Time off...

I'm taking a little sewing break for now. After celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary last week, and beginning my Thanksgiving meal preparations this week, I don't have much time to sew. Although, I did cut out a dress over the weekend that I would like to work on. But for now, everyone have a great and blessed Thanksgiving! I'm hoping I don't eat too much so I don't have to make any alterations to the dress I just cut out! LOL! Enjoy the holiday everyone.

Completed cardigan

Yesterday I made this cardigan from McCall's 4923. The pattern shows the cardigans with trim around the edges which I left off. I used a stretch lace material. Since I am often cold, I figured this would be good to wear with a variety of things to add a little bit of warmth. It was very easy to make. The only thing I would do differently is to lengthen the sleeves, but that's just a personal preference. I didn't have the stay tape that was called for on the shoulder seams, so I cut 2 strips of the interfacing (fusible, black tricot knit interfacing) and used that instead. I attached that by fusing it in place. I used a silver pen for marking, just being careful to mark in the seam allowances so they wouldn't show in the completed garment. Then for hemming, I used black Stitch Witchery. I cut the length I needed for the sleeve hems, then cut it in half lengthwise to make a narrow hem. The bottom hem was just the regular width of the same Stitch Witchery.

Burda hooded top

I completed this hooded tunic today. It's from Burda 12-2009-120. I used a cotton knit fabric I had bought at JoAnn Fabrics a while ago. I made size 42. It was pretty easy to make, but I couldn't figure out how to attach the facing strip. I read it several times until I just gave up and didn't bother. I knew how it should look anyway and did not want to continue to waste time trying to figure it out. Other than that, there were no problems. I like that it's roomy enough for layering. I'd like to make this again out of a solid, more neutral color like it's shown in the magazine.

Home Decor Sewing

Over the past couple of weeks I've been busy sewing for my home. I like to decorate for the holidays/seasons, and one of the easiest ways for me to do this is to make place mats. So, I started making a set of 8 place mats. I've completed 5 so far, but I ran out of fusible fleece that I'm putting between the two layers of fabric. So, I'll get more of that the next time I get to JoAnn Fabrics. Also, my husband and I bought new dining room furniture a couple of weeks ago. The chairs need to be re-covered because my husband doesn't like the ivory colored fabric they came with. I don't think we would do particularly well with white furniture anyway. So I've been getting fabric swatches so I can re-cover those chairs. I have made temporary covers so the chairs can be used in the meantime. I'm hoping to have this project finished before Thanksgiving when both of the kids will be home from college.

Otherwise, I just finished tracing a Burda pattern (I believe it's from 12/2009). I hope to get that going soon. Sometimes I have so many ideas for things I want to sew that I don't know where to begin and it becomes almost paralyzing. I know I just need to begin somewhere.