Sugar Pop Top

Sugar Pop Top...That's just fun to say!  Lucky for me it was also fun to make :)  I have already ordered more fabric with this top in mind. 

It is the newest pattern from Sew Caroline and I bought the pdf and even taped it all together a couple of weeks ago but only found time to stitch it up this weekend.  I hit up the local JoAnn's during their extra 50% off red tag apparel sale and grabbed yardage of quite a few fabrics (thankfully Hubby has stopped reading the blog or I'd be in trouble!).  This was one of them.  I couldn't resist the bling. lol.

This was my first time using the rolled hem foot that came with my machine.  Maybe not the best fabric for a first attempt but it came out acceptable and definitely cut down on the time I needed to complete the top.  No more tediously ironing the hem before sewing it!  And since the sensor on my iron is broken and it won't stay hot for more than 3 minutes this was definitely the time to give it a try.  New iron coming soon!!

 

I am once again having trouble with my neckline facing!!!!  I have tried it all:  top stitching, understitching, hem tape...  I was afraid to try interfacing because of the sheer nature of the fabric.  I can't clip the curve because of how badly this fabric frays.  Or maybe I should clip it and use fray check?  If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them!!! I am actually having this problem on several tops that I've yet to blog about : /

 

 A decent shot of the back--where the facing is behaving (and so is my hair for once!!)

 (sorry for the scary, pre-make up shot!)

 

Be sure and check out Sew Caroline's pattern shop.  I'm a huge fan!  I have all of her patterns and eagerly await the release of the next one.

One thing I did notice just as I was finishing up the post was that there is a bit of a fit issue with my darts.  On future tops I will definitely need to elongate the darts.  Their position is good but the tip of the dart is hitting nowhere near where it should on me.  I knew that I was taking a risk by not doing an FBA so this is in no way a problem with the pattern.  It should be an easy fix now that I'm aware of the problem :)

May Link Up

It's late as always but there is still plenty of time to submit your entry to win another great pattern by Ms. Sara Lawson.  This month's pattern is provided by Pattern Crush.  Tons of great fabrics including preorders for some of the gorgeous fabrics that were at Market!  Can't wait to see what you all have been up to!!

 

 (Photo used with permission of Martingale Publishing.  Photograph by Brent Kane.)

Introducing Adelaide!

This is the second of the three new See Kate Sew patterns that I was lucky enough to test.  It is also, coincidentally, my second favorite (right behind my Emmaline Top).  

The fabrics for this project were purchased specifically for this top.  The main fabric is made by Cloud 9 Fabrics.  I believe it is a line carried only at JoAnn Stores.  The yoke print is another one of their designer prints although I am unsure of who to give credit to.  

I did sew the yoke on slightly different than instructed.  The pattern actually calls for a ruffle around the yoke but as previously discussed on this blog I try to avoid anything that adds bulk to my chest.  Enter the gold scalloped trim.  It was something I picked up quite awhile back at the Target $1 Spot.  At the time I thought it would be good for embellished pouches but when I opened the PDF from Kate I immediately knew that I would be picking my fabrics based on that trim.  But I digress...due to the trim that I picked I felt I needed to applique it onto the edge of the neckline as opposed to actually sewing it together with wrong sides together.  I used a trick I learned from Sara while testing her bag patterns:  I sewed a line of stitches right where the seam should be and used it as a guide to iron the "hem" under.  Next I attached the trim.  The trim didn't have a vary wide base for the seam allowance so I just carefully lined up the yoke and the trim and topstitched them together.  I then matched up the trim lined "hem" up with the edge of the neckline and appliqued it on using another topstitch.  (Hopefully that made some sort of sense).  Not the conventional way to do it, but it worked and I love the results!!

This top has lots of great details that make it feminine and fun:  little cap sleeves, keyhole back, yoke, trim...the works :)

As an added bonus I didn't even have to do an FBA!  I started to, got frustrated, and gave up.   Turns out I was just fine without it though.

There's still time to take advantage of the coupon codes so head on over and get yourself a few new patterns ;)

Flirting the Issue Skirt

It took a little tweaking but I think I like it!  I came across the Flirting the Issue Skirt Sew Along hosted by Stitched in Color while finally catching up on my over 750 unread blog posts.  I bought this fabric nearly a year ago with a skirt in mind but never got around to it (just like numerous other things that I never actually get done).  Soooooo....when I saw the sew along I knew it was finally time to pull this out and put it to use!

I took my measurements as instructed, cut my pieces, and started sewing.  The construction was super simple.  It was a bit time consuming to mark all of the lines for my elastic casing and my fingers cramped while threading the elastic through (4 yards of it total!) but it was worth it.  My finished skirt was okay but it was a little big.  I ended up taking off nearly 10 inches of elastic and fabric to achieve the look I wanted.  If I make this skirt again I will definitely add a couple more inches in length since this one is a little out of my comfort zone :).

Random question:  Is there such a thing as a Full Butt Adjustment?  When making a skirt how do you make sure that the back isn't significantly shorter than the front?  I just pulled mine up a little in the front to make up for the difference but I would love input for future projects.

Looks like I just missed the deadline to link up my skirt with the sew along :( but I can't be upset since I got a great skirt out of the deal.  Go ahead and go check out all of the entries here.

Forgotten No More

Since I've been such an absent blogger lately I have lots of long finished things to show off.  The problem is...I can't remember what they are!!  So I guess I will just have to post about them as I come across them :).  Today's forgotten find is my Wonderland Bag.  It was the April bag for the Big City Bags SAL. 

I did have many, many issue with this bag.  Some of them were of my own making, some not. 

First let me say that I love the fabrics I chose!  I overall I like the design of the bag.

 

 
 Now onto some of the problems:

#1- The pattern calls for manufactured straps.  My local stores didn't carry any in the correct size and I didn't like the ones that they did have enough to try to make them work.

#2- I decided to just make my own cloth straps but I didn't have enough fabric for my straps and I really didn't want to go to the store.  So I used some ribbon I had left over from another project.  It's not very pretty, but it worked. 

 #3-  I really loved this polka dot fabric and was determined to make the piping out of it despite the fact that I've never made piping before. 

#4- I thought I could figure out how to make piping.  Should have Googled it : /!  It does not sit flush against the bag and just looks cheap and poorly made.

#5- Installation of the zipper was not pretty.  I am typically pretty good at zippers and am not really sure what went wrong here except that the end result looks like someone is puckering their lips (best way I can think to describe it).  Needless to say the zipper flaps DO NOT lay flat and look pretty silly.  Pretty sure this is my fault and has nothing to do with the fabric.

#6-  The bottom piece of the bag is too small for the exterior and therefore creates a pucker.  I read about another person who had the same problem so this is an error in the pattern and if you are making one I highly recommend adding a 1/2" to the length of your bottom piece when cutting it.  I could fix this fairly easily...I just haven't had the time and frankly, I'm not sure it's worth the effort with all of the other issues. 

I got so frustrated with this bag that I never actually finished it.  All of the interior pieces are inside of the bag.  They are already cut and would be quick and simply to put together.  I just haven't gotten to the point that I can start working on it again.

A Successful Test

A little while back I signed up to be a tester for See Kate Sew.  I didn't think I would actually end up getting a chance to test any of the patterns due the the number of other people that signed up...but wouldn't you know I started getting e-mails about a week later :).

One thing you must know about me is that I cannot resist a chance to test out a pattern.  It doesn't matter if it is a paper pieced block, a quilt pattern, garments, or a softie, I'M IN!!

This is the first of 3 (yes, three!) new shirts/dresses I will be sharing with you this week.  Kate is releasing all of the patterns today.  There are a total of six new ones -- and they are all wonderful!

The first one I want to show off is the Emaline Top.

This was my first time using box pleats on a garment.  I have done them before on a bag but for some reason I struggled with it a little this time.  Despite that, I eventually made it work even though they are slightly different than the pattern called for and the fit was perfect right off the bat (yay, no alterations!!!) and I'm happy with the way I look in it.

 The top is originally meant to be worn with the bow on the front but since I'm a bit self conscious of my chest I though I'd see what happened when I put it on backward...I LOVE IT!!  If I was to make it again (and I probably will) I would lower the neckline in the back just a touch so that it could easily be worn both ways.  The pattern was an easy sew and as always had great instructions.  I would expect nothing less from such a great designer :).  So be sure and check out all of the new patterns here.  And be sure to check back here over the course of the rest of the week to see my versions of the patterns!

As an added bonus it looks like there are a couple of coupon codes for the new patterns.  The codes are only good for a limited time so hurry on over and get started!

Hubby, aka The Photographer for this shoot, told me that this goof shot was his favorite so I thought I'd include it :)  And my front porch really needs some help!!!  One more project for the never ending list...

Big City Bags Sew Along May

This month has totally gotten away with me but I wanted to let you know about this month's prizes before it was too late. The project of the month is the Bee Sweet Bag.

(Photo used with permission of Martingale Publishing.  Photograph by Brent Kane.)

This month our lovely sponsor Pattern Crush has offered up a great pattern by Ms. Sara Lawson! The pattern up for grabs is the Paparazzi Bag.  I've had this one for awhile but haven't had a chance to make it :(.  Maybe our lucky winner will stitch it up and give us some feedback...

As always I will leave you with a reminder of the rules we go by :)

• We will be sewing the books in the order they are in the book.  Only the bag for that specific month will be eligible for the link up.
• The bag must be complete to qualify for prizes.
• On the first of every month I will announce a new project and prize. 
• You will have from May 25, 2014 until midnight on May 31, 2014 CST to link up your project for a chance to win that month's prize.
• Join the Flickr group to see all the projects that have been made.

 

 

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Sew Me A Song

Coats & Clark

Martingale  

 

And a special offer from zipit:  15% off of all orders for those sewing along

Use code sewingwithsqueak at checkout to apply the discount

We Have a Winner!

Congrats Madelyn! 

I can't find your email address on your profile page so please email me or comment on this post so I can get your information and get you this month's prize :)