M5884 & S2422 - Set #4 - Done

I can never have too many sleeveless tops to wear under jackets and sweaters.

I love the sleeveless tops from McCalls 5884 and Simplicity 2422--they wear like basics because they are so versatile, but the styles are trendy.  I have 3 sets in my wardrobe--white, navy and a metallic beige.  Yes, I am the type to buy one in every color that suits me when I find things I love in RTW.  :-)

Now I have a 4th set.  In crimson red:

 Both patterns are already OOP.  They are both beloved TNTs for me.  If they're your style, too, but they're not in your stash, well, sorry you missed them. 

They are super quick and easy to sew!  I started sewing at 6:30 in the evening and was finished with both 2 1/2 hours later.--that would be 9 pm.


That's all I had time for. 

On hiatus!

On indefinite hiatus!

Bad Day, by Daniel Powter. Sing or just enjoy the music!

Oh, and if you sing, sing LOUD!!! :-)


Karaoke version:




Billy Draper's video version:




Chipmunks version:




Live version:




Disney version:




Spongebob's version:




Thanks for stopping by!

Sewing for the Hourglass

Contrary to what a lot of people think, being categorized as an hourglass has nothing to do with boobage size. It's all about the side silhouette.

The hourglass has shoulders and hips that are approximately the same in width, and a waist that is noticeably smaller--around 10" smaller.

Sewing for this shape is relatively easy, if you don't follow the pattern instructions. When it comes to pattern instructions, we hourglasses have to go our own way if we want our clothes to fit.

Pattern instructions for tops or dresses that join a bodice to a bottom usually advise you to sew the front bodice to the back bodice, and the front bottom to the back bottom. And then it instructs you to sew the top to the bottom.

If you are an hourglass, don't do that. If you follow those directions, it will be difficult to contour the sides of what you are sewing to your hourglass side curves.

Instead, sew the front bodice to the front bottom, then sew the back bodice to the back bottom. Sew the shoulder seams, and then baste the sides.

Try it on and pin the back closed. The minimal amount of pinning that you will probably be able to get away with will be to pin at the neckline, waist, and hips.

After you have the pins pretty much holding the back closed, take a good look at the fit of the sides in the mirror. If you see that you need to take it in a little more at the waist, pinch the fabric to see how much you need to take out. Split that amount between the side seams. If you pinch out 4 inches, pin out 2 inches on each side right at the waist. From that point, place your pins so they taper back to the regular seams. Baste, then try it on. 

Keep adjusting until you are satisfied with the fit.

For styles without a waist seam, sew the darts or princess seams, then sew the shoulders. and baste the sides. Pin the opening (front or back) closed so you'll be able to see how it fits. If you need to take it in a little, split the amount you need to take in between the side seams. If you need to take in a lot, split that amount among ALL of the seams (darts, princess seams, sides seams). You can play around with the amounts to take out of each, so you'll get the most flattering fit.

If you follow this method, you will be able to sew fitted clothes for yourself that follow your shape, but that are not tight.

It always works for me, and it should work for you!

Make this day a good one!  

McCalls 6444 - And the fun continues - Green & White Striped Cardi - Done!

I love McCalls 6444:

I've made it several times before. It's a TNT, so nothing new to say about this one. If you want to read the past posts about it, go here and here.

This time around, I made it with a fun green and white striped knit to match the top that I just posted about.

It's part of a twinset that almost wasn't because of operator error.

I cut the front and back for the cardi, and then I got really enthused about the matching top and cut out all of the pieces for it. After I was finished, I realized that I didn't cut the sleeves for the cardi! UGH!!! And all I had left were scraps!!!! OMG!!!

I looked at the scraps and frantically went through them! I could easily cut the cuffs, but nothing was big enough for the sleeves. And then I remembered throwing some scraps away earlier, so I checked the sewing trash can. Voila! Two pieces just barely big enough to cut the sleeves!!! YAY!!!


Here's my new cardi . . . with sleeves and with the matching top!

Well, that concludes my weekend wrap up!

Make this day a really good one!

Butterick 3391 - Navy Knit Top with Asymmetrical Neckline

Butterick 3391 is a TNT for me.

I've made the sleeveless version of the top with the asymmetrical neckline several times before and I just made it again!

Since it's a TNT, the pattern was already adjusted to fit me--that would be hourglass and petite adjustments, and a slightly higher neckline!!!

Here it is:

The only design change that I made was to convert the side gathers to side tucks.

Actual machine stitching time was 1 minute 11 seconds. And it took me all of 1/2 hour to finish it.

Up next is McCalls 6444, another TNT cardi.

Butterick 5429 - Navy Knit Top with Neck Twist

I sewed Butterick 5429 with a navy knit:

I made it 'as is' when the pattern first came out, and just as I expected, it looked awful on me. I really liked the neck twist, but the wide neckline and the extended shoulders had to go!

So I took out my trusty drafting tools and redrafted the pattern to suit me.


This is the first go round--before I took the neckline in:

When I adjusted the neckline on the second draft, it was perfect!!!

Heads up, this is a very loose fitting top! I had to take mine in considerably. But after all was said and done, it turned out perfectly! Not only that, but it was super easy to sew!

I actually timed the machine stitching time. OMG! It took me only 1 minute and 40 seconds to machine stitch all the seams (front seam, shoulder seams, yoke seams, back seam, side seams, etc.). It took time to also stop and pin, etc., but actual stitching time was 1 minute and 40 seconds. Amazing!!!!

Figure out your actual stitching time, and you will be amazed at how much besides machine stitching goes into sewing.

Here's my top:

And here's a close up of the twist:

I like it so much that I'm thinking that I need one in each of my fave colors!!! :-)


Up next is an asymmetrical neckline navy top from another TNT--Butterick 3391.

Simplicity 2650 - Redrafted Navy Cardi

I made another one of my redrafted cardis. If you want to read about how I changed Simplicity 2650 to come up with this style, go here.

But before you go, here's my new navy cardi:

It looks more business-like because I changed it a little. I stitched an opening in one side of the center front tie so the other side could slip through. I haven't worn it, yet, but I'm thinking I'll wear it with pins to keep the ties in place.

Up next is Butterick 5429 - a navy top with a neck twist.