Boy how time flies......I have been busy sewing but just have not posted anything here for awhile.  I have sewed a couple of things for myself which I need to take pictures of so I can post them.  I also have been sewing for other people.  At the beginning of the month I made 5 items for a client.  3 tops and 2 skorts.

These tops are copies of tops she had in her closet, but in different colors.

Both of the skorts were made of pointrama knit for the skirt and jersey for the under shorts.

Presently I am doing some alterations for a client and then making her a black dress she saw in a magazine.  I will use my Sure Fit Design System to make this dress.  I will post pictures as soon as I am finished.

Sure Fit Design System

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to share a couple of new items I have made using the Sure Fit Design System.



This is a knit top that I saw in a magazine somewhere.  I used my sloper but increased the center front by 3 inches then put in a separating zipper from bottom to just under the bust line, this made a very flattering neckline.  My husband calls this my Thanksgiving top.....because if I open the zipper I have a huge top that will hide Thanksgiving dinner.



This is a wrap top with a side tie, took about 2 hours to complete.  I made this to go with my new capri pants.


            

Back and side view of the top and the navy capri.  I have also made two other pairs of capri pants.
I was so pleased with the making of the pants....they did not need any adjustments.

If anyone is interested in learning more about SFD just go the surefitdesign.com.

Happy sewing.

WOW!!! How times flies. It has been over two months since I wrote on my blog.  A lot has been going on and I have been doing a lot of sewing, for myself as well as for other people.  I won't be posting everything I have made this past two months, but I will pick out a few.

One of the first I want to show you is a dress I made for my Grand Daughter for her school banquet.  While in the mall she found the perfect dress, in her favorite color, lime green at Betesy Johnson.  The price tag was $398.00.  No way was her mother going to spend this kind of money for a dress that she will wear only once.  she asked me if I would make it for her.





     Betesy Johnson Dress.
It came out well and she really liked it, as did all of her friends.

After reading about the Sure Fit Design System and hearing how everyone who has tried it is happy with it, I decided to go ahead and give it a try.  So I ordered it and made a sloper which came out pretty good,  I skyped with Glenda from SFD and she was please with it as well, gave me a couple of tips.  I have made myself a top, dress,capri pants, and a shirt for my hubby this past week.  It is so much fun to use this system to design clothes and have them fit perfect every time.  Following are a few pictures:

                                      
My husband loves how this shirt fits him.


                        

More later, but not two months later.

Jane

Jalie Jeans

Did not do much sewing this week as I had my two Granddaughters here for spring break.  I did get my Jalie Jeans finished though and I have to say that I am very pleased with them.  They fit really well, the only changes I made was to make them in a straight leg rather than flared.

This coming week I need to get a pair of white linen pants and a print top finished to wear to my mother's 90th Birthday Day party held on April 9.

I expect this will be a busy week for me as I have to get party details finished, my house cleaned for out of town guest and my sewing.

Talk to you soon.

I attended the Sewing Expo :)

OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!! I went to the Sewing Expo today.  It was so wonderful to be in rooms with people who love the same things that you do.  There were a lot of beautiful quilt displays ( I don't quilt but I sure did enjoy looking at them).  Some were just incredible.  I sat in on the designers fashion show.....so many beautiful new styles.  And the sewing machines.....what can I say.  If I had the money I would have come home with a new embroidery machine.  Such lovely fabric and tools, so many new ideas running through my head, I just want to make so many new things.  God willing I will be attending again next year for at least two days so I can take classes and touch all the fabric.  I am so glad that I was able to go today even though my time was limited.

Will be back with you soon.

Sewing Expo

Very excited....tomorrow I will be attending my first sewing expo.  'Original Sewing & Quilt EXPO' which is being held in Lakeland, Florida.  I will only be attending for one day this year as I am squeezing it into my schedule.  I will let you know how it is.

Have a great day.

March 10

Wow, where has this week gone.  Today was the first day that I have had a chance to do any sewing.  I did manage to get my front yard done this week, something I have been wanting to do for awhile now.  Still have to do the back yard, which I will work on this weekend.

I sewed Kwik Sew 3790 this afternoon.  It was very easy and quick and came out perfect.  I really like the asymmetrical neckline.  It also has gathers on the shoulder inset and on one side.

Front

Back

Showing the gathered shoulder

I just received my first ever Jalie Pattern.  It is for their stretch jeans.  I have made many jeans, but I have heard so much about Jalie Jeans that I must try them.  Now I have to find some stretch denim.

I am very excited to be attending the Original Sewing & Quilt EXPO next week, held in Lakeland, FL This will be my first one.  Will let you know how it is.

Talk to you soon.

No sewing this week :(

Just got back from my trip to see friends in Port Charlotte.  I did get a chance to see everyone, but unfortunately my best friend's mom was very ill in hospital.  So I spent a lot of time at the hospital lending support to my besties, Rita and Jeanine.  I am very happy to say that their mom is doing really well.

Not sure what I will get into for the rest of this week.  I did stop at Hancock on my way home, would like to make another pair of stretch jeans, but could not find any stretch denim.  Will have to order online. Maybe I will get some much needed yard work done.  I have to be honest.....I am  missing my sewing machine.

Will be back soon.

Not sure where this week went,  never got my gardening done.  I did manage to make myself a new pair of jeans and a new top.  Wore them this evening to a baby shower.  For the jeans I used Vogue1204 and for the top McCalls  6241.  I added some 'bling' to the shoulder of the top to dress it up a bit.

I won't get much sewing done next week as I am leaving tomorrow for a few days to visit friends in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Have a great week everyone.

DH Loved His Shirt

In my last blog I told you that I dragged my hubby to Hancocks to pick out fabric for a new shirt.  Well I ended up picking the fabric out and making his shirt..... he loves it.  He wore it to a party we went to on the weekend and bragged to anyone who would listen that his wife made his shirt.

Made it to Hancocks on the weekend to look through the Burda catalog.  They have some great things in there, very updated fashion.  All the Burda patterns are 40% off.  (loving it).

Well now I am working on a new pair of jeans for myself.  Will post pictures when they are done.  Hopefully, I'll also get time in to make a top to go with the jeans,  need something new for the weekend.

The weather here in Florida is beautiful, need to get outside and do some gardening.

Up date on my Tim Gunn wardrobe

A week has passed since I was last here. I started putting together my 'Tim Gunn' wardrobe.  After searching in my stash I found fabric for the trench coat and for the classic white shirt. Will get started on these soon.

This was a busy week for me so I did not get in much sewing. I did manage to make a blouse for myself.  This is made from lite blue stretch shantung.  Was easy to make and fits really well. It is McCalls 6286.

DSC_0831.JPG

Front View

Back View

Took DH with me today to Hancocks (not his favorite thing to do), but since I am making him a shirt I thought it would be nice for him to pick out fabric he liked.  Not a smart move on my part.....We were in there about two minutes and he asked me where the men's department was.  He could not visualize any of this fabric turning into a man's shirt.  Hence I picked out some fabric but he's not sure he will wear it. (I'm sure he will).

  

While I was in Hancocks' I noticed that they just started to sell Burda patterns.  There were catalogs on the table and one of the sales ladies was stocking the draws.  I wanted to take a look at the catalog but DH asked if I could look at it when he was not there. Guess I will go back there later this week.

Be back soon.

February 7

Weekend is over and so are all the alterations I had to do for a friend that 'went shopping in her closet'. I guess that is like shopping in your stash...you forget what you have purchased until you start looking and realize that you have some really nice things and you don't need to go shopping. Mind you that has never stopped me from shopping for more fabric to add to my stash.

Thought I had finished everything Saturday evening...no such luck.  On Sunday morning my 13 yo DGD forgot to tell me that she had a couple of items that she needed to have fixed before she went home that afternoon. Done, Done and Done.  Now it is time for me.:)

PR had a post a couple of weeks ago about Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Items Every Women Needs.  Here is the list:

* Basic Black Dress
* Trench Coat
* Classic White Shirt
* Classic Dress Pants
* Skirt
* Blazer
* Day Dress
* Cashmere Sweater
* Jeans
* A comfortable Alternative to a Sweatsuit

Nothing new just basic pieces that can work for everyone.

Think I will start by going through my patterns and Burda magazines to see what strikes me.

Have a great day, I'll be back soon.

My new blog

Hello everyone I have just finished setting up my blog.  So this is a test of sorts.  Hope it works for me.

http://janesewsandsews.blogspot.com