Working The MoJo

Sorry, it's been so silent over here. Amazingly, life is still busy to me.

Sewing has been done this past week in 30 minute segments. My goal for this weekend is to finish that Alexander Henry dress (perfect for the current weather), cut out another dress, complete another wood bead necklace I designed last week and clean at least one room in my apartment so well that I would actually let a guest see it.

Catch up with you later!

What's On My Plate...

I loved sewing up the Scout tee, so easy, so quick and now I have a go-to t-shirt pattern.

I hope to adapt that pattern to create the two styles above.

• In eyelet: Raise the neckline and change to bateau, perhaps have a button and loop closure at back. Shorten the shirt body and lengthen the sleeves to a touch past my elbows.
• In knits: Trace pattern 1 to 2 sizes smaller and shorten the original sleeves by 1-1/2 inches.

Eventually, I want to purchase one of the great Art Gallery prints we have at work to make into a Grainline tee. Their fabric is the softest* of the quilting fabrics we sell besides the Alexander Henry lawns.

I also think some of the batiks or aboriginal prints in stock would look great in the Tiny Pocket tank. Or this incredible Ikat at eQuilter!

Since I have so much of that brown print fabric left I'm going to use it for a few more wearable muslins; the Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank and this free french blouse pattern from Advantages magazine that's been everywhere on Pinterest.


Flea Market Fancy Posie in Turquoise

For the french blouse I want to finally use my Denyse Schmidt yardage plus make a detachable neck tie for it too.









Coming up soon: My new shift dress made from New Look 6939. I just have to get it hemmed and then photographed!

*Must be the 100% Pima Cotton?

5. Modern T-Shirt - Grainline Scout Tee #31002

Pattern: Grainline Studio Scout Woven Tee #31002

Pattern Sizing: Neck, shoulders to underarm in size 8, rest in size 10.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very much.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? It is a simple idea but in a modern shape; interesting and still an easy and fast sew. I loved the 1/4" hems at neck, sleeves, and hem. They made the shirt seem very delicate.

Fabric Used: Brown and cream quilting cotton in a homespun-like print, from my late aunt's stash.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I made no changes but next time I think I will go down a size, at least in the shoulders.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I will make this again, perhaps in more flowing fabrics and also in a knit, similar to below.

Petal Window Tee

Conclusion: After seeing this made up in a liberty print and in a red wool crepe, I just had to try it. It's definitely a design that could look very different when made in various types of prints and weights of fabric.

Images: my own photos, Anthropologie

The Sewing Begins, Anew

Yup, I'm still here. It's just slow-going right now.

Doesn't look like me, does it?

However, I have cut out and stitched together my Grainline Scout Woven Tee in the Holly Hobbie-like fabric at right that I received when cleaning out my late aunt's house. It may have been hers or another relative as it was found in the cinder block shed behind the house along with a sewing machine* and some sewing notions. I also acquired buttons, zippers, and a Singer buttonhole attachment but it's in a sorry rusted state. Not sure if I can clean it and make it work.

Lovely, right?

I will keep you up on how the tee goes, it's a very easy make, I'm at the neck binding part. I was extremely inspired by these two versions created by the pattern maker, who is also the designer of Hound. Also, since I'm supposed to be participating in her Handmade Wardrobe project, I thought I should include one or two of her patterns, specially since they're so cute.

*no idea what model/make, it was already gone by the time we got to the shed.

Long Time, No See - Wrap-Up

Wow, I didn’t know this but when you take a break from your blog it’s really hard to start back up again. There’s suddenly so much to write about but you feel too lazy to type out all of the posts that are forming in your head. So, I’m going to start with a bullet point run-down of what’s been going down, you dig? Then later I’ll flesh out a few points into their own posts, ok?

Let’s go:

Received my diploma and hopefully, will never step foot on campus again, if I can help it.

Have been working every Sunday at the part-time job. Loving it, but it takes a sewing day away from me. Everything must now be done on Saturday.

Participated in Race For The Cure in D.C. on June 12 in the most glorious weather.

Visited the National Museum of the American Indian. Great tour and a truly gorgeous building, infinity pond and locally-sourced indigenous garden.

Used the unfitted Komen race tee shirt to try out my possible TNT customized knit tee shirt pattern. It still needs some work on the back armhole.*

Used the last of my Etsy money to purchase Grainline’s Scout Woven Tee because my woven tee shirt pattern wasn’t working out. I also got her Tiny Pocket Tank pattern. Can’t wait to try it out.*

Have two projects cut out and ready to sew, New Look 6939 (dress) and Vogue 9745 (pants).*

Contemplating my Vogue 7714 duster coat and it's massive amount of ease, broke down and used an online sale to purchase two new contenders, New Look 6656 and New Look 6270 that have more reasonable 4"-6" of ease in bust and hips along with a back seam to take care of sway-back issues. Muslins forthcoming, nearer to fall.

Coming up:

A mega-sale in my Etsy shop, Metamorphpursuit!

Some stash-busting quick projects. (see Grainline bullet point above)

Details on my up-coming beginner quilt class.



*Expect an individual post.