[with love Heidi]

I don’t think I ever fit straight sizing, not even in high school! But being 6 feet tall will do that to you 🙂 But mum could sew and make basic alterations so I had clothes, particularly pants, that fit. I think this is one reason I sew for my friends kids, especially the one who is very tall and very slim so they have clothes that fit properly in both length and width 🙂

Congratulations on getting your dress done Tamara!

I’m checking the sleeve fit on my jacket next.

[thejennigirl]

There is nothing on my sewing machine. Nada. Zilch.

And it feels so very horrifying! But, I promised myself that I have to finish my studio before I pick up another project, and with Kids’ Clothing Challenge less than one month away, I’m coming up on my deadline.

All I have left is to hang the wallpaper (which arrived Thursday evening) tomorrow, hang the storage shelves, and then hang the door so than my fabric loving kitty can be kept out. The mattress set for the guest bed (which resides in my studio) is at my in-laws, waiting to be picked up either next weekend or the following Wednesday, and the bedding came Saturday, so it’s just a matter of putting everything together. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! And then, then I can sew to my heart’s content, surrounded my all my supplies and tools in the same location.

[with love Heidi]

New sewing studio! It will be lovley when done 🙂

Now I’m making fitting adjustments to the sleeves, adding 2 3/4″ in length and a 2″ large bicep adjustment . I’m redoing the bicep flat pattern adjustment as I used the added length measurement rather than the bicep added width measurement 🙁

[Tamara]

A cow Nicole? Not at all! I admit I did ‘t go back and read from the start of the fitting conversations but I also think that it just reflects what alot of us are thinking. We take what our bodies do for granted and to be proud of the change of shape and reason for the change is profound I think. How many women do I know who put themselves through gruelling regimes just to shrink 20kgs six months post baby all because it is “time”. It is extremely important to be happy in your skin but on the other hand I think we are also allowed to have frustrations over how the changes that relate to fitting a garment. At the same time, while we like to know that we can be complacent in our fitting requirements, the changes send us out of our comfort zones and force us to learn more of the process thanks to our bodily changes in fit.

Heidi, totally hearing you on the height thing. It is automatic to lengthen everything. What I have only recently learned though is that it isn’t necessarily the correct position at the cut lines on a pattern to lengthen because one body could have length slightly above or below that area and so to cut on the specified line could give a poor fitting result.

The plus size patterns were purchased because I “thought” I needed them. It honestly pays to read and discuss methods with others as I had no idea about the upper bust measurement being utilised for pattern size in order to do an fba! And frankly I am thrilled to belong to the “normal” category again.

Jennigirl, how far along are you with completing the studio? I wonder if we will both be done at the same time? I have painting and flooring to do and then I can move the furniture in and after that it is sorting and putting away.

There has been a slight change in plans for today thoug. I have to turn into homeschool teacher for a child with no voice and a croupy cough who is home trying to get better for tomorrow’s carnival. Note to self, turn temp up on air con (or not have it on at all).

[with love Heidi]

Sorted out the sleeves, they fit now! Next is fitting the narrow peplumy bit. But that may need to wait as I measured my nieces and nephews tonight and discovered that one of the dresses I sewed for a birthday next week is two sizes to big and it’s a family reunion dress which is quite wide to start with. So that one will stay in the cupboard another year or so and I need to come up with another birthday present this week.

[Nicole]

Finally finished up Tildy’s Puppet Show dress, what a lovely sew it is.

I am still working on the bloomers.

Your jacket should look lovely Heidi.

[Tamara]

It’s a pity the dress was too big Heidi, yet hopefully it can fit next year. Was it received with excitement or was it not mentioned as a possible birthday gift?

What is the jacket pattern you are using?

I have the Puppet show pattern but haven’t used it yet. I have had the ambition to pattern stash for some time now so maybe I can get started on the weekend?

The wall is painted, sort of. It means I can do skirting boards tomorrow and hopefully start on the floor. So exciting to be getting closer to being able to actually sew and not just talk about the possibility.

[thejennigirl]

justsewit- Today, I hang the wallpaper, and hopefully, the door. I have to make cutouts in the trim and frame for the hinges, since I couldn’t bear the idea of the door opening into my space and taking up valuable real-estate, and it now has to swing out into the hallway. Then, next week, I get to put the bed together. The floor is done, the ceiling & walls are painted (except for the few that are receiving the wallpaper treatment). Much of the furniture is in the room already, including the walnut wardrobe that had to be carried up 2 flights of stairs, neither of which were strait.

My husband has accused me of being OCD with my space, but, really, it’s my sanctuary and creative cave. Shouldn’t it make me smile to walk in? Won’t I be more prepared to create if I am not hunting for my interfacing, picking pins up off of the living room floor, and trying to iron while the dog attempts to hide from the cat? Not to mention, I can leave my projects out (!!) instead of packing everything away every night?

[Masha Richart]

The skirt fits!!! How lovely to sew something without fit adjustments! I did have a shock when I discovered he waistband piece was too short for the skirt, apparently I am not the first to have had this problem. That was a relatively easy fix. I did completely botch the bar tack at the bottom of the fly, but the fly itself went in pretty easily. My first successful zip! Still need to hand stitch the hem and sew in the hook and eye.

[with love Heidi]

How exciting RTWG, a well fitting skirt straight out of the packet! Can’t wait to see your Puppet Show Nicole!

Thanks for the encouragement with the jacket Nicole, it’s coming along but I’m so ready to just sew!

Tamara, I haven’t given the dress yet, her birthday is next week. I just happened to have all the kids in one place with tape measure and note book! So I’m going by the measurements and style that it will be too big. I’ve just bought Candy Castle’s Peperming swirl pattern ( http://candycastlepatterns.com/patterns/dresses/peppermint-swirl-dress.html ) and I’m thinking either that as a skirt or maybe a 2+2 dress.

[Tamara]

Jennigirl, exactly right with the door swinging into the hallway! Mine does this so you don’t have to wrestle with it impeding on sewing studio wall space. Sounds like heaven. I’m am doing a scaled down on a budget version of your creative cave here. The walls are white and I just have a few touches to finish off before vacuuming up the stuff on the floor and rolling up the old the old lino so I can finally paint the skirting boards (because I was lazy and very fatigued when I painted the first coat on the walls I failed to tape the skirtings. I will paint the skirtings whit to give the appearance of the wall going right down to the floor (which of course it actually does but you know…) and then hopefully tonight I can get started on the vinyl planks – the click and lock didn’t quite fit into the budget at the time of ordering. It is diy so should be straight forward. Then tomorrow after this is sorted I can start moving the furniture in. That includes unpacking the huge wardrobe that has to be disassembled and brought over.

In the meantime though, I have to fit in time to take my boy to the doctors and see about this bark of a cough. Swimming carnival today and my sports captain daughter wanted to stay home (because her brother is). Fortunately it wasn’t what ended up being.

Tell your hubby jennigirl that you can be as OCD as you want about your space. I bet he is exactly the same about his man cave.

Yay to the first zipper RTWG, Well done!

Heidi, will have to click that link to see what that pattern is about. Onto cup of coffee number two for the day and slowly coming back to earth after a round in the preteen slanging match ring! I have decided I don’t like verbal boxing with my eleven year old!

[thejennigirl]

justsewit- I started working from home, instead of at the shoppe, as a contractor, so any monies I have spent are a lovely tax write off 😉 However, the cast iron bed was $20 at a yard sale last summer, and the rest of the furniture I already owned. J bought me the wallpaper for Valentines Day after I guilted myself over the cost for 3 months. The best part? My studio is located on the 3rd floor, in the middle of his man cave. The poor guy 😉

I’m over halfway done with the wallpaper, and I might hang the door tonight, if I can keep this energy streak I’ve found

[Tamara]

Working from home equals heaven! I love working from home – no commuting, no traffic, no potential lateness. Its great! But to have it written off in tax that is super lucky of you.

We have a few problems with the old lino being glued to the cement floor so have to locate the scraper to get that part off. I still haven’t finished painting but hoping dh will finish it off for me and possibly remove the skirtings from behind where the cupboard will go so that I can still do the floor this evening.

Getting so exciting! I can’t wait to get sewing again.

[lattemama]

I’m at the stage of having loads of plans and ideas but no energy to get started. Spring is almost here but it’s still dark in the evenings and I prefer not to let the girls sit alone and watch telly in the evening so I sit with them and do some cross stitch instead.

I took a few measurements this morning for a pillowcase I have planned and I just bought the Hide and Seek dress pattern this morning. I’m taping it together later tonight. I think my Sofia will look really nice in it.

I am working on a Kitschycoo Lady Skater dress for Isabel in a knit but I ran out of my toile (muslin) fabric so I have to see if I can find an old t-shirt to make one from.

My studio is done and it turned out just as I had planned. I’m still learning where I put everything/where I want everything. The cutting table with its all covering cutting mat is my favourite feature. I don’t have ot clear off the kitchen table any more to do my tracing. Love it!

[Mama_Knowles]

As of right now I am over half way done sewing my Chantilly dress. The peach gauze is very light weight so I taking my time as I don’t want to stretch out the edges, so far so good. For a muslin I am thinking it’s looking rather good and will work at a lovely dress summer still. I much so enjoy sewing it so far too. I can’t wait till I bust out the good fabric!

I also bought the fabric for the boys’ Easter suits and a vintage pattern for Caspian, it had the cutest jacket and overall’s! I am going to make the jacket in a “Peter rabbit” style. Right now Caspian just loves Peter Rabbit. I need to find four brass button buttons for it still and the right color blue twill.