Vogue 8536

I've always hated sewing with knits.  Every once in awhile, I'll try it again because it would be nice to have some shirts that I don't have to iron.  Up to this point, I have only made one knit shirt that I have liked and worn more than a few times.  Well, here is another try, Vogue 8536.

It took me two weeks to make this (including the time that it took to make the worlds ugliest muslin.)  I added one inch to the length and took some of the shoulder width out.  It fits pretty well, but the fabric (ITY) is pretty thin and it clings to a lot of things I don't want clung to.

The sewing part actually went ok.  I used a stretch needle on my regular sewing machine and my serger for the shoulder and side seams.  There are a few unattractive parts on the inside, but I can live with that.  The pattern is pretty simple and as long as I went slowly and paid careful attention to my serger tension I was fine.  I might be willing to make another of these, but I'll wear it a few times before I make a decision.  Also, I would like it better if it was lower cut.  I'm a hussy that way.

Simplicity 9505

Hey!  I made something.  Nothing fancy, though.  Last Sunday I felt kinda good, so I thought I would make something simple from my stash.  I grabbed some cotton lawn, and a nightgown pattern and went to town.

Here is a detail of the top.

Not that many construction details here.  I made my own drawstrings and bias tape, and the pattern instructions were pretty straightforward.  I did have to go in after I was done and remove about 2 inches  from each side under the armpit.  It was way too loose.  Nothing to write home about here, but it was nice to get something done.

Dream Sewing

So, I finally got to see an endocrinologist, and we are in the process of narrowing down what is wrong with me.  (It looks like hyperparathyroidism, which is annoying, but easy to treat. I just need a few more tests to make sure.)  So, no sewing here.  But I am thinking a lot about it and what I would like to be working on. Here are a few projects that I started and still want to finish.  Everything else unfinished in the past, I am going to let go.

Sewing Through the Decades: I started this challenge over a year ago, which was to sew a dress from each decade from the 1920's on up.  I got stuck in the 20's because the dress I was making was horrific.  (The 20's silhouette is not really great on my figure.)  I am thinking now that anything from each decade would be okay.  I love this 1920s bridge jacket from Decades of Style.

Mystery Box Challenge:  I would like to finish up my mystery box challenge mentioned here.  (I received 4 fabrics in a Fabric Mart mystery bundle and I need to use them all up.)  I made one project - my color block dress - and got bogged down.  I have 2 weird fabrics and one really nice one left.  I think I am going to see what dying this one blue will do, and then maybe turn it into a spring skirt.

Craftsy Classes:  I have purchased three Craftsy Classes.

• Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dress with Gretchen Hirsch
• The Couture Dress with Susan Khalje
• Sew Retro: The Starlet Suit Jacket with Gretchen Hirsch

I don't really want to make the bombshell dress, but I got the class because I was interested in the techniques.  I do however want to make the Couture Dress and the Starlet Suit Jacket.  (Can I mention my dislike for the couture label that gets slapped on everything.  Using couture techniques does not a couture dress make.)  I tend to take the easy way out when making clothes, but I would like to have some nicer techniques under my belt.