But I do like the jeans

Eh. It's ok. I over compensated and made it too big around the hips. The three quarter length sleeves look dumpy. I'm just too cute for this top.

But the worst part is whatever is going on under my arms. Those lumps are not illusions. Funny, but Debbie just had a similar problem with her Burda WOF tee. I plan to reread her post carefully and alter the tissue. I'm not feeling like altering this one.

My husband burst out laughing once when I'd said for the hundredth time in response to a wadder, "I'll just use it to garden and exercise in." I rarely do either, but it makes it seem ok to just move on.

My rib knit trim came out shabby, too. I was going to use clear elastic, but lost my nerve at the last minute. I couldn't get it right. I really wanted it to look like ready to wear, and it just doesn't. I lost my motivation when I could tell it wasn't coming out like I wanted. Instead of stopping and trying something else, I just kept thinking, "cover stitch machine, cover stitch machine." That didn't exactly help.

The trim looks better in the picture than in real life. It isn't that it looks bad; it just looks unique, which was not what I was going for.

And, yes, I made the jeans, and I like them. They are about four years old, have seams that are worn through to the next layer of fabric, and have a blown-out fly that's been hand repaired numerous times. They have belt loops, a back yoke, back patch pockets, two front pockets, a watch pocket, and a metal button. They are something good that once came out of a bad year.

Life is good.

I Want To See Sandra Betzina's Boobs

I've picked up my sewing room and have decided to finish my black knit top before I vacuum and dust, tackle the mending pile, or seriously organize in there. I'd rather get some sewing in to motivate me.

As I unearthed the top in the excavation, I discovered some poorly written notes, which led me to some long-ago photos. My memory has been joggled.

I took the time to do a real basted fitting, and what a good idea! For a pattern that boasts of Today's Fit for older women, the bust point seemed to expect a much younger woman in there!

I moved the bust point down 1 3/4 inches! This created a problem. If you think of the upper left circle as a hinge and slip down the bust point, it swings out the lower left circle out past the available seam allowance. I had already cut my fabric. Oh well, live and learn.

Once that dart is sewn, it is obvious that the needed seam allowance does not exist. To compensate, the top got a bit slimmer down the side seams.

For comparison, this is the original dart, which had plenty of seam allowance.

So, first on my list of alterations: literally cut and swing out that bust dart and redraw the tissue.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race... or, um, maybe not so much

My over-scheduled fall has ended, and my new commitment to my sewing is about to begin. My first task is to fix this little problem:

My sewing room is a disaster! This picture cracked me up. Notice the back of the dresser? That's because I pulled it out one day to plug something in, and I actually believed that I was so busy, I did not have time to push it back against the wall! OK, maybe it isn't all busy-ness; maybe some of it is lazy-ness!