McCall's M6571

I recently got a new toy! I was using an old Baby Lock I've had for about twelve years. Then, one day, I was at Costco and guess what was on sale?

Look at all the stitches!

 What's funny is that more than one person asked me if my husband bought it for me. Uh, no, I can buy my own toys, thank you.  There is little more pathetic than a grown woman who expects her husband to get her big ticket items when she should be capable of buying her own stuff. I'm not talking birthday presents or the like, but I know more than one woman who sits on her butt and expects her man to buy her purses and jewelry on demand. It's especially gross when such women are the mothers of daughters, because you know there will be a new crop of spoiled, entitled princesses to deal with later. Looks fade, ladies. You're better off relying on your own efforts long before gravity catches up with you and you can't rely on your pretty face any longer.

Anyway, the Baby Lock is going to a good home. I'm sending it to my mom. I used the new Brother to make a shirt, because what better way to break in a new machine than to use it on stretchy fabric?

Here are the raw materials:

I got this stuff a while back while shopping at Joann's with an enabler (hi mom). The pattern cost about a dollar (sale!) And I had a coupon for the fabric, so all together it cost about $15.  The pattern also called for fusible interfacing which I already had.

The bodice with the facing pinned:

 

Sleeves attached:

After I finished it, I decided it needed some embellishment. I had some buttons laying around, so I added them to the neckline:

Final product:

This was very easy to sew, for a knit. There are only six pieces total, and definitely good for a beginner. The pattern allegedly can be used with woven fabrics too, but that would kick it into intermediate because you'd have to add darts to the bust, and maybe the back as well.

I'm trying to work my way through my fabric stash. I think pajamas are next, I have some awesome flannel and it's been stupid cold here. So cold the cats are congregating on the heated throws and can't be bothered to help me sew.

Vogue V7837

A while back I posted that sewing baby clothes was so easy, I was tempted to make nothing else. Well, you know what's easier? Lingerie!

I didn't take a picture of raw materials, but basically crepe silk, thread and trim. I believe the cost was around $25, including the pattern.  It took me three hours from cut to finish to make this nightgown:

STUPID easy! I need to make more, along with the other views.

Butterick B4571

So, it's been a while. I've done a few things here and there, nothing super complicated. It's been a very exciting, busy year at work.

Here's my Halloween costume. The raw materials were about $35 between sales and coupons:

Note about the trim, I ended up using something else besides those sapphire looking things.  I decided halfway through it needed something else, so I got some of that glitter candle wrapping stuff which worked beautifully.

The bodice:

The skirt attached to the bodice:

 Oh, were you trying to sew something?

Close up of candle wrapping trim:

The final product (minus hem, but it did get hemmed):

It came out beautifully. The fabric, as you can see, was a satin like polyester. I've seen this pattern made with panne but I wanted a different look. The hardest part was the sleeves, which have three construction elements, and when joined require sewing through multiple layers.

 I wore it to our work party and to hand out candy. All the little Elsas loved it, though one said to her parent, "Look mommy, an old princess!"

I just laughed. Time and tide wait for no man. Your day will come, kid.