I threw this little bunch of roses together for a bridal shower I went to a couple of nights ago. Spaghetti sauce jar with some pretty paper and some roses from my garden. Super easy and cheep little gift. I also made a couple of pair of earrings that I forgot to take pictures of. Another quick and easy gift. The party was fun and a little crazier than expected, seeing that the Bride-to-be is in her 50’s.
I spent most of today cutting out some fabric to make a few new shirts. A few Simplicity 3835’s and the Summer Blouse from Weekend Sewing. I was half way through the summer blouse but had to stop for fear of blowing my top. First, I had a hard time fitting all the pieces on the fabric (has anyone else had this problem?). I used the called for amount, but the sleeves are huge and just wouldn’t fit. Finally, I ended up making short sleeves. Then, when I joined the front and back, it was way to wide and too short. So now I’m back at the drawing board to figure out how to save my pretty sea foam colored, embroidered fabric. Don’t get me wrong. The book is beautiful and very well done. I just think I need a good nights sleep so I can figure it out in the morning.
I have had the problem of not being able to place all my pattern pieces on the called for amount of fabric. I couldn’t help but notice you have the same fabric as i do (the one with the little white flowers), i got it at Joann’s and that’s why the cutting was an issue. Don’t get me wrong, I love Joann’s and will keep going back, but they often cut fabric crooked. Also, if you wash your fabric before using it, a lot of it comes off in the washer. I just always ask for a quarter a yard more than i need. That usually solves the problem for me. Good luck.
I did buy my fabric at JoAnn’s and I washed it before cutting, so that probably is part of the problem. I will definitely get more fabric next time.
Good luck with your shirt – the fabric is lovely – I’m sure you’ll work it out…
The flowers were lovely as well – I can’t believe you’ve got flowers already – we still have brown grass…
Hi Regina~ ~ In the day when I did a lot of sewing I always used patterns in packages, Simplicity, Vogue and mcCalls etc. There were no books with patterns. How are you finding them to be? Are they acurate as far as lining up seams to fit? Do you like them as well or more then the above mentioned?~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
JoAnn’s is the ONLY fabric store that I purchase from that cuts EXACTLY the yardage you request, sometimes less, and cuts crooked. I buy at some actual fabric stores, and they are always a very generous yardage, because they know cotton shrinks and that you are buying based on the pattern suggestions. I thought that was just my JoAnn’s, but I guess not.
I saw your finished shirt and it looks great! Good job moving forward. I always make a sample shirt on fabric I don’t like, or that I only paid $1 a yard for, so that if the pattern doesn’t fit right I don’t ruin my cool fabrics. More time consuming, but for me, less tears.
Most cotton fabric, including the expensive stuff from quilt stores, shrinks 3 to 5 percent when you launder it. I always buy 1/2 yard extra when making clothes. That usually gives me enough to make a matching bag!
You got the JoAnn’s ‘clip-it-close, cut it crooked’ thing right. What is it about them? Every time you go in there at least 1/2 the store is on sale, one sale flyer is over, the new one kicks in. So what’s the big deal about cutting an extra two inches? I have a small sewing/fabric store, and I know that a couple extra inches (which I happily cut) only costs me a few cents, and it always is appreciated.
I so appreciate the simple heartmade gifts. Oh, and a shower for a bride in her 50s sounds like a ball too. Hmmm . . . I wonder whether my mother will ever remarry . . . 🙂