Merry Christmas!

Hello all! I've been busy creating for the holiday season and thought I'd share several of the items.        

                        Pillow shams, envelope pillow covers, and a seasonal throw.

                                               I made the chair covers a couple of years ago.

                 
Toilet tissue rolls cut in half and covered with fabric.

Twenty minute table runners which include batting and are quilting.           

Pajamas for the Holidays!

It's great to post something completed for myself for a change.

First of all, I purchased the first piece of flannel for my quilt wall because of the lines. While sitting in my pink pj's with a similar pattern, I decided to make a set of pj's so back to the store for additional fabric.
Well, the fabric must have come from different boats, because the pants are lighter than the top. I couldn't remember if I had washed the first piece, so I washed both pieces and couldn't return it.

Top: McCall's 7518 view A Tunic with side slits - No buttons work best for sleepwear for me.

 Pants: McCall's 6127 view E pull on pant with elastic waist

I actually pulled of my pj's last night and put these on because the temperature dropped. These are my new go to patterns for my pj's. 

https://www.lovethispic.com/image/214928/happy-thanksgiving-wishes-for-sending-to-everyone

Nancy Zieman

http://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2017/11/14/nancy-zieman-sewing-nancy-dies-64-after-battle-cancer/862756001/

Nancy Zieman, longtime host of Wisconsin Public Television's "Sewing With Nancy," died Tuesday at her home in Beaver Dam after a long battle with cancer. She was 64. 

According to Wisconsin Public Television, "Sewing With Nancy" was the longest-running sewing series on TV, going on the air in 1982. Hundreds of hours of episodes are still available online at wpt.org/SewingWithNancy. 

Zieman also was the founder of Nancy's Notions, a business that sold sewing books, DVDs, fabrics and more, and she helped develop Quilt Expo, an annual Madison event that drew more than 20,000 people. 

"Nancy was an entrepreneur, a talented television host, a dear friend to so many people at Wisconsin Public Television and a true Wisconsin treasure," Jon Miskowski, Wisconsin Public Television's director of television, said in a statement.

Zieman announced she was retiring in September, more than two years after she was diagnosed with osteoscaroma, a form of bone cancer. She continued doing the show, with help, for more than two years after the initial diagnosis.  

According to her retirement message on the Wisconsin Public Television website, the last episode she recorded was called "I Sew for Fun." 

Zieman is survived by her husband, Richard, their two sons, Ted and Tom, and her grandchildren. A private funeral service will be held.

Christmas Stockings!

It's time to start getting things together for the holidays. What better way to start than making stockings for the kids. Each stocking has batting and lining. The topper is not lined, but is double sided.

Hello Friends!

I've been more focused on quilting than sewing, but really missing wearing my own creations. August 30th was our 42nd wedding anniversary. It really doesn't seem as if it's been that long. 

Overlay Top

This is a scarf that I purchased in Jamaica and turned into a top. I'm excited to be able to wear this over a tank top.

Diamonds Jacquard Cardigan/Top

Pattern: McCall's 7135 cardigan is quick and easy to put together.

 Fabric: White Mini -Diamonds Jacquard Double Knit from Fabric Mart Online
 Pattern: Butterick 5190 top

More Dresses!

 

Butterick 5058 dress with lengthened sleeves, facings in beige knit. Dress is black scuba knit. Same as this one.

 Butterick 5147 dress for my daughter in African fabric purchased in Ghana by a friend during travels. This is the same as here. The sleeves and hemline were lengthened.

The top is Simplicity 3704 with front neck slit and side slits and lengthened three-quarter length sleeves.

Butterick 5967 Misses'/Women's Flutter Sleeve Tops is loose-fitting, has upper princess seams, shaped, flared sleeves with narrow hem, button-down closure, v-neckline, gathered at waist and shaped lower edge.

Fabric: cotton floral Hawaiian print

                                                     Sizes: XS - 6X

Alterations:

Removed  1" from the center back neck to the hem
Removed  1 1/2 " from each side below the bust line to the hem
Shortened sleeve length 2"

I love the comfort and ease of wearing this top. It is considered an easy pattern. Keep in mind that the pattern has an abundance of fullness below the bustline.

Pink Flamingo

Pattern: McCall's 7191 tops in different versions. This is version D as shown here and a different version here.

 Fabric: Flamingo Pink ITY Knit from Fabric Mart
Adjustments: Three-quarter length sleeves, lowered bust darts, doubled the back upper facing and serged, and made the front facing wider since I didn't line this one like I did the front of this one.

I would really like a dress like this and maybe color blocked in the back.

Copy Cat

This Forever More Black Peplum Top can be purchased here. It was sent to me asking if I could make it. Well, I thought about it and went to work.

 

 I started with Simplicity 6130 view B and C which I made here.

Front

Back

A much smaller person tried this on for pictures.

 Fabric: Cotton/Polyester purchased from Fabric Mart was the only black fabric in my stash. Scuba knit, polyester/spandex, or some stiffer fun fabric would be a better choice for the curved ruffles.

 There was a light blue top listed as a color choice. After closer examination, I could see that the ruffle was attached to the front and back at the sides.

Making the Ruffle

NOTE: Raise the neckline on the front and back pattern pieces before making the ruffle pattern.

While looking at the pattern pieces, I noticed the peplum pattern piece #15 had pleats. I laid the #15 on top of the front pattern piece and traced it around the armhole, shoulder, around the neckline adding the pleats, and ending with another shoulder attachment. Make sure and include enough fabric from the last pleat to extend so the seam will be centered on the shoulder. Then, I proceeded to draw the curve starting on the left at the bottom up to the shoulder. 

Attaching the ruffle

1. Cut 4 of the new ruffle pattern.

2. Sew two ruffles together with right sides facing, trim and press. Make two ruffles. One for front and one for back.

3. Sew front and side front together.

4. Measure and cut a neckband using the sleeve band pattern piece as a guide.

5. Lay front bodice right side up.

6. Lay ruffle on top of front starting at the side, shoulder, and across to center front. Fold back towards right shoulder matching shoulder to shoulder. Make three pleats for front and three pleats for back.

7. Stay stitch ruffle to front of top.

8. Lay back bodice pieces on top of ruffle at shoulder and stitch together.

9. Add peplum and zipper.

10. At this point you can lay the neckband and sleeve bands.

Have Fun!

A Little More Sequins and Shimmer

Simplicity 1805 Misses & Plus Size pullover knit top in two lengths with sleeve variations in sizes XXS to XXL. This is View A without sleeve bands.

 

 Fabric:
Top - Pink/Mauve/Multi Poly/Lycra Retro Circles Print Corded/Sequined

 Dress - Hot Pink/Golden Yellow/Multi Roses Poly/Lycra Shimmer Lightweight

Adjustments: The top was lengthened for the dress. An additional six-inch border was sewn to the hem folded in half for additional length. It was worn with a black jacket.

*At least an inch or two needs to be removed from the neck band as it is too wide for me.

This is the same top as here.