Sewing: Works In Progress for July
Well! I have been sewing. A very teensy little bit, every day while the kids nap (or play in their room during “quiet time,” or squeak and grunt in their swing).
I began with a totally improvised quilt, which should be doll-sized or a crib quilt on the small side — maybe 25x40”, when I get it done. Maybe larger. I haven’t cut the white borders yet and that will make a difference on the final size of the quilt top.
The end effect will be of these green and blue haphazard blocks floating on a sea of white, in a 4 by 5 grid. It will be backed by the nubby turquoise, which I originally bought to make a blouse but which seemed far better suited to a quilt back, and bordered with the orange gauze, maybe, if it works with my new bias tape maker. If it doesn’t, I’ll figure out a different border.
I’ve also been doing one of these blocks every few months. I’ve no idea what I’m going to do with them; i can’t see me coming up with enough for a quilt, and they don’t really go with anything, but I like them nonetheless.
What else. I’ve been trying to sew a couple shirts for this postpartum belly, since I have the option of making the bust one size and the waist and hips another (can’t get that with retail).
I had bought enough white eyelet (why? I am not an eyelet girl) to make the Built by Wendy blouse with ruffles and a tie, but decided against the ruffles and tie and therefore had enough left over to do one of the short-sleeved views on 3887. I cut them both out and started putting together the 3887. All was well, except I dialed the tension too high, so the side seams are puckered. Then I scorched the right sleeve when i turned the heat up too high on my iron. Then I ended up sewing the right sleeve inside out and backwards, despite checking it against the right armhole twice. So I had to rip that out and do it again. I forgot to cut a second neck facing, so it will be faced with an Amy Butler print from my fat quarter stash. Then when I was fusing the interfacing to what I had left of the eyelet, it shrank and bubbled (why? I don’t know). So. I am on a real roll with this one. If it is at all wearable I will be surprised. I have yet to gather the neck and sew on the neckband and do the hem. Who knows what else could go wrong!
Things didn’t go much better with the BBW blouse (4111). I cut out the pieces but did the markings with my fading pen instead of my water-soluble one. Which means when I revisited the pieces the next day all my markings were gone and I had to do them over. I ran out of fusible interfacing. Then when I had enough and was cutting out the next to last piece, I cut through the other interfaced neckband. So this shirt will have to have an Amy Butler contrasting print for a neckband, too. Oy. That’s pretty much when I gave up on this one yesterday. We’ll see how it goes when I revisit it.
Both shirts were made with what I’m calling a Post-Partum Adjustment, which means sewing my “normal” (pregnant and breastfeeding) bust size but blending down to almost two sizes larger in the waist and hip. Hopefully that will leave enough ease to be comfortable.
Which is totally what I should have done when sewing my fallback shirt, Built by Wendy 3585. One of the easiest shirts in the world to sew.
Here it is, discarded in a lump in a fit of pique. When I sewed my maternity version, the back seemed way too loose and gapey, so I decided to add the darts in this version. I figured, how much fat could I have in my back, anyway? Can’t go wrong.
Well, you can go wrong when you forget that you don’t have a lot of room in the front to make up for it. I sewed this without the Maternity Belly Adjustment, just my regular size top to bottom, and that was a mistake when you figure in the darts. There is about three millimeters of room around the waist and it looks awful. I might be able to wear it in a few months but I’m not counting on it. And stupid me already trimmed the darted fabric so I can’t let it out.
So. That’s what I’ve been working on. It hasn’t been very satisfying, with all the mistakes I’ve been making. But I’ve got a coupon for 50% off denim at Joann, and I’m going to try my hand at the Sew U skirt and pants — hopefully I’ll remember to adjust for the postpartum belly and hips, and make myself some bottoms for the meantime.
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14 Responses to “Sewing: Works In Progress for July”
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I love all of the fabrics that you have pictured here. So full of wonderful color! It all feels so warm and cozy. Love, love, love the quilt squares, it’s going to be a beauty!
Some sewing days/weeks are like that! Now I realize that maternity shirt I loved was this same pattern… A ha… I don’t know— I really had a hard time with the fitting on this one too and I’m sure yours’ll fit in no time. As for the contrasting: it’s what’s “in,” don’t you know?!
Can’t wait to see the quilt.
Thank you, DeeJay! I appreciate that.
I hear you, Beth. I’m not sure why it’s so difficult to fit this one. And that Boden top: I have just now fallen in love with it. OMG.
The good news: I finished the first top. And it is darling with the contrasting neckband. I need to make another one.
we went to the Walter’s Art Museum to see the quilts on display, and i’m more interested in trying my hand at it. any books to recommend i read first? also you should see the exhibit if you haven’t yet — it’s free and air conditioned nicely.
also, excellent work on the nursing so far!
wow those are coming along nice! I wish I had the patience to make real beautiful quilts. My quilts always end up being thrown together and being “comfy” as oppsed to beautiful *and* comfy
I love both sets of quilt blocks. The green and blue ones will look fabulous bordered with white. And those other ones are just such a great combination of fabrics, like you said. Maybe a table runner?
I was so inspired by your maternity shirts a few months ago, I bought a pattern and some fabric with full intentions of materniterizing them.. but I never got around to it. I was scared! Now, hearing your tales of normal shirt making… yikes! I’ve had the same problem with skirts. First of all, why do I measure 4 if not 6 sizes bigger than I wear at a store!?! Yes, the size 12 that is sewed, complete with wonky, but still in there, zipper, is too small! Woe is me, and you. But keep up the projects, they’re awesome!
p.s. the back fat… you just don’t notice just how much junk you have gathered in your trunk for ten months! I caught site of my butt after my last one, woah! Where did it come from?
[quote comment=”26823”]p.s. the back fat… you just don’t notice just how much junk you have gathered in your trunk for ten months! [/quote]
heh heh heh. Yah. This is true.
[quote comment=”26822”]First of all, why do I measure 4 if not 6 sizes bigger than I wear at a store!?! Yes, the size 12 that is sewed, complete with wonky, but still in there, zipper, is too small! [/quote]
Ah, yes. I hate this. You’d think the sewing pattern companies would update their sizes to better match today’s off-the-rack, instead of, what, 1940’s sizes. But now I am a slave to the tape measure. It’s the only way to make sure i actually get the right size, cause Lawd knows you can’t depend on the numbers. I’m 4 sizes bigger in “sewing” sizes, fer shur.
[quote comment=”26819”]My quilts always end up being thrown together and being “comfy” as oppsed to beautiful *and* comfy :)[/quote]
I hear you. So far i’ve only ever completed the “thrown together” kind, so wish me luck!
You are inspiring! Unlikely as it is that I might sew any maternity clothes at this point perhaps I may try post-partum. I would like to start with something I wouldn’t be too attached to. And the quilts are going to be beautiful - that’s already apparant. Can’t wait to see them.
you are amazing with that stuff. I want a hobby that increases my wardrobe.dammnn
come visit, i’ll teach you.
You CAN fix that top. Release the side seams to about about bust level or just above the spot where you are experiencing fitting problems (you may want to play with this a bit) and measure the length. Decide how wide you want your top to be at the hem and cut two godets that size (width and length) plus seam allowances and stitch into the side seams. This is a common design feature the top will fit, and no one will be the wiser.
patsijean, you are a GENIUS.