macgyver to the rescue again

i managed to get myself chosen to do another pattern testing last week, and this time the compensation included not just a free pattern but a sweet $20 deposit into my paypal account upon completion.  not a bad deal for something i enjoy doing anyway, amirite?

the pattern was for another peplum top with a fluttery sleeve, meant to be sewn using a woven fabric vs. the knits i've been pretty much exclusively working with.  i don't typically like making things with woven fabrics anymore for a few reasons - they usually require some sort of closing apparatus, like buttons or snaps or a zipper.  i'm too damn lazy for that business.  and then there's the fact that those items usually require ironing to look nice.  again...no thanks.  especially now that it's starting to get hot again?  ironing?  psssssshhhh.

a few months ago, i finally got rid of the majority of the non-knit fabrics from my extensive stash.  i found a lady locally who makes quilts and donates them to children and veterans hospitals, and she was more than happy to take my hodgepodge collection of cotton fabrics.  i'd kept just a couple of piles that i liked, and so i busted them out to complete my first test.

the first one was a lightweight cotton that had a pretty eyelet pattern throughout the fabric and a decorative border along one edge.  i figured it would work perfectly - this even meant i didn't have to hem the peplum!  laziness wins again!

i printed out the pattern, assembled it, cut out the fabric pieces and got to work.  it was a pretty easy one to do - just two sleeve pieces, a front and back bodice, and two peplum pieces.  the instructions were simple and i was breezing along happy as a clam.  i was on one of the last few steps - attaching the gathered peplum to the bottom of the bodice and was feeling pretty confident when i looked away for just a second and caught a little piece of it underneath my serger needles...which ended up looking like this.

D-OH.  here's a closeup of my blunder:

i. was. so. mad.  because the serger automatically trims the edge of the fabric as you sew, i knew that even if i undid the stitches my problem wouldn't be solved.  and this is what it looked like after i'd taken my seam ripper to it:

BAH.  i took a day off and then decided to tackle the pattern again using a different piece of fabric that i thought might work.  this one was a little heavier cotton, and had some fun pink and orange stripes embroidered into it.  i managed to complete it without any major screwups, but found that i didn't like the fit on me.  instead, i got the old lady to model it for my submission:

it's not her usual style, and i told her i was going to add it to our "donate" pile, but she said that she'd find an occasion to wear it since i'd taken the time to sew it up.  and when i say "it's not her usual style," that's putting it VERY lightly.  this is a girl who's usually in basic tees and pants, more often than not in dark colors.  this is pretty much the opposite of anything she's usually willing to wear.  heh.

as for that first top, i realized that i could potentially salvage it at least for the photos i needed to turn in for my assignment.  i attempted to zigzag stitch the jagged cut edge of my mistake, hemmed the neck and sleeves and stood turned slightly to my right as i covered the screwup with one hand.  i got the bean to take a couple of pictures, and so this is what i turned in along with the pictures of the headless old lady:

worked like a charm.  and if i hadn't told you about it, you'd never even realize there was a big ol' piece cut out of that top.  right?  

i'm gonna use that $20 for a manicure.  i think i earned it.

even more pattern testing

i was super excited when i finally got chosen for my first pattern testing a couple of weeks ago. and even more so when it was with a designer whose patterns i adore - patterns for pirates. disclaimer again...that's my affiliate link, which means that if you use it to buy a pattern you're helping a sista earn some fun money. 

the pattern i got to test out was for girls, which meant that the bean would be the lucky recipient of my efforts. this was called the favorite tee, with options for top, tunic and dress lengths. i was excited to get started and cut out her size according to the measurements i took. 

except that i didn't realize that that size wouldn't be the right one for her sleeve and dress length. i'd been assigned to do the round neck dress with 3/4 sleeves, and the size i chose for her ended up looking more like a nightgown. 

d-oh! but now i knew i needed to adjust my pattern, using the size 14 width but the size 10 for lengths. i decided to cut into some rayon spandex that i'd been hoarding for her, with a super cute peter pan theme. this time i was much happier with how it turned out, and we went into the back yard to do some modeling shots. 

those shots kill me, because she just looks too damn grown up. although i have to say this is my favorite one...and i have no idea where she might have seen this pose. it's not like she reads fashion blogs...or does she??

and today, as we kick off spring break 2017, we're at our favorite place in the whole world. seemed like a good time to bust it out:

you know what else is cool? when you look at the example photos in the pattern (as well as the pattern i showed you yesterday!), you get to see pictures of the bean (and me, in my pattern). it's super cool for an attention whore like me. 

i just picked up the pattern in women's sizes and still have some of that peter pan fabric...maybe it's time for a mommy & me outfit. ya think?
 
 

 

 

sewing with a deadline

last week, i was lucky enough to be selected to be a tester for a pattern with bella sunshine designs (disclaimer:  that's my affiliate link!).  there are quite a few of these "pdf designers" out there who create some fantastic patterns for sewing that are pretty awesome.  so instead of going to a local sewing store and picking up a paper pattern from one of the "big 5" (you know, like mccalls, butterick, simplicity, etc.), you can buy these online, download instantly and print them out to use right away.  the instructions are easy to follow and pretty much anyone from a beginner level seamstress can create their own custom apparel.  i've been sewing with these kinds of patterns for a couple of years now and i love it.

BSD came out with a dress called the "sahara" for girls not too long ago.  it's a really good basic pattern with different options for sleeve lengths and top, tunic or dress lengths.  i really wanted to pick it up to make some stuff for the bean to wear over the spring and summer months, but she's sized out of most of the girl patterns out there.  and so when they put out a call for testers for the adult version, i jumped on it even though the deadline was pretty tight.  luckily, i can sew pretty fast and knew i'd be able to get my sample done in time.

i was super stoked to receive my assignment - it was only my second test ever, with the first one having been just the week before.  i was to make a sleeveless top in my size, and while i'm not typically a peplum top kinda girl, i figured it was time to step out of the comfort zone and give it a shot.

just like i'd expected, the pattern was super easy to follow.  i read through the instructions a couple of times, printed out the pattern and got to work.  the pattern comes in a PDF file, with layers you can turn on and off to show the specific size you need, and then you assemble it using the guidelines and markings printed on the pages.  i usually stand at the sliding glass window with a pile of paper and a roll of scotch tape to make sure i line the pages up properly.  the girls used to think i was a little nutty when they'd walk in and see me doing this, but then when they got their new top or dress or whatever i was working on they got over it.  heh.

in my stash, i found the perfect fabric to use for my first go at the top.  i'd picked up about four yards of some basic turquoise knit downtown a few months ago, and it was in their clearance rack.  this stuff was $.88 a yard!  i hadn't had any plans for it, and it was just right for what i needed to do.  

of course, as i finished the bodice, i got a notification that the pattern had been adjusted based on some feedback from earlier testers.  bah.  and so i printed the new version, cut it out and went back to work.  it was also the first time i was using clear elastic, which was called for in the instructions.  i usually skip that step, but since i was testing i figured i'd better follow them exactly as they were laid out.  i'm still not sure if it made a difference in the final product, but whatever.  i'm a rule follower, people.

here's my $1.50 top...worn over a pair of shorts i'd also sewn up just a week ago, and photographed by the bean using my phone.  woohoo!

when it was time to sew up my final version of the top, i stupidly decided to use a sweater knit that i thought would work nicely.  and it did in every way...except for the damn stripes.  i managed to get the stripes to match on the bodice (which i was actually pretty stinking proud of!), but when it came to the peplum i wasn't thinking as i cut it out and it ended up looking like...well, this.

it looks crazy, right?  like, what the hell are those stripes even supposed to be doing?  not to mention, with them being so wide and going across instead of down, i look really...wide.  blech.  here's the side and back view:

i will say that i love how it fits, and it's comfy and overall looks pretty good if you disregard my fabric selection.  i've got plans to make a couple more, although this time i'm going to make them in dress length and probably give the short sleeves a shot too.  

and for sure, i'm avoiding stripes.  good gracious.

if you're interested in purchasing this pattern, here's my link again - and the disclaimer again that this is an affiliate link.  i mean, it's not much, but fun money is fun money, amirite?  mama needs a new pair of shoes.  or something.  whatever.  buy the damn pattern.  ha!