Friday, February 22, 2013

I made a blimp!!



Really, that's what this thing is called. Its a sound dampening cover for a 16mm Bolex film camera. This is a pretty Old School camera and it's loud. It needs to be shrouded in sound proof material so external mics can't hear it.
It has openings for the tripod boot, the eyepiece and the lens. There's elastic to snug it around the lens. I put a zipper in it for easy on, easy off that can be left partially open to access the handle. The motor makes the camera somewhat asymmetrical so I did an FBA on one side to accommodate the motor.
If you need one of these too, please write your name on the back of a $100 bill and your address on another and send them to me. I'll get started right away!
Happy Birthday to my favorite filmmaker, Paul!!!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Isn't this a pretty color?



That's about the only nice thing I can say about this top (Vogue 8790). Its a shame how this pattern turned out because when I tried it on before I put the sleeves in and thought "Wow! This is looking great!" It must have been the late hour, the dim light or the wine that caused temporary blindness because the next day when I finished it, well...
I admit I've got some lumps, but I do not have a weird pointy roll where my waist belongs! 

And what about the way the hem sticks out? Is that where my teeny tiny hips are supposed to go?

I admit the problem with the hem is my fault for shortening it too close to the ruched part. I think this could be really cute on a paper doll (like on the pattern envelope), but it and my girls are just not getting along! I also don't like how low the armholes are and how full the sleeves are. Arranging the drapes over the Alps is a problem. I have to push the inside drape down under my bust (like the outside one) which means two bunched up layers over the abdomen. And who would want that?

The biggest problem is that I should have done an FBA on it, but didn't.
Oh well. They can't all be winners!

Monday, February 11, 2013

OMG! Look at these pants!

I'm really happy with them. Its the Vogue 1294 pattern again, but this time I was completely fearless in fitting the side seams. In fact, even though I said I wouldn't, I am going to take in the side seams of the last pair too. I cut this pair a size smaller and still ended up with 1.25 inch seam allowances on the sides!




Both this pair and the previous one are in a stretch denim. I took a little bit more off the back inseam and other than that, the only differnce is the fitting on the side seams. I admit I learned a lot from the Palmer/Pletsch pattern, but I wish I had started with this pattern in the first place. I think this is a great newbie pants pattern because the crotch depth/lenght is shorter ( like current style pants, not like Mom jeans), the waistband seams are at the sides, it has straight legs and it doesn't have pockets.

I'd still like to make a pair of regular denim jeans with an actual jeans pattern, but for now, I'd say my work here is done!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Vogue 1294 pants


This is my latest pair of pants. For these I used Vogue 1294 and a thin stretch twill from JoAnns. I should have made them a bit smaller, especially the legs, but I wore them all day today and they are as comfortable as my favorite sweatpants and they fit as well as most any pants I have ever purchased.

Continuing to use what I learned from Palmer/Pletsch PFRP, I made these changes to the pattern:
  • I straightened the front fly so it didn't angle in at the top of the waist
  • Shaved 5/8" inch off the back inseam from crotch to hip (will take out even more next time)
  • Compared the crotch depth to the P/P fitting pattern and determined this pant's rise was fine the way it was
  • I had what I consider a brainstorm: I know that I have to fold out a vertical tuck through the entire back, and that I don't need the dart in back, so I brought the dart legs together and folded out that tuck from the dart all the way down to the hem. That way I didn't have to change anything on the waistband.
  • Did a mock fly zipper without the fly protector
  • Of course, I shortened  
These are so close to what I want, I'm almost thinking of taking them apart and trimming them down a bit. But I don't think I will. Instead, I hope to be braver with the fitting on the next pair.