Easing back into sewing

Happy new year!

I’ve decided to  ease into sewing this year. Last year, I don’t believe I did any sewing.  I miss it. I think it was fate that sent me to my favorite Goodwill store were I purchased this.

A whole lot of sewing patterns

Price $5.65

I purchased 38 patterns for $5.65.  Of the 38 patterns, 10 are in my size. 36 patterns were uncut. There were 3 small dog patterns.  Overall, Im happy with my purchase 🙂

Cowl neckline alteration

So I had good intentions when I pledged to sew one item a month but life got in the way big time.  I haven’t sewn in months but I have been keeping up with the sewing blogs 🙂

Last week, Faye wrote about how to raise a cowl neckline.  Boy did I need that post.  I’d given up on McCall’s M6078 view B because the neckline was wayyyyy to low for me. I’d learned how to make the FBA for a cowl but couldn’t find instructions for raising the neckline so into the sewing drawer it went.  I might make that my project for the spring.

So here’s how the raise a cowl neckline three ways.

1.  From Faye who got it from Samina from Sew Everything Blog.  I’m trying the first method and it doesn’t decrease the bust width at all.  Yay!

2.  and from In-House Patterns This method doesn’t reduce the bust width.

So far I’ve adjusted the front pattern of McCall’s M6078 for a FBA using this method  and raising the neckline.    Now to find stretch knit in my stash.

 

Enjoy.

Haven’t sewn a thing

I’m still here. A lot has changed over the last few months. I have another new job which is closer to home but I have a lot of training to get through and not a lot of time to sew.

I’ve also lost weight so that means fitting. Again. My TNT patterns are too big. I should start there with re-fitting.

Beginning in November 2013, I’m going to sew or fit one item per month.

Tomorrow, I’m going to buy muslin. Wish me luck 🙂

Can I get a woot woot!

After yesterdays epic fail, today I feel like Wednesday Addams 🙂  Success is sweet!

When I was working on Simplicity 2215, I was doing a 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 FBA based on the distance between the pattern center front and my center front.  That was too MUCH.  The bodice front looked like a cone bra

and the apex was pointing everywhere but where they should

The muslin bodice of Simplicity 2886 view A fits.

I would post pictures but I don’t want to show my stomach and I’m not wearing makeup and the hair is in a messy ponytail.  For this pattern, I did a 2 inch FBA and it looked fine.  I could probably do a 2 1/4 inch FBA.

Next up, the skirt of the dress.

Once I finish 2886, I will go back to 2215.  I like the dress and now that the bust fitting issue seams to be solved it won’t be as frustrating.

I’m happy with sewing again 🙂

Fail.

Omg! I need fitting classes again. Epic fail on a simple pattern Simplicity 2215. Trying not to be discouraged 😦

Removing fabric from the Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine

A couple of people have ask about the Brother 2340CV cover stitch machine and Sew-4-Fun’s tutorials.  I can’t copy her work and place it on my blog but I can do my own tutorials based on her instructions.

So here’s my first.  Click on pictures to enlarge them.

What you’ll need:  Allen wrench that come with the machine and a pair of scissors.

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. allen wrench and scissors

1.  By hand, turn the hand wheel FORWARD (towards you) until the needle is in the highest position.  Do NOT turn the hand wheel backwards!  This method works only if you turn the hand wheel FORWARD.

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. turn handwheel forward TOWARD YOU

2.  Place your fingernail behind one of the needle threads above the presser foot.

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. fingernail behind thread

3.  With your other hand push the tension lever for the same needle thread and pull the thread forward for several inches.

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. first needle tension lever

4. Repeat step 3 for the other needle threads.

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. both threads pulled forward

5.  Lift the presser foot.  Using the Allen wrench (Allen Key) that came with the machine, swipe the Allen wrench under the presser foot, from the BACK TO THE FRONT.  This pulls the needle threads underneath the presser foot.

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. allen wrench under presser foot

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. allen wrench pulling needle threads underneath presser foot

6. Cut the needle threads near the Allen wrench (Allen Key).  This isn’t how I cut the thread put you get the point 🙂

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. cutting threads near allen wrench

7. With one hand pull the fabric BACKWARDS, out from underneath the presser foot, WHILE pushing the tension lever for the looper with your other hand.  The needle threads will automatically pull to the wrong side.

Brother 2340 CV cover stitch machine. looper tension lever

8. Cut your looper thread and tie off your threads.  Your machine is now ready to start stitching again.

I hope this helps.

Here’s a pdf of this post.  I would print it out for my library.  You never know when blog posts disappear 🙂  Brother 2340 CV Cover stitch machine – Removing Fabric

Sewing Pattern Cabinet

I bought a sewing pattern cabinet.

simplicity pattern cabinet

I have 344 patterns.

They fit in 1 1/4 drawers.  I’m so happy I have the cabinet.  I’ve been wanting one for a long time.

Original Sewing & Quilt Expo – March 8, 2013

Day 2

band

All I’d plan to buy was three more pieces of lace.  Of course, I got more than lace 🙂

Here are all of the pieces of lace I’ve purchase over the last two days.

brown navy black lace

Black – day 2 purchase.  Navy and Brown  -day 1 purchase

white red plum lace

Plum and white – day 2 purchase, red – day 1 purchase

Lace pieces

I couldn’t resist these pieces of lace.  I can just see then as embellishments for a bra.  All lace was purchased from Luc Smiers Fine French Laces www.cottonlace.com

Jalie 2921 and Christine Jonson 1219

jacket sleeve interfacing

I bought these two patterns Jalie 2921 and christine Jonson no. 1219.  I’ve wanted Jalie 2921 pattern ever since I saw all of the reviews on patternreview.  Christine Jonson no. 1219.  This looks like an easy summer wardrobe.  I purchased these patterns from Carol Steinbrecher for Conselle.    I also purchased a yard of this interfacing.  Carol uses it on jacket sleeve hems.

I’m done with the expo for this year.  I noticed at lot of sewing vendors did not attend this year.  I hope this isn’t the shape of things to come otherwise they should rename it the Original Quilt Expo.

Original Sewing & Quilt Expo – Atlanta March 7, 2013

This year, I decided not to attend classes and concentrate on buying sewing notions.  The expo had plenty of notions for quilters but very little for garment sewers.   I did find a few things.  Click on photo to enlarge the photo.

buttonhole cutter

seam guide and buttonhole cutter

Vendor – A Fine Notion Texas  I’ve been wanting a buttonhole cutter for a while but I’ve always hesitated to buy one because of shipping costs.  This set contains a buttonhole cutter knife, circular cutter punch and hardwood cutting block for $7.95.  Score!  One can never have too many seam gauges.  This one is much larger than my favorite seam guide.  I’m eager to try it.

Seam Allowance Curve

Vendor – Carol Steinbrecher for Conselle/Style Solutions www.stylesolutionsllc.com

I’ve seen this Seam Allowance curve on etsy.com and Shams blogged about it.  I bought the 5/8″ ruler.

microtip scissors and finger light

Vendor – Scissors Man www.famorecutlery.com I bought a second pair of micro tip scissors and a finger light. I’ll give a review of the finger light later.

steel thread spool holder

Vendor – Marathon thread Guy www.marathonthread.com I have a plastic Dritz cone thread holder and I haven’t been happy with it. It’s very filmsy.  This thread holder is heavy and solid.

3 stretch laces for bra sewing

Lace vendor – Luc Smiers Fine French Laces www.cottonlace.com  The website doesn’t show a lot of the Stretch Tulle Net Lace but that’s what I bought.  This is my most exciting purchase!  I couldn’t believe I found lace similar to what I’ve seen Sigrid use on her beautiful bras.  I bought a yard each.  I’m seriously thinking of going back tomorrow to buy more. Woo-hoo!

closeup red lace

closeup blue lace

I won!

(Warning!!! Don’t play the Little Miss Sunshine clip at work or with the volume up.  It could cause momentary hearing loss.  Just kidding about the hearing loss 🙂  It is loud!)

Little Miss Sunshine – I won

I like podcasts.  I listen to two sewing podcasts Sew Forth Now and Enchanted by Sewing.   I enjoy both podcasts but you have to wait a while for the next podcast.  One day, I searched sewing podcasts in iTunes and found Disparate Disciplines.  W00-hoo!  The first episode I listerned to had two sewing friends discussing “Are you a ‘sewer’ or a ‘sewist’? and there was a giveway!  Not only did I discover a new podcast but I discovered two new sewing blogs:  Disparate Disciplines and Three Dresses Project 🙂  Anyway, I entered the giveaway for Cake Patterns “Tiramisu” dress and I WON!

Cake Patterns – Tiramisu Dress

Thank you so much Leila!