A Few New Things

I've been doing some sewing since we got back from Montana, of clothes that is. Now, this is a big deal! I'm great at quilting, nice flat surfaces and straight lines, but clothes...HA! I just could not figure out the whole 3D thing. When we were in Montana, Mom and I went to JoAnn's (yay!) and she helped me pick out a few basic patterns to start with. I love going to the fabric store with Mom, I've been going with her for as long as I can remember and it's so fun. Mostly I like sitting at the pattern books and dreaming about all the combinations of fabrics and colors that you could make, or that Mom could make for me!

John's Hawai'ian Shirts

McCall's 2149

This one is a bit big for John. Unfortunately, the pattern only comes with one size in the envelope, so I cut down the next shirt by the seam allowance printed on the pattern. It fits much better.

John really like Hawai'ian shirts, except he doesn't wear them much in Ohio because someone always comments on them. I think they don't realize that we westerners actually do wear them. It's not just something from Magnum, PI that you secretly want to wear but would never actually do. They're so missing out!

Amanda's Dress

McCall's M6123

This dress was hard on me! The only real problem I had with it was the ruffles at the waist and trim lines. They are gathered so tightly that I broke the threads at least 6 times. I think I cried that time and put it away for about a week, thinking I would never get it done. But I came back with a vengeance on that ruffle and it was tamed. It turned out cute and it fits well, too.

One thing I've certainly learned is not to take the pattern sizing literally. When I've done that the garment never fits and I'm mad about wasting my time, money, and fabric. John gave me a dress form for Christmas which has really helped me figure out sizing and how the end result will look. Thanks, hun!