Month-End Review: February

Rumor has it that spring is just around the corner.

So says this guy.

It snowed this morning, so what does he know?

February was a slower month than last January.  It always is.  It feels like the winter doldrums just sink into your bones and make productivity nearly impossible.

Which is not to say things didn't get done, they just didn't get done on the scale they did the month prior.

Add to that three days of temping in my friend's office (without adequate warning to have lots of handwork to take with me for lunchtime stitching) and I really dropped the ball.

Totals:  20 medium size animals, 10 toddler dresses, 24 microwave bowls, 2 teddy bears and 4 more of the new product (reveal soon, I promise).  Not bad, not spectacular.

On a more pleasant note, scheduling has started for spring craft shows, so that, much more than Mr. Robin here, lets me know that spring is, indeed, on the way.

Month End Review: June 2012

The heat's still on, and I'm still not sewing a whole lot as a result.  Of course not being able to sew is making me want to sew unbelievably badly.

Since the workroom is 110 in the shade, I've been hanging out with the fans, reading, practicing embroidery stitches and plotting future projects.  I've also ducked in and out to work in the garden - outdoor work in short bursts won't kill me, but sustained gardening might just cause me to melt into the compost pile.

Bonnie's still clucking away; I really think Gilda had an underlying problem because even though she's gotten hot and panted a few times, Bonnie's managing just fine with the fan I installed and the occasional freezer pack in the coop on really bad afternoons.  And the patio umbrella angled so she doesn't bake.  Bird has it better than we do, when I think about it.  (I try not to think about it too much).

All this blather leads up to the month-end review for June.  My output is larger than what's pictured here - I did a stack of baby dresses to take up to the consignment store, but I haven't gotten the photos uploaded yet.  I may wait until I finish the next batch.  When I can sew.

So, June. The Burda 9/11 #128 white linen blouse, which I think is finally getting worn tomorrow.  I haven't worn it.  I'm not sure why.  And I'm curious how crisp those pleats will be after walking out into 96 degree, 100% humidity.

Also, KwikSew 3036, the kimono sleeve tee.  I like it.  A lot.  I like it so much there's a version lengthened into a dress lying half-completed on the sewing table.  I'd like to at least work on that soon.

Last but not least, and not really sewing, but at least stitching, the spaceship applique for Mario's shirt.  Which I really enjoyed doing, and even if I didn't, he's worn the shirt twice since then.  That's more than he wore it the last 2 summers.

February 2012: Month End Review

Which should be subtitled "from the sublime to the ridiculous."

And I'm not saying which of my major February projects is which.

The photo above is my friends' little girl, recipient of various cute dresses.  For Christmas, her mother asked if I could make her a Star Doll.  A what? 

Apparently there's a show on Sprout (there's a channel called Sprout?) called the Good Night Show, and there's a star-shaped pillow that sits on the couch.  I don't know if it talks; I don't know if it sings lullabies.  All I know is this cute little girl loves the Star Doll.

So I say yes, but it won't be in time for Christmas, because of craft show obligations, etc.  So I'm not sure what happened in January to make it not happen, but last weekend I realized that it was almost the end of February, the poor kid didn't have her toy yet, and I was about to step into a Titanic lifeboat with a bagload of lace, so I'd better get cracking.

It took me two hours, a yellow bath towel, some red fleece leftover from the sleep sack I made when she was much smaller, and a few other remnants.  Two hours, for two months' procrastination.  That's about right.

On the other end of the scale is the completed princess slip for the 1912 project. I can't believe I made this thing.  Even though it's ridiculously girly (and I am not), and even though it contains more pink than I've worn in the past several years, I love it.

Also produced last month were the BWOF 2/12 tunic and an undocumented BWOF 6/09 batwing top (which I stole from Elizabeth).  Both nice projects but I'm not excited about either.  There were minor issues with the batwing top that I want to fix and then I'll post photos and a review.  The tunic . . . I just feel "meh" about that.

January 2012: Month End Review

Wow, this was a good start to the new year.  Looking at it as I went, I didn't feel like the month was all that productive, but I realized last night as I looked back, I made 8 pieces, and cleared 16 yards of fabric out of my workroom.  (Plus random pieces of knit that moved to Andrea's stash, but that's not the same as sewing; however, it still frees up more space, so I'm all for it).

First off was the tripleheader tshirt day at Annette's sew-in.  It cleared out space and expanded my wardrobe, all in one afternoon.  With snacks and friends included.  How fun is that?

I also made my Retro Striped Dress, which I really love.  I've only worn it once so far, because it's been a little chilly for skirt-wearing, but I really have to suck it up and wear it again.  It could actually be REAL winter instead of this faux-November thing that's confusing every plant in my garden.

Also in January:  Mario's white-and-black shirt (pictured here because he finally wore it last night), my new jeans, the black Party in the Back skirt, and a knit dress which is finished all but the hem, so I'm counting it as January sewing.  Finish work, so long as it does get finished, can run over into the next month.

While I'm waiting for my first Titanic-era pattern to arrive, I started in on a somewhat late Christmas present for a friend's baby.  She loves something on Sprout called the Good Night Show, and her mother was unable to find her something called a Star Doll.  Could I make one?  Apparently I can, out of yellow bath towels, but now there are terrycloth fuzzies all over the sewing table and all I really want to do is work on something else.  I don't have a great future in selfless sewing.  I was pretty sure of that anyway, but this confirms it.  (Shirtmaking doesn't count as selfless sewing; I get a lot out of that in several ways.) 

Beyond finishing up my dress and this strange stuffed object, and anticipating the trials and tribulations of Downton Abbey era dresses, I'm not sure what's up next on the agenda.  Possibly another pair of jeans, since I have them down to assembly line status now, or maybe I'll start playing with my Fatina dress pattern yet again, because it's going to be the basis of my YSL Mondrian dress knockoff. 

Eventually.

Month End Review - November 2011

Well, by the stats it looks like a productive month, but I think that depends on your definition of productive. In number of items made, it looks fabulous: 23 pieces. Yardage, because of what they were, not so much: 11.5 yards. In the number of pieces for me versus pieces for the craft show: the craft show won by 22 to 1.

The only item I finished for myself this month, start to finish, was the gray and black ruffled sweater. Okay, it was a really good piece, but it was one piece.

I also finished my plaid jacket that was almost finished in October, but it was so close to the end that month that I counted it for October. Silly me. It took almost the entire month to do the finish work between one thing and another. Full review of that coming later in the week when I can wear it to work and get photos taken.

Month End Review - September 2011

Even though it doesn't feel like fall (except maybe today, October temps magically dropping even if the rain hasn't gone away), I'm thinking fall sewing. 

Switching sewing seasons seems to have gotten me out of my rut, even if one of my projects won't win any prizes for fit.

September's numbers: 5 projects, 11.5 yards.  Not bad, and only a little less than the amount of fabric I brought home from New York mid-month.

My favorite project for the month (I think) is the Ottobre Autumn Watercolor dress.  It turned out much better than expected, and I can see getting a lot of use from that pattern in the future.

Mario's Dr. Who shirt gets the prize for most appreciated sewing for others EVER.  At least until the Hendrix jacket materializes.

More mundane sewing: KwikSew 3740's cowl neck top, made up in cream sweater knit and at great risk to life, limb and thumb.  It's healing, and the sweater turned out well.

Colette's Clover pants were project #4.  Thumbs up for the pattern, if not for the result I got.  When I recover from looking at those photos, I'll try it again.

Last up, and to be fully reviewed when I wear it, is my third take on Vogue 1250, made from a black, white and gray knit from Metro Textiles, purchased on Elizabeth's shopping day on September 17th.  I love it, though I might have given up the fabric in exchange for her burnt orange cashmere corduroy.  If she'd only let go of it.

Month End Review - July 2011

July was a productive month for me, probably because it was hotter than hell and my workroom is air conditioned. It makes a difference.

The totals for July are 10 items and 15.5 yards. Most of the numbers are taken up with t-shirt fest 2011, which was 5 for me and one for Mario, because he said he felt left out. His is a solid army green, and is in the laundry already, so no photo.

The rest of the month's sewing consisted of dresses: the brown embroidered dress; the yellow border print; and two versions of V1250.

Starting a special project for Mario tonight that will be revealed when he sees it. Not likely he checks in here, but just in case, I'll keep it to myself for a while longer. Let's just say it's one of the most frightening fabrics I've ever seen, and he'll love it - because of that fact.

Also on the list, and also for him, is another pair of cargo shorts. I'm not deliberately sewing for him rather than me; I think I may be getting over summer sewing but a new project hasn't announced itself yet, so I might as well be a nice wife, right?

I've spent some quality time with that shorts pattern I test drove recently, measuring it against all of his favorite shorts. The Simplicity pattern was drafted for a MUCH taller man, which means I removed 3.5" from the length of the leg.  This meant I couldn't attach the pockets where I wanted, but that's okay because I've moved the upper pocket to an inside pocket instead of an applied one, so now they'll look (hopefully) much more RTW. 

Not that he'll care - he just wants them not to fall down and to be able to put all his junk in the pockets.  Style?  That's just a plus.

Month End Review - May 2011

Despite (or because of) my 3 days spent with the wonderful women of Patternreview, May was an oddly productive month. Not everything has made its way completely out of the sewing room yet, but I'm going to list them here because unlike my recent UFO streak, these garments will be finished.
5 garments, 10.5 yards of fabric out of stash for the month (interestingly, that's just about how much fabric I bought in Chicago, so I may break even for May).

First off, I had to make another shirt for Mario out of the black and white stock market print. Andrea made a fabulous skirt out of the same fabric which she will review eventually.

I'm still working on Vogue 5382, the stripe/gingham dress. I had issues and had to take it apart because no matter how I maneuvered the fabric using their layout, I couldn't get the stripes to line up and it was making me batshit. So I just cut the skirt off last night and I'm piecing it together with what little remnants I have and I'm just going to pleat it on the dress form so that I can make it line up where I want. I don't need no stinking Vogue layout. Not if I want it to work, anyway. A perfectly made dress that I won't wear is less useful than an imperfectly made dress that I will wear.

For some reason, the new June Burda mag hit me hard. I made 2 pieces almost immediately, the #120 tshirt (to compare to my TNT KS 3338 shirt), and the #120 A-line shift dress. Which I promise, will be shown on me, or at least on the dress form, when it comes out of the laundry basket. Both of these projects were ridiculously quick and easy, and made me feel like I got a lot more done than I did.

The last project is almost completed, and I'll post a photo and full review soon.  During the madness that was the PR Weekend pattern swap, I managed to snag a man's pattern with a short sleeve shirt (I know, like I need one of those) and cargo shorts.  Now those, I need.  Or rather, he needs.  It's an interesting pattern with a new fly front technique I hadn't tried before.  Turning out very well, except that I really should have measured him before attaching the cargo pockets.  His height is mostly in his upper body, so I'm afraid at this point that the pockets might be longer than the shorts!  But that's what wearable muslins are for.  If I shorten the pockets and reattach them, he'll be none the wiser and I'll know better next time.

There is still inspiration brewing from PR Weekend, and a very specific project that I was hit by today which has nothing to do with PR Weekend. More to come on that one when the idea has jelled a little bit more in my head.

Month End Review - March 2011

I spent a good part of the month of March talking about my lack of motivation, but apparently it wasn't quite as bad as I thought it was.

And I did, at least, knock a few UFOs out of the sewing room, which are more important in the long run than the new projects, because they weigh on me.





This month, I finished a pair of khaki green Jalie jeans (sorry, still no photo); the BWOF 3/07 #122 bias cut skirt, which I love; the KwikSew 2935 "welcome home" shirt for Mario; the My Image M114 pieced skirt; and Butterick 4571, the Queen costume for the upcoming play.

I'm apparently having a skirt thing lately, because I'm currently working on my first project for April (yay, sewing for me!!) and it's another skirt. Part of the reason, I think, is spring and the lack thereof. I feel like dresses and bright colors, but even with the space heater, I can't get the workroom temp above 64, so that kind of puts a damper on my spring fever. Skirts seem like a good midseason compromise.

Today I was going to stop in at a community gardening event around the corner - they're clearing an empty lot and trying to establish a bird sanctuary - but when I went past on my way back from dropping off the costume, there were a surprising number of volunteers there already, so I kept going. Bad, I know, but at least I came home and put in an hour or so in the back yard, spreading compost and planning out where I'm going to put all the plants that will be arriving the first week of May.

And it's hard. Mario was visiting his family this afternoon and when I have the house to myself, it's difficult not to give in to the pull of the sewing machine, so that when he's home I can come out and be social and spend time with him, and hope that he doesn't hear the machine running as I continue working on my project in my head.

Month End Review - February 2011

February was the month of the cranky, unmotivated sewist. According to my handy-dandy spreadsheet, I started 5 different items in February. I finished 2. Out of other 3, 2 are still viable, and one was somewhere between an experiment and a wadder. I will call it failure of fabric to behave as expected, making me cranky and throwing me off into another project.

The baby dress is done all but the hem/trim. Which is why it's not done - I haven't decided if I'm hemming or trimming. When I decide, I'll call it finished.

The other UFO is a sleeveless dress, so no real rush, but that got put aside because I misplaced my silk organza squares I was using to make the welts/openings, of which there are a few. (Sounds strange, but I'm looking forward to proving its not. When I find the stinking organza).

But in the finished category, I have the black/white/gray chenille cropped sweater, which I'm quite happy with, and the BWOF 2/2011 #101 sleeveless dress, which I actually wore to work on today with a matching blue cardi that I forgot I owned. The cardi actually pre-dates the fabric, but it shows that at least I'm consistent in my colors.

This week may not contain a lot of sewing, but I'm going in and tearing up the workroom until I find the missing organza, and the pieces of the unfinished dress.

I hate UFOs. I won the UFO contest on Patternreview in 2007, and I think the embarrassment of having that many scarred me for life.

January: Month End Review

Wow, how did it get to be February already? I think I've just lost track of time, buried here in the snow and the slush and the ice.

Don't get me started on the ice. I'm not among the most graceful of women to begin with, but this morning I was involved in a Busby Berkley/Keystone Kops on ice routine. Walking to the train, the sidewalks of the last block were flooded due to blocked sewers, so we began walking in the street. There were 4 of us, walking in a line, because there was also traffic on the street.

The woman in front hit a slick patch and went down, flat on her back. The second man, behind her, went to assist and he went down. I was third, and I stepped further out into the street to avoid the ice and hit . . . more ice. And the the ground. Person 4 nearly fell on me trying to help me up, and the transit cop who watched this insanity from the train station came out to assist, and he went down too.

Is it less embarrassing when you make an ass of yourself in a group? I don't feel that way, and at this point I'm just thankful that it's too cold to wear anything that might show the Hawaiian sunset of a bruise I have coming up on my left hip. Really impressive.

Back to the sewing. It's been a month of very disparate projects, from my boss's drinking shirt to a sleep sack for my friends' baby to an appliqued tshirt to sweaters to spring tops. A little of everything. Totals for the month were 7 projects, 11.5 yards. Definitely more fabric out than in. (Still holding on my resolve not to buy fabric before PR Chicago, but it's not easy, even with a stash like mine).

So here are the projects: 2 KwikSew 3470 sweaters (both worn twice already), a blouse from January 2011 Burda (and many groveling thanks to Elizabeth for lending me the issue until I could re-up my subscription), the drinking shirt is KwikSew 2935, a different men's shirt than I generally use and one much more appropriate for casual wear. The baby bag is a combination Burda/Frankenpattern. The appliqued tshirt is an Old Navy RTW tshirt that I decided to play with because I got inspired by the new (to me) Natalie Chanin Alabama Studio Style.

Despite feeling like I got almost no sewing done this month because of the wedding and all the lead-up to it, apparently I did manage to find some time to escape to my happy place.

More of that later this week - I'm taking a half personal day on Friday because the plumber is coming out to do some scheduled work, and he won't take the whole afternoon, or at least I hope not. We decided to treat ourselves to a functioning downstairs toilet with some of our wedding money; it seemed like a good use of the cash and because we're going to be hosting Easter dinner this year, it will be nice to have the powder room usable because some people can't do stairs.

Month End Review - December 2010

Busy, busy, busy.

December was eaten up by 2 types of sewing: holiday (to be expected) and our seat of the pants decision to get married in January, bringing about some hasty wedding-type sewing.

All in all, I made 14 pieces in December, but only used up something in the area of 17 yards of fabric (craft show items and gifts are pretty small).

The small ticket items: 6 beaded velvet scarves for the craft show, and 3 turtlenecks from the BWOF September issue, one for me, one for Mario's sister, and one for my housemate. One was navy, one was gray and one was purple, but they were all sewn with black thread, so I could knock them out in an evening.

One of my favorites was the dress I made for a friend to give as a baby gift - I'm really enjoying making the small stuff, and it fits in with my thrift store / recycling ethic. And it's cute!

The Lazy Girl Gracie handbag for my soon-to-be mom-in-law was made from remnants of several previous projects, including her 2006 Christmas bag. (She liked it it and wore it out; why re-invent the wheel?)

And drumroll, . . . the Tiffany blue french-cuffed wedding shirt for him, and the dress and jacket for me, which is as yet only being seen in pieces. I promise, I promise, there will be real photos of both pieces soon.

Month End Review - November 2010

November was productive, though I don't have many things to show you here.

November marked my victory over the dreaded welt pocket, a foe who has skulked in the corners of my workroom for years, striking fear into my heart and sewing machine. Take that, welt pockets. You are history.

My plaid jacket, BWOF 1/2008 #127, is definitely one of my favorite pieces for the year, mostly because of the pockets and bound buttonholes, but also because I love the combination of the plaid with the leather and the red lining. It makes me happy just looking at it.

My most recent project is the BWOF baby dress for my co-worker's soon-to-be-baby. Quick, cute and just what I wanted to give.

I also filled a hole in the wardrobe this month by making myself a black 10-gore skirt from an old Ottobre issue (can't find it now to figure out which one it was). I needed a longer, fuller black skirt, and that fit the bill.

Craft show sewing is also history - I finished 11 more pieces in November. Glad to be done with sewing for the show, but looking forward to the proceeds which can be invested in new fabric in 2011.

Last but not least, I made 2 partial muslins for my soon-to-be-dress. I've got the bodice where I want it now, so maybe next up I'll explain what I started with and where it ended up.

Month End Review - October 2010

October was a good month.

By the numbers it might not have been my most productive, but I was happy with everything that came out of the workroom, and that doesn't always happen.

First off was the appliqued linen skirt, probably my favorite piece of the entire month, and one that will definitely make my year end list this year. I LOVE that skirt.

Vacation intervened in the sewing a little, but on the other hand, it did cause me to finally reline my navy blue pea coat I bought at the thrift store last year. Which would not have happened if I hadn't ripped the lining out the week before we left for Belgium, forcing me to do it.

Hey, whatever works, right?

I also knocked out yet another KS 3338 tshirt, this time in a solid (which hardly happens in my wardrobe), but with ruffles (which also hardly ever happen in my wardrobe. So that's a nice change.

I also finished 8 pieces for the craft show, less than I wanted, but I was getting to the point of wanting to put all the craft show stuff in a trash can and set it on fire, so I decided a break was in order. The break was cutting out and starting the plaid-and-leather jacket, which is near completion.

By the end of the weekend, the jacket will be done and reviewed, and I'll be back to craft show sewing again. Thankfully submissions are due by December 9th, so there's an end in sight.

Just think, last year I welcomed the craft show sewing because it gave me a focus while dealing with my aunt's drama; this year, since the dust has settled, I keep thinking of so many other things I'd rather be sewing.

Including - maybe - a few Christmas presents this year. Maybe. I'd still rather sew for me.

Month End Review - September 2010

Talk about productive; talk about mostly uninteresting. September was an all time high of 25 items sewn, however, most of them (20 of them) were for the upcoming craft show and therefore while they count as sewing, they don't really register with me as interesting sewing. Once I developed those patterns, I lost interest and just go on auto-sew. Which at least makes the repetition go faster.

In the interesting-sewing category, I made 2 more of the BWOF 9/10 turtleneck, one in a charcoal gray with black and white stripes and also a sleeveless version in black rib knit. Quick and very, very useful. The black would have had sleeves except after cutting out the front and back, I realized I only had scraps of fabric left. But this is actually good because it will go under a lot of my heavier jackets and I won't melt at the office.

I made myself a pair of black TNT pants after chucking the old ones. These had a longer inseam, for heels and boots. Now I need to make a shorter pair, for the days I wear flats or low heels. For you lucky tall people, a long inseam for me is 31". The second pair will be 29.5". Funny, I feel like my legs are longer than that.

Last, and smallest, but certainly not least, is the pink velvet baby dress and matching bonnet. We're going down on Sunday to visit parents and baby, and I can't wait. I don't have any siblings, but these friends are close enough that I'm going to get to be Auntie Karen once the little widget can talk.

Now I'm just basking in the (relative) tidiness of my workroom and trying to figure out what, if anything, I need to make prior to our vacation. I can go to Europe for a week with less clothes than some women take for a long weekend, so I think I'm probably good. Which does not mean I won't be making something new to wear the night before we leave. for Belgium.

August: Month End Review

August was a pretty productive month - a couple of labor-intensive projects, like the finally finished and photographed gray pinstriped suit (full blog post coming soon).

The total for the month was 7 projects: pinstriped skirt, pinstriped jacket, McCall 6171 denim jacket muslin, BWOF 9/10 #121 turtleneck, white KwikSew tank for under the pinstriped suit and something else that I'm trying to remember. The post-it on the computer monitor says "7 projects," so I'm assuming there were 7.

As important, if not more so, was the great New York bonding event of August 28, 2010 - it started out as a meetup and turned into something way more fun. It's always so inspiring to get together with other fabric-obsessed women and compare projects (fairly easy since we're usually wearing something new and noteworthy to the event).

Besides the companionship, some really good fabrics followed me home, one of which was already put to good use in the BWOF 9/10 turtleneck. (And actually there's another turtleneck ready to join the fall wardrobe, made from a PR Weekend fabric, another one in solid black cut out and ready to sew).

I also picked up some trim in NY that has gotten me thinking about Butterick 5147 again. I lost interest in the sheath dress sewalong when the pinstriped skirt struck me, but the trim made me think about the fabric, which made me think about the dress. Not sure if I'm ready to work on it yet, but it's rising to the top of the pile.

What I'm really starting to think about are fall clothes. More on that later.

July: Month End Review

Considering the number of unbearably hot days this month (worse in the workroom than anywhere else, even with AC) and the fact that I had a houseguest who distracted me from the act of sewing, if not from talking about it, a total of 5 pieces for July isn't too bad!

This month marked my first attempt at the Jalie 2908 jean, an attempt that will definitely be repeated because these will get some wear if and when it's ever cool enough to wear jeans again. I've got some stretch khaki in the stash, though, and I'm thinking about doing a pair in that because I need a pair of casual work pants and I can improve on the jeans with a better fly front zipper this time. And I still want to try them in non-stretch denim as well.

I also made the purple ladybug baby dress for my expecting friends, and have promised another dress for the upcoming baby shower. I haven't figured out which pattern I'm going to use yet, but it's got to be in a 6 month size because it's going to be her first Easter dress.

In the true experimental sewing category, I finished my first ever strapless dress for myself (proper review to follow). Now it just needs a matching shrug or jacket because it's not going to get a lot of wear as is.

But as experiments go, it was pretty successful.

In other words, I haven't fallen out of it.

Last but not least, I made 2 versions of one of my favorite dresses, BWOF 5/09 #113. The striped dress came out well, considering how it fought me, but the piped floral version that I just finished will definitely make it onto my year-end review as one of my favorite pieces for 2010. I LOVE that dress, but I think I'm going to retire the pattern for a while.

I also put together 6 beaded velvet scarves for the Christmas craft show, but those are just busywork for watching TV and don't count too much as "real" sewing.