Me Made Mondays?

**Me Made Mondays - as suggested by L of "You Sew Girl" simply means that you wear something that you made on Monday.

I have been participating, but I haven't been remembering to take pictures.  So, here's a list of March Mondays.... LOL!

Monday, March 4th - V8541 Black Skirt with black & green RTW Top
Monday, March 11th - V8541 Black Pants with black RTW top with rhinestones
Monday, March 18th - V8786 Color Block Dress with V8541 Purple Jacket

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

Made My First Dress! **and, it's color blocked**

It's a Color Blocked Dress - (And, it's my first dress!).  Vogue Pattern 8786 / I used Black Crepe Polyester for the majority of the dress, but I used Purple Crepe Polyester for the center front.  I plan on making this dress again, probably 2 more times, a solid color short sleeve and a solid color long sleeve.  When I saw the pattern I knew that I wanted to make this dress.  And, when I read the review on (PatternReview.com) I knew I wanted to make a color block dress, too (thanks, joanneinvan for the great idea)!  See the full review below.

Pattern Description: Very Easy Vogue 8786 – Loose-fitting, pullover dress. I made View A (fitted through bust) have back neck slit with hook and eye closing, narrow hem.  Purchased bias tape finishes necklines and armholes.

Pattern Sizing: 16-24. I made the 18.

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

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes.  Although, this was my first time using bias tape on the neckline / armholes and that was a little challenging.  I'm sure it'll look better the next time!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I made it, I love it! Finished it Monday and wore it to work on Tuesday morning. Oh, yeah!

Fabric Used: I used a black polyester crepe, the center color is a purple polyester crepe (about $4.85 per yard from Fabric.com).

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I made this a color block dress by changing the color of the center front fabric.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I will make it again. I plan on making another one in a solid color (either red or pink) and I want to make a long sleeve version for the winter.

Conclusion: I love this dress!  I learned so many new things during this process - 1) I used bias tape (really, this should be #1, #2, and #3 - I did it and undid it a few times); 2) I used a twin needle (I saw a dress like this in Macy's and I wanted my hem to be similar); 3) I sewed a hook and eye in the back; and, 4) I did a great job on the seam lines (there were so many - and, mostly very straight).  Winning!

Needles Up,
Always Audrey