One Yard Wonders planner sleeve

One Yard Wonders planner sleeve
Originally uploaded by Sharon Sews

My second project from the newly released One Yard Wonders book.

I have not yet received my comp copy from the publisher (we've been assured they're on their way...apparently you all have made this book a very popular item!) but I did purchase a copy that I plan to give as a gift.

The nice spiral binding means I could peek at the book, and even sew a project or two, without it appearing that the book was used. Unless, of course, the intended recipient is reading this blog. In that case, well, sorry!

Anyway, the second project I choose was this planner sleeve. Even though I don't own a planner. I figured it would be a good way to carry my camera with me when I'm snoop shopping ... much more stylish than the plastic sandwich bag I currently carry it in wouldn't you say?

But maybe I'll use it to carry a small notebook and pen as suggested in the book. .I don't know about you, but it seems I'm always digging in my purse for paper to write on.

Oh what the heck. I'll just sew another one. After all, I spent less than an hour creating this cute little sleeve.

By the way, this was designed by Helen Ringrose, of the Sew Stylish blog.
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I think I'm in love - or - why did I wait so long to sew this Burda dress?

Isn't it fabulous? The draping and the shaping add up to one stunningly sexy dress. This is one of those sewing projects that you try on and go "wow...this looks good."

The dress is #103 from the February 2008 issue of Burda World of Fashion. As soon as I saw it in the magazine I knew I wanted to sew one for myself.

In fact, I traced the pattern pieces within days of receiving the magazine. And promptly stuffed them into an envelope to await just the right piece of fabric.

I wasn't the only one enthralled with the dress, and reviews for the dress (called the "Tippi Hedren" dress) started popping up over at Pattern Review. One thing some of the reviewers noted was the confusing directions for sewing the twist drape front portion of the dress. Not too surprising considering BWOF is known for their lack of clear sewing instructions.

As I was searching my patterns recently for a dress to sew with one of the knits I purchased during my recent 45-minute mad dash inside SR Harris, I rediscovered this dress pattern traced and ready to go.

Only one little problem. As soon as my scissors snipped the very last pattern piece I remembered that at one point I had been tracing BWOF patterns not realizing that seam allowances needed to be added. I had a sinking feeling that this was one of those patterns. Sure enough, it was.

*Sigh* Hoping for the best, I proceeded to sew the dress together using narrow serged seams and eliminating the back darts. It fits, but it's quite form fitting. This is one dress that will definitely not be making an appearance at the office.

As far as that confusing front twist drape? I actually didn't find it that difficult. I had more trouble understanding why the right front drape should not be sewn to the waist seam. Turns out it is part of the front drape, which wasn't clear to me when I began. The twist drape portion is a bit time consuming, and you do need to make sure you have all the numbers and lines marked, but if you follow the instructions it will work.

My secret? I pinned and basted everything to determine if it was put together correctly before sewing any permanent seam.

My only complaint with the pattern is that I waited so long to sew it up!

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Back to basics - how to sew a mitered corner hem

"Hmmmm, let me see. Well, that day is Christmas. You know, it's only six weeks away."

That's what I heard from the receptionist the other day when I called to schedule an appointment for six weeks out.

"Six weeks!" I thought to myself "Uh, oh. I better get busy."

And I am.

A few of the items I've been sewing require mitered corners on the hem. As I was doing them, I thought it would be a good time for a back to basics on mitering a corner.

How to sew a mitered corner hem

1) Finish the raw edges of your fabric. Turn both sides to the wrong side the desired hem amount and press. My example has one inch hem.s

2) Open out the edges you just pressed. Fold the corner up aligning the edge where the creased lines meet. Press.

3) Unfold the corner. Fold the fabric diagonally, right sides together, matching the edges.

4) Stitch along the diagonal press line you created in step 2.

5) Trim the seam to 1/4", tapering at the corner to reduce bulk.

6) Press the seam open.

7) Turn the corner right side out and press.

See how easy that is? And it makes for a nice and neat corner edge.

I no longer remember when or where I first read about this finish, but I do know you can find instructions to miter corners in nearly any sewing reference book you may have on hand.

Do you use this technique or do you have another favorite way of mitering your corners?
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Comfy and cozy - Vogue 8580 knit tunic

Recently I found myself in need of some loose fitting, super comfy, kick around at home clothes. Now I bet you have a decent supply of those types of garments, right?

Well, if you look into my closet you will find quite a few dresses, nice tailored blouses, dozens of dress pants and skirts, as well as jackets and blazers. But not too many I-want-to-be-comfy-and-I'm-not-leaving-the-house-so-it-doesn't-have-to-be-gorgeous clothes.

That's where Vogue 8580 entered the picture. Loose, tunic knit style top.

Perfect! Or so I thought. It's actually meh.

It's one of those patterns that, as you're sewing the pieces together you ask yourself "and I spent $3.99 on this because....?" and find you really don't have an answer.

That's because the design is so simple, and has so few pieces, that most of you could easily 1) draft it yourself or 2) morph together other pattern pieces to create it.

However, that's beside the point. Let me give you my thoughts on the finished tunic sewn from this pattern.

H.U.G.E. amount of ease.

That about sums it up. *LOL*

All right, I'll tell you more.

First of all, it really does have a huge amount of ease built into the design.

For example, finished hip for a small measures about 49-1/2". Now compare that to the hip measurement for a small, which is 34-1/2". See what I mean? Alot of ease for a knit garment.

It's also quite long. I didn't bother to fit as I sewed and the finished tunic could easily be worn as a dress. Which, just to set the record straight, I will not be doing.

This tunic is a size small.

I also thought the under bust band was odd. The band is sewn on separately, with an opening at the center front to insert the elastic. Four inches at the center front are left unelasticized. The band is quite wide - about 2" when completed. Which works if you have 2" elastic, which I did not. I had 1-1/2" elastic which causes the band to not lay as nicely as it could.

The knit I used is a soft cotton blend that feels almost like a very light weight sweatshirt. It's almost too heavy for this design, so keep your fabric choice in mind when sewing this pattern.

The neckline probably would not have needed any stabilization, but I didn't want to take any chances.

I sewed a strip of stay tape to the wrong side of the neck edge.

Turned the neck edge to the wrong side and top stitched in place.

And promptly discovered that I somehow had managed to sew one neck edge curved and on straight *LOL* So it looks like it's back to sewing machine for me.

Talk to you later!
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