Bra Sewing - Pattern by BravoBella

My serger has been in at the spa (I need to go pick it up) and while it was gone I decided to work on bra sewing as I don't use a serger for that.

Last summer I was working with the BravoBella#2 pattern but didn't get much farther than my practice bras.  I made a new practice bra which turned out 2 cup sizes too small based on my measurements.  Bras are like that, our fat is distributed in different way and you can't just expect one to fit.

So I made my one that didn't fit, then I made another one, just plain using the recommended fabrics.  I've made 4 more since and they all fit well.  The ITY print one is a bit wonky over the bust point.  I knew the fabrics would be thicker, I was kind of thinking "sports bra" and with 3 layers I thought I might need a smidge more size, so I cut the pieces just a tiny bit bigger.  That was a mistake as it just got bunchy.  I did a smaller band though and it fits well.

Here are a few photos, if you want to see more you can follow one to the flickr album.

One Block Wonder Quilt

I started a new quilting project (no no no...I haven't only started quilting) and it's super fun so far.  I have a friend making one of these "One Block Wonder" quilts and when at the store last weekend bought 4 yds of fabric on a whim. I also splurged and bought this book (which I'll end up using later).

At home I decided to read up on how to do the quilt, and lucky for me, I actually bought enough fabric.

Here's the book and the original fabric.  Also you can see the first blocks forming on the new cutting table I've been working on with shelves from Ikea.  I will still need to add a few inches to the height, but I'll get to it later.

I created a design wall down in the basement (only bit empty wall around) and you can see my layout.

Pattern Review's First Quilt Contest

Well did I ever have fun working on this quilt for the first ever quilt contest held by Pattern Review.  I am absolutely ecstatic over how well this turned out.

There is a theme to the quilt contest, something to the point of "What has Pattern Review done for your sewing life?"

Oh goodness, that was super easy for me to answer.  Back in 2008 I started to look for sewing friends.  I posted on PR asking who was in the area.  By early 2009 we had our first luncheon at Houston's Restaurant, down on the Plaza.  Alas, it's not there any more.  But that day the KC Pinheads were born.

Members have come and gone over the years.  There are still a good number of original members, some more active than others, but that's normal.  We have a hopping facebook group where we keep up to date with luncheons and post our projects and questions.

Once a month we enjoy meeting at restaurants around the Kansas City Metro.  We've taken a few trips (we should take more.)  We had a sewing weekend out at Lake of the Ozarks, 4 of us hopped the train to Chicago for a PR Weekend retreat, and we take trips to different fabric stores in the area.

My best friends are ones I've made since our humble beginnings, and we become closer all the time.

So what PR has done to my sewing life???  It brought me friendship with sewing sisters, I couldn't ask for more (okay, more fabric....please!!!)

Now on to the quilt.  Please click on any of the photos as they will take you to flickr where you can see the photos in more detail.






Each block represents something about different members of the group.  Like I said, some have come and gone, so not everyone got a block.  I just had fun and enjoyed the process.

Also each block is also embellished with lots of swarovski crystals, lots and lots.  I sure wish they showed up in the photos.

The entire quilt was machine quilted, the fabrics are all batiks, though the backing came from my stash.  The batting is all cotton.

It measures about 34" square.  It was drafted for 6 inch blocks and completed with binding was original 36.5inches before I tossed it in the washer and dryer (which I did before applying the crystals.)

Melody asked to be a glass of wine, as we do enjoy our wine at lunch.  She helped me with some ideas for the different members' blocks.


 Both Jennifer and Julie are in the dental field, so they got to share this sparkly tooth.



The cat is for Nancy.  She moved recently but she has a lovely orange cat.


Judith is the pretty bird.  One day while eating lunch at her house, there were lots of birds on her back porch, they were quite fun to watch.




Sondra is the cruise ship because she has been on a lot of cruises these past years.



The scotty dog is for Janet, an honorary member of our group.  She's Charlene's mom and comes to a lot of the luncheons.  She's from Scotland and yes, she does have a scotty.



Meg is the purse because she recently was teaching a purse sewing class at our local sewing machine store.



This is the friendly PR guy (I have no clue what it's called) but it represents our connection to Pattern Review and the people who have not joined us yet.



Elizabeth is always flying around the world on business trips.  I don't know how she does it.



The sewing machine is a pattern I bought off of etsy, and it's so darn cute.  It shows when the KC Pinheads were established.  The button jar has real buttons in it, can you see them?



The back of the quilt is not too pretty.  Since I knew it was just going to be a wall hanging, I let it be.  Here's the label.



The heart represents the members who aren't with us any more but they are still in our hearts.



Betsy must go to Hawaii at least once a year, and she is our Hawaiian flower.



The fish is for me.  I used to have fishtanks, and since I moved to Kansas haven't had one, but just finally set one up about 2 months back.  So I get to be a fish.



Charlene is the bunny.  We enjoy hearing the antics of Lala.

Quilting Practice

I've been working hard to practice the first two blocks in the Free Motion Quilting Challenge I'm doing.  I had to order some new supplies (lots of them) as I really had nothing to work with my new machine.

I now have two new feet that work, the first little ruler, gloves, expensive cotton thread (my machine LOVES it) and a slipper surface (teflon topper thingy majober).

The first two blocks are done.  The first one is just the squiggly meandering, and the second one (which I have a photo of) is the same, but also has a bit of ruler work in it. 

The other photos are just all my practice squiggly thingies which I'm posting as a way to see how I progress.

I'm having fun, and that's all that matter.

The Dark Side

Some of my friends worry that I might be moving over to the Dark Side when they hear I'm working on a quilt project.  I tell them to relax, it's just a way for me to keep busy when I really don't need to be sewing any clothes for myself...I just need to sew.

Awhile back I made that cute quilt top out of the batiks, but the top has been lying on a bed for some time now.  I'm so out of practice with quilting I just don't know where to begin.

Then the other day I saw reference to a freebie online challenge on free motion quilting, and I immediately signed up and got my practice quilt top finished.

And just a few minutes ago I finished up the pin-basting part, that is so darn painful.

I've been enjoying watching videos with the lovely lady who is leading the challenge, her name is Angela Walters, and she has some Classes, books and just seems like such a fun person.  And she even has a quilt shop not too far from where I live...so you know I'll be taking a trip up soon and having lunch with Melody and Judith (heck, that's what we do.)

Here's the quilt top, it's sock monkeys...how cute is that!

Started some Spring sewing

Not that the weather has gotten any warmer yet, but my clothes are definitely getting a bit looser.  Yea me!  So I decided a few new quick and easy t-shirts were in order.

I used my Silhouette Patterns Sweater Set pattern in a 4D to make a new muslin (actually the black shirt was my muslin, and it was perfect).  On the 2nd shirts I shortened just a bit above the bust, and also on the sleeve.  I raised the underarm also about 1/2" just to fix the shape a bit for my body.

I just drew a slightly lower neckline with a "sorta" V, and raised the back neckline a bit too.  The shirt is about 2 inches longer than the pattern.







I also resized the Classic Blouse Pattern using a straight size 4D and made a cute blouse, and then made another.





I also worked on a Lutterloh top, a woven tank, and this will be a great top for summer and I'll be making a few more (rayon challis will be perfect.)



Obviously I wasn't planning on posting these items as the photos aren't the best, just taken with my cell and a mirror.  But it's a great way for me to remember what I've made.

A New Machine Party

I recently purchased a new machine, a Brother S-7100A, which is an industrial machine.  I've been having a lot of fun working with it lately, but a real review will still have to wait.

But I thought I'd share some of the party pics.


This is not a machine you buy and bring home yourself.  It weighs a ton, and has it's own table and everything.  This is Jeff from Missouri Sewing Machine Company, who sold me my new machine.  He'd be more than happy to help you with any purchases also, seriously just give them a call, he can work with you over the phone.




I had to do some furniture rearranging to find room for this new machine.  My cutting table had always been against that back wall.  But this works.  You can see how Melody and Judith are totally at home in my sewing room...it might just be the wine to be honest, that's making them so comfortable.



Setting the baby up in its new space.



Jeff is showing me how it works.  He threaded it, filled it with oil, etc.



Checking tension on the bobbin.



I'm feeling pretty confident with it now.  We've done some stitching and I'm ready to go (or else I just had too much wine.)



Talk about a great party.  We enjoyed appetizers and wine and a new sewing machine.  Both Melody and Judith had a great time hanging out in my sewing room.

A New Warm-Up Jacket

Since a goal is to go to the gym regularly, having gym clothes is a must.  What I don't have is a decent jacket to wear to the gym, and we all know how much they can cost.

I signed up to participate in the Goodbye Valentino RTW Fast 2018, so a jacket needed to be sewn.

If you are a garment sewer, chances are  you've already heard of this.  Basically you just sew all your clothes for a year.  Bras, undies and socks can be purchased.  I can also sew my own bras and undies.  I don't remember the last time I purchased a real item new, so I figured I'd give it a go.

Okay, back to the jacket.  It's Silhouette Patterns #927, Leslie's Bomber Jacket, which I've already made twice before.  I did make a few changes such as skipping the bottom band and cuffs (don't forget to lengthen) and no pockets.

Fleece is a bitch to sew, but I did well enough.  The jacket's a bit too large as I've already lost weight since my bomber jackets.  Whatever....I'll wear it and it will serve it's purpose.