Next Up On My Sewing Agenda

I have been in the cutting out fabric mood. I decided that during my upcoming 3-day weekend, I would sew two pieces of garments that I can wear together (top and bottom). The floral and butterfly print fabric will be made into Butterick 5216 – the gathered top without the front ties. The pale sea green fabric will be made into another pair of walking shorts, KS 2840. This might get me in the mood to do a future SWAP on PR.

I thought it would take me awhile to get used to wearing the longer shorts. You know what? I love them! They are really comfortable to wear. I think they look very stylish and hip for my 40-something age. After this 3rd pair of shorts, I plan on tracing out a pair of capris.

I am looking forward to a nice long weekend and practicing my stash reduction technique.

Another Sewing Update

You'll be so happy to know that this is my last post for today. I've had a productive day.

This afternoon, I ended up at G-Street in Falls Church. I bought some weft interfacing, hooks & bars, zippers for my future shorts/capris/pants, remaining cotton brocade print fabric that was left on a bolt (good thing I had my 25% off coupon), and two pieces of stretch cotton sateen printed fabric (scrollwork and butterflies). Everything I purchased was 30% off and the brocade was an additional 25% off.

I love the zippers that G-Street carries. They are YKK brand. They come in many colors and sizes. So, my 9" zippers ended up costing $0.77 each. Is that a bargain or what?

I was also able to get some sewing done. I am in the process of topstitching the waist band of my raspberry shorts. Then I need to add two hooks and eyes and hem.

I really need to do some more research on getting the perfect fit of my rear end. Now, I know what everyone goes through. I've already added a 1/2 inch to the crotch point and still not quite there. It's definitely better than my first pair. Back to my sewing books and research on PR.

But first, I need to finish topstitching my shorts before it's lights out at our house.

My Favorite Sewing Notions Organizer (used in my immediate sewing area)

I found this nifty Rubbermaid storage organizer at Staples late last year. I keep this organizer to the rear of my sewing machine. It has two cutouts on top to store my small scissors, seam gauge, marker, pencil, and miscellaneous items.

Under the fold down plastic lid, I store an extra pin cushion and spools of special threads.

There are 3 drawers where I store my: short spools of threads, Mettler threads, bobbins, extra SM feet, SM needles, buttons, and snaps

While I am sewing, I have have the tendency to scatter my tools/notions across my sewing table. When I am done sewing for the night, I quickly gather all my tools and notions store them in my organizer. When I am ready to start sewing again, it’s all in one location. Since my sewing time is so valuable, I don't want to waste time looking for things. And have you ever put something away in a safe place only to forget it later? This is also my safe place organizer.

G-Street Fabrics - 30% Sale

How could I forget to mention that G-Street is having a sale. Yes, they are having a 30% off most things sale. This sale runs through July 13th. Last weekend I was on the hunt for some stretch sateen and stretch denim fabric to make capris. I found what I was looking for...amazing. The fabrics are medium weight and I have already pre-washed them.

They are also having a 25% off one sale item coupon. You can find the coupon at their G-Street website.

Their online store is also offering the 30% off sale. Here's their G-Street Online site.

Next on my list of things to get is more lightweight weft interfacing, hooks & bars, 9" zippers (for the many more shorts/capris I will be sewing), Mettlers Metrosene threads, etc.

(Warning! I'm in a chatty mood this morning...be warned)

PIctures From Our Garden and My Next Sewing Project

I do not have any sewing pictures to share with you yet. I will get to that topic shortly. I thought I would take some non-sewing time and share some pictures of our front garden.

It is definitely Summer and we have many plants that are showing off their bright colors. This is a picture of our front curb garden that faces the street/cul-de-sac. Everytime I back out or come into our driveway...I get this wonderful view. So, one morning I did remember to take a picture.


It amazes me that bees don't seem to mind me taking pictures of them. We have all types of critters flying around our gardens. Besides bees, we have butterflies, moths, and a hummingbird or two visiting each day.



We have many daylilies in a variety of colors. Thanks to DH's good friend, who is a grower...he keeps sending over some wonderful plants.




And our live-in bunny who doesn't seem to mind my picture taking...



...she's just happy to be hopping from one garden to the next:



Now to my sewing topic. I've been thinking about sewing all week long. I am making another pair of shorts. This time I made my pattern adjustment (increase my crotch point by 1/2 inch to the back pattern piece) to the shorts pattern I reviewed recently. I also shortened the length of the shorts by an inch. My fabric is all cut out and pieces are interfaced and ready to sew. I can't wait to see how this version will fit. I am, again, working with a cotton twill fabric with no stretch. This time in a raspberry color! Don't worry...I've got some cool looking black fabric waiting to be made up as cropped pants. lol!

Oh, and I've been in the kitchen with DH this evening, preparing meals for our local SERVE.

Have a great weekend!

Kwik Sew 2840 – City Shorts…Completed

So, I now have pictures to share with you. Here's my "city shorts". I know they look a bit long (below my knee). I did not adjust the length of my shorts as I wanted to see how the basic fit would be straight from the pattern. The inseam length is about 10 inches.

I just love these shorts. The front pockets, the curved waist band, and the zipper application made these shorts fun to sew. I love Kwik Sew for their great pattern instructions and drawings.

The zipper is installed further in from the center front. That way you can't see the zipper at all. Even when I'm sitting down. I could have used a hot pink zipper with these shorts and you would never noticed. lol!

As I mentioned in the previous post, I had issues with “smiles” in the back of my shorts. Here’s a before and after picture. The before picture (left) represents the actual fit with no adjustments. You can see I have pinned the back seam to see what the fit would look like. On the right, is the after picture which includes the adjustments I made to the shorts. I re-sewed the inseams using 1/4 inch seam allowance. I sewed the back crotch deeper than the 5/8 inch seam. Once I got towards the back of my shorts, I tapered back to 5/8 inch seam allowance up along the back and through the waistbands. It does look a little better.

Sorry for the shocking rear end picture (left). DH was using my new camera and it must have been in "macro" mode with the flash turned up. lol! Well, I guess it helped that you all can see the rude details.

Here’s a picture of my back waistband. It’s nice to have a back seam that goes through the waistband area. Makes it easier if you have to take in or let out. I tried to make sure my seams matched up.





Here’s a picture of my front pocket with the topstitching details. It is true what some say, never stop topstitching while going around a curve. I kept an even sewing tempo going around the curves and created a smooth stitching curve. The edge of the pockets are also topstitched (double rows).

And I must not forget a picture of my zipper sewn into the center of my shorts. So, I didn't use hot pink after all. I went into my zipper stash (thank you...Vogue Fabrics) and found the perfect color. Of course, it was miles too long. After I sewed in my waist band to the top of my shorts, that's when I clipped the top of my zipper off.

I used my serger to finish most of the raw edges and seams. For the hem, I serged around the bottom edges of each leg. Then I pressed a 1 inch hem. I then pressed the serged edge into the hem. I topstitched around the hem.

I am pretty confident that I need to adjust my back pattern piece by adding to the crotch/inseam area. Any suggestions on how to get rid of the rest of the “smiles” would be greatly appreciated.

Blueberries in Our Garden

Nestled in the side garden is a blueberry bush. We had transplanted this lovely shrub almost 10 years ago. Actually, it was a pair of them but one had succumbed to mother nature. Okay, I really don’t remember what happened…it might have been competition with other plants/shrubs or lack of water or transplant shock. Our blueberry shrub is producing lots of wonderful blueberries for us.

We saved this blueberry shrub from human devastation. Here’s our story.

Many years ago, DH and I used to visit a wonderful blueberry farm in Northern Virginia. The owner gave us a bucket and told us to fill it as much as we could. We did and had fun. There were rows upon rows of blueberry shrubs with these dazzling fruits to be picked. Back then, I was considered to be a wonderful baker specializing in chocolate concoctions and had dreams of opening a bakery. Ooops…I digressed. Back then, I would make wonderful blueberry muffins and blueberry cakes with these fruits.

Several years later (10 years ago), I am working for a technology firm where the owner’s wife (my boss) mentions to me that a blueberry farm had been sold and they are clearing the land to build new homes. Oh no! She had received permission to dig as many blueberry shrubs as she could. This is where my DH (the horticulturist) comes in.

We thought we were going to dig 6-8 shrubs, giving half of them to my boss. DH and I arrived to what was left of the farm (a sad scene). We found an area that wasn’t bulldozed yet. Well, the 6-8 shrubs became only 4 shrubs. They were HUGE! DH wanted to make sure we had a good size root ball and even one shrub was quite heavy to load into the truck. Thank goodness my boss lived less than half a mile away from the farm. We gave her two (and she was extremely happy to have two large shrubs). Quality is better than quantity.

Our blueberry shrub sits proudly in our garden and we are thankful that it’s producing wonderful berries for us. Since I no longer bake (long hiatus), I add the blueberries with other fruits for juicing. We can tell that summer is officially here.

Status of Kwik Sew 2840 - City Shorts

I have finally finished my shorts. I finished sewing two pairs of hooks and eyes into the front waistband. Now, it's too late for me (after 10pm) to take pictures, but I will be posting some pictures over the next few days. Hopefully, a PR review will follow shortly.

Shannon...thank you for providing the appropriate description of View C, now known as "city shorts". I like that. Since this version is a wearable muslin, mine are actually a little bit longer as I made no adjustments to the length. My sewing goal was to see how these turn out straight from the pattern.

I will also share a before and after picture of my city shorts. The only issue I had was in the back/behind...I had "smiles". I made some adjustments which I will also share in a later post. My RTW shorts/capris have bigger "smiles". So, I'm happy with the end results and especially for my first try.

I am getting a sewing high from this pattern. I can see this could be a TNT pattern for me. I already have other fabrics lined up for different versions (lengths) of these shorts/cropped pants.

It's sleepy time for me...more later.

No More Elastic Waist Shorts/Pants for Me

Well, I finally did it. I took the plunge. I attempted my first pair of zippered shorts. It's still in the final sewing stages, but so far I like what I see and feel. It's not a perfect first pair of shorts, but looks be a wearable muslin.

And whatever happened to my elastic waist shorts/capris I was suppose to be making? Ahhhh, I am entitled to change my mind. lol!

I went through my pattern stash several times, looking for an interesting shorts/pants pattern. I had a specific pocket in mind...cargo type as I don't care for side seam pockets. The pattern had to have a front zipper. I kept coming back to my Kwik Sew stash. Here's the end result: KS 2840 - fitted cropped pants and shorts with a shaped, low cut waistband with side pockets stitched directly to the front. View C is perfect! Gotta love shopping in the pattern stash.

For my muslin, I used a cotton twill fabric. No lycra, no stretch. I wanted to see how the fit would be without any help from the fabric.

The love how the curved waistband and side pockets are sewn. I also love the zipper application. So far, it's looking pretty good and the waistband is sitting nicely below my waist. I really like the curved band.

You know...I feel like I have reached a new sewing level. I will post a picture soon...stay tuned for my new sewing adventure.

How Do I Trace My Patterns?

To go along with my previous post of my favorite tracing tools, I thought I would provide a simple tutorial on how to trace a pattern. This might be similar to what you already do or this might be completely new to some of you who don’t know where to begin.

First of all, I expand my cutting table to accommodate my cutting board…not fully extended because my sewing space is very small. I open my pattern sheet and lay it out on my cutting board. Sometimes, I leave my pattern sheet like this overnight (e.g. KwikSew) to give the paper time to flatten/relax.

I take my sketch paper roll and lay it over the pattern piece I want to trace. I place my weights over the flat area of the tracing paper and unroll until I incorporate the entire single pattern piece. In my example, it’s the front pattern piece of my shorts. I then cut the paper from the roll. I rearrange my pattern weights to make sure both papers (tracing & pattern) are flat.

I am ready to start tracing. I use my pencil to trace the outline of my pattern. I use my yardstick for most of the lines. Here, I show my small straight lines going around a curve. Then I go back and fill in the missing line by hand…producing a curve. A lot of times, I trace the whole curve by hand.


Next, I use my Sharpie Ultra Fine marker and mark my notches, grain line, shorten/lengthen lines, dots, circles, darts, pleats, etc. My own personal preference is to write the pattern name and number, pattern piece number, name of pattern piece (e.g. front, back, collar), size I traced, and any finished measurements (e.g. bust, waist, hip). I have a really good reason for writing all this pertinent information. Once I refold the original pattern sheet(s) and put it back in the envelope, I don't plan on taking it back out again. Here, you see that I've traced 3 pattern pieces on one sheet. Sometimes, I'll have enough room to trace other small pattern pieces on the same sheet.


I cut out my traced pattern pieces with my Fiskar paper scissors. I cut right on the outside edge of my traced lines. Here are examples of my pocket and front pattern pieces along with two other small pieces.

When all of my pattern pieces are traced and cut out, I will go ahead and make the necessary pattern adjustments (e.g. shorten the length). I found that Scotch Magic Tape works well with this paper.

I am now ready to place my traced pattern pieces on my fabric.

I will mention that this can be a time consuming process. Sometimes, I will spend one weekend day just tracing several patterns. That way, I am ready to go once I have the fabric selected. My sewing room receives natural light in the morning and so that is the perfect time for me to trace.

I have demonstrated this pattern tracing technique in my sewing class and my students thought this was one of the best learning experiences they had.

Happy Sewing!

Why Do I Trace My Patterns?

It all started with a simple Simplicity pattern 3 years ago. I cut out the pattern pieces to the size I thought I was, sewed up the top…and it didn’t fit and it just looked terrible on me. First frustration and not a good sign for a beginner. Back to Hancock’s and I am introduced to Kwik Sew patterns. Came home with new pattern in hand and fell in love with the sturdy pattern paper. What did I do? I take my scissors and cut out the pattern pieces with the size I thought I was. Fortunately, that top I made did fit me.

Then I was scratching my head. Expensive pattern, now cut out to a specific size. Can’t reuse for another size. Duh!

I did some research to see what others were using. I went to my local favorite stores to see what was available. I happened to stumble upon the Staedler paper at Staples.

With my second KS pattern, I taught myself to trace a pattern. Out of habit, I continue to trace all my patterns. Even the Big 4 patterns (and I dislike the pattern paper they use).

Why do I trace?
- I trace to keep the original pattern in tack
- I trace to make adjustments on the traced paper.

I have traced a lot of patterns and some of you are probably wondering...where do I put my traced pattern pieces? That will be another post for another day.

My next post will be on “How Do I Trace My Patterns".

Self Indulgence…Burda World of Fashion (BWOF)

After a few years of watching fellow sewers on PR whip up fantastic BWOF garments and outfits, I decided to take the plunge and order my first issue. I was anxiously awaiting my June issue when I received an email that the magazine was delayed another week. Okay, I have plenty of other things to do…like writing on my blog, organizing my room, etc. Finally, it arrived in this week’s mail from SewBaby.com. Poor DH didn’t see me for hours that evening as I was pouring over the magazine (pictures, drawings, and instructions) and understanding the layout of the patterns.

Will I try something from this June issue? You bet! After all, I have a lot of tracing paper to use. Now, I just need to figure out which garment to make.

I have to say I’m in awe of this magazine. I feel like I have reached a new sewing level and territory. I have ordered a 6-month subscription to BWOF.

I will definitely have a future post on BWOF…my findings and personal take on this magazine. First, I need to do a lot of absorbing.

My Favorite Tracing Tools (updated)

I have received some questions from fellow sewers on PR…what do I use to trace my patterns? Great question. Here are the basic tools I use: tracing paper, yard stick, 18" ruler, pattern weights, pencil & eraser, and a Sharpie marker.


For the tracing paper, I use Staedler’s sketch paper (on a roll). It’s an 8lb lightweight tracing paper that loves my Sharpie marker. I don’t have a problem with bleed through on this paper with my Ultra Fine Sharpies. It comes in two sizes (rolls). The roll shown in the picture is 18” x 50 yards and it’s the widest roll I’ve seen available. It’s a highly transparent paper and accepts pencil, ink, charcoal & felt tip markers. My only issue with this paper is water. Be careful when using this paper, not to get any moisture on it. This roll was about $15 at my local Staples.

To keep the tracing paper flat over my pattern paper I use my pattern weights. You can use other heavy items, like a stapler, small cans of sliced olives, metal washers, etc. I think you get the idea.

For tracing the lines, I simply use a pencil Crayola Colored Pencils. I found the Crayola Colored Pencils do not leave behind dust/grit. When I used the regular lead pencils...my hands and tools (e.g. white pattern weights) would get dirty. Not the case with the colored pencils.

For marking the pattern, I use an Ultra Fine Sharpie. I mark my notches, dots, squares, shorten/lengthen lines, grain lines, darts, pleats, etc. I also use it to write my pattern information, size, finished sizes, etc.

For tracing straight lines, I use my metal yard stick. You can easily use a wood or plastic version. I also have an 18” plastic ruler for drawing smaller lines. I prefer the metal ruler for it’s added weight, as I get less shifting/movement while tracing.

For tracing curved lines, I use nothing but my hand. I’ve gotten really good with drawing curves by hand. I think that’s related more to my drawing/sketching/painting experience. There are curved rulers available that can help you trace a curve.


I was out and about last night with DH and made a trip to our local Lowe’s. I found the Carriff Soil Separator Cloth. I bought the smallest roll (in width) they had: 24” x 300’. This roll was located next to the black drainage tubes that are used to help with drainage around the house. This roll was about $18. On Carriff's website...they do have a listing for Sewer's Cloth which has the same SKU number as the soil separator cloth. Interesting, huh? For the rest and future posts, I will refer to this cloth as "sewing cloth". I'd rather use a sew-friendly terminology. :)

DH who works in the plant nursery business, mentioned that he could get this cloth for me. I told him, let me try this out and see if I like it enough to get a humongous roll. lol!

I plan on trying out my new sewing cloth later today. Part of my test will be to find a writing tool that doesn't bleed on this cloth. I will post my findings and results later.

Stay tuned for a future post on "why do I trace my patterns".


** Update: I forgot three other tools that I use: a cutting board, Scotch (Magic) tape, and a good pair of paper scissors **

I have a foldable cardboard cutting board that I use over my wood cutting table. I use it to protect my table from nicks when I use my scissors to cut the tracing paper and fabric. Also, it protects my pins from dulling...the cardboard is softer than my wood table.

The Scotch tape is used when I need to shorten the traced pattern piece or when I need to add on to the tracing paper because the original pattern is wider than the tracing paper roll.

I have special scissors for cutting paper and other non-fabric items. I love using my Fiskars (the orange handle). Lets face it, after tracing so many pattern pieces you want a good comfortable scissor to use.


** Another update: Sketch/tracing paper **

I have two Staples in my local area. One store closest to my house carries the sketch/tracing paper. The other Staples (bigger store) does not. ??? If you can't find the Staedler’s brand, I remember seeing another brand (can't remember the name) at AC Moore and it also came on a roll. You just need to make sure the paper can take felt tip markers...meaning no bleed through.

Oh No...My Fabric Stash is Growing! (another post for today)

And growing...and growing. It's a disease. And it doesn't help that I get an email from Ann (Gorgeous Things) to remind to stop by and shop at her site. But you know what??? I love fabric shopping! And I love browsing through Ann's Gorgeous Fabrics site. Here's proof...I made another purchase. These are all cotton fabrics that I purchased from Ann. Yeah, I know...another black fabric, but this one is cotton sateen with some stretch in it. lol! I love flip-flop prints. I've been eyeing this fabric for some time. It's a lovely pink/white cotton pique fabric. There's also a blue mini-medallions cotton fabric. And finally, a crinkle cotton floral print...really light and lovely fabric. My order from Ann, took only 4 days to receive...that's been the average. That's fast!

I also received another package this week. This lovely group of fabrics came from Fashion Fabrics. These are all wonderful cotton lawn fabrics that I couldn't pass up. The fabrics feel wonderful and light. I almost forgot that I ordered these as it took awhile for the package to land in my mailbox. Was that 2 weeks ago? It doesn't matter. Aren't the fabrics luscious?

Do I know what I am going to do with all these lovely fabrics? Not yet. That's why I have an ever growing fabric stash. And if you noticed, I have been buying a lot of spring/summer fabrics. That's because my current fabric stash has a lot of knits (big time), wools, flannels, denim, cotton (quilt), and fleece (what was I thinking). Hardly any lightweight fabrics. So there you have it...my justification for my recent fabric purchases. lol!!!

Looks like I have a lot of pre-washing to do this weekend. Enjoy your weekend!

The Status of My Elastic Waist Shorts and/or Capris

Okay, I made a muslin out of this above ankle pants pattern. This Butterick 5000 pattern is correct, the pants are "semi-fitted". The size Small that I made were actually a bit too tight. So, what did I do? I moved on to another pattern. Don't worry, I haven't given up on this pattern. I just need to find one that fits and then go back and figure out my adjustments for B5000. That's how my mind works. No time for frustrations...just keep moving ahead and learning. lol!

So, onto this pattern Butterick 5044. I love this pattern...the drawings I see on the pattern envelope tell me a lot. I had a feeling I would have better luck with this pattern. The finished hip measurement is about an inch wider than the B5000 pants. I play it smart and decide to make the shorts in a muslin. You know, less fabric and quicker to make. Oh, I consider this to be a one seam shorts/pants pattern. There are no side seams.

The end result is...almost a good fit...in the front. The only issue I have is the back side is running shorter than the front side. Does that mean I have a bigger or non-standard rear-end?

Since my mind appears to be working a lot lately, I decided to take my Kwik Sew 3314 pattern (where did this come from? I'll get to that in a moment) and see if I can retrace the back part of the KS pattern over the this Butterick pattern. Basically, raising the backend (waist area). I'll let you know how that comes out.

So, this my 3rd attempt to sew pants. My first attempt was 2 years ago and it was with KS3314. That pattern fits me. I can't remember if I posted a review on that pattern. Back then, I didn't care for elastic waist pants and didn't pay attention to the fit.

Why don't I stick to a potential TNT pattern? I'm pushing my own personal bar and I really need to understand my own fitting/alteration changes. I've been avoiding making pants for awhile and I think I need to change.

Also, I've been sewing a lot of Butterick patterns lately. I really like the styles I see. That is what's pushing me to change.

Plus, this new learning experience will help me when I teach my basic sewing classes.

Please feel free to comment on any ideas or suggestions that you may have for me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

(Sounds like I'm getting all chatty again) lol!!!

Stay Tuned...

As you know, we all go through some "dry spells" where we are in the midst of tracing, cutting, & sewing and do not have much to post. Some of us are busy with summer activities (e.g. gardening, house maintenance, taking care of family time, and personal quality time) and have less time for the Internet. Oh no, less time for the Internet? lol!

I know some of you are visiting my blog regularly and I want to keep the interest going. I have started to write some of my future posts on the side. The future posts will include tools I use to trace a pattern, storage and organization, and some sewing techniques I use. To name a few.

As you know, I have been posting some of "My Favorite" notions. That will continue...until I have no more notions to talk about. lol!

So, stay tuned. Keep smiling! Keep sewing!

My Favorite Pins & Pin Cushion

Once again, it's time to talk about my favorite notions. The topic for today is Pins and Pin Cushions.

I have been collecting pin cushions for as long as I have been sewing clothes for myself. My first one was one that I made back in 2005 when I first started sewing...a heart shaped cushion. A few months ago, Gloria gave me one in the shape of a dress form. That one is really classy and is more for display purposes (and I'm still looking for some fancy "bling" pins to dress it up).

My "workhorse" pin cushion is this fancy one from Dritz. I love the size and the square shape. It holds a lot of pins. And notice the included scissors? Too cool! I ended up buying two of these at Joann's. One is used at my ironing station. The one in the picture is used at my sewing machine. This even fits in the wide harp area of my Viking Sapphire SM.

Now, what's a pin cushion without pins? These are my favorite pins. They are heat resistant glass head pins. I love them because they work with all the different types of fabrics I have used used so far (lightweight fabrics to home dec). I have ironed over them without any problems. They are 1-3/8 inches long. They are extra-fine with a ".5mm" nickel-plated shaft. These are made by Dritz. Other brands that I like and continue to use: Clover (red and white pins) and Collins (yellow pins). The key is the .5mm size shaft. They are very sharp.

While I was teaching my first sewing class, I was showing my students how to pin the pattern piece to their fabric. I borrowed their pins and oh my gosh! I almost had a fit...I had a hard time getting their pins through the fabric. At the next class, I brought in an extra box of red and white Clover pins that I had and gave them to use. Guess what?? They were happy campers. For them, it was a lesson well learned.

Happy Sewing!

More Fabric Finds - Post #3 (last post for today)

I could not help myself. Another fabric purchase. This time at Joann's. They were having a 60% off Spring fabric sale. I found some wonderful linen and cotton fabrics. The print fabrics (pink & blue, black & white, and the soft blue & white) are all cotton. The solids and the beige striped are all linens. The pink fabric in the middle is cotton pique.

I couldn't resist the black & white cotton shirting. It wanted to go home with me. :)

As Kat is cheering me on...I am making an effort to sew more with florals and other colors (besides black).

(If you see any fabrics that are loud and tropical...that's because I am also sewing some cruise-wear garments).

Happy Sewing! Stay cool...for those of you who are going through a heatwave....

Ankle, Cropped, & Capri Pants Lengths - Post #2

Now that "summer" has officially started early with the hot temperature (90s) and lots of humidity, I have been wanting to sew some summer pants. I had a bunch of pants patterns in my hand...wondering what length to make? Since I can't go by what the pattern suggests on the back envelope (yes, I am only 5 feet tall), I decided to thumb through my latest Talbots' catalog. Why Talbots'...you asked? Because Talbots' includes some finished garment length measurements with most of their outfits. I know I can go into their store and pull a size 6 Petite pair of pants off their rack and the length would fit me 85% of the time. Yes, I do love to window shop. lol!

So, here's what I have come up with for my personal preference on pants inseam length (give or take a 1/2 inch):

Long - 27-1/2"
Ankle - 26"
Cropped - 22"
Capris - 19"
Pedal pushers - 14"
Bermudas - 11"

As I start sewing and completing my pants, I will keep this updated.

What I Hope to Sew Next - Post #1

I have this pattern in my stash. I made the short sleeve cropped jacket late last year (posted on PR). I pulled this pattern out, in the hopes of making the cropped pants. Yes they are elastic waist, but I want to start making some cool pants for the summer. The pattern says these are "semi-fitted", above ankle pull-on pants. Looks like a winner to me.

I purchased this pattern recently for the cropped pants. Hint, hint...the black and white view D. I would definitely add the front pockets to this version. Here again, these are also elastic waist. These appear to have a little more ease than B5000 above. I think it's worth a try.

Since I am assuming the pants won't take too long to trace and sew, I am now contemplating my next top. I have two patterns (recently purchased) that I can't seem to put down. First up, is this gorgeous Butterick 4811. I saw the sleeveless top with the tie casing at JoAnn's on display...it was cute! I would nix the standing collar and go with the regular collar.

The other top is Butterick 5025. Sleeveless of course. I actually like both the top and skirt together. Another wing collar to tackle. Yes, this has a similar collar application like Butterick 4659...I just reviewed.

Now to figure out what fabrics to use...

Be warned...I think I am in a chatty mood today.

Butterick 4659 - Pink Floral Shirt is completed

My new shirt is finally completed. I sewed in the sleeves, the buttonholes and buttons last night. I tried it on this morning to take pictures. Guess what? It's too hot to wear right now. We are having a heatwave...90's and a bit humid. So for now, Susie-Q will model my new shirt.

I made this shirt in a size 10 with a finished bust of 38 inches and finished hip of 41 inches.

This pink floral cotton print is from my stash. Probably from G-Street Fabrics. The fabric is really soft.

I had fun sewing this shirt. It's rated as "fast & easy" and it truly was. There were only one area where I had to slow down my sewing. It was stitching the neck and shoulder area. This is typical for this kind of collar treatment. I have another shirt pattern on my to do list and I noticed it has the same collar application. This pattern does require a lot of hand-sewing (slip stitching). As you can see, it was well worth it.

Here's the different views on Susie-Q:

** Updated to show additional pictures and pertinent sewing information **


I wanted to show the inside details of my shirt. So, I put the shirt on Susie-Q, inside out. I serged the raw edges of the seams (e.g. princess and side seams) to give the shirt a nice finished look on the inside. And since the fabric is cotton, I wanted to prevent any unraveling of the fabric. After stitching the sleeves in with my sewing machine, I also went back and serged around the sleeve seams.


For the narrow hem, I serged the bottom edges of the shirt. I folded the hem up 5/8 inch and pressed. Then I would tuck the serged edge under and press again. I topstitched the hem. Here's a picture of the curved narrow hem (shirt is inside out):



Here's the inside neckline and shoulder area with the handsewn facings:



Here's a close-up picture of the wing collar:




Update: I finally got around to taking pictures of myself. Here I am posing in my new shirt. This is the correct shade of pink that you are seeing on me (the pictures above were taken with the flash set too high, sorry).

I have posted my detailed review on PR.

Lots of Hand Sewing

So, my B4659 pink shirt is requiring a lot of hand sewing the past few nights. I have been slipstitching the front facings to the princess seams and shoulder seams. Also hand sewing the back facing to the back seam. It is time-consuming, but in the end I am getting a nicely finished shirt on the inside. Oh, I also had to spend some time slipstitching the inside of my sleeve cuffs

I have also used my serger to finish the side seams. I stitched the side seams with my sewing machine and then went back and serged each seam edge to give it a finished look.

Tonight, I will tackle inserting and sewing the sleeves into my shirt. After that, hem the shirt and sew the buttonholes and buttons.

Happy Friday!

Butterick 5223 - Finally completed (2nd version)

I can't believe it took me this long, but I finished the jacket. I ended up using Dritz size 10 sew-on snaps instead of sewing the buttonholes. And yes, I also added 1-1/4" buttons to the front of the jacket to complete the look. Several mornings I would wake up at 5am to hand sew the snaps. It was the only quiet-type of sewing I could do without waking up the whole house. I know...it was only 3 sets of snaps...but I'm a bit rusty with the hand-sewing. I wanted my stitches to look neat. And was I really wide awake at 5am??? lol!

I also took in the side seams to give the jacket a slimmer look.

So far, this is my favorite version of this jacket. I think the bright and cheery fabric has a lot to do with it.

Progress on my shirt

My pink floral shirt is coming along nicely. I made a lot of progress last night. I was able to stitch the front and back facings into the shirt. It needs a good press.

For now, the main part of the shirt is on Susie-Q...until tonight when I tackle the sleeves and split cuffs. I am learning to sew in stages (versus sewing for hours on a weekend). Thank goodness for the brighter June evenings as the sun doesn't go down until around 8:30pm. This allows me to have atleast 1-1/2 hours of sewing time after dinner.

I did take some interim pictures, but decided not to post. I want it to be a surprise. My attempt to sew something with light colors. This shirt is light and cheery and will definitely stand out in my closet (among my black pants and my black tops). :)

Butterick 5216 - Blue/White Floral top

I finished the top this morning and have been wearing it around the house. It is very comfy. I did run to my local Hancock's as they were having a "Grand Re-Opening" sale. Can't beat their $0.99 pattern sale...Simplicity, McCall's, AND Butterick. Ooops...I am digressing...sorry. I didn't tug or fidget with the top while in my vehicle or in the store. So, it's the perfect summer top for me. And better yet, I did not worry about my bra strap showing. It does peak out a bit where the tie comes out of the casing. Better there than on the shoulders.

While at Hancock's, I picked up some nice rayon fabrics to use with this pattern. I think it will drape nicely and my bow won't be so frumpy.

Now, on to my next Butterick project...the shirt with flounce sleeves.

Happy Sewing!

Two Butterick patterns in the works

This is Butterick 4659. I had previously posted this pattern on my to do list and I am finally going to make it. I have traced view A (purple top in the drawing) and the fabric pieces are already cut and ready to sew. I am making a muslin in a size 10. The finished bust is 38 inches. This looks to be semi-fitted. The muslin I selected is a light pink/off white/pale yellow/rose colored floral cotton (soft) fabric from my stash.

I have read the previous PR reviews on this pattern and will watch for the gotchas. It appears the collar might be an issue, but I have worked with a similar KS pattern and believe I can get through this pattern without any problems.


This cute pattern is Butterick 5216. I am in the process of hemming view A, the gathered top with the ties in the front. Does this look familiar? Yes, I have done a similar version using KwikSew 3610. The KS pattern uses front and back facings to incorporate a casing for the tie. This Butterick pattern uses a fold over (casing) and stitch method.

A big plus with this Butterick pattern is the option to have the tie in the front of the top instead of the side. All it means is stitching a buttonhole in the front. Another plus for this pattern is the wider shoulder strap created from the wide tie. I have tried this top on with a regular bra and the tie straps does a decent job of hiding my bra straps. You will have the opportunity to see that when I post my review on PR. So, I already give this pattern a "I highly recommend" and "easy to sew" ratings. A bargain if you can get this pattern on sale for $0.99 (like I did).

Happy June!