Surviving September

Apparently, the only way out of September is through.

Pattern: Sewaholic Fraser Sweatshirt

Fabric: Fuschia rayon/nylon/spandex ponte from Mood (here)

Notions: none

You know how it goes, when you're super busy, and you want to sew, but everything is so fiddly.  You start a dress, but it grinds to a halt when you realize it needs tinkering.  So you set it aside, and start an elastic waist skirt.  Then you realize it needs a lining, and you just can't bring yourself to cut the pieces, so you set it aside, too.  Then you just go for broke and cut out a sweatshirt, just because you need something you can finish.

Right?  

Please tell me I'm not the only one who loses momentum on a project, and just starts another.

This explains not only the state of my sewing room, but also my desk, the laundry room, and, well, my boys' rooms, too.

Anyway, this is view B, with the contrast collar.

Except I didn't have any coordinting ponte, decided it might be too limiting if I did make the collar contrast, and decided to just go with it -- for interesting seaming. 

And to just finish something.

It's really bright pink. 

This is a pretty easy sweatshirt, and it really didn't take very long. 

I made my normal size 10, and it's perfectly slightly-loose-and-yet-still-fitted.

I will admit I used the wrong cuff piece; I didn't realize there were different pattern pieces until I'd already attached these--they're the short sleeve ones--but decided it was okay anyway.  

This probably explains how my other projects ran aground, but couldn't risk losing momentum again!  I mean, I didn't even change out my serger thread to match.

And yet, I'm deliriously happy. 

 I am definitely making more of these.  It was quick, it went together easily, and fits without drama.  I'm not even going to think about how many I can have without my students starting to ask if I actually have anything else to wear.

It's September, and this is how it goes.

Mandarin Red is Orange!

Mandarin Red is Orange!

Soylent Green is people!

Okay, yeah, that's all I've got there.

I ordered this fabric labeled "Mandarin Red" expecting red, with a bit of orange.

What arrived was orange, with a bit of red.

This may be why people order swatches instead of going all willy-nilly with yardage.

I THINK I'm brave enough for this fabric. 

 I THINK I'm brave, I THINK I'm brave, I THINK I'm brave...

Aside from color shock, this fabric is amazing.  It's soft, and drapey, and soft, and light-weight, and soft.  I hope you get there that it's soft. Really soft.

Which comes to why I'm so on the fence about this dress.

The fabric is great, the color is well, bold, but the fit just isn't there yet.

Pattern: Sewaholic Davie Dress, the short view

Fabric: "Mandarin Red" rayon ponte from Mood

Notions: single fold bias tape for neckline and sleeves, 

knit interfacing for shoulder seams

I've had this finished for a couple of weeks, and today is the second time I've worn it, and I'm still on the fence.  First off, the fabric seems to grow with wear, as though the weight of it stretches it out.  I *think* that's what's going on with the bodice--it seems too long through the upper chest and back, then ends up hanging on my waist and hips where the seam shaping comes in.

I actually did mess around with those seams.  I cut a size 10 as usual, and constructed the front and back and neckline before basting the side seams, which ended up coming in an extra 3/4" on each side.  I also created a dart in the center back seam to bring in excess at the small of my back.  The center back seam, as drafted, is pretty straight.

I didn't raise the shoulder seams, even though it was suggested in the directions, because the neck would've ended up too small.  I may yet pick things out and redo that, though, because I'm just not sold. I mean, it's comfortable...I just don't know that it's really flattering.

Loose up top, and snug down low?  Um, that's a middle school nightmare.

See?  Even on the dress form it seems to hang funny from the bodice.
The skirt looks weird here, too, but that's because my dress form may have a dislocated hip.
(She has shoulder problems, too; it happens to all of us with age.)

The back does look a lot better here, but she has less butt than I do.

And I still see extra length through the shoulders.

All in all, I really think the pattern is good, although I honestly would've expected more shaping from the center back seam.  I think my fabric worked against me here.  And I might've been better off cutting a smaller size (like pretty much every pattern reviewer says). And waiting to finish the neck until after the shoulders were good.

So, I have a little more tinkering to do.

Because if I'm going to wear a bright orange dress, it's got to be a great orange dress.

The 'Out the Door in 10 Minutes or Less' Dress

There is a lot to be said for quick outfits. 

Especially if you accidently hit the snooze button one too many times.

And drop kids off at two different places on the way in to work.

And have a meeting starting at "Holy crap I don't think I'm going to make it" o'clock.

And heaven forbid you realize the gas light is a hair's breadth away from dinging.

Some mornings are like that, and that's why God invented knit dresses.

Pattern: Simplicity 2054

Fabric: ponte knit from Mood (this one, which is sold out, I guess) 

I've made this pattern once before, but this time I added welt pockets to the front.

Secret, stealth pockets.

Can you see them if you squint?

Yep.  

I'm not even going to say how long it took to figure out

 how to line those welts up to match exactly.  

(This is the person who requires a 10 minute outfit.)

I used Poppykettle's tutorial, and folded the pocket bag back up to the top of the facing,

creating a little floating pocket bag.

Basting in place...

Evidence that I require notes to myself.

I'm totally happy with the pockets, and truthfully, have since been inspired to add single welt pockets to everything. Well, almost everything.  

They're not crazy large pockets; just big enough for a pen or marker, or a tube of lipstick that you forget about until you discover the remaining evidence all over the dryer and a load of clean jeans.

Hallelujah for Spray and Wash.

The back view could probably use a little more adjustment, but it works, and I'm not too stressed about it.  Eh, next time.

Notes: 

Since my last version, I shortened the sleeves to 3/4 length, narrowed the sleeves at the wrists, took in the side seams at the waist, and took in extra on the back piece only.  This ponte isn't quite as stretchy as the green stuff, and to be honest, I like it better.

And, it works perfectly for those last-minute mornings.