Projects and an Introduction

I hope everyone is enjoying their Monday off, whether it be for Canadian Thanksgiving, or Spanish taking credit form the Vikings/Columbus Day! And if you don't have the day off, I hope you're having a lovely day! I have someone I'd like you to meet. Ladies meet Miss Bettina, Miss Bettina, meet the ladies.

Miss Bettina has made my life so much easier. She is particularly helpful in the pinning of sleeves and facings. I love Miss Bettina. Miss Bettina was found at Goodwill for $60. And she is perfect. Miss Bettina and I will be friends for a very long time. And just what has Miss Bettina helped me with? My two newest projects!

First we have the ppolygamist group nightgown. I found this flannel at Joann's and thought it was on sale. It was not and I didn't know that until after I'd had it cut... grr. But I needed some new pj's. I used a Simplicity ____ which I've used before, and I intended to lengthen the top, but, um, I was watching a movie while I cut this and kind of forgot.... oops! Next time though I will lengthen the bodice because it cuts me off mid chest when I'm wearing a bra, which looks even worse sans bra. And yes I know it totally looks like one of those dresses those polygamist groups wear. No, I don't care. It is the most wonderfully comfortable nightgown in the history of nightgowns. Next time I will make it a little smaller though, because the skirt has an odd tent like effect (the last time I used this pattern I was a bit larger and when cutting this one I forgot to take that into account).

The buttons are from Walmart if you can believe it. The one nearest me was closing it's craft section so everything was on clearance. I think these cost me 20 cents maybe. There's two different sizes that I alternated on the placket. Despite the bit overside-ness and bodice length, I am thrilled with it. I really took my time on this one (and broke four sewing machine needles in the process!) and payed attention to all the details. It also cured me of my fear of sleeves (next to be cured of: button holes, and hand sewn hems). I'm totally in love with my new nightgown. Grade- A- (for the bigness and bodice)

And this one. This is actually a thrifted pattern I found this weekend. My local Salvation Army has been holding out on me with patterns and I finally discovered them all hiding under a bunch of plastic bowls and such. Most of them were either awful or home decor patterns, but I did walk away with these two.

The horrid 90's jumpsuit actually screamed 40's swing skirt to me. The pattern was pre-cut to the size I figured I'd need and ended up costing about 80 cents. The fabric is a really pretty pink corduroy I bought last year in Solvang. It cost me 99 cents a yard. I think I had just about 3 years. The pattern called for 3 1/2, but I was shortening the skirt. I ended up using all of the fabric I had ( I may have enough left to make a hair bow). And believe it or not I actually did try to line up the pattern (next time this gets cut on the fold) and they are only half an inch off, but it drives me nuts, so grrrr...

But it was actually incredibly easy to piece together! I also attached the straps incorrectly, but like I said, next time I'll fix that. As I said, the pattern was pre-cut to the largest size which corresponded with my measurements, so I cut everything out to that. However I cut everything last night after I'd just returned home from a fair and was filled with fried food. The skirt was pushing it size wise, and I was in a panic. However this morning when I tried it on to fit the straps (I finished everything but straps and hem last night in about 3 hours), I ended up having to take the whole thing in by about five inches! It's still a bit big in the waist but I made it for swing dancing, so I figure some give is probably good. Next time (because I will have a bout a million of these before the year is out) I will not use a print and I think I'd like to try something with a better drape. I also want to make the straps convertible so I can wear it as a skirt too. I'm thinking of using some other solid corduroys next (there's a cranberry one at Joann's that has my heart a flutter. I think the thing I like best about this little jumper dress is that I can see it be a really great year round item. Grade- B- (For the straps and the stupid not lining up print, and also the fact that I did top stitching in white and not pink.)

Are any of you working on any fall sewing projects?