Fabulous Free Pattern Friday

 The Instructions

It was so dark when I took the pictures last night. You can now see that the top is actually green. I'm very lucky in that friends give me fabric and I'm always the very happy recipient. As I was thinking about what fabric I had to make this week's pattern out of, I remembered the suede cloth that a friend had given me. I must like the color (it is the color of my eyes) as I also had some remnants of the wool knit that matched perfectly. So, I was all set. The circle portion can be made out of a woven or knit fabric, the cuffs and hip band must be made out of knit.

 The top is so very simple to make, and to my surprise, the most comfortable top to wear.

 It's basically, two half circles and three rectangles.

I really like how the top drapes around the cuffs. The top is also reversible as you can see from my mistake of putting it on backwards. The very first picture shows the top with the scoop in the front. I like it both ways.

To get started, measure the length of both arms and across your shoulders. I would subtract 3" from the length of your arm measurement to compensate for the cuff. My measurement divided in half was 27". With your fabric on the fold, measure down your length and then across the fabric the same amount. In the above picture you can see my measurement of 27" on the lines. From the apex of the angle, measure down your measurement (mine 27") to form the circle. Do this twice, one for the front and one for the back.

Once the two half circles have been cut, you will now need to determine your neckline. I wanted a rather open neckline so I can wear some larger jewelry and maybe another top under this top. For my neckline, I found the center of the half circle. At this point I measured down 1/2". From the center line, I measured over 4" and drew in a shallow curved line. 4" from the center line will give you a fairly open neckline. If you want something a little smaller, maybe go down to as little as 2 1/2" from the center line. Remember, you can always cut away more, it's a little more difficult to add back.

For the front neckline, once again find the center of your half circle. Measure over the same measurement you used for your back neckline. For the depth of your neckline, measure down from the pit of your neck your desired length. You can draw in any style of neckline that you wish. I wanted mine to be a scoop. In the above picture you can see that there are notches for the opening for the cuffs and for the hip band. To determine where the notches should be for your hips, this should be half of your hip measurement.

 You can see my cuff in the above picture. Measure around your arm. Make sure the measurement is a measurement that will be comfortable. This will become the measurement for the width of your cuff. Divide that measurement in half and that will be the measurement of the opening for your cuff on the circle.
For the hip band measure your hips, snugly. You want your hip band to have some stretch. As for the length of your cuffs, I cut my cuffs 12" long and my hip band 10" long. I folded them in half in order to not have a seam on the edge.

 You can see in the above picture that your hip band will be smaller than the opening you leave in the circle. You may want to subtract 2" to 3" from your hip measurement for your hip band. Once you have sewn the center back seam in the hip band, fold it in half, it will now look like the hip band in the above picture. Divide your hip band into 4 equal parts and divide the opening in the circle by four. Match the divide areas, you will need to stretch the hip band as you sew it to the circle. Do the same with the cuffs.

For the neckline, I used some of my knit to make a band. The knit has a nice stretch and works beautifully around a curve. I cut my band 1" wide and sewed it to the top with a 1/4" seam allowance. I then pressed under the opposite edge 1/4" and sewed that edge to the garment.

And you're finished!! As I said, this top is extremely easy to make, so good luck. As always, if you decide to give it a try and have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Fabulous Free Pattern Friday Preview

The day just got away from me, but before the day ends, I wanted to at least give you a preview of this week's pattern. I've had it on all evening. It's very comfortable and feels so great. The light is horrible so the color is not showing up at all. The body of the top is made from a suede cloth, the hip piece and the cuffs are made from a matching wool knit. The pattern is basically a circle and three rectangles. Super easy. So with that said, come back by in the morning and I will have a picture of me in the top as well as a matching pair of pants along with the instructions.

Trust me, it's really cute on.

Fabulous Free Pattern Friday Roundup

On August 16th of this year I began Fabulous Free Pattern Fridays. My plan is to have 52 weeks of patterns, yes I know I'm behind by a week(it's been a tough week, I've been sick, but I'm getting better). At this point, there are 18 patterns. I'm having a blast. So rather than have you try to plow through all of the weeks to find the patterns, I thought I would do a little round up for you. The only pattern that does not have instructions is the Clam Shell Wristlet. It is available in my Etsy shop and I have given you a link to the shop. All of the other patterns can be found by clicking on the description. So enjoy and I will be back tomorrow with a new pattern.

The Rectangle/Triangle Top

 The Circular Skirt

 Cape/Ruan

 The Eight-Gore Skirt

 The Obi Belt

 The Rectangle Skirt

 The Great Cover Up

The Obi Bag

The Flutter Top

 Easy Vest

 The Paper Bag Jacket

 The Circle Jacket

 The Clam Shell Wristlet, only available now as a PDF pattern here. The cost of the pattern is $5.00.

The Rectangle Dress

The Rose

 Winter/Ski Hat

 Drapey Paper Bag Jacket

Felted Necklace

Monday Morning Inspiration

Last Friday as I was sewing away, a Bryan Adams song caught my attention. He sang, "It was the summer of '69, those were the BEST days of my life." As I listened to the song, I thought, "Really?" The events that represented the best days of his life were buying a guitar and falling in love. From that point, there was so much more to come, a wedding day, the birth of his first child, the birth of a second child, making his first album, having his first song hit the charts and on and on and on.

One of my exchange students once asked if I had the opportunity to be eighteen again, would I? My response was swift and rather surprising to him, "NO!!" He couldn't understand why, he was eighteen after all. I explained that at that time I couldn't do any of the things that I can do now. Why would I go back to a time that was so limiting, just to be eighteen again? My teenage years were full of so much heartache. I had stomach ulcers and because of my diet I wasn't able to participate in so many normal teenage activities. Yes, good events did thread there way through that period, but still, I would never want to go back to that period of time, life is so much better now. He then said, "But what if it could be different?" "Then I wouldn't be the person I am today," I replied.

A friend forwarded the attached video to me this weekend. As I watched it, I found myself longing for that "magical time of the past."  The Marshall Fields store that is pictured here is not the store that I remember. By the time I moved to Chicago, the Field's family had sold the store. The name remained the same, but the store was not the same. Finally, when Macy's bought the chain, the name was changed. The video is fun to watch, even if you were never in the store. What the video reminded me of was standing outside the Sear's that was in my hometown of Port Arthur, Texas and watching the animated figures dance around, a simpler time.   

As I watched the video, I thought of Bryan Adams words, "those were the BEST days of my life," and realized that I was being nostalgic for a time that has been painted over in my mind, painted to look as I would like to remember it rather than how it really was. What brought me back was an email I received requesting the napkin ring pattern.

She was a 6th grade teacher and she wanted the project because her class had decided on that pattern as their Christmas project. They will be making napkin rings for a local senior citizens home and they will be used for the Christmas luncheon . Then I thought about all the other emails I've received asking for the pattern, a 2nd grade teacher who will use it as a craft project for the children to take home to their mothers, church banquets, a garden club party and so many that would like to make the napkin rings for their own holiday tables. Then I thought, "this is the Best Christmas ever!" In a very small way, I will be a part of of all these celebrations.
Yes, it's wonderful to think about the happy events of our lives, but would we be willing to give up all the wonderful events that have happened since? I think not. Rather than saying "those" were the best days, change just one letter and say "these" are the best days of our lives.

Mission Accomplished...With A Small Hitch

 A few days ago I shared with you that I needed to get this coat finished by Saturday.

The last night of my vacation, I got it cut so that when I arrived home I would be able to get right to sewing.

I did it. There was a moment when it was a little touch and go. I'll tell you about that in a moment.

I'm really quite pleased with the final outcome. When I started working on the coat, I realized that I had only cut one piece of the outer portion of the hood. I was supposed to cut two. It was so nip and tuck with the fabric so there was nothing left to cut another piece. Oh well, just cut it out of the lining. I think it looks fine and maybe the color contrast sets off the hood better than if I had used the coat fabric. 

 I was determined to use what I had here at home. The lining is some silk I had purchased to go with something else. I'll worry about that later, it worked so I decided to use it.

The zipper I had in a fur coat I had made some time ago. I got tired of the fur coat and decided to take it apart and restyle it. The zipper was fine for this project, just a little too long.

My husband came to check on me and asked if he could see the coat on me. At that point, I had put the zipper in but had not attached the facing, but I had already cut off the extra portion of the zipper, so no zipper stays. So, I put the jacket on, zipped it up....all the way....and pulled the zipper pull right off the zipper. I was heart broken. Thankfully there's another zipper pull on the zipper in order to unzip the zipper from the bottom. My husband held the top portion of the zipper so I didn't pull the other zipper pull of. I worked and worked and worked. I was just about ready to give up when the piece I had pulled off went back on. I was so relieved, but it was my husband who really celebrated. Whenever I'm in charge of something, I feel such an obligation to participate. My husband was so happy because he knew how disappointed I would be if I showed up with a half finished jacket.
In the above picture you can see that I used a magnetic snap on the front flap.

To cover the snap I covered a large button and attached it.

I also covered buttons and attached them over the velcro that the pattern called for on the cuffs.

And finally, my silk lining. The color that you see in the previous pictures is more true to the color than what you see in the above picture.
By the way, I did knit the bag that is in one of the previous pictures and is pictured below as well as the scarf. The extra ball of yarn is for a hat, which I need to get to. The lining of the jacket is exactly the same color as the kitted pieces

So the jacket is finished. Now I need to catch up on my neglected posts. I'll do last Friday's  Fabulous Free Pattern Friday, tomorrow.
Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend.
Rhonda

Nothing Like Waiting Until The Last Minute

A few of you seemed to like the fact that I had put a little blue dye in my hair. I wish I could show you what it looked like, but sadly, it's all gone. My hairdresser had told me that it would lighten up each time I washed my hair and that it would eventually just fade away. It's been almost three months and it's really all gone. There is a very slight hint of the color, but it would never show up on a picture.
I just found out that you can take pastels, the oil based chalk and color your hair. Once you've put the color where you would like, set it with hairspray. Wow! I really like that idea, color without it being permanent. I'm going to give it a try next week. If it works, I will definitely post pictures. I am still running around with feathers in my hair.

There's a fat pink one, a smaller blue one and a thin yellow and brown one. I have really enjoyed the feathers. I think I'm going to take them out during the Christmas holidays and then put them back in the first of the year....along with a few more, OMG and probably a few strings of beads!!!! I think my American Indian ancestors would be quite proud of me. Like I said, we only live once.

Every year in preparation for our fashion show, the sewing group that I belong to, the Haute Couture Club of Chicago, does a group project. The fashion show chairperson (which is me this year) chooses a pattern and presents it to the group. Everyone is invited to make up the pattern in the fabric of their choice and do whatever they would like to add their own touch. With the help of a friend, I chose this Sandra Betzina pattern, Vogue 1097.
To give everyone a little push, we usually have a little contest at our holiday party. The party is this Saturday!!! I've been on vacation during the Thanksgiving holidays, so I've been away and unable to sew. The last night of my vacation, I laid out the pattern and at least got it cut.

The fabric I chose for the coat is a type of ultrasuede. The lighting was really bad. The colors in the fabric are not so yellow. 

So, at least I have it cut and ready to go. I have until 3 o'clock on Saturday to get it finished. Time is ticking! I'll post pictures when it's finished.