Carla Fredd

Contemporary Romance Author

Sewing

Welcome to 2008

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It’s 18 days into the New Year and it didn’t begin like I wanted it. I’ve got 347 days to get it the way I want it.

 

Sewing

This year, I will learn how to do FBA, match stripe fabric, sew with a plan (SWAP).

1. I’ll start with the FBA first. I have the muslin fabric (striped hey, I can multi-task). It think I’m going to use the McCall’s M5522 view B blouse.

2. Sewing with striped material. See above.

3. Sewing with a plan will be fine. I’ve selected the patterns already. McCall’s M5522 view B blouse; Simplicity 3800 view D twist top; Vogue V8424 view C skirt and Butterick 3134 view B skirt.

Last night, I finally assembled the cutting table I bought from Jo-Ann’s during the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a Sewing Essential brand table. I will put it to use this weekend.

I believe I will acquire a serger this year. I don’t know what kind but I’ll get one.

Knitting

There are a few items that I want to knit this year.

1.  Nautilus hat – I’ve knitted this hat and frogged it because it was too big. I made a large. I’m currently making a size medium. I’ll probably finish this project by the end of January.

 

    2.  Jocelyn top. I’ve knitted the front and back. It needs to be blocked and I need to learn how to crochet the neckline. This will be a spring project.

    That’s the plan for 2008. I also plan to blog more often. It makes me accountable.

    Shopping the day after Thanksgiving

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    For the first time in my life, I got up at 4am to go shopping. I drove to Joann’s for stuff and not Christmas presents. Okay, maybe Christmas presents to myselfSmiley Face

    Here’s part of my shopping spree.

    Part of the shopping stash! Needles

    More notions Tape

    • 7-Schmetz Machine needles for my Brother 6000i
    • 3-Olfa Rotary blades replacements
    • 2-Waist Shaper interfacing
    • 1-package of seam binding
    • 1-package of button
    • 1 package of tracing paper
    • 1-package of seams great
    • 1-tape measurer
    • 1-Circular knitting needles

    But the prize and worth the early morning shopping is this…Cutting Table!

    Cutting Table

    Woo-hoo! Yet another item check off my list.
    Revised Sewing Wish List

    A few months ago, I published my sewing wish list. It has changed.

    Here’s my list of sewing items to buy

    1. Rotary cutter mat (big one to go on cutting table)
    2. Pattern weights of some kind
    3. Dress form
    4. Serger (I’m thinking Brother 1034D or Not I’m still looking)
    5. Sewing table
    6. Cutting table
    7. Clapper
    8. Subscription to Threads Magazine (I’m mailing it off today!)

    I’m tall and cutting is hard on the back now. JoAnn’s has a cutting table on sale for $49.99 and Erica B bought one. I got this all for 50% off non-sales items and 20% off of the total price!

    The circular knitting needle is for a project I’ve started. It’s the Nautilus Hat. The pattern is here. I’m using Blue Sky Worsted yarn.

    Nautilus Hat yarn

    I’m happy! Now, back to work for me.

    Opps, I lied!

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    In the last post, I said I’d purchased the last patterns for 2007. Well, I lied. I bought two Simplicity patterns this week. Yes, they were on sale at Hancock Fabrics. The patterns are Simplicity 3678 and Simplicity 3790.

    Simplicity 3678 - Threads Simplicity 3790

    images from the Simplicity Patterns Co. Inc.

    I just love the knit dresses featured in the 3678 pattern. With the right fabric, I could make dresses for all seasons. I will probably make View B.

    I selected 3790 after seeing it on the Sewl Sista #1 blog. I can’t stand the top the model is wearing on the pattern envelop View A. I don’t like Views B or C either. I really like Views D, E and F. I’ll probably make View D.

    Okay, that’s it for now.

    Last Pattern purchase 2007

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    I went to Hancock Fabrics and bought a few items. One of them is the very last pattern I plan to buy this year. It’s McCall’s M5142 Palmer/Pletsch The Perfect Jean. It was on sale for $0.99. I’m done with patterns now I need to sew.

    Jeans M5142

    I also went to Jo-Ann’s and found basting thread. I don’t know why it’s so difficult to find this but I have it now. Here’s a picture of everything I purchased today.

    Shopping, shopping

    It’s not alot but it’s everything I need to complete six items on my SWAP for Fall/Winter. I’m not sure how to use the elastic on the knit twist top yet.

    Oh, I haven’t uploaded the storyboard for SWAP. Well, here’s the first draft of it. I haven’t found fabric for the blouse yet but I’ll keep looking.

    Fall/Winter SWAP storyboard

    I finally finished hemming the skirt. I’ll post pictures later this week.

    On Hold

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    Everything craft related has taken a backseat. Not that I haven’t wanted to sew like the wind but work and life has interfered. I think I’m going to do some heavy sewing during the holidays. That’s not stopping me from planning my sewing when I have time 🙂

    I’m developing my Sewing with a Plan (SWAP) for the winter. So far I’m making:

    2 twist tops Simplicity 3800 view D with knits fabric in geometric and solid beige.

    Twist Top pattern & fabric

    2 pleated skirts Vogue V8424 view C. I’ve made this pattern. Okay, it’s not technically finished because I need to hem the skirt. I promise to post when I hem it this weekend. I’ve purchased a brown twill and grey mystery fabric from Wal-Mart.

    Pleated Skirt fabric and pattern

    2 A-line skirts Butterick 3134 view B. Tonight, I purchased stretch suede (2yds, 44” wide, 97% polyester/3% spandex) in a warm caramel and Buttersuede (2yds, 60” 100% polyester) in black. These fabrics were on sales for 50% off at Hancock Fabrics…yay!

    A-line Skirt black

    While I was at Hancock Fabrics, I bought a coat pattern Butterick B4875 for $0.99. You gotta love the $0.99 pattern sales. I plan to make view C at some point.

    Butterick Coat

    I also purchased Dritz 2 Vue-Thru Press Cloths which was on my list of sewing wants.

     

    I don’t believe I’ll be purchasing more patterns anytime soon. I’ve got plenty of stylish patterns now. I going to adapt Carolyn’s philosophy on patterns which is find a tried and true pattern for a garment (skirt, pants, jacket, top, etc.) and use it with different fabrics and trim to create a new look.

     

    My goal is to become a good at this sewing thing.

     

    Sewing Pattern Database

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    Didn’t do actual sewing today but I did something sewing related. I created a database of my sewing pattern in Access. It was pretty easy really. I’d created a spreadsheet in Excel about a month ago. It didn’t dawn on me to put it in Access until I read sewl sista #1’s blog entry. Duh!

    I’ve decided to line my skirt. The fabric is thin and stretchy and I think sewing a lining would make me feel better about wearing it. I should finish the skirt tomorrow after I buy the lining. Yesterday, I went to Gail K’s and bought new fabric for the next version of the skirt.

    Plaid fabric

    I’d better figure out how the match plaids.