Now batting 0 for 2

I have nothing to say.

Alright well maybe just a few things. Go ahead and give McCall's 5980 a whirl, if:

1. You like your jacket peplums to look like Judy Jetson's skirt

2. You enjoy buying the exact fabric the pattern calls for, only to have it produce a horrendous drape (or lack thereof)

3. You prefer to spend your evenings using crappy finishing techniques that clearly give your garment the not-so-coveted "home sewn" label

4. You like your sewing projects half-finished - particularly when it's so bad you gleefully throw it (and a good chunk of change) in the trash just to move on.

That is all.

New Project: M5980

Let's cut to the chase: it's time to get back to some everyday garments. Or at least those that stand a chance at getting worn more than twice. Enter this jacket from McCall's.

My style of choice is the blue number (A) rather than the red, which takes the term "coat tails" to an extreme.

Fabric choice? A black imported (oooh) wool garbardine fresh off the Vogue remnant racks, naturally. Lining is to be a deep teal satiny substance and I need to find one fabulous button for the front. By fabulous I mean understated yet eye-catching. I'm going for a fresh take on the classic riding jacket here - this will give me an excuse to go buy some knee-high boots and skinny pants to complete the look.

The fabric is cut and tonight comes the lining and interfacing. I took a pic with the zebra drapes in the background to kill two birds with one stone. Look for that tomorrow when the camera battery has been charged.

The Weekend

I had the good fortune of seeing The September Issue with my friend N on Friday night. After all the traveling and related hub-bub of past weeks, let me say a quiet night in the theater with a *moderately* intellectual flick was nothing short of glorious. Sewing fans, splurge on some movie tickets and go see it. Then come home and look at your current projects and immediately feel inadequate. That's what I did, at least.

All of which to say the purple plaid dress will likely never be a fully completed project. The summer's gone, the fabric is not appropriate for the upcoming cold, and so that ship has sailed. This is quite alright in my book, as today I'm sporting a fall frock that I made a few years back and have gotten some rave reviews. It's only 8:30! Turns out, you turn heads if you're a woman and wear anything other than a suit in these parts. So, some smart little fall dresses are in my future.

In the meantime, I did get some sewing in this weekend. Dining room drapes finally happened and here's a hint as to what they look like.

Wild, right? (haha) However, the blue in mine is a few shades brighter. I prefer this semi-washed out look. So question of the day: how does one fade home dec fabric in a careful and controlled way without simply putting it in the sun and waiting for weeks?

image via Isuwannee.com via The Newlywed Diaries

What I Wore: Purchased Puce

(One last time, ladies!)

Yes, I gave up. After the water mark incident and a very busy week at work, I threw in the towel on the purple plaid dress and made a trip to Nordstrom Rack, purchased the first thing that reasonably fit me, and packed the suitcase. The dress? It was aite. Comfortable to wear, I'll say that. But there is a reason I prefer to make my own, and it has something to do with preventing myself from looking pregnant before I actually want to. Eh.

I will finish the plaid item because so far the fit is pretty fab and it would make a good holiday party frock. And the sewing table does need to be cleaned off, so that would be an effective way of accomplishing two things at once - always a good tactic.

I wasn't trying to make a water color...

but judging by the nasty spots left behind by my sputtering iron, you'd think otherwise. So I'm working on the purple plaid dress for this weekend and on one panel of fabric the iron completely misbehaved. I have about 4 half dollar-size water marks on the bottom of the dress and don't know how to get rid of them.

Fabric type, you ask? Excellent question. I'd put it somewhere between a polyester brocade, because of its weave, and a polyester (heavy) taffeta, because of its body. No matter what it is, it doesn't like to hide water spots.

Help?!