Singer 9005

Ladies and gentlemen, my sewing machine has a problem. A few days ago I was working on my Nature Dress, the pretty little thing. I only had one yard of the challis fabric and it was just enough - Perfect, right? So, after pinning carefully and ironing which took me close to thirty minutes (I really want this dress to come out great mainly because I want to wear it to work, class, in the city, at home, in the park: basicallyeverywhere. Getting my laptop out and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones playing in the background (because who doesn't like listening to ska while sewing?) I start to get excited, turn on my machine, put the needle into the fabric, slowly push my foot on the peddle and - WRGHHHHH.

What's this? WRGHHHHHHHH. What's happened to my machine? What's happening to my lovely fabric?! I quickly pulled the needle out of the fabric, inspecting it to make sure no damage has occurred. Nope, nothing. I open my machine, check out the bobbin, the needle, the thread, the feed dogs, everything. I don't see anything wrong. I try to clean the machine but to no avail. It's still making that noise. When I looked at the needle, it wasn't even going through the fabric, just hovering slightly in mid-air.

Do I need an oil-up? Should I clean the metal organs inside the machine? Is it dying? Thankfully my Great Uncle works at High School of Fashion Industries in the city, when he's free he said he'll check it out for me. Thank goodness for family connections.

So, while I'm impatiently waiting to get my Singer 9005 looked at, I've been pinning on Pinterest, my second love. I'll show you my Things I Must Sew But Don't Have Time To Make Stash another time Oh, also speaking of sewing, I just remembered my blue pussybow blouse I made, it looks great! Though I was very lazy and afraid of making buttonholes so I just used a zipper. A red one. A red zipper on blue fabric. Thankfully it's an invisible zipper - but really, I need to stop with this laziness. My next post will be both my blue blouse shirt and the muslin-turned wearable shirt, side by side.

Happy Friday!

Current Work in Progress: Nature

I just thought I'd show you guys a little sneak peak of my upcoming project. Pale pink challis fabric with embedded flowers that have some shiny silver thread and a cotton pillow case with pale grey and white stripes with white trees and flowers.

In lieu of this odd warm weather in the winter that New York is having, I decided my next project will have a nature theme. I can't wait to get going on this project. Next week the school I'm working at has a Mid-winter Break, plus thanks to President's Day, I only have one day of school - hooray! So, I'll have a lot of time on my hands to get this new sewing project up and out. I just need to buy an invisible zipper and maybe some lining.

The challis fabric I bought last year from Etsy is a yard and a half with a light stretch that's going to be just perfect for the bodice - I think it was about $6. Trying to stash bust :)

I also hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! This was my first one ever and unfortunately I wasn't able to spend it with the boyfriend because he had class all day. Though he sent me the sweetest bear, some chocolate and a picture frame with a picture of us when he first asked me out. He's so sweet <3.

(picture isn't included to protect the bf's privacy).

---

And her'es a surprise song:

Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

Lookbook Looks

So much fashion inspiration!

Sneak Peak: Blouse in the Making

First time I've ever set in sleeves and they were so easy! I thought I'd share a quick bit in what I've put together today. I love this fabric but unfortunately it wrinkles pretty easily - oh well, it gives it character. More pictures coming soon!

And I thought a little "Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield would help brighten your day, since the weather up north is shockingly delightful :)

Tired.

I'm so sorry you guys! This will just be a super quick post. I'm not missing, I've just been extremely busy with spring semester starting and working for the first time. I have classes Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 5:30pm, and work Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30am to 3pm. So, I've been really exhausted. I haven't sewn anything in weeks. Before school and work started I finished two projects (I'll post it up and talk about them another day) and I have one project sitting on top of my Singer, probably collecting dust.

Guys, is this what being an adult is about?? I'm afraid.

I GOT THE STUDENT TEACHING JOB!

:D

More Hair, Less Sewing

My student teaching interview in on Thursday at 8am and I was freaking out this morning just thinking about it. This is my first legit job interview. What do I wear? What to do to my hair? Shoes?? AGH! So, after careful planning, I decided I'm wearing my mustard long sleeve sweater, black skinny pants (not jeans!) and grey kitten heels. I think it;s simple and casual yet still professional and stylish (because let's be honest, teachers don't dress up like they did in 1980 .. I wasn't even born .. no harm to anyone that was though!). Now, makeup. I haven't really worn makeup since last the spring of last year. I only really wear it when my face is looking sub par or if I'm having a dress up day with friends or the boyfriend. I thought this video was great! Although I probably wouldn't do those lips (and tone down the eyes just a smidge). And even better, I have those flexi-rods (I suggest anyone - black, white, green, blue buy them - they are so much healthier for your hair and they're super cheap ($2-5 depending on the pack) Plus who doesn't want beautiful curly or wavy hair?).

Say it ain't soooo - woah, woahhh.

It's been a long day, and it's only 4pm in New York as I'm writing this anyway. The title is due to the wonderful song Say It Ain't So by Weezer. It's very, very fitting. Today I had my Science midterm - I was amazingly surprised by how easy it was. And that's a lot coming from the same girl who opted to not take any science classes Senior year in high school because she kept failing the Regents (thankfully back then Seniors only needed to pass 3 Regents exams to graduate, now it's all 5).

Anyways, after the exam I decided to head to Jo-Anns. Okay. Here's my problem with Jo-Anns and why I hate it: by now you all know that I live very very close to Manhattan - a thirty minute train ride, I live on Long Island (and no, my parents don't own a yacht or are filthy rich or summer in the Hamptons :p). I get 95% of my sewing supplies in the Garment District in the city or on Jamaica Ave. in Queens or even on rare occasions, in Brooklyn. Why? Because it's dirt cheap. I went to Jo-Ann's to buy a 20inch zipper for my jacket I'm making and guess how much it cost? $5.47. $5.47!! Now to many of you, that's nothing, but I'm very spoiled by living so close to the city that spending that kind of amount on a zipper is outrageous to me. 6$ is breakfast at McDonald's or shipping from ordering schools books. No more shopping to Jo-Ann's is my only response.

By the way, if any of you end up coming to NYC for a weekend or so, please send me a message! I can be your personal our guide through the city (and of course the Garment District) :)

Now for good news! I have a job interview for an afterschool program at a Catholic K-12 School. I was so excited, I didn't even think I would get the interview or even an opening for the spot because it's through Work Study at my College and I applied for it really late so I thought there would be no more funds. If I get the job, I'll be working Thurs-Fri for 3 hours a day, making 10$ an hour - WONDERFUL! Now I can stop making my parents pay my phone bill (it's only 40$ a month, but still, I'm in college, they have to stop, lol), pay for my own gas, and save money for my apartment when I graduate next May (or July, it depends on my credits). Things are slowly looking up (knock on wood).

:)

Winter Clothing

Theme
I've picked my themes to be edgy, classic and feminine.

Color Scheme
Beige, navy, burgundy red, forest green.


Fabric
All from fabric stash! Cotton twills, knit blends, cotton blends (and possibly crocheted lace trim).


Garments
I plan to make four garments. The first will be (in no specific order) the burgundy knit in which I made my skirts last month, I have a little bit left so I'm hoping I can whip up a very fitted knit top with a crocheted peter pan collar or make a V-neck collar with some of my leftover scraps. The second is going to be a beige cotton twill that I bought  early last year for super duper cheap (thank you new york city!) as usual. That's going to be made into my hooded trenchcoat jacket that I found in Pinterest and put on my page two posts ago. My third garment may or may not be a light navy princess seamed blouse with a pussybow; I'm still not entirely sure. My last garment will be a simple green knit shirt with crocheted lace on the arms and handmade bias binding.

My goal is to not spend any money (unless for notions such as zippers, buttons, thread, and maybe lining if I don't have enough). I also would like to try different sewing techniques such as doing loops for buttons instead of making buttonholes, finishing and pressing the seams instead of leaving them unpressed and raw, make piping for the first time, etc.

Also! This week and next week I'll be working on making my own personal bodice sloper, I figure it's about time plus when I start making the muslin for my jacket I don't want to buy any patterns but instead use my own resources and creativity :) Winter class is taking up my time since it's right in the middle of the day (Natural Science II from 1:45-4pm, Mon-Thurs) so I'm guessing I'll just have to get working on it on the weekends.

Lookbook + Pinterest

Major 2012 Sewing Projects

I decided it would be a great idea if among my current one-two items a month of sewing that I also have one big sewing project per season.

Winter Season (January-March)
Hooded Trenchcoat Jacket
(super excited about this one, will definitely have to make a muslin.)

Spring Season (March-May)
Dark Blue Skinny Jeans/ Cigarette Trousers

Summer Season (May-September)
Navy & White Striped Jersey Sheath Dress w/ Peter Pan Collar

I know you're probably thinking "Sahina, those months are extremely off." But I'm doing it based off of New York weather. Right now despite it being January, it hasn't snowed yet and it 60 degrees. WTF. I'm not complaining though, I used to live in Florida so I'M LOVING IT. I'm not really sure what I would want to make for the Fall Season, maybe a jacket? maybe a skirt? Well, all I know is I've got some time to think about it. Anyways, I hope all of you in blogland are having a great day and pretty good New Year!

2012 Goals

Sewing Goals
-sew one or two projects maximum; focus on quality and not quantity
-make sketches and set a plan; have all fabrics and notions before sewing
-when making some thing complicated MAKE A MUSLIN
-sew more separates; you live in NY, you'd be freezing your butt off if you wore dresses everyday
-participate in more sew-a-longs
-finish 2011 sewing projects; you know that sweater and dress that's been hiding in your pink shoebox
-perfect sewing techniques; also learn new ones
-learn basic pattern-making/drafting
-keep using fabric stash
-possibly invest in a dress form; cheeeeeeap one, please
-sew one item based from each time period; 50s and up

School Goals
-start papers, if not a week before they're due, then a few days; NOT THE NIGHT BEFORE
-look for education/childcare internships or tutoring jobs
-take the maximum amount of summer classes
-convince parents to let you dorm during summer

Life Goals
-don't let negative people influence or be a part of your life
-don't be afraid to love; and love who you want
-have more adventures; you only live life once
-say what you feel; don't be afraid
-do yoga!; you miss it and it'll make you feel better