Holiday Haul Of Books - If I Win, You Win

This year I am participating in the Chronicle Books Happy Haul-idays contest.

It's wonderful, you can enter to win $500 worth of books from one of the best publishing houses! To enter, all I have to do is post my book wish list and designate a charity, in my case, the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The bonus for you is that by commenting on this post, if I win a randomly selected commenter will also win the same list of books. Free. So let me know what you think about my choices or what book do you wish was on the list.

Here is my list of Chronicle books that I would buy with $500:

1. Pattern Magic: Laurence King Publishing


2. Pattern Magic 2: Laurence King Publishing


3. Pattern Making


4. Fabric for Fashion: The Swatch Book Laurence King Publishing


5. Instant Gratification: Jewelry: Fast & Fabulous Projects


6. Knit Knack Kit: Simple Instructions and Tools for 25 Terrific Knitting Projects


7. Denyse Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects


8. Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design


9. Between the Bridge and the River


10. The Art of Pixar: The Complete Color Scripts and Select Art from 25 Years of Animation


11. Art of the Modern Movie Poster: International Postwar Style and Design


12. Winerd: The Wine Tasting Game that Crushes Grape Fears

My total is $487.70

Giveaway at Blue Gardenia!!

Do you need a great sewing book for reference or to use while learning to sew?

Well, Denise at the Blue Gardenia is having a giveaway for a copy of Singer's The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing*. Check the Blue Gardenia's blog here for more details.

Keep checking out the Denise's new Sewing Spaces series and you might see my humble space there in a few weeks.


* as recommended by Erica B

3. Jumper Dress - Butterick 4948

Pattern Description: Butterick 4948 - Loose-fitting dress has all-in-one pointed collar and band, front neckline slit, front and back yokes, extended shoulders, in-seam pockets, and top-stitched trim.
Pattern Sizing: Size 12 (bust=34, waist=26.5, hips=36) I made a straight 12, no alterations!

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, very much!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yup.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the idea of a dress that fits like an artist smock. However, the neckline is almost too short to get the dress over my head since they have you stitch the opening an inch above the yoke seam. I might have to take that stitching out or it will probably rip itself out eventually.

Fabric Used: 16-wale, 42 inch wide Blackberry Sew Classics corduroy from Jo-Ann Fabrics on sale for $6.99 per yard; Wrights Flexi-Lace Hem Tape.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I made two alterations: I redrew the collar to eliminate the curve and squared it off. I also reshaped the pockets to make them bigger because I value pockets that I can really use. Then I shortened the shorter View A, which originally was supposed to be 41.25 inches by eliminating 2.5 inches. However, I will not be wearing this dress with a belt so I may shorten it by a few more inches.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I will probably sew it again in a more flowing fabric. Hopefully the corduroy will release a bit more after washing, the skirt tends to stick out tent-like. I would use a better fusible interfacing on the yoke or no interfacing at all. Anything that was not sewn over stopped adhering after a few days and I'm not sure if it was really needed there.

Topstitching on the yoke and lavender lace trim on the hem

Conclusion: I like it, though now I realize I could have gone down a size. It's a bit maternity... However, if I did make it smaller I would have to lengthen the yoke, because I can barely work this dress over my head getting dressed. Any less wiggle-room and I could see some ripped seams.

So the count is 3 out of 4 mini-wardrobe items. There is only one more to go. Can I finish it this month? Stay tuned.

Yeah, It Didn't Happen...

but I did get more done on the dress and I even FINALLY took pictures of the most recent work I've done on the Colette Patterns Oolong dress*. So as long as there has been some kind of progress, I'm happy.

Good luck to everyone who made the Patternreview.com deadline! I can't wait to see all of the entries and vote.

*If you get impatient to see these before I get around to writing posts on them the pictures are here and here in my Flickr sets.

Mini-Wardrobe Contest Hitch or Salvation?

Okay, even though there were some adminstrative problems with the final date of PatternReview.com's Mini-Wardrobe contest I still got it even more wrong. I thought the deadline was Midnight last night, Tuesday!

But it didn't matter because about 4PM on Sunday I decided to give up on making the deadline. And guess what? I then did the most work on it that I'd done all week. I started on piece #3, the pullover dress. But that didn't matter because I still didn't have enough time to finish it and the vintage top, did I?

Well, now the contest deadline has officially been announced as Midnight Thursday.

Do I dare? I still don't have a storyboard or whatever they're called. I'm not that graphics handy actually. So does anybody have any ideas on how to do a storyboard, a tutorial maybe?

So...we'll see. Stay tuned.

2. Black Tee - New Look 6838

Pattern: New Look 6838 (reissued as New Look 6402)

Pattern Description: Knit tops with neckline and sleeve options.

Pattern Sizing: I originally cut a S (Bust=32.5-34, Waist=25-26.5) however, I tapered from the waist down to a M (Waist=28-30) .
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, after I made some alterations.

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

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I don't think I look my best in scoop or crewneck tops so I was very excited about the boatneck and v-neck options of this pattern.

Fabric Used: A medium-weight black knit overlock.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I found the boatneck almost too wide to allow a regular bra with straps.

The back was extra wide, enough that I had to pinch out almost an inch and a half and the neckline still sits off from the back of my neck. As it turned out, the reason was the pattern and their addition of an inch of width on the back pattern piece only. Why did they do that? How many of you are an inch wider in your back measurement than your front?

Way too much fabric!

The sleeve cap also had to be reduced, there was far too much ease in the sleeve and my first try looked like they were gathered puff sleeves. The second try (see photo) with a quarter inch shaved off the top curve worked out fine. In addition, I hardly had enough fabric to make sleeves so I ended up cutting them on the selvage so I could get more length and forgo hemming the sleeves.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I will probably move on to find another TNT shirt pattern even though I will try to alter this one. However, I would still recommend it to others because the neckline is lovely, but anyone trying this pattern should measure the neckline before they cut it out.

Conclusion: I may make this again after I use this book to correct and personalize the pattern with my measurements.

UPDATE: I took in the back even more, about 1/2 inch extra in the back seam from the neckline down and scooped the back out more. Will need to do a real sway-back adjustment next time though.

1. A-line Skirt - Built By Wendy (Sew U)

Pattern Description: A-line skirt from Sew U by Wendy Mullin, pattern was included in book.


Pattern Sizing: I made the Medium (sizes 6 & 8) straight from the pattern, no adjustments.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it did look like the drawing in the book.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Extremely easy to follow.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that the pattern fit without any adjustments.
Fabric Used: A thin wale black corduroy from my stash.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I made no changes to the pattern or in the sewing of the skirt. However, I did use Seams Great on all the raw edges because this fabric started to unravel. It wasn't till later I found that it also comes in black which would have been perfect for this project. Oh, well.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I will definitely make this skirt again. It is now my TNT A-line skirt pattern.

Conclusion: I was amazed how well this pattern fit me. I have quite a deep curve in my back below the waistline and this skirt fit it perfectly.

Worn with Simplicity 4077 and Simplicity 3835 (another Wendy Mullin pattern)

New Projects = Wardrobe Contest?

Okay, this past winter seemed to last so long that all this new warm weather is discombobulating. In my most recent wardrobe plan I still have a few cold weather garments to sew. I just hope there will be time left to get some wear out of them.

I know I said that I wasn't going to talk about my sewing projects until they were done, but since I've already made it halfway through this plan, I changed my mind.

It also happens that these four projects (two tops, one skirt, one dress) are being constructed at the same time as PatternReview.com's most recent mini-wardrobe contest and they sort of fit the requirements in that one of the tops could be worn under the dress and make four outfits. So my goal* is to finish them before the deadline. Once done, I'll review them and see if I should go ahead and enter. Below are the patterns and fabric used for each item:

New Look 6838

Item: A short sleeve boat-neck t-shirt. I bought this pattern years ago to make the v-neck t-shirt. I am hoping to find a TNT basic top pattern and hopefully this will be it. Done

Fabric: Black medium-weight interlock knit that I found in my stash. I had just enough to make a short-sleeved version of the boat neck top.

Butterick 2564

Item: The short-sleeve top from a recent vintage purchase of mine. I love cut-on sleeve tops, so easy and elegant. I adore the matching pleats on the top and jacket so I hope to make the entire suit one day. Done.

Fabric: The same red cotton twill that I am using to make my Colette Patterns Oolong dress. The fabric feels wonderful and has great body and drape. It also takes to pressing well.

Vogue 7008

Item: A-line skirt. I did not make the skirt pictured above; however, that is exactly what it ended up looking like. (I also just love the striped skirt in the middle!) My skirt was actually made using the Wendy Mullin book, Sew U. I made the basic A-line skirt and it fit perfectly, even the curve of the back fit me, sway-back and all! Done.

Fabric: Some black 21-wale corduroy that I've had in my stash for I don't know how long. I happened to have two identical lengths that I think I purchased to make pants. The skirt was cut from only one of the lengths so I could still make a top or another skirt with the other piece.

Butterick 4948

Item: A cap-sleeved pullover jumper, to be worn without a belt. I love the smock-like shape of this dress and the handy pockets. Done.

Fabric: A gorgeous purple/blackberry 16-wale corduroy I bought at Jo-Anns. It is just light enough to make a flowing dress and the pattern image is made in corduroy. Yes, I know, no imagination. Well, I originally looked for the fabric in a red-orange too until this color and a fire-engine red showed up.

* I know, why do I do this to myself!

Domino Giveaway Extended!

Hey, I've decided to extend the book giveaway deadline to Tuesday at Noon. So if you haven't left a comment on this post, go and do it now!

There's a Giveaway at SHELTERhome!

Still missing Domino magazine like I am?

Well, two lucky readers of my blog, SHELTERhome will receive a brand new copy of Domino's The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy.

Just click here and let me know in the comments if there was a particular Domino story that influenced a specific design purchase or project in your own home?

I'll be picking the winners on Friday. Good luck one and all!

Ha! I think the joke is on her.

Renovation Therapy is upset about the lack of traffic on her blog so she enlists me to tell EVERYONE who reads my blog that she has a contest going on.

I sure hope she told a lot of other bloggers.