Simplicity 2728

Descriptiion: Misses fitted jackets with collar, sleeve and pocket variations. Jacket is fully lined. Part of Simplicity's Project Runway line.
 
Sizes:  4 to 22
 
Instructions:  They were very easy to follow and so many helpful and useful sewing tips throughout.  The instructions tell you how to make a sleeve head with excellent illustrations to follow.  Also, all the design elements are clearly marked with "Designer's Addition" so you are able to identify which elements you want for your jacket.  I think this pattern is one of the better ones for sewing steps and including important elements to achieve a very professional finished garment.
 
I did find it hard to ease the sleeves into the jacket, I think that is the fabric, the lining did not prove to be as difficult.
 
Likes/Dislikes:  This jacket is for Erin and she wanted a short sleeve jacket in an off-white fabric.  The fabric was easy and I went through my pattern stash to find an appropriate pattern.  When I saw this one, I knew it was perfect.  The style, the fit and cut and the sleeve elements were perfect for her.
 
I also liked the collar options, the darts for fitting and the pocket options. 
 
Fabric:  A linen from Joann's
 
Changes:  I omitted the back button tab, didn't have enough buttons for that.  One other change, that happened during construction,  I was pressing the jacket after attaching the lining and noticed you could see the lining through the back of the jacket.  The front was fine, Simplicity has you interface the entire front piece.  I thought oh, no, then turned the jacket right side out, cut interfacing for the back, elimating facings and seams.  Fused this into place and the problem was solved (big sigh of relief).
 
 
Conclusion:  A beautiful jacket with great structure and design.  I really like how it looks on the dressform and it will look so much better on Erin.
 
 

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I told Erin I need pictures of her in these garments, we will see.  She did wear this top on date night with her fiance and he told me it looked really good.  Then she wore this dress to school last week and received many compliments.  One young teacher told her please tell me when your mom wants to take orders. 
 

What I Wore to Dinner

Here is what I wore out to dinner with my hubby.

a closer view of outfit (and Kaitlyn picked out the outfit)

McCall's 6038 skirt - review here blogpost here

Top is Simplicity 2892

sweater recent purchase from New York and Company

Don't forget to enter the anniversary giveaway on this post

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Now to ask if anyone purchased Stretch Vera Cotton Sateen Dark Red from fabric.com?  I started cutting it out a jacket for Erin and didn't plan very well and now I am short on fabric and they are out of that color.  I would need a yard. Here is a link to a different color.

Thanks.

Flashback Fridays

Here is Paige in the spring of 1992, this fabric came from So-Fro chains of long ago.

Then here is the same outfit with the pants made into shorts for Erin.  This is for her first day of preschool in 1994

I do not have the pattern anymore but a comparable pattern:

McCall's 4756

Cabinet Before and After

It all started with this $10 cabinet (shelf) piece of furniture:

Meredith wanted a piece of furniture with shelves to show off the quilts she made.  This was perfect and the price was even better plus the piece was nice and solid.

She picked out some paint to go with her room.  You can see the whole redo here.
The cabinet after with 4 different knobs, Meredith liked the eclectic feel of the knobs (Hobby Lobby) to go with all the different fabrics of the quilts.

Really shows off her quilts and she has another shelf for more

Adding this to:

Miss Mustard Seed's Friday Furniture feature

and on

Tatertots and Jellos

Five Years - Anniversary Giveway

On this day, five years ago, Girls in the Garden was born with this post  This blogging experience has brought so much into my life.  Friendship with people all over the world, some of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting.  Thanks to all the blogs I follow and tutorials posted on these blogs, my sewing ability has developed.   I have posted garments, cards, gifts, purses, decorating projects and scrapbooking on this blog through the years.

I owe all of you a big THANK YOU for commenting on my blog, encouraging me, emailing me and sharing different family events through these five years.

Now I want to thank you for all of this.  Five years means five gifts.

1. A tote bag

2.  Set of 7 cards 5 x7 cards

3. set of 7 cards 4.25 x 5.5

4.  Set of 7 cards 4.25 x 5.5

5. Style Yourself  book



Now the details

• Leave a comment maybe about your favorite garment,  redo, card, garden, etc
• I will draw on September 3rd (let the giveway run for a week)
• I will draw the winners in order of the prizes listed above (so if you are first name drawn you win the purse)
• Then I will post the winners on the blog and you can email me your mailing details.

Thanks again



McCall's 6329

Description: Misses'Women's Lined jackets: Close-fitting with snap closure. A: Tie can be tied in front or back. B: Side front seam pockets. (I made view A).


Sizes: 8 to 16 and 18W to 24W.  I made a 14 through the shoulders and a 12 in the rest of the garment.

Instructions:  Very easy to follow, this is a Palmer and Pletsch pattern.  If you have their book on fitting and are a bit confused, buy this pattern.  All the adjustment lines are printed on the pattern tissue and a pattern sheet just for these adjustments.  All of this was like an "ah-ha" moment for me, all the information in their book made total sense.  Just visualizing the lines and areas to adjust for each fitting area, made total sense to me.  The instructions are thorough with helpful sewing hints.

Likes/Dislikes:  The style and ease of construction.   This is another garment for Erin, something to layer with ruffled tanks and dresses.  I thought she would like the simplicity of the jacket, the belt and the abitlity to tie the belt in the front or back depending on the style she wanted to create. My dislike is the pattern envelope, not a flattering look in any views.

Changes:  Shortened the 3/4 sleeve by 1" and omitted the lining.  I did not have any lining in my stash and I knew a white jacket wouldn't last very long with my daughter.  This in mind, I didn't want to take the time to line something that might only make it this year.

Fabric:  A stretch twill from fabric.com.

Conclusion:  I want to see this jacket on Erin to see if I will make it again.  She said it was great when I delivered the jacket to her today.I do know the pattern is worth having just for the Palmer and Pletsch instructions.

Flashback Fridays

I thought I would start a new feature on my blog and since Sharon had such a catchy title, I emailed asking if I could use it. Sharon graciously said yes.

My thoughts were to go back through my scrapbooks and get pictures of the girls in outfits I made.  Some of the earlier ones I will not have pattern numbers.  I did not save all the patterns from their childhood, now I wish I did but live and learn.

I really didn't sew alot for the older two until they were a bit older, I was a quilter at the time.   If I did sew for them, I didn't necessarily take pictures of the garments.  Speaking of pictures, I wasn't much of a photographer at times.

Today I start Flashback Friday with a couple of Paige.

The first was a cute blue and white cotton fabric. 
Similar to this pattern

Butterick 5625





This picture was taken for the beads, Paige would not leave the house unless she put on her three strands of beads.  She looked so cute as we grocery shopped!

Halloween costumes I have always sewn and in this picture Paige is her interpretation of Snow White.

Isn't she the cutest?!?

So every Friday, I plan on scanning pictures, finding the patterns envelopes (or something close) and walk through memory lane. I promise my photographs get better.

Sewing Cards

The last couple of days I have felt like making cards instead of sewing.  It is just fun to play with the paper, inks, stamps, etc.

Three of my cards have a sewing theme and turned out pretty cute.

Then some of the rest:

I used my silhouette for several of the cards and a great new magazine for inspiration.  These are only part of the 25 cards I have made the last couple of days.

The magazine is  Card Ideas for Paper Crafters:

and here is a link to purchase the magazine

School Days with Juniors

School started today and my girls are thrilled, they are Juniors, big upperclassmen.  Me?  Mixed emotions, happy because they are so happy, sad because next summer we will be looking at colleges.  Junior year please go slowly, are you listening?  Slow motion is my hope but I realize that is a dream!

Here they are

Meredith and Kaitlyn

Meredith hauling all kinds of stuff to school including her cello.  Looks like she is moving

Kaitlyn has a lighter load, no orchestra this year for her.  Yes, her hair is darker, Erin dyed it for her and Katlyn loves it.

 Now let me rephrase te part about being excited for school.  They are excited to be juniors and see their friends but here is their true feelings about school starting:

I noticed this when I came home from work, Too funny, they must of changed our chalkboard this morning!

Tonight is the softball scrimmage, so I have a couple of hours to sew or clean house.  I think I will pick sew!

Simplicity 2369 - for a second time

I made this for myself back in May 2010, here is the blogpost and here is the review.

I bought this cute striped fabric (rayon jersey stripe no longer available) from fabric.com back in April.  I knew it was a great fabric for Erin, nice weight and great colors (she loves orange). It sat on the shelf while I found the right pattern and had some time to make it. 

I sent her a picture of the pattern and fabric and she said, yes, I really like.  That was all I needed, I cut it out on Saturday and stitched it up today.  It took a bit of time to cut it out, lots of stripes to match.

Here it is:




side seam matching

sleeve to front matching

I really wanted the smaller stripes at the waist but I did not have enough fabric for that.  I do like how it turned out.

Erin officially started her teaching career this week, teacher meetings on Monday and Tuesday with the first day of school on Wednesday.  Good luck to her, I know she will do an amazing job.

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I want to say a big Thank You for all the wonderful comments of late.  I wasn't sure about the red dress, way outside my comfort zone and all of you left such nice comments.  When I wear it, I will think of all my amazing sewing/blogging friends.  Thank you.

Vogue 1250

Description:  Easy to sew, close fitting dress with drape.

Sizes: 6 to 20

Likes/Dislikes:  I liked the look of this dress, it has 37 reviews on pattern review.  This being said, there are many versions, styled in many ways and all of them look fantastic.  Needing some new dresses for my wardrobe, I thought I would give this pattern a try.

Fabric:  A red cotton-lycra knit in my stash, happy to find a purpose for it.  The fabric might be a bit too clingy of a choice but with a cardigan, it will be fine.

Changes:  I added some length but then ended up cutting off that additional length.  I figured better safe than sorry. 

Conclusion:  Need a dress fast?  This is your go-to pattern.  It is quick to cut out, quick to sew and it looks great.

I will probably wear it with this cardigan quite a bit.

Meredith was being a very creative photographer here!