SWAP 2008 III

[J Culshaw]

Okay, ladies, it is Jan 31.  Drum roll here, who has sewed 4 items?  that should be your goal if you want to keep on schedule.   
Needless to say, only a few have done this, the rest of us will be madly catching up in March.   Julie

http://www.timmelfabrics.com/swap.htm

[NancyK]

Surely you jest Julie.  4 pieces?  Boy am I behind. 

[kbenco]

Julie, I have sewn several items that were possible SWAP contenders when I started them - 8 for me, 4 for my daughter since Jan 1, so I am on schedule, but the garments are very simple. The more I look at all the wonderful work on this site, and read blogs belonging to the sewers here about amazing construction techniques, the higher my standards leap! For instance, when I started the SWAP, I considered maybe making a structured jacket at the end of the SWAP if I was feeling ambitious. I thought I would use the pattern instructions for construction, and have a stab at it fitting me approximately.This week I have made 3 toiles of the dratted beast, usually after looking at someone else's experience, and am trying to source hair canvas, considering 3 different lining options, and best of all I have not yet given it up as too hard, as there is so much encouraging information here. This SWAP is great for making me think about my sewing, I am better at sewing than I was a month ago, and even if I am slowing down my output considerably, I am sure I will be much happier with my garments in the end (and sewing until midnight -oh well).

[hilda]

Thanks for the link to the SBA!  I'm going to give that a try on the next blouse.

Laura_Lo where did you get the underlining fabric used in the pants and skirt?  I'd like to try this as well.  Sitting in an office all day does create terrible wrinkles.   Your construction is terrific and both garments look wonderful on you.  I can't wait to see the rest of your SWAP.

So far all I have done is one simple skirt - not much to show for an entire month.  I must get on target!  Snow and ice storms coming this weekend so hopefully I'll get into the sewing room and accomplish something.

[RuthieK]

So far I have managed
Wool waistcoat - incl in SWAP or extra maybe?
Knit shell top from wardrobe pattern
Brown denim pants from wardrobe pattern
Brown gored skirt
UFO print knit top - SWAP extra
so have not quite done 4 if I don't include the waistcoat

plus I have part done a pair of self stripe brown pants and a SWAP extra skirt which only need a couple of evenings to be finished.

My next items are the blouse and skirt from the print  and then the jacket from the wardrobe pattern. I had Feb and March arranged to be lighter anyway so I have some sill over room!

[laura_lo]

Oh, Marji, you're in for a challenge indeed, your sister's SWAP is going to be lots of work!
Lisette, I would love a tutorial for that bag, it has indeed such a nice shape.
Julie, it's 1 February and I only made two garments instead of four but my Burda wrap top needs just hemming and it's done.
Nancy, that's such a great article, thank you for posting the link.
Hilda, regarding my lining,  I only found it in one fabric shop here in Bucharest. We call it here "Milanese" (don't know why) but I remember it very well from my childhood - it was used for RTW slips and camis. I found it on a site as well - http://www.elingeria.de/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=40_50&products_id=158 - seems to be what I use if I look at the photo, it is called "nylon sheer" and it is sold as lining for bra cups. Hope it is the same thing, I only can refer to the photo

[kbenco]

Lauralo, what a delicious site -the laces! Your two official  items are those perfect ones that are so inspiring. I want to make my pants again with interlining. I love the black on black embroidery. Don't you have another SWAP extra in your blouse with the black lace? Didn't you just make about 5 lingerie sets? How do you do all of this while other people (me) are proud of 3 t shirts? I am counting every remote possibility (except my pre Jan 1 items) at the moment, as I am determined to finish the SWAP. If I really count my SWAP with the same criteria as Lauralo and Ruthie ( it looks like 6 perfectly matching possibilities to me), I currently have zero items that I am sure will make the final cut. Speaking of which - Marji is your sister allowed to put on or lose 5 grams after you have made her a perfectly fitted jacket or 6? I would make her sign something, but I am much nastier than you.  I am knitting my sister socks for her birthday, and I expect her to be exceedingly grateful even though they are full of mistakes and the stripes do not quite match. Back to my overstretchy stretch woven pants and my poorly fitting jacket toile, Karen

[Licarrit]

If you can't wait for me to do a tutorial (and between SWAP and the magazine and oh, the rest of my life...) it may be a while, you can order the bag from Old Navy online, not sure about overseas shipping though. The all leather one that I got was $50 but I think the leather alone would cost me that, they also have really nice canvas and leather ones for only $20, very cool, funky, ethnic. They are doing a whole safari thing this summer. There are some construction techniques that are interesting in the bag so there will definitely be a reason to write up something about it.

[NancyK]

I need some advice.  I was intending to use a light iron on interfacing for the fronts of my leather jacket.  It is very light weight leather.  But, my buttonhole samples were much better without interfacing.  I know, I can cut it out of the buttonhole area.  But, should I just interface the facing instead, and not interface both?    I put the jacket aside to work on pants and a top, because I can't make up my mind.

[Marji]

Several thoughts: Lisette, that new bag is great! I'm glad you took the vinyl back - because you were questioning it the moment you left the store with it, it was v likely that you would never ever have been happy with it.
Laura, it seems the place to be for tutorials on incredible bags these days, if Lisette doesn't get around to time soon, go visit the Divas blog. My goodness, they do like making handbags.  I love to sew, but I also love buying shoes and handbags.  Theirs are so wonderfully professional looking though, even I'm tempted once in awhile (for about 2 minutes, then the craziness passes).

Karen, one of the biggest (no pun intended) issues I'm having right now with my sister is that she Has gained weight since she was here for our marathon fitting session last August. I go from being good with it, to total frustration.  I read somewhere once that once you give a gift, you must let go of it, that it's not a gift if you feel the need to control the use of it - this was primarily written in terms of the gift of money - but I think it pertains here too. If she gains more weight and can't wear the clothes - oh well. I do hope, for her sake, that she doesn't though.

Next up, can I share something here? I don't mean to be mean spirited, but I'm 
My mom and her husband Richard are staying at Richards sisters house about 20 min away from where my sister lives. My mom has been at my sisters 3 x's now to try to pin fit all that I sent down. Tensions are running high, as my moms disapproval of my B-inlaw and the whole household is evident. And the ability to fit long distance, well, Nancy K remarked that she was surprised we're all still talking to each other - and she's not far off.
So last night, my sis and b-inlaw decide that He's going to finish fitting the other jacket muslin. My b-inlaw is a draftsman at a Civil Engineering firm. He's also been the photographer at the fitting sessions. So he thought "how hard can it be?"
I had sent an email with V.E.R.Y specific instructions on what needed to be done. my very specific instructions did not include taking the rest of the sleeve out, nor ripping up the back. However, this is exactly what he did, then he took a ruler and measured the open distances and sent me those pics. hmmm...
my reply, "Thank you, I've seen what I need to see already to make a new muslin - please just take the garment, fold it carefully with all pins intact, and put it in a mailer and send it back now."
Then my BIL asked my sister "wouldn't it just be easier to buy you a plane ticket to go there?" Um ...YES!
so they booked her a flight and she's coming here first weekend in March.

 

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[ejvc]

Hi Julie,

Well, I've made a crossover top from my wardrobe pattern that basically sucks and I would want to redo, and some yoga pants from burda which were alarmingly easy and look fab.  Of course, now that I've been sticking to my post-pregnancy exercise schedule they are slightly too big!! (I'm sort of back to where I was but with a much increased bust and a slightly increased waist, and 8 pounds of extra weight -- so far so good.) So, sort of 1 or 2 SWAP pieces, depending.  I was never very hopeful that I'd be "on schedule" though.  "Progressing" was what I wanted.

Basted my stretch cord jeans together yesterday only to find that the corduroy has a nap, and the fronts have to be recut!! Sometimes I feel I make every mistake in the book    But I'm going to do more this weekend -- hubby is going out next weekend so in return he has to take Charlotte for all the non-feeding times this weekend.  Says me.  I may have neglected to inform him of this....

Congrats to all who are progressing!

[laura_lo]

Hi, I need some advice too I have my eye on some vintage patterns and wondering how true to size are they. For instance when buying Big 4 patterns, I go down 2, sometimes 3 sizes - according to their size charts I'm a 10 but I make a 6 or 4. Is the same valid for vintage patterns? Should I still go down 2 sizes, or 1 size or not at all?
Thanks for enlighting me
Marji, I think it's great that she's coming there, but only in March??

[Marji]

Laura, depends on how Vintage they are and whether they pre-date the "new sizing" of the 60's, and if they predate the switch the pattern co's made when they went to CAD based grading. And...it depends on who drafted them.
The patterns of the 40's and 50's allow much less ease, so I'd buy your measurement and plan on some serious pattern analysis before cutting your fashion fabric.
The patterns of the 60's were also closer to size of the measurement on the package, but not as close as those of earlier eras.

oh, and I'm going to be sailing in February, so she can't come then. We leave next Friday and won't return until Feb 22 or 23, I can't remember.

[Licarrit]

Marji, that is too funny! Reminds me of the neighbor that when she found out I could sew wanted me to ("just a quicky project" "but it is so easy") recover her ottoman (there was a couch and armchair lurking too!) I said I didn't do Home Dec but that an ottoman was pretty easy, told her about the Threads articles on it. She got as far as tearing up the fabric and thought it was just too hard. I love all these people that think sewing is this quaint little hobby.

It is a highly technical skill that uses math, spatial relationship skills, project planning, proprietary equipment, just to start!
You know just like rocket engineering or space flight!
 

[boppingbeth]

Marji, you must be so happy your sister is coming to visit for fitting.  Maybe her weight will be stable then? 

I think I am not quite on target, but I have sewn more than a few things for my Swap, so I'm not off my much.  I am still waffling about what each piece will be, which makes it really hard to stick to the swap idea.  I tried to put together a story board, and what it showed is that I have too much choice, and not enough coherent bits that go together. Everything I have works with more than one thing in my existing wardrobe, so each piece I complete is making it easier to get dressed (or decide to pitch out!) I have picked my colours for this Swap--black, grey, pink and plum.  My wardrobe is really deep jewel tones, mixed with black and blue. 

I have sewn all my wardrobe pattern pieces, which was my goal for January, and a few extras.  So far, that means I have a dress, a black and white top, and black slinky pants.  I also have an extra black sparkly slinky top (that might end up being a real top; we will see).  But, I don't have a plan.  And, I haven't gotten my head around the shoes/accessories/jewelry thing. 

Today is really a snow day here--even the Universities in the area are closed, so I have a bonus marking/sewing day.  Yippee.

[RuthieK]

Well done to everyone who is getting stuff done.

Marji, how frustrating for your Mom and you and is if it wasn't difficult enough already now the weight gain too. You sure like a challenge! I don't suppose you can say 'If you gain any more I'm only making you knits and elastic waist stuff!'

I am still going down slowly which is a little frustrating for me, and I can fit me easier, plus have chosen easy things with alltered construction which makes them simpler to alter down in size.

[Johanna Lu]

It is a highly technical skill that uses math, spatial relationship skills, project planning, proprietary equipment, just to start!
You know just like rocket engineering or space flight!
 

Lol, I agree. I have sewn for 20+ years and some things are still super difficult for me to master. I occasionally find myself standing in line with a someone at the fabric store who has picked up an advanced ball gown pattern and plan to use some hard to sew and expensive silk charmeuse for it, when she suddenly says to her friend something in the line of "hopefully this won't be to hard, I mean I have sewn a few curtains and pillow cases before". At that point I usually get a strong urge to say something, and sometimes I do. But then again, we all need to make our own mistakes and learn by them.

[NancyK]

Marji,
It's a very good thing that they are coming for a fitting.  The picture of the ruler is pretty funny.  About not listening to your instructions, well when have you known a man to follow instructions? 

[goodworks1]

So last night, my sis and b-inlaw decide that He's going to finish fitting the other jacket muslin. My b-inlaw is a draftsman at a Civil Engineering firm. He's also been the photographer at the fitting sessions. So he thought "how hard can it be?"
I had sent an email with V.E.R.Y specific instructions on what needed to be done. my very specific instructions did not include taking the rest of the sleeve out, nor ripping up the back. However, this is exactly what he did, then he took a ruler and measured the open distances and sent me those pics. hmmm...
my reply, "Thank you, I've seen what I need to see already to make a new muslin - please just take the garment, fold it carefully with all pins intact, and put it in a mailer and send it back now."
Then my BIL asked my sister "wouldn't it just be easier to buy you a plane ticket to go there?" Um ...YES!
so they booked her a flight and she's coming here first weekend in March.

All I can say is it's wonderful that you can laugh about it!   
I'd be definitely
(I showed that picture (sleeve opened, etc) to my dh and he wanted to know why that wouldn't work....

I SO glad she's coming to your house! Whew!

Elaine (who's having way too much fun with the smileys...)

[Johanna Lu]

Marji, I think Julie should add a special mentioning award and give you the title of  "SWAP-hero of the year" 

[Saashka]

Oh Marji, how frustrating. But at least now she's coming for an in-person fitting.

[Robin]

Marji, that picture just threw me into a major belly laugh.  Of course, I am married to a mechanical engineer so I have some experience with the mysterious combination of skills possessed by such a person.  Soooo hilarious!

I agree with Ruthie's suggestion to consider making some of the garments to be elastic waisted or stretch.
It's an awful lot of work to do for an iffy outcome.

And Lisette, I am definitely popping into Old Navy to see if I can pick up one of those bags!
My SWAP is coming along fine and I feel I can afford to take a little break.  I do have 2 new knit tops finished that I will post on my blog when I take time to set up the camera.

Soooo, I decided to take a break and sew some fast TNT's using the Bernina software and this fabric i just picked up from Emma OneSock.

[vtmartha]

Robin!  You didn't!  I ordered 3 yards of that blue sandwashed rayon and all Linda could send me was 1 1/2 yards!  Now I know where it went!

[Marji]

Alexandra, is that amazing red dress you just made part of your SWAP?
Robin, so glad you got the humor of it. I am the daughter and the mother of engineers, I too think it's hilarious. What else can I think?
I appreciate the commiserating, I really do, because how else could I keep my sense of humor about it all?
Meanwhile, the pant muslin I sent, that I was dreading , absolutely dreading trying to fit, ... is da*n near perfect. Minor minor tweaking needed. I just put the pic on my blog this morning of the pant.
Don't know if you all noticed though, but I did convert the skirt pattern to an elastic waist on the 2 skirts I sent down already. The wardrobe pattern has a faced waistband and zipper closure, I just straightened the seams a bit from hip to waist and made it with an applied elastic casing. It's worked well.

I'm on track for timing. It'll all get done.
Where I'm toast is on pictures. I'd really really like to take the composites - the photo that is to include all 11 garments. But, I'd also like to send the stuff that is truly 'winter wardrobe' wear to her immediately. Guess I can't have it both ways.



 

[KathrynT]

Marji, that IS funny, especially because of the type of tape measure he used!  Thanks for the morning giggle.

[vtmartha]

Marji, you don't suppose he was trying to be funny, perhaps?

[Robin]

LOL Martha, sorry I got the drapey rayon before you could!  Great minds think alike!
I noticed it was sold out immediately after I bought it.

And re: funny engineers, it is hard to tell the difference between a dry sense of humor and the real deal.
My husband makes me laugh all the time and I know about 50% isn't even intentional.  He says it is OK, laughing is good either way.
LOL

[goodworks1]

And re: funny engineers, it is hard to tell the difference between a dry sense of humor and the real deal.
My husband makes me laugh all the time and I know about 50% isn't even intentional.  He says it is OK, laughing is good either way.
LOL

lol

I guess that goes for ag engineers too. I hadn't really thought about how to categorize my dh's dry sense of humor; he often looks surprised (but pleased) when I howl with laughter over some minor comment. I guess whatever works is good.

[Licarrit]

Men are usually just happy you're not crying or screaming at them, and yes, they'll take the silent treatment any day of the week!

[Marji]

LOL Martha, sorry I got the drapey rayon before you could! 

no you're not! 

On EOS, the fabulous oversize tulip print I'd been looking at everyday is now SOLD OUT. breathe. I didn't need it. I wanted it bad. I checked everyday to make sure it was still there.    Does anyone here want to own up to buying it?


oh and Martha - I can attest to the fact he wasn't Trying to be funny - not possible.

[kbenco]

Marji, I love that photograph.  I am tempted to show it to my best friend's engineer husband who says "I don't know why you are having so much trouble with that" to my friend who is learning to sew, only he wouldn't understand the joke. I think it would be very difficult not to feel frustrated re the fitting. Your gift to your sister is your time and skill, so much more significant than money, and you have had to increase (no pun intended) the gift a lot, maybe more than you had expected or allowed for because of the weight change, and your BIL's drafting skills!

I have some fabric on a gorgeous fabrics wish list that I check far too often. There are only 8 yards left. I have a self imposed budget that I have exceeded. If it is still there in a week I will buy it, I tell myself that if it is gone, I wasn't meant to have it, and that it wouldn't have matched my chocolate pants anyway. It is only fabric lust after all.

edited for spelling

[Saashka]

Alexandra, is that amazing red dress you just made part of your SWAP?

I wish! I've been contemplating a SWAP in black/gray/pale blue but I don't want to scare off my recently returned sewing mojo.
Mojo wants to make dresses, who am I to argue? 

[vtmartha]

LOL Martha, sorry I got the drapey rayon before you could! 

no you're not! 

Well, I've asked Linda to authorize Robin's purchases with me in the future.   

[Robin]

You guys are cracking me up!  You are right Marji, I am not really sorry.  I am glad I pulled the trigger faster than VermontMartha!

Alexandra, I know exactly what you mean about the sewing mojo.  My mojo specifically asked for those EOS fabrics and I said yes.  So I'll do a capsule, then get back to my SWAP.

Luckily I won't get the fabric for a little while 'cause I asked Linda if she had any solids that will work and she is going to check her shipments coming in this weekend.
So I can finish up the tops I am working on.  I finished another knit top today.
That class with Shannon Gifford (Build a Better T Shirt) got me all excited to sew knits.

Karen, I know all about those "self-imposed budgets".  I play the same game.  But I am on a kick and getting stuff done, so it's all good.
TGIF!
Super Bowl and Sewing this weekend.
Yay.

[SewingLibrarian]

Yes, engineers can have strange senses of humor. I've been married to two of them, and I know it's true!
I've got two skirts, two tops and my jacket, which was my sew-early piece, finished or almost finished. Feel pretty good about that, but I know I've got plenty left to work on. Next up will be a skirt with fabric from Fabric Mart that arrived yesterday.
Happy sewing, especially to non-football fans on Sunday!
Linda