My 4th Blogoversary GIVEAWAY + Bonus!!!!!!

Today is my 4th Blogoversary and Thanksgiving! How about that!!!! I couldn't think of two better occasions to coincide. I'm super thankful for all God has blessed me with and I have a special love in my heart for all of you guys out there in Blogland!  I've enjoyed sharing and interacting with you for the last 4 years and consider it a privilege that you take the time to visit with me. I likewise enjoy visiting your blogs. And for that I'm gladly hosting a wonderful Giveaway. I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I bought a fabulous book "Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style.

I LOOOOOVVVEEEE this book!!!! I still plan on reviewing it but you can see the book trailer and photos at this website here.....http://us.dk.com/static/cs/us/11/features/fashion/
Anyhow, I'm giving this 400 page Gorgeous book away to one Lucky Winner (sorry U.S. residents only)!!!! To qualify all you have to do is to leave a comment stating your Favorite Fashion Era and Why.
This Giveaway Ends December 10th and the winner will be chosen at random. Also I have a BONUS Giveaway!!! Mr. Jim, my tailoring teacher (his blog is HERE) has decided to "sweeten the pot" by adding one of his Basic Alteration DVD's to the giveaway.

 So there will be 2 winners!!!!
I'm so excited!!!  Don't forget to leave your comment below. What is your Favorite Fashion Era and Why??? I can't wait to read them!!!!

The "Paint Splatter" tank (NewLook 6120) & Book Giveaway Winner

Happy 4th of July!!!!! Hope you're having a great day celebrating. Our celebration this year was pretty laid back and consisted of heading into town to see the awesome annual firework show. I felt like being a little cute so I finished up my NewLook 6102 tank top that I started working on months ago and just didn't get around to finishing. It's nice to have it finally done and I think it turned out cute. I paired it with a black tank top, my black "shimmery leggings" I made HERE, black flip flops, bright turquoise earrings and a white studded bracelet---the perfect outfit to catch a fireworks show.

But before I go into my review let me reveal the winner of the 1st ed Fitting and Pattern Alteration book from this POST. Drum Roll please............

Out of 29 comments, the random generated number is 15. That means TONI wins the prize!!!! Congratulations Toni!!!! Please email me at tenthousandsewinghours@yahoo.com so I can get your address and send you your book!!!!

NewLook 6102 

 Time to Sew:

A couple of hours

Sewing Ease (scale 1 easy to 10 difficult):

It's a 2, super easy.

Pattern Description:

Tank top with elasticized gathers under bust and on back with uneven hem.

Pattern Sizing:

I cut the size 10

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

For the most part. I completely screwed up the elastic under the bust. Must've not marked incorrectly. My fabric was forgiving and since it's a really stretchy knit I didn't really need the contour under the bust.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Loved the style and uneven hem.

Fabric Used:

I believe it's a rayon lycra blend. I LOVE the paint splash print!!! It's really cool.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Again, I made a mistake with the elastic under the bust. I didn't really need it anyway. If I make this again and use a similar fabric that has a 2 way stretch then I'll skip this step all together. Oh yeah, I did use fold over elastic around the neckline instead of making binding as recommended. And as always I use clear elastic to stabilize the shoulder seams. I also didn't hem it which is usually the case when I make tops like these in 2 way stretch fabrics that don't unravel.

What would you do differently next time?:

Just mentioned it above.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I think I will. I have lots of leggings and tops like these work great with them.

Wardrobe Versatility:

Great with skirts or pants!

Conclusion:

Cute top! Makes me wonder why I waited so long to finish it up!!!

Birthday "Flexible Ruler" Giveaway winner.....

I hate to be so brief but I've been sewing, sewing, sewing to try and stay on track for the Fearless February Sew Along. I'm a little behind and am playing catch up. I've got my first pair of pants near completion (have to add zipper and waistband) and have already muslin fit my jacket which I'll begin cutting and sewing this weekend. I'm going to be busy, busy, busy.

So that's my quick update. Without further ado, here's the winner of the Flexible Ruler........

......................drumroll please.................

and the winner is...............

The Lovely Sheila from Sheila-CTK!!!!! YAYYYYYYYYYY!

Alright Mrs. Sheila, please email me your address and I'll get that over to you asap.

Also, I plan to do a Fearless February update post. Many of you have been emailing/messaging me letting me know your progress. I have to say I've been super impressed. Some of you are WAY further along then I am. I admire your fearlessness. Remember you can see the Fearless February participants HERE. Some have started and I think some may be starting a little later and others may just have forgotten. No worries though---as long as we're all sewing (smile). Of course it's not too late if anyone else wants to get on board. You can grab the FF Sew Along Button HERE! All right that's it for now......back to sewing:)

"V-List" Giveaway Last 4 Items & Winner!!!!

First off, thanks so very much for your kind words and compliments on my Jacquard Holiday Dinner Dress!  They were much appreciated!!!!

Well tonight I'll announce the last 4 items of of the "V-List" Giveaway (see original post HERE) and the Winner. Here are the last 4 items......

Giveaway item #7- Butterick 5760---this is a great group of patterns. I love the cardigan pattern and
                            plan to make it soon. Can't ever have enough cardigans.
Giveaway item #8- McCall's 6559--- I made 2 of these maxi dresses this Summer! Definitely a
                            wardrobe staple!
Giveaway item #9- Clear elastic---- I used this stuff like crazy to stabilize shoulders (and sometimes
                             necklines) in knits.
Giveaway item #10-  4.5 yards of 45" black and white, floral stretch poplin. I LOVE stretch poplin.
                               It's an excellent fabric for a dress, cute top, pair of shorts, etc. With this much
                               yardage you probably could make all of these:)

Now for the winner of the "V-List Giveaway"........drumroll please.................

Congrats to Rebecca from the blog "Ugly Cute designs"!!!!!! 

 You are the Winner and won all of this loot......

Rebecca please email me your contact info at tenthousandsewinghours@yahoo.com. Thanks for everyone who joined in with the giveaway fun!!! And a THOUSAND thanks for following my blog and my 10,000 Hour Sewing Challenge!!!!

Project Update, Monthly Sewing Goals, Giveaway items 5 & 6!

Happy December to ya!!!! The last few days have flown by and I intended to post. My "Wee-One was under the weather so I've spent that time giving her a little TLC (thankfully she's doing much better) in addition to trying to finish up my  dress and start a new project--an unlined coat.  Minus adding the sleeves and hemming, I'm almost done with the Holiday Dinner dress I have to wear on Thursday. Here's a sneak peek of the bodice.....

(Just need to add sleeves and hem. The fabric is a gorgeous jacquard. Sad you can't really see the metallic bronze, silver colors in my dark sewing room. It' really pretty fabric. Hope to get a better pic when I wear it)

I must admit that I had a little snafu. Something I've NEVER done before. I accidentally cut the lining of the dress while pinking the neckline. So there's a chunk of fabric missing over the armholes.

 See it at the top of the armhole? Crazy, huh??? Well there's a FIRST time for everything. And I was SURPRISINGLY calm about it. I'll repair by adding a black fusible over the area and that will fill the space. No need to cry over spilled milk. Now if it was the jacquard I'd cut up like that I probably would've fainted! LOL!

Ok, moving on. We're in a new month so I need to discuss my sewing plans and recap them from last month AND announce more prizes in my GIVEAWAY!!!!

10,000 Hour Sewing Challenge Recap: Ok, for November I sewed the....
1. Animal Print Peplum
2. Snow Leopard print skirts for ME and the "WEE-ONE"

Some client work and the Thanksgiving holiday slowed me down a bit but I plan to pick up the pace for December. I still to plan to follow my sewing goals listed HERE.

Alrighty then, that's that! Last but not least I want to reveal the next 2 items (#5 & #6) in my "V-List Giveaway". You can find details  HERE on how to qualify.

Giveaway Item #5-- Kwik Sew Tracing cloth 5 yards---I often use tracing materials in place of muslin or to trace on if I want to preserve a pattern piece!
Giveaway Item #6-- Super Glide Tailor's chalk---can be removed when ironed. LOVE THIS STUFF!!!

Don't forget to visit THIS POST for details/qualifications for the Giveaway!!!

Ok, that's it for me! Hope all is going well with you. Until next time....Happy Sewing!!!

My 3rd Blogoversary & the "V-List" GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm feeling a bit on cloud nine! I had a successful muslin fitting with a client just a few hours ago! And on top of that today is my 3rd BLOGOVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!! Seems just like yesterday I reluctantly made my first post and introduced my little self to the "blogoverse" (aka the blog universe, just made that up LOL!). I was SO nervous! The lovely Knitmachinequeen left  the very first comment! Since then you guys have always been SO gracious, welcoming, helpful, and supportive. I've always appreciated that.

So I'm hosting a giveaway to celebrate this milestone. You've heard of the O-List, a list of Oprah's favorite items, well I'm hosting the V-List----yep as you guessed it---a list of my 10 favorite things (things that were significant to me this year) that I plan to giveaway to ONE LUCKY WINNER!

All you have to do is.....
1. Leave a comment below. 
2. Follow my Blog (box is on right side of blog)
3. Like my Facebook page (box is on right side of blog)

 Here are the FIRST 4 items of the giveaway......

(top left going clockwise: )

1. The Science of Sexy Book (See info HERE This is an excellent book that shows you which clothes flatter your figure. The illustrations are great and there are lots of other figures shown as well. 

2. Butterick Pattern 5601 sizes 14-20 (I made it HERE. This was a great little Summer dress.

3. The Illustrated Guide to Garment Construction. (See info HERE I'm all about properly constructing clothes and love resources that help me improve my technique. This isn't the most indepth book on the market but it's pretty handy).

4. 1 1/2 yds, 60" wide teal taffeta with black embossed velvet (used to make my daughter's dress HERE. I purchased this fabric while visiting NYC earlier this year. It's absolutely gorgeous!!!)

Over the next few posts I'll unveil the remaining 6 items and ultimately announce the winner on Dec 8th. Update: changed to Dec 9th.

So to make sure you got this here's the "V-List" Giveaway details at a glance.....

What: I'm giving away 10 of my favorite items to 1 lucky person
When: Nov 28- Dec 8. The Winner will be announced on December 8th. Update: There's been a slight change and the new end date is Dec 9th.
Requirements: All are eligible just.... 1. Leave a comment Below.  2. Follow my blog. 3.Like my Facebook page

Ok, that's it! Be on the look out for the next items in upcoming posts. And again, thanks for all of your support and following along with my 10,000 hour sewing challenge/adventures......  *hugs*   ~Victoria

And the Winners are........

The BIG day has finally come! The moment we've been waiting on! Time to announce the winners of the 7 Giveaway prize. Without further delay (drumroll, please)......here they are....

Giveaway #1 goes to....

K.Line

Giveaway #2   

 Kim from Garden of Fenway

Giveaway #3

   Steffleupagus

Giveaway #4 

  Sabrina Clementine

Giveaway #5

   Jennifer

Giveaway #6  Pick 1 out of 3 options (see fabric details here)

 SerenityLoveSincerePeaceEarth

....and the Grand prize---the 2 Threads DVD-ROM's goes to......

Tryitagainjan

Congratulations to all of you Wonderful winners!  Please email me your addresse so I can send you your prize. My email address is posted on the right side of my blog.


Again, Thanks for such a great year! It was my pleasure to host such a great giveaway to reflect such a great year! I've appreciated you Guys' support, comments, advice, etc. (you gave some pretty great responses to the giveaway questions LOL!). Thanks for following along with me on my sewing adventures and as always I wish you the best in all your sewing endeavors:)

The Final 1st Blogoversary Giveaway---The BIG ONE!!!!

I'm pretty rested up from my holiday and I thank you guys for your patience. Yesterday marked my 1 Year Blogoversary! Yipee! To commemorate such a great year with you Guys, I've hosted a Giveaway for the last 7 days (with the exception of yesterday). So there's been 6 GREAT giveaways with the only condition being to answer a question to enter the drawing for the prize (if you haven't seen the other giveaways, be sure to revisit the last 7 posts to see them).  Since this is the last Giveaway I thought it would be only fitting to end my celebration with a BANG! So this is it......The final Giveaway prize is.....

Originally I was going to split up these 2 DVD-ROM's in 2 separate giveaway's but that just didn't seem right. I wouldn't want to win one without the other. These are 2 great DVD-Rom's I purchased not too long ago. I'm giving these away because I recently was able to get another "related" item off of my Christmas list (you may recall this post a couple of weeks ago)and wouldn't need these anymore (I'll divulge more about that later). Anywho, I'd love for these to go to a great little home where they'll get lots of use! They are spectacular and I don't have to sing the praises of Thread's compilation DVD-ROM's. The material is exceptional and oh, sooooo useful. It's definitely a resource I think everyone should have in their reference library.

Ok, now on to the question......it's kind of a funny one....


I think we sewers sometimes talk a big game about how obsessed we are with sewing. We talk about all of the fabric we buy and collect, sales we shop, etc, etc but sometimes all of that seems a little blaze--- you know like obsession 101. But I think we're hiding the truth and masking it over with generalities. I know alot of you have that "Fatal Attraction" type of obsession with sewing. You've done some crazy things for your craft but you haven't really gone into detail about it. Beyond doing some crazy things you've probably had even crazier thoughts in regard to your obsession. I don't have a problem about being honest, I know I'm incredibly obsessed about sewing and I have the evidence to prove it. As they say confession is good for the soul so here goes.....

The signs of my sewing obsession are....


-I cringe when I get a library fine. Hey that's money I could be spending on fabric. Come to think of it, if I have to pay a little extra on anything that thought crosses my mind.
-I sometimes juggle my work schedule around  fabric/pattern sales at Jo-Ann's. Hey, you know those new   patterns always go FAST!!!
- Speaking of Jo-Ann's I'm on a first name basis with most of the employees. Well they're really nice people, I go there ALOT and knowing them means sometimes I can get a few perks (they pull and hold patterns for me when I'm at work and can't make it to the store).
- If I'm scared that I may miss the opportunity to get a pattern, I sometimes will buy it at regular price wait    until it goes on sale for $0.99 and return it.
-When we travel, I have to know every fabric store within a 20 mile radius. We usually visit most of the one's I find.
-My daughter and I spend a good time "together" in my sewing room. Hey you can practice the alphabets with your 3 y.o. while sewing a jacket at the same time! It's called multi-tasking! LOL!
-Yes, I catch the Black Friday sales at Jo-Ann's fabric's. This is the first year I didn't "stand in line" at Jo-Ann's and made a later arrival. Still got some good deals though:)
-It's getting so easy for my husband to give me gifts now. If he asks, I tell him money for fabric! Of course sometimes I want other things and can use that money for it if I like, but usually fabric's on the brain. LOL!
-My idea of a great free day is staying at home and sewing.
-When I order fabric online and I get that dreaded email stating they ran out of it, I go into a "short period of mourning". I may sulk for an hour. Hey it's tough to lose great fabric! LOL!


Ok, so some of my obsessions seem a bit ordinary,  but for me this is living on the edge (I'm a bit of a prude)! LOL! So I turn the question to you. You have to divulge. Now let me warn you that if you've done something as crazy as boosting a Hancock Fabrics truck and stealing all of the fabric on it, please don't share (I don't want to be an accessory to the crime).LOL! But if you've done something obsessive but Legal please do share! LOL!


So my Final question, for the 2 Thread's DVD-ROM's giveaway is.....

What are the "tell-tell" signs of your Sewing Obsession!!!! You know the crazy (yet legal) stuff you've done that you'd feel crazy sharing with anyone other than a fellow obsessed sewer!

Please do tell.....

BTW, don't forget to enter the giveway's of your choosing (see the last 7 posts). Tomorrow's the last day to enter.  I'll announce the winners on December 1st!

Late Arrival......

***Note: This IS NOT the final Giveaway post but only an update. Please enter that giveaway on tomorrow (Monday) when the question is posted.

Happy Blogoversary to me............yawn! Forgive me, I spent most of the day in the car traveling back from my In-Laws home in Florida.  I made sure we left so we could get back in time for me to blog but I underestimated the amount of other travelers that would be returning from their holiday. Fortunately we were able to take an alternate route but we still experienced some delays. We just made it back and I'm just beat. I wanted to post but just can't manage it tonight. I'll pick up with things on tomorrow. I'll post the 3 pictures of fabric from the last post and do my final giveaway post. I'm excited about the final giveaway post because I'm giving away these 2 DVD-ROM's! How exciting right! Well please check back in tomorrow! Night-night!

Reminder, This IS NOT the FINAL giveaway post it's just an update. It will be the next post and will have the FINAL contain the final question. Please enter that giveaway on tomorrow (Monday)! Thanks:)

1st Blogoversary Give-Away---#6 of 7

In case you didn't see my Original Post I'm hosting a Give-Away for everyday this week (7 total) in celebration of my 1st Blogoversary on November 28th. Please visit the original post to see all of the dates/ details about  the Give-Away's)

The only requirement is for you to 1. Be a Follower of my Blog and 2. Answer the Question posed in this blog entry.


Don't forget to spread the Word!


We're almost at the finished line. Just one more Giveaway to go! So here's the SIXTH Give-Away Prize:

FABRIC!!!!!!!!

 Now you'll have to trust me on this one. Pic's are to follow. I'm out of town and am traveling back home on tomorrow and will upload pictures of  the fabric tomorrow night when I arrive home. I will post pictures of 3 different fabrics and the winner of this giveaway will be able to select one of the 3 fabrics. I really do appreciate your patience:)

UPDATE: Here's the fabric....

 Left: 2 1/4"yd, 60" wide Lycra blend knit
Middle: 3yd, 60" polyester fabric

Right: 2 2/3yd, 60" Polyester knit

The winner gets to pick one of the above fabrics.

Now on to the question.....

It's funny, I find the more that I sew the more anal I become about my sewing. I've blogged about this before, so I won't go into that but I'm sure you can identify with me---well, maybe. I don't know what it is, but the more I sew the more "perfect and professional" I feel my work has to be.  The stuff I used to get away with when I was a newbie sewer is no longer tolerable. You know the things that made the inside of your work totally unattractive. Now, I actually strive for professional results as much as possible when back in the day my aim was just to finish the garment and have it fit. In particular, I'm really anal about the way I sew in zippers. I have to pin them in and check the positioning. I'll then baste one side of the zipper and check the position again, ensuring that the waist seam (if there is one lines up perfectly). Once everything's ok then I'll stitch one side of the zipper in and move onto basting the other, check the fit before finally stitching the last side. I love my zippers to be flawless, and although that isn't always the case it is nearly most of the time. I'm beginning to get really anal about sewing in sleeves now, almost to the point where I get a little anxious about doing so. I'm almost to the point of hand basting all of my sleeves in to control easing in the sleeve better. It shouldn't come to this I know, but I can't help it. I guess striving to be a good seamstress can make you a bit nutty at times! LOL!

My question for you is.....

When it comes to your sewing what you anal about? What do you feel you have to "sew to perfection"?

Answer to be entered in the giveaway!

1st Blogoversary Give-Away---#5 of 7

In case you didn't see my Original Post I'm hosting a Give-Away for everyday this week (7 total) in celebration of my 1st Blogoversary on November 28th. Please visit the original post to see all of the dates/ details about  the Give-Away's)

The only requirement is for you to 1. Be a Follower of my Blog and 2. Answer the Question posed in this blog entry.


Don't forget to spread the Word!


So here's the FIFTH Give-Away Prize:

(This is a great little book with some interesting clothing ideas. It's a neat book to have around to help get the crafting juices flowing. So additional pics from the book are below....)

Sewing allows us to use our imaginations and creative juices to unfold. To some extent, sewing can allow you to enter a fantasy world and bring our fantastical ideas to life. Fantasies can inspire us, compel us, and motivate us. Every once in a while I like to fantasize about my future in sewing. I hope and pray that I'll have just as much desire to sew, maybe ten times more than I do now. I hope that my skill level is exceptional and that I will keep challenging myself all the while learning and growing. I also have some other fantasies that I rarely tell anyone about. I usually refrain from it, for fear of looking silly, because I interact with people who aren't as passionate about sewing as I am. So since I know you guys are, hey why not--- I'll share my fantasies with you.
As far as my sewing fantasies go, I would love to ultimately have my own Sewing and Alteration shop. I'd love to have a nice piece of land to have my shop on or maybe some commercial property. I currently have my tailoring/alteration business and work out of my sewing studio. But it would be great to provide my services on a larger scale and to have a few employees to do the alterations. The highlight of my shop would be the custom tailoring department. If I pick up the designing bug I'd love to sale a few of my designs and custom make clothing for a small group of clientele.  I also would love to have 1 or 2 high profile clients in which I would make clothes on a regular basis. One of the clients will be on the East coast and the other on the West Coast and I get to jet set back and forth to work with them (at their expense of course).  I fantasize that during that time I will be extremely good at draping and pattern drafting that I will be able to make most anything I can think of.  Maybe I might be able to offer a few of my designs for the Oscar's. Who knows? This is just one of my fantasies. I would also love to teach Women how to sew and tour the country doing so. I 'd also love to write a book on Sewing---especially since I'm such a book worm myself. Then once I make some money, use it to help provide sewing machines and fabric to help women in needy countries. I know I have a whirlwind of fantasies. Maybe some of it seems far fetched but who knows. A girl can fantasize can't she........

So you know where I'm going with this. I've divulged mine---now's your turn.

What's your Sewing Fantasy?

Remember your answer qualifies you for this giveaway. I can't wait to read your answers.

1st Blogoversary Give-Away---#4 of 7

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you're enjoying your holiday:)

In case you didn't see my Original Post I'm hosting a Give-Away for everyday this week (7 total) in celebration of my 1st Blogoversary on November 28th. Please visit the original post to see all of the dates/ details about  the Give-Away's)

The only requirement is for you to 1. Be a Follower of my Blog and 2. Answer the Question posed in this blog entry.


Don't forget to spread the Word!


So here's the FOURTH Give-Away Prize:

 (I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you that this is one of the best books in the Singer Sewing Library. It's such a thorough book on fit.....

 (The illustrations are great and I love that you can see the fitting issue in real life and see how to correct for it on the tissue paper.)

 (I also love that the book outlines the steps to insure a proper fit of a garment. You start with the tissue fitting, tissue manipulations, cutting and sewing up the garment, and finally on to fine tuning the finished piece. Before I really learned how to fit, I didn't know how to follow the correct steps. Now that I'm more experienced, I know how to choose the correct steps in completing a garment. Less complicated garments don't require for me to follow all of the steps, while more tailored and fitted garments sometimes do. This book helped tremendously. I have to admit that it's a lot to take in for the newbie, but if you stare at it long enough and sleep with it under your pillow, it will begin to sink in----ask me how I know! LOL!)

I was actually happy to get my hands on this book some several years ago when I was first learning how to sew. So always had a copy of this in my library. In early 2007,  I saw  the entire Singer Sewing Library containing 30 books (I later found out that the set was missing a couple of book so it wasn't exactly the complete set--but hey it was close enough) up for auction on Ebay. Hey, I already liked the Perfect Fit book and just knew the entire library would be so helpful to me as a new sewer (at that time I had been sewing for some 3 years or so). At that time I just so happened to be expecting my "Wee-One" and was maybe a couple of months into my pregnancy. Anyhow, I spotted this set of 30 books up for auction on Ebay. I knew I just had to have it. So I stalked--- I mean followed the auction for the next 5 or so days until it ended. Man I think that was the longest 5 days of my life. All of that waiting, hoping, wishing and praying.  It just so happened that it ended on Sunday at 2pm. It just so happened to be at church and I knew I didn't have time to run home and bid so I decided to bunker down at church and try and win the sewing library. Well I don't need to tell you how anxious I was by that time. Let's just say I was so anxious that I'm sure my anxiousness was causing my "Little Wee One" to have a fit herself. My strategy on bidding was to try and hold off on doing so until the last few minutes and then sneak in a bid that would hopefully trump the rest of them---something I call Phantom bidding. At the time maybe 3 or so people were bidding back and forth but hadn't driven the price up all that much. So as I planned, I slipped my bid in at the final minute or so and held my breathe and squinted my eyes. I noticed another bidder tried to outbid me but it turns out they didn't bid high enough and as the clock went from 3 seconds, to 2 seconds, down to 1. I opened my eyes to see that I Won the Auction. What a victory and oh what relief.  I can't remember exactly but I think I ended up paying $110 or so. Let's just say when I did the math I ended up paying a little over $3.50 a book. WOW, that was a TOTAL steal!  I've had a ton of sewing deals stemming from fabric, to 50% off sewing machines, etc. The list goes on. But I have to admit that this was my best sewing deal to date. Especially given how rare these books are and how difficult it is to get a complete set. I think I read that Caroline and KnitMachineQueen have a set. But not many people. Although the books are technically out of date and the are screaming with the 80's influence, the information in the book is so invaluable. I've used the Sewing with Activewear & Sewing with Knits book to help me sew my swimsuits. And I love the Sewing with Pants book that aided me in sewing my first pair of pants. So I'll forever be thankful for my "Best Sewing Deal".

So my question for you is.....

What has "hands down" been your BEST sewing deal?

Leave your answer to be included in the Book giveaway:)

1st Blogoversary Give-Away---#3 of 7

In case you didn't see my Original Post I'm hosting a Give-Away for everyday this week (7 total) in celebration of my 1st Blogoversary on November 28th. Please visit the original post to see all of the dates/ details about  the Give-Away's)

The only requirement is for you to 1. Be a Follower of my Blog and 2. Answer the Question posed in this blog entry.


Don't forget to spread the Word!


So here's the THIRD Give-Away Prize:

 (Although Clair Shaeffer has a thicker and more comprehensive version to this book, this is still a great little handy guide to give you info on sewing some of the most common fabrics).

(Well, what do you know---I opened the book and it fell right onto my favorite fabric---KNIT Jersey! LOL!)

So since last night's question was a pretty loaded one we'll keep this one a little simple. You probaly know where I'm going with this. Well I already mentioned my favorite fabric (and you avid followers of this blog already knew that answer as well) -----knits-----in particular printed matte jersey knits. And I love to sew nearly everything with them---dresses and tops in particular. In the summer time a jersey maxi dress is the most comfortable thing to wear. I just love them!

So the question of the day is.....

What's your FAVORITE fabric to sew and what do you like to make most with it?

An answer to this question will enter you into the drawing for this book:)

1st Blogoversary Give-Away---#2 of 7

In case you didn't see my Original Post I'm hosting a Give-Away for everyday this week (7 total) in celebration of my 1st Blogoversary on November 28th. Please visit the original post to see all of the dates/ details about  the Give-Away's)

The only requirement is for you to 1. Be a Follower of my Blog and 2. Answer the Question posed in this blog entry.


Don't forget to spread the Word!


So here's the SECOND Give-Away Prize:

 (Although this book is an "Oldie" don't estimate it. It definitely contains some great techniques on how to fit a variety of figure types. I've always been impressed with older sewing books. They seem to be more thorough than alot of the newer books. I guess that makes sense, especially since people made most of their own clothes back then and heavily depended upon these reference books).

 (I love the fact that this book not only has a diagram of the fitting issue, but also shows how to make corrections on the pattern or muslin).

  (Some more tips on fitting.)

I've mentioned it in several posts before but I remember clearly when I got the epiphany on the importance of not only being able to sew a garment well but also being able to make it fit. I was knew at sewing and had gotten pretty comfortable with the sewing process but was always disapointed when my garments didn't fit quite right. It was then that I began realizing (like we all know) that I would have to transform a pattern with standard body measurements to  reflect the measurements of my own.  I'm telling you once I got that revelation, I embarked on a journey to learn how to fit and have been on that journey ever since.

Learning to sew to fit one's body is a great achievement. Man if there's anything it forces you to do, it is to take a close look at the body you have and how fascinating and unique it really is. Hey I didn't really know I had narrow shoulders, long legs, a short torso and high derriere until I had to sew clothes for myself. I mean I knew I had these characteristics but spent most of my time being frustrated that RTW clothes just didn't fit me right. I swear, RTW clothes can often times make you feel that something is wrong with your body! LOL! Now that I can make my own clothes and know how to fit garments correctly to my figure, I'm no longer frustrated about the great characteristics that make me ME. Learning how to sew clothes that fit my body did not come easy---it's tough when you're learning anything for the first time. But I read everything I could get my hands on on the subject and it paid off. Of course I'll forever be learning and perfecting my craft for years to come. And as they say, the more you do it, the better you get at it! This "Fit Journey" has both challenged and heightened my sewing skills. I'm glad I decided to take the journey....

So my question for you is.....

What has your "Fit Journey" been like? Do you feel you know your body well enough to make clothes that fit it or are you still learning? What are your challenges? Do tell......

1st Blogoversary Give-Away------ #1 of 7

In case you didn't see my Original Post I'm hosting a Give-Away for everyday this week (7 total) in celebration of my 1st Blogoversary on November 28th. Please visit the original post to see all of the dates/ details about  the Give-Away's)

The only requirement is for you to 1. Be a Follower of my Blog and 2. Answer the Question posed in this blog entry.


Don't forget to spread the Word!


So here's the FIRST Give-Away Prize:

(This book is great and is filled with 20 DIY projects. It even includes a CD which contains all of the pattern pieces necessary for the projects. You can customize each pattern by adding your personal measurements and then print them out.

(some of the cute projects you can make)

A great book. I hope you win it:)...Now on to the question.....

The title of this book pretty much sums up what most of us are all about. There is so much sheer joy and complete satisfaction that comes with not only being able to make your own garments but also being able to proclaim that fact to those strangers, friends, and family who all stop you to ask you about them. I live to make my own clothes--I just love the idea and practicality of it. I'm always trying to push myself to new limits and try my hand at sewing things outside of my comfort zone. However, there are some things that I refuse ---and I mean vehemently refuse to sew. For me that would be undergarments. Now I know some of you may have gasped but yes, oh yes it's true. I have no desire whatsoever to sew my own bra, panties, etc. (well boy shorts and cami's are the exceptions). For me I think it's more so of a handling issue. I don't want to handle underwire (unless it's in a corset) and don't even get me started on those tiny pieces of elastic. Just the thought of trying to sew a thong would make my toes curl (I mean really, how do you handle something so small and elasticized)! That's just crazy coming from someone who loves knits, huh?  LOL! Seriously, you couldn't pay me to do it! LOL! Ok, maybe I'm going overboard but it's true. Now I ENJOY when you Guys do it (K-Line I always love yours) but for me, it's just something I'd rather not take the time and sew. So to you I pose the question......

What Item(s) Do You REFUSE to Sew and Why?

Leave your answers below to be entered in the Give-Away for this book. I can't wait to read your answers!!!

Blogoversary--- MASSIVE GIVE-AWAY begins tomorrow!!!!

In 7 days I'll be celebrating my 1 YEAR Blogoversary. To celebrate my blogoversary I'll be having a Give-A-Way 7 days---that's right I'll be having 7 Give-A-Way's---- in a row beginning on tomorrow evening and ending on my Anniversary day which is November 28th. But due to the holidays, I'll leave all of the Give-A-Way's open until the end of the month and will announce all of the winner's on December 1st.

It's been a Wonderful year and I'm so thankful to for all of the experience Before I proceed with the details of the Give-A-Way's please allow me a moment to be sentimental......

I can't believe I'm 7 days away from my 1st Blogoversary. Ohhhh, I'm so excited. Who knew I'd even venture out to create a blog let alone make it through 1 year. During this time of year I love to reflect on those things I'm thankful for---actually I try to do that all year, but especially as the year's ends. It's been a WONDERFUL year and you Guys are part of the reason that's been the case. I've learned alot by pushing myself and embarking on some new territories. I had a few first's--my first pair of pants and my first bathing suit. I've had alot of great garments and alot of not-so-great garments (I'll review my garments at year's end). All in all it's been one heck of a ride.  And I can't even say how valuable your comments and advice have been! In any case, you are only good as your support, and I've felt the love from all of your comments, critique's, and advice. And on top of that I've had the pleasure following you on your sewing adventures. You guys have been great and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Ok, I'm done being mushy, back to the details about the Give-A-Way's.....


The first Year's the BIG year, so why not make theses Give-Away's memorable. Here's some of the items I plan to Give-A-Way......and yes, there are 2  Best of Threads DVD-ROM's up for grabs!!!!

  I plan to throw a couple of more goodies (a little fabric) into the pile as well and they'll be unveiled throughout the week.

Now I know what you're thinking. What's the catch? At least that would be what I'd be thinking (I'm overly suspicious when things seem too good to be true). There's no catch. Just 2 CONDITIONS:

Condition #1: To qualify for the Give-A-Way's you have to Follow my Blog or either add me to your Blog Roll (hey, how else am I going to track you down if you're the winner:)

Condition #2: Every Give-A-Way will be accompanied by a question. Answer the question and you're entered into the Give-A-Way automatically! You know I love posing questions and getting your feedback. The questions will be pretty fun:)

So it's that simple,-----be a Follower and answer the Give-A-Way question and you qualify for the prize. You can enter one or all of the Give-A-Way's. But you can only win one.

Please spread the WORD to Others!!!!!  If you have a Blog and wouldn't mind posting a link to my Give-Away I would appreciate it. I know people love a good Give-Away.

To recap: The 7 Give-Away's  will begin tomorrow and will occur each day until November 28th with the contests winners being announced on December 1st.  Everyone has until the end of the month to enter.
Winners will be chosen randomly. And prizes will be mailed (by way of media mail) the very next day.

Again, thanks for everything:) BTW, my corduroy jacket is coming along quite well. I was off to a slow start but got my act together and should be done soon. I'll save those blogging details for after the contest is over.


All the Best,
~Victoria

Fabric Give-A-Way WINNERS!!!

On late August I posted about my Fabric Giveaway HERE. A condition to the giveaway was to leave a comment on my post detailing how you keep track of your fabric stash.  Some of you had systems and some not, some of you had tons of fabric and others only kept only enough to complete their projects. All in all, I really appreciate all of the wonderful insights each of you shared.

Now it's time to giveaway some fabric.

I used the old fashioned "pull-the-number-out-of-the-box" system. There were 39 comments and each commentor was assigned a nmber. The first received the number 1, the second the number 2, and so on and so forth. I received help in drawing names from my lovely assistance (my Wee-One who recently turned 3). She so graciously pulled a number out of the box and selected from the fabrics which were separately written on two pieces of paper and placed on the table. My daughter got really excited about doing the drawings that is until she found out Daddy had cookies in the kitchen. So we had to make this drawing quick (wink)!!!

(Digging in for numbers)

(Pairing the selections)

(Here are the selections...)

(Numbers up close with paired fabrics It's hard to see but the top left number is 9 and the the bottom left number is 1)

So it is my pleasure to announce that Lover of Words is the winner of the Blue,white, gold and aubergine floral lycra and Sewsue is the winner of the Black and white abstract print knit. Congrats ladies and please email me at tenthousandsewinghours@yahoo.com to let me know where I need to send the fabric. Thanks again for everyone's participation. If you didn't win, there will be plenty more opportunities in the future. Giveaway's are soooooo much fun and I plan on having them periodically!!!!

Fabric Give-A-Way!!!

Tomorrow I'll be on a plane preparing for a 17 hour flight to AK for work. While I'm gone for the next 10 days, I thought it would be a great time to host a Giveaway! I always love Giveaway's and I hope you do as well.  Although I'm away I'll post when I can and of course keep up with all of the great projects many of you are working on. For the last couple of weeks I've been doing some Client sewing and thought I'd post about that work in the next day or so. But I digress.......

.....here are the two beautiful pieces of knit fabrics I would like to Giveaway!

The beautiful blue, aubergine, gold, & white floral Lycra print fabric on the left is a fabric that drapes and molds beautifully to one's figure.  The black and white abstract print on the right is a stable knit (one way stretch) and is a dream to work with. The prints on both fabrics are phenomenal. Both fabrics are 60"wide and the blue and white is 1 1/2yd while the black and white is 2 yards. So you can definitely get a dress, blouse, or skirt out of these. It's your choice.

 If you'd like to win one of these pieces please answer the following question:

How do you keep track of your fabric stash???

Yep, if you can leave your answer as a comment you'll automatically be entered for the fabric drawing.


Well of course I can't ask you a question without providing you Guys my own answer. This is how I organize my stash........

(These are the small plastic bins (shoe box size) that are perfect for holding swatches)

It's a pretty simplistic method. I have 3 containers of fabric swatches. There's a container for Wovens (including wovens with stretch), Knits, and Silky fabrics (polyesters, silks, etc). Whenever I get a new fabric I just cut a 3X3" swatch and throw it in the appropriate container. Trust me, with a packed out sewing closet, bins, and upright cabinet full of fabric it's easy to lose track of the fabrics I have. I know many of you have tons of fabric as well and I'm interested in how you organize yours. This systems works well with how I organize my sewing patterns which is detailed HERE. In this post you can also see one of my crazily packed fabric closets. Although it's packed out it actually is organized by fabric types:)

So again my question to you is, "How do you organize your fabrics?" Leave your answer and I'll enter you into the drawing for the fabrics. I'll be gone until Sept 2nd and will randomly select 2 people (each to receive one piece of fabric). I can't wait to read all of your answers. I'm sure they'll be insightful:)