Still haven't sewed, but I do have updates.....

On MLK Day, my Grandma B turned 80!
There was a huge family celebration at her house in South Carolina and I was so happy to join everyone.   I can't believe the entire weekend - the only pictures that I have are of me wearing things that I made (on second thought - I CAN BELIEVE THAT).  You know I need pictures for my blog.

Really, that's my lead in - because it's the 23rd day of January and I still haven't turned on my sewing machine..... OMG!  I had so many great plans that I just haven't had the opportunity to get started on.  I did get a chance yesterday to pre-treat some fabric and on Monday night my mom and I worked through the fitting issues on two of my current projects.....

Although, I have some pending commitments for the next few weekends - I'm also looking to get back to my regular work schedule, so I'm sure I'll have more time going forward to get some sewing done.  So, here are my *New Sewing Plans*...

To Be Completed
Write a review - S1885 - When I finished this dress, I never wrote a review for the pattern.  I like writing reviews and having 1 central location where I can see all of the patterns that I have tried.

Fabric Samples - I need to organize my fabric samples and post on it...
Projects in Progress
V8541 - When I get back sewing - this project is on the top of the list.  I want to get this pink skirt (and, hopefully a jacket) finished before the weather changes for good.

V1250 Dress - I've been able to get this dress fitted to my shape and now I can finally finish it!  I've taken out a total of 3 inches from each side and now the dress fits perfectly (well, it only basted) when I try it on.

NL6757 - I was able to pin up the halter pants on my mom to get an idea of the fit.  I may decide to get a different zipper - I was going to use black for me, but I'll try to find a pink zipper that matches the fabric for mommie.  I need to read / watch you tube on inserting zippers. 

Brand Spanking New Projects
NL6130 - I want to make the sleeveless peplum top (View C) and the zippered skirt.  I have a few different cuts of cotton fabric and now, I just need to decide which colors I want to work with to achieve my desired look.  I will be making the shirt in February - depending on my time and progress before the 1st.  I will start by making the skirt.

V7975 - Jacket using the pink and white fabric.  Originally, this is something that I wanted to have completed by now, but my life has gotten in the way. 

Infinity Scarf - I don't have a pattern for this, but I saw a great tutorial.  Once, I'm able to get to this - I'll be sure to post a review of the tutorial and I'll show some pictures.

Hopefully, now that I've finished year end close at work and I'm back home from visiting with family - I can get to my sewing plans

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Inspiration from St. John

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Inspiration from St. John

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Thanks so much, L!

 

I've been gone for too long...

Okay, technically I didn't go anywhere.... Well, except work (days, nights & weekends), but it feels like I've been gone for such a long time.  Now, the worst part of year end close is almost nearly done (only, almost nearly - yikes!).  As it is, I'm 14 days into the New Year and I haven't turned on my sewing machine once!  Hopefully, I'll be able to work on something tonight after work.

 

During the last month, Lynn of You Sew Girl nominated me for the Lovely Blog Award.   Unfortunately, between deadlines at work, holiday festivities, and finishing all of my 2012 UFOs (and, I had a few - see Finishing What I Start), I didn't have time to respond. 

 

Thank you so much, Lynn, for the honor.  I always feel like the happy noises I make in the process of sewing is reward enough, but then you went and upped the ante! 

 

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.  Thanks again, Lynn!
2. Add the One Lovely Blog Award/The Very Inspiring Blogger Award to your post.
3. Share 7 things about yourself.
4. Pass the award on to 10 other bloggers that inspire you.
5. Include the rules.
6. Inform your nominees.

Seven Things About Me:

1. I love making lists!  Once, a year - I write a list of 100 things that make me happy.... Making lists is almost always number 1.
2. It's hard for me to cut (or, draw) in a straight line.  Ha-ha! I already know what you're thinking.
3. I love making plans and organizing.....
4. Most of my blog posts are released at 8:00 a.m., but they are normally prepared between 1 and 5 a.m. I always schedule them for 8, so I have a chance to read them after I had coffee to make sure I'm making sense.
5. My life (well, really my stuff) is either totally organized (once, I have a system I keep it going) or totally unorganized (that reminds me I need to do something about all the beauty products I have under my bathroom sink).
6. There are 2 days a year that I always schedule or request off - March 11th (my birthday) and August 28th (my radiation anniversary).
7. I end my blog posts with "Needles Up" because when I was younger Grandma A always had to remind me to lift the sewing machine needle.

  I still need to nominate 10 bloggers, but I'll do that in a separate post.  That's all for now!

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Inspiration from Cato

I need to find a pattern to match this shirt. 

I love this look!

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Challenge 1: Sew ReInvented Audrey

A few months ago - I organized my sewing space. And, much to my own surprise - it's still organized. Currently, I'm using a 3-drawer plastic organizer that holds my fabric (inside the drawers), notions and patterns (on top in fabric covered shoe boxes).

Sew ReInvented Audrey - Organized Fabric, Pattern & Notions

Patterns - all patterns are organized by Pattern company and number (Vogue 1st, all others alphabetical).  I haven't really tried many patterns, so I'm going to try more patterns before I decide to get rid of any that I have.

Fabric - all fabrics are folded up inside the drawers. I use 3x5 index cards and double sided tape to keep an accurate list of what's inside each drawer. The cards list the color and type, amount (yardage), size, and whether or not it's been pre-treated (i.e. Purple Knit 2 yds (60) <P>). I don't put new fabric in the storage container unless I mark it. If I take fabric out, I mark it when I put it back in.

Fabric List from Drawer 2

Fabric List from Drawer 3

Here's my fabric:
Knits: Double - 2 colors, 4 yds (60), Crepe - 1 color, 2 yds (52)
Tweed: 2 colors, 4 yds (60)
Cotton: 3 colors, 8 1/2 yds (45), 1 print, 1 yd (60)
Polyester backed Satin: 3 colors, 4 yds (60)
Suiting: 2 colors, 6 yds (45), 3 yds (60)
Crepe Georgette: 1 color, 3 yds (58)
Brocade: 1 color, 1 1/2 yds (52)
Shirting: 1 color, 2 yds
Vinyl (leather look skirt): 1 color, 1 yd

**I bought practically 20 yds of fabric on Black Friday with the intention of sewing more of my own clothes in 2013.

I'm also posting this on my blog along with pictures.

Needles Up,
ReInvented Audrey


ReInvented Audrey playing with the web cam

Inspiration from St. John

Maybe, I need to add - make a formal dress to my 2013 goals or at least a red dress. 

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

I Finished What I Started - Update 1/3/2013

Happy Birthday Mommie!

All updates are in italics..... I'm really proud of the progress I made in working to finish the projects that I started in 2012.  And, now that I've made space in the sewing studio - I can start working on the next projects on my list.


* Pink Pants from V8541 - finish the hem on 1 pant leg. (Really, all that's keeping these pants from being done is one pant leg?) Completed 12 / 1 / 12 - I still need to take pictures.... And, I have put them on at least 3 different times to show friends. LOL! 12/26/12 - Here's a picture from a hanger.

*Purple Jacket V8541 - finish the sleeves and the hem. 12/17: Still in progress - I hemmed the sleeves per the pattern directions and they are too long. Ha-ha! Oh, yeah! This is my first jacket / shirt project. On the sleeve hem, I used one of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine (thanks, PR all the chatter about the Brother PE500 giveaway, had me thinking about embroidery). The sleeves are lined up, basted and pined - ready for the next step. 12/19 - WOW! This jacket is taking a lot of time.... I spent 1 1/2 hours this morning. I sewed the sleeves in (okay, so you can see a little bit of the ease stitching, ha-ha!) and it's near perfect. I did the pressing prep work for the hem.... Just the collar and finishing the hem needed. OMG! 12/23/12 Since, I had to work on Saturday - this afternoon was my only chance to get busy finishing this jacket - and, I did just that. IT IS FINISHED. I'm so excited - I hope the weather holds up, so I can show it off, I mean wear it to work tomorrow. See Purple Passion - My First Jacket

* Tweed Skirt V8541 - finish the hem on the tweed and the lining. 12/17: Laid out on the cutting board with everything needed to complete this project. 12/24: Back to this project.... I tried it on and I've decided the right length for the hem. I've found a part of the bottom in the back that needs a strip of interfacing added to it before I can hem the fashion fabric. Trying to decide if I should use the hem tape... I've re-organized the list for completion. 12/25: Added interfacing. No Hem tape. Finished Hem.... IT IS FINISHED.  See Look Before You Leap


* S1885 Dress - After the fiasco with the collar, I never picked this dress back up. I need to re-visit and see what needs to be done to complete it. 12/17: I also placed this project on the cutting table. I looked at it - I also need to finish the hem.I need to rip out the current collar - re-cut it and start fresh. Now, that I've finished the collar on the jacket - I see where I went wrong. 12/24: I ripped out the entire collar. I will re-cut the pieces and interfacing and start fresh. I went through the instruction sheet - and, I found the problem (**confusing instructions**). 12/25/12: Decided to use the pieces that I had and an add on piece that was missing. This is a sweatshirt alternative for the weekends.... The top of this dress is too big anyway - so, I took in about 4 inches in the collar by adding additional gathers in the front, sleeve cap, and back. I'm still having a hard time with the Simplicity instructions, so I may just do it the Vogue 8541 way - putting the interfacing on top, so that it will lay down.  12/29: Before going to work this morning (yes, on a Saturday) - I worked on the collar of this dress.   I just  need  to finish  the hem on this dress.  12/30: I finished the hem - and, this dress is finally FINISHED.  I still need to write the review, but I probably won't get to that until next weekend.

* Print Dress from V1250 - make a decision on the hem, and move it from the UFO stack to the closet. 12/17: This project is laying on the cutting table. I will likely finish this one last - I'm not going to be able to wear it for awhile.  12/30: I wanted to finish the hem and be totally finished with this dress, but when I tried it on - it's a disaster.  Okay, it might not be that bad.  The top part fits great over my breasts.  But, the rest of the dress hangs like a bag on my body.  I tried to take it in an inch on each side - and, it's still super big and baggy.  I'll probably wait until my mom comes in a few weeks and have her pin it on me (she used to sew when I was little).  After trying to make this dress work for over an hour - I have decided that I need a dress form.  This dress is an official Project-in-Progress.

* Pink & White Skirt V8541- re-cut missing piece and finish the skirt. 12/17: I took the fabric out and it's on the cutting table. I'll be able to cut the missing piece - one evening this week after work.  12/30: Since, I haven't gone back to this dress - I'll leave it off of my list for 2012.  I only have part of it cut out.  At least, this will be an easy project that can get my New Year of sewing off to a good start.

* Pink Jumpsuit NL6757 - I'm not going to be able to wear it, but I will be giving it to my mom. I meant to get her to try it on when she was here in November, but it completely slipped my mind. I still need to complete the finishing steps on the halter top, insert the zipper, and finish the hem. I won't be able to finish these things until she visits in January.  12/30: This is an official Project-in-Progress.


Needles Up,
Always Audrey

2013 Goals & 2012 Reviewed

2013 Goals (listed in no particular order):

1. Learn how to Make a FBA (Full Bust Adjustment)
2. Purchase a Dress Form
3. Make 18 - 24 Wearable Garments (about 2 per month)
4. Since, my size has changed - find a new TNT (Tried N True) pattern for skirts & pants
5. Make a LBD (Little Black Dress)
6. Learn how to insert a zipper
7. Make a shirt

Highlights of 2012 Completed Garments - Sew ReInvented Audrey

My goal was to make at least 12 wearable garments during 2012.... And, here are my totals:

Total Completed Projects - 12 (well, really 11 - see the biggest success & failure of 2012)
Total Projects-in-Progress - 2 (Vogue 1250 & New Look 6757) *I'll have to post about my V1250 disaster.

Projects by type (only completed projects):
Jacket - 1
Dress - 3
Skirt - 5
Pants - 3

Projects by Pattern Company (all projects attempted):
Vogue - 10
Butterick - 2
Simplicity - 1
New Look - 1
Mimi G's Pencil Skirt Tutorial - 1

Fabric on Hand 12/31/2011 - 7 yards
Fabric Purchased in 2012 - 39.5 yards (**Black Friday purchases not included - that fabric was for 2013)
Fabric Used in 2012 - 28.5 yards
Fabric on Hand 12/31/2012 - 18 yards (okay, can you tell that I work in Accounting - OMG!)

Total Spending (Fabric, Books/Magazines, Notions, Patterns & new Sewing Machine): $493.35 ($41.11 per month)

2012's Biggest Success & Failure - Butterick 5672 (Gray dress in collage at top)
This is my biggest success because it was the first project that I worked on this year.  Of course, in my typical style - hence, it is also my biggest failure - I totally jumped in before I even knew what I was doing.  Needless to say, I started this dress with the wrong fabric, the wrong sewing machine needle, the wrong thread (you mean, there's a difference between cotton & polyester)....With all of that - I did somehow manage to finish the dress.  Oh, yeah - I forgot to mention - it's way, way too short.  That didn't stop me from wearing it 3 times (ha-ha!  I made it, I love it), but it's troubled.

2012's Most Used Pattern Vogue 8541 (Jacket, Skirt & Pants)
Of the 10 times I used a Vogue Pattern in 2012 - 8 of those times it was Vogue 8541 (1 Jacket, 4 Skirts, 3 Pants).  There's no greater feeling than knowing when you pick up a pattern that 1) it will fit and 2) it will go together easily because you've done it so many times before.  I didn't really branch out to try my pattern different ways, mostly I just used different colors or fabrics and I was very satisfied with the outcome each time.

2012's UFO - Butterick 5664 (Pink Dress, no pictures)
There's only 1 project that I consider an UFO for 2012 - Butterick 5664.  It's a See & Sew Pattern for a dress.  I was attempting to make it in a Pink Polyester Crepe.  9 Pattern Pieces (for fashion fabric and lining) - this was my 2nd project of 2012, my 3rd sewing project.  Total Fail.  I did use some of the fabric to make my pink skirt (V8541), and to cover the boxes that hold my notions & patterns in my sewing studio.

2012's Most Complicated Vogue 8541 Jacket & Vogue 8541 Tweed Skirt
Jacket - This was just the most complex project that I worked on this year, but it was a jacket.
Skirt - This was complicated because I didn't  know that I needed to plan first (you need to interface tweed edges so that they don't fray).  I knew I wanted a Tweed skirt.  I could see me wearing a Tweed skirt in my mind.  My real life skirt and the image in my mind match up perfectlu, but, the fabric started fraying even when I only looked at it.

2012's Most Worn Vogue 8541 Pants (Black Polyester Crepe)
I wore these pants into the ground!  To work, to Church, hanging out with friends, running errands, everywhere.  If they were lined pants, I would even wear them now.  As it is, I'll have to wait until it starts to warm up.

2012's Biggest Surprise Purple Scarf
I learned how to crochet and I made a scarf!

2012's Completed Projects

Black Skirt - Polyester Crepe - V8541

  Pink Skirt - Polyester Crepe - V8541

Purple Skirt  - Polyester Crepe -V8541

Black Pants - Polyester Crepe - V8541

Red Pants - Cotton Blend - V8541

Black & Purple Dress - Black & Purple Polyester Crepe - V8786

Mimi G's Pencil Skirt (from her online tutorial) - Print Rayon Challis

Pink Pants - Polyester Suiting - V8541

 Purple Jacket - Polyester Crepe - V8541

Skirt - Black Multi-Colored Tweed - V8541

Purple Scarf - Crocheted - Lion Brand: Learn to Crochet Kit (no picture)

 Multi-Print Dress - Cotton Print - S1885 (finished 12/30 - review hasn't been completed yet - no picture)

 

  Looking forward to making more happy noises in the sewing studio in 2013 and beyond!

Needles Up,
Always Audrey