A Seam Ripper Anyone?

These past few weeks has had me busy ripping seams. I have had to replace a zipper, take in 3 tops & sleeves, plus hemming more pants. Taking apart a Nike jacket to replace the zipper took me over 3 hours. I feel like I have a close relationship with my seam ripper. Rip-it, rip-it, rip-it is how it goes. I think I need to get a new seam ripper as the 4 I have all seem to be dull. All of my personal sewing is on hold at this time. I've also been busy making pillowcases, Christmas stockings & ornaments for ASG projects. Our ASG chapter is having its' annual fund raiser by having 2 craft fair booths in November. This is a busy, busy time of the year. Happy Sewing!

More Shopping

Thursday night I went to another trunk show with Peggy Sagers, owner of Silhouette patterns at Hancock Fabric's. She had some new pieces this time which were geared more for the cooler weather of fall. I ended up buying the Yoga Pant pattern #115 & Alesha's blouse #875. I plan to use it as a jacket instead of a blouse so I purchased some black, brown,& dark gold short fake fur. I may line it although the pattern doesn't call for lining. I found the perfect buttons but at $8 each, it was a little pricey. I also bought some new dressmaking scissors (Mundial) for the UMNC along with bobbins & needles. However, I was pleased to find out that I got a 40% discount on all that I bought. All in all, it came to about $50 which was well within my budget. So with 2-1/2 yards of fabric, 3 WOW buttons & my new pattern, I should have a great jacket for those cool days in Memphis. Note: Peggy's measurements on her patterns are all the finished garment size with about 2 inches of ease. She has designed the patterns to be made up quickly on the serger as most people are very busy with little time to sew. I like the fact that all sizes come in each pattern & she has incorporated bust cup sizes in her patterns. I do believe that they can be used in home sewing businesses. If considering that, I would suggest that you call her 800 number to verify. One of my friends who was with me on Thursday night has already made up 3 versions of the Ralph Lauren pant pattern. LOL! She loves them. If you haven't tried Silhouette patterns, I would recommend that you try them. Peggy did say that if anyone had problems with fitting to call her 800 number & she'll tell you how to get a good fit.
Happy Sewing!
Marty

National Sewing Month

My fall sewing is on hold until I get thru the ASG craft fair sewing & new alterations that came in. I'm trying to figure out a plan to be able to sew for me as well as keep up with ASG projects & my sewing ministry. The last two weeks have been stressful for me & I have not been able to have any time to sew. I need to be sewing so I can relax. Anyway, I've thought that maybe I can try sewing ASG items on Mondays & Wednesdays; items for church members on Tuesdays & Thursdays & then sew for me on Fridays & Saturdays. I'm hoping that this will work for me.

I did finish knitting a third prayer shawl while waiting in doctors' offices but forgot to take a photo of it.

This is National Sewing Month & I haven't been sewing. However, the United Methodist Neighborhood Center near where I live has a program to provide Refugee Economic Independence for refugees coming from all over the world. They offer a sewing program & was in need of supplies. Therefore, I sent an email to my sewing friends & asked for donations. Boy, did they respond. On Monday, I was able to take 2 large boxes of fabric & notions, 7 large trash bags of fabric,some sewing books & magazines plus a sewing machine. Since Monday, I have 2 more sewing machines & another couple of bags of fabric to donate plus thread, scissors & notions. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to help others to be able to sew. Tonight, I'm off to see Peggy Sagers again & shop some more. Happy Sewing!
Marty

Silhouette Patterns

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to meet with Peggy Sagers when she did an event at Hancock Fabrics. Yes, Hancock Fabrics, will be carrying Silhouette patterns & Peggy is going around the country promoting her line of patterns. She is so charming & enthusiastic about sewing. Each of the 35 garments in her trunk show were made from fabrics carried by Hancock's & most were available to purchase in the store that night. She also offered a special of 9 patterns for $99.99 & her book "Dress to Kill ... Gently". There was a $14 pre-registration fee which entitled one to a Silhouette pattern. So, all in all, I bought 10 of her patterns, her DVD on "Basic Patternmaking" plus some fabric. The patterns are as follows:
#2750 Amy's Skirt #3100 Laurie's Pant
#1750 Robin's Jacket #3600 Ralph's Pant
#2850 Michelle's One Piece Skirt #175 Valerie's Top
#150 Dana's Top #115 Ann's Top
#1900 4 Button Jacket #195 Sweater Set

This will be my fall sewing. I already had her patterns for the Swing dress & the Stephanie Blouse. I like the fact that these can be sewn quickly on the serger with minimal fuss. While she doesn't use interfacing, I probably will because I like my garments to be stabilized. We will see how much I get done over the next few months since I have completed most of my alterations.
Happy Sewing!

Stimulating the Economy

Since I last posted, DH & I have stimulated the economy to the tune of almost $50,000.00. Yep, that's right. In July, we bought our daughter a 2009 Toyota Matrix fully loaded for around $25,500.00 for her 21st birthday. In addition to the car, we bought her a ticket to see the Broadway Musical "Wicked" when it came to the Orpheum Theater & took her out to an elegant (ie: extremely expensive) dinner at Flemings. We also gave her spending money for 2 trips that she took even though she has a part time job. Two weeks later, my DH & I went to buy a new car for him as his 15 yr old Mercury Grand Marquis was in need of repairs that were going to be over $6,000.00. Thank you for the "Clunker" law as he qualified for the $4500.00 rebate. We bought him a 2010 Toyota Corolla "S" which has a lot of nice features including lumbar support seats. Very important as one ages. There went another $20,000.00.

Then, we took my Pfaff 7570 sewing/embroidery machine in to be serviced as it was getting sluggish. There went another $185. Then, it rained & the roofed leaked so cha-ching, we're putting another $2000.00 for home repairs. Yes, we have really stimulated the economy. Here are photos of the new cars that live at our house. Both are very pleased with their new vehicles & I'm happy that my Pfaff loves being cleaned of all of the lint that builds up in the innards of a sewing machine. It's running smoothly. Sewing wise, I've been busy mending clothes ... I shortened the sleeves on a jacket for one lady by removing each sleeve from the armhole & shortening at the top of the sleeve. Then I had to shorten the shoulder seam, sew the sleeve back in & then shorten the lining. It took about 3 weeks to do this as I'm very slow. I've also took up seams on a pair of pants to loose the clown look on the hips plus hemmed 2 dresses. I'm also making craft items for our ASG upcoming craft fair. Last week, I did manage to get a blouse cut out for me using Butterick #4659. I love wing collar & princess seams. I do hope to do some tone on tone embroidery on the princess panels before sewing it together. I think it will be very pretty when done. Hope everyone is doing well for the summer.
Happy Stitching!

Sewing for the Summer

Most of my summer sewing will be community service projects for our ASG chapter. We are making pillowcases for the local Ronald McDonald House & stuffed turtle pillows for LeBonheur Children's Hospital. I do hope to get one or two items made for me. Also, our ASG chapter is sewing during the summer for our upcoming craft fair in the fall. We're making oven mitts, potholders, bookmarks, free standing lace bookmarks, Christmas ornaments & Christmas stockings. I hope we're able to raise enough funds to bring in a national educator for 2010. I did get to draft patterns for the oven mitt, the potholders, stockings & ornaments. We're using donated fabrics with the guild picking up the expenses for Insul-brite & 100% cotton batting.

Sewing ... Sewing ... Poof

Guess I am a bad blogger. I have been busy working on the formal gown which is still a work in progress & have been extra busy doing mending & alterations thru my sewing ministry as well as knitting prayer shawls. I just haven't blogged about any of it. This weekend, I'm shortening sleeves about 1-1/4 inches on a jacket from Talbot's for one of my church members as well as hemming pants for my minister. I did shorten straps about 3 inches on a club dress for my daughter plus repaired 2 of her bras. I would love to sew for me but haven't got the time right now. My student is progressing on her blouse. We have the darts in, the front plackets made & the collar ready to sew to the collar band. This coming week we will put the collar on & work on the sleeve plackets. In between all of this life has been very busy with DH & DD leaving this week for 5 days in Orlando, FL. They are attending our niece's wedding & doing some sight-seeing. I've been busy making the plane & hotel reservations, lining up a rental car & scheduling visits for them with family members who live in FL. I'm looking forward to the 5 days at home alone (with my dog, Max)while they are gone.
Happy Sewing!