1950's sleeveless top

When I first saw this top over at Handmade Jane, I knew I had to make one for myself.  Being a vintage pattern I thought I would never find it in my size, I've never graded a pattern, so that was out of the question.  The pattern is Simplicity 4238, it took awhile, but I finally found it and had it in my hands a few weeks later.  I must admit the instructions through me for a loop, I didn't understand how the front band facing went together, so I just fudged my way through it. I think it turned out ok.  I plan on making more of these for the summer, maybe it'll become clearer to me after a couple more.  Other than that, I really love the top, I love the way it fits, its very casual, but I think  the darts, give it a more fitted look, therefore dresses it up a bit.

Split back top

In anticipation for summer, I started working on summer tops.  I had a pattern for an split back top, years ago, but when moving I decided to clean house and  donated all my "outdated" patterns.  Little did I know, I would give anything for them now.  But I figured, how hard could it be to split  a tee shirt in the back.  So I took Butterick 5493 view C and split the back open, I added a little flare and omitted the ruffle in the front.
As usual,  I did a rolled hem, I love this feature on my serger, it's so easy to do  and looks nice and neat.  I can't wait for a hot day to wear this top!

Peplum top flop!

Two days ago it was 40 something degrees, rainy, but you could see the green grass.  Yesterday morning I woke up to this.....

So what do you do when you're snowed in?  Work on projects.  I've been wanting to make a peplum top, but I have no pattern, so I searched the internet for free patterns.  I found a few tutorials, but they weren't very clear, as least not to me.  So, I did what I always do, I winged it (wung it?, wanat it?), whatever!  I made it up as I went along.

This is the result:

I didn't have enough fabric to cut the peplum on the bias, so I tried to match up the plaid, as you can see, that didn't turn out to good.  I also I used the pattern for the blank canvas tee and made my own peplum, but I couldn't figure out how big to make it, so I just made it as big around at the natural waist line and flair out like an A-line skirt.  I think I should've made it a tad bigger around the waist, but then I didn't want gathers.    I think I'll look for better instructions on how to do that and if the snow doesn't clear soon, guess what I'll be doing?

Aprons, potholders and pinchers!

Lately, I've been watching a lot of cooking shows and although I'm not a cook, (anyone that knows me  can attest to that!)  I do think putting on a cute apron and having matching potholders is definitely going to make me more motivated in the kitchen, it's kinda like excercising, you don't feel like going to the gym if you don't cute gym clothes to exercise in, and once  you get the cute clothes, you have to go, if nothing else, but to show them off!!  Well, I suppose I have no excuse now, I made two aprons so far, and one potholder and one pincher.   Since I didn't have a pattern for pinchers, I had to make my own.  I had to draw them out first.... well, take a look.....

The first one I drew looked more like a maxi pad!   I didn't even cut that out, the second one wasn't big enough, the third one was better, but  I really didn't enjoy making pinchers, I don't think I'll be making many more.  I made a potholder/trivet, that was better, but I found it to be too tedious and binding the corners really put me over the edge, enough of that! I may make more potholders, but not so detailed.

I also made a potholder/trivet.  I really like the colors, I wanted to add red to the apron, but got talked out of it by my husband, I should have stuck to my instincts.

Next is the apron, I enjoyed making this apron and plan to make more.

The last apron, I changed things up a bit, I changed the pockets and added a ruffle, I also plan on making a potholder/trivet and maybe an oven mitt, but I have to recover from the first set!

What do you do with left over scraps?

I tend to have lots of scraps left over from my sewing projects....not enough to make a top or anything like that, but in the past I made coin purses, wristlets, anything small that didn't require a lot of fabric.  Since I started sewing with knits, I have lots of it left over.  Now, I must admit, I don't know a lot of small projects you can make with knit.  I've been reading posts about making your own underwear, but  I haven't been able to find a pattern that I like, so I thought I would just take apart a pair of underwear that I know fits, so I did just that.  I was pretty surprised with the outcome.   I tried regular elastic, lingerie elastic, but my favorite and easiest by far is foldover elastic

This was left over from the very first top I made, before I got a serger and before I figured out what size I needed to cut out, it actually turned out to big.  But the panties turned out great!

You might recognize this fabric, I made a self drafted tee from this fabric, the panties fit a lot better than the tee did!

 I actually haven't made a top from this fabric, but if you notice the crotch is a  blue cotton knit which I made a self drafted tee.

I was really surprised with the outcome, I love my panties, and they cost next to nothing to make, I think I love that more than anything.  Do you have any left over fabric?   I would love to hear what projects you make with your scraps.

Blank Tee

I think I may have another favorite pattern!  It's simple, fast to make and best of all.....it's free, yes, I said free.  I've come across this pattern several times, but always overlooked it, mostly because it's so much like another free pattern I downloaded a few months back.  But I decided I should give it a chance and take a closer look.  I'm so glad I did.  It may look like a t-shirt I've made in the past, but it differs in that it has neck and sleeve bindings that give it a more finished look.  I really like it and can be finished in an hour or so, if you don't have many distractions (tv, phone, etc)

I like that it has a more fitted look.

I'd like to say I did a pretty good job matching up the wavy lines on the side seam, but it just luck!  I wasn't even thinking of it at the time!

I used my serger to hem the bottom.  Have I mentioned how much I love my serger?!

Simplicity 1757

I don't usually buy Simplicity patterns, no special reason, I just belong to a pattern club that doesn't includes Simplicity patterns.  I also find their sizing is a little off, compared to McCall, Butterick and Vogue.  I happened to come across a sale on Simplicity patterns and bought a couple of them, the first one was a total flop, so I won't be posting that one, it actually turned out ok, just doesn't suite me, maybe I'll pass it on to my kids.  Anyway, I just finished a top I made using the other Simplicity pattern and guess what..... I love it!  It's flowy, comfortable and looks great with jeans!  I think I'll make a couple more for myself and probably my daughters.