A Roman shade...more unselfish sewing going on here!

You may remember that last summer I was lamenting that Hancock Fabrics was going out of business.  While yes, I was upset, I scored some incredible deals on home decor fabrics.  I asked DIL2 to pick out fabric for somewhere in her and my son's home and she choose this fun fabric.

I love all the colors and she is a designer so she sees the possibility of a room filled with color.

I used an all-time classic resource that I purchased recently, but let me explain why it is an all-time classic if it is a recent purchase since those phrases don't belong together!!!

When I started out sewing a few decades and was really in the self-teaching mode, I came across this set of books from the Singer Sewing Library.  Well, as the kids grew and my time to sew shrunk, I purged so many items from my sewing stash, including this book.

When I picked up my beloved passion again, I realized I wanted a set of those books again and luckily I found them on ebay.  While styles have changed, the solid techniques have not and these are just such a great reference.  

The illustrations are clear along with the directions.


I used a heavy weight Roc-Lon lining to give the shade an energy efficiency and room-darkening effect.

A ruler and some way to mark the location of your rings is very important.  Another important task is to get the main fabric and the lining to remain together and not shift as that will make the shade hang all wonky.  I used temporary adhesive spray you use to baste quilts together.  



I highly recommend this stuff!  It is also helpful if you have a large, flat space to spread everything out.  My family room floor was the perfect place for this.  After using 505 spray, I also used safety pins to ensure the layers didn't shirt as I was sewing.



I didn't use ring tape.  I prefer to purchase the rings and my own cording.  Since I make quite a few home decor projects, I purchased the rings and cording in bulk from WAWAK sewing supplies.  It is so much cheaper!




Son #1 and DIL1 loves this new shade.  I am so pleased he loves it so much!

Thanks for reading!
Sue

Harlow, meet Telio!

Do you lust over StyleArc patterns as much as I do?  When this one first came out, I snatched it up.  Do you blame me?


This is a simple swing top with split lower sleeves that are bell shaped.



What drew me to the top were the sleeves of course!

I really, really, really love my fabric choice.  It is by Telio and I purchased it at Fabric.com.  It is rayon and has a beautiful drape, perfect for this top.  

This was super simple to put together.  I would say it was less that 2.5 hours start to finish and I was taking my time!

I love how this floats from me in the front.  

See that dramatic split sleeve?  I lengthened the slit.  It was supposed to be only 4 or so inches, but I made my at least 5, after it was hemmed.  If you are going for drama, go big!

Those sleeves are so cool!

This isn't the best photo of me, but DH caught me mid-swing.  

I love my new top!

thanks for reading!

Sue 

I made a cape! The Nell Cape

I've wanted a cape for like forever and I finally got this one completed!  I just love this pattern.

The pattern is described like this: The versatile cape has become a wardrobe staple.  Easy to wear over your jeans or a more tailored look for the office.  Great for cooler days the Nell cape is a must have.  Unlined with bound edges and seams gives this cape room for your creativity.  Whey not use a contrast or printed bind for an individual look?  If your prefer not to bind your cape you can use a lining and then turn it out.  

 

Just a note, this is a challenging sew for an experienced sewer.

I used a medium weight wool coating that was in my stash.  The floral lining is from Joann's and is a stretch chiffon.  It feels really nice against my skin.  

The binding is a Kona cotton.  I much prefer to make my own binding as it is such better quality and I can get an exact match to my main fabric.

I included the facings with this even though I choose to bind the edges.

For this cape to work, it needs to fit you at the shoulders and upper bodice.  The rest just sort of floats about your body.

See how pretty that chiffon looks as a lining?  I treated the lining and main fabric as one piece as I sewed this together.

All those bound edges were sewn by hand on the inside that is after I stitched them on by machine.  I love how polished it looks.  

If you want to wear this with bulky clothing underneath, I suggest you measure the armhole opening.  I am wearing a thermal long sleeved top and I have plenty of movement and room left over.  However, had I worn a heavy turtleneck, it may be a touch tight there.  

The most difficult part of this pattern is figuring out how to sandwich the sleeves between the front and back and also how to deal with what I call is the under-sleeve.  Don't over think it.  Follow the diagram and if you find the directions confusing, don't read them.    

Isn't that inverted pleat cute?  

I really love how this turned out.  

I added one hook and eye made for coats at the throat.  It doesn't shift around at all when I move.  

I love my finished cape!  

Here's a peek at the insides.

Here's a view of the falls in Sioux Falls.  I wish the photo captured how really pretty this place is, especially in the winter!  It was such a beautiful and unseasonably warm day we had to visit!

Thanks for reading!
Sue

A coat for Simon...more unselfish sewing

I love making coats.  I've made countless coats for myself and others and purchased this Jalie pattern several years ago in anticipation of making it for Simon, and any other grandchildren, numerous times.

Look at all those details!  It really looks like a high-end Columbia jacket that you'd pay over a hundred bucks for, even for a young child.

Yes, it is big, but he is growing so quickly that it will look much better this spring.  I hope he'll wear it next year as well.  

He helped pick out the fabrics.  His favorite color is orange and he also loves Paw Patrol.  The lining is fleece featuring Paw Patrol.  

It's hard to capture details when an overly tired three year is 'posing' for photos.  

I made this coat based on his measurements which equated to a size G.  Still too large but like I said before, plenty of growing room.  

We traced off the pattern pieces using tissue paper carefully making the grain-lines on everything. 

The details really make this coat fun to create and special looking.  

Here you can see the fleece lining he was so excited about.  

I found most of the hardware, velcro, and zipper at JoAnn's.  The orange snaps were applied using my Kam Snap Pliers.  I really love these snaps.  They are plastic but applied correctly they are very strong and durable.  They also come in so many colors and they matched the orange perfectly!  

Here is a glimpse into the double welt pocket that is hidden with a wide flap.  The pockets are plenty deep for a three year old.  

I really love top-stitching and if you don't like it, this may not be a project for you.  

I wish I could have found orange velcro!  That would have been even cooler!

The pattern calls for 1" elastic but I had 1/2" so I created double the casings and went with it.  The way these casing are created is a very clever feat of sewing engineering!  My only other deviation from the pattern was to leave off another flap that covered one portion of the welt pocket.  I just didn't feel like it was necessary. 

I also love the hood with the peak detail.  It looks very RTW.  

Directions for this coat are very good, as you can tell by looking at it, it takes time to construct.  I used rip-stop nylon from Fabric.com.  The fleece is also from Fabric. com.

I highly recommend this pattern if you are an experienced sewer.  Try it!  I hope you make someone's day, just like I did!

Thanks for reading!
Sue

A new coat for fall!

For me, making coats is super satisfying.  I am not sure why, but there is something about wrapping yourself in a coat you've made that is so amazing!  I try to make at least one coat per fall/winter and this year I started early!  

I used this fabric from FabricMart in a little darker blue...more of a cobalt.  I so love the color of this fabric!  It was such a nice quality and I love the fact it is water repellent.  We get enough snow, sleet, etc so a coat that repels moisture is a bonus in my book!    

Here are the deets on my fabric: It is a merino stretch wool blend that is water repellent.  I love it! 

Before ordering fabric, I had picked out this pattern.  Honestly, I would have looked over it, but the October issue of Threads highlighted this pattern and made view A.  

When I ordered my fabric, I found that if I worked super hard, I could get view B cut out successfully!  SCORE!  I love everything about view B.  I had to make it.  I pretty much followed the pattern verbatim.  

I used sew-in interfacing on the front portions and it worked beautifully.  

I didn't realize view B had a little facing in the back vent, and of course I didn't have any fabric left so I rummaged through my stash and found some faux leather that worked great and it coordinated with my buttons!  

I made my usual FBA, swayback adjustment, and sloping shoulder adjustment and am so pleased with the fit, color, and style of this pattern.  I can't recommend it enough or the fabric!  I hope you can hop on over to FM and find some beautiful coating!

  

What about this bright yellow lining?  I love that too!  It adds a fun surprise!

Thanks for reading!

Sue