Key West Bound

We're going to Key West for our 25th wedding anniversary! Hubba-Bubba surprised me with the trip and I'm thrilled :o). This will be our first trip that isn't connected to work or a child's sport and it'll be just the two of us. Now I'm not complaining - we've had some mighty fun times traveling for work and the kids but...it's going to be so nice to do things (or do nothing) because we want to, not because we have to.

So I've got a month to get a few sundresses done. My goal is to fit everything I'll need into a medium sized carry-on. We'll be on island 3 days (taking the ferry from Ft Myers). I'll need flip-flops, a swimsuit, cover-up, a pair of shorts, 2 tops, 3 dresses, and assorted under-duds. I could carry that stuff in a large purse!

Vogue 8534

Started and finished all in one afternoon! I needed an easy-quickie...the last dress took a bit of time to complete and I wanted instant satisfaction. I chose Vogue 8534, View A, out of a light weight red matte jersey.


Yummy silky stuff I got from Joann's the last time DD and her BFF were here. I didn't make a muslin of this one...that would really defeat the easy-quick feel of it, don't ya think?

The directions call for a single line of stitching across the pleats in the front. Does anyone else feel like that's just too much of risk? If you pop a stitch while wearing it you're done for. This thought came to me after I had already sewn the neckline. The double needle used on the sleeve and the bottom hems wasn't an option without tearing out the original stitches. Ripping out stitches does not an easy-quickie make. So I added another row of stitches about 1/8" from the originals.

Initially I planned on using the contoured hem of View B but while trimming threads I snipped a 1/4" hole into the lower portion of the blouse. Arrrrggghhhh! The planets are aligned against the quickie part of this operation. I wasn't able to totally eliminate the hole but at least it's on the underside of the hem and not smack in the middle of the top.



All in all, I'm quite pleased with this top....maybe a print next time?

McCalls 5314

The latest addition to my daughter's wardrobe is finished. I can hardly wait to see it on her. She lives 6 states west of here so fitting sessions are non-existent. I made a muslin out of the top of the dress the last time she was home but I'm unsure about the skirt length. Needing a measurement, even if only semi accurate, I had her measure from her armpit to the break in her knee thinking it would be easy for her to get....she used a 12" ruler. I know, made me laugh too. So, 2.5 ruler lengths later the hem is done. I left it a tad bit longer in case we need to adjust the hem later. That sucker was miles long! The dress goes into the mail tomorrow, she'll bring it back when she visits. Hopefully she'll get a pic of herself in it before June, if not, it'll be on our "To-Do" list :o)

On The Cutting Table

McCalls 5314, View B with small cap sleeves, from a coral-ish, tutti-frutti fabric DD chose. I made the dress (with disastrous results) for myself last year and she loves the fullness of the skirt. It's actually already cut out; I'm just waiting for a free weekend. Two very busy weekends since she was last here - no time for sewing at all but this weekend looks promising (keeping my fingers crossed).

Unless You Sew

I realised something key this weekend. Non-sewing people just don't get the sewing process even if you describe it to them...in detail. They get a glazed look and say "uh-huh" and "Oh, how nice". They can't appreciate the time it takes to put a Hong Kong finish on the seams, or how key it is to make a muslin to get a great fit. All the enthusiasm you see on Pattern Review and sewing blogs is because they do get it and they're happy to give you a bloggie "hi-five". Well, a great big "hi-five" to all you out there that sew and share it with the rest of us. :0)