Ottobre Christmas Sewing

I made three dresses, two tops, and a pair of leggings for my younger DGD for Christmas.  Due to some lost days just before Christmas, I finished the sewing yesterday!  I am finally feeling pretty good and enjoyed some time in the sewing studio.  First is a dress, top, and leggings from Ottobre design magazine.  All items are from stash--some well aged, some more recent!  I wanted her to model at least one outfit so I could be sure of the sizing and fit.  This is a size 140 but shortened about 6 inches.  A turtle neck top also made to match the leggings.  Her dad did not put out the top, so of course she only put on what she was given!

 The next two dresses are from Ottobre as well--Issue 5/2006. All items made are size 140 with a few alterations for length.  I made the dresses but purchased the leggings.  She will need to wear the black top with either of the dresses.  Fun projects--both are fully lined and should be comfortable for her to wear.  The turtle neck is from the same Ottobre issue as the dress above--of course I can't find it!  The top has a split collar turtle neck in the magazine, but for this one I just made a regular fold over collar.  I think she will get a lot of wear from the pieces. 

I made myself a long sleeved perfect tee--Loes Hinse--from the remaining black fabric. Easy sewing and a great addition to the wardrobe.  I think this is some JCrew fabric purchased from a coop.  Love the look and feel!  Now on to some more sewing for me--a couple of Style Arc projects are waiting in the wings!

Merry Christmas!

Best wishes to all--sending positive greetings to my family and friends on this special holiday of the year.  A new beginning, a world of hope, and so much sadness in our lives.  Hug your loved ones and send messages to those you miss.  The gift giving has not yet begun in our home and I know some of the true spirit of the season may seem lost in that mayhem.  For me, it is just a way to show those I love that they mean the world to me, that the gifts in some way represent that.

My sewing came to a grinding halt with the arrival of the "itises" last week--sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, and the yuckiest of all, conjunctivitis!  Ugh.Took meds, got lots of rest, and feed much better.  I will give the little dresses to Samantha next week in time for her to wear to school after the winter break.  We do what we can!

I did make her one outfit complete with leggings to match, so maybe a photo will be taken today as it is unwrapped.  I also cut out a couple of fleece hats for older DGD--those will sew up in a snap.

Trying to document what did and did not get sewn this week.

Happy Holidays to all!

Holiday Sewing and Wishes

Happy Holidays!  I have been doing a little sewing and just decided on a couple more simple projects!  I made 10 yr old DGD 3dresses from Ottobre Design patterns. Very pleased with the drafting and construction of them. I may even get a few photos later this week.

I did some routine sewing for me--3 long sleeve LH Perfect T shirts from J Crew fabric purchased from a coop.  2pair of leggings for me too, made from C Jonson Basewear pattern. All good to wear with currently owned pieces.  Fabric from Anne at Needlenook Fabrics.  Can't beat her service or prices.  What a lovely lady!

I also worked the entire month of November which slowed down my sewing but restored my sense of being a contributor to my community.  Being back in a middle school admin position was so much fun.  I will start 2013 as an elementary principal for 2-3 weeks. I've worked at this school before and look forward to helping out a friend.

I'm going to make a few simple hats from a Vogue pattern I recently purchased. Hope they turn out!

I'll be back with photos in the New Year!

Second Burda Jacket

This is the "real" jacket I wanted to make. The fabric was purchased from Loes Hinse  at the Oct 2011 seminar. The buttons were purchased in Sept 2012 from a delightful store in Lucca, Italy. Fun project. The directions were clear and jacket number two went together quite easily!

Burda Classic Jacket

I have been working on the cover jacket from the 2012 Classic edition of the Burda Style magazine.  I made a muslin as pictued below and am almost finished with the "real" version of the jacket.  All but buttons!  I will post more soon, but wanted to at least get one photo up to document the completion of the first jacket.  I love the fact that Burda patterns are so well drafted.  These went together like a dream--everything matched and fit together with no nudging or messing around.  This is a size 40 with no changes.  Sorry about the goofy facial expression...The pants are really a dark brown although they appear black in the photo.  Some LH Euros made from a dark brown ponte knit.  I'm pretty sure I blogged about them before as I made them in 2011 from some Michael Levine fabric.

Even my dog is wondering what the big deal is...

Catching Up--seminar roundup

I started this blog to have a journal of my sewing and I have kind of slogged along, not really expecting others to read my adventures.  I am always pleased to see that I have had visitors, but I know that most would move along since I do not do tutorials or even show many photos.

This will just be a recap of what I made during my days at Loes Hinse's late October seminar.  I ordered a couple of fabrics from Sharon at Casual Elegance prior to leaving home--a black microfiber and a black and onion (?) sweater knit.  During the seminar the microfiber became some narrow Bilbao pants without pockets and the knit is now a warm perfect tee.  A great outfit for cooler days in the desert.

My big project was to make a duster coat from some olive drab twill.  I love it and will post a picture as soon as I put in the buttonhole.  I need to decide on a button first!  It is a seminar pattern with a long  collar on a very deep v neckline.  Perfect for mild winters with a warm scarf.

I also fell in love with the long cardigan similar to one in an earlier version of The Look.  I made one from a soft black sweater knit and have already worn it several times.  I made a second one from a tan/grey sweater knit remnant.  I have worn it also. I really was not drawn to this style of garment until Loes asked me to try one on at the boutique.  Instant change of heart!

I always take a few precut shirts to work on between big projects or when waiting for my turn to have Loes help or direct me.  I made 3 perfect tees to finish up my summer purchases at Michael Levine's in LA.

I bought a remnant of grey/teal tencel twill and made a second pair of Bilbao pants as well.

Not as productive as some years, but I am so pleased with the garments I did make.  Maybe I should add that I smashed a finger under my serger's needle bar when I accidentally stepped on the foot pedal while attempting to thread a needle.  Ouch.

I'm working for a few weeks so my sewing will be limited until Thanksgiving.  I just got a packet of Style Arc patterns so I may redirect for a while...

Catching Up--seminar roundup

I started this blog to have a journal of my sewing and I have kind of slogged along, not really expecting others to read my adventures.  I am always pleased to see that I have had visitors, but I know that most would move along since I do not do tutorials or even show many photos.

This will just be a recap of what I made during my days at Loes Hinse's late October seminar.  I ordered a couple of fabrics from Sharon at Casual Elegance prior to leaving home--a black microfiber and a black and onion (?) sweater knit.  During the seminar the microfiber became some narrow Bilbao pants without pockets and the knit is now a warm perfect tee.  A great outfit for cooler days in the desert.

My big project was to make a duster coat from some olive drab twill.  I love it and will post a picture as soon as I put in the buttonhole.  I need to decide on a button first!  It is a seminar pattern with a long  collar on a very deep v neckline.  Perfect for mild winters with a warm scarf.

I also fell in love with the long cardigan similar to one in an earlier version of The Look.  I made one from a soft black sweater knit and have already worn it several times.  I made a second one from a tan/grey sweater knit remnant.  I have worn it also. I really was not drawn to this style of garment until Loes asked me to try one on at the boutique.  Instant change of heart!

I always take a few precut shirts to work on between big projects or when waiting for my turn to have Loes help or direct me.  I made 3 perfect tees to finish up my summer purchases at Michael Levine's in LA.

I bought a remnant of grey/teal tencel twill and made a second pair of Bilbao pants as well.

Not as productive as some years, but I am so pleased with the garments I did make.  Maybe I should add that I smashed a finger under my serger's needle bar when I accidentally stepped on the foot pedal while attempting to thread a needle.  Ouch.

I'm working for a few weeks so my sewing will be limited until Thanksgiving.  I just got a packet of Style Arc patterns so I may redirect for a while...