Reflections of 2011

I sewed
thought about sewing
plotted
traced
adapted
collected
broke needles
rusted pins
bent pins
discovered sticky tape
found Mary
made some too big
made some too small
but overall
I enjoyed it all

Oh my - was it a bargain?

Just saw 80, yes apparently 80 paper sewing patterns go for less than $30 plus $10 postage on ebay - that could have been a huge bargain. However the description and photo was vague..... so who but the auction winner will be able to decide if it was a bargain or not.

McCalls 2117 - an easy to make dress

I thought I had the fabric for this but my remnant was just not big enough, so its back to rummaging in my fabric stash for a bigger piece, preferably one I don't have to line.

Should be easy and cool to wear if only I can decide on the fabric!

Ok, I'm using a remnant I found yesterday, sort of a batik print. Once I'd washed and ironed it I saw the printing errors and very carefully positioned the pattern to avoid them (or so I thought). Cut it out and unfolded the front........ ooops one printing error line goes straight across the front. Perhaps it will look ok else I will have to add some ribbon or lace over it.

This pattern goes together quite quickly and easily. I made the knee length version with sleeves in size 12.

When I make it again these are some points I should recall:
* Use light-weight iron on interfacing for neck interfacing
* Remember to overlock the neck facing
* Do not overlock side seams until after I've tried it on (I really would have liked it to be a few millimetres wider across the thighs and seat area, but I'd overlocked all the excess seam off)
*Be really careful when placing the sleeve pattern tissue and cutting it out - one sleeve was perfect the other was somehow stretched or too big.
* On my body this dress definitely needs a split or two to make walking and sitting easier.