Danvillegirl Sewing Diary

I am making a second attempt at sewing McCall's 7874 since I ran into a serger issue with the first one.  Sewing this has been much easier and quicker since I basically made this previously.  I did add width to the sleeve biceps and added a little more to the waist/hip area also.

The fabric I am using I purchased from JoAnn's in Roanoke, VA; actually, I think this was the last fabric purchase from JA I've made.  We have no JA in the area where I live now.  Maybe someday!

This was labeled as athletic knit fabric. It is rather heavyweight and has great vertical and horizontal stretch.  It reminds me of scuba knit.  I took advantage of both sides being different colors with one side solid black and the other blue/black/purple.

I basted the side seams after sewing front to back and adding the sleeves.  The instructions have you sew them in the round, I prefer flat when working with knits.  I basted the side seams to try on for fit and was happy that with the better stretch of …

Wishing all of you

I had almost finished making M7874.

I really like this pattern.  All of the pieces go well together. I made FBA, swayback and forward shoulder adjustments, my usual.  I had made this all the way to adding the bottom band which becomes very thick as you have numerous layers of fabric at the bottom.  Instructions have you sew the band in double stitches and the trim the edge.  I feel like that is the made at home look when the garment is finished.  So I serge finished this.  Because of the thickness, I decided to topstitch the turned up seam to the bodice for it to lay correctly.  AND THEN I NOTICED SOMETHING NOT SO GOOD.
I had done something I have not done in a long long time!  I had caught some of the bodice in the serged edges, not the part you wanted to catch.  I was heartbroken about this.  I could have probably left it alone but not me.  So now there is a huge hole at the bottom.  The perfectionist side of me can't handle patching and really hard to patch as it is in a very n…

I finally set up the tripod and took some photos of the second Bellavista pattern from Itch to Stitch.  After seeing myself in this solid color top, I feel fat.  I think the knit was a little thick for this top though it did match the stretch requirements.  I do like this pattern and the floral print one is a lighter weight knit and only wish I had had enough fabric for the cowl neck.

This top is fitted in the bust area and then flares from there. I did go down a size in the shoulder area from a 10 to 8 and then tapered out to a 10 for the rest of the top.  Having adjusted the back on the first version, I felt that the back fit well with this one with the adjustments I made to the pattern.
The top is a little wrinkled from sitting. I think I could carve out a little at the back arm seam, I have a narrow back.

Here is the back in the first version with adjustments.
Here are a few more views of this pattern.

I am wearing this top with black leggings.

I am going to be on the lookout for …

I have been destashing patterns for several months and selling many on eBay.  I found myself giving in to Club BMV or $1.99 Simplicity sale at Hobby Lobby.  Folks, I really don't need more patterns. 

My mother loved shoes; I love shoes.  When there was a sale and I was still living in Danville, we would go to the shoe sales; when I visited after moving away and there was a sale, we would go shopping.  My grandmother who grew up during the depression had about four pairs of shoes-beige, black, blue and white.  When we came back from shopping the sales, she would always ask why did you get more shoes, our response was "we didn't have these!"

Well, I didn't have these patterns and my pattern sales have been pretty good, so I am somewhat recycling my funds.

Without further ado, here are my recent purchases.






I also have a Kwik Sew pattern that I have not taken photos of.  I also ordered another pattern and it was not included with the KS one.  I sent an email to Butte…