Ottobre 2/2013. And Pi. And Dean.

I got my Ottobre Woman in the mail last week! Did you? I only subscribe to the women's issues now, since Lu won't let me sew for anymore. 

I thought this was a great little issue, with several basic designs I can see myself using over and over (Kristine thought it was a terrible issue, with nothing she could use ever. So...your mileage will vary! Also, Kristine is a Crabby Patty. She also thinks I'm terrible half the time and has no use for me either.)

All kidding aside though, there are some great basics here! Especially if you've never tried Ottobre before.  #14 is a basic sheat dress pattern (on the right below):

And I love the 40s/80s throwback of the blouse #9 (colorblocked below):

 The jacket is pretty cute too, a linen "motorcycle" jacket!

Then we have a nice basic wrap top/dress, #19 (nothing innovative, but still a flattering silhouette on most body types):

And also a cardigan/jacket #12 and a pair of slim pants in ALL sizes (I love when the do all size pants. So often they don't!). Pants #5 & #6.

Knit colorblocked dress. I'm not sure I have the patience? But I actually like this. #17:

And although I hated the gather neck tee below at first  because of the odd shaping, it's growing on me. Tee #13, with shorts #5&6 (all sizes!)  The sleeveless top though, that's fabulous! #3:

I even like the dress/tunic version below left, #7:

That's about it for me, I guess.  But then, that's almost all of the garments too! So it's a keeper.  Maybe if you missed this issue, Kristine will sell you hers. Muwhahaha...

In Random Fits of Nonsense And Wasted Time News...

Happy Pi Day!

from me & my favorite tv boyfriend, Dean Winchester.

He has rhythm. 

I make baked goods. 

Basically, it's a match made in tv heaven.

golden..

Just a quick drive by/catch up/bragging rights smallish post before I dash back out the door to the next thing on my to-do list this week (I teach a *mostly* senior citizen computer class on Thursday nights).

Firstly, I held an OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL TODAY!

This lovely accessory (goes with literally everything, don't you think??) alas belongs not to me, but to the very handsome and eloquent Dain Blanton, 2000 Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist.  He was the speaker at a convention I attended this morning.

I also FINALLY received my 5/2012 Ottobre magazine, the fall women's issue.  Here are a few of my faves...

Just regular clothes, not high-er fashion (like Burda Style).  But you know what I wear every day??

Regular clothes.

So I like this issue.  Alot.

Also...just got a notice from AnySoldier that my "soldier" had updated his care page.  Have you ever visited AnySoldier.com??

It's a pretty awesome site. You can choose a soldier or unit and read their page to see what items they are in need of (while deployed).  My soldier is in Afghanistan, so his unit would really like DVD's, headphones, protein bars and powder, weightlifting gloves...but their needs change occasionally and the soldiers can update their page at any time.

And of course, when they are shipped out somewhere else, or (hopefully soon) home, then that gets noted too.  It is a free site, and they email you the mailing address for your soldier's unit as soon as you request it.  Just don't request it until you're ready to ship the care package.  Things can change fast!

The holidays are fast approaching (as much as I'm in denial).  Remember a soldier's unit this Christmas season!

Gotta run...

ps...for smartypants Kristine. I was TOTALLY listening.  Yup.

Ottobre 5/11 #9 Top: In progress

Well let's just start off with a bang.  Best foot forward and all that.  I traced top #9 from  the Ottobre 5/2011 issue yesterday afternoon. (I wasted about 2 hours just trying to choose a project!)

I had a turquoise cotton interlock in my stash.  Unfortunately I underestimated the hem flair of this little top, so i didn't have quite enough fabric when I got to the sleeve piece.  I cut the rest of it out anyway and will make it sleeveless, using knit scraps for binding the armholes.  Not exactly what I wanted, but that's OK.  I have lots of cardigans!

I didn't have quite enough to do the full set of gathers in the CF either.  Now I'm stuck with a bit less gathering there, because I had already cut out the rest of the top.  I really wish I had done the CF first and had fewer/no gathers on the CB.  (Just FYI, I had almost 1.5 yards of fabric and 1.75 would have been perfect).

This top looks really voluminous in flat pattern sage.  I was hoping for a slimmer profile like in the magazine photo.  I'm glad I used a relatively thin interlock! 

Back to school for me today, so we're back on "after school and weekend" time frames.  It's Monday,  people!

Ottobre Woman 2/11

Sorry I've been a bit MIA this week.  I've been having internet troubles.  What I thought was a bad router turned out to be neighbors stealing my wireless!  That is so intrusive and ugly.  I've got a fancy, schmancy new wireless router with superhero security so all seems to be fixed on that front.

Unfortunately not much sewing has gone on here this week while I've tried to troubleshoot.  I did get my Ottobre Woman unexpectedly yesterday.  I didn't realize it was already March!  Where the heck did February go??  Here are some of my favorites!

A super hot vintage-inspired bathing suit!  Wow!!  I'm definitely putting this in my summer to-do list!  I might change the back though.  I hate lying on that big knot on my floaty mattress in the pool.

 

I think the pleated skirt on the right also has a vintage feel:

And Ottobre is really my favorite place to turn for great basics.  These summer capri pants are a really nice shape, and I like the little tie blouse too:

Line drawings: 

I'm pretty sure I wore a dress just like the one on the right in the next photo.  Back in 1987.  ;)  But I really do love the jumper/pinafore on the left.  Very cute!

 

And the line drawing:

The best part of this issue is that almost all the garments are availabe in the full size range of 34-52.  There are a couple of things that are only 46 or 48, but that's still pretty awesome! 

I don't have any of these planned for immediate sewing time (still hoping to get a little further on my Dubarry dress this weekend, if not finished!)  But that's the thing about Ottobre.  You can just grab one at any time and make a great basic.  

It's almost Friday!

Ottobre Woman: Fall

I love a good surprise. And today this shocked me by appearing in my mailbox!


I don't know how I forgot that it was "due" to arrive, but I did. (I have a theory that teenage hormones kill adult brain cells. It would explain alot about my life.)

Basically this issue is chock full of wonderful basics that are just a little bit differen than what we've seen before. No, not Milan or Paris "hot off the runway" designs. But that's just fine by me.

All of the following design peeks from inside the issue are straight from the Ottobre website! You can download the line drawing pdf there too!

First up, some snazzy jackets. Oh, how I want Fall to get here!! This green jacket is gorgeous. GORGEOUS! It's one of the smaller sized patterns, only going to a size 46. I start with a 46 for my neck/chest, so that's fine for me but it always gives me a little grumble that they don't do every pattern up to size 52. I'd even pay a couple bucks more! More patterns for all, Amen.


This magenta jacket is also very snappy for fall, and I might even be tempted to sew (for the first time ever!) with some of that new fashionably cute fleece. (This is wool, however.) Some of the fleece I saw last year was very wool-like in appearance. This pattern is size 44-52.


And isn't that model adorable? She's on the BACK COVER too! Isn't that the most awesomest thing ever?? A plus size model on a (mostly) straight size magazine cover! Well, ok, it's the back cover. But still!

This tunic is very spring/summer-like to me, but I like it anyway. And I'm glad they included it since I am such a slow sewist during the fall/winter months. I might actually finish one by spring.


I think it looks very "Sew Serendipity" (a book I've yet to make anything out of. More hours in the day please!)

I love this pink sweater/knit top. The rosebuds are a bit retro and very current fashion-wise. The neckline yoke is a nice touch too. The skirt is also in the mag; a nice, basic a-line with a waistband.


LOVE the grey dress on the right in the photo below. I will definitely be making that out of a couple of pieces of double knit I'm hoarding. (But, um, I will be lengthening mine to a schoolteacher appropriate length.)


Here's that cutie patootie model again, in two versions of the same knit top pattern. I really like them both, but I worry about the preggo look.

Sidenote...I'm rather paranoid about that preggo look anyway, because I'm hunched over a computer (or sewing machine!) all the time. I've progressed to having poor posture over the last several years! I've been doing twice daily stretches and other back/neck/shoulder exercises to realign my spine and I'm trying to be more aware of posture on a daily basis. My torso (empire line) really IS the slimmest part of me and looks nice if emphasized, so its possible I can make these cute knit tops work for me with some tweaking of the side seam shaping.

These trousers are a classic. Drat if they only go to size 46 though. There is another pair for size 40-52 that are "cropped" and I'm thinking I can just superimpose the legs of these onto those for a full length pant in my bum size.


The beautiful blue jacket on the right is the same pattern as the green one above, so it is only up to size 46, but worth a look and probably worth a grading up. Love the color of that wool. Too bad I'm too cheap to dry clean on a regular basis (plus, inconvenient much? If you live in the country or a rural area then you know what I mean! You city-dwellers think I'm off my nut right now, but that's ok.)

I'm suddenly inspired to sew again! Whew. I was worried a little when the past 2 weekends went by with empty hours and a silent Bernina.

Oh, and I am blaming Debbie Cook for a recent purchase that I'm picking up tomorrow. I won't give you any more hints, but I am So. In. Love. Can't wait to show that one!

Happy Monday!

cheerful.

A very cheery skirt for the first day of Winter!


Skirt is Ottobre 5-07-118, and I made it back in April. You can see the original post here.

I thought it about time I blog something I've sewn, since my sewing is so much on the back burner in the fall/winter months! I promise, I'm still wearing beautiful clothes that fit (this skirt is a tad big now, but I wore it anyway!) and that I made.

With the addition of a black sweater set (Target), black tights (also Target, love their Merona tights!) and comfy black Mary Janes (Cato) and I've got a winter outfit from a summery print skirt that might otherwise be shoved to the back of my closet in the colder months!

My hair is shorter than you've seen it in a while! I got all dolled up to finish Christmas shopping/groceries. Red shiny lips and black eyeliner made me feel a little retro. I got lots of smiles and nods this afternoon.

I love how people appreciate a pretty skirt! (No one line jumps in front of pretty skirts and red lips either.)

Ottobre 5-07-18

Today I made this yoked skirt from the 5/2007 issue of Ottobre, out of one of my new cotton prints from equilter.com.

We had a beautiful, if windy, day here today, really almost summer like. I don't know why I was in the house most of the day!! Since it seems like these days I either don't have the time or the energy to sew, when I want to I'm taking advantage of it, by golly!

You can't really see the details in either photo I took of the skirt on me. Too bright and sunny! (but I'm not really complaining!) It's cute, you'll have to trust me! Here's another picture in the "shade" of the house. You can at least see the yellow print better in this one.



This is the line drawing of this skirt. It's a great basic!


I added a yellow mini-piping to the yoke seam. Although I never wear shirts tucked in, so I don't know that anyone but me (and you) will ever know it's piped!


I used an invisible zip for the closure, and changed it from a center back zip to a side seam zip. I'm WAY out of practice with invisible zips and it took me 3 tries to get the piping this lined up (and it's still not perfect. Amanda, don't look.)


I also forgot to interface the yokes (duh) and had to cut down the interfacing and fuse it on before attaching the linings. It all worked out though. I lined with a solid white 100% cotton from the quilting section. Not as light as batiste and not as heavy as broadcloth. It worked out pretty well, but I'd rather have batiste I think (especially in hotter months!)

The hem is simply serged, turned up and topstitched.


Very cute skirt that took all afternoon just because of my pesky errors. I'd like to make at least one more out of my quilting cotton stash before moving on to one of my other skirt patterns!

I can't wear yellow near my face (I'm too olive) but I could use a new, cute white top. I'm wearing my BWOF 2/09 puff sleeve top in these pics, but I'd like to have something a bit more "frilly".

I'm off to enjoy what's left of the afternoon on the porch swing with a good book!

Edit for Katie...Thanks to a flickr comment, I have the name for you! It's by Timeless Treasures and it's the Taxi line. I bought 2 prints from this line, it's fabulous! Hope that helps!

Dreaming with a Broken Heart

Ottobre 2-2008-14

Not on my mini-wardrobe or anything, of course. But I have sewn a couple things this past month that I haven't shared yet. Why?

Well, one didn't fit the way I wanted it to. Two of the pictures were crap.And none of it was for my wardrobe, so they were all tinged with contest guilt.

Here they are anyway! First, I made a Textile Studios Santa Monica tee, one of my favorite TNTs for a quickie sewing fix. This one is in that pretty blue aqua knit I showed you last month (I'm still making a BWOF tee out of it too, I have plenty!)

See, not the best pic because you can't actually SEE any details of the tee. Especially not the neckline, which is my favorite part (it's raglan sleeve, but the neckline squares off. It's pretty, but you'll just have to take my word for it.)

Then I made the Jalie Sweetheart top out of my mauve knit. It would be perfect except that I didn't mark the shoulder portions clearly, so when it came time to gather & match notches, I had to guess. I guess too low for the top notch, so the entire neckline is off. Argh.


Still an OK top, but you can see my bra strap on the left. Phooey. This is a really thin knit though, that I planned to wear a cami or tank under. Maybe I'll wear a tank in a contrast color and pretend like it was "planned" to show.

Then I made the gored skirt from Ottobre 2/2008. I had this gorgeous brown Amy Butler print, but not quite enough to lengthen it like I wanted. I think it needs another inch. This is becoming a regular alteration for me with knee-length skirts. I have long legs and a shorter torso.


I am not crazy about the finished skirt. (It's been sitting on my sewing table waiting for finishing stuff for 3 weeks.) I loved it in the magazine! And I liked the contrast hem band, but I think the proportions are a bit off. I'll make it a bit wider (deeper) next time. Th.e skirt is also a bit too big. It sits below my waist and I can tug it over my hips without the zip. Whoops.

The directions were wonderful. No problems at all deciphering them. I really like Ottobre directions. They're to the point with no fuss or wasted time. I didn't have an invisible zip, so used a lapped zipper instead. I also added topstitching to the gore seams, in pink thread:


I really like the waist treatment on this skirt too, it's neat and tidy. It has a weird overlap though (for snap(s). I left it at first, but it was really unruly (almost 2 inches of overlap!) so I ended up trimming it off and I'll add a hook/eye instead.

I love the fabric I used for the hem band so much I've been hoarding it for years. It pains me that I don't love the skirt now. The only pic I have where you can see it is before pressing.


But you can see the tone on tone embroidery & the sequins that add a little "sparkle" (hehe, Tamara, are you reading?) You can see the lining fabric in this shot too, a pale pink satin batiste, also from the hoard, erm, stash.

I'll probably try this one again and lengthen the gores a tiny bit, and add to the hem band's depth. I have lots of quilting cottons and this skirt is perfect for them!

Ottobre 4/07 #33

Summer tee for my whiny girl, who has been giving me that "sew neglected" look for a couple of weeks now. ;)


This pattern is the long-sleeve tee (pattern #33) from Ottobre issue 4/2007. I used a blue & white stripe cotton knit, with a black & white polkadot for the yoke & bindings. I was feeling a little saucy, so I used hot pink thread and a double needle for all topstitching.


This blue & white knit has been in my stash for at least 8 years. (I still have about 1.25 yards left!) The top pattern #33 has long sleeves, but I just substituted the short puffed sleeve from pattern #31 in the same issue instead. The sleeve fit perfectly, which makes this a very versatile pattern!


The pattern calls for ribbing, which I missed in the instructions when cutting out. AFTER I had cut all the pieces and sat down to read through construction, I discovered that part. I worried the bindings wouldn't fit, but they went together PERFECT. The only problem is that the neck opening is a just a tad small. Lu can pull it on over her head, but it would have been a lot easier if I had used ribbing instead! Ditto for the sleeves, which I doublechecked the fit of before stitching just in case.

I love Ottobre! This was a fast & easy project! And all the pieces just go together perfectly (even swapping out the sleeves and nary a hiccup!)

Ottobre Woman 2-2007: Capri

These started out as my muslin, but they turned out so good, I wore them to work today!! (excuse the wrinkles!)


This is the Wide-Leg Capri Pant from Ottobre Woman 2-2007. I have been wanting to make these ever since I saw JuliaS' wonderful capri's on PR. I'm pretty amazed at how few alterations I will need to make these really nice-fitting pants!

My measurements put me between a 48 and 50 in Ottobre's size charts, but I'm chicken and always expect LOTS of alterations, so I cut a 52. I used a fairly lightweight cotton gabardine from stash (no stretch).

For this pair, I made NO alterations whatsoever to the pattern, because I wanted a true muslin. They fit pretty awesome right out of the box!! They are definitely a size too big, especially through the waist, which I tugged at all day to keep from slipping down. I probably could have used a 48 in the waist area. (I will probably trace off a 46 waist, 48 pant for those times when I want to use a stretch woven, because there is lots of room in this non-stretchy fabric.)

Since I sew and expect a REALLY good fit, there are things I will still change. There's something going on in the crotch area, but it's hard to decipher since the pants are so roomy (I can pull these on and off without unfastening the waist/unzipping!) I think I need to scoop out the back crotch a bit. They also sit pretty far down from my waist (definitely more than an inch) and I will be raising that. Don't want to be flashing anyone!

Here's a back view:


Really, not a bad fit in the back either, although I do have some smile lines! Is that the crotch thing?? But you know, these fit as good or better as any RTW pants I own. (I'd really like PERFECT capris, still, of course!)

When I cut these out, I only cut one waistband and forgot to cut the facing! Duh. Since they were a muslin and I was feeling frisky, I cut the facings from zebra quilting cotton. :D (And I smiled every time I went to the restroom today and saw that waist facing!) I also used trouser hooks instead of buttons on the waistband tab.


I really, really like these pants. And they went together SO fast. The instructions were pretty straightforward, although I did use Sandra Betzina's Fly Zip tutorial from Power Sewing (I always watch the video on the Threads website if I need a refresher too!)

I'll be making more of these for sure! And I'm pretty excited about trying out the denim capri's in the same issue out of some stretch denim in stash.