Finished: The "Romance, Rekindled" Jacket

No, your eyes did not deceive you dear readers, I really have finished a sewing project! The jacket that I started way back in September of last year is not complete. All throughout the sewing process, I just couldn't decide if I liked this jacket or not. I had the lingering feeling that is was just too matronly for me, but in the end I really like my jacket, even if it is a bit of the extra conservative side.

Lets get to the details now:

Pattern: Butterick 5395 ( OOP now, but available on Butterick's website)
Size: I cut the 14 without any alterations
Outer Fabric: I believe it was some sort of poly blend suiting from Goodwill. $2
Lining Fabric: Crisp white taffeta lining from fabric .com. I think the piece was $3, but I also cut the lining for a skirt from it.
Notions: Four, 1" buttons and one package of bias tape (to finish the inside seams)
Directions: I found the directions to be really good for this pattern. I have never made, nor lined a jacket before, and the directions made it very doable.
Overall Conclusion: I am quite happy that I pressed forward with this jacket. I am considering making a bright red skirt to pair it with to make it a bit more youthful.

Finished: "Apple or Cherry, Darlin'?" Apron

Ya want apple or cherry, darlin'? As soon as I slip this apron over my head I feel like a waitress at a diner barking out pie flavors with a thick southern accent. I can just see myself slinging orders of sausage gravy and hashed browns at customers while I pour hot cups of coffee to all the regulars. Okay, okay, maybe my imagination has a tendency to take off on a high speed chase, but just go with it.

Alright, lovely readers, now that we've settled back down into reality, lets take a closer look at the apron that can seemingly transport me away to Route 66.

The details

• Pattern: Butterick 5474 which is a modern pattern. 
• View made: E
• Fabric: Cottons (Free from my aunt's stash) The yellow fabric depicts "The Little Old Lady who Lived in a Shoe"
• Make again? I think I might make this again, perhaps as presents for Christmas. I'd also like to make some of the other views and already have ideas in my head for them.
• Recommend to others: Most definitely

Construction Details:

• I made the collar and undercollar from two different fabrics. I did this because I didn't have enough of either to cut two pieces.
• There is a small error in the directions that states to construct pieces 13 and 14 in the same manner as view D. You should, however, only do steps 36 through 40 of view D and then return to the first illustrated step for view E.
• The directions for the collar piece are well written and well illustrated, which was a huge plus since I had never attached a collar of any sort. 
• You can't see them very well, but there are ten pleats on the green apron skirt, underneath the yellow contrast skirt. 
• Overall, this is a super cute apron. I love it!

Happy Sewing!

Finished: Periwinkle Skies Skirt

I am impersonating the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The front is a teeny bit longer than the back, but I can account for that when I hem it.

Actually, the title of this post should read Almost Finished: Periwinkle Skies Skirt. I have yet to hem this skirt for two reasons. One, I want to hand hem it and wasn't really in the hand sewing mood today. Secondly, I haven't decided on the amount of hem I want to take yet.

Since all clothes need a name, I dubbed this skirt the periwinkle skies skirt. I have yet to decide if periwinkle skies sounds like the name of a child's song or a place you'd visit while on LSD.

Now, for the wonderful little details:

• Pattern: Butterick 4686 View C minus the recommended embellishment
• Fabric: A vintage bed sheet from an estate sale last year $2
• Notions: A standard white zipper from an estate auction last year ~$0.05
• Make again: Probably not this version, but I may make the pleated version
• My Personal Pattern Grade: B+ 

My pattern likes and dislikes:

• I love how flowy the skirt is.
• I like the wide yoke/waistband.
• I wish the directions were a bit more clear on how to deal with the yoke/yoke facing and the zipper. Getting the zipper to go in smoothly was a bit tricky.

Things I changed:

• I left off the suggested trim embellishment. 
• Instead of slipstitching the yoke facing, I stitched in the ditch and hand sewed the edge of the yoke facing to the zipper tape. 
• I didn't use a hook and eye simply because I put the zipper up a bit too high and didn't have room for one.

Happy Sewing!

New Buttericks!

Butterick, the late bloomer of the pattern world, has finally released their summer pattern lineup. Lets not dilly dally, so here we go!


First up is 5638 which has a cute ruffle detail. As someone who loses all self control when confronted with ruffles, I have a strong feeling that this one is going to make its way home to me one day. Another bonus is the cup size variations that are included.

Up next in the lineup is 5639, which includes three adorable dresses, all of which I could see in my closet. The fabric suggestions include only crepe and stable knits. I wonder what other fabrics would be suitable? Any suggestions?

5645 looks like a really nice little top pattern. I happen to have a piece of the blue, black, and white fabric in the photo, which I am pretty sure is still available at Joann

I also really like 5653, a pattern for nighties and pjs. Usually night wear patterns are so frumpy and downright ugly, but these look sweet and feminine. I could definitely see a few summer time pieces made from this pattern.

For the last pattern, 5647 you'll have to look past the horrible illustration and 90s styling. The line drawing of this jacket reveals a cute little unlined jacket that Butterick rates as being easy. Perhaps I could tackle one of these and have a nice pattern to make some jackets for business classes.

So, amazing readers, what are you pattern pics from this season's lineup? I love to hear your thoughts!
Happy Sewing!

The "Bitter Housewife" Apron

After much sewing and even more "unsewing" I finally finished another apron! I have decided to deem this the "bitter housewife" apron, because I will never be able to look at my apron without a tiny bit of bitterness. I picked up this project over a week ago thinking it would be a fun and quick project that would take me two days tops. It did prove to be relatively easy, until I got to the horrid waistband directions, which sent me into a tailspin of despair. In the end I conquered and ended up with a cute little apron with a lot of retro flair!

Here is the pattern I used, Butterick 4087. Mine is slightly different than the envelope because I left off the ric-rac trim and also decided to eliminate the pockets. When I first looked at the picture I though that this apron had actual pockets which made me quite excited, but once I cut the pieces out they were just patch pockets, really tiny patch pockets.

Here is my finished apron. Tomorrow, I should be able to take some more pictures outside where there is better light. It has been thundering, lightening, and raining here for two days so I wasn't able to go outside for pics. Also, the fabric is navy with tiny white polka dots, which seems to throw my camera into a frenzy when I am trying to get a pic.

Happy Sewing!

More Butterick 5450 Pictures

I tired to get a few more picture today of my shirt, but balancing the camera on the deck railing proved to be quite trying.

Happy Sewing!