Tops tops tops! Love Notions & Jalie

Pattern: Love Notions ~ Classic Tee

Date sewn: 12/08/20

My measurements at the time: 40 bust, 32 waist, 46 hip

Size Sewn: Bust/waist in Large, Hips in XL

Alterations: 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment

I made the scoop neck, short sleeve version

Fabric: Amazing fabric. It was love at first sight. It is a Double Brushed Poly Jersey Knit Floral Navy/Red Fabric; fiber content is 96% Polyester/4% Lycra Spandex. I purchased it August 2019 from Amazon/fabric.com for $6.38/yard. I used 1 yard for this tee. I used the other 2 yards of this fabric for my much loved Miss Ruby Tuesday Dress in 2020.

Thoughts: Love the fabric. I like the tee. Its a bit big on me now that I lost so much weight but its not overly big. I enjoy the room it gives. I am now a size smaller and may make another but this one is still a great wear. It is the ultimate comfort tee.

Pattern: Love Notions ~ Laundry Day Tee

Date sewn: 02/06/21

Sewn before: black tunic tee in 2017, Aqua floral tank in 2019

My measurements at the time: 40 bust, 32 waist, 46 hip

Size Sewn: Bust/waist in Large, Hips in XL

Alterations: 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment, shirt length, tee option

I added the doxie graphic with my silhouette cameo. I love my Mr. Cheeto so much. He’s my soul.

Fabric: Turquoise Triblend jersey knit, $5/yard purchased May 2017 from knitpop. I used only about 1 yard for this top I think, maybe 1.25 yards. I didn’t write it down sadly.

Thoughts: I like it a lot. I don’t think I love it. The fabric is soft and flows but its not as drapey as a double brushed poly. The jersey is a little stiffer. Its like, not love. I do love the graphic though! I feel like the shirt may be a bit too big for me now that I lost so much weight. It’s sorta poofy on the bottom hip area.

Pattern: Jalie ~ Beatrice 4135 Tank

Date sewn: 08/10/20

My measurements at the time: Bust 39, Waist 32, Hip 46

Size Sewn: X for bust/waist, grading to an AA for the hip

Alterations: none! I pattern tested for this top and I didn’t make any adjustments.

Fabric: Double brushed poly. I was able to cut this out of 3/4 yard of fabric easily. This fabric was a scrap that I held onto for so long waiting for that perfect pattern. This was it! I got it in a scrap pack from Knitpop. I love tops from less than a yard of fabric. Win! Win! It is called Double Brushed Monochrome Roses on Pink poly spandex, and I got the scrap box May 2017.

Thoughts: I like the length, even though I am used to wearing my tanks longer (by like an inch or 2). I like how it looks and fits with my stomach/hip area - it is not too tight. It was a decently fast sew and I love the finished result. (I have a slight swayback issue in this but that is quite common for me and I made this with no alterations). I love how the binding is attached for this tank, it looks pretty inside and out. I tested this pattern and I know they changed it a bit for the final copy. There is more armscye coverage so no side-boob shows now. And There is no longer a racerback option – which is sad because that’s my favorite way to have tanks. Regardless its an awesome pattern, another winner from Jalie. I can wear this all year round, it looks great with a cardigan. (seen below with my Jalie Drop Pocket Cardigan). They also have a dress option now for the released pattern! I can’t wait to make that version. Pattern: Jalie ~ Mimosa 3890 for Miss K Sewn before: green floral in 2018

Date Sewn: 11/07/20

Size Sewn: R

Alterations: shortened the sleeves by 2” per Miss K’s wishes. she didnt want them turned up in a cuff like the pattern shows.

Fabric: I wanted this fabric for myself. I had been saving it for awhile. Miss K grabbed it and I couldn’t say no but I am secretly sad the fabric is now gone. Double Brushed Denim & Small Ivory Stripes Poly Spandex, $5.10/yard purchased April 2017 from knitpop. I have about 3/4 yard left so I used 1.25 yards for this top. (3/4 yard left! maybe I'll make another Jalie Beatrice tank for me with the scraps!).

Thoughts: I love the top on her. I think it looks great! She thinks it is too long and wants about 2” taken off the length. She’s so used to those awful crop tops, I much prefer the longer length. I love love love that curved bottom hem. I need to make me some more of these. Sadly I got rid of my first one I made and I miss it terribly! I want it back! I don’t know why I ever get rid of me-made clothes because I usually want the again after a bit. My old notes say to definitely use the recommended fabric for this – one with a bit of structure or recovery; or I suggest to size down one if using a really drapey knit like rayon/spandex. My sweater knit was perfect for the top and I love Miss K’s dbp version too.

health update: my radiation starts Oct. 25th and is 5 days a week for 6 weeks. With an almost 4 hr car ride each day.

Thanks for reading!! Kristin

Jalie Jeanne PJs and Lekala Top

Pattern: Jalie JeAnne Pjs 4016

Date Sewn: 12/24/2020

My Measurements at the time: 40 bust, 32.5 waist, 46.5 hip

Size Sewn:For the top I made Size Y graded to a BB at hip; for the bottoms I made Size BB

Alterations: 1/2” forward shoulder on top. Pants: 1/2” knock knee, Lowered the front rise by THREE inches, my elastic waist in the pants was 1” x 37”.

Fabric: A gloriously soft waffle knit. It is so smooth and feels wonderful to wear.  It has 30% stretch in the height and 70% stretch in the width.  I don’t know where I got it, when, or anything sadly.  Bad record keeping on my part there.

Thoughts: I love them.  I really do.  At first I was disappointed the top was so loose and big but I have come to enjoy it.  I also feel like it needs 1” added to the legs.  When I walk the pants become too short. However now I seem to wear them all the time as the weather gets colder.  They are so soft and nice to curl up in.

I also took the Jeanne leggings pattern part and remade some too big Wall-E pj pants into leggings.  The too Big “before” pants on right above and the now leggings on the left.

I added the 1” to the leg length and used the same pattern and alterations as above.  This fabric is a less stretchy cotton jersey and the pants are a tiny bit too tight – but now I’ve lost a lot of weight and they fit just right.  this fabric doesn't have the right stretch for the pattern, oops. But I love them anyway.

Sewn: 01/02/21.   I had them in my refashion pile for at least 3 years so I am glad I got them sewn up.

Pattern: Lekala #4321 Top

Date Started: 09/04/2020

Date Finished:10/10/2020

My Measurements at the time: 37 high bust, 39 bust, 31 waist, 45.5 hip

Size Sewn: custom to my measurements above

Alterations: 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment (common for me) and I took 1/2” off back yoke & bodice from armscye to waist.

Fabric: Gray Scuba Blue Triangle Stag on White Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric. 50% Cotton/50% Poly.  I used 1 yard. I purchased it 07/08/15 for $6.60/yard.  I got it from Girl Charlee before I realized how terrible of a company they are and how shoddy their fabrics are.  I like this fabric, but I would never buy from them again.  The accent is Aqua cotton lycra from purpleseamstress.  A really awesome place to buy fabric and an awesome seller; seriously Mel is amazing. she ships faster than lightning.  I used 1/4 yard for the accent and it is $6.50 a yard.  So total for the top is $8.23

Thoughts: Well I sewed these completely different than the instructions stated. I’ll list the steps I took below.  When making the top the front bodice was 1/2” too long at the hem to where the back bodice didn’t meet it.  I had to chop off that 1/2” on the front to have an even hem.  I also cut the back as one piece. For some weird reason they wanted it cut as two with a seam in the middle.  I like the look of the top a lot.  I just don’t know how well it wears.  The front yoke piece likes to buckle up and you can see straight down my shirt when I move my arms forward.  I don’t appreciate that.  I feel like it wears a bit awkward even if it looks cool.  I will have to see how much I even wear it.

Steps to sew: 1 sew front yoke & facings on top edge only; 2. sew shoulder details on curved edge only to facing; 3. sew darts; 4. sew front yoke to front bodice; 5. turn back neckline 1/4” under and topstitch. 6. sew back to shoulder facings; 7. line up shoulder sides with notch at top on front yoke and baste.  Make sure to do the same spot on both side, make them even; 8. attach sleeves; 9. add buttons; 10: sew side seams and 11. hem.

Thanks for reading and being with me on my crazy journey!

Kristin

A Tunic and 2 Dresses ~ Sinclair Dakota & Joanne & a mashup

(health update at the bottom of the post)

Pattern: Sinclair Dakota Tunic

Date started: 11/19/20

Date finished: 01/16/21

My measurements at the time: 39 Bust/ 32 Waist/ 45.5 Hip

Size Sewn: 12 B/W and 16 Hip

I used Tunic, short sleeve, crew neck, placket, and standard waist

Alterations: 1/4” square shoulder (I usually do 1/2” but the shoulder on this looked high enough)

Cut on the 16 Height line for peplum; 16 width for sleeves which made the sleeves 1/2” bigger on each side so I added 1/4” to the bodices at the armpits to account for this – it gave me the perfect width for my larger biceps

Fabric: Double brushed poly Butterflies, 1.5 yards used, Purchased this on Aug 9th, 2019 in a Knitpop fabric auction for $5/yard. So $7.50 total to make the top.  Thoughts: I LOVE this top!  It makes all my 90s teenager dreams come true. It fits great. I love the length with leggings. I love everything about it. I have no complaints.  Sinclair instructions are awesome. I had zero issues sewing this and the placket went together easily too.  I want like 10 of them.   Pattern: Sinclair Joanne Dress

Date started: 12/14/20

Date finished: 01/23/21

My measurements at the time: bust 40, waist 32, hips 47

Size Sewn: 12 Bust/Waist and 16 Hip

surprise belt matching to the dress!

Alterations: 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment – normal for me. and 1/4” bicep adjustment to sleeves (I cheated here and just added 1/4” to each side and they fit in place just fine).

Fabric: Double Brushed Knit Prints Floral Navy Blue/Red/Pink/Orange/White, purchased 06/17/20 from fabric.com for $5.38/yard so $13.45 total for the dress.

Thoughts: Awesome dress. I love it lots.  I feel like the belt is WAY too skinny but everything else is awesome. No complaints! Easy sew, no issues with instructions. I can throw it on quick and it looks nice without any effort.

Pattern: Renfrew/ Lady Skater Mashup Dress - for Miss K

Date started: 02/28/20

Date finished: 02/28/20

Size Sewn: 4

Alterations: added 1.5” to skirt hem – K wanted it longer

added 1” to sleeve hem length and no cuffs per K

removed 1” from modified bodice so it met the skirt as it should.

removed 2” from bodice height so it would hit K at the right spot on the waist.

took in 1/2” at shoulder by neck to 0” at shoulder point for K’s sloping shoulders.

(It needs a shorter neckband now by 1/2” due to the sloping shoulder adjustment).

Fabric: a charcoal poly blend knit jersey. I think I grabbed it from the Walmart mystery fabric bin.  I used 2 yards.

Thoughts:  K asked for this dress to be made last minute for my Aunt's unexpected funeral Feb 2020 and she doesn’t ask for much anymore so I made it that day on the spot. She looked great in it but she will not allow any photos of her in it to be posted.  I am double the size of K so its a bit stretched out here on my dress form. She doesn’t wear ANY dresses anymore so this was a special dress to make for her and I’m glad I did it right!

Now for the health update.  I wish I had better news, and I’m going to keep this very real.  Brain tumors and craniotomies are no fun.  Recover has been viciously hard.  I have been dealing with a completely locked up stomach for almost 4 months.  I can’t eat any solids without excruciating pain.  I only get about 900-1100 calories a day from nutrition shakes and bananas. I’ve lost 35 lbs these 3.5 months and GI doesn't think there is a reason why.  The GI says its from the brain surgery and the Neuro says no way.  So I’m stuck in a medical crack and struggling.  Gobs and gobs of my hair fall out all day long and it makes me so depressed.

My seizure meds damaged my liver so I am now unmedicated and dealing with weird episodes.  My kidneys decided to act up.  My heart too.  I’m being told again I possibly have Lupus.  I can’t look down without fluid dripping out my nose but the Neuro swears I have no cranial leak.  On top of all this I had my 3 mo MRI and it shows FIFTY percent of the tumor is still there! It's wrapped up in my midline and around my carotid artery.  I will need LOTS of radiation and they don’t really know how my body will survive that since I can’t even eat and I don’t tolerate meds.   I meet with them beginning of Oct to re-MRI and set up the plan. They are trying to figure out my episodes – if they are seizures or not seizures and how to medicate me when my stomach won’t tolerate any meds.  I want to bury my head in the sand like an ostrich and forget all this crud.

Honestly I’m completely broken as a human being.  I’m massively depressed and angry and not coping well. I lay around a lot and I cry a lot and I miss my old life.  I’m having tons of PTSD and trauma issues both from the surgery and things in my past - apparently major life surgery can bring up past demons.

I miss my sewing room. I miss my old life – even with the chronic health stuff.  I miss living.  I don’t feel much like I’m living right now.

There has been some progress in the gray skies – I can now walk fully without a walker or cane. I can spend some time looking at a screen.  I embroidered a little bit at my machines last week.  I’m slowly trying to emerge from this cocoon of hell. I can do a few household things again like laundry and dishwasher.  I didn’t grasp how slowly healing would be after this kind of an operation.  I have a short window of energy and time before I need to lay down again.  I just feel bad. All the time. I’m not ok.  Maybe someday I will be. It seems so long from now though. So I figured I might as well try to catch up on as many older makes as possible since I can’t sew just yet.  I have a ton of things I never got posted to the blog.  Some pics will be pre-surgery and some will be now. I can’t do my makeup as the entire right side of my face feels weird and hurts from the brain surgery. I have 2 very large dents on my right temple and you can see (and I can feel) one of the plate screws there. They had to cut my facial nerves on that side and said it will take time to feel “normal”. Whatever that means anymore   So my pics will have to be what I can muster up right now.

Thanks for reading and being with me on my crazy journey!  Look for a slew of new blog posts in the next coming weeks!  I miss you all!!

Kristin