UFO revisit

Pattern review are running their UFO contest during January 2009. So that made me think a little about the UFO's I listed here.
Some of them are so terrible though that I think they should be recycled instead of finished. Either by me putting them in the fabric recycling bin or by making them into something else.

• #01 teal and cream print skirt
• #02 cream jacket
• #03 navy jacket with purple lining !
• #04 light grey jacket with turquoise slubs
• #05 dark grey narrow leg pants
• #06 red tiered skirt
• #07 navy shorts for DH
• #08 navy batik blouse
• #09 navy stripe skirt
• #10 green/navy stripe skirt
• #11 mint elastic waist culottes
• #12 mint and teal print dress and blouse
• #13 coral/sage jacket
• #15 Flared jeans
• #17 Turquoise stripe blouse
• #19 Brown stripe pants
• #20 Rust pants
• #22 Khaki shorts
• #24 Burgundy faux suede jacket
• #25 Burgundy faux suede skirt
• #26 teal stripe blouse
• #27 Pale pink stripe camisole

#14 Floral print Knit Top finished Jan 2008

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=25692

This is a UFO cut out during last year's 1 pattern, multiple looks (July 2007) Pattern Description:
Empire line top with neckline and sleeve variations.
Pattern Sizing:
(8-10-12-14), (16-18-20-22) I cut a 16 to 18, then recut it smaller as I've lost some weight, plus I used a knit for this version
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Reasonably given how much I've altered it!
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Completely ignored them as this is my 8th version of this LOL
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
That empire line is the thinnest part of me other than my ankles, why not highlight it?
Fabric Used:
remant of floral print viscose knit from Bedford Fabrics in St Helens, Merseyside, UK which cost me 50p
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
Well I've used a sleeve from somewhere else I think. The fabric has a pattern with a non directional pattern and 4 way stretch so I cut the pieces out all different ways up to fit them on the fabric, which whilst not following any real sewing rules has resulted in quite an acceptable little tee.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I already sewed this 7 times already for the 1 pattern multiple looks contest last year - see here for Previous versions of 5099
Conclusion:
Cute little tee for 50p which co-ordinates with some of the items I am sewing for the Timmel SWAP 2008. Its still a little loose, but I think as its viscose and not prewashed it'll shrink up a little in the wash, if not I'll add a centre back seam to take things in a little further.

#21 Green wool jacket finished

#21 Green wool jacket is now finished. I added silver tone buttons which have the print from a Roman coin which I rather liked, but DH thinks they are too shiny and I should have black or dark green instead.
Thoughts?

#21 Green wool jacket progress

Last weekend my mum (another sewist) and I promised each other we'd work away at some of our sewing tasks - alterations, finishing things off etc and update each other on Sunday.
Well I can't let her down, can I? So I've been hand hemming the green wool jacket I started 4 years ago in sewing class and hope to add buttons and buttonholes pretty soon.
Since its winter I will actually get to wear it too.

Pics will follow.

Picture of New Culottes in Action

I appear to have saved the scraps so a cute little waistcoat (vest) will be forthcoming!

#18 Black stripe culottes done

#18 Black stripe culottes are now done and I will try to post a picture.
I followed the construction methods from Threads August/September 2005 'Sew Clothes that keep on fitting' - this is how to construct garments so they are easier to alter as you lose weight.

My construction order was as follows
Sew fronts together, attach front facing.
Sew back darts, insert invisible zipper in centre back and sew up rest of back crotch, attach back facing in two sections.
Sew side seams through facing pieces in one seam - this is where the alterations will come in future.
Sew inside leg seams, hem and hand stitch facings in place.

the resulting culottes/gauchos/wide leg cropped pants fit beautifully which is a happy accident of a TNT pattern.

I'm now just hoping I was in hoarding mode rather than declutter mode when I cut them out, and have kept the scraps - because matching waistcoat (vest) fronts with satin back would be lovely and make a nice fashionable little outfit.

More alterations

Yesterday I managed some alterations, adding elastic into the back waist of two pairs of pants, and altering a third by several inches.
I think tonight I will work a little on another of the UFOs - #18 Black stripe culottes.