RedHeadTexan

So these two decided to help me cut patterns today.  

Lisa

This has nothing to do with sewing...but after 5 years of being blonde I have gone back to my natural hair color, red. Just can’t justify spending $180 every 4-6 weeks on the cut and color. I will start coloring at home in 6 weeks. And that leaves a lot of extra money for fabric! [emoji4]

Lisa

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Machine looks to sew great. I am also a quilter, so a good machine can make all the difference in the world. Congrats.

Good for you for hsving the discipline to make testers first and realizing where tweaks will creat better fit.

 

By now I would be cutting up the fun stuff for the real deals. You don't want to forget what you did and need to do :)

I always make notes on the instructions of all the pattern adjustments from the tester. If I ever lose the pattern pieces, I can reprint and cut to the specifications I noted. :)

Lisa

The tester of the bikini bottoms are done! I put on the whole bikini and went into the shower for the water test. The fit is great wet and dry. The one thing I am tweaking is reducing the leg elastic 1 inch. It's not too loose now, but I want it a tiny bit snugger in the back going towards the crotch seam.

Now the big decision is do I start a tester of the swim shirt/rash guard or start making bikinis? I am leaning towards the bikinis and start the shirts later.

Oh, I am getting much better with pattern placement and maximizing my fabric.

Lisa

OMG, I am in heaven!!!!! I have unboxed, setup, and started playing with scrap fabric. It sews like a dream! I should have bought this a year ago.

I am watching videos on the YouTube channel sewingmastery.com

Lisa

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My new Brother sewing machine arrived on Sunday. Unfortunately, I spent the entire day at the hospital with my mom. It was also her birthday, so a sucky day all around. Good news is she is finally back home and, fingers crossed, I get to play with the new machine today. I am so ready to break open the box and try it out.

For our new sewer, arcone, Welcome to the Group! My best advice is start with basic/easy patterns and go from there. I create a tester piece for every new pattern I make. Basically, use fabric that I will not be heartbroken if it does not fit. Once I get the pattern sizing down, then I am cutting the fabrics I love. I am completely self taught, never took a sewing class, and found that YouTube is a phenomenal resource. From how to use your specific sewing machine, to technique, fabric differences, etc., YouTube is your friend. There are also great websites and blogs out there too. I love the blog for Patterns for Pirates. They address both knits and wovens in the blogs, and sell PDF patterns. Good look with sewing and please post pictures and questions. We are a very supportive and helpful group with a vast array of knowledge and experience.

Lisa

I am struggling with T shirt fabric so the opposite to you. Btw just spent the morning packing for a cruise!

 

 

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Have fun on your cruise! For knits make sure you are using a ball point or a stretch needle. Universal does not work well with knits.

Lisa

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Wow sewing a bikini! I haven’t even mastered darts yet!

 

 

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I am totally impressed that you sew wovens. I am a 100% knit sewer and do not venture into the scary land of non-stretch fabrics. I started making all my workout gear for rowing 4 years ago, and then started making skirts, tops, and pj's. The basic bikini is the toughest skill level garment I have made so far and I am really happy with the results.

Lisa

It looks fabulous Niki!

I am working on the bikini bottom again today. The big thing is figuring out the length for the elastic for the legs. First attempt was too tight.

I also ordered a new sewing machine that will arrive tomorrow. It’s the Brother CS6000i sewing and quilting machine. I decided that it’s time to upgrade and get more features than my old one has. So today is all the serging and tomorrow the new machine arrives for all the finishing. Will test first.

Lisa

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One top done!!!! I love the fit, but will bring the neckline up a bit. I found super power mesh at JoAnn’s today, so the next one will have a panel of that.

I may add a flounce to one of the future tops.

Lisa

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I am learning a bunch working on swimwear. I didn't understand the instructions for attaching the lining, but just thought it out and did it. I should be able to finish the top today and then I am cutting another bottom and practicing the leg elastic one more time. After that, I will make pattern adjustments to the top. The fit is good, but I want more coverage since I am an F cup...more coverage is always better. I think by tomorrow I can start on the prototype of the swim top/rash guard.

Walt's impressed, but is wondering if I will get all the swimwear made by our cruise. We leave December 7th, so I am pretty sure I can get this done. :)

Lisa

I made some more progress this afternoon...

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The clips are awesome and so much easier than dealing with pins. No more stabbing my fingers. :)

Lisa

I started working on the bikini top today. It is coming along, but I may need to bring the neckline up a bit and go up a cup size for the next one. I will make those decisions when this one is done.

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Lisa,

 

It is great to hear that you are sewing today. I can't wait to see your swimsuit. I am still working on the wide leg pants. I got the front pieces cut. I just take too long on matching up the print. (Plus I was under the weather too). Today I will cut out the rest. To match my seam (especially the side seam, if a straight on) I use this method. http://sewaholic.net/how-to-match-prints-along-seams/

 

One question for you. To post pictures, what photo web site do you use?

I am taking pictures with my iPhone and then posting the pictures by using the cruise critic app. I found that it is easier to post pictures this way than dealing with a 3rd party site.

I finished the tester bottoms and it's a great fit for the most part. I need to use a little more elastic for the leg holes, but other than that it's perfect. I learned a bunch about sewing in a lining. Next time I will baste it to the outer layer before adding the elastic. Swim fabric is slippery.

Lisa

Today I am sewing! Other than running out to lunch, all I am doing today is sewing swimwear!

Lining for the bottoms is done and they fit!!!

Lisa

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Lisa, Happy to see you back on this thread and back to sewing. Glad to see that you got your parent settled in by you. It is easier to have them live close to you that for you having to travel to them when help is needed.

 

I have never made swimwear. So I have to ask, what is a rash guard on a swim suit?

 

Right now I am making pants. I wear pants a lot on a cruise. But I plant to branch out and try to make some simple dresses.

A rash guard is a swim shirt to wear over your bathing suit. I burn easily, so I wear one when snorkeling. They can be short sleeve or long sleeve. I have seen some that are cropped and show the mid drift, but I don’t understand the point of that.

Lisa

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WooHoo! Good for you, Lisa. I am having the worst time with fit right now and not sure how to approach my learning curve, so I admire your ambitions! Please share your experiences along the way.

 

~Pam

I learned a bunch from YouTube on fit and grading patterns. The swim bottoms I had to grade out for the leg opening and it is pretty simple once you know how. I have big thighs from rowing, so I was not surprised that my thigh measurement is a size bigger than my waist and hips. The biggest thing for fit is to make sure you are properly measuring yourself and then measure again and again. I measure myself before every project just in case something has changed.

Other ways to ensure fit is to lengthen or shorten a pattern. I am 5'11", so I have to lengthen every pattern. On the swimwear project I will be lengthening something on every piece. Bottoms will receive and additional inch to the rise, bikini top will have longer straps, and the rash guard will receive additional length in the torso and sleeves. The pattern is a starting point, and from there everything can be adjusted.

Most of all, just have fun with sewing. Start with simple patterns and build up from there. There is a learning curve and I am still learning. I tend to stick with easy to medium skill level patterns in order to keep my sanity.

Lisa

I took some time off from sewing due to my parents moving from Texas to Tennessee. They wanted to live near Walt and me, so the last 6 months have been a little crazy between selling the house, finding senior living here, doctors, etc. Now that they are all settled in, I can get back to my sewing.

The project that I am starting this weekend is SWIMWEAR!!! After years of frustration searching for swimwear and rash guards that work for me, I decided I am better off making my own. LA Finch Fabrics had 3 swim prints on their end of bolt sale, so I was able to buy 4 yards of each at $20 per cut. Patterns are from Patterns for Pirates (online pdf): Siren Swim Top, Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms, and Slim Fit Raglan for the rash guard. I like bikinis, so this works for me and I love the idea of a matching rash guard. 4 yards is way more fabric than I need, but the end of bolt is pre-determined yardage, so i will find something to do with the excess.

This weekend will be a bunch of taping the pages together and then cutting out patterns. I have excess spandex from other projects, so will make a test one out of that stuff. I learned a long time ago, do not use the fabric you love on a new pattern. Figure out the fit and sizing, then use the good stuff.

Our cruise is not until December, so I have plenty of time to make all of this. :)

Lisa

Great blog, Lisa! You've given me some new ideas on what to do on next year's cruise (same itinerary). I'm all in for the beer but not the zipline. ;p

 

 

 

I'm anxiously awaiting the next episode.

Thanks! There are more posts to come. At SeaTac updating the Facebook page now. I wrote the posts on the ship and will update the blog g this week. This is a fantastic itinerary! Also check out Crews News website. I acquired a bunch of great info there.

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All aboard in Homer was 6:30pm. We are debarking in Seattle today from the Zaandam.

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Thanks Everyone! I am very excited for this cruise. We are flying to Seattle on Friday for a few days pre-cruise. :D

:DLisa

We were assigned our cabin today. We are in a vista suite 6205 (vista suite guaranty) on the Zaandam. Cabins above us and the Kings Room below. It is a fantastic location that is close to the aft public deck. I am doing my happy dance.!!! :hearteyes:

Lisa

For the Zaandam July 2nd sailing we initially booked an HH partially obstructed ocean view and I picked my cabin. A few weeks ago the Vista suite guaranty was the same price that I paid for my HH. I looked at the deck plans and decided that I would be fine with the less desirable locations. So, we took the guaranty. I should know our cabin assignment in two weeks. :)For a 14 day Alaska cruise I felt a balcony would be awesome and this was the only way I could afford it.

Lisa

Thank you Roger for taking the time to do the live report and posting so much information on your website! We board in less than 4 weeks and your information has been a huge help to Walt and me.

Lisa