Newsflash: 2011 Roller Skating National Championships Schedule Update

For those of you attending the 2011 National Championships, or planning to watch the live video streaming, the latest schedule has been released.  This should be a finalized schedule as all of the regional championships have been concluded.

You can look at the main event page here.

The new schedule is available here.

In addition, the Indoor National Speed Championships (which can be quite exciting to watch) should be starting on Sunday, so I will plan to post a link to the online video streaming closer to the start date.  Indoor speed skating is very similar to the short track in ice, so if you enjoy watching that during the Olympics, you will probably enjoy watching this as well.

The latest version of the speed schedule is here.

Dance Skating - The Fourteen Step

Next up: the Fourteen Step!  This is the most basic of the dances that is being skated at the world level this year.  As the name implies, this dance has only fourteen steps.  This is one of the earliest skate dances ever performed - coming into existence in 1889!  Despite its simplicity, this dance has many variations and parts of this dance can be found in many other dances (like the Ten Fox and the Ten Step).  This dance is skated in the International and American styles for team dance events, as well as on ice (although it is not skated in the higher levels).  Recently (in 2009) a new dance called the "Fourteen Step Plus" was created for and the roller Jr World Class solo division.

The main differences between the International and American dances occur as the woman turns forward at the start of the corner.  In the International and ice versions, the woman crosses her right foot behind the left foot and then does three running strokes.  In American, the woman does five running strokes without a cross behind.  In addition, this dance is skates to several variations of a March tempo.  For American dance, it is skated to 100 beats per minute (bpm).  For the ice and roller International test program, it is skated to 104 bpm.  At the Jr World Class level, it is skated to 108 bpm.  To further complicate matters, the American Junior Team division skates this dance to 104 beats per minute, has the cross behind on the corner, but does NOT use international style for the progressive running steps.

Pattern Sales: Simplicity

JoAnn is having a $1.99 Simplicity pattern sale tomorrow through Saturday.  (Thursday, July 14 - July 16).  I know some people were able to snatch up the latest patterns over the Fourth of July weekend, but for those of us whose local stores don't stock patterns until at least 2 weeks after the release date, this may be the first sale where the new fall Simplicity patterns are available.  Hopefully I will be able to get the patterns on my list...

Dance Skating - The Imperial Tango

The next stop on my tour of dance skating is the Imperial Tango.  This dance is only skated in International roller skating, although it is used for both team and solo dance.  It is being used this year in the Jr World Class team event, and was last skated team in 2008.  It was also skated in 2009 for the Jr World Class Solo event.  It is skated to a 104 Tango tempo.

Newsflash - Fall Vogue Patterns

Vogue has just released their fall patterns, which you can view here.  Overall, I say they have quite a few winners in this round.  There are a lot of patterns I have fallen in love with.

Firstly, so many draped knit dresses!  And I am in love with all of them.  Well, most of them.  Although my number one pick is actually a top and a skirt:

V1259 - Swoon!

I am also loving these dresses:

V1256

V1257

V1254

Actually, the second one - V1257 - I am envisioning cutting down on the length, using 3/4 length sleeves, and making more of a tunic top.  But, well, we shall see.  I have to actually acquire said pattern first.  Also, I am in love with the neckline on the third pattern.  It is, perhaps, a bit mature for me, but maybe I will just get the pattern so I can use it in 5-10 years?

In terms of more practical clothing, I am also madly in love with this shirt pattern:

V8747

This is a "custom fit" pattern, so it includes cup sizing.  Total win.  This is a must buy pattern for me I think.

And another shirt pattern, with raglan sleeves:

V1260

Now for the patterns I am debating:

V8751

Pants!  I know, I know, I buy whole Burda magazines for pants, so what is the problem?  Well, these look an awful lot like the pants I am currently making, V1051:

V1051 - Alice + Olivia pattern

The waistband is essentially the same, and the silhouette is similar.  The pockets are different (no welts!), but really, they are very similar.  Vogue even made some up, so we can compare live models:

V8751 - Live!

As may be more obvious now, the new pattern has a much straighter leg, whereas the Alice + Oliva pattern is a little more fitted through the knee and then has a flare at the bottom.  I actually prefer the fitted look through the knee more (and I even had to take in the V1051 pattern at the knee to achieve this), so I don't know if I am really interested in the new pattern.  On the other hand... I wear lots of pants.  I don't know.  I think if Vogue's sale prices were $1.99 instead of $3.99 I would be more tempted.  But, well, with so many other new patterns I am liking, I don't know how soon I would be getting these pants.

(BTW, if you are wondering about the V1051 that I am making - I have made them before.  I left off the welt pockets before, and I am leaving them off again.  Not because I am afraid of the welts, but because there is a dress code for an upcoming event and I need pants like yesterday.  And, although I probably have more than 10 Burda pants patterns calling to me right now that I am dying to make, I don't have time to test the fit and make up a good set, so I am just pumping out 2 pairs of the V1051.  I will post pictures when they are finished.  Anyway, back to patterns...)

I am also on the fence about this pattern:

V1258

I really like the pockets in this dress, however, I feel like overall, the dress looks sort of sloppy.  Maybe it is the fit on the top - it makes everything look a bit... droopy.  I don't know.  Another pattern to ponder.

This also caught my eye:

V8742

This dress is like the opposite of all of the Burda dresses this year - gathering on the side panels instead of the front.  I have so many gathered Burda dresses now that I don't know how much this excites me.  I think the gathering is much more flattering on the front than the sides, so this might be a pass.

Finally, I debate over this pattern for my sister:

V8749

My sister likes big swooshy skirts, so this might be a good pattern for her.  I don't know, we shall have to see how generous I am feeling the next time a Vogue sale rolls around.

Finally, I want to point out that while I don't really want this pattern, I think Vogue did an excellent job of picking a fabric for it:

V1263

I mean, it is quite a stunning image.  Granted, I know it would look sort of awful on me (take away my waist and I am a box on tree stumps), and yet I feel drawn to it.  Maybe I need a textured purple coat for fall?

Overall, this is a great bunch of patterns.  There is only one real head scratcher:

V8752

Ok, when I first saw the picture I din't think much of it, but look at the line drawing:

V8752 - Line drawing.  Ummm, what?

Er, ummm, yeah.  This may be on par with some of my BWTF pattern picks.  Heck, it probably surpasses at least a few of them.

But, overall, a good set of patterns.  There are some other jackets and dresses and things, but I think I am already smitten with enough new patterns...

Now to wait for the August Burda preview!

Pattern Review: Simplicity 3536

This was my first non-skating sewing project that I made this year, a simple knit top, Simplicity 3536.

Simplicity 3536

I made view D, the sleeveless ruched shirt.  The fabric was from a JoAnn's 50% off red tag event, and the "buttons" (really sew on plastic jewels, but JoAnn applies button sale policy to them) are some of the "Favorite Finidings" brand from JoAnn.  The entire shirt cost less than $8.

My shirt!

Close up of the jewels.  And the wonky facing.

Here is the back.

Although the stitching at the curved neck facing is a bit wonky, I still love this shirt and wear it a lot.  It has even gotten quite a few compliments!  It is a pretty basic shirt, so I don't have too much to say.  Here is the official pattern review:

Pattern Description: Womens Knit Tops with six options.  I made view D - sleeveless ruched top with curved neck facing.  This pattern is now OOP.

Pattern Sizing: (4-6-8-10-12) or (12-14-16-18-20).  I made a size 12.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yup, the instructions make sense.  I had a bit of trouble actually making the curved neck facing, but I think if I used a fusible interfacing it would have gone better.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the envelope once you were done with it?  Yes!  I even added jewels so it looked very similar.  My neck facing isn't quite as smooth, but again this is because I didn't use the best type of interfacing to stabilize the knit.

What did you particularly like or dislike about this pattern?  I really like the results of my shirt.  It gets compliments and I think it looks good when I wear it.  I did have some difficultly sewing the curved neck facing, but if/when I sew it again I will use a fusible interfacing to hopefully prevent the stretching problem I had.

Fabric used: I think it is a cotton-polyester-lycra jersey?  It wasn't on the original bolt, so I am not positive, but it doesn't feel like a poly knit.  It is possible that it is simply a cotton jersey as well.  I used muslin for interfacing because I only had Pellon interfacing on hand.  I made this before I had found "good interfacing" but after I had decided that Pellon was not good (my previous project started to bubble after one use).  I decided muslin fabric would work better than the Pellon, so I used it instead.  It actually has held up well during use and washing, but it did make it more difficult to sew the curved neck facing because the jersey wanted to stretch and move a lot (despite basting).  I also used "Favorite Findings" brand sew on plastic jewels on the neck facing.  They have held up nicely through machine washing and drying.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I added +1" to the length, and I did something of an FBA by adding about 1/2" to the bust curve at the top of the front pattern piece.  In addition, I decreased the waist by about 1/4" on front and back pieces.  I don't remember if the instructions said to interface the front vertical band, but I interfaced that with muslin to add support to the shirt.  If I were going to make this shirt again, I would add another inch to the length.  This was one of the first shirt patterns I ever used, but I have since learned to add +2" of length regardless of pattern company, so the pattern isn't particularly short, I just didn't add enough the first time.

Would you sew it again?  Would you recommend it to others?  Yes I would totally make this again!  I really love this shirt - it can be dressed up for a more elegant or professional look, or it can be dressed down for a more casual look.  I don't have immediate plans to re-make because I have many other shirt patterns I want to try, but when I do re-make it I will add another inch of length (because of my long torso) and I will use fusible interfacing because I think it will really help to stabilize the neck facing.  I would highly recommend this pattern because I think this is a super cute top that could look great on many body types with many other wardrobe pieces.

Conclusion: Love this shirt!  Despite some of the more visible sewing errors on this shirt, I love it and continue to wear it anyway.  It is one of my most-worn pieces that I have made, which probably says enough right there.  I think this shirt can be very versatile, with the ability to be dressed up or dressed down.  I also think this pattern is a good investment due to the variety of styles it comes with.  I have only tried view D so far, but I would also like to try some of the other views from this pattern.  Overall, great pattern!

So there it is - Simplicity 3536.  I really do want to make another version of this shirt in a different color, but I want to try new shirt patterns even more.  Sigh.  So many patterns so little time.

Dance Skating - The Westminster Waltz

I thought today I would take a break from all of the pattern reviews, and go back to some skating stuff.  In our journey of dance skating, we are on the fourth and final World Class compulsory dance for this year - the Westminster Waltz.  This year it is being skated as a team dance, although it was used for solo dance event in 2009.  As with the Iceland and the Paso, there are two versions: the International version and the American version.  The International version has a set pattern and thus some different edges and timing in spots.  The American version is skated as a border pattern, and is now only skated in the senior solo event (although I can't seem to find any American solo videos).  For both styles, the ladies steps are used when skating solo.