Goal: \ˈgōl, : the end toward which effort is directed :

This year I WILL reduce the size of the stash.  As soon as I get it all back up onto the shelves I'll get a picture.  We moved recently but over the summer I was able to get it all up on shelves in my gigantic laundry room.  But everytime we showed folks around the new house the inevitable comment was made.. "Wow, there's so much of it". It was making me feel bad so I put it back into boxes.  

I think I know why I keep collecting fabric and TONS of patterns, not to mention years of Burda, and not much to show for it.  I get hung up on fabric selection because choosing a fabric suitable for the pattern has always been a challenge for me.  There are few things I've made that I love.  And then there's the whole "I don't want to waste it and use a fabric I love on the wrong garment."  Such a dilemma.

The bane of my sewing existence?  Button holes.  One would think practising would help... not me - mine still look like I did them with a chain saw. 

So.. the goals: 
1) reduce the stash by a quarter (doesn't sound like a lot but wait until you see what we're talking about here)
2) Make more tops and brave the buttonholes!  Or find a Tailor/dry cleaners that will do them for me :o)
3) Choose my absolute favorite piece of fabric and go for it!

Wish me luck.
    

G Street Fabrics Vouchers from Living Social

G Street is offering $50 vouchers for $25 from Living Social!  I bought 4; its time to re-do the curtains in the living room.  Living Social is similar to Groupon where they offer a deal a day with discounts of up to 90% at local restaurants, bars, spas, theaters, and more.  Signing up was easy, check it out.  https://livingsocial.com/deals/33900?ref=conf-jp&rpi=9322024

I Bought Fabric....Again

I really need to stop this.  Shopping for and "having" fabric has become a serious distraction.  Instead of spending my time honing my skills by making new garments from my already considerable stash, I fabric shop.  Nearly everyday.  I don't purchase each time, but I do browse.  This is my latest fix.  If you check the other "Fabric" set on Flikr you'll see what I'm talking about.  That set represents about 2/3 of what I have...I think. And the Fabric In/Fabric Out deal on the right?  So not working for me - it would take years to update it at the rate I'm going.

Do you see what I mean? A definite distraction. I need to go on a fabric diet.  A food diet is needed as well but one problem at a time.  April 18th is when our Spring Break begins - that's my date.  Wish me luck!



My fave from the last bunch is the peach linen.  ModCloth has a dress that inspired the purchase called "Trench of the Tropics"and it should be fairly easy to find a pattern that I already own to use.  It's a cute dress but $95?  I think not.



ModCloth "Trench of the Tropics"



M5924..Ugh

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

It did to a point...mine was much longer.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

The fit of the neck was my favorite part.  The sleeves were a tad snug and I've got puny arms.


Fabric Used:  Aubergine 100% Cotton rib knit from Fabric.com

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I added 2" to each side of the bodice and skirt because of my lack of a waist. Turns out it was unneeded - I had to delete all but 5/8".  And wasn't that a fun job....I had already serged all the seams (I know, what was I thinking???)  Because the pleats go right to the edge of the seam I was unable to just zip up the sides to take it in.


Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Nope, it looked terrible on me.  After I had it sewn up I realized it's reminiscent of the 80's style of dresses I used to wear way back when.  They weren't flattering then...still aren't.  My son absolutely refused to take a picture of me in it - he said it was probably the ugliest thing he's seen all year.  Don't hold back.


Conclusion: I won't sew this one again.  Now I need to decide if I'll cut it down to a top because I like the cowl/turtleneck or harvest as much fabric as possible for another project.

Circle Scarf

I always agonize over gift giving, especially to co-workers.  Giving an appropriate gift is a chore...you don't want it to be cheap but are limited by funds; nor do you want it tossed into a drawer and forgotten. I don't sew for others except the DD, not even Hubba-Bubba, so making Christmas gifts for co-workers made me nervous. 

We've had some snow and very cold, windy weather here lately.  Enter the one size fits all circle scarf.  I used this tutorial for an Infinity Scarf but left out the twist. Of course in the rush before the holiday I forgot to take pictures of the finished scarves BUT I do have pictures of the wearable muslin and left over swatches of fabric.  They all seemed genuinely pleased with their gifts... I hope they use them :o)