My Cutting Line

Oh, when will I ever learn?  I needed a black, sleeveless shell to wear under suit jackets.  I had some poly-silky in my stash that I decided would work just fine.   Guess I forgot how horrible that fabric is to work with.  Slippery, ravelly, miserable.  I spray-starched it, which helped in controlling the beast.

I bound the neckline and armholes with 1/4" finished binding.  Sandra Betzina, in her Power Sewing book,

suggests stabilizing near the seamline with a strip of something lightweight.   I used Seams Great.

The top (and binding) turned out nicely but has to be washed to get rid of the spray starch.  Right now, it can stand on it's own!

ShirleyAdams is retiring at the end of this year.  She has been such an inspiration, and I've learned so much from her.  Her pattern line, called Alternatives, are phasing out, so I bought a few that I wanted before they are gone. 

Also, I bought a couple of CuttingLineDesigns patterns.

I love the color blocked coat.  Pulling together three colors of wool is not going to be easy.  I've searched online stores for a couple of days, trying to find the right combo.  I had my heart set on a dark and a light olive along with  a maizey-toned yellow.  I can see I'll have to give that up and try for another color-way.  

Meanwhile, I've cut a muslin of the My Hearts a Flutter overblouse.  It runs very, very large, which is ok, knowing that in advance.  Louise Cutting prints the finished measurements on the pattern envelope.  Genius!    Shams made it, and it is as cute as can be.  The muslin is ready to sew.  I have hopes for it.  We'll see.