New Simplicity Patterns Spring 2012

Oooooo, have you seen the new patterns? Let's get down to it.

Simplicity 1892 

Love!

Love the blouson top part, although it shows up in the line drawings better the model.

The other Rowley looks like it would be perfect for a 9-year-old on Easter.

Simplicity 1873

I was really happy when I saw the name Leanne Marshall. She was one of the two most deserving Project Runway winners in the history of the show, the other being Jay McCarroll (there are alot of double letters in his name!). Her patterns on the other hand, leave a little to be desired.

 

 Simplicity 1876

Example 1. Leanne's petals

Leanne was famous for her petals. Her final collection was all petals. They were beautiful and delicate. These are some honkydory petals. They looks like elephant ears hanging off the dress. This is one of the those dresses that will constantly inspire the question: Did you make that? The other dress is an afterthought and I'm a little confused why they chose to put these two dresses together, they don't go at all.

Simplicity 1877

Example 2. 

The yellow dress makes her hips enormous and the blue dress would flatter a linebacker's shoulders.

Disappointed Leanne!

I love this next one!

Simplicity 1881 

I admit it, I love mullet hems (ie short in the front, long in the back). I also love the keyhole neckline. The sleeves are lovely. Halter always remind me of the 90's.

So someone at Simplicity really loves to follow the outfits of Duchess Kate, which is fine, but we might as well call the line, "inspired by, Project I REALLY WANNA LOOK LIKE A PRINCESS!!!!"

Seriously, google "Kate Middleton yellow dress" and you'll find it looks remarkably like the following pattern.

Simplicity 1880

Also to note, when she wore this dress, we all came remarkably close to seeing her royal hiney. Weight your hems wannabe princesses!

Finally, I'm a sucker for shirts that tie on the front.

Simplicity 1884

Next sewing project!

This should be a fast one.

Making Vogue 8771, a shirt pattern with like, 5 seams total.

http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8771-products-15151.php?page_id=866

I'll be using the most amazing fabric I have ever owned in my life! The stretch wool with felted yarn all over it! Its from Gorgeous Fabrics and its frickin' gorgeous!

I've had my eye on this stuff for what seems like years now and no one has snatched it all up yet! And it comes in different colors! (I have black too) It's stretch, which is required by the pattern, but since the yarns aren't stretch, its definitely messes up the 'flow' of the fabric. Here's the link for the most amazing fabric ever!

http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=10001

I've already cut out the sleeves and this pattern is ALL sleeve. Its a bit of a bitch to cut because the grain is all over the place, but just approximate it and it'll work itself out.

God that picture doesn't even do the colors justice!

White Whale

World meet White Whale. White Whale - world.

This is a big project that I though of, oh I don't know, in April of last year. This is my amazing boyfriend's (here on known as AB ie amazing boyfriend) average Ikea couch. And when we moved in together, I decided it would be relegated to our awesome enclosed porch. Oops, we decided it would be out there. Its comfy, attracts cat fur (as you can see), attracts cat claws, and it amazing already bleached since moving it here in September. Since I knew, sorry we knew, it was going outside, I started looking for already made Ikea slip covers but by golly if I'm going to pay more for a slipcover than AB payed for the couch. Unless I make it that is. Then paying more is totally fine. How on Earth does that logic work out?

Decided on an ikat outdoor waterproof fabric from fabric.com that's washable (!).

I got 12 yards cause I've never covered anything before, I was 3,000 miles away from the couch and was on the phone with AB and his tape measure. Its a dream to work with, especially after sewing silky stuff for so long.

Long story short, look what I made!

So the couch is in 3 main parts. Two small cushions at the arm rest, two large cushions for the backrest, and the whole enchilada. I've now got the small cushions covered. My goal is to get all the covers very very tight. I really like tight upholstery. And this cover is as tight as it'll get.
Here's what it looks like now.

They look much smaller now.

I've decided that the cushions will have zipper closures. At first I thought I would have tabs with snaps in the middle of the back of each cushion, but in my first experiment, I realized that the z-dimension of the cushions required some more wiggle room to get the cushions in the covers. Zippers it is. I hate installing zippers. Always have, always will. Anyway the zippers look really nice and they are hidden because they are at the bottom and backward facing side of the cushions.

Next, I'll do the big cushions, and then the white whale. Hopefully it will be done by the time the temperature gets above 70. This year.

Welcome!

This is where I, a 20-something lady, who really likes to create things will post my sewing, knitting, stitching projects, reviews, hopes and dreams. I LOVE to read reviews of things whether they are patterns or restaurants or blenders so I thought I should add to the review community who has given me so much. Enjoy!