So Far, So Good

Last night, we ate at home to start the week (woo-hoo - one day down) - we have this super easy thing we make once in a while where we just melt some muenster cheese on top of a few slices of roast beef from the deli and a slice of that Turano dry Italian bread. Usually we add giardinere (sp?) on top, but this time I had bought some yellow banana peppers to put on top. I had found some different roast beef in the deli this time that was called "London Broil" and was basically a rare roast beef. Tasty! This was our simple dinner - a slice each and then we split a third slice. I did have a glass of merlot with it, which was a good pairing. I have really been off white wine lately and am more into the reds now. I was trying to only drink wine once a week, but it really makes the meals at home a little more special with a little wine. I'm not an emotional eater, like some people say they are, but I guess I am an emotional (wine) drinker. Wine makes everything just a little nicer for me.

Anyway, after dinner, I decided to work on Tidal Wave again (the Rowan Plaid project I started on Sunday) and decided I didn't like how it was looking so I frogged it. I think that yarn is better for cables than lace patterns. I decided it was a sewing night instead of a knitting night, and I had been wanting to make a muslin of McCall's 5391:

I had tried one other muslin for shorts (a New Look pattern) and like many other New Look patterns for the bottom half of the body, it had WAY too much ease and a weird shape. I love the way their patterns are sized for the upper body. Sandra Betzina notes in her books that their sizing is different than the other pattern companies on top as there isn't a lot of extra fabric between the shoulders and chest and that one should pick the pattern size in their line based on full bust measurement. She is right on, as when I've done this with their top or dress patterns they have always fit. It's the skirts and shorts that have an insane amount of ease.

So I made up the muslin for View C last night, tried it on and determined that it's going to fit very well without any adjustments. This is NOT an easy pattern to figure out - they had you 1.) sew the pocket to the side front, then 2.) sew the result of #1 to each main front piece, then 3.) sew the inside leg seams, then 4.) the crotch curve, then 5.) the outer side seams. I did something wrong on #2 or #3 because I wasn't able to match right sides together on one of these steps, which it didn't say to do but I assumed. It can be hard working with the muslin as it's not as easy to tell right and wrong sides. I only mark on the wrong sides, but somehow I still think I got messed up somehow. If anyone has any suggestions I would very much appreciate it. I am also going to check out the reviews of this pattern over on Patternreview.com.

Anyway, despite the glitch, I can tell it's going to fit well, and based on this one experience (plus what I've heard from other people that seem to be shaped like me on the bottom half) I think McCall's fits my body better on the bottom than the Simplicity/New Look patterns do. It seems to be for a (ahem) rounder rear end, as opposed to the Simplicity/New Look, which seems to fit a wider, flatter derriere better.

So anyway, now that I've talked ad nauseum about my butt, I've been on a roll with the muslins lately! I want to make a list of to-dos once I've vetted them with the muslin version and then make a bunch of things at once. Sandra Betzina is right (can you tell she is my new BFF and I've bought two of her books in the last two weeks? I've even forgiven her for that negative ease woven skirt) that only about 50% of all commercial patterns are worth making and that if you're not enthused about the muslin, don't bother going any further. She says throw the pattern out, but I'm not sure I'll go that far. Probably just stick it in my pattern drawer or give it away to whoever wants it!

Comments

[chrispy]

A lot of my pants bottoms that have pockets have you ease the pocket bit in so you sewed the pocket onto the shorts in #2, you might not have accounted for the easing and used more space on the garment or some such. (ie the pocket has more fabric than the section of the pants you sew it too).

Glad to hear that your first night of cooking at home went well.

[adrienne]

she makes a GOOD point!!!! LOL

[Bobbi]

I've missed a lot, are you trying to eat at home more?

[Julie]

I purchased that same pattern last year but haven't done anything with it. Good info! Although I fall more under the flatter derrière category myself! I have trouble finding clothes that fit off the rack. If Green Bay ever feels like summer again (like last week!), I should get some shorts made. Can't wait to see what fabric you use!

[Jenny]

Hooray for eating at home! Thanks for the pattern booty tips! I will definitely have to stay away from Simplicity & New Look pants.

[marjorie]

Sometimes the recommended order of steps is not the best. I'm often baffled by those instructions in sewing and knitting patterns. For the muslin, you might not want to bother with the pockets. As for marking the muslin, put any marks you want on it (or use loops of thread to show right and wrong sides (in the old days, that is how you did "tailor tacks" for marking--I'm not sure why).

I'm impressed that you can drink a glass of wine and then sew a straight seam. That is beyond me.

[Michelle]

whoo who1 I cooked last night too!

The shorts are a cute pattern. I always shy away from trying shorts or pants (that aren't knit) because I can't get them to come out right!

[Debby]

Glad that your first meal at home went well! You've got me looking at "Cooking for two" books in the bookstore, at least. But I need one for a picky eater (me), LOL.

It sounds like you're really making progress on these patterns, learning what works and what doesn't, which I think is half the battle. I've been shocked to hear from people regarding knitting patterns that the sample in the photographs can be 1)knit using different directions than what's printed inside the pattern you buy 2)trimmed or otherwise altered before the photo is taken that goes on the pattern 3)if it's a garment, clipped behind the model's back to fit for the photo. With these revelations, it's no wonder knitting and sewing can be so difficult!

[Katie J]

Can't help you with the sewing, but the dinner sounds great and I agree that wine does make the meal more special.

[Lisa]

I just bought 4 banana pepper plants. How odd that you mention them.

ummm - is that length of shorts going to look good on all 5' 0" inches of you? or have you changed the inseam length? I would have bet on the (B) pattern for you.

But heck, what do I know? I have the opposite problem and all my pants are now too short and borderline floods. And I don't put them in the dryer either.

[tiennie]

That meal sound delicious! Good for you! Enjoy your wine. Isn't it suppose to be good for us to drink a glass of red wine every night?

[Bear Knits]

I have this pattern but have not done anything with it yet. You're pretty impressive to sew after having some wine. I still have to concentrate 'real hard' to get my stitches to follow the curve ... and that's without any wine ;-)

[bettyc]

Along a similar cooking vein, one of my favorite quick meals is grilled sandwiches. You can just flatten them on a cast iron skillet, or get one of those panini makers. I like good deli roast turkey with smoked mozzarella and roasted red peppers, or ham with cheddar and sliced pear. There's all-veggie options with grilled eggplant and portabello mushrooms too. The Whole Foods salad bar might sell grilled eggplant and red peppers.

[Kat]

It's always interesting to read others perception of fit on patterns, both top and bottom pieces. I've always found the Big 4 to generally have an insane amount of ease in a size 12, which is my hip measurement. My waist is more like a 14. I like Nancy Zieman's assessment--choose and 8 or 10 pattern for the bottom and alter the waist and hip to fit.

I did just buy an HP pattern--my first! After reading a couple of pattern reviews on that L-shaped crotch curve I just had to try it. It's still sitting in my pattern box right now though. That darn housework has to be done. Where's my maid???