New Look 6125 - Second try, size 10

Ok, so I must be a glutton for punishment, but I am going to make the New look 6125 dress again. This time I am making it in a size 10. I bought new fabric and everything.

 Simon said that the pale blue dress was nice (big, but nice). However he thought it was missing something. He helped me pick out this fabric. We picked a nice stretched satin.

 There are nice shades of dark and pale purples.

We wanted a nice print, but not one that would be hard to work with as a novice sewer.

I purchased a purple 22 inch invisible zipper and some thread.

Then I traced my pattern in a size 10. Hopefully this one will fit. And hopefully I can get it done before the Holidays! I only have one sewing class left this year. Eeks








I did not get this dress done in my sewing class, as I thought I forgot my walking foot and I would need that to sew this. It may get done next weekend.

UPDATE

I am feeling so guilty. This has not gotten done yet. EEEKKS! I may have time tomorrow. I would love for this to be done for Tyler's party this Saturday. We will see.

So I did not get this done for Tyler's party yesterday. I am so tired this month and my sewing motivation has been zapped by snow storms, wipers flying off my car mid-storm, brakes being finished, cooking, cleaning, holidays in general. So what I have done is taken everything out and placed it on my sewing table. I read through the instructions and have a tentative plan to sew a while tomorrow morning. I even asked hubby for help with the kids while I do this. 80% there.

Wednesday 

So I asked Hubby if I could sew for a while this morning. He was SUPER AWESOME and looked after the kids while I hid away downstairs sewing. Only once did I have to rip out my stitches as the lining was not properly lining up. 

Lining attached right sides together - pinned

It is a good thing that this summer I picked up this dress form from Kijiji for only $40! What a steal. the lady I bought it from received it as a gift and she does not sew. She did not know it's value. I was not about to correct her.

 So I pinned the lining right sides together then sewed it along the neck line and the arm seams.

The first time I did this I was majorly confused and waited for my sewing class. This time around I was super hesitant as I was afraid to screw it up. It was fine. I looked at the diagram and it actually made sense. The first time I attempted this dress I thought to myself "No way this is an easy pattern", but that was my inexperience speaking. I had never done a dress before with a lining.

 The next step is much like a magician performing a magic trick. It felt like I was pulling handkerchiefs out of my sleeve!

The trick is to take the lining from the back and pass it through the shoulder seams towards the front.

 The you pull it through to the front. You do this for both sides. Pull, pull, pull.

Then flip the lining over and pull the dress fabric through. Do it slowly and you will get there, I promise.

I had forgotten to make my notches. I simply pulled the lining back and cut my notches and did it all over again.

Voila! On to the next step. I pressed my seams.

Now I have to understich and sew the sides and then the zipper. This is a good point to eat my lunch.

 

 

Here are 2 videos that show me starting to install the invisible zipper. One video is in French the other Franglais. You can see that my Instructor does not like Singer!

FRIDAY - JANUARY 18TH

 I will add pictures later this weekend, but I just could not wait to post! I am so proud! I am finished a garment that 1) fits me 2) LOOKS GOOD! I am so happy! I just wish that I could have finished it in time for my Christmas parties, but what the hey!

I understiched the lining to keep it in place. I installed the invisible zipper, sewed the lining by hand to the zipper. Voila!

All in all this is a great pattern. I really want to make it in a heavier cotton, without the liner and without the zipper for a nice summer dress. I definitely will make this again.

Kwik Sew Patterns: Not available in Quebec

So my adventure in making Simon his pants from the pattern Simplicity 4760 is not going well. The waistband is ridiculous! I will not be making these again. I have a nice denim I want to use for the boy's pants and I am in search of a good pattern that is easy to follow.
I am finishing these pants, as once I (and I mean my instructor) figures it out and I (I mean we) finish them he will be able to wear them. Otherwise they will be another pair of pants that sits in a bin of things I have made that are unwearable. Ugh. My failures are blaring at me from the stock pile.



So that leads me to find Kwik Sew's 3504 pattern. This pattern has great reviews and it appears to be straightforward. They look great, no negative reviews and they are standard men's jeans. Now I have been in search of a good pair of men's pants. But it seam that women are just not sewing for men anymore! There are no good patterns out there for men. This sucks! I want to use the boys as my guinea pigs!
So, what is the problem, you ask? Kwik Sew does not have instructions in French. I live in Quebec and if there is no French we can not have it. Silly, I know. They have Spanish and German, so what would be the big problem with French, you ask? NO idea. So I have to drive to Cornwall, Ontario, a 2 hour drive there and back; or order from the internet and pay shipping. A tank of gas or $4 shipping from Kwik Sew.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love a road trip. But a road trip for only 1 pattern seems a little excessive.

If I order from Kwik Sew I would get patterns 3527 and 3922. I have been trying to find a PJ for the baby that has snaps or a zipper that extends far so that I can change his diaper. You would be hard pressed to find one from another company! Believe me, I have looked!

Now, I ask you, when do they have their on line sales at Kwik Sew? Or can I order thses patterns from a cheaper place? Somewhere where the shipping is not $15.97 (patternreview.com). Kwik Sew's shipping to Canada would be $4 for all the patterns, but the total cost is $4.76 more than Patternreview. It does not make sense to pay more to buy the loyalty cards either!
Any suggestions?

MONDAY JANUARY 28TH

I sighned up for the Kwik Sew email alerts and I got one this morning! Patterns are on sale $6.99! Now I normally buy my patterns for $1.99 at Fabricville when they go on sale. They have a sale last week for Butterick at $3.50 and I thought that was expensive. $6.99 is a little steep, but I can not find a GOOD pattern for men's jeans, nor kid's PJ's with snaps or a zipper that will make changing a diaper easy. So, I will suck it up, and I better make a gazillion of these!

Winter fun at Oka Provincial Park

We love Oka, and winter time is no exception! Check out the crazy carpet slide!

 Here is Tyler, no fear at 5 years of age! Me, I turned backwards, hurt my elbow and back and that was it for me!

 I took Sam on a walk in his Pelican sled and left the boys to play!

Ski-Doo time!

 This is Tyler's Christmas/birthday gift. ASki-Doo Snow Moto, from Canadian tire.
He had a blast! We have gone sledding three times so far. We would go again today, but it is -14 without the windshield factor. On Friday it will only be -2, as well as the weekend. I will get video in action to post!

Even Sam wanted to get in on the action!