Starting

It's happening.

I AM going to make a shirt. I've been thinking and talking about it for too long.

What pushed me over the edge? Well, Etienne was talking about his decision to book a trip to climb Kilimanjaro and he said he kept thinking about this Buddhist saying, “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” It really got to me. Making a shirt is certainly not "truth", but I do have to actually start something in order to make something.

I picked Simplicity 2696, view F to start out with - a pattern that seems fairly simply and a shape that I already wear. I bought this ocean blue shot cotton, but then thought I should maybe try it out (make a wearable muslin?) with some white fabric first. Or if that goes well, then I can use the blue for another style in this set.

I think that the sleeve and shirt lengths on view F are going to be too long, so I'm going to make 3/4 sleeves. Not sure if I should take off inches on the shirt length before or after. It comes all the way down to the crotch and I prefer it to hit at the hip.

Been reading a lot of clothing sewing blogs lately and decided that I would follow their leads and trace out my pattern size instead of cutting it directly from the pattern itself. That way, if I need a different size in the future then it will still be available on the pattern. And this style is pretty loose, so I might need a smaller size anyway.

I've never traced anything before. Kind of winged it with some giant white paper that I bought at the Pratt store, carbon tracing paper, and a chopstick. (This chopstick is officially part of my sewing kit. It's also perfect for poking out corners in fabric because of the rounded edge.)

And since I was on a roll, I went ahead and traced the pattern pieces for the Color Wheel Quilt. I used plastic for the main template since it was small enough to fit on the sheet and I would be cutting out so many more of those pieces than the rest.

Patterns and Pleats

I have a confession. I've never used a paper pattern before. (Gasp! No!) I own quite a few, but have never actually used one. I felt kind of intimidated not knowing what those little triangles and dotted lines meant. Yesterday I decided that I would conquer my fear and start out with a bag. I mean, it says right there:  "It's So Easy."  They wouldn't lie, right?

It took me a while to cut out the pieces, because I wanted it to be perfect and had to figure out the stripe placement, but also partly because I kept looking things up (like those triangle figures) in The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing. They have everything under the sun in this book. I'm glad I bought it. Now I don't have to call my mom or look things up online so much. (Those little triangles are notches that you should cut outward, so as to match up your pattern later. Oh!)

This was also my first time making pleats, but the pattern did not lie: it was easy! 

I added in some phone and blackberry pockets. Essential for any bag, but this pattern did not include them.

Overall, I really like it. The fabric I used was the same that I covered my cork board in. I really wanted to make a purse out of some Echino fabric that I have (which I will make at some later date), but this was the test bag. The handles are a little too short for my liking, too.

Patterns and pleats: check. Lesson learned. 

Blueprints

I have always thought about how great it would be to wear cute dresses every day like girls in the 50s. I mean, it's ONE contained outfit. No thinking at all. 

I have such a hard time finding dresses that fit me properly, so now I can make these dresses myself because I can sew. I took the plunge and bought this dress pattern on etsy here. How hard can it be, right? I'm a smart person. I can read and follow instructions.

Ha! Look at this!! It looks like blueprints for a house or how to build a computer. This might take quite a bit of time. I might have to bring in my Mom, the big guns! The the craftiest lady I know. She's made elaborate gowns and things. She must pass on some of her knowledge. If only I can steal her away from some of her other activities.