SWAP 2013 Progress Update

So, with a bit over a month left in the SWAP (sewing with a plan, you know) I thought it would be a good time to update with what I've managed to get done.
First, how about a list of all the things i want to sew?

SWAP 2013

Red group

• Red Sateen -Skirt
• Black w/ polka dot knit -top
• Red and turquoise floral knit -top
• Black with silver skulls knit -top

Indigo group

• Jeans (either made or purchased)
• Blue w/ pink paisley woven -top
• Blue, green, turquoise & tan silky -top
• Solid turquoise knit -top

Linking Garment: Light grey fleece hoodie with an asymmetrical zip.

Ok, now onto pictures!

All 3 of the red tops done...

polka dot knit: I needed extra for the sleeves

Black w. silver skulls: ruched sleeve (though you can't see it here)

Red and turquoise floral

Along with one -almost 2!- of the Indigo tops!

Blue w/pink paisley: Really needs to be on a body to look good

Blue/green/turquoise print: Just needs sleeves (which are out of the print)

Plus I have the grey hoodie completely cut out, embroidered, and the front 2 edges bound.

So what's left to sew?

• Red sateen skirt
• Jeans
• Grey hoodie

Really, not much in my opinion. I might have to add a top to each collection so that i have more pressure, lol! But i think i'll wait and see if i can finish all of this first, then start thinking about adding.

Until next time!

-Lynnette

SWAP 2013

Remeber this post about a new wardrobe? Well now I have a reason to work on those projects and this blog again. It's called SWAP: Sewing With A Purpose! The Artisan's Square stitcher's guild forum members take part in this every year, and there are certain rules for the wardrobe you create. This year the (summarized) rules are 2 sets of 4-5 pieces and one bridging piece that works with everything for a total of 9-11 garments.

My goals for this SWAP? To make tops that are as easy and comfy as a t-shirt, but look better. There's nothing wrong with a great t, but my closet is full of no-so-great t's. I think I will tackle jeans again and might even try *gulp* a skinny leg jean (I've been resisting for so long, but i think i need to give in for the sake of wearing great boots). For my bridging piece i want to make a fleece jacket to replace the hoodies I've been wearing.

So, by April 30th (the deadline, btw) I will have hopefully made 2 bottoms, 1 fleece jacket, and 6/8 tops (depending on how busy i get!)......Here goes!

Now off to sew!
-Lynnette

Still here.....

I'm still here, polishing my nails, hoarding polish, and sewing. I just haven't had the heart to post about it. Most of my father's affairs are in order, so i suppose things are back to normal. I do miss posting are sharing the manis and sewing projects i come up with, so i'm going to try and get into the swing of things again.

Stay tuned and there should be some cool stuff coming!

Bad news.....

I found out on Friday that my father had died. I'm not willing to go into details here, but I will say that it was a shock. He was deeply in debt, with no money coming in and none (that we can find) set a side for funeral expenses. My focus right not is on getting all the loose ends he left me tied up. I will not be posting here until life has settled back into routine.

To leave everyone with something polish related, here are pictures of my most recent challenge manis: metallic and galaxy (finally! This galaxy wore for most of the week).

Week 36: Tape mani

Sorry if the pics aren't as good as they usually are. These are taken with my camera phone instead of my usual camera. The phone was/is convenient (especially since i can just upload to picasa from my phone), and the quality seems ok on the phone's screen, but we'll see how they look here.

Not really a big fan of using tape for straight lines... I feel like i can do better and faster free hand. I do want to try using decorative scissors to cut the tape next time.
I used Julep Otto, Julep Delaunay (both Trina Turk colors) and Sinful Colors Rain Storm. Not really happy about the whole photoshop scandal, but Sinful makes some great basic colors with decent formulas. All of these were one careful coat!

Nail nubs again :( But the Nailtek is helping a lot!

Well, that's all for now. My "new normal" is working 6 day weeks.....While I may not find time to post, I do make time to paint my nails, sew and vent...just a bit less than before :)
Later!
-Lynnette

Week 34: "Bling" mani

Since week 33's galaxy nails chipped off before pictures (REALLY frustrating), here is week 34's bling mani.

I used one coat of Wet n'Wild Metallica and one coat of Sally Hansen's Showgirl Chic. Love how sparkly this polish is. These pictures kinda show how pretty this polish is, but you really need to see it for yourself.

Please forgive the bit of polish on the side of my ring finger...i'm still on my acetone strike lol.

Next week is "cupcake" themed, but i really don't feel like having cupcakes on my nails, let alone trying to draw a cupcake on my nails.....we'll see what i come up with.

Until next time,
-Lynnette

Anniversary Dress

This is the latest project me and my Pfaff 7570 have churned out. In less than a week, this dress went from dream to reality, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

I started with Vogue 1086 and 2 1/2 yards of stretch satin (it has a nicer hand than the other satins I can get my hands on for a good price). I usually don't read reviews of patterns, but I'm so glad that I did with this (otherwise this would have been a disaster). The reviews said that the neckline was low, sizing was off (too big in most cases), and that it was near impossible to alter as you sew due to french seams. After some tissue fitting I decided to cut a size 16 (even though my measurements said to cut a 20....so much for vanity huh Vogue?) for everything but the yoke, which I cut at a 14. Yokes have a history of being to big on me and this was no exception.

I skipped the french seams so that I could fit as I sewed...honestly, I really didn't need to follow the pattern's written instructions, the pictures were all I needed. I had to raise the neckline about an 1 1/2 in.-2 in, and I cut down the yokes by about an inch on the shoulder edge, 5/8-3/4in on the neck edge. However the back was still gaping and bowing funny. So I had to overlap it more...I think it was a good 1 1/2in, maybe even 2in......it felt like I needed to cut the smallest yoke I could lol!

I embroidered the yokes and the front waistband before I constructed everything. I loved how rich the tan thread looked with the teal fabric. One of my friends couldn't tell that the embroidery was skulls at first! I usually cut/tear my stabilizer away when I'm done stitching the design, but I used it as interfacing to make those pieces a little more "beefy". This gives some structure to an otherwise shifty/slippery fabric. The design is skull array from Urban Threads, my favorite embroidery site!

Overall, I love this dress, and had a great time wearing it. I think I need to make a casual version of this (now that I know what needs to be changed, construction should go easier).

Now to go soak in the tub until I'm prune-fingered!
-Lynnette