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I wanted to take my time with these because I’ve never made jeans before, but this is ridiculous! I am at a complete standstill on these because I lost the instructions! In this pattern HP includes illustrated (finally) instructions, however they are printed right on the pattern sheet. So, being the genius that I am, I cut the instructions away from the pattern so I wouldn’t have to fumble with those gigantic sheets of paper. Of course I lost them… I’ve emailed HP twice and am still waiting. In the meantime, started putting together a couple of pieces but I’m afraid to go on in case I mess up  the order of construction. The part that makes me nervous is the fly front because of the extended pocket bags. I’m not sure what gets sewn first and I’m too annoyed to think clearly. I am, however, totally loving my little coin pocket that I sewed today. (bottom of pocket topstitching threads not trimmed)

I was bummed about the dress and got a little unmotivated this week. I am back in the saddle now and will be working on my first pair of jeans this weekend.

I’ve never made a decent pair of pants before, so I am making a muslin and breaking out some sewing/fitting books. I need to learn to do a lower body FBA (Full Butt Adjustment in my case)!

Continuing with McCall’s NYNY Line, I’ve pulled these first two out in case anyone is interested in using them for Marji’s Great Coat Sew-Along.  I will come back tonight and edit this post to add descriptions. Once again, just leave a comment if you are interested.

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McCalls 7404
Year Published: 1994
Size: 12
Description: Misses’ lined dress, lined jacket, skirt, pants and scarf
(I still love this this one and have it in a larger size wihch I will keep and make some day without those big shoulder pads) 

McCalls 8453 (pattern tissue cut out on this one but all pieces included)
Year Published: 1996
Size: 14
Description: Misses’ lined jacket, shirt, and pants
(Another favorite of mine. Love the wide lapel and the french cuffs on the shirt) I cut it out many years ago and was set to go, but somehow never got around to making it. Now it’s too small for me but I have another in a larger size that I will get to some day…)

McCalls 9075
Year Published: 1994
Size: D (12, 14, 16)
Description: Misses’ unlined jacket, dress, and pants
(Once again, take away those shoulder pads and you’ve got a really nice coat/shirt dress)  

McCalls 6844
Year Published: 1993 
Size: 14
Description: Misses’ lined jacket in three lengths, tunic and pants
(I’ve never been the tunic type, but I fell for the beautiful fabrics on the cover, plus I got the pattern for free anyway) 

Ok, so I’m not feeling the love for the way this dress turned out but the pattern is fantastic! I had a lot of trouble with this one but it was all my fault. My problems stemmed from my poor choice of fabric — too thin, too stretchy. It is really a t-shirt knit, but I loved the color and forged ahead anyway. It slipped and bunched and skipped stitches like mad and now it seems that the dress is GROWING! I didn’t stay the neckline (already low cut) which is now quite scandalous. Still, I love the cut. Every little lump and bump shows through this thing (see the ridge from the facing?) although I used a knit lining underneath — attached just at the neck and shoulders (see previous post)– which helps a bit. (Thanks goodness for Spanx!)

I also didn’t really think through how attaching the lining would affect my order of construction. I had attached it to the armscye before setting the sleeve, then realized it would get caught at the side seams, so I had to take it apart, attach the sleeves first, do the side seams of the dress and the lining separately, then attach the lining to the armscye seam allowance so that it would hang freely.

You can’t tell from pattern envelope, but this dress features a separate waist section so that the bodice has a lovely nipped in shape to it without all that fabric blousing around your waist when you secure the sewn-in waist ties. I wish HP would include technical drawings of their designs at least on their website. Very often I can tell more about how the dress will fit by looking at the line drawings rather than the photo or illustrations on pattern envelopes. Sometimes the illustration won’t appeal to me at all, but the shapes and seaming shown in the technical drawing will sway me. I will definitely be making this one again. First as is, (except in a heavier, more stable knit) then again in the flared sleeve version (beautifully made several times by Sewing Diva Gigi). 

We interrupt our regularly scheduled project to bring you Pattern Giveaway Friday!

So many patterns, so little space! I need to make room for all the new patterns I have bought in the past few weeks now that I am seriously sewing again. Apartment living forces limits on my hoarding impulses (thankfully). I have tried doing yard sales and eBay in the past without much success (except for a couple of Folkwear Patterns). I don’t seem live in a sewing neighborhood. In fact, outside of my family, I don’t know anyone who sews. (But that’s another topic altogether — see Lindsay T’s blog )

I’m starting with my McCall’s NYNY Collection patterns. Remember these? I thought they were pretty fashion forward at the time  (for McCall’s anyway). The line’s designer, Lida Baday, is still designing clothes, I ‘ve seen her line at Nordstrom’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. I seem to recall the NYNY line being moved to Vogue after the McCalls-Vogue-Butterick merger. It seems to have disappeared altogether now but for one or two designs in the “Juniors” section of the McCalls catalog.

Except for the big 1990’s shoulders, I think these are still pretty wearable. All of these are complete and uncut — and still in factory folds, oh my!.

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Year Published: 1994

Pattern Number: 7058

Description: Misses’ unlined jacket, unlined vest, skirt, pants and belt

Size: 14

Year Published: 1996

Pattern Number: 8149

Description: Misses’ dresses, jacket, and pants

Size: 14

Year Published: 1996

Pattern Number: 8150

Description: Misses’ dresses and unlined jacket

Size: 14

Year Published: 1997

Pattern Number: 8740

Description: Misses’ shirt, pull-on and pants and legging (leggings for STRETCH KNITS ONLY)

Size: 14

I have a lot more of these NYNY patterns that I never made — I will post some more next week.

If anyone is interested, please let me know in your comments which pattern(s) you want and I will gladly mail them to you. I would hate to just toss them into the recycling bin. I have many patterns that I hope to find a home for and will try to post a few every week or so until they are all gone. I’m thinking first come, first served for this first batch. Or I can just draw names from a hat. I’ll gauge by the number of requests I get. I just hope somebody wants them!

I’ve recently rediscovered my love of sewing and have decided to start this sewing blog to document my projects and share what I learn along the way. I was inspired to start sewing again after discovering all the wonderful sewing sites out on the internet, especially those by Erica Bunker and Laura Lo. (I’ll write more on these and other wonderful blogs at another time.)

Welcome to sewinggeek!