A 6 Pac for Moi!!! An Unconventional One!!!

I don't have it in me to sew a SWAP, so I am sewing a 6-Pac . . . an unconventional one.  I'm using only stash notions, patterns and fabric--my stash is really small right now and I want to use it up.

I'll be centering it around this pale blue RTW sweater that I've had for ages--it's not part of the 6 Pac . . . it's the extra RTW piece in my unconventional 6 pac:

I'm not normally mad about blues or pastels, but I really like this sweater in this color! Go figure!

My colors will be blue and yellow. I won't be sewing any bottoms as the dresses are stand alones and I'll be wearing the tops with jeans that I already have.

So far, I've decided to make these pieces:

New Look 6051--the only knit that I'm planning to sew:

OOP McCalls 5042--woven cotton--I'll probably change the neckline:

 

New Look 6002 in a yellow monochromatic printed cotton pique--I don't like the bottom pleats so I'll be sewing it with a darted fitted bottom:

New Look 6067 is a dress pattern, but I'll be sewing a top from this in a solid yellow--it'll look similar to this:

That's all I've settled on so far. Hopefully, I'll be able to find something from Mad Men in a yellow or blue that can be incorporated into this 6 pac--I'd love to sew either a top or a dress in a large yellow gingham check!

I will probably sew OOP Simplicity 4182 as my topper/jacket, but haven't decided on the color, yet:

I will probably sew the jacket last.

I'll do a concept board later and will put it in the side bar.

If you don't have it in you to sew a full SWAP, go sew yourself a 6 pac, like me, and make this day a good one! :-)

Misc Stuff - Not Sewing Related

A business actually has this posted on their front door! LOL!!!

Make this day a good one!

I'm Really Liking Butterick!!!

I was just looking at patterns and am really liking Butterick these days!

First of all, they have these TDF dresses--some of the patterns are new to their catalog, some have been around for a while!

And then there are these magnificent tops:

I would love to have all of them in my wardrobe!!!

Make this day a good one!

Taking Down a Michael Kors Top . . . a Re-Do!

I have a Michael Kors top in my wardrobe that I haven't worn much. It has puffed sleeves and is a little to big for me. I'm a size S or XS and it's a size M. Even if they didn't have my size, I liked the print and color, and it fit well enough for RTW, so I got it anyway. I probably could have lived with it being a little too big, but I could not stand the puffed sleeves.

I was about to toss it when I decided to alter it into something I'd like better. One sleeve was off when it dawned on me that you might want to see the process, so I took some pics.  . . . voila:

Here's the top with one sleeve already removed:

Here it is inside out:

The armholes are too low for me, so I am shortening the yoke at the shoulder--the higher neckline will work better for me, too:

To get rid of the super loose fit, I'm taking in the sides. I don't want this to be a fitted top, so I'm only taking it in from the armhole to the waist. Altering it like that will give it the illusion of being a loose fitting top, but it won't look sloppy because it will actually be semi-fitted from the bust to the waist and loose fitting from the waist to the hem.

 



I'm finishing the armhole with a narrow rolled hem:

When all of that is done, I'm handstitching the yoke closed. And when that's done, I'll have an altered RTW top that I'll really like and that no one else has! :-)


Hopefully, the alterations on the Kors top will go quickly so I'll be able to start on the New Look 6071 top that I've mentioned here before--this one:

If I have time, I want to make this OOP McCalls dress, too:

Make this day a good one!

My Pale Yellow RTW Tunic - shortened

I have had a pale yellow RTW tunic for ages, but have not been wearing it because it was too long. I've actually been thinking about giving it away for a while now, but didn't because I really like it.

It's loose fitting, has extended shoulder 3/4 length sleeves, is made of wrinkle resistant linen, has monochromatic embroidery and understated tiny silver beading that I absolutely love. I'm petite, and it's a junior sized tunic that originally ended right above my knees. That length doesn't work for me--it never has. But at hip length, it is perfect, so I shortened it to hip length, added side vents, and took in the sleeves so they would be fitted at the bottom.

I now have a perfect Spring-Summer top that will go well with white bottoms--think shorts, bermudas, clam diggers, and even a skirt. It'll go well with pale blue jeans, too--love pale yellow with pale blue!

Voila!

I have been quite busy and can't believe I actually altered the tunic so quickly! Well, quickly after deciding to finally do it, anyway.

Hopefully, the NL 6071 pale blue and white knit top will be just as quick. But, uhhh . . . I won't be holding my breath. LOL!

Make this day a good one!

McCalls 6444 - A Cozy Alternative!

I sewed McCalls 6444:

It is a PERFECT alternative to the cozy!

I like the cozy just fine, but to sew a cozy takes 2 yards of fabric. I made View A from McCalls 6444, which has a similar style effect, but takes much less fabric. I sewed mine with the cuffed sleeves from the Simplicity cozy pattern and the entire thing took a little less than 1 3/8 yard of 60" wide fabric. It is economical on yardage for sure!

What I like about the design is that it starts draping higher than the cozy because of the collar. I love that about this!

I used a soft and drapey gray and white knit that is perfect for this style.

Note that the pattern drawing makes it look like this has extended shoulders, but when I sewed mine, it sewed up as regular set in sleeves. Not certain, but it might have been because I used the sleeves from the Simplicity cozy pattern. The regular set in sleeves make this look casual, but not sloppy. And I like that!

If you want a cozy alternative, definitely check out this pattern!

And make this day a good one!

A Pineapple. No, really, a pineapple!

I was at the grocery store earlier this week and while waiting for the produce clerk to cut a quarter of a watermelon for me, I looked around at what they had and saw some miniature pineapples. It piqued my intertest because this is my fave fruit juice:

It contains no added sugar:

The pineapples were soo cute that I went to take a closer look. They were on sale for 39 cents a pound. At that price, I definitely wanted to buy one. The only problem is that since I've never bought pineapples before, I didn't know how to pick one. I've eaten fresh pineapples, but I've never had to buy or clean one before.

When the clerk came back, I asked him about the pineapples. Whoa! He gave me a whole lesson on how to pick pineapples! I'm not kidding!

He taught me and now I'll teach you.

1. He had me smell two different ones so I would know how the good one smells. When you smell it, it should smell like a pineapple. If it doesn't have a smell, it's still too green.
2. And then he showed me how the pineapple should look--it should be the color of the pineapple in my pic. The pineapple should look like that all around. It shouldn't have any green spots. If it has green spots, you'll have to let it ripen a little after you get it home.
3. And after that, he told me to feel it. It should be firm. He told me to feel it all around and that if it's soft anywhere, don't buy it because it will be mushy inside.  
4. After that, I asked him how to clean it and he said to just pare it like an apple.

He was spot on on all points.

He picked my pineapple--it's the one he used to compare. And I have to say, it is perfect! It's sweet and it's also juicy! And it's not mushy at all. When I cleaned it, I did exactly what he said, and it turned out perfectly! That guy knows his stuff! I really appreciate when people know their stuff!

And here's the watermelon I bought. I seeded it and cut it:

It's Summer and all sorts of fruits are around right now. There's no need to stick to just run of the mill fruits like cherries, pears, apples and oranges. Branch out.

Buy your regular snacks, but also definitely buy fruits. When fruits require a lot of preparation, clean them and put them in containers as soon as you get them home so they'll be ready to eat whenever anyone's hungry and needs a snack. If you do this, who knows, you and your family might start eating healthier without even meaning to!

If you want to see similar posts, just search my blog for the word food.
Make this day a good one!
Em