Hello!

From night shift...


Still here, and actually sewing very productively, for me anyway. I gave that Maya bra 3 tries before admitting it was just not working for me. I loved the versions I saw, and really wanted my orange and white scheme to work. It seemed very medical emergency colored, appealing to the nurse in me. But alas.

Wires, foam versions and without foam, pattern adjustments, and I just couldn’t get it right. The breast should not look like a lumpy orange in a sack and the back band shouldn’t be so out of proportion. So, I washed that first Shelly previously posted and suddenly it became extremely comfortable, although the ugly stitching remained. I made a second Pin Up Girls Shelly bra in lemon yellow with white lace that worked very well too, though it never made it to a photo anywhere. I’ve worn it so much I have a wire poking out and need to repair, which I can do effectively with some Dr Scholl moleskin. Maybe when I do it I‘ll snap some tutorial photos. Then I purchased an Eve bra from Porcelynne, a pdf that you buy band separate from cup to get closest to a personally drafted pattern. It was a great fit as well.

    Eve bra from Porcelynne. Duoplex and power net and everything else in one of Brabuilder’s lovely kits.

For a bonus round I made a House of Morrighan PDF Poppy bralet. It definitely needed elastic under the cups for support and I had to trim the longish line because it rolls on me, but now it’s so comfortable and useful- because I’ve pretty much outgrow those first three. The weight is a red flag health issue at this point, but I’ve still got to dress. I’ve just purchased more lingerie supplies and another pattern. Soon I’ll have new and better crafted bras. In any case, I exceeded my goal of three.

I went on and made two long sleeve tops, functional and YAY, well fitting, again a lack of photos. I’m sorry, I suck at the blog thing. One top is the wonderful and FREE PDF pattern from LoveNotions patterns, the Classic T. It comes in extended sizes from small to 3xl AND has a full bust adjustment front piece already made for those who need it. Which meant all I had to do was extend the length for my 5’11” height and needn’t fret about my 58 or 60” full bust. The sleeves were fine. The fabric was cute, my stitching, seams, hems, pressing all worked, but I couldn’t seem to get my hair combed and some eyebrows on and still have enough energy to put the top on and snap.

I managed to get my hair and nails blue. Man, blue fades fast. I like the journey from electric blue to putty gray. 

ANYWAY, the second top- I feel a little clever about it although I failed again with the photos! I had a Style Arc top, the Kendall.

I made this top maybe two years ago, straight from the pattern, epic fail! I had made another Style Arc top and didn’t think I’d need a full bust adjustment. I certainly did. I don’t know what I measured then, but less than 58”.  This round, I was puzzling how to do the alteration with the criss crossing bodice and had just finished the basic t....... hey! So, I mashed up the bottom front S.A. and t, then mashed up the two top pieces. Kept armholes the same as SA, increased that cowl neck....SUCCESS! Both tops were from double brushed poly, which I’ve never sewn or worn before. I’ve been strictly natural fibers. This stuff doesn’t seem too hot or moisture trapping, it’s soft and stretchy and easy enough to sew. I made my first pair of self drafted panties from leftovers, from Beverly Johnson’s Craftsy/Blueprint online class. Serious love for those. They are full, high waisted briefs and humongous but once on they stay where they are supposed to, they cover it all, they don’t bag or twist, droop, wedge or in any way misbehave. THAT’S why so many people are making their own undies!!!!

I outgrew all of my medical scrub tops, and Walmart doesn’t carry the size up that I went into much. I searched online and it’s slim pickings there too, and they’ve got the nerve to mostly charge more if you can find a big one. Then, after you pay shipping and wait for arrival, there’s no guarantee the damn things are going to fit, especially if you are buying from several manufacturers. I never dreamed I’d be sewing scrub tops again, it has been so not financially feasible for most of my career. Much cheaper to buy great ones rtw. I found a great deal on lots of great quality cotton on craftsy, and made myself 5 new tops for about $9. each.

And look I managed a photo! This is after wearing for a shift. I’ve since sewed up some of the vent at the bottom hem, leaving only about 2” rather than 5. It is wonderful to have scrubs I can take a deep breath in, bend over and keep stuff in my pockets, and keep my belly and ass crack covered (I need bigger pants. They’re planned). I impressed myself getting 5 done in one week, I am a  s l o w sewer. I still finished ever seam, did the pressing, careful top stitching. Guess I was motivated.

If I could figure out how to arrange smaller photos I’d show other fabrics, they’re pretty. But I can get the photos smaller and not next to each other. I could figure out how....

I’ve moved this poor neglected baby to a quilt dedicated area I’ve arranged downstairs with my repo’d Singer fashion mate 237. It’s going to be a top soon, then a sandwich and I’ll finally be in the quilting stage again, my favorite!

I started this blog post on the job, and got on a scale for the first time since last September in the morning. 330 lbs. Now I’d rather loose weight than sew for that poundage!!! But as stated above, I must dress. Maybe I can do both. Off to sew something.