Some February

I don't know about some of you, but February seemed to be a tough month. Bad weather, lousy health, unexpected surprises all contributed to not getting anything done on my machines.
I like to sew because I find it fun and lets me unwind and get creative. Man that just didn't happen this last month. One project to finish and one I really want to start so I hope March is looking better.
I think it will be. Gonna make something to wear for this spring time coming up. And I'm going to have fun doing it. February can pass and I won't shed a tear Just smiling as March comes down the track.

Sew Along

Still working on finishing up my pants project. No rush and I have been in slow mode lately. I think I am going to
try to join Peter's (from PR)shirt sew along starting in Feb. I've never participated in one of these but it sounds like fun so thought I'd give it a try. I plan on using my own draft pattern that I put together. Maybe pick out a collar from David Coffin's shirt book and do it in flannel with 3/4 sleeves. I got that idea from TGM kittys and it sounds like something that would work for me.

Its a new what?

Another year again? Geez, what happened to the last one? Well I think the first project for 2011 will be put a cheap pair of pants together from my pattern that I drafted. The sloper thing fits okay so I'll give it a try on some of my messing around fabric first. If that goes like I want it to, then I've got some nice brown linen I want to make some trousers with.

I hope everyone has a great start in this year and it continues right on through to the next one. Stay warm and safe.

More info please

I love books. Especially technical books. Got some good sewing books and I've been reading them.
Why? Right now working on perfect pockets. Those holding bags on pants and jackets. Gotta be smooth
and clean and functional. So I read those books. And I've been doing some samples to test what I've read.
Because somewhere down the road, I'm gonna design and sew up a suit. And it has to be right.
Wrong suits don't do anyone any good. So everything has to be right.
That's why I'm reading about pockets right now. Good pockets. Perfect pockets.

New block on my new machine

I decided to put a pants block together so I can have a stable pattern that I know will fit everytime.
Did it from scratch using my measurements and drafting them to a muslin. Darn if it looks like a
good fit. I think I will put a pair together with some less expensive fabric and see what they look like.
And I got to use my new to me Singer 201. That is one nice machine, period. Just a real joy to use.
Looking forward to sewing some projects on it this winter. I see flannel stuff in my future.

Confident fitting eh?

Just bought Nancy Z's book " Confidence in fitting patterns". It features her pivot technique for making adjustments in patterns. Haven't tried it yet but it does make sense. I still want to get away from relying on manufactured patterns and have the ability to draft and design my own blocks or patterns.

I think the answer is to use a little of all ideas to come up with something you want to make. For a man that has some weight to him expects to have a good selection of patterns to choose from, he will be on the hunt for a long time. I prefer to have more control over my hobby.

A little off track

Well, got side tracked a little. Had to do some repair work on my winter stuff and other things happened so I haven't had time to work on my jacket. Hopefully this week. I need to get some more muslin material so I can make the blocks I need.

On a positive note, I've increased my library a bit and made arrangements to buy a Singer 201. They are a workhorse and although I love my little 99, it doesn't do heavy duty. This one will. The gal I got it from gave me a very good deal and it is much appreciated. The hunt for a Necchi BU will go on the back burner for now.
That's okay because it is more of a whim than a need. Hope to report jacket progress this week.

Practice makes better

Well, still working on the jacket. Dialing in the muslin for it. Looking forward to working with the liner as it is something that I haven't tackled yet.
Also, I've been practicing with the 1/8th hemmer foot on my 99. That can be tricky to keep it on track.

I now have a monogrammer and a buttonholer for the 503. Need a plate for the monogrammer to work and I will make one since none seem to be found. Thanks to my good friend Mary and her husband, I now have a manual for the buttonholer. Although you can make a decent button hole with out it on the 503, it should make it easier and being able to do a keyhole button hole on the machine instead of by hand is a definite plus.

Tough Decisions

I was wanting to work on a pair of pants but that little voice
keeps bugging me to make a sport jacket. I cut the pattern of
a jacket I have and I'm thinking of making a denim sport.
I'll start with a muslin and see how that goes.

Tripping to the Fabric Store

Scored pretty big Saturday at JA's. Had some good sales so I grabbed some denim, linen and they had
muslin on sale for .99c a yard. I want to try using muslin for my interfacing so this was great.
My lighting for both my stations has been poor so I lucked out with their sale on lamps.
Picked up one of those flip HD recharge lamps normally listed for 89$ was down to 29$. SCORE.

Besides grabbing some needles and thread, I picked up a belt for a machine I am fixing for my
ex DIL. I gave her a Diplomat Deluxe some years ago. This is a finned 50's looking Japanese
machine that is truly heavy duty. All metal and will sew through anything. I will post some pics of it
before I send it back to her. It really is a beauty.

Monogram attachment

Well, I got a monogrammer for the 503 from Goodwill's auction site. Too bad the bottom plate is missing so
I can't sew with it until I find one. If I have to, I will make one out of plastic but I'd rather have the one it's
suppose to have.

Yesterday, I sewed on a Harley eagle patch on the back of my leather jacket. The 503 didn't blink. Sewed
it smooth as could be. Gotta love it.

That JA coupon

Well Jo-Ann sent out their 50% off coupon. I got mine by email.
Think I'll take advantage and grab some fabric for some up
coming projects. Going to try the muslin as interfacing for
what ever I decide to make.

Runs good

Well I used the 503 to do some topstitching and it worked great. I love this machine.

The 503A is home

It's a great day. My Singer 503A arrived via FedEx this afternoon. Wasn't expecting it until next week.
It is so nice. Paint is like new. No nicks or wear marks. Rolls smooth as glass and I can't believe I got it.

I'm finishing up my shirt. Need to get some buttons for it. I'm thinking black glass.
Not sure what I'm going to break in the 503 with. Maybe a pair of pants.
I'll post some pictures soon.

An addition to the family

Sometimes you do things you probably shouldn't do. Say things you shouldn't say, go places you shouldn't go.
Should I have gone to Ebay? Man that place can get you in trouble. But most of my life I've been a trouble boy,
so, I went.
Seems I found a nice 503 Singer that was calling me. So I started to bid. And bid. And bid. Somebody else
had heard it call also. But baby, I was calling back. Probably didn't need another machine.
But those slants are soooo cool. And if you let them they will sew like no tomorrow. So, sew,,,,
I got it.
Hey, I'm happy.
Now the wait for it's arrival. tic tock

Holiday progress

Well I got my placards on and they're looking okay. Everything is draping nice so far. Hope to have the
collar on tonight. Who knows, this thing may be done this week. But I ain't a rushin nuttin.

ps. I didn't melt the mystery fabric when pressing so that is always good.

It's a start

Well, I put a form together. Not as elaborate as I envisioned but it's workable for the moment. The plaster thing
outside or inside or whatever will have to wait till form #2. This one I just stuffed like a sausage and it's holding
form good enough to use. Funny how those curves you don't want to think about kind of stick out on one of
these things. I know it's all necessary but a little depressing to look at. Tried on several shirts that fit me and it
wore them well. So now, no excuse. Get busy Carl. Do something for goodness sake. Those machines are
crying "use me, use me". So now I've given myself enough thread to hang myself,,, here we go gang.

ps. if nothing else, I'm having a good laugh with this. After I got the darn thing stuffed, I laughed so hard I almost
wet myself. I gotta watch that.

Waiting for the weekend

Started cutting my fabric. Hoping to get a start on my shirt this weekend. I really want to have the form ready
before I start on the bodice. I've been having a tough time getting someone to help me with that darn form.
Once I get the initial wrap done, I can do the rest.
My plan;
Go with the original idea of wrapping with duct tape. But then I'm going to use some of my dental plaster and
reinforce the inside so there is no give. I'll wire a pvc tube inside so the base can slip into it. Then I'll fill it with
expanding foam to keep it light. A tight fitted T-shirt over it will give me a good pin-able surface.
All the great techniques posted at PR gave me the idea for my final way of trying this. That is a great site.
Hope I have a good report on this for the weekend.

Here's the link for the thread on forms at PR.

Finally, I hope.

Okay, good news. Finished up part 4 of my download pattern and I think I have all the parts for my shirt.
Had to wait for the last puzzle to get my collar and front band. The stocky boy parts are just that, still in parts.
So anyone who thought I was gonna make their stocky boy a shirt. Sorry but fagedabodit. He ain't gettin no
shirt. This one is about the stocky old man.

The puzzle patterns

Now right out of the gate I want to say I'm not gripping, cause I kind of knew what I was getting into.
Bought a online pattern. Thought maybe fifty pages, put em together, cut out what I need and get to sewing.
Well,,,,, my four part pattern, pt 1 and 2, 41 pages each. Part 3 and 4 thirty something each.
Oh man,, got through one. Most everything lines up, good. Part two,,, some are not lining up like they should,,
oh man oh man. Part three is a little out of whack too. I'm getting worried about number 4.
I got this because it was a great looking big mans ( and stout boy ) shirt. Might be easier to go on a diet. For a
long time. Okay, I'm going to get this thing together but I think I'm liking my project and trace idea a whole lot
better. The computer generated patterns are put together like this also. Man oh man, project me a pattern
please cause I'm a little burnt on puzzles.