Pajamas Pattern Part 1

"I can teach you everything you want to learn." - Mastermind

This is where my mind went as she finished her sentence. Just a few examples of some things I would like to have. :D

I love dresses! This is a simple one that I just love. Its modest, well I would bring up the fabric farther in the front. The color pops so well against her skin and hair color. 

Okay, back to business. Mastermind laid down some rules for our lessons. We work on the pajamas together and I experiment with patterns and sewing at home. Woohoo! With a catch of course. My experiments have to reflect the concepts I have learned in our lessons and cannot get too complicated. 

I have this tendency to bite off more than I can chew and Mastermind does well at keeping me in check. :D 

Now that we have our fabric in hand we have to follow these steps to ensure success: 

1. Wash and dry your fabric. (Sounds silly but no one wants it to shrink after you spent the time creating a master piece.)

2. Iron the fabric. Every inch! No cheating people. We want the fabrics to 'set' back together and it will help make our measurements and cuts accurate. 

3. Have someone measure you. Here is a good guide to follow the directions and make sure you are standing straight up! http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-get-your-body-measurements.html 

4. Compare your measurements compared to the pattern. After Mastermind took my measurements we discovered that McCalls upped me to a size 14. *Serious scowl. (I'll rant about it later)

5. Cut out the pieces from your pattern that you need then iron them at medium heat. 

6. Pin your pieces together to try it to see how it fits against your body. We had to make some adjustments because I needed the width of a size 14 but I am only 5'4. :)

7. Make adjustments as needed based on where your curves are at. :) 

Trying it on.

That is as far as we got in an hour and a half but we had to make a lot of adjustments because I am short but curvy. Plus the waistline for the pattern goes to where your real waist is at and not at your hips where I like to wear my pants. 

Then we accidentally cut off too much from the top and had to go back and add onto it. It was fun but I learned A LOT! 

Soap Box Time

Now, I told you I would rant about this. ;) I thought that working with patterns would relieve me about the sizes I wear. On the contrary I'm not feeling any love from the fashion world for my size. I am 5 '4 and weigh 135 pounds. 

Not many woman are open about their weight but I don't care so much because I like the way I look. That is right! I LIKE THE WAY I LOOK! Am I considered overweight by the doctor, fashionistas, shallow men, and snarky women? Yup. But it's my body and I like it. :D

 I am a normal person and the truth is that everyone has curves, but they are in different places. The other problem is that we don't always know how to dress our curves because we see them dress only a few body types or bodies that have so little weight you can't find their curves. Bwahahahaha. :D 

So I will try not to pay attention to the sizes if you will to. :) What is my size then? Well . . . lets just go with gorgeous! ;) What's yours?

                                                                             By: Mrs. Feisty

Supplies

What's your pattern?
 (sounds like a pick up line. Ha ha ha ha.)

Now, I am not going to explain how I got everything for every project. However, this is our first project together so for those who are ignorant like myself we will discover this together!

I cannot stand a certain store in the area and they are very popular despite their dreadful service and lack of specific supplies for any one craft area. I will call it Mrs. Anne's for here.

In order to avoid Mrs. Anne's I went to a local store. Now what happens is that you sort through books with all sorts of clothes and on that page with the clothes you like there is a pattern number.

The pattern number is like a call no. for a book in the library. You write it down then sort through the patterns using the numbers. It is in bold on the right of our pattern in this picture. Once you find it flip if over to the sizing area.


Sizing

     I'm a size 8 in U.S. pants normally and so my first thought was that I am a size 8. STOP! Retail sizes and pattern sizes do not coincide. So I actually had to measure myself so that I knew what my real size was. Which works out great because if you are heavier at the top and not the bottom vice versa you can easily adjust the size of clothing.

     After my measurements I discovered I was a size 12 and tried to take no offense to what the pattern was telling me. I blame retail. I chose to do the A top and F bottoms. I underlined the yardage I would need to help me focus. *(Fabric bolts usually come in 45 or 60. The smallest in height is a 45 and the taller ones are a 60. It is not written or typed anywhere it is assumed that you have that knowledge when you go into the store. Just a warning.)

Fabric

     I was so excited for Batman! The store didn't have any of the real batman but the cartoon version that doesn't really stick to the real batman so I grabbed Star Wars.

      Please forgive me. :/ I did put in a request for Batman and other superhero fabrics that I could possibly use later on.

     I chose a regular cotton blend for the bottoms and a jersey fabric top. I am super excited to start sewing and now my hubby wants some made for him too. They had Darth Vader fabric there of all people! I might make him some from that pattern.

     Sadly, I wasn't able to coordinate with our master mind to start sewing and reading patterns so we will get that done this next week. Sorry guys I trying to be patient as well! :D



                                                                 - Mrs. Feisty

Welcome!

     I am just going to introduce myself so that you know what to expect from this blog. I grew up in the Northwest Pacific and ran from the rain to Rexburg, Idaho to study school. However that town was terribly dinky! I couldn't handle it. So we moved back to the wet and dreary Washington side. Alas, maybe we can escape to a better place but until then I get to study with Megan. :)


      I am a seamstress intern with Megan who is from my church. She is a MASTERMIND when it comes to clothes. She makes the most complicated pieces look easy to do. Hopefully I will gain her speed over time. :) I have been interning for only a few months with her and now she wants me to start working with patterns. So she said to start with some pajamas!

     Who wears those anyways? Just kidding! :D So Tuesday I will be going to the store to pick up the pattern and fabric. :) I am thinking something breathable and light weight. So I will post some pics about that later.

I'm thinking something like this would be AWESOME! I just hope the store has Batman fabric. :)