B5564 - What I'm working on

I've been trying to steal sewing time while taking care of a very hungry newborn and trying to rebuild my Fall wardrobe. I thought I'd add a few tunics that I can wear with leggings and boots to have a pulled together look that is baby friendly. First up is Butterick 5564.


It is a fast and easy pattern and one should be able to complete it in a day but at the rate I'm going, I may finish it by the end of the week. Here is what I have so far.

FRONT



BACK



I'll work on putting the sleeves in tomorrow.

I'm Bringing Sexy Back or M3640 OOP

As you guys know I've been a little preoccupied lately but not so much that I hadn't been thinking about what I would wear on Christmas. I was looking forward to getting out of sweats and PJ's which have been my standard uniform lately and at least try to get back to "me". Even though I know it may have been smarter to buy something, I wanted to make something because I wanted to have control over my look rather than spend too much money on something that wasn't made especially for me.

Oddly enough the day before I had my sweet baby girl, I saw this necklace



and I knew exactly what I would be wearing and the best part, I already had the pattern, fabric and I knew where to get the shoes for 30% off. SCORE!





Pattern Description: Misses has front bust darts, front and back waistline darts and back zipper closure.

Pattern Sizing: 8-22

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Super easy although I didn't use them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the classic style of the dress. I also like that there is a girls pattern included in the envelope. Loved that there were only 4 pattern pieces especially since my sewing time is ultra limited with a newborn in the house. I also liked the V neck in the back that wasn't too low to wear a regular bra (I promise the hem is even in the back. I don't know what happened here but by the time I saw it in the picture I was on the couch in my comfy sweats). No dislikes.

Fabric Used: Stretch Shimmer Rayon Blend Shirting that I got from Fabric.com last year for $2.99 per yard.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: My standard FBA but when I make this again, I will shorten the bodice at the shoulder since there was some extra fabric there but given short period of time I had I'm happy with the outcome.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This is definitely a pattern I need to trace because I will be making this again and again.

Conclusion: This is a fast an easy dress that can be casual or formal depending on the fabric used and accessories, a true TNT. Great for beginning sewers.

She's Here!!!

Little miss Raven Alexis is here. Born November 17, 3 weeks before she was due. I shouldn't have been suprised as I have not made it to a due date yet. She is a tiny little thing at 4lbs 4oz and 17.5 inches but she is healthy and after spending 5 days in the hospital trying to get her to eat on her own and trying to get my blood pressure under control we are both home and well and her appetite is growing by the day. We used to have to spend 15-30 minutes waking her up to feed (she's a sleepy little girl, I hope she maintains such good sleeping habits) and now she is waking up on her own before her feeding time so I am one happy mama. My mom and husband have been great and I couldn't be more thankful for all they have done for me. I am also thankful for all the support and well wishes I have received from all of you. I am looking forward to resting and then getting back to sewing so I can make fabulous things for me and my sweet little baby girl.

A little help please

I am currently in week 30 and don't want to create an entire Fall maternity wardwrobe but I do want to create a few nice pieces since there will be a couple of birthdays including my own and hopefully Thanksgiving before the baby gets here. I've been looking around for ideas (snoop shopping) and I found this dress I love.



Now I'm looking for a pattern I can morph into this or something very similar. Any ideas?

My 23 Week Bump

Here are pics of me wearing my latest version of M5893 featuring a preview of my current baby bump.



My knit dress doesn't exactly camouflage my bump like Katie's because you can definitely tell somethings growing under there but I do think it flows nicely and is uber comfortable.



I brought along this cropped white cardigan to wear in the air conditioned buildings.

McCalls 5893 or the 1 year 1 hour dress

Okay I exagerated a little. I started making this dress about 11 months ago right after finishing this version. Then I got distracted by other projects, plus this one is made from an ITY knit and I wasn't quite sure it would wear as nicely as the last one. Through out the months, I would pick it up and complete a step or two, pin this, stitch that until finally I decided to finish it because the other dress actually works well in my somewhat limited Summer maternity wardrobe. I guess better late than never.

Pattern Description: Empire waist dresses A, B, C, D have hemmed, scoop necklines, side seam pockets and elastic casing at waist; dresses A, C and D have hemmed armholes; dress A has contrast bodice and hem band; dress B has sleeves gathered to sleeve band.

Pattern Sizing: B5(8-10-12-14-16), RR(18W-20W-22W-24W)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Mostly, I omitted the elastic at the waist. I don't need anything binding on my growing belly.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Instructions were super easy. I didn't really need them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved that this dress had pockets and that it went together so quickly (in theory at least).

Fabric Used: ITY Knit

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added two inches to the bodice length and one inch to the width to make sure I had full bust coverage. I had already re-drafted the pattern pieces the last time I made this so it made this part a breeze.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably won't make this again since this is my second one but I would definitely recommend it. It's so comfortable.

Conclusion: This dress is confortable, easy to sew and can be used easily as a maternity dress with minimal adjustment and still work as a transitional garment after baby.

Finally . . . Great News!

Thanks to all of you who have kept me in your thoughts over the last few months. Back in April I was trying to recover from a MS exacerbation and just could not understand why I couldn't shake it. After lots of tests we got the results, I'M PREGNANT!!!! This is definitely great and welcomed if not shocking news since we had a miscarriage last year and had been trying unsuccessfully for almost a year after that. Then a new waiting game began, getting past the "dangerous" period which for me with all the health issues was a little longer than most. But we're finally over that and to top it off found out that we are having a GIRL (techinically my third but my first bio) and my feet have not touched the ground. I still haven't mustered up the energy to sew but I am definitely more relaxed and relieved.