Costume Sewing Pattern Sale at GoofingOff Sewing

I can't believe it is  time again for the Annual Costume Sewing Pattern Sale at GoofingOff Sewing. This year all costume sewing patterns are a big 50% off. All of them....and they are going fast. Here's a sampling:

Simplicity 0237 Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Supergirl patterns in size 3-8, uncut

Simplicity 0241 The Avengers Thor costume for Men and Boys UNCUT

Simplicity 3782 Misses' Elizabethan Costumes in size 14-20 UNCUT

Simplicity 9257 Dog Costumes Uncut 

There's lot more costume patterns to choose from, all 50% off for the sale, then they go back to full price.
Stop by to get your favorites before they are gone.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing

GoofingOff's Very First Halloween Pumpkin Challenge

Inspiration comes in the strangest places. Magazines, Pinterest, and Etsy are all good places to find great ideas to inspire but this time a trip to the dollar store got my creative juices going. 

I found this cute foam pumpkin....12 in a pack....8 inches wide by 6 inches tall. I thought Templates! OK, templates. What to make with the pumpkin template.......How about a quilted wall hanging? Why not? A wall hanging would be fun when the grands come over before Halloween.

While walking around I also found bats and thought I could incorporate the bats into the design. 

I decided to leave the pumpkin orange...like a coloring book....and make him (her?) a jack-o'lantern. I used some black scraps for the face....in triangles as if I was cutting a pumpkin. I used a piece of green fabric for the stem. 

I made a few bats in different sizes to give it dimension. After making myself crazy about what color background to use I decided on a white print. I machine zig zagged BOO on another fabric scrap then backed it with black and white stripe. I found a stitch pattern on my machine that looks like bats (at least they look like bats to me) and sewed the sign in place.  The sash and binding were made with spooky eyes on black. The eyes glow in the dark. How cool is that?

I overall machine quilted the quilt. The bats and pumpkin were thread painted with machine embroidery thread. 

Not fancy but still cute enough to bring a smile to the grandkids faces. 

So, here's the challenge. Use the pumpkin. The pumpkins are available at the local Dollar Tree or use the picture and copy it. Make a wall hanging, table runner, pot holder, mask, or anything that you want to do. Any color. Let your creative juices run wild. When you get them done we will post the pictures on the blog and Facebook to show them off. 

The challenge will run until Halloween. 

Have fun!

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing. 

GoofingOff on a Shop Hop

Hi All! Yes, it's been a while but I'm back with lots to tell, things to share, and stuff to show. Before I get too crazy I've got to share my shop hop adventure with everyone. 

For those who've been on shop hops you know how much fun they can be. For those who haven't gone it's like this.....a big shopping trip with the girls where you don't have to drive, you are fed, and get to stay at a nice hotel. Definitely, worth going. Every shop has the nicest folks, discounts ranging from 20-50%, and demonstrations. 

I guess every shop hop has a name and ours was the Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts. A beautiful quilt was specially made for the Hop to be raffled off at the end of the trip. 

Our shop hop started in Lake City with stops in Ocala, Dunedin, Plant City, Winter Garden, Lake Mary, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, and Jacksonville. Seven shops with a winery and chocolate factory, too. That's a lot of driving in 2 days. I am so glad I wasn't driving. 

I joined up the with group from Fabric Art in Lake City, FL. The store is a delight for the senses with beautiful fabrics everywhere....or so it seemed to me. They even had Judaic patterns....totally unexpected and yes, I bought a couple.  The patterns were designed by Rebecca Anderson. 

The patterns are for paper piecing. Not sure how I feel about that, though. hmmm....

Everyone received swag bags with goodies....pens, flashlights, patterns, and most important, fabric. This luscious fat quarter was in my bag. 













If anyone is interested in the patterns I am sure the good folks at Fabric Art can help you out. Judaic patterns, even when they aren't called Judaic, are hard to find. Tell them you heard about the patterns from me. 
Here's the address and phone number:
Fabric Art
4136 W US Hwy 90
Lake City, FL 32055
386-755-0179

I will be posting more about the shop hop. There is so much more to tell. 

New Look Patterns in the Shop

New Look 6899 Misses Skirts and Knit Tops

I love when I find a stash of patterns uncut and ready to list. Here is such a group of patterns. 

New Look 6403 Misses' knit tops and pants 

 Cute dresses, skirts, and tops just right for summer.

New Look 6404  Unisex Knit Tops, pants and shorts

 These gems are uncut and complete. They are all multi-sized so you can custom fit the pattern to your exact measurements.

New Look 6306, bust 31-42 inches

 The patterns are easy to sew with easy to follow directions.

New Look 6328 Misses' Camisole, Skirts in two lengths, and wide legged pants

New Look 6178 Misses' Dresses, Skirts, and Tank Tops

You can find these patterns at GoofingOff Sewing. 

Post by Eileen

New Pattern from Burda

Today I found this cute tote bag pattern from the good folks at Burda.. The bag is adorable! The pattern calls for leather strips and a scarf (if you can part with one of your scarf…fabric is always good).

Click HERE for the pattern.

You’re welcome.

Happy Sewing!

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing

Repurposing Blue Jeans to Handbags

Not too long ago we had a visit from the little grands but as luck would have it, we had rain, lots of it for days. While one of the girls helped Grandpa build his race car in the garage, the other wanted to hang with Grandma. Keeping her entertained was challenging so we took a trip to the local thrift shop. I thought shopping for books and toys would help and that's where I spied a pair of blue jeans marked down to a quarter. I immediately thought of things to make from the jeans and bought them. 

We decided to make little handbags for the girls from the legs of the jeans.

We cut the legs off the jeans about 10 inches from the bottom. Using just the legs we turned the legs inside out, cut off the hems, and stitched across the narrow end and squared it off so it would have a flat bottom. We folded down the purse to the size we liked and added a rag rose and buttons for embellishments. 
For the handle we used the hems that we cut off earlier.

Rag rose and buttons on an embroidered bag.

Rag Rose and buttons.

Perfect size bags for little girls. 

Considering we used buttons on hand, scrap fabric for the roses, a whole twenty-five cents for the jeans we kept ourselves entertained for very little money and a little bit of time. The best part is we had 2 little happy girls with their stylish bags. 

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing. 

Reasons to Iron When You Sew

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I had the opportunity to retire back in April and took it. Wonderful choice. Then I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily it was caught very early. I will have surgery this week. Then my uncle became ill. Very ill and being the good niece that I am, I spent a lot of time with him. He is still sick but in rehab. One day at a time.
Anyway, I wrote a few posts a while back and thought maybe I should finish them. Here's one about one of my favorite chores, ironing. I like it better than mopping floors and cleaning toilets.

Years ago I remember my dad getting clothes out of the dryer and shaking them out. "Look, no wrinkles! No reason to iron," he said. Like magic the wrinkle were gone. There's a trick to that, though. Your presence is required to shake the wrinkles out as soon as the dryer is done. Really? I have to stay in one place and wait for the dryer? Hmmm...
When I went into the Air Force, he packed up the old family iron and sent it with me. Good thing. I found I could iron uniforms a lot better than I could polish and spit shine my shoes. Talk about trading labor. My iron was my ticket away from shoe polish and dirty fingernails.

For many people ironing is a chore. I refuse don't  iron my sheets or napkins (I know folks who think I am a slacker). I also don't like to iron my t-shirts or jeans. Such a slacker.  Most knit fabrics require little, if any, pressing to look good, however, there are a lot of other fabrics, even some knits, that benefit from a good press.

Ironing and pressing are a very important part of sewing and quilting.

Sewing, whether  sewing for clothing construction or any other project, requires the use of an iron and, preferably, an ironing board, though a table and a towel will work in a pinch. My iron and ironing board are standing on the ready at all times, plugged in when the sewing machine is going.
So, here goes, expert (sort of expert at least) advice about ironing.

Know your iron. Really. Know how to set the proper temperatures, how to use the steam setting if you like it (I don't like it), and how to fill the water reservoir. Know about the automatic shut off and how to reset it (nothing like a warm iron when you expect a hot one).

Handy-dandy ironing tools:
Press cloth: I love my press cloth. It is essential when pressing silks.
Spray bottle: I keep mine at the ready with water for those times a light misting is necessary. I heard a water/vinegar mix is good, too, but haven't tried it yet.
Ham and sleeve board: both nice to have but not essential.

When to iron:
Before sewing:
An iron is pretty handy to get the wrinkles out of patterns before placement on fabric for cutting. Use a barely warm setting.
Iron the fabric prior to pattern placement as well. Your pattern pieces will have a much better chance of accuracy.
Set your iron at the appropriate setting for the type of fabric you are using. I used to have an iron that had different settings but only one worked....very hot. I got good at used it, most of the time. Then there was the time the fabric melted as soon as the iron touched it. I bought a new iron.

While you sew:
Press your seams when you sew.....Quilters press to the dark side (ha ha ha..quilting humor), otherwise, press your seams open. Doing so sets the thread and decreases the chance of those aggravating little unwanted creases that appear. Always press your darts in place before sewing over them.
Take your pins out before ironing. Never iron over your pins. They could melt (if you are like me with plastic headed pins) or leave marks in the fabric.

After sewing:
Give the object a once over with your iron. The look will go from "not bad" to "Damn, I did good."

So, that's it in a nutshell. Love your iron. Be one with your iron. OK, a little too much but appreciate it. It's a great tool.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing

New Listings at GoofingOff Sewing

       Good morning and Happy Saturday! I've been away from the blog, please forgive me, but family illness and personal stuff (not sh-t, I am trying to cuss less) have kept me away. I am amazed by how a person can get side lined, knocked off their feet by happenings, and what it takes to get back on track. I also found that while wandering around NYC I found comfort in a local farmers' market (Union Square on Friday and Saturday, yummy bread), thrift shopping (no patterns but a great wool coat. It was cold up there), a book (not an e-book but real paper book so I could turn the pages), and the NYC VAMC (I am a vet. It was like a piece of home far away from home. They recognized me as one of them. Awwww). 

      Getting back on track is to get back into my routine. It took me weeks but the first thing that helped was listing in the GoofingOff Sewing shop. Shopping came next and cooking a close third. 

I also noticed what keeps others on track. For my friend, Denise, it is cooking. She creates the most wonderful soups and casseroles. Her canvas is a soup pot, her brush is a spoon, her paints are the vegetables and spices she uses. My hubby is at home in the garage. I swear he gets high on the smell of grease. He is happiest when he is bending a wrench. The more difficult the challenge, the happier he is when he gets it done. 

      So, here are a few of the listings that helped me regain my senses. And, by the way, the family member is doing better. One day at a time, one step at a time, even baby steps count. 

Simplicity 4075 boys' Costumes from 1952 in size Medium COMPLETE 
Hard to believe this pattern is over 60 years old! Imagine a little guy dressed as a matador. I love the little guy on the pattern front in the 50's version of a Turkish costume. 

Simplicity 1510 Misses' Maternity Jumper and Blouse from 1946 in size 12, bust 30 inches COMPLETE 
1940's Maternity wear from the "just after WWII." Lots of baby making in those days. 

Simplicity 4494 Teens' Dress, bra, top, and shorts in size 8, bust 28 inches from the early 1960's. COMPLETE 
So cute and easy to make. Change it up with today's colors and fabric. A great pattern for a beginner.

Simplicity 7001 Misses' Cocktail dress in size 4-12, bust 29-34 inches UNCUT 
Here's another EASY TO SEW dress. Cocktail dress, that is. I love the sheath....form fitted to show off curves but not too tight so you don't show the curves you don't want to show. I think I would ditch the sleeves, though. I little too poufy for me. 

Simplicity 8256 Men's Kimono robe in size 38-40 inches COMPLETE 
I love Jiffy patterns....easy to sew and still look good. This robe would be great for a Father's Day or Mother's Day gift. 

Simplicity 9136 Girls' Costume Pattern in size 14 
I love historical costumes. In fact, I love costumes. 

McCall's 7834 Men's Shirts. 8 Great Looks Size 38-40 UNCUT 
More great sewing for the men in your life.

McCall's 2966 Hats and Bags in Fur from 1971, UNCUT 
OK, so it's kind of late for fur hats this year but winter will come back next year....and you will be ready with this pattern.

Simplicity 5175 from 1980 Misses' Front Wrap Bias Skirt in size 12-16 UNCUT 
I love wrap skirts. They make great cover-ups with dance wear or bathing suits. 

OK, so that's how I keep my head on straight, listing great patterns. Stop in at GoofingOff Sewing and see some of the other great patterns listed. Don't forget to use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get 15% off your purchase.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing.

Four Patterns from GoofingOff Sewing That Will Make You Miss the 80's

I was chatting with some friends about the 1980's, the hair, the music, the styles. So much to talk about!  Lots of wildness but some good times, too. Here's a few patterns that are truly 80's style, padded shoulders and all. Might make you miss the mullet.
Here's a little Blondie to put you in the 80's mood while you look at the styles.

McCall's 3583 from 1988 with Shaped Waistline, gathered skirt and neckline variations in size 10-12-14. UNCUT Sew this off-the-shoulder or one shoulder to wear at the beach. Perfect for warm weather. Great for an evening at the beach club...Florida style. 

Butterick 4658 Misses' Cover-ups and Shawls in size small from 1986. UNCUT
This would be great on a cool summer evening. Maybe in white with a wedding gown to keep the ac off the bride's shoulders. 

McCall's 7155 Misses's Wrap Tops in size Medium, bust 34-36 inches UNCUT
Good choice for summer fun or pair it up with nice pants or a skirt for the evening. 

Butterick 3686 Misses' Loose Fitting Jackets in size P-S-M, bust 30-36 inches. UNCUT

Loose fitting and snuggle up jacket. Fast and easy to sew. 

Check out the shop, GoofingOff Sewing, when you have a chance. Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get 15% off your order. 

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing

Throwback Thursday McCall's 7155 Halter Top

This little cutie is dated 1980....the year of Elton John's Little Jeannie, Queen singing about a "Little Thing Called Love", and Blondie hit the charts big with "Call Me." OK, some of us were dancing to disco.

The halter top is easy to make and is sewn in one piece. The Wrap Top features cut-away armholes and has bias fronts with attached ties.....and depending on the wearer's mood, it can be worn frontwards or backwards. 

The pattern is for stretch knits only. It is a 90 Minute Fashion pattern. 

Make it in a sparkly, sequined fabric and you can dance all night. 

McCall's 7155 Misses' Top in size Medium, bust 34-36 inches UNCUT

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing

Twelve New Listings for Special Occasions At GoofingOff Sewing

Well, I am back after having an incredible adventure in Haiti. The 1st Medical Mission to Fond Jean Noel, Haiti is in the books. The mission was a success. We triaged the children at three orphanages then provided care to over 350 people in the remote village of Fond Jean Noel. The group I had the opportunity to work with was wonderful and so were the people. Lots to talk about but that will be in another post. Right now I'm talking and showing the latest patterns in the GoofingOff Shop.

As luck would have it, incredibly good luck, I found an stash of sewing patterns that were uncut and complete. In the stash were beautiful evening/cocktail dresses, even bridal gowns, perfect for that occasion on your calendar. Wait until you feast your eyes on them. Here's twelve patterns destined to make an impression at your next soiree.

Vogue 2606 Bellville Sassoon Evening Dress in size 6-8-10 UNCUT OK, this is absolutely GORGEOUS! Great for showing off curves and cleavage. 

Butterick 6389 David Warren Designer Misses' Evening Dress Size 12-14-16, Bust 34-38 inches UNCUT Slim-cut sheath dress....the perfect little black dress or add color. Elegant!

McCall's 2954 Misses' Bridal and Evening Dresses with Shawl Size 12-14-16, Bust 34-38 inches UNCUT
Fitted bodice with an a-line skirt for those of us who have hips (yes, that's me...hips). The stole is an added bonus, great for the air conditioned halls or evening chill. 

Simplicity 5447 Misses' Evening Dresses and Bridal Gown in size 12-14-16-18, Bust 34-40 inches UNCUT Oh, is this cute! One strap or two, simple lines to show off curves, and length to add elegance. 

McCall's 3053 Misses' Renaissance Bridal Gowns in size 12-14-16 UNCUT Medieval and Renaissance lovers rejoice! This pattern has it with short or long sleeves...and a train. Perfect as you wed your knight in shining armor.

Butterick 5542 Misses' Evening Dress in size 12-14-16, Bust 34-36-38 inches. UNCUT
The little black dress grown up in full length for the formal occasion or kept short for a summer date night. 

McCall's 3010 Evening Elegance Evening Dresses and Bridal Gown in size 10-14 Bust 32-36 inches UNCUT
Fitted bodice, nice lines to accentuate what you want to show off...

Butterick 3771 Misses's Evening Dresses in Size 14-16-18, bust 36-40 inches UNCUT
Simple enough for a day at the beach or a stroll on the boardwalk but, change up the fabric and check it out! Lovely enough for cocktails! 

Simplicity 9030 Misses Fitted Evening Dress in size 6-16, bust 30-38 inches UNCUT
Incredible dress! Show it off and feel great when you do!

Butterick 3758 Mises' Evening Gowns by Designer Rimi Size 12-14-16 Complete
A bit of leg interest to show off those gorgeous gams and a bolero to keep the chill off.

Vogue 1737  American Designers Tom and Linda Platt Misses' Evening dress in size 6-8-10 UNCUT
No matter what the length this dress speaks in volumes.

Very Easy Vogue 7513 Misses' Dress in size 6-8-10 UNCUT
Wiggle into the room in this dress and turn heads! Maybe not for the bride but definitely a "do" for cocktails.

Well, that's the fancy stuff. There's a lot more coming....fun in the sun stuff like swim suits and sundresses, so stop by the shop.
Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing

New Listings At GoofingOff Sewing: 17 Ways to Sew in the New Year!!

Wow, 2016! It's almost hard to fathom. I remember watching movies, sci-fi movies, about what the world would be like in 2016. Driving around in spaceships, food replaced by stuff in a tube, and everyone would wear sleek silvery body suits...because that's what people who travel from planet to planet would wear. Not quite what's happening now. After all, my car is still earth bound and I'm wearing jeans and peasant tops, 70's style...and people still sew.
With that in mind, I found a few patterns that might tickle the fancy of more than a few sewing enthusiasts. Some are for summer but then winter doesn't last forever. 

McCall's 5357 Easy Stitch 'n Save Misses' Summer Wear in size 6-12, bust 29-34 inches.   Easy to sew, easy to wear, perfect for summer or the resort. 

McCall's 4922 Misses Shirts in size 6-12, Bust 30-34 inches UNCUT Button front with collar and princess seams to show off curves.

Simplicity 4162 Lizzie McGuire for Girls. Peasant Blouses, Dress, Pants, and Shorts in size 8-16. UNCUT Peasant tops and dresses for the fashion conscious girls. 

New Look 6361 Girls Summer Outfits Size 3-8 UNCUT Lots of summer looks for the little ones. Fun and easy to sew. 

New Look 6688 Toddlers' Dresses in size 1/2-4 UNCUT So cute! With the right fabric this dress could be suitable for a wedding or the beach!

New Look 6613 Little Girls' Dresses in size 3-8 UNCUT Another cutie from New Look for the little ladies. Adorable!

McCall's 3610 Misses' Shirts in size 8-14, bust 30-36 inches. UNCUT Eight Great Looks, 1 Easy Pattern

Simplicity 9415 Misses' 2 Hour Dress and Top Size 4-8 Bust 29 -31 inches UNCUT A sundress or jumper, easy to sew. 

Simplicity 2893 Misses' Pullover tops in size 8-18 UNCUT Love this!

New Look 6966 Misses Sundresses with strap variations in size 6-16, bust 30-38 inches.  Fitted bodice with flared skirt. Great summer look.

Simplicity 1984 Misses' Bolero Jacket in Size 8-18, bust 30-40 inches. UNCUT  A cute jacket to dress up an evening dress to keep the air conditioning chill off the shoulders. Make it in a luscious satin or brocade. Gorgeous and easy to sew. 

Simplicity 0238 Misses' Super Hero Costumes in size 6-14, bust 30-36 inches UNCUT Who said super heros have to be male? Go Girls!

Simplicity 0259 Misses' Capes Costumes for the Day of the Dead...Maybe Mardi Gras! One size. UNCUT Nothing is as dramatic as a cape. Almost could wear nothing under it....oops, that's another story. 

McCall's 9258 Easy Stitch 'n Save 18 inch doll wardrobe UNCUT Cause baby dolls need clothes, too.

Simplicity 1133 Misses' Super Jiffy Wrap Around Beach Cover-up or Tunic and Pants in size 6-18. UNCUT  Cute and Easy to sew. A Super Jiffy Pattern from the 1960's redone by the good folks at Simplicity.

Simplicity 0331 Girls' Princess Dress Costumes in size 3-6 UNCUT This is the "I want to be a princess" pattern.

Simplicity 3979 Kitchen Accessories and Misses' Apron Shirley Botsford Design UNCUT   I love the look of yarn bombing...here's sewing's answer....fabric bomb. Cute apron, potholders, appliance covers, AND curtains.

Well, that's seventeen. Whew! All listed in the shop. Check them out! Pick out your faves.
Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get a 15% discount on your purchase.....exclusive to blog readers.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing.