Shirt Challenge - a loss... and a win

I'm officially declaring my self challenge to create 6 shirts over 12 weeks, over. I didn't even make them over 18 weeks.  So, in that, I failed. I guess.

On the other hand, I now have four new tops that make me happy. I win! I win!

The process of the challenge was interesting to me, and to a point, it did give me some encouragement to create when otherwise I wouldn't have had it. But life also happens, and did happen, and that is OK, too.
I'm not a fashion blogger - or even fashionable - but I do love that creative process, and have with doses of Project Runway, come to understand fashion a little more than I did (and yet still come to the conclusion that fashion - as such - is a little beyond me, or not as interesting as creativity is).

I still have two pieces of fabric left over from the challenge, and I think, I think, I have patterns picked out to go with them. I also have a shirt cut out for my brother (been cut out a while) and an apron to make for a friend (it will be my first time making an apron). So there are still projects on the horizon.

Here is one idea. I really like the short sleeved version of this top.

See the little wavey stripes on this fabric? They are horizontal on the fabric, but I will cut them the top so they are verticle. Yeah, I know, but that is how they SHOULD have printed the fabric...

I love some leaves and a tunic!

Again, I will go short sleeved. It is just a more useful length for me. I'll also point the leaves down. If I can remember to do that when I'm laying out the pattern and cutting, that is.

The main reason that I decided to conclude my shirt challenge, though, (yes, I know, time was up. WAY up) is that I have a new challenge. I need to get some things made for March and the Wild Wild West Steampunk convention in Old Tucson! It will be our third time there. I added to my wardrobe last year a little, but I would like to get two new outfits ready for this year. Yeah. I'll need to get on the ball with that, won't I.

Shirt Challenge #4 part 2

I actually like thinking/talking about the process in crafting and sewing more and more. I enjoy reading about other people's process as they make things as well. I thought I would share some of that with you as promised before I spent the week I wanted to use up sewing trying not to cough up my lungs. ew.

First of all, I look at fabric and patterns. I have a few that I keep going back to, and this is probably THE pattern for me. I can't tell you how many times I've made this shirt. I can only say many. I've made them for myself, of course, and both my brother and my dad. Dad used to like having a Christmas shirt to wear during the season, and I know I made him at least 2 of those. I made one or two for Ron, but he has decided that he likes a different pattern, with a stand-up collar better. I think the first time I made it, I was still a teen-ager.

Yes, this pattern is in a zip-lock bag. It is also about 40 years old.

Basic loose fit, button down shirt. I've done it with lining and without lining. I've enlarged it. I've lengthened it. I don't feel like this shirt is much of a challenge, really, but I think the pattern still works.

Wore my new shirt for the first day with students. I liked it!

You can see more of the pattern in the fabric in this photo. When I make this shirt for me, I shorten the sleeves, otherwise I fin myself rolling them up. I also have learned that for the smoothest look for the long run, it is best to sew down the facings in the front. It also saves some on ironing. At least on some versions of the shirt. I also sew the button holes horizontally instead of vertically. This is something my mom started me on. For those of us "of size" it allows a little movement of the buttons without haveing them pop out of the button hole as easily.

Formal? No, workplace appropriate? Absolutely (at least if you work in a school like I do). Comfortable? YES! I am very happy with this new camp shirt!

Happy Shirt Challenge #4 finally!

It took me a while - too long, actually - to finish the fourth shirt. I figured out something, though. My sewing area was uncomfortably chaotic, and that made sewing there not a happy thing. So, before I could finish my shirt, I had to organize, and I did. Well, at least the sewing part of the room. THEN I could finish my shirt! And I did! So happy to have gotten a new camera for Christmas to start taking pictures again! YAY!

green paisleys on green camp shirt

No, I'm not wearing it in this photo, it is - however - hanging on the newly organized shelving. I'll put together an outfit for the first week back to school, though!

I started with a camp shirt pattern that I have had forever it seems. I have made shirts from this pattern for me, for my brother, for my dad, and I don't even know how many times I've used it. Of course I don't have a photo of the pattern, but I will, tomorrow. But for now, I'm happy to have another shirt that will make me happy to wear.

I think I still have a couple pieces of fabric in that basket still, and I would love to get another shirt in the challenge completed before school starts again. At least cut out, would be a start.

I have some other sewing goals for the coming year. I want to learn more about my serger, and how to do more with it. I would love to make an outfit from some lightweight knit that I picked up, but I've been stretching out all the knits I've tried so far. I know that it is a matter of adjustments. I signed up for a Craftsy class, and have looked at the first couple lessons so far. Part of the class is to make a stitch book, and I think that will be a really good exercise for me. One of my friends also gave me a book on serger sewing that I think will be helpful as well. I also want to work on some steampunk clothing for Wild Wild West Con, that will take place March at Old Tucson. We have had a really good time at the two previous ones, and I'm looking forward to this one as well!

Gift Crafting for 2014

I usually do more makeing for Christmas than I did this year, but I still did get some in. Mostly scarves this year. In previous years, I've knitted several. This year, I started to knit, and then, I pulled it out and chose the crochet hook instead. I picked out a rather large one, so the stitching would go quickly.

The first scarf I made (and then remade as it was too wide and not long enough) was an old standby pattern. I switched it up by alternating where the pattern started and stopped, and got kind of an argyle effect, which I liked.

Merry Christmas Carl!

The next scarf was for my neice, and I picked out a varigated - self striping - yarn. I didn't want to do a bunch of single crochet I get too bored, but I also didn't want a crochet pattern to fight with the yarn. Then I thought about a texture stitch, but didn't know what to do for that. Simple solution. I looked in a book of stitches for all kinds of needlework, and found several texture stitches. They were easy and quick, and I don't know why I hadn't thought of doing that some time before now. For this scarf, I alternated single and half double crochet, and then on the return row did a single where the half double was, and vice versa. Easy peasy.

Merry Christmas, Shelbi!

I was pretty happy about how the striping turned out on the scarf, and was very pleased with this yarn. I also liked what the texture stitch added to the scarf. I hope she likes it, too!

The other scarf I made was for my long-time friend, and I didn't get a picture taken of it. It, too was a texture stitch, a basketweave kind of thing. The pattern was to alternate single crochet and chain one stitches, then on the return, single crochet in the gap made by the chain and the chain over the single crochet from the row before. It also gave a nice texture, and didn't seem hole-y, which I had wondered about before I started.

I was doubley pleased with my crochet for the season, since I got to make some gifts, and learn something, too! I will definitely be consulting my book of stitches again, and trying out some different patterns soon!

No, I Haven't

I haven't fallen off the earth. AND, I'm making stuff. You know, stuff for Christmas. Not a lot of sewing, yet, but making. I keep hoping to post, but the camera issue is frustrating me. I can take pictures, but I can't get them electronically where I want them. And, and, and, other frustrations and feeling like I'm moving in circles with it. One step forward, two steps back. We all know the feeling.

Pictures soon. Please, please, please. And more posts with them...

Have a happy walking to the holidays season!

The Shirt Challenge Resumes

So I've been busy with work, family, vacation, etc. Everything - it would seem - but sewing.

So, I won't make 6 shirts in 12 weeks. Oh, well. I will still make all six, eventually.

This weekend, I got to work on it. I cleaned off my sewing table, and set myself going. Saturday, I ironed and cut out shirt #4 while the laundry cycled, and Netflix played. This morning, I sewed. The shirt is a nice button-down camp shirt in a sage-ish green. It isn't quite finished, however. It still needs the sleeves sewn in (they are pinned) and the button holes and buttons. Not bad, though, I think. It brought home to me, that I miss sewing when I'm not doing it regularly, even though sometimes I need to set it aside for a while.

Pictures will follow when the shirt is done. I'll have to borrow my daughter's camera, though, since I misplaced (yes, I lost it) mine. In a hotel room, I think. No sign of it. Sadness. I liked that camera. Guess I know what to ask for for Christmas, though, don't I.

The next few weeks probably won't see another new shirt, either, as I have a couple of busy weekends on the way. Guess life is part of the challenge, isn't it.

Then, there's always the holiday sewing that I should be plotting and planning and getting a start on all ready...

What Creativity?

Sometimes on the wheel of life, things get hectic, and you just have to roll with it. This past week or so has been like that for me. Evenings were busy, and this past weekend, I helped my brother move. It's what you do, you know? Beyond getting to sleep in - and man, did I need THAT - it almost didn't seem like a weekend!

I would say I went back to work to recover, but today was even busier there. As soon as I arrived this morning, I went to go have my picture taken for the yearbook. The photographers were there, but they weren't set up. So much for that. I went to the office and picked up my testing supplies so I could proctor a standardized test this morning. That took all morning, and into lunch time. Took my prep time, of course, that I had prep time was one of the reasons they appointed me to proctor. (mind you it was the third prep in a row that I've lost to some sort of school business) So a few minutes for lunch, and on to the afternoon classes. I really enjoy my students this semester, so, high point of the day. We were working on Kennings. Those are poetic language and they go with Beowulf, being of Anglo Saxon origin. My first time teaching them - not first time for Beowulf, LOVE Beowulf... just first time for Kennings. ANYWAY the last class of the day was the time my administrator arranged to come observe me for my evaluation. The administrators complemented me on my lesson, so that felt good. On the other hand, one of the things I missed out on was having the lesson plans ready for them. JUST. HAD. NO. TIME. I'm disappointed about that, but it is what it is.

sigh

So, right, no shirt made again this weekend. No time with hubby, even though it was his weekend off. On the plus side, there will always be NEXT weekend...