What Happens When the Light Bulb Does Not Go Off?

Or that is a rather long way of saying that I still cannot figure out those lapped zippers.  Seriously, I feel dense given the research I have done.  I have now read instructions on how to put in lapped zippers both on the web and in my sewing books with the intent to put one in my skirt. 

So this afternoon I sat down to put a lapped zipper in my skirt. 

I pinned, and ironed and placed the zipper.  All for nought.  It just didn’t make any sense.  After spending much too trying to get a lapped zipper,  I made an executive decision to just do a centered zipper.  It turned out great!  All hand sewn because I do not do well putting in zippers by machine.

But perhaps that will change – while hunting through the house for a prescription (not found anywhere) I cam across an adjustable zipper foot and an invisible zipper foot both of which were purchased oh about 2 years ago.  Perhaps the next invisible zipper I put in I will try the machine again.

Sewing in the Center

Zipper is in.  Not my usual invisible zip.  Instead, I challenged myself and tried a regular zipper.  To make it easy on my self (ha!) I decided to do a centered zipper.

I read and watched a variety of tutorials, all helpful, some very different.  I enjoyed hearing that you can glue stick the zipper to the fabric instead of basting or pinning by decided to leave that method by the way side because with my luck, the glue would stain the fabric.

Anywho…..I put in my first centered zipper.  Aint bad for a first try if I do say so myself.

It hangs better when it isnt flat.  It really looks better than this photo seems to show. 

But I digress.  I wanted to put this zipper in by machine, you know to challenge myself.  But that did not work out at all.  I just cannot seem to get a handle on machine sewing zippers.  It bubbled, the seam was wonky so out it came.  I decided to give an hand picked zipper a go.

Much better.  First try was not rip worthy.  It shall stay put.  I feel confident that this process will become even easier.  Besides, what better place to practice but on a side seam zipper on a skirt.  This puppy is one small zipper, all 25 cents of it!  If any one is close enough to comment on the zipper they need to back the hell up. 


Also, Rosy thanks for the help on the lined skirt!! It is much appreciated!!

Zipping Along

The zipper is in!  Yay…progress is being made albeit slow.

I had some difficulty lining up the 2 bias binding bands.  But that is where my hand sewn method of inserting the zipper pays off.  First, I hand baste in the zipper.  When everything lines up, I move forward with some serious hand sewing.  I then use a backstitch to firmly get that zipper in place.  Once I am done, that zipper is in and not moving. 

I do admit this takes some time.  But, I have found that for me, there are less errors and less ripping out stitches if I do it by hand.  So, totally worth it!

What Time? What Sewing?

Time was at a premium this weekend. That does not mean that sewing did not occur. A little bit occurred. In fact,, because I knew that time would be at a premium I did not create a to do list because I knew I could not keep up.


What did I do you might ask? Well, I ripped out the cream color zipper on McCalls 5150. I will replace it with the almost matching one. It bugged me. I did get the hem measured, so I can sew that up sometime soon. I also want to lower the bust darts a tad. I don’t think I need to get into that one in detail.

The new 1918 dress got some action as well. One sleeve was set in but then I forgot about the fichu. So out came the sleeve. Tonight I am going to hem the fichu and start put it in and re-do the sleeve. That was a silly mistake.

All I can say, is that I have a lot to do in the next 2 weeks and I know I cannot finish everything I would like to finish. I do not know what I will want to wear. I am getting a little wishy washy. The Teal 1918 dress will be worn. That is the only “for sure” I have at this point.

It Figures

So.... today while downtown picking up the eyelet trim needed for my class, I stopped by one of my favorite zipper shops: a shop where one can but a 14 inch invisible zipper for less than $1 which is why I always balk at the price of zippers at JoAnns.

So, I am looking and there right in front of me is the perfect color zipper for McCalls 5150.  All that aggravation of not being able to find the correct color zipper.  I knew this store of another one downtown would have a zipper but I was too lazy to make the trek.  So, do I pull out the cream zipper and put in the correct color zipper?  I probably will do that at some point in time, not today and not right now.  I of course bought the zipper.  I am thinking that I should just buy a selection of zippers in a bunch of different colors given how cheap they are so that this problem does not arise again.

And yes, I was bad and bought fabric.  It was about 100 degrees and almost all the fabric I bought was wool or wool blends.  Just looking at the fabric made me hot!  I also got some thread and few other items.  This may be the last time shopping for anything but thread for a while.

Zipper … What Zipper? Or That's Why It's Called an Invisible Zipper

Ok, put the cream invisible zipper in McCall’s 5150.  I am very happy with it. 

I hand based the zipper in and then hand sewed using a backstitch closer to the zipper coils.  It turned out nice.  Only one place where the waist is does a little cream show. I can fix that later but it still looks nice.  I am happy with the way the waist seam lines up.  I cannot be this precise on the machine so even though I am down on handsewing lately it really is the only way to get this type of precision.

So to Kelli, Susan and Lisa….thanks for the input the neutral zipper WAS the way to go.  No worries about matching.

Lisa….about the magic bias slip:  I have that on the agenda but it keeps on getting pushed back which is silly really since I need to wear this dress in September for an event.  So I guess I need to get off my backside and do more sewing!

To Do List

All the sewing I am doing is homework which is rather unsatisfying.  Trying out different stitche on 10 pieces of muslin....blah.  Yes, it is nice that I am learning these skilss but exciting not so much.

Last night I spent almost 5 hours on homework, the night before 4 hours.  Because this homework is overtaking my sewing life I need to be proactive and make a list of what I want to do Friday,Saturday and Sunday:

1.  Put the zipper in McCall's 5150.  Kelli, do not worry about sending me in the wrong direction.  The consenus is a non-descript cream/beige zipper.  I just agree with what you and everyone else who chimed in said.  And if I hate, but I know I wont, its just a zipper and easy to rip out.

2.  Put bias binding trim on the sleeves of the Mint Chip dress.  Then put the buttons on.

3.  Cut out the one piece of the 18th century stays that I mesed up the first time.  Sew as much of the stays as possible.  One side is done, just need to do the other side.  I havent blogged about this because it seems to be outside the scope of the blog but if anyone is interested, just let me know.

4.  Overcast the facings in McCall's 5150 and the 1918 dress. 

Ok, this does not seem overwhelming.  Let see how much I can get through!  I cant even think about next week's homework....add that in somewhere because it is my company's monthly event which means a killer couple of long days next week.  Maybe having this list out there in the universe will help me focus.  Normally, I dont care but I have some deadlines looming.

I am trying to stop another weekend from passing by with no work done....darn vacations!

What happened

Well to start no sewing happened other than some homework assignements.

No blogging.  What's up with that?  I just didnt find the time.

What did happen?  Fun for the 4th!  Bbq and fireworks.  Plus work of a volunteer nature that took a big chunk of time.   

I am disappointed about the lack of sewing.  I did pop out to get a zipper for the McCall's 5150 dress. 

Kelli and Susan:  I took both of your advice and went with a cream/beige invisible zipper.  I do think you both are spot on that trying to match a blue (or a green) is insane.  Of course, I still need to put in the zipper...maybe tonight?  Make that a BIG Question mark.

Here ends the old bullet point post.

Conundrum

So what do I do?

McCalls 5150 is ready for a zipper.  I have been unable to find a zipper even in the same blue tone as this turquoise.

So...Do I use a blue zipper the closest match I can find?

Or

Do I use a neutral white, cream or beige?

I was going to try a lap zipper but think I will wait until there is not such a glaring color differential.  With an invisible zipper, not much will be seen, just the zip pull really.

Any thoughts???

I am tempted to go with a cream or a deeper beige simply because the blues seemed to be an in the face mismatch.

Ah.......Sweet Completion

Both View A and B of McCall’s 5357 have been completed!  A miracle I know.  

The pesky bodice of View A I finally manipulated to work so that I could insert the zipper.  Oh look how that waistline matches up.  There is a funky bit at the top of the zipper, but hey its under my arm so if anyone is looking that closely and DARES make a comment they had better watch out for my swinging elbow.  No telling what I might accidentally hit.

I am just so happy I have completed this project.  It will be better once I get the pouffy petticoat under View B.

So whats on the agenda now you might well ask….Ask away, a decision has been made.  A 1918 dress, a hopefully wearable muslin before I tackle it in silk made out of this wonderful 1 $ a yard cotton which is actually a much richer color:

McCall's 5357: View B

 A reminder, since it’s been forever since I posted about this project: completing  McCall’s 5337 both View A and B.  

Struggled with View A….well make that still struggling.  When we left our heroine, she finally gave up on inserting that zipper in View A due to what we can unfortunately only call human error somewhere along the line. 

Moving right along to View B and that wonderful silk taffeta which cost significantly more than the cotton used for View A. 

I did make some changes…..The bodice on View B is a little big even though I am quite busty.  However, not wanting to do a FBA cause quite frankly they scare me, I just subtracted about an inch from the bodice and that seemed to work.  I actually took some time to try and line up the pattern.  I was somewhat successful.  With the gingham, it is difficult to match completely with these raglan sleeves. 

Nevertheless, I think the extra care in cutting paid off.  I am pretty pleased with the pattern match up.  Of course the skirt was the ultimate in forgiving since it is a gathered skirt. 

I was able to insert the invisible zipper with no problem thanks to basting it in prior to sewing!!  I love this method it saves on so much heartache.  Look, the waistline matches even if the pattern is a tad off.  Gotta look for that silver lining.

Here is the completed dress, well minus the hem and with just a little petticoat underneath. Hand sewing can be a bit boring so the hem will have to wait for the weekend and a new CD.  I do this this fabulous dress with the crispy taffeta deserves a big pouffy petticoat.....maybe I should get cracking on one of those!

So back to inserting that zipper in View A…..arghhh.