A Classic Tee

When a PDF designer you like and respect asks you to sew up her latest pattern and get a few pictures by the next day, you do it.  That's what happened last week when Jodi, of Jocole, asked me to try out her Ladies Classic Knit Tee.  She sent me the pattern Monday night, and while the kids were at school on Tuesday, I got to work. 

 

 

From the time I hit print to when I pressed my final seam, it took maybe three hours.  That includes walking the kids to school, stopping to have conversations with my husband, and staring at my stash before I even cut a thing. The hardest part of this tee was choosing my fabric.  In this case, I wanted something with a print that would be visually interesting.  I found this little floral knit from a previous Girl Charlee Knit Fix in my stash.  Though, to be honest, I really do need solid long sleeve tees in my wardrobe.  This tee will be perfect for that!  But solids just aren't as fun to take pictures of. 

 



 

As you can see, this pattern has several options to choose from. 

 

I chose the scoop neckline because it's a flattering cut for me but is still modest.  I also like where the hem of the shirt is.  Even though I'm a tall girl, I have a regular length, borderline short, torso.  Sometimes tee-shirts are really long on me then bunch weirdly.  This one doesn't. Lastly, I chose the longest sleeve option possible.  I really love the way the sleeve bells slightly at the end. It's nice little feminine detail.   

 

 



By noon, I was headed out the door with my camera, remote, and tripod to the Arboretum nearby.  How gorgeous is this foliage?  You'll be seeing a lot of this place, I think. 

 

I'm delighted that I was able to rise to Jodi's challenge of sewing and photographing something in a single day.  I think I nailed it, and I know Jodi did!

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!

 

Baby It's Cold Outside

Hubs is in the Navy.  This means we move.  Often.  For the last three glorious years, we were stationed in Hawaii.  It was wonderful!!!  We were in shorts and tank tops all year.  Our only interaction with snow was in a snow cone, though there it's called shave ice. 

 

And then it was time to move.  To New England.  Just in time for winter! 

Y'all, I'm freezing!  All.  The.  Time!!

 

I cracked open my bin of winter clothes that haven't seen daylight in years, and I was so disappointed.  Most of it doesn't fit, and not because any weight gained or lost.  I used to buy things two to three sizes too big just to get the sleeves to hit at my wrists.  But I spent the last few years getting pickier about fit.  Why bother sewing if I am willing to wear garments that don't fit well? 

 

During a recent shopping outing with Mama, I saw a super cute moto-style sweater jacket. I tried it on, but my arms were about 3 inches longer than the sleeves.  You'll realize this is a common theme for me.  I had been considering making a faux leather moto-jacket this fall, but I knew a sweater one would be much more versatile, not to mention the materials would be far more affordable.  I had gotten the Evergreen pattern by Hey June months ago, and knew it would be a perfect pattern for what I had in mind.  I found some cozy sweater fleece at the fabric store, and it was game on.

 

The pattern printed out nicely and everything lined up perfectly.  I didn't make any changes, except to add four inches (yes, you read that right, 4!) to the sleeve length.  My sweater fleece is so dense that I killed my Fiskars rotary cutter, but I eventually got it all cut and ready.  The instructions were clear and concise.  Right away, I was sewing zippered welt pockets.  It's details like these that totally make the pattern exciting for me!

 

Eventually, I got to sew in the asymmetrical zipper that makes this jacket truly moto- styled.  I even got to play with pliers (once I found them, that is) to remove some of the metal teeth from my zipper.  The pattern includes notches that tell you exactly where to start your zipper so that everything will line up perfectly at the end. 

 

I did have a few hiccups, but they were all my fault.  I sewed a piece on backwards and had to cut it off and recut the piece from my remaining fabric.  Then I ran out of thread while topstitching my collar.  But the quilt shop down the hill had what I needed.  With dinner in the crockpot and the kids playing with friends, I got back to work. 

 

 

Once I got this far, it was a matter of attaching the sleeves and closing up that bottom band.  It was a late night sewing, and I was completely exhausted the next day, but I wasn't cold! 

 

 

 

I finished this beauty two days ago, and have worn it every day since.  It's tremendously warm and cozy.  And best yet, it fits.  My thin blooded arms aren't exposed to the wind and cold temps that send me hurrying toward heated shelter.  In fact, I got a little toasty during today's outing to the apple orchard.

 

 

 

This was not a fast sew.  It took me several days to work on, but it was absolutely worth the time and effort.  I've dubbed this a Mary Poppins pattern - practically perfect in every way!  I want to live in it, and expect I will! 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Y'all have a great day!

Welcome

Hi y'all, I'm Jackie, though somewhere along the way I became Jaxx.  I'm a Southern girl married to a Southern boy living the nomadic military life, with our two kids and two dogs.  Oh, and I sew, a lot! 

After plastering Facebook walls and groups with snapshots of the items I create, I am sticking my toe into the waters of the blogging world.  It is my hope that I can share my interests with others and do so with greater detail than a quick "Look what else I made..." post on Facebook. 

I'm a tall girl, so most store-bought clothes don't fit me.  I'm talking by a couple inches too short!  As a child, my mother made me clothes that were long enough, but when I left home, I had to learn to do it for myself.  Its been at least 15 years since then, and there's no turning back. 

I'll mostly share about sewing, because that's what I do most, but I may branch out into other creative mediums.  We shall see where this venture takes me.

I find myself occupying a happy medium between routine and planning things out and operating with no plan at all.  I have no idea where this blog will go. But I'd love it if you joined me on this adventure. 

Blessings,
Jaxx