What the heck are you doin' here!http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Why are you hanging around here? All the excitement is over on sewnmagazine.com

God love you if you're still coming around...

Things are definitely coming off the rails around here!

SEWN Magazine is 10 days from launch -writing that just made me a little nauseous considering the amount of work that still needs to get done!

I have started testing patterns for Julie Timmel's 08 SWAP contest.

And I need to sew up a bunch of doll clothes for my daughter's birthday party!

So how crazy have things been? I've lost 12lbs! yes, the world is going to end!

Anyway, SWAP, since that is a passion of mine, is what this post is about



Simplicity 4093 is the wardrobe pattern I am using. And in the interest of making my life easier ALL of my pieces are going to come from there. The rule is that 3 have to. I know the pattern isn't very flashy but that is kind of the point. It is spectacularly morph-able. You get a better idea from the line drawings



See what I mean? I'm even planning on doing an evening dress from it!

I did alter the pants beyond recognition though. I hate back zips, I must have pockets and a "tummy stay" is always a good thing, so those all got added. Unfortunately, I didn't take into account my recent weight loss and had to take alot out of the muslin. but the tester in black wool gab should be gorgeous!

I want to test the top and skirt also, especially because I am going to make up the top pattern in both knits and wovens. I'll post pics when I am done but don't expect anything till after SEWN launches! If you'd like to subscribe click here!

So still not much actual sewing getting done!

No sewing is getting done 'cause SEWN Magazine is taking up most of my time. I'm hoping that once it is up and running I can get back to the basement! Weird but true! In the mean time stop over at the SEWN blog (www.sewnmagazine.blogspot.com)

The website is being worked on too! Which is actually what is taking so much time right now

Spent part of vacation in NYC and went to Kashi's (Metro Fabrics) where I picked up some ge-orgeous Bright Silver leather along with tons of other fabrics I needed like I need a hole in my head! They came yesterday and the leather is even softer than I remember it! So much so that I actually brought it to work with me and fondle it when I sould be working on figures for the paper and grant that we need to get out! I'm thinking of making an altered La Rue bag. Pocket on the front with a flap and add a little width to the bottom. Think the strips will be any easier to turn in leather? Neither did I!

I also got the new Ottobre Women in the mail. Man, I love that magazine. I am rethinking my planning and will maybe do some items from there instead. I just haven't decided which yet. Somehow, simple, dressed up T's seem more my speed right now, though they did have a cute pattern for a knit button down too.

Okay...

Not so much in the sewing time dept. This weekend was one big blur but a small ray of hope shone through! I got the trouser jeans I ordered from Old Navy- had to order, they don't sell the plus-sizes in the store- Bah! They arrived and get this! they have the same fit through the hips and waist as Hot Patterns Razor Sharp pants! And! the same L-shaped crotch curve! Okay so even in the short they are too long and I have to hem them but pants! that! Fit!!!! off the rack!!!!!! I'll let that sink in!

Come Hell or High Water!

Okay, I need me some sewing time!!!

I have been working away on SEWN Magazine and now I need to get some actual garments sewn! I'm hoping to cut out 2 pairs of Razor Sharps and a couple of corset or wrap tops this weekend. Its funny the things I used to hate about sewing are some of my favorite parts now. Cutting is one of them. I do everything in a batch and there is a real sense of satisfaction when everything is cut and in their individual project bags. I have gotten to love fitting too! I know Weird!

Vogues and McCall's are on sale at JoAnn's this weekend there is a Vogue skirt I have to get (y'right) and a McCalls wrdrobe pattern that the jacket is great. If I get them tonight I may be able to get the skirts cut while I have the fabric out.

So, I was thinking... and other dangerous situations

I picked up the new issue of Sew Stylish today. It is great with a couple of articles on how to add "designer" touches to a wardrobe pattern. These go beyond the minor and are actually interesting even for someone that has been sewing a while. There are also reprinted articles from Threads, including a huge favorite of mine by Georgene (her and Gorgeous Ann, I secretly worship!)on how to think like a Designer. As many people by now know Sew Stylish will not be published after the next issue. I would like someone to explain to me why B&N has 300 knitting magazines and 150 quilting magazines, including ones from other countries, and there are exactly 3 garment sewing magazines? Think I'm kidding, leaving out Sew Stylish, there is Threads, Sew News, and Sew Beautiful. Half the time Sew News is Home Dec stuff -Not interested, and my days of sewing gorgeous heirloom christening gowns never happened. Is it too much to want a magazine that combines sewing and fashion in a way that is fresh? I don't do art to wear stuff so Belle Armoire isn't what I'm looking for either. Australian Stitches comes the closest but they're always a season off and many of their style suggestions wouldn't play well here in the northeast. So, call me crazy, but hey kids! let put out a magazine!

Well, an E-zine anyway! I would like it to have distillations of the fashion collections so that we can find stuff there that works with our real lives. I would like a feature that shows patterns so that I can approximate a designer look, I would like some guidance on what to pick from each season for my no longer 20 year old body, a little hair and makeup would be nice too! Heck, I'd be happy to have something that pointed me to good articles in the magazines that are out there. I can do any and all of this! Is anybody else interested? Do you harbor fantasies of being a fashion writer? Have a gift for color but no where to show it off? Contact me! The e-zine would have to be subscripton only, spam is so not fashionable, so if you'd like to start signing up send me an email swaggerdesign@gmail.com put Sign Up! in the subject line.

Perimenopause is a cornicopia of disturbing concepts...I'm back!

I am making a wardrobe based on the recommendations for my body type in "The Pocket Stylist". I am a short, though not petite, E. If you haven't gotten the book that means that I have "a full round neck, average to broad shoulders and a wide often rounded back, full, rounded bust, full, defined waist, hips in proportion with (my) shoulders, and shapely legs (Well, yes, thank you!)." I've dug though my way too extensive pattern stash and found some patterns that are perfect for a "Pocket Stylist" wardrobe: most are from Simplicity. For pants I'm using 3870, a wide leg pant with a narrow, vaguely military jacket. I'm making the shorter version of the jacket with the turn back cuff. I had to narrow the pant legs too. At 5'2", I just can't wear a 24" wide leg without looking like I've been potted. Next up is the coat. 0565 is a dead ringer for the coat shown in the drawing of perfect pieces. Belted with a wide lapel, I'm going to make mine in a black and green/purple/blue houndstooth, Fun!

Now some tops, the wrap from 4095 is perfect and so is the corset style from 3699. Both are as easy as T-shirts but look a whole lot nicer.










For a dress I'm going with Butterick 5001, a mock wrap.

For a skirt, I'll use a Vogue, 8426, with fabulous seaming and great back details.


Since this is going to be a base wardrobe I'm going keep my colors simple, suit pieces in grey and a grey glen plaid that go great together, the dress in a darker grey 4 way stretch woven and tops in teal and purple to spice things up some. It will work with all of the stuff I already have but it shifts things in a different direction and is perfect for Fall.

Update on BITTEN

Okay, the stuff looks as great in person as it did in the magazine, a serious YEAH! Unfortunately, Steve and Barry's is used to dealing with a college age population so their idea of an XXL is pretty tiny, a serious BOO! That said, their return policy is -Keep the receipt and the tags and you've got a year to return it. So I got a pair of mid-rise straight leg jeans that I dare you not to think are A.P.C. and a button front shirt in stretch cotton that I'll hold onto for a while to see if all the diet and exercise works.

On the exercise front, I'm taking a seminar in T-Tapp let you know how that goes!

Have you missed me?

I haven't been sewing or blogging much but I have found two things I wanted to tell someone about.

The first is about a clothing line. Some of you may have heard that Sarah Jessica Parker was going to be doing a clothing line. I did but filed it under "yet another actress line/So what" I have never seen "Sex in the City" I was just a little to old and a little to jaded to believe that real people like that could succeed in NYC. Other than some of her more outlandish choices for some party or awards show, I didn't think much about her. I did know that she grew up with a plastic spoon in her mouth, 7 sibs, Mom worked like hell to keep them fed and clothed and at times needed assistance to make it. Well, I went to the Int'l Newsstand to pick up an issue of Australian Stitches, I happened to see the lastest issue of O and they had a layout of SJP's new line. I actually bought the magazine!

So the line is called BITTEN and is being done by Steve and Barry's. They are better known for men's clothing and this is their first big trip in to women's wear. None of the pieces are earth shattering, everything is fairly classic but cute and the key points don't have anything to do with design. All of the pieces are available in up to a size 22/XXL, shoes go up to an 11 so almost everybody can find stuff to fit! Even better than that is EVERYTHING in the line is under $20!!!!! my favorites are the jeans-$14.98!, the double V tank dress-$19.98, The sailor pants and suit separates look awesome! I'm taking Monday off 'cause of my birthday and am definitely going to check them out!

The other cheap fabulous thing I have found are Playtex deep plunge bras in extended sizes. If you are big busted you know bras that fit us are generally ugly as home made sin and cost a bloody fortune. This is especially cruel because big boobs destroy bras quick. I picked up one of these Playtex ones as an emergency buy, I mean, they're less than $15 how good could they be? Well, I may have found my new favorite bra! They give great lift, they are comfy! and my husband thinks they are sexy as all get out! They aren't on the Playtex website or I'd link it but they are on sale at Target this week, go get them!

Oh, down a few more pounds also always good!

SparkPeople Update!

Holy weight loss Batman! I've dropped 5 pounds already! No magic involved but tons of motivational tools. Social Networking for weightloss rules!!!! I'll probably be blogging here a little less and sewing a little less but building a patio and landscaping my yard. I'm giving myself permission to not finish the PR SWAP too, though I'll probably make most of the pieces I planned but not by the deadline.