I promised yesterday to post about my next sewing obsession, sewing my own swimsuits. I recently had to take Emma shopping for a one piece swimsuit for “swim gym”. It is mid-January in Illinois, I thought we’d be Sh*t Outta Luck as they say. So I started turning the idea of making her a simple tank over in my mind. I did some research on Pattern Review and decided I could do this. I figured that if I did find her a suit that fit it would cost $100 for a size 0 suit that took all of a half yard of fabric to make and she’d never wear it again outside of PE. But she got lucky, we found one that worked on the clearance rack in the back of Dick’s Sporting Goods for $20. But now my mind wouldn’t rest. I ordered some cheap lycra spandex fabric online, ordered a Kwik Sew book from Amazon and continued my research. I spend a lot of money on suits since we put in our pool, usually from Lands End because they have cute suits that fit and flatter a middle age figure. I also used to take Aqua-fit classes at the gym and I liked a different type of suit for those. I’d been thinking I needed to get back to the gym for those again this winter and a new suit or two may just be the motivation I needed to jump back in.

So let me show you what I’ve added to may stash recently:

First of all I ordered this book. It has basic patterns in the back in a large range of sizes. The styling and fabric choices in the photos is dated to say the least, but the information is good and some of the patterns have a lot of potential. The only style really missing that I would like is a racer back tank. I don’t like halter top suits because of my neck issues and spaghetti straps always seem to slip off my shoulders. But I think if I need to I can use these patterns as a starting point and modify them to suit my needs.

This lovely Wonder Woman number is one of my favorites. Not that I’d ever make it but it is good for a laugh or two. In all honesty I do like the bra top style and may use it to modify one of the one-piece tanks to a more flattering style for myself.

The book gives really good instruction for making the bra top and I know that Emma prefers bikinis so I may use it for a suit for her too. She’s more of a Batman kind of girl than Wonder Woman though.

These are some of the fabrics that I purchased. The first set is a black with pink and purple dots and a solid black. I think these will be used for something for Emma. But there is enough black there for at least bottoms or a contrast for another suit. The second photo is a multi-stripe and solid navy. I ordered the stripe online and ordered the royal blue in the last photo to go with it. But the online photos didn’t depict the colors well and in person they don’t match at all. Plus the royal blue is very shiny, maybe I’ll put it aside until I find red stripes and make that Wonder Woman suit after all. The navy in the second picture is from Joann’s. I originally bought it with the idea of making a modified version of the Alison Suit from Burda Style. But when the blues didn’t match in the online purchased fabrics I changed my mind. I’m also on the lookout for a copy of Kwik Sew 2500. If I find it I will make it in purple to replace my favorite Lands End suit.

When will I get to all of this? I have no idea. But I did buy a yard of lycra lining fabric, swimwear elastic and a few types of bra cups at Joann’s last week too so I have everything I need when the mood strikes me. But for today I need to get back into my sewing room and work on yesterday’s list of priorities. I got quite a bit done on the Theater Aprons yesterday afternoon and evening, an hour or two more and they should be done. Then it is on to the Missoni fabric top for Saturday. If that goes together as fast as it should I might be able to start embroidering the dogs’ names on the denim for their beds.

I have been stashing fabric and projects like the end of the world were coming or something. Seriously.

I decided it might be best if I document them all here and make a list to prioritize what needs to get done first and what I want to get done next. I need to throw a couple in there that if I don’t do them now while the idea is fresh in my mind, I will put aside and they probably will never get done.

Project 1: This little project must be put at the top of my list because it is for the theater. My friend is directing a show now and needs two old fashioned aprons for two characters. And even though I auditioned for the part and didn’t get cast, I’m still willing to make some costumes pieces for him. That’s how much I love him and this theater. I should be able to knock these out relatively quickly once I get the pattern traced and the fabric cut.

Project 2: This is one of the “need to do before I lose my motivation” projects. I got the idea that the dogs needed some kind of mats for their crates this winter. But I knew that if I put anything with padding or stuffing in there they’d just tear it up. Plus I wanted something easy care and washable. I got the idea to get a heavy denim and machine embroider their names on it and then “quilt” it together with a fleece and bind or serge the edges to finish everything off. I wanted to do it before our trip last weekend but didn’t get time. I’m hoping that if they have warm, cozy blankies in their crates they’ll get off my bed, but who am I kidding?

Project 3: This top kind of needs to be made by Saturday so I can wear it to work. We are having an Event at the store and I am giving a Power Point presentation on Trends in Garment Sewing. Of course I am trying to promote the apparel fabrics that we sell, etc. so I want to make a top out of this fabric we carry and wear it with my jeans. I know this pattern can be sewn up really quick and I already have it traced off so I should be able to whip it up some night this week. This fabric is also perfect for making Infinity Scarves, which I did out of the black/grey/silver color of this fabric.

Other Projects and/or Stash Fabrics: I added a bunch of miscellaneous cuts of fabrics that may or may not get sewn into something anytime soon. How’s that for non-committal? Here they are in no particular order.

This is more navy than it appears in the photo. Just a misc. jersey knit I grabbed on sale. Will probably become one of my TNT knit top patterns before the winter ends.

This sale knit is still in my stash from late summer. I now need to decide which of the DVF inspired wrap dress patterns I’m going to use to make it. Both get mixed reviews on Pattern Review. I had hoped to make it to wear in Florida but didn’t get it done so now it goes back onto the shelf for a while until I get time for it. This will pretty much be a hopefully wearable muslin unless I get really lucky with fit. It was super cheap fabric so no harm, no foul either way. Any readers have experience with either of these patterns and want to weigh in with an opinion?

More super cheap single knit from Fabric.com. No plans for this, just wanted to see what the fabric was like since it was so cheap. Will probably make a quick draped neck sleeveless top out of it for summer at some later time. I’m sure the fabric won’t hold up to much wear so I’m not investing much time with it. The color is a really pretty apple green anyway.

These are both polyester ITY knits. The print on top is cool but what doesn’t show up in photos is that it has a “sparkle” to it. I don’t have any set plans for it. I’m sure once warmer weather gets here the colors will inspire me to make something fun out of it. I bought 2.5 yards of it so I have enough to make a dress, maybe another DVF inspired wrap if I am successful with either of the above mentioned patterns. It would also work well in KS 3658.

The deep burgundy ITY is very nice and I’m sure it will become either a dress or top. The two fabrics do coordinate so I’m thinking I may make simple tops and elastic waist A-line skirts that I can mix and match as separates or wear together for a dress look.

The last pile of stash and new projects deserves a post all its own. I have another sewing Mt. Everest to climb and that is Swimsuits. I’ve been stashing patterns, books and fabrics of the lycra variety lately. Stay tuned for that! But right now I’d better get actually sewing, or at least tracing and cutting or I’ll never get through all these projects!

		KS3315: Stretch Jeans VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I apologize up front for not having any photos of me modeling these yet. I have worn them a few times since completing them but never seem to have enough light or a willing photographer about to help me take them.

This is my second go at making this pattern. The first time was for a store sample at work and I made them in the XS size and also have yet to find anyone to model them for me. On those I also did some machine embroidery on the leg and next to the front pocket. Not my personal style, but very hip and cute anyway. I wanted to make myself a pair so I could test out the fit of this pattern. It is designed for stretch denims and like most Kwik Sew patterns, it does tend a bit large. I did cut and sew the XL per the measurements but next time I will probably either sew them with a deeper seam allowance or go down to the Large. They fit fine but after a bit of wear they do stretch out and are a bit roomy. I didn’t put belt loops on this pair but I may go back and add them so I can cinch them up when needed. I also added almost 2” to the length and ended up not needing it. The pattern says it only has a 30” inseam and I was afraid to go that short in case they shrunk (I did prewash this denim!). I ended up cutting off what I had added before hemming them.

I took my time on the details to make them look as RTW as possible. This meant that I did true flat-felled seams on the yoke and side seams and then went back and top-stitched with a triple straight stitch. The back seam I did a mock flat-fell seam by serging with a 4-thread overlock and then pressing to the side and then top-stitching. In the future I will probably just do mock flat-felled seams to speed up the process. I looked at a couple of my RTW jeans and that is how they are constructed. But I did have to do the “real thing” at least once so I can say that I did. I also top-stitched all the pockets as well as added decorative stitches to the back pockets. Since I’ve made these and the sample at the store I’ve had many people (seamstresses and non) comment on how hard it must be to make jeans. But really it isn’t any harder than any other project and simpler than many others. It is just a matter of taking the time to do the little details that take your project from “Home-made” to “Hand-made”. Imagine what how impressed people would be if you told them you only wore jeans that were, “hand-made exclusively for(by) me”?

Please excuse the wrinkles in the above photos. I wore them to Florida last weekend and just pulled them out of my suitcase this morning to put in the wash. I have to say that I usually hate traveling with jeans. They are never comfortable for wearing for car rides or on an airplane but take up too much room in the suitcase. These broke all of those misconceptions. They are super comfortable and yet still look good when you get where you are going. When I packed them to come home they rolled up nice and tight and took up no more room than my other slacks.  I made these from an “Indiana Denim” we carry at the store. I’ve never heard that term before so I’m not sure what it means, Google wasn’t much help this time around. I can tell you that it is a nice soft, lightweight denim with a bit of stretch. It also has a slight, almost pin-stripe texture to it.

My overall impression of this pattern is favorable. I will probably use it again in the future. As always Kwik Sew directions are clear and easy to understand. I would like to make the straight leg version next and maybe go down a size for a more “skinny jean” look. Today the UPS man delivered a box from fabric.com (No matter how hard I try I can’t ignore those sale emails!) and in it was my very own copy of the ever popular Jalie 2908 jeans pattern. After I made the Kwik Sew jeans I was so excited I wanted to make the world jeans (I’m over THAT notion now!) But I was humbled when Emma asked if I could try making her some jeans. Seeing as she is very hard to find jeans for that are slim enough but still long enough, I told her I’d give it a try. As most teens do, she prefers a low-rise waist so I thought that the Jalie pattern would be better suited for her. Plus I read many (not all, I’d never have time to actually sew if I tried!) of the reviews on Pattern Review and was impressed by the results so many had with this pattern.

I have now conquered jeans and am moving on to other sewing challenges. Wait until you see what I have to post next. I have so many projects lined up I need a Snowmaggedon to have time to get to it all.