Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XVIII

[Myrna]

Thanks for all the compliments on the top. I appreciate them. It was a lot of fun to make. I'm working on a Marcy Tilton skirt to go with - Vogue 8561.

- Myrna

[sdBev]

Myrna

This is a fabulous piece.  Thanks for sharing the details of it's constrution on your blog.  That was most informative.  Can I say, you do wonderful work and blog fabulously too.

[Myrna]

Myrna - This is a fabulous piece.  Thanks for sharing the details of it's constrution on your blog.  That was most informative.  Can I say, you do wonderful work and blog fabulously too.

LOL - thanks and of course you can say that. I definitely don't turn down compliments or encouragement. The blog is a gift to myself and I'm glad it's useful to others. I miss writing and teaching and blogging lets me carry on just a little bit.

- Myrna

[gaylee1949]

Myrna, am I to understand that you actually created that Modcloth top from that New Look pattern?  WOW!  I would absolutely love to have a pattern for that top--I am not yet experienced enough to draft my own things, and frankly, I'm scared to death to do it! 

Gail

[ejvc]

This is *definitely* going in my new PMB wardrobe!  Thank you so much for your clear explanations, Myrna.  I love this top.

[Jacs]

Hi everyone
Myrna I loved the dress the top and the attitude I just spent time reading your blog and it cheered me up no end.

I have been corupted by Shams who has a discussion on the French pattern company - I went to their website and loved this http://www.patron-de-couture.fr/modele.asp?id=24  and this http://www.patron-de-couture.fr/modele.asp?id=98 so reading your journey I might try and make one similar - unfortunately I am not in a position to buy the pattern although I have recommended it to a few sewing friends who are interested (does this let me off the hook? I would hate to disadvantage a sewing company we need them all )

This all comes at a fortuneous time as I was reading the latest Threads mag and oohing and aaahing over the Vionnet garments and so I am off to create some scale models after the garden.

[shams]

hehe, Jacs.  I also loved that tunic pattern -- such beautiful lines.  I did order the skirt pattern, though it's almost identical to a skirt I drafted last year.  (I never posted it because I didn't like the initial fabric I made it in and just haven't gotten around to re-making it.) It will be interesting to compare them.

[Myrna]

Myrna, am I to understand that you actually created that Modcloth top from that New Look pattern?  WOW!  I would absolutely love to have a pattern for that top--I am not yet experienced enough to draft my own things, and frankly, I'm scared to death to do it! 

Gail - just try it. What's the worse that can happen - some paper, a little time, a little fabric, a LOT of learning. Start with a t-shirt that fits you and go for it. You can email me if you need help and the blog page should give you a lot of info.

- Myrna

[Myrna]

This is *definitely* going in my new PMB wardrobe!  Thank you so much for your clear explanations, Myrna.  I love this top.

You're welcome. Remember with PMB that you need to use zero or negative ease to accomodate the knit fabric. If you have Curves, I think that's built in but I don't remember. Have fun.

- Myrna

[Myrna]

Myrna I loved the dress the top and the attitude. I just spent time reading your blog and it cheered me up no end.

Thank you. Go for it with the tunic. You'll learn a lot and have fun. That's something I've been able to transfer from textile art - the try it and see attitude. I remind myself that I sew for entertainment with a bonus wardrobe - LOL.

- Myrna

[mardel]

Myrna, the top is just fabulous!  I'm off to read your blog.

[Myrna]

Myrna, the top is just fabulous!  I'm off to read your blog.

Thanks. Amazing how something without a pattern came together easily and now I'm fighting with a Marcy Tilton skirt that came with detailed directions. Sewing - always an adventure. YES YES!

- Myrna

[Ann]

Myrna, that is the same skirt I want to make. Havent' a clue what fabric I will use but Kathryn made it in a beautiful green fabric. I will attach her blog url when I find it.
http://imadethis-asewingblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/lime-withwhite-striped-skirt-marcy.html

Here is the website where Marcy Tilton talks about this skirt. It might be helpful.
http://www.marcytilton.com/index.php?cid=760&cp=2

Our weather changed up in the north (warm in +6C) and I have been suffering from a headache and deadhead from the pressure change. I got the car washed today and want to try and put the buttonholes in a western shirt.

Ann

[Myrna]

Myrna, that is the same skirt I want to make. Havent' a clue what fabric I will use but Kathryn made it in a beautiful green fabric. I will attach her blog url when I find it.

Thanks for the links Ann. The fault is not the pattern's. It comes together quite well and Marcy has a great tutorial on her blog about the steaming and stretching which is a FABULOUS technique.

No... not the pattern... it's some weird factor with my body. My waist is 32" and my hips are 43". That's a size 18 and yet I end up taking the waist in a LOT on anything I sew that has a waistband at my pant waist. I haven't managed to figure out what and why.

My natural waist is higher and wider. With the dress I sewed last week, I had to let the waist out because I'm fluffier there and yet with this skirt, I sewed 7/8" side seams from hip to waist so that's 1/4 x 4 or 1" and then I took them in another 1" each side at the waist so that's 1 x 4 or 5" and then I sewed wider darts at the back so it was almost 7" in total.  How can this be? It's a puzzling question for me.

My friend who is a professional seamstress thought it might be the difference between where Marcy had marked the waistband and wear I wear it thinking it was dropped on the pattern and yet that didn't show up in any reviews. Hmmm... puzzling.

The Marcy skirt just needs hemming. I'm waiting for someone to be home to help me measure the bottom because of the bias. Normally if I keep the hipline level, I can hem it myself. Meanwhile I'm sewing a test of Vogue 8603 because I want to use it for my matched plaid and need to know what's going to happen at the waist so my lines stay matched.

- Myrna

[Ann]

Myrna, I can hardly wait to see both the skirt and the vest. I will have to watch the pattern also. I do not have much of a waist line; I am built like a rectangle. I still have 38 lbs to loose and my body shape won't change at all. I wonder if her patterns run a bit on the large size as 7" is a lot to take in.

If I remember Ann Rowley made this skirt and between hers and Kathryn's I fell in love with the pattern.

Ann

[Myrna]

Myrna, I can hardly wait to see both the skirt and the vest. I will have to watch the pattern also. I do not have much of a waist line; I am built like a rectangle. I still have 38 lbs to loose and my body shape won't change at all. I wonder if her patterns run a bit on the large size as 7" is a lot to take in.

If I remember Ann Rowley made this skirt and between hers and Kathryn's I fell in love with the pattern.

Ann

Vest? 8603 is a skirt. I think Marcy's things do run big however, I'm having a similar issue with most patterns. I'm sure I'll figure out the reason at some point but...  This skirt has six seams and is supposed to sit right at the waistline. Hopefully that tells me something.

- Myrna

[Ann]

Where did I get vest in my head  I do like that skirt as long as I chose the plain one and added nothing to it. I am not one for things on my skirts. I will use a print on a skirt but that is all.

Watching what you are making.

Ann

[gaylee1949]

Myrna, thank you for your very generous offer to help!  When I get settled in my new place, I will do it!  I promise!

Gail

[Ann]

Myrna, I read your blog on the Marcy Tilton skirt and I am wondering - did you put on the pocket or leave it off? I am also looking at the top you made and keep wondering if I should do a knock off on it. I worry about the pleats but may have to get over my fear.

Ann

[Myrna]

Myrna, I read your blog on the Marcy Tilton skirt and I am wondering - did you put on the pocket or leave it off? I am also looking at the top you made and keep wondering if I should do a knock off on it. I worry about the pleats but may have to get over my fear.

Ann

For the skirt - I didn't put the pocket on because I rarely wear anything tucked in and I didn't think this would be the type of skirt I'd do it with. 

The top was really fun to make. The pleats create an illusion so we imagine something smaller underneath. You may find it gives you more shape. Have you ever tried on a wrap top or something similar? If not, just give it a go and see. You'll have fun with the process and when you're done, you'll know if you like it or not. Either way, you'll have learned a lot and can transfer that idea to other patterns. The New Look pattern is a great starting point.

- Myrna

[vtmartha]

I've been away so my comment is a bit late.  I absolutely love your top, Myrna and hope to try one myself.

[Diane Egelston]

Myrna, I just wanted to tell you how beautiful your latest top is. So elegant. Also, I just read about your exhibit and looked at the artwork in your most recent blog post. My mind is full,  as if it had consumed a delicious meal. Thank you for writing and photographing and sharing, and most of all, thank you for creating. (also, I have the book you wrote about creating sewing space -- love it!)

[movinon]

Love the top Myrna, and you are right about those types of shirts or wraps "shrinking" us. 
Thanks for bringing up that skirt again, I recently refound a piece of brown wool with deep coppery/brass (was going by garage door lighting!) stripes that I was on the fence about using for a LaFred Cassandra or that Marcy Tilton skirt.  I'd forgotten about some of the discussion about it and am glad to be reminded before cutting and forging ahead willynilly!

[Myrna]

I've been away so my comment is a bit late.  I absolutely love your top, Myrna and hope to try one myself.

When I sewed years ago, I was a "follow the pattern" type of seamstress. My experiences since have made me more adventureous and "knocking off" some of the amazing details to be found on-line is really fun and challenging. I can see myself doing more of these. Have fun with it.

- Myrna

[Myrna]

Myrna, I just wanted to tell you how beautiful your latest top is. So elegant. Also, I just read about your exhibit and looked at the artwork in your most recent blog post. My mind is full,  as if it had consumed a delicious meal. Thank you for writing and photographing and sharing, and most of all, thank you for creating. (also, I have the book you wrote about creating sewing space -- love it!)

Thanks for the compliments on the top Diane and on my textile paintings. "A delicious meal". What a lovely thing to say. It makes me smile that you're thanking me for creating. It's such a part of who I am that I can't imagine not creating. The mind boggles. Thank you for purchasing my book. I wrote that YEARS and YEARS ago. It's a more analytical and factual text. More recently, I wrote and taught a workshop called Studio Makeover that dealt with some of the emotional content of our studios as well as the organizational ones. It tickles to write that book but I'm not sure I"ll go there even though I LOVE writing. That's why I blog. It's a selfish adventure. Glad it's of use to someone.

- Myrna

[Myrna]

Love the top Myrna, and you are right about those types of shirts or wraps "shrinking" us. 
Thanks for bringing up that skirt again, I recently refound a piece of brown wool with deep coppery/brass (was going by garage door lighting!) stripes that I was on the fence about using for a LaFred Cassandra or that Marcy Tilton skirt.  I'd forgotten about some of the discussion about it and am glad to be reminded before cutting and forging ahead willynilly!

Illusions are wonderfully fun to work with. I'm completely fascinated by fashion in terms of our personality and style and best suited designs and all that "stuff". Intriguing. The skirt sounds like it might be complicated but it wasn't actually that difficult. One thing not mentioned is that the front bottom right panel has a diagonal seam that is supposed to merge with the diagonal seam of the back bottom right panel. Because they are angled, if you make any length adjustments, it could affect the meeting point - ask me how I know - VBG.

- Myrna

[BetsyV]

Myrna

Love the skirt and top. I checked out your blog, and am stunned with the creativity of your textile art. (I also have your book. Now I know why your name seemed so familiar!)

[Myrna]

Myrna

Love the skirt and top. I checked out your blog, and am stunned with the creativity of your textile art. (I also have your book. Now I know why your name seemed so familiar!)

Top - thank you. Textile art - thank you. Book - thank you.

LOL, Myrna

[Ann]

Myrna, I looked at your blog last night and what a wonderful collection you are putting into the Kamloops Art Gallery. I wish I was down there so I could go and see them in real life.

Betsy, I am green with envy you have Myrn's book on sewing spaces.

I am trying to finish up some UFO's and made headway today. I got another one of my shopping bags done. The fabric is the first pieces I picked up for the bag and then put it away due to "the move". I saw it this morning while cleaning up the apartment and decided to make it. It only took me 1/2 day to do. I put a zippered pocket into this one as I had a large scrap of fabric left over from making a shirt out of it.

The bag.


The inside showing (kind of) the zippered pocket.

[cmarie12]

Myrna - me too, me too!  I really love what you've done with the top!

[Myrna]

Myrna - me too, me too!  I really love what you've done with the top!

Thanks. Wore it to church today and got lots of compliments AND it's really comfortable. A winner.

- Myrna

[Myrna]

Myrna, I looked at your blog last night and what a wonderful collection you are putting into the Kamloops Art Gallery. I wish I was down there so I could go and see them in real life.

You never know. You might be down sometime in that range. It's on until March 21st.

- Myrna

[Ann]

I will be down on March 6th for 2 weeks and hope I can get in to see your collection. I heard that I might be help to put down the laminate/hardwood upstairs during this coming trip home 

Today I went to Grande Prairie to shop at Fabricland. I did get some good finds. While I was home I worked on potholders for our house. Not a big project but certainly time consuming. I cross hatched the fabric with insulbrite and batting between the 2 pieces of fabric. Then I cut out the pieces and attached a piece of bias binding to the top curve (you guessed it, I made the bias binding). Then I sewed the bias binding around the outside and it took me two tries to get the join to pass inspection. In the picture, the binding is pinned to the back ready for hand stitching. I have the 2nd potholder ready for the binding. These match the casserole carrier I made in September. I will take them home for DH to try out. He has big hands and hates most pot holders. I am trying and am on take two.

Ann

[fzxdoc]

Ann, congrats on finishing up that shopping bag UFO. Great colors! It should make you happy to go shopping, just in case you need incentive that is. Cute potholder, too.

I finished a simple Burda World of Fashion silk doupioni jacket for my DD. The fabrics came from my stash; she came up with them while stashdiving on her last visit. She chose the pattern as well. It has very clean lines, no pockets, and is held closed with hidden magnets.

Here is a photo:


You can see more photos

You can read about the technique and see photos on my blog:


Kathryn

[Ann]

Kathyrn, I quite like the bag. All of my bags to date are made from the same pattern but different fabrics. I will keep making them until I have enough or get some ready to embroider for sale.

We have this thing about potholders in our house. DH is never happy with any we have until I got a pair for Christmas that I hate. I told him tonight about these and he wasn't very enthusiastic about them. We will wait and see as I like these ones.

The coat you made for your daughter is lovely and silk to boot. I love how you used magnetic fasteners and hid them for closures. I too am worried about magnets close to my Diamond. I try to keep the magnetic pin holder a distance away from the machines. I am sure your daughter will enjoy it and the "muslins" you made.

Ann