get!  You may notice I added side seam pockets.
 :)

  

The lady skater--what a great and easy to sew pattern!  I know the pink floral is bright and somewhat obnoxious, but I LOVE this dress!

The grainline Archer pattern.  I made five tops last year out of this pattern.  A winner!  I just love this floral fabric and the peplum!  

Jeans--Vogue 8774 which I made five times and plan on many more until I can perfect the fit!  This is a great pattern and I love the theory denim I used for this pair.  

This McCall's jacket--so very RTW with all the details!  I wear this quite a bit!  I love the contrast of the red against the army green.  

My version of the Scout Woven Tee.  I repurposed thrift store finds to make this one of a kind top.  I just love it!  

This Butterick jean jacket pattern is a favorite layering piece!  

I made this BRIGHT yellow Robson Trench coat in about two days!  I added a lining and I wear this as much as I can!  It's a fun pattern to put together.  

I discovered Tilly and the Button's Coco dress and just love both versions, but this one is my fav!  I used an amazing fabric and I like the contrast I added at the sleeves and pocket bands.  

Lastly, Vogue Tunic--I made this twice and I love tunics and this fabric so much!  I received so many compliments when I wore it that I felt like a model or something!  Yay!  

Wadders!!!


We all have wadders--here are some that I actually blogged about!
I still love this fabric!  Ugh!  This was a Style Arc pattern.  What was I thinking?  It's awful!

This is a McCall's dress pattern that is pretty cute but I think my fabric choice made it a wadder.  The front is fine but the back has issues at the neckline and the hem!

I don't even know what to say about this!  The top is cute--just not on me!  It is way to big and I feel like someone threw up all over me!

So, plans for 2015? I think I am going to narrow this down to five so the goals are more obtainable this year.

1.  I dabbled in bra making but didn't really give it a fair shot.  I need to work on that more, especially after all the patterns and supplies I purchased!
2.  Continue working on fitting pants!
3.  Perfect the FBA.  I need one and have been delusional that I can get by without it.
4.  Try more specialty fabrics such as leather, neoprene, silk, etc.
5.   Finish my quilts from 2013!

Thanks for taking this sewing journey with me!  I so appreciate it when you share your thoughts!
Happy new year everyone!
Sue  

Coco take 2!

Of course I had to make another Coco....can you blame me?  It is so comfortable, endless creative possibilities and an instant gratification project...I see more of these in my future!

So just to refresh your memory, here is the description from the pattern envelope:
Simple to sew, Coco is easy fitting, with no fiddly fastenings. The classic design features boat neckline, choice of top or dress length, three quarter or long sleeves, side splits on the top version, optional sixties-style funnel roll neck, rolled cuffs and patch pockets. 

This time I choose to make the darling funnel neck with two hip length pockets and full length sleeves.  My dress version looks longer on me that Tilly in her adorable version seen right.  


I still love the pattern....no issues with it at all and if you are new to knits, the instruction booklet has fabulous photos and written directions, you'll love sewing with this!  There aren't any markings for where the pockets are placed but that is even better as before I sewed up the side seams, I put this on over my head and placed the pockets where I wanted them.  Easy-peasy!  

Oh, I have to tell you about this fabric.  It is a hemp and organic cotton blend that is heavenly!  I purchased it from Fancy Tiger Crafts in Denver.  It washed and dried beautifully and the hand was dry and easy to work with.  I just learned what dry meant--so if this is incorrect, please let me know!  It isn't slippery at all!  The cut edge behaved beautifully and didn't roll at all--another bonus!  What I didn't think about is that I needed a slip for this dress and luckily I had one that worked perfectly.  :)  

The funnel neck was really fun to apply.  It doesn't even take that much fabric and it fit into the neck opening so very well!  I topstitched the seam on the bodice front and back edge to keep it from flopping around and it adds a cute little detail.  I also decided the pockets needed a contrast so I used this grey ponte.  Next, I decided to add the contrast edges on the sleeves.  I like the simple detail it adds.  

I can't tell you have fun this is to wear and honestly, it is so comfortable I felt like I was wearing pajamas all day!  Who doesn't love that?  

I wish DH would have told me he was snapping another picture...I would have smiled!  

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Oh yes, I love asking questions and reading your comments--what patterns have you made recently that you MUST repeat?  I'd love to know as I may need to add them to my list!

Coco!

It's been a while....hopefully I am done traveling for work for a while and can get some sewing (therapy) time in!

On one of my recent travels out of town, I ended up finding the Coco pattern.  This pattern has been reviewed all over the blog sphere and I was so pleased to purchase it!

Isn't it darling?  The photo below is taken from Tilly's site called, Tilly and the Buttons.  You can make a top, dress, or funnel neck top.  I made a modified version of the dress.

This is a pattern designed for knits and the directions and visuals are excellent.  If you haven't sewn many knits, you'll find the directions easy to follow and simple to understand.  

didn't find anything missing from the instructions--which I usually like to add a few things!  For this, I used this lovely bamboo and organic cotton jersey from Fancy Tiger Crafts in Denver.  WOW, this is an amazing shop with equally amazing fabric and some great Indy paper patterns for sale!  I wish I had brought a bigger suitcase so I could have taken more fabric and patterns home!  

So, back to the pattern...this is an instant gratification project.  I added ribbing to the neckband and used it at the cuffs as well.  I love the length of the sleeves.  Being 5'7", sometimes they are a tad so short but this is perfect!  My only minor complaint is the neckline is simply folded over and hemmed. That isn't my preferred method of hemming necklines and I didn't have enough fabric to make a neckband to add so...I found this black ribbing at Hancock's.  I also thought that I needed to break up the stripe a bit so the pockets were necessary.  

I added the double pocket at the chest simply because I made a stupid error when sewing.  My first pocket placement was too high and I made a small hole in the fabric <insert frown and maybe a few four letter words> so I added the smaller pocket under the larger one to cover the hole and allow me to continue to wear this. 

  

It is so comfortable, I love the fit, and it's awesome with leggings and boots! 

I only made my usual 5/8" swayback adjustment--that's it! Otherwise it fit perfect out of the envelope based on my measurements.  Hurrah!  

I see many more of these in my future!  I love this pattern!

Thanks for reading!

Sue