Le Fred's Clio pattern

My new favorite ready made pattern is the Clio blouse from Le Fred. http://www.lafred.com/store_product_info.php?id=502

This is my first one made directly from the envelope with a linen/rayon fabric as suggested.

Here is my crepe de chine version. I took out the center seams and made the skirt fabric from pin-tucking it. I also like this fabric with the one layered underneath the skirt.  I also wanted a v neck and wanted a more flowy drape.

I also added a lightweight stretchy elastic across the back bodice seam for more waist shaping. It's not the best photo. I took it after wearing without pressing it.

Now I wanted to try it with a cowl neck. The first one below is a polyester chiffon. This final version is some silk chiffon, two layered skirts with the top skirt shorter. It is lined with silk charmeuse. I LOVE this pattern and have several more ideas for manipulating it with even more fabric types. 

Thanks Fred for your great "Clio" pattern!!

For more photos including the backs of these check out my flicker site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musedtexture/sets/

I have been away

I have been sewing actually quite a lot in the past few months. But because I have been taking classes at Canada college in their fashion department, (http://canadacollege.net/fashion/) I haven't made time for postings. My classes this past semester were not intuitive for me making them much more time consuming. I was taking "Techniques of Fit" and "Advanced Flat pattern". I also took a short class on lingerie construction only lasting a few weeks and was easy fun play time. I did take many photos of things I've been working on and those are posted on my flicker account http://www.flickr.com/photos/musedtexture/sets I think you will still find it fun to look at even though I decided not to try to play catch up.

The very exciting thing from the Fit class is that I now know how to fit people and have a sloper for fitting myself. Did you realize that it is not a blob of fat or a boney figure you have there but a figure variation? Every part of your body is in some way a body variation. We all have them, not one single person is exempt. And yet we wonder why we can't buy a pattern or a piece of clothing and really have it fit. No two bodies are the same. No article of clothing by its nature can fit every figure type. And sizes, let's not get started on the mystery of the number. People want to buy the smallest number they possibly can. Just yesterday I saw a personal shopper talking about size. She stated that she has been with women who will buy things that don't fit well because they wanted the smaller size. Clothing will look so much more attractive and complementary when it FITS. This woman also said that all women should have a good, trusted alteration person so they get the best fit. Let's be honest here it simply isn't in everyone's budget. But you can buy clothes that fit and are attractive no matter what your purchasing budget is.  I know I've been guilty of trying to squeeze into the smaller size also.....I hope to be doing better as I am more educated.

Advanced pattern was my favorite class. I feel like I could spend a full year at least in this class. We took slopers and developed patterns from them for woven fabrics. We tested patterns in full scale to make sure we were developing the patterns correctly. For our midterm we were given line drawings of fashions and then made the patterns without notes. I was successful but I will say that in real life I will  be happy to have reference material available to me.
 I skipped over the beginning pattern class. Doing so was good and bad. Bad because I had to come up to speed. Good because I was challenged and was able to learn more. It took me quite a few hours to complete my homework each week as I wanted to make sure it was done correctly and I was very particular about my pattern drafts. For my final original garment I was able to use my completed sloper (from the fit class) to create an outfit for myself. Between the fit and pattern class I think I will no longer be able to buy off the rack again. (except knits) During the semester I had purchased a very lovely silk charmeuse blouse. When I tried it on there was plenty of fabric but the fit was all wrong. Before this class I would have just thought, " well, it's not great but I don't know why and it does go around me." Now I know why, all those figure variations that the original pattern wasn't designed for. Patterns are designed for the "ideal" figure which I learned doesn't even really exist. I have a new found respect for the runway models, they can't eat and fit into those clothes. The industry does need to change in this regard.

I'll work on posting more about the things I'm doing as I do them. School starts back up this Thursday for me. I am ready to get back to it.

Tailored Jacket

I managed to get my SIL to take a picture of my jacket. After working on it for several months, it is ready for fall weather. It is the Sewing Workshop pattern, " San Diego Jacket".Take a look at the great lining. That along with the lime green button made the jacket an exciting article of clothing. I always have to have some fun element in my work, in this project the button and lining gave it the fun it so needed. The buttonholes are bound button holes and the pockets are outside welt pockets. It is interesting to me to see this pattern made up several times and not one of them looks like the others. When personality is added the same pattern is unrecognizable from jacket to jacket.
My SIL has a much better camera than I do. She also took pictures of my finished quilt. These look a bit better than my photos.

Finished Quilts

I had promised my dear sister that if she purchased fabric for a quilt that I would make her one. I went ahead and found this fabric in her color choices, it was so gorgeous I knew it was the one that not only I would enjoy making but she would enjoy receiving. She may have been a bit anxious for me to get this done for her, after all she was trying to redecorate her bedroom and who doesn't want things right now? I'd get anxious too. However the process of putting one like this together is more complicated than the baby quilt shown below and much, much larger. This finished king size quilt made to come down the edges of the mattress to the box springs measures 102"x110". It weighed in at a whopping 14 pounds. I managed to quilt this on my Juki TL98E. The first generation of these sewing machines. I'm not sure how I got it moved around by myself to quilt it. I also managed to baste this by moving all my furniture in my living room off to the side and by using the basting spray. Again somehow managed alone. I love this newer innovation. The basting spray makes the actual quilting very nice as you don't need to work around safety pins and there is no need to pull out basting stitches. I think my sister will be very happy with the end result of this quilt and find it worth the wait of a year.

My nephew and his wife are very nice people. They have the sweetest little boy and last week added to the family a darling baby girl. I hope they enjoy and use this quilt. It is made from Moda flannel. It is lovely to touch and sit with. I think the baby will like it.
This is what some of us may think of as cheating in that Moda sells the fabrics of each line in sample squares. One each of the fabrics per sample pack. I purchased two of these packs and a bit more fabric off the bolt for borders and backing. What's wonderful about it is that you get a beautiful quilt that is simple and easy to sew up. When you want a lovely gift quilt but happen to be short on time this is a great alternative to more complex blocks, and every bit as nice. The gift recipient of such a quilt doesn't feel at all slighted, nor do you want them to, you do love them. This little gem is about 40"x40". I find anything larger than that overwhelms the tiny baby and it is still plenty big enough for the child to use while growing.

It's been fun to get some quilting done in between apparel items. However, I'm not sure how long it would have taken without the gentle pestering of , "how is my quilt coming?". These days I'm much more into the design and construction of clothes, the dream of my actual childhood having been reborn.

Good Friends

I have quite a few good friends. I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by fun, kind and loving people. I have one friend that I sew with quite a bit. She was my first sewing buddy after moving to California four years ago. She likes to make things for her friends. Now, I know what you are thinking. And you'd be right I am lucky! Let me show you the very useful items she has made for me. And may I just say one of these projects is not for the faint of heart. I think you'll know which one.

I know that little project was not an easy one and I don't think she'll be quick to make another one any time soon. But, isn't it just fabulous. I can just grab this tote when I am going to be sewing in some location other than my home or even at home, I know just where things are!

She also made me both of these other gems. Both trash collectors, one for use with my serger as a catcher and one with a pin cushion to set next to my sewing machines. I don't what I did to have such a friend but I'm very happy to have her as one. I wish for you all happy sewing with good friends all around.

Swimming Suit Season

I was lucky enough to have taken a swimming suit workshop. There sure is a lot more to making suits then I imagined. MaryJane is a professional swimsuit designer. Those of us in her workshop had a great time. We enjoyed learning how sew and size swimming suits. I hope my granddaughter will get lots of wear from these two suits. Next I'll be making one for myself. I have the suit cut out and ready to go. I'm just waiting for the bra insert to come in.

Today I spent a few minutes making this cute little dress for my grand daughter. It is very simple and since she lives in Arizona I think it's perfect.