Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XVII

[MelissaL88]

Hi! I'm a big time lurker on this thread - so much inspiration. 

I also had that same question about the McCall's pattern that movinon posed...how to eliminate the puff in the sleeves? It's the one thing that kept me from purchasing that pattern.

[Sergerqueen]

Movinon-
Here's what I would do to eliminate the puff sleeve...
1.  Overlap the front & back pieces at the shoulder and pin together so the seam allowances are removed.
2.   Starting at the front piece where the seam line begins, walk your measuring tape on end over the shoulder towards the back to where the back seamline is.
3.   Use this measurement to find a similar sleeve in your pattern stash (YES, I know you have one!).  Measure the sleeve cap the same way you did the armscye and be sure to subtract the seam allowances.  Your sleeve should be about 1" -1 1/2" larger than the armscye measurement.
4.  Voila!  A quick new sleeve without puffiness!

I love that HP pattern also!

[Karen Roth]

3.   Use this measurement to find a similar sleeve in your pattern stash (YES, I know you have one!). 

Gosh, I feel so... outed!   

[Sergerqueen]

    Don't worry Movinon--you are in good company!

I hope my instructions were clear and you are able to understand them.

[RuthieK]

Got back into my sewing room )mostly) and made some summer PJs this weekend.
Camera very low down, need to find that tripod.

[Liana]

Really cute, Ruthie! Did you do the buttons on the side?  I've made a WOF cami a couple times, and I think it's that pattern, but I don't recall buttons on it.  I certainly didn't do them anyway, but other than that, it looks like it.  Pretty lace, too. 

[RuthieK]

I left the buttons off but its snug around the ribcage and interesting to get on/off.
The pants are quite snug too, maybe I will try the buttons on the top and next time go up a size on the pants unless I am sewing them in a knit.

[AnnRowley]

Very pretty Ruthie!

I think you were wise not to put buttons on for sleeping...they would drive me crazy...!

[fzxdoc]

I agree with Ann, Ruthie--very cute and think twice about buttons on a cami. I'd be rolling over on them all the time if I were to do it!    I like your idea of doing the same design in a knit next time.  I wear cotton knit shortie nightgowns in the summertime and love them--so comfortable!

I'm sitting on the deck typing this and just now a hummingbird came right up to my foot to investigate the flower on my flip flop. I could almost read its little mind as it  disgustingly said "blerg!" to itself and flew away. If I could talk hummingbird talk I would have directed him to the mornng glories along the side of the deck. 

Kathryn

[MelissaL88]

SergerQueen - thanks for the tip. I knew it had to be something relatively easy.

Ruthie - very cute PJs! I too sleep in knit shorts and camis in the summertime. I love how cool they keep me in the heat.

Kathryn - How cool to have a hummingbird come so close. Sounds like a great start to the morning!

I'm taking a personal day today so I can spend some quality time with my Bernina. 

[Ann]

Cute pj's Ruthie. I wouldn't want buttons on the side either as they would annoy me when sleeping.

Almost done washing the walls and then onto a couple of quilting UFO's before we load up and move. I need a bit of time to do that. Did the livingroom yesterday. It was interesting as we had no power for a 4 hour stretch and then a 2 hour stretch. There were some interesting thunderstorms in the area and it rained the night before and again last night.

Off to do the ensuite and all the walls are washed. Just need to sweep through the house and do the last of the packing. Will be done quicker than I thought.

Ann

[Karendee]

Adorable PJs, Ruthie! I especially love that shade of blue.

Karen

[RuthieK]

This evening I decided to fix the sleeves on the lime JCC blouse. This sleeve just had too much ease and the first time I put it in there were lots of puckers.

I decided to tackle the sleeves by doing a lot of small changes so none would be too obvious.

First up I took the sleeves out and pressed the body and sleeves. Then I trimmed down the sleeve cap very slightly. A little more at the top and tapering to nothing nearer the under arm.
I took the top of the sleeve seam in by 1/4"(under the arm) , let the top of the body out by 1/4 inch (also under the arm).

Next I clipped the armhole - existing clips slightly deeper and some extra ones as well.
On the sleeve I used a long stitch to machine tack on a piece of narrow bias binding - I stretched it as I sewed and then pulled the tacking up a bit as well.

Next I pinned the sleeve into the armhole, then sewed in short sections stopping whenever there was about to be a pucker. Once I'd put the sleeve in I checked for any bits which were not quite right, unpicked and resewed those until it was all smooth. Then I removed the bias binding and the tacking stitch and finally serged all the raw edges as the clipped part was fraying all over the place.

The end result however is a lovely sleeve with NO puckers, which I am very pleased about.

I know its a hanger shot and its better to see the blouse being worn, maybe tomorrow.
This shirt does actually fit me, and that is thanks to Jenni (aka YorshireLass) who fitted a muslin for me and has meant I have my first EVER blouse which actually fits me. Very exciting.

(edited to add a picture of me wearing the blouse)

[Ann]

Good job of fixing the blouse. I am sure you will love it now the sleeves don't have puckers or gathers showing. Woohoo for you 

Ann

[BetsyV]

Very impressive, Ruthie!

I never have the patience to redo things. I just call it "experience".

[Liana]

Very nice, Ruthie!  I can see why you wanted to get this just right.  Lovely color, and how nice to have a perfectly fitting blouse, and I assume, the TNT pattern to go with it. 

[joan71]

Ruthie, nice job on the sleeves.  Just curious, what is the fabric content?  I have had similar struggles with microfiber or poly and have sworn off those.
Your top is lovely and the color is one of my favorite brights.

Joan

[stashpanache]

Beautiful, Ruthie.  Great color too!

[RuthieK]

Ruthie, nice job on the sleeves.  Just curious, what is the fabric content?  I have had similar struggles with microfiber or poly and have sworn off those.
Your top is lovely and the color is one of my favorite brights.

Joan

100% cotton, tightly woven. The problem with the sleeve came about because we altered everything so much the resulting sleeve was 3 inches bigger than the resulting armhole and that was a lot to ease in a non easing fabric.
Lime was a new colour for me this summer and I am really enjoying the pop from it.

[JennyAnne]

Ruthie, That's great you fixed your blouse.  Whenever I make something that's just not quite right, it sits in my closet for a year or so before I actually fix it!  Now you'll wear it and feel great!  Love your PJs, too.  I've had some on my sewing list for a while now.  You're inspiring me to get them done.

[AnnRowley]

That's worked well Ruthie. Good fix!

But I'm intrigued about the 'armhole clips' - I've never done this and wonder where do you clip and why?  Just interested...

[MelissaL88]

Ruthie you did a fantastic job fixing the sleeves. They look marvelous! I also love Lime Green and don't have nearly enough of it in my wardrobe. Just one more thing to add to the ever growing list of things to sew up. 

[RuthieK]

That's worked well Ruthie. Good fix!

But I'm intrigued about the 'armhole clips' - I've never done this and wonder where do you clip and why?  Just interested...

Oh only that I've clipped into the seam allowance on the body part of the blouse to make it easier to set the sleeve in.

[Karendee]

Lovely job on your blouse, Ruthie! That looks great, now.

Karen

[Patti B]

We'll be off on a river cruise tomorrow and I sewed a Marcy Tilton tote for the trip. I always want a new tote for a long trip -- weird, eh? It's Vogue 8590 and it turned out nicely and was a pleasure to sew. There were no bulky seams to wrestle with -- hooray. Using some elastic in the top keeps the top from gaping open. I do think this will take care of my lust for Japanese cottons for awhile. I piped the outside seams with red to pick up the top of the lining that's also red.

[BeeBee]

Oh, Patti, that's really nice.  I just got through reading Lindsey T's blog (http://www.lindsaytsews.com/2009/08/how-to-sew-chic-bags-with-french.html) about her tote book find.  And I realized really why I never think to make them, she said it for me.  Anyway, this is really, really nice.  I like the size, your fabrics are lovely and not cutesy, country or silly.  The strap is the right length and the elastic is a great idea.  Did you think about a bit of elastic on the side pockets?  Just a tad to pull them in a bit?
Did you use just a regular weight cotton (I see you said Japanese but is the weight just quilting-like weight?).  And did you interface it? 

[Patti B]

BeeBee, thanks for the compliment; I already love this tote. For this bag, I just followed the directions but the additional elastic might be a good thing -- I'll know after this trip!    Marcy T calls for the exterior pieces to be fusibly interfaced and I did that so it's a soft bag with a bit of structure. The fabrics are quilting weight. With a heavier weight, you might not need interfacing but I still like the little extra it adds. Should be perfect for throwing my purse, Kindle, camera and a light jacket in for a day on the town.

[vtmartha]

Gorgeous bag, Patti!  Where did you find your Japanese cottons?  They go together so well.  Enjoy your trip and get lots of reading done. 

[Liana]

PattiB,  Very cute bag, and I think it looks perfect for tossing everything in and just going.  

I whipped up a nightgown yesterday after seeing a photo of one I thought was very cute.  It's by Jesus Fernandez Lingerie and is what I'd call a babydoll style.

I liked the lace bodice and the full skirt with panties, but made mine longer, and used stretch lace for the bodice, and did matching fabric panties rather than the all lace variety.  I had everything on hand except the ribbon for the straps.  This was a real quickie, and great fun to make.
  You can read more on my blog here.

[BeeBee]

OOO, really pretty!

[BetsyV]

Patti great looking bag! I have acquired so many from various places, it just wouldn't occur to me to make another one.

Liana that is so pretty! I saw it on your blog earlier today.

I seem to be hung up on muslins right now ...

[Ann]

What a fabulous tote bag, Patti. My goal is to make one this winter but in more western fabrics.

Liana, I love your version of the baby dolls. Wonderful and cool for hot summer nights.

Do my pillow cases on Saturday afternoon. Am not doing the puff foam as we can't get white and the owner of the shops said it is hard on the fabric. The instructions are on Snez Babics blog (www.snezbabic.com and click on blog) It is a pdf file. Right now I am fighting with a font and I want to use His and Hers on it. With everything packed, I feel hooped (literally and figuratively) right now. Such is the life of moving.

Ann

[BeeBee]

I seem to be hung up on muslins right now ...

I've been abducted by UFO's    (I got to use the icon!).  I HAVE to finish some stuff, I'm just stiffled under the items I haven't finished.  I really have my heart set on a couple of the August BWOF (or whatever we're calling it now), but no room or time to do them. 
Liana, your nightie set is lovely, very chic.  And I have to clean out my closet - it's just out of control.  I could post some pictures of my placemats, but they really turned out badly.  Or my U-G-L-Y teeshirt    Ok, kidding (no, it's bad) I just wanted to use the space guy and whine.

[Robin]

Ruthie, your re-worked green shirt looks perfect- enjoy wearing it.
Patti- wow, I just love that tote!  The fabrics you chose are so cool and the elastic at the opening is a clever touch.
Liana, that is a very beautiful ensemble.  My goodness, now I want one, too!

[Patti B]

vtMartha, Liana, BetsyV, Ann and Robin -- you're all so nice to comment on the tote. Thanks! Vtmartha, the Japanese cottons are from Stonemountain & Daughter in Berkeley. The main cotton was a house gift from an obviously dear friend -- though I love wine, this was a great house gift!  Liana wow, now those are baby dolls! Your stash is admirable and you have such an eye for combining fabrics. It's always fun to see what everyone is sewing.  Ruthie, I'm so glad you saved that green blouse; it's so summery and cheerful. I'm sure it feels much better to have it sewn to your satisfaction.