Trashed. *sigh*

I had to ditch Simplicity 1777; there was just no way to salvage this thing.
I made my necessary FBA, narrow sloping shoulder, short bodice adjustments. I made sure that the pattern measurements matched my own plus the ease.
But y'all, when I basted the fabric together and tried it, the waist seam was at my hips. That's 9" below my actual waist.

So I groaned, ripped out the seams, shortened the center bodice and the side bodices.
It still didn't fit. Here you can see how much it bunches:

It didn't matter how much I hacked off, it just wouldn't go. I finally decided to check S1777. I'll use the fabric for more tap pants rather than just chucking it in the trash and wasting fabric. 

'

Sew-along time!

My friend Kristine and I are hosting a sew-along for Simplicity 1777. It's a 1940's reprint with a center front bodice. I like the V-shaped neckline and shorter sleeves of view B so that's what I'll be doing!

I traced my pattern in a size 22 and graded up two sixes. I like to trace off my patterns so that I have the original intact in case I need to make changes or a smaller size someday (one can hope, right?).

I used the instructions from a class I purchased on craftsy (Joi Mahon's class) and compared the measurements on the pattern to my own. I had to do my standard full bust, sloping shoulders, and short waist adjustments. 

I added four inches to the butt, waist (wasn't necessary) and hips, ten inches to the bust (I have a 12" difference between my chest and bust measurements as well as 12" between my hips and waist). I removed two inches off the shoulder length. 6", Simplicity? Do you think I'm a linebacker? I'm a curvy hourglass, not a miniature 5'1" football player. 

I digress. I then used my tracing paper that I bought from Richard the Thread and used that to trace the pattern and markings directly onto my fabric. 

I was going to use a blue flower print rayon but it turns out I only had 2 3/8 yards and I needed 2 7/8 yards. I received it as a gift so I'm not complaining! I'm now using the lavendar rayon. It has darker lilac circles and little red and green flowers or perhaps berries. Sure is slippery stuff! It has a lovely drape though and will be perfect to wear. 

Tomorrow I'll finish cutting the sleeves, center bodice, and bodice back. 

Blog reading

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I just have to say, I'm enjoying a blog I found. She makes some gorgeous 40's clothes.

http://star-spangledheart.blogspot.com

Sewing Machine Reviews

Sewing machine reviews

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Why can't I find a machine review from someone who has actually used the dang thing for more than a week?! I don't care that it looks pretty out of the box...how well does it work? What did you make? What features do you like and what do you not use? Have you had issues? How is the tension? Are pressed feet easy to find and affordable?

Review it when you've had it for six months, a year, or longer. Please for the love of sewing, stop giving five star reviews when you haven't even taken it out of the ever-loving box. 

Wow, quite a bit of a break there. 

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It's not like anybody actually reads this; just little old me and the hectic squirrels that pass for my brains nowadays. 

We went camping a few miles from home. Primitive campsite but it was a break! Very quiet, up in the mountains.

I need to finish cleaning my house so I can get back to sewing. I have a lot of projects to do, including a swimsuit for my friend. I also sold one of my shirts! Hooray! 

We went to Disneyland and we wore the shirts and the dress I made.  

     

My Singer Quantum 9960

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My Singer Quantum 9960 quit working. Sixteen months old. It would turn on but the needle would stick, it would jam, it would make awful death throe noises. 

I checked the timing three times...not it. I made sure it was clean and oiled: yup. New needle and properly threaded upper thread and bobbin? Check. Bobbin case good? Well...maybe not so much; it seemed very loose to me but I still didn't know if that was the issue. A sewing buddy in Virginia suggested feed dogs. My husband suggested the motor.

Singer and Brother are two that I know of that have gone almost completely plastic. Even the bobbin case is plastic! I checked with Singer. Would the warranty cover it? Nope! I'm on the dole for repairs. It would cost more to repair than I paid for the machine! 

Because I purchased it at Costco they let me return it and gave me a cash card. Since I started sewing I've gone through two brothers and two singers. No more of those brands! I will say my vintage 60's Singer works fine. My singer serger works fine.

I'm looking at Janomes now. Please, Janome, be a good brand. 

WARNING Bras

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i made my first bra, the pattern and kits I purchased came from bravo bella.

Here's how it looked once on.  

   

This is it: 

  
I had to make adjustments on the fit (that'd why you see darts and marker) but so far, so good! 

 The second was a 36K tester. The band fits well enough but the cups are too small.  

 We'll get it figured out yet! 

Now my Singer Quantum 9960 is acting up...she's jamming and stuttering at me. I've tried everything I can think of. Next step is calling Singer hellhole  customer service. Last experience was not so pleasant.