A lot has taken place since my last post.  The weather has been very nice except for last week. (cloudy & rain)  So, I have been taking advantage of some outdoor activities.  I have played golf and enjoyed walking Buster on a new walking path at my local park. Also, I finally decided to do a little gardening in my back yard.  That is always dangerous because I end up with projects.  So, I did come up with a few for next year.  But,it’s been nice just to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

So, you may be wondering what’s happening on the sewing front. Well, my ‘Get Acquainted Weekend” was great. My machine arrive on Thursday as predicted and I must admit I was very excited. I would like to say that I got started unpacking and playing with my sewing machine right away, but that didn’t happen.  I had forgotten my hair appointment was that evening, so but the time I got home, I was too tired to do anything. So my weekend actually started on Friday instead of Thursday evening.

I really like my machine. I have to admit I was very apprehensive about buying this machine even after reading what seem like 100’s of good reviews. But I’m glad I purchased the machine.  This machine has so many features, I feel like I’ve brought a top of the line machine.  Here are a few of the features that I really like so far. I like the knee lifter. It raises the presser foot up and down.  At first, I didn’t think I would really use this feature.  However, I find myself using it quite a bit.  I like the start/stop.  It’s taking some adjusting, but I like not having to use a press pedal.  The buttonholer it fantastic.  I just place the button on the buttonhole foot and it makes the buttonhole to size.  The buttonholes are very nice.  I like the that the default needle position is to the left. It means that I am set to sew a 5/8 seam allowance with no adjustments. The stitch quality in my opinion is very good. My machine has 294 stitches. I have only sampled a few thus far.  I will be submitting a patternreview on this machine in a couple of months. I’m also looking to add Brother’s serger 1034D and coverstitch machines to my interim family of machines in the next few months. Who knows, these machines just may become my official machines.  However, the most important thing that I realized with having a new sewing machine, it that I was sewing in the dark ages. LOL!!!

Now, what I have been sewing on my new machine?  Well, I completed the buttonholes on my brown Vogue 1220 dress. But, I’m at a stand still on this dress.  After looking at the stitching on my dress, I want to take it apart and re-sew it on my new machine.  I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet.  In the meantime, I have been sewing muslins and purchasing supplies for a my trench coat and black suit.  I made some fabric purchases for lining from Gorgeous Fabric and rayon jersey for a wrap dress and turtle neck from Moods Fabric.

The current issue of Vogue Patterns Magazine has an article titled “Beyond Vintage”. The staff took Vogues vintage patterns and re-fashioned them. It inspired me to re-fashioned Vogue 1250 into a top. Thought I would start out small. 🙂  I’m making it from this rayon jersey from EmmaOneSock. I will give the details when complete.

For my suit,I’m using a beautiful black tropical wool from my stash. I am using Vogue 2913 for the pants and out-of-print V2853 for the jacket. I’m also making a black and white polka-dot blouse using V8747. This is a custom fit pattern for cup sizes A-D. I’m excited about using this pattern.  I’ve cut out a muslin, so we will see the outcome.

Now for my trench coat, I decided to make it from a beautiful grey wool gabradine that I purchased from a local fabric store during their annual penny sale many moons ago.  I decided against red after I was having a time finding the the right red.  For things like this, I like to be able to see and touch the fabric.  So, I will wait until my next fabric shopping trip. I also decided to use Simplicity 2508 as my pattern. Below is the fabric and the rayon linings I brought from Gorgeous Fabrics during their 12 hour sale.  I couldn’t decide, so I brought them both. One will go into my trench coat, the other my suit jacket.

Well, as you can see my queue is pretty full.  But I’m having so much fun planning and preparing to sew. Hope to have something to show in the next couple of days. 

Until next time…..keep sewing!!