Black Forest Shirt

I quite liked Burda’s JJ shirt. It fit my boobs, which I’ve found is a hard fit to find. Much like my previous shirt, I had no problems, especially since I’d all ready figured out the pattern. That didn’t stop me from messing up on the sleeves.

I don’t own many items that are patterned, so this is a very welcome addition to my wardrobe. The fabric was another JoAnn clearance find. We finding a trend in how I buy fabric?

The second go on this pattern was definitely easier. I do think I could have taken it in a bit around my abdomen, but there’s no easy way for me to do that at the moment. The only mistake I made was cutting the slit in the sleeves. I snipped them so the opposite sides had the slits in them, which would have made the shirt look odd. I improvised and fixed the slits by adding a cut on the opposite side of the original slits. So now I have two slits on the sleeves as opposed to one.

I had to fix some of my buttons. They don’t line up with the button holes so well, I’m blaming a lack of sleep on that...

Skirt Around it

I don’t wear skirts often. In part because I have to bike to classes. I found the Kaisa pattern on Burda, for free of course. I’m a poor graduate student, I don’t have money to shell out, it all goes to food and the gremlins that are supposed to write my papers.

The fabric for the skirt was another piece I had in my stash, no surprise there. I had found the fabric on clearance at JoAnns and my first thoughts was ‘ooooo pencil skirt!’ This isn’t exactly a pencil skirt, but I can make peace with that.

As all Burda patterns go, this was a pain to try to figure out, but once figured it was smooth sailing. I’m not sure who writes the instructions for the patterns, but larger pictures and clearer instructions would really be nice.

I cut the fabric out with the lovely zig zag scissors. The fabric likes to shed, a lot. Even after pinking the fabric I sewed the edges with a zig zag stitch to stop the sucker from shedding too much. At times like this I wish I had a serger. There is a very slight difference from the right side of the fabric to the wrong side. Part of the back panels were sewed on with the wrong side facing the world. I didn’t notice this until I was sewing the waistband on. There was no way I was going back to correct that. It’s not too noticeable unless someone is checking out my butt intently. Even then, I highly doubt he (or she) will know anything about fabric.

The button holes gave me a slight bit of problem, as did sewing the buttons on. No surprise there. Although, I think I’m getting better at button holes. Practice does make perfect, who would have thought!

Sleep Tight

Well... I’ve got my last research paper done and turned in. Thankfully that is done! Er- well, almost done. I just have a photography project to finish and another short essay to write up. What kind of teacher assigns a short essay after a research paper is due? There’s only one more week left in the quarter! -grumble-

On the occasion that my paper writing is momentarily done, I thought I’d share a project. My mom sent me two skeins of yarn back in March because she can’t crochet with the fuzzy yarn. She thought I could knit them into something. My resume of knitting includes scarves. That’s it. I’ve tried to learn how to purl, and failed miserably. I didn’t try anything fancy with this yarn though.

The fuzzy plush-ness is ideal for baby blankets. Not that I know anyone who is pregnant at the moment. I’ll just stock up for when my friends start getting married and popping out children. Or my mother will steal them and give them to people.

I used connected needles for this which was a first. I have a number of these needles that I inherited from my grandmother. Finally I can say I put them to good use. I’ve only finished one skein of yarn so far. I’m half way through the second blanket, which may or may not be finished before this quarter is over. It depends on how productive I wish to be on my last projects...

On a Hot Summer's Day

When I take notes for my classes I normally lug my computer with me on my half an hour bike ride. I find it much easier to type at rapid speed than to write and risk attempting to decipher my handwriting later. In transporting my computer so often I found that my folders and notebooks liked to attack my laptop with color (I think they’re jealous). To protect my computer from my aggressive notebooks I sewed a laptop cover.

I did this without a pattern. The first go at this was too small and the laptop cover became a pillow cover, complete with a zipper.

I’m still in the process of stash busting, so these two fabrics I had in my box o’ fabric. I had been playing around with how to use the popsicle fabric and I’ve had the purple fabric since, oh, junior year of high school.

In between the two layers of fabric is batting, I’m worried about how much fighting the notebooks and computer are doing in my backpack. I’ve seen the bruises left on my computer, the added padding is needed. This sucker is closed with a zipper, I had thought about doing a flap on this and a tie closure, but the zipper made things so much easier.

This lovely computer cover has been serving me well all quarter. It fits my computer perfectly and I haven’t seen any more discoloration besides my finger prints on my computer.

Pieces and Papers

It is once again nearing the end of my quarter. I have two papers, a final, and a photography project due within these next weeks. One would assume that I would be diligently working on these projects, right? One would assume wrong. I’ve been avoiding everything, but my photography project, like the plague. Instead I have been sewing and knitting. Sure sounds like I’m going to be acing my classes!

I’ve been working on my second quilt for some time. I’ve had many pieces cut out in preparation to sew blocks whenever I have the time. I currently have 50 blocks sewn as I’m doing each block as a 5 by 5 set up. Once I finish my paper on my apartment building I’m sure more pictures will come. Or rather, I’ll have the pictures up and direct my teacher to them as my paper.

A few weeks ago I went on a quilting block sew-fest. I set everything out and went to town sewing, ironing, and sewing again. I also laid out how I want the quilt arranged and its dimensions. I also planned out another quilt while I was at it. Why can’t I be as productive with my papers on old buildings?

I think I’m going to write my theory paper while sipping alcohol (like tequila). Not like any of the crazy architects make any sense. All I’ve got this quarter is: architecture is influenced by nature, Classical architecture is good, Classical architecture is bad, ornamentation is good, ornamentation is bad, what is beauty? etc. In theory, my paper doesn’t have to make sense as NONE of these theories come to a concrete, absolute, conclusion as one can always ask, but what if... I think I need a drink just thinking about it or sewing therapy.

I'm Tickled Pink

I have had my hands on this pink fabric for quite some time. I found it on clearance (surprise, surprise) at JoAnns and my first thought was a top for it. As with most of the fabric I've picked up over time, it took a while to turn this fabric into a garment. Here it is as Burda's JJ pattern.

I left out the ruffles because I didn't have enough fabric for them. And I really don't care for them. I had to recut this pattern three times. I was not happy. I measured myself, determined what size I was and cut everything out. Not thinking I'd have a problem, I was not pleased to find out how much extra space I had left the first time I tried it on. So, I cut everything down a pattern size. After all, by my measurements told me I should have fit nicely into a size 38.

I basted the fabric together to check when I sewed the size 36 together. Trying it on, it was still too large. I was starting to feel like Goldilocks, except the pattern wasn't coming up too small! I then cut everything to a size 34, which originally I had thought I was going to need based on past experience with Burda patterns. That finally yielded this. The blouse is a bit loose over my abdomen, but I'm not complaining.

Once I got the fabric cut to the right size sewing this blouse wasn't too much of a problem. The instructions weren't all that helpful, especially with the sleeves. So, I ignored that and went along my way, hoping that I didn't mess them up too badly. They didn't come out too badly, if I do say so myself.

Prior to this top, I had only done button holes once. And that was on another piece that is currently unfinished and sitting in another state. Once I got the hang of how to do the holes, I was set. It was a little bit of trial and error. Thankfully nothing too disastrous happened.

With the buttons added and the top hemmed, this sucker is complete. It's the first blouse I've made that hasn't presented a problem with the fit. I'm very happy with the pattern, after I figured out how to go about it.

Another Stash Buster

This sucker is another variation of Butterick B5497. I told you this pattern was easy! Hence the multiple variations coming from it. This top is out of the same fabric as my one wrap dress and in the same style as another shirt. It’s stretchy fabric with small light green blobs on it. I’ve spent plenty of time debating what these “blobs” are and I can’t decide on anything that makes sense.

I only have one regret with this top: that I did it in four pieces. I think it would have looked better as two pieces without the seam under the bust. I can’t do anything about that now and this does NOT look good as a crop top.

This is yet another stash buster I did over my spring break. I only have a tiny bit more left of this fabric, I’m thinking of attempting to do some underwear this what I have left over. That’s just about all I could make with such a small amount.