Happy mad March!! And, I say mad because it's nutty out there. Hope you are staying safe and healthy and have enough toilet paper! Ha! Whew, what a world we live in right now, huh? This month has not gone as planned for anyone, I'm sure. We were supposed to leave for a family cruise, but that was cancelled along with school, life, and everything else. 

When life gives you lemons....
I'm enjoying the time with my kids instead of having to drop off and pickup from school. We even have enough TP, we luckily bought ours before the crazy hit the fan. LOL

I worked on this Butterick top all week and after trial and error, I finally got the sizing correct and finished it. For the cruise. That was cancelled. Ha! 

I wanted to spend more time on the boning portion of this pattern for you guys. Do you search for tutorials before you make something new? It's nice to get a feel for things before getting your head in the game, right? I didn't see any in depth tutorials on how to insert boning. I wanted to spend time on the boning portion with this post. The pattern is pretty easy and straight forward otherwise.

Pattern time

• 1 yard of fabric + lining. 
• 7" Separating zipper
• Thread
• 2 1/5" yards of boning. I opted for plastic this time because this top will be used during warmer weather and I didn't want the bulk of the stainless steel boning. I grabbed 2 packs from my local craft shop. Each package only has 2 yards.
• 2 Buttons
• All your sewing notions and machine
• Scissors for cutting plastic boning that aren't your fabric ones.
• Buttonhole foot 
• Zipper foot
• Hand sewing needle and thread

According to the pattern envelope, I needed a size 14. I also made an FBA (full bust adjustment) after my first muslin seemed snug. Well, it ended up being huuuge. No, I couldn't just take in a little at the side seams. This was big enough to fit the movie snacks, popcorn, sodas and my kids!! Face-palm!

But at this point, I accepted the challenge. Game on!

"It's not sewing unless you use your seam ripper."

I unpicked the bodice, lining, and boning casings. I then re-cut to a size 14 minus the FBA. Sewed it up and it was still big. I could fit the snacks only, this time.
So, I unpicked it again and cut a size 12, no FBA. Size 12 fit good enough. I might try a size 10 next time.

After you decide which size you're going with, trace your pattern off. Grade between sizes if needed. 
Transfer all the markings onto your pieces, especially the lining pieces. You'll need accurate placement lines to position your boning.

Sew your darts on all the pieces.
Pattern instructions always have you make one thing at a time, but I sew all the darts on the outers and linings at the same time. It makes more sense in my head to do it this way, but you do whatever feels comfortable for you. 

After the darts are sewn, place the 2 front pieces together, RST (right sides together) matching notches and dart seams. Sew from the waist up. 

Then, grab the front band pieces. Sew together and fold in half, if you haven't already.
You're going to attach this piece to the bodice you just sewed. 

TIPS

• I cut into the bands raw edge after it was folded to make the sewing process easier. It helped me. You can do this if you want or not. I clipped into the raw edge 1/4".
• After I sewed the band on, I stitched in the ditch of the center seam to keep it from flopping around. I didn't like the look until I did the top stitching. You can see the photo below, I didn't stitch it down at this point. It was sloppy looking. The first photo was after I stitched it down. See the difference?

Insert your separating zipper. WOW! This was my first time using a separated zipper and boy was it easy. You're making a lapped zip, so be sure to press one seam 1/2" and the other 5/8". The left side laps over the right side, hiding the zipper in true vintage fashion. Follow the pattern directions for the insertion.

Sew the side pieces onto the bodice, matching notches. Sew from the waist up. Easy peasy.

​Your top should look the photo below.

Who's ready for Spring? I am! This winter has felt long and we still have a couple of months to go. 
I've been busy sewing in my warm sewing studio. It's right next to my wood stove, so naturally, I've been hanging out there all winter. 

My family and I are going on a cruise this spring and I remember from past cruises there's always a fancy dress night. I wanted to make my own fancy dress an I had an actual place to wear it. Win-Win! Cue the Butterick pattern that I've had in my arsenal for a while. I had yards and yards of fabric leftover from a Halloween project. 

I decided to make the B5882 dress because I had nothing to lose. My fabric wasn't anything I had an attachment to, I just dove in! I did make a muslin first because I almost always have to do an FBA. But...no FBA was needed this time. Shock and awe!

Supply List:

• Sewing machine and all that jazz
• 14" zipper
• Boning 
• Interfacing
• Fabric and lining
• Patience
• Grosgrain ribbon
• Hook and eye set
• Matching threads
• Pattern
• 
  
  
  
  

My mama gave me a small bag of vintage sewing things she found while rummaging through the garage. She thought I might like them, and she was right! So, I had to share.