Marica Mitchell

Happy Wednesday LOVES!! Can’t believe we are in August, my birthday month!  Am I excited, HELL NO!! I guess I have NOT been feeling the birthday vibes this year.  It seems the older I get, the less I care about birthdays. On a positive NOTE, I am learning more and more about FIT with each make and I am seeing what works and what does NOT!!  I have two of Gertie’s Butterick patterns 6556 and 6453 but was always hesitant to sew them up. Now that I am understanding how to interpret patterns, I am going all in, NO MORE FEAR! I love this Butterick 6453 pattern except there are a couple of things that I will change for the next time I sew it.  I had the larger size and realized it too late (14-22) so I could NOT grade it at all.  I know a 12 would have given me a better fit for a woven with no stretch but I definitely will be making some changes even if I cut a different size.  I had to take this in quite a bit on the side seams after inserting the zipper and definitely will work on a few other changes to the bodice. Here are the changes I plan to make next time to the BODICE: 1. Cut a size 10 for sure and slightly grade it to the 12 waist if I use a sateen fabric (stretch). 2. Raise the arm-hole by 1/2 inch. (Remember to always modify the facing as well.) 3. Pinch in the princess seam by 1/4 of an inch for no gaping at the side if need be.  For a WOVEN with NO stretch, possibly do a small (1/2 inch) FBA.  It is NOT as noticeable but I personal feel the fit would be a little better around the bust area. 4. NO TIE STRAPS! 5. LINE the bodice entirely if I use a woven fabric! I definitely will make a muslin for a SATEEN Fabric for sure. I DID NOT MATCH THE FLOWER on the side seam SO THAT THE PRINT was balanced all around. The layout of the flower was angled and this really tried my patience. CUTTING THE SKIRT GAVE ME A HEADACHE more than the bodice ROCKING a petticoat  found on amazon (here). Since this is my first time making this pattern, I created a wearable muslin as I do  NOT like to waste my time and make muslins.  I will be rocking this to work with a cardigan over it and will get much wear this fall. In addition, I plan to use a sateen fabric and make the pencil skirt version so for sure I will have to make a MUSLIN. Thanks so much for stopping by. I will be taking a few days off to sew up a few projects for work before planning my fall makes.  Can’t believe I only have 2 more weeks left! One LOVE, MARICA

Happy Monday LOVES!! I swear these last 2 months I have been in SEWING overdrive!!!! Honestly, my goal this summer was NOT to tutor or look at a Math problem, but to focus on my workout routine and improving my craft – sewing.  I personally DO NOT monetize my blog so I am NOT earning any income for sharing my personal thoughts, reviews or feedback.  This is a hobby that I truly enjoy and my monthly Fabric Mart posts have helped me become better each month.  Just in case you missed last month, here is the link! NOW Let’s cut to the chase! I was very intimidated at first by Simplicity 8642 but I FELL in love with the sleeves of VIEW A!  I grabbed this pattern immediately after it was released and knew I wanted to create either VIEW A or B for summer.  After reading the instructions it went right back in the envelope and I figured it would be on the back burner with the amount of work needed just for the sleeves. When Monica selected the pattern, I knew I had to get over my fear and suck it up.  This sleeve is NO joke and it really tried my patience.  It literally took me 2 long hours to do the first sleeve.   Now mind you, I had to grab the seam ripper as I did NOT clip it first and did NOT READ the instruction carefully so that sleeve did NOT drape.  Next was the hemming!!  After my first battle with the curves, I went in my stash for the bias tape. I promise you, I refuse to work on a top that did NOT finish correctly.  Mind you, the main reason why I started to sew was the clothing that I was buying was ill-fitting and looked like it was sewn together in a dark room in China.  I decided even if I had to recut a new sleeve, I would ensure it was done based on the instructions and the fit was on point.  After 4 long days of sewing a little each day, I was HAPPY and LOVED THE FINAL FIT!! P.S. I ALWAYS try my garment at every point, before inserting sleeves, when I insert 1 sleeve etc.  I also ensure that the darts are right, the fit is to my taste before I do the final SERGE! I was blessed with some great Ankara straight from Nigeria this summer and I can’t wait to share my makes with them.  This fabric is a beauty and my daughter Arielle begged for a top after seeing mine. The pattern I used for Arielle’s top was McCalls M7563 size XS. Thanks so much for stopping by and can’t wait to see what pattern Monica will challenge us with for August  “sew-your-view”.  (Check out the beautiful ladies on Instagram here with their views.) Have a WONDERFUL WEEK! One Love, Marica

Happy Friday Loves! It’s been one of those days where I lost my shoot mojo.  I was surely not in the mood to shoot the dress but my daughter surely got me out of the house to practice her photography skills.  Lately, my son does NOT enjoy shooting even though he will take 15 amazing shots in just 5 minutes.  On the other hand, my daughter has to take triple the amount of shots to get it right. Yesterday Arielle saw the lighting from an angle at the park and rushed me over to the corner.  She said mommy, you will look “GOLDEN” here which is moreover the “golden hour” time.  It was around 6pm and the sun was about to set.  The temperature of the light was perfect and would give me that perfect glow.  The color of the dress may be a bit lighter but I love the golden skin tone. The original plan for this dress was a maxi tier dress inspired by Tabitha Sewer and Brittany Jones but when I tried it on, I went with plan B, a midi dress.  The bodice I used was Mccall’s M7632 view D bodice.  I have created the entire look before using View C and loved the fit.  This denim top was saved after the failed cropped pants. To create the skirt, I cut 3 panels; 1 front piece (Width = 40 inches,  Length = 38 inches) and 2 back pieces (Width 22 inches, Length 38 inches) and then gathered it lining up the seams. Being a tall girl (5ft 10 inches), maxi dresses always worked for me but this MIDI length was oh so perfect and I loved it.  The hem (2 inches) kept it right below my calf which is a modest look! I opted to finish the lining using a sewing method for shirt yoke which is the burrito method. This method is typically used for making button shirts that I saw on #sewitacademy from Mimi G and I loved it.  It surely gives the inside of the dress a clean finish and I will practice this until I get it right with the zipper. It worked for this type of bodice hiding all the raw edges and I am so happy with it. My only issue was the zipper as I am not  a fan of invisible zipper as I always have to remove them as they get stuck or broken.  I opted to use a regular zipper and attempted to hide the teeth but it was not quite perfect.  Oh well, life goes on and I need to practice more with my this type of zipper installation. I am truly in love with the overall FIT of the dress.  This summer, I am learning my body and playing with adjustments that work.  For this dress, I opted to cut a size 12 above the bust area and grade from under the bust to the waist between the 12 and 14.  I did a fit before installing the zipper and wanted an inch more room for food and bloated days so I sewed from the side notches down at 3/8 seam allowance.  Personally, it was not necessary as it seemed I measured when I was very bloated and now I have more than the extra inch.  After shooting, I noticed even more room but I am still OK with it. I plan to make 2 looks for my birthday and cannot wait to share!  I will be in hiding for the next few days working on my Fabric Mart post for next week and another look so stay tuned for that.  I am really excited about my upcoming post next Saturday on Fabric Mart and cannot wait to share. Thanks for stopping by and have a Fantastic FRIDAY!

Happy 4th of July ALL!!! Can I say I am so excited as my birthday is 1 month away!!!!  Yes, 4th of July is my official countdown to my birthday even though I have never planned a party or truly celebrated it.  I always make big plans and at the last minute, change it, or cancel. Last year 2 weeks prior to my birthday I got so sick that I did NOT even celebrate the big “4 0”.  This year, I plan to just HIDE away, disconnect from all social media and relax for the entire weekend. Let’s get to the point!! Last week I started to sew a few maxi skirts for a friend (long overdue) so I opted to make my life very easy.  I decided to sew a few skirts with 1 seam try the elastic casing method and see how it worked.  My first attempt at stitching the elastic down was a headache so I decided to try another method which is absolutely perfect. For this method, you can use a combination of elastic sizes. Here is my personal suggestion based on trial and error on what type of elastic to use based on your waist measurement.  I PERSONALLY ONLY use NON-roll elastic as seen here. Waist measurement between 25 to 29 inches about 1 yard of knit fabric or 1.5 times your hip measurement divided by 36 to determine the amount of fabric needed. 1 row of 5/8 inch elastic (TOP) 1 row of 1 inch elastic (BOTTOM) CUT ELASTIC 3-4 INCHES SMALLER THAN YOUR WAIST MEASUREMENT Waist measurement between 30 to 39 inches at least 1 yard to 1.5 yards  or 1.5 times your hip measurement divided by 36 to determine the amount of fabric needed. 1 row of 1 inch elastic at top 1 row of 1.25 inch elastic at the bottom CUT THE ELASTIC 4-5 INCHES SMALLER THAN YOUR WAIST MEASUREMENT Waist measurement greater than 39 inches 1.5 to 2 yards of fabric or  1.5 times your hip measurement  divided by 36 to determine the amount of fabric needed. 1 row of 1.25 inches at the top 1 row of 1.5 inches at the bottom CUT THE ELASTIC 5-6 INCHES SMALLER THAN YOUR WAIST MEASUREMENT. THIS CAN ALSO BE USED FOR ELASTIC WAIST PANTS AS WELL! I personally feel that varying the sizes based on your waist measurement will give you a better support.  For the most part, I have tried these variations on 4 different waist measurements and I have can attest that it works.  Also if you are sewing with KNIT or a fabric with 4 way stretch, your casing can be about 1/4 inch smaller than the width of the elastic. The fabric that I used was a rayon/lycra stretch PRE-CUT deal from Fabric Mart for $4.80 in March.  Here are a few that I love as well available on Fabric Mart.  There is a 50% sale today so do NOT miss out. 1. Black and white    2. Animal Print  3. Tie Dye Here are some tips!!! 1. Create your casing based on the total amount of elastic (2 rows) for your waist measurement. For example, my waist is exactly 30 inches so my casing with KNIT fabric only was 2.25 inches.  For both rows, the elastic casing was 1/4 inches smaller than the width of the elastic.  Remember that certain knit fabric has 4-way stretch and the elastic will be tightly secured and will NOT roll of if it does, very minimal. 2. Stitch as close to the serger thread.  Do NOT forget to leave an opening to run the elastic. 3. CUT both elastic 3 to 6 inches less than your waist measurement based on the above guide. 4. Stitch between both casing and DO NOT forget to leave the opening for both (DO NOT STITCH STRAIGHT THROUGH FOR THE TOP). 3. Insert the TOP row of elastic casing first, then do the bottom row. 4  OVERLAP  by 1/2 inch using a flat method and stitch the elastic together after you run it through. ENSURE the elastic is NOT TWISTED and lays flat all around! 5. Close off the casing for both the TOP and BOTTOM. Here is a tutorial that I found so useful when I made my first elastic waist skirt.  Be sure to share any feedback or photos with your make. Thank you so much for stopping by and hope this helps a lot!!  Questions? Feel free to send a direct message via Instagram! Be safe and have a wonderful 4th of July with your family and friends! Comment below if you would like for me to share my paper bag method using woven fabric. ONE LOVE!! Marica

Happy Sunday Loves! Can you believe half of the year is over? I was shocked to see my local Joann getting their holiday (Christmas) fabric in and it is NOT even August yet.  I am excited about the month of July as my birthday is right around the corner. Let’s get to the point… So when I saw this McCall’s pattern M7752  for Pretty Girls Sew Along, I knew I had to attempt to create it as it was one of my to makes for summer.  I always wanted to learn how to make a top similar and was too scared to try.  I did NOT realize what an easy sew it was, however, there are many pattern pieces that will frustrate the heck out of you.  Be sure to label and mark every single pieces to make your life easier. For size, I decided to cut between the 12 and 14 as my bust measurement fell between the 2 sizes.  In addition, I did use a flat boning similar here that I purchased at hobby lobby which I love.  There is 1 minor mistake with pattern pieces as well.  #11 was numbered as 10 and vice versa.  For the most part, since I am a visual learner, I always look at the picture and match up the pieces before even cutting.  Thanks to my sew sister Johanna for pointing this out. The only struggle for me where I had to use the seam ripper is in the midriff area.  I actually did NOT read the instructions carefully at first and realized that the seam in the CENTER BUST area must be opened at least 3/4 inch and the midriff must be laid flat. I opted to sew from the center to the left and then from the center to the right which fixed the issue. I AM IN LOVE with this top and plan to make another (in a solid) before the end of the summer.  Even though it took longer to cut than sew trying to match these pieces together, I have no regrets with the fabric choice. I had this leftover fabric which was NOT enough for anything as it was almost 4 yards but only 16 inches wide.  When I laid it out and realize it was enough for the main pattern piece, I was in heaven. I opted to line in PINK and use a regular zipper and I loved the way it turned out. Thank you so much for stopping by and as always, have a WONDERFUL and BLESSED WEEK! Don’t forget to check out my other looks on the blog as well. ONE LOVE, Marica

Happy Wednesday Loves! This summer has been off to a great start and I am happy to say that I honestly love being a stay at home mom 🙂 (only 10 weeks).  I have been trying to keep my mind and hands super busy this June as it is one of the toughest months for me.  In 2011, my dad passed away suddenly with no warning a week after Father’s day and 5 days before his 65th birthday.  For years I would swaddle in grief for the entire month of June but after spending MOST of Father’s day in BED mad at the world and asking God why me, I decided to pull myself together Monday and reflect on his memories instead of drowning in my sorrows. If you know me, I was and will forever be a daddy’s girl!  We would talk for HOURS every day and would call each other at least 1 to 3 times a day.  He was my biggest cheerleader and I know he is proud of me. ENOUGH!! Let’s get to the chase!!!! I am in love with this McCalls pattern M7789 EXCEPT it’s a jumpsuit.  When Monica posted it for the July #sewyourview, I knew it was a MUST make for summer.  I bought the pattern to hack the pants and I did just that.  I wanted to create a “FAKE” looking jumpsuit as I know for sure I would get WAY more wear out of it.  I had the perfect fabric in my stash which is a lightweight polyester fabric from Fabricmart pre-cut deals for $3.  I had plans to make a maxi dress but when I saw this pattern I knew the fabric was perfect. I had to make a few modifications to the top as the front tie was way too short for the boobs and my taste. I extended it about 1.5 inches and then used my curve ruler to connect it for a longer tie front.  In addition, I snipped about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the sides of the top and evened out the back. As for the pants, I kept the width measurement of the waistband and made the back an elastic waist with 3 rows of 1 inch elastic as this girl is on a mission to drop a few inches before my birthday and still want it to fit. I also had to make adjustments to the front rise by 1/2 inch and the back by 1 inch.  Even though these adjustments may have not been necessary, I wanted to make sure I had the best fit with no pulling. Common pants fit issues that you may find handy for  my body type here or the common ones here.) I honestly love how both pieces came together and will definitely make the top again with slight modifications.  This orange rayon fabric is from Hobby Lobby and is extremely flowy and does not hold well without interface.  I added interface to the back for a more sturdy fit but did not think of adding it to the front. If you are looking for a similar pants pattern, check out M7131 and my crop pants here.  I plan to make this again in denim soon before I head back to school. What are your thoughts about the fake jumpsuit? Definitely a WIN for me!  As always, thanks for stopping by and stay tune for more summer looks on the blog! Marica

Happy Monday Loves! I am officially on SUMMER BREAK  for 9 more weeks and I am so ecstatic.  This school year has had its ups and downs and I was counting down the minute to break.  The great news is my students exceeded my expectations and I had the HIGHEST proficiency rate in the entire school.  YES, I almost doubled the proficiency rate (45% to 82% – overall for the grade is 74%), 100% pass rate for Geometry 4 years in a row and 91% of GRADE 7 (159 STUDENTS taught) MADE growth. This past year I have had so many challenges and YET it has been my best year of teaching.  I have been on CLOUD 9 since last Thursday and can’t wait to celebrate this weekend! I made these 2 tops in preparation for summer using McCalls M7779 a few weeks ago and I love them both and plan to make version 3. I was amazed by the fit and the darts in the bust line which laid perfect on my body. For the first version (left), I did NOT make any modifications to the pattern and after trying it on, I knew I needed to adjust the front neckline with the second.  I had a similar top with the perfect neckline and used it as a guide to make the modifications. Modifications MUST ALSO BE MADE to the FACING! STEP 1: Add paper under the pattern piece and extend the LEFT side 1 inch. STEP 2:  Mark 1 to 1.25 inch from top right down. (Based on your taste) STEP 3: Connect the NOTCH for the arm area and neck area with a curve ruler. STEP 4: REPEAT STEP 1 to 3 ON THE FACING. The minor tweaks made a huge difference with comfort which is super important for me.  I honestly love this pattern and plan to make it again in WHITE! Rocked it to a graduation party with the LINEN pants I made a few months ago for my monthly Fabric Mart here. Thanks so much for stopping by and don’t forget to check out my latest blogpost on Fabricmart here! Stay tuned for more reviews of CUTE summer top patterns! One LOVE, Marica

Happy Friday loves! I have been a slacker these last 2 months with blogging but I promise that I will do much better this summer with my PERSONAL blog.  We are officially on SUMMER BREAK and I am super excited as I will have so much time to sew, relax, rejuvenate, travel a little and do ME! YES, summer breaks are needed for both students and educators to re-energize for a new school year.  One goal this summer is to ensure that I make more Mommy and me closet staple pieces.  Arielle and I love simple pieces that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. My daughter fell in love with this botanical print the minute it arrived and I knew for sure it would be OH so perfect for summer tops.  Fibers to Fabric carries an amazing array of high-quality Indian cotton which is perfect for summer sewing projects.  I am in love with this Violette Fields Olive tween top and dress pattern and knew the fabric was just right.  At first, my goal was to make a reversible top but I opted to use the other fabric to make an Ogden cami by True Bias for me. I know for sure that I will be ordering more cotton fabrics as the prints are unique and the fiber is of great quality. Thanks so much for stopping and be sure to check out the array of cotton fabrics and trimming that Fibers to Fabric carries! One Love, Marica

TGIF – Happy Friday loves! I am so excited to share more details about our Sewcation event planned for this summer.  We hope you can join in on this amazing event in Miami, Florida where you will unwind, learn a skill, share ideas and just have a good ole time. I have been sewing in my own little sewing corner for the last 4 years and wish I had a group in my city where we can meet ups, share ideas and learn.  This event will be a great way to connect and learn from each other.  We have created a PRIVATE event using eventbrite to register and secure your space.  This fee is NON-refundable as we will be securing transportation to and from the hotel for the excursions and will use the remaining to ensure that you have a goodie bag.  We will also be requesting sponsorship from fabric stores, notions suppliers and pattern companies. We are ready to KICK off and will be creating a FACEBOOK group in addition to an Instagram page.  Please follow all the ladies who are planning and be sure to send a DM or email with any questions that you may have.  An eventbrite private invitation has been created and can be shared with other sewist who may attend.  PLEASE REGISTER ASAP to secure your spot. LINK TO FAQ PAGE: (READ carefully as most of your questions may be answered here) PREVIOUS BLOGPOST! FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM HERE! CHECK OUT THE FAQ PAGE HERE! LINK TO EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION HERE! Meet the other planning team members and be sure to subscribe and follow their blogs and instagram pages. Johanna Blog: https://www.soveryjo.com/ Instagram: soveryjo Carla Blog: https://www.sewingmystyle.com Instagram: sewingmystyle Don’t forget to follow all the ladies on the planning team and send us a DM with any suggestions, ideas or what you would like to learn at the sewcation.  Tag a friend or 2 on the instagram posts, share the BLOGPOST LINK and gear up for an amazing time. Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to REGISTER as LIMITED space is available.  You don’t want to miss out an the giveaway for all registered participants. One Love, Marica

Sewcation 2018 Date: July 26 – 29 (Thurs-Sun) Cost: $50 participant fee per person (including Miami residents) – Eventbrite Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sewcation-2018-tickets-45022008038 Location: Atton Hotel – Brickell FL 1550 SW I Avenue  Miami FL  (786)725-3214 Hotel Cost: $149 per night, plus taxes – double occupancy – breakfast included for two nights Why do I have to pay the $50 to participate?The $50 per person will secure your participation so that we can commit to a number of hotel rooms, and pay for incidental expenses including: shuttle service to/from fabric store field trip and meeting room expenses. I live in the Miami FL area, can I pay the $50 fee and NOT stay in the hotel? YES!  Only limited tickets willl be available. Must I book the hotel for double occupancy? Yes – feel free to let us know if you want an introduction to someone to room with.  If you want to book for single occupancy, just let the hotel know when you book. How do I book the hotel and airfare? You will receive information to book your hotel directly with our group rate for the event.  You are responsible for your transportation however to get to Miami. Will the hotel allow me to pay the group rate before Thursday and after Sunday? Yes – just let the hotel know if you need to come in early or stay later when you book. Will transportation be provided from the airport to the hotel? Your transportation to/from the airport is your responsibility.  You can connect with other participants to share rides.  If you fly into the Fort Lauderdale airport, try to connect with other participants that will do the same to share a ride to Miami.   Suggestion: coming into Fort Lauderdale before 3pm to give you time to travel and get to the hotel in a comfortable time.  In addition, the hotel is closer to the Miami International Airport, however, if you plan to rent a car, please note that there is a fee to park at the hotel. Do I have to be a sewist to participate? No, please join us if you craft in any way.  We would love to learn from you and we’d love to share.  This event is great for any sewing level especially a beginner. How do I share information about the Sewcation with others? The Sewcation is an invitation-only event and not public.  Feel free to share with your sewing network and let them know the same.   Share the Instagram page that will be created, the Facebook page, give them the link to the Eventbrite to register.  We will be collecting email and phone contact information to keep a running list of Sewcation friends. Do I have to bring my own sewing machine/tools? Yes, bring your own sewing machine and supplies to participate in the sewing days.  We will be sewing Friday and Saturday mornings until 12noon.  We will set up in a conference room set up with tables and chairs and breakfast/coffee/snacks.   Bring your own sewing supplies.  You will receive information about the Sewcation Wear and learn what supplies you will need. How to I travel with my sewing machine? We suggest you get a case for your machine (similar to a roller bag suitcase)…some are sold in Joann’s or Walmart.  Simple to load with a machine and tools – EXCEPT SCISSORS.  YOU MUST PACK YOUR SCISSORS IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE.  YOU DO NOT WANT TSA TO TAKE YOUR SCISSORS. What is the deadline to pay the participation fee? May 20, 2018.  The deadline may be extended. What is the deadline to book my hotel room? July 1, 2018 Will the event be cancelled if a hurricane is forecasted? Yes, and a rain date will be announced. Am I expected to post my pictures/activity on my social media? We will be asking all participants to post pics and activity on social media to provide sponsorships exposure for participating in Sewcation 2018.  We will let everyone know what sponsors to include their posts. What are the hastags to use in social media posts? #sewcation2018  #sewingvacation #attonhotel #sewistofinstagram #sewcationwear #sewcationmiami

Happy Monday! It’s the second day of April and I am so excited to share with you my first quarter makes in 2018.  I am so estactic and for the most part satisfied with the makes for the first 3 months and the sewing skills I have gained.  I have come a looooong way as for the first 3 years of sewing, most of the items that I created were skirts, skirts and more skirts.  I pretty much have mastered every skirt you can possibly make.  Just a little less than a year ago (May 2017) I started working with commercial patterns. This top was my first successful commercial McCall’s pattern 7573 creation without using a tutorial or getting help.  Even though I had over 80 in my stash I was terrified to attempt  even the EASY sew pattern. NOW, I will grab any Big 4 Commercial pattern and start googling techniques and take the risk. I have had a few challenges along the way but overall I am so happy with what I have made thus far.  in the process of making another pair of jeans, the zipper broke and that was thrown to the side.  I still haven’t decided if I want to redo the entire zipper, start on a next pair, or simple put it on the back burner.  2018 is the year of learning and growth and I am alway up for a great challenge. My first successful make was my maxi dress for my Fabric Mart blog post (here) using Simplicity pattern 8124 which I hacked.  I was very happy with the results as the pattern was an easy sew and any beginner can create it. Up next was my sew your view with Monica (thatsewmonica) for the January challenge.  Who doesn’t love a great gym set?  The pattern used was McCalls 7482 and I had so much fun making it.  My fabric was found at a local store and I was NOT disappointed in the least. Will I make this again? Maybe! I am not a fan of spending time making items  that I can purchase which is way cheaper than the price of the fabric to make it.  I can find me a good tights and top at Ross for under $20 and this fabric ran close to $15 a yard. If you know me, I am notorious for shopping on a budget when it comes to fabric so GYM wear won’t be on regular rotation for me unless I find some great deals on fabric. After creating my GYM wear, I wanted to make one of the new Pre-Spring McCalls pattern (7722) and create a versatile top.  Working and lining up stripes is something I plan to master in 2018 and this project was perfect. This top was a quick Sunday morning sew and yes, I made this top to wear to church and got so many compliments.  Check out my blogpost here for all the details. The pattern that I have fell in love with the minute I saw it is the McCalls pre-spring top pattern 7723.  I knew I wanted to create a mommy and me look with this pattern as a mini version of a popular 2017 sleeve variation pattern was launched as well. MCCall’s is notorious for creating sleeve variation and Jackie the pattern designer did an amazing job.  I can truly say that the patterns that are launching are fashion forward and the pattern designers are keeping up with the trend. Check out my February Fabric Mart blog post here for more details. Mommy and me looks are always so much fun to create.  I truly enjoyed making this look and to top it off, it was both my sew your view and Fabric Mart post for the month of February. My mini Spring Capsule was a great pants learning experience.  I am still trying to understand the key changes on patterns and how to modify pants based on my hips, butt and waist proportion.  For every pants pattern, I have to modify the back pattern piece for my butt and grade the waist and hip for my curves to have a decent fit.  Learning more about pants FIT is a goal for 2018 and I plan to focus on creating pants that works for my BODY type. First up is this palazzo pants that I love so much.  The linen was easy to sew and the drape and feel worked out just right.  I modified Simplicity 8389 and created a PAPERBAG waist palazzo pants. This yummy marmalade linen fabric was under $5 as the New Year sale at Fabric Mart. So I took a quick break from my pants and created this amazing set mixing prints.  I loved the skirt and the top could have been altered slightly for a better fit. The pattern that I used for the top is Simplicity 8549.  Next time around, I will modify the center pattern piece and create a sweetheart neckline. Check out my blogpost here for more details. Immediately after making this set, I decided to work on my March blogpost for fabric mart.  YES another palazzo pants with this yummy linen.  I wanted to grab more but within a few days, it was sold out.  I took an elastic waist Simplicity palazzo pants pattern (8605) and modified it.  Well, this pattern came out just as I expected but definitely will make few changes next time around. Check out my Fabric Mart blogpost (here) for more deets and my inspiration for this creation.  The fit came out just right but for this paper bag Simplicity pattern that I hacked, modifications will be made the next time around as stated in the blogpost. MORE PANTS! YES! This crop pants using MIMI G  Simplicity 8558 pattern was a quick and easy sew.  The fabric and drape was oh so perfect to complete the 3 looks for my Spring Break capsule. I was super happy and minimal modifications were made. This pattern is perfect for curvy girls! CRUTCH, grading is just right and I plan to hack and create a palazoo pants next time. My final make was the paper bag pants with FRONT zipper for my March sew your view.  YES! I am happy to make it as this pattern has opened up my eyes to fit.  I will be making a few changes and will change a quick update for my April Fabric Mart blog post. Check my previous blogpost here for all the details on this look! Thank you so much for stopping by and I promise to make a few great pieces the next quarter!  I honestly want to focus on fit my daughter and I. So for the next few weeks, I will be taking a break or less stories from social media to create a mini SPRING capsule for her and at least 2 looks for my May projects.  I am super excited and can’t wait to share!  I have a few pattern hacks up my sleeves and I am ready to start on her projects.  I will definitely share what I made for my daughter via 2 blog post this month! STAY TUNE and as always, THANKS for stopping by!

Happy Wednesday Loves!!!! It seems that all I have been making lately are palazzo pants, crop pants and more pants.  My previous 2 makes have been palazzo pants for my Fabric Mart blogpost (here), and a crop pants using Mimi G Simplicity pattern. I was a bit hesitant to sew VIEW B of this paperbag pants from McCall’s (M7726) based on my body type as I knew I would have to make adjustments.  When Monica (Instagram: thatsewmonica) decided to select this pattern for March sew your view, I knew it was time to pull out the pattern and get to work.  It was icing on the cake when Monica collaborated with Brittany who makes amazing video tutorials. She did a sew with me video (HERE) and I did NOT even look at the pattern instructions. Based on the pattern, it would be difficult to grade the waist and hip on the pattern pieces as the pocket pieces are to the side and I did NOT want to venture into changing the entire construction of the pattern. Well, I am not 100% satisfied with these muslims as the waist is MUCH bigger than expected but best believe it, I plan to make it work.  I will be adjusting the waist by 3/4 inches on each side and adding belt loops before wearing it again.  I may even make a belt to go with it. Another concern for me is the excess fabric in the lower tummy area. A sew sister Laquana suggested that lengthening the pleats may help a bit.  I definitely will try this as well or lengthen the top stitching of the front pleats by 1/2 inch. I did NOT make a lot of modifications to the pattern pieces this time around but had a few aha moments.  I decided to taper the legs as I wanted a more fitted look.  I tapered from the knee on the pattern piece 1/2 inch on both side then after sewing it together, I noticed a little excess of fabric from the thighs down giving it a weird look.  I decided to taper it 2 inches below the pockets instead and remove an extra inch of fabric from the seams and that worked just perfect.  I also added an extra 2 inches to the length, 1 inch at the knee and 1 inch at the ankle. Well, the great news is that I paid $3 for 3 yards of this black cotton twill (less than the cost of muslin fabric)  at Fabric Mart end of line  and it came out way better than I expected.  The next time around if I do sew this pattern again, I will modify on the back pattern piece the waist area and crutch using the butt adjustments method to avoid pulling at the back.  This fabric has a little stretch and cutting the size 14 would have worked just fine. Well, stay tune for another pants as I plan to make a few more to learn more about FIT based on my body type.  I will definitely share all the modifications that I make to the pattern pieces. Thanks for stopping by and check back soon as I will share my makes of the first quarter of 2018 to  kick off the month of April. One LOVE! Marica