Hat's Off!

Kwik Sew 3397

Burda 4239, View D - Middle row, Left

A friend of mine needed hats.
I needed to get in some sewing time.
Win-win!

She had patterns and fabric at home, but she lives a bit far away from me.
I, too, had patterns and fabric at home.
Win-win again!

"Something in red!"she said.
(And doesn't everyone have an inner Hello Kitty?)
Win, Place, Show!

I found two patterns in my stash, some cute Hello Kitty fabric from Jo-Ann's (2010), and a fun red lacy print fabric.   She could decide which style, which fit and which pattern flattered her.  And which side, since they were lined and I made them reversible

We called the Kwik Sew 3397 the "cake hat", as it looked just like a round cake, and the Burda 4239 the "baseball hat", as it had the six pieced top similar to a baseball cap.

Burda 4239 is the "old-school" Burda, albeit over 20 years old - the green tissue paper, adding the seam allowances.  Oh how I've missed this type of Burda pattern!  You may be able to find it,  it still pops up on the Internet/Etsy/Pinterest.

Kwik Sew 3397 is still available online from the Kwik Sew website.

Here's how they stacked up --

Burda 4239

Burda 4239

Yeah, wow!

Burda View D kind of showed its age, style-wise.  The other views maybe as so much.  But the pattern piece engineering, as usual, as it used to be, was perfect.  Look how the pieces all matched!

Serged/Trimmed

By cutting duplicate top pieces, I was able to line it and make it reversible by serging the brim/cap seam.









However, View D probably had its day in the sun and was not the most stylish.  The 2 1/2" brim just didn't seam (sic) in proportion to the top pieces.  It looked too short on my head, and I think that was a factor for my friend, too.

Kwik Sew 3397

Kwik Sew 3397

Now the Kwik Sew -- grab this pattern!  Look how perfectly the top fit into the side piece.  No need to ease, or expand your cursing vocabulary.  It slipped and sewed right in.
As did the band, which measured 2 3/4"

Circle in the square, so to speak.

It also looked the best on us.   I'm ready to make it again in all sorts of fabrics.  For both of us!  This is a universally flattering hat!

Here's a sewing tip - fuse the interfacing to the fabric before cutting out.  Do a quick layout and see how much you will need to interface, fuse, then cut.  I don't know about you, but what I cut as the interfacing never seems to match up as well to the fashion fabric.  This insured no glue residue on my iron, ironing board or "near misses".  A little iron touch-up after cutting out and you are ready to sew!

A snowball's chance...Kwik Sew 2779 PJ Pants

Kwik Sew 2779 PJ pants

(No, they aren't wonky, I was trying to show the trim on the side.)

I wanted a pair of sleep pants to go with a Nick and Nora sleepshirt. I love Target's Nick and Nora sleepwear line - such cute fabric designs! (I thought this print looked like snowballs)

Even though 2779 is for knits, there is plenty of ease to make them out of a woven. Either cut up a size for your first try or add 3/8" to the seam edges. The pants also run long, I only had to add 1" in length.

I especially like these because they are one-seam/one pattern piece pants. There is a line to add trim. In my case, I added the lace along the fabric fold, which was discolored from light exposure. Well, it made it easy to keep a nice straight line! And Kwik Sew's elastic application is super easy and super fast. You serge the elastic to the top edge, fold over and stitch. Perfect!

Unfortunately, 2779 is now discontinued, but you may be able to score a copy on the Internet. Kwik Sew also sells pulled patterns online, but at $25 a pop. My bet is that this popular design has been reissued under another number in their current catalog.

Kwik Sew 2811 Strikes Again!

This is the first time I tried trimming with the contrast sleeve band option. I hope it helped it from looking "Jeepers, I ran out of fabric"-y. Good to note, if you get three yards, you have enough to make the long pants and add contrast sleeves and collar when you are stuck with a less-than-2-yards-end-of-the-bolt remnant.

Night-Nightlife

Still smarting after those Sandra Betzina clunkers, best to go another round with TNT Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's. L and I just happened to be in the neighborhood of a remaining Hancock's. Gotta do our part to keep them around. She pulled together this fun combo, and on sale, too. Another one of their marked down/take another 20% off/now toss in the 10% ASG discount. I think the "sophisticated 60's ladies" ended up less than $1.50/yard, from an original $5.99/yard. The peachy pink, "Tea Time by Phyllis Hoffman" (wasn't she once the editor of Crafts or Country Cross Stitch magazine back in the early 80's?) will be the shirt, and the ladies are "KerryBeary" for the pants-both fabrics are Hancock exclusives. I plan to have some trim and contrast fun combining the two fabrics--embellishing the champagne with a few bead "bubbles" and their ensembles with either more beads or embroidery touches for the shirt pocket.

Fabric Static

Just when you zero out the fabric purchased/fabric used stats ...

You decide to stop by Jo-Ann's to check out their markdown bolts. In cozy flannels on the left - a true bowling shirt, with perfectly "spared" bottoms.

And the right - I found the coordinating bottle cap print for an extra PJ pant bottom. Maybe I'll be able to create a another shirt with the leftovers combined from the earlier sewn Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's.

Back again!

I wanted to see if Hancock's had the new Kwik Sew 3461, featured in the current Threads Magazine (#131, page 24) pattern review, and they did! 70% off ($2.85). Then I started looking to see if they might have something suitable for the DKNY Vogue 2970 skirt - it called for 3 3/8 yard of 60" wide, and for a funky skirt, I really didn't want to invest too much $$. I found the dark green lightweight woven with lighter green/khaki cross threads 60% off ($4.72 total at $1.18/yard) I got 4 yards because it looked to be like a "mystery" fabric and didn't know if it would shrink. Then 2 spools of matching thread ($1.20) and a 9" zipper because I couldn't remember if it needed one, they didn't have the current Vogue Pattern Book, and at 80% off (43 cents), better to be safe and stash if necessary. While I was at the cutting table, someone had abandoned this pretty wine trim. Took that home, too ($1.68).

So, the current deals as of this week -- Patterns 70% off, zippers 70% off, all buttons are 80% off, the good $$ trims 70%, fabric discount up to 60%. If you are looking for the name brand quilting fabrics, there's lots of bolts of - Alexander Henry, St. Jude's, etc., included at the 60% off.

And still clutching my 40% off coupon, I went to Jo-Ann's, and their magazines are still on sale, though this time their sign had the small print at the bottom - "Effective 5-6/5-19" Guess where I'll be on the 20th? :-) Probably looking at another sale sighn (sic). . .

Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's (again!)

Is this the fourth or fifth time I've made these Kwik Sew PJ's?! I've lost track. Newest version - short sleeved top with the long pants in 100% woven cotton with lace trim in the retro Pepsi print from the Jo-Ann's markdown shelves. I added my 10 cents/yard Hancock's lace to the collar, sleeve, top hem and to the tie/bow of the pants, after which I was left with only 6 inches. Oops! Sew first, then measure? Sew on the wild side -- it's just PJ's! I thought the print needed a little something and the lace was just the right touch. The buttons were also a Hancock bargain. If your local Hancock's is closing, run and grab this pattern at 70% off. It may even be 80% off this week. If not, 2811 is well worth the full price - you'll love and sew it over and over again, too.

Must be gravitational pull

Another stop at Hancock's but this was legit, really! -- I had an idea while treadmilling this morning and was looking for lace to trim my upcoming Pepsi girl Kwik Sew PJ's. I had just left Jo-Ann's empty-handed and actually (ugh) going to go to Wal-Mart to fullfill this cardiovascular inspiration cheaply, or just skip the idea entirely. Hancock's was on my route. I needed 4 yards and found a spool with...4 yards! For 40 cents total! Yay! Then two Simplicity patterns Threads' Sew Stylish 3867 --it includes that cute aqua purse she's holding-- and In K Designs 4022 - (all patterns are now 70% off. Gosh knows when Jo-Ann's will have another cheapo sale; watch, next week! But I had to have them now ! Too delicicious to wait --thank you, Erica B for scouting them out!), two spools of Mettler thread ($2.87), and 2 cards of buttons ($1.44). And a pair of cheap scissors to replace my decoy pair, which have gotten all gummy and funky (good thing decoys work, eh?) for only 59 cents.

Finished the PJ's

I finished the Kwik Sew PJ's this morning, and will wear them tonight. Though now I am wishing they were made from cozy flannel instead. Brrrr! And if you notice an additional 4.75 yards "used," it was because I dunked what was left in the Goodwill donation bag! What a *%$#@ that fabric was to sew. Hopefully someone else can find a better use for it. I'm still picking up shreds and threads of the fabric!

Kwik Sew 2811 - PJ's

Lest ya'll think I only sew bunnies, and boxes, and ties (oh my!)...I cut out a pair of these Kwik Sew PJ's this morning. A long pants/short-sleeved shirt combo. These are actually the fourth pair I've made. (Read my review and others on Patternreview.com. The pattern is popular for a reason!) The fabric is a $1/yard fabric from Wal-Mart, back in the day. You can't beat a pair of cute PJ's for less than $5.

Considerable Restraint!

Some of our local Hancock's are closing -- I don't know why; there were always cars and shoppers there. Others are staying open, so I'll be able to get my Kwik Sew fixes prn. To be honest, lately I've only been shopping there for patterns and notions. I haven't found any fashion fabric I liked for a couple of years. Sad!

This is the first week of the inventory liquidation, so the selection is good, and the discounts OK...20%-30% off. But add in the ASG 10% discount, which they are still accepting, you can get some pretty good deals.

These three Kwik Sews came home with me. One of our ASG'rs made a pair of the slippers (3323) and they turned out really cute. And you never know when you may need a pattern for a tie (3183) or gloves (3397)!

This book had some really cute and creative ideas, 24 in fact! "Stitch & Sizzle Accessories"

I liked the amulet purse made out of a tie and the butterfly eyeglass case is perfect to make for Mother's Day. Check their website - http://www.creativepub.com ISBN is 1-58923-207-0

Bead and embellishment goodies. I can't explain the adhesive iron-on green"2" other than it must have been stuck to the underside of one of the packages and I wasn't paying attention during checkout when it rang up. (No returns/no refunds). And the scatological humor afterwards.

A closeup of the Blue Moon charms - the top is a heart with a keyhole (key to my heart?) saying "made with love" and the ones below are embossed with "love"

50 cent bargains! The red/gold and black/gold wooly nylon was originally $6.29!