So much time....

It has been a good while since my last post, for several reasons.  I was a bit lost for a while and stopped sewing, my garden went to hell, and my cooking has been non-creative.  So there really wasn't much to blog about,  I just wasn't in the mood.  I went back to school in Janurary and my spring semester was not that stressful, however this fall semester is kicking my butt, so I am making myself get back to the things I love to have some peace in my life.  And also so I don't go jumping off the 2nd street bridge! Just kidding, I won't jump off a bridge, but I might slap one of my professors.

The other week, I decided to give my blog a new look and work on stuff to post about.  I started refashioning and sewing the other week and took lots of great pictures.  When I went to upload them today I realized there was not a memory card in my camera - WHOOPS!!!  Apparently that means the pictures did not save.  Yeah, me and technology are not that compatible! So I need to take new pictures of only finished garments and not what the clothes looked like beforehand.   I guess worse things could have happened right?

So here is a dress  I actually finished a long time ago. I originally started it to wear to my cousins wedding, and didn't finish it for the wedding.  I haven't worn this dress yet and now the leaves are falling, maybe next year! :)

It's a Cynthia Rowley pattern (Simplicity 2250), I just love Cynthia Rowley!!  Her dresses are adorable! I thought this would be a easy peasy dress to whip out and it's not.  The bodice has so many darts and tucks in it and the trim instructions for sewing are a bit odd.  I just did my own thing to get it attached.  I think it's a cute dress, but I'm not a huge fan of the way it turned out.  After looking at this picture I realize I took this before I hemmed the dress! LOL! It's hemmed now, I promise.

Have you tried this pattern?

Sheath dress number....umm.....

Today I churned out a new sheath dress from Simplicity 2648.  I love this pattern because it is so easy to put together and it's super easy to customize.

Several weeks ago, or maybe months..anyway, I was in Banana Republic and saw this dress and just loved the waist detailing.  So I decided the next sheath dress I make, I would include similar detailing, I wasn't assuming I could replicate the Banana.  I couldn't get a closer image of the waist detailing, I am having a struggle bus kinda day when it comes to editing pictures.

I used a khaki light weight wool blend suiting fabric and black ribbon.  I like a lower neckline on my dresses, so I dropped the neckline a couple of inches.  Adding the ribbon was a pain in the butt, it took what seemed like forever folding and pinning the ribbon, then ironing it, then sewing it.  The detailing on the Banana dress is slightly different than mine, but after almost an hour working on the belt, I was done.  I am not sure if I like the puff sleeves, they might have to grow on me, but overall I like the dress! 

Sheath dress obsession

I have this mild obsession with sheath dresses.  Not only are they flattering, but they are incredibly sexy.  They form a fabulous partnership with my late 1950's/early 1960's obsession.  It's one of those styles that you can repeat, but by changing the fabric, collar, or sleeve, you have a totally new look.  My sheath dress collection is growing and two more are in the works for this winter!

This dress was sewn using New Look's 6910, view C.  I made a couple of changes; added the fold over collar, and omitted the belt.  I love this pattern because it whips together in no time.  The only downside is I had to make changes to have it fit better. The back was way too wide and there was extra fabric in the shoulders.  I also make the neckline lower; high necklines make me feel like I don't have boobs.   Although I do want this Joanie dress.

I used a brown linen for the dress, and a giraffe print poly for the lining.  I believe linings should be fun and can add a lot of character to a piece; the inside should look just as great as the outside! The applique on the bottom came off a Lance Karesh dress that had been in my closet for at least a decade.  Lance is a New York designer that I worked with briefly.  The company I used to do production for backed him for a couple of seasons and I helped with his production.

New Summer Dress part 2

The other day I posted about a new dress I was working on, remember the one where the zipper broke.   I decided to finish the dress so I could get some good wearing in before it's cold. Not that it will get cold anytime soon here in the Ohio Valley, but if I didn't rip out that old zipper the dress would get  thrown in the "some day will finish bin." And I love the dress too much to let that happen. 

I used vintage sheets to make the dress & lining.  I love sewing with vintage sheets, but the downside is if you make a mistake you can't go to the fabric store to pick up another yard.  The plus to that is it makes me a more cautious seamstress.  Of course there were some mistakes on this dress, skirt getting caught in hem etc... But they were easily fixable. 

I used Vogue 2902 which is one of their vintage reproduction patterns.  This dress is from 1952.  I love dresses from the 50's, the silhouette are flattering and they are simple yet elegant.  This pattern can be made into a simple sundress as I did, or I could use a satin and make a dress for a fancy occasion.  When you wear dresses from the 1950's you have to remember to wear your petticoat! The skirts had so much fabric, if you don't wear one the dress just hangs there and isn't as glamorous.  

This pattern was super easy to sew and I will definitely make another one very soon, just need to pick out some fabric.  I tried something I hadn't done before, attaching the bodice lining to the skirt by machine rather than hand.  I had to sew the straps to the dress by hand and I was so tired of hand sewing, so I used a hem stitch to attache the bodice lining to the bodice skirt - and it worked!  I need to practice more on that blind hem stitch, it's not always blind on my fabric! But for this lining no one will see it but me.  The pin I used for the belt was my grandmothers and I think it looks lovely and compliments the flowers in the dress. 

New summer dress

I started sewing a new dress yesterday and almost finished.  At 11 p.m. I just had to hem it and sew down the bodice lining.  When I tried it on for a final hem check I noticed the zipper was broken.  I used a zipper I had laying around and it turns out it wants to split from the bottom.  So I know have to take that zipper out and replace it.  Needless to say I wasn't a happy camper and decided to hold off finishing it until today. Hopefully I will have a finished photo for you later. 

I am using Vogue  2902, a gorgeous 1950s pattern.

New Dress..... er shirt. Simplicity 2406

Several weeks ago I cut out several dresses and blouses with the idea to have them sewn by the end of the month.  The sheath dress has some serious fit issues and I got so frustrated I put it in the bin to work on later.  Next up was this adorable Cynthia Rowley dress I had made before.

It's such an easy pattern, it only to a little over an hour to sew, however when I tried it on to get the length for hemming, I realized the fabric did not like my booty and had apparently shrunk.  Despite it making me look like I had some serious back, it was just too tight and I could barely pull it over my hips.  I decided I should not wear it.  I'll spare you from seeing that picture. 

I also had some serious issues sewing the pockets, I can't ever seam to get pockets right.

I start off with the same size pattern pieces, but somehow when I sew it together, the pockets don't line up and there is some serious bunching at the corners. Those pockets just were not staying on the dress.    Do you have this issue? Any tips on sewing perfects pockets?

Anyway,  I chopped off a couple of inches, sewed a band on the bottom and voila! Turned it into a cute new blouse! My hips are bigger than my dress form, so it fits a little tighter at the bottom on me.  I think I'll wear this at my parties on Saturday. 

New projects for the new year

This past holiday season, I used up some of my fabric I had for a lot of, well all of my Christmas presents.  But I'm sure like most of you, I still have a TON of fabric left.  Motivated by starting the new year by cleaning out my apartment I cut out 5 new patterns.  I have already started sewing one. My goal is to sew one a week, so by the end of January I'll have some new digs to wear!

McCalls M5661

I am doing view B with view C sleeves.  I will be making some adjustments on the neckline and sleeves. I couldn't get the picture of the fabric right, but it's silk and feels gorgeous. 

Butterick B5319

The plaid will be the skirt and the mustard will be the bodice & sleeves.  I haven't decided if I am going to make the sash in the plaid or solid.  

Simplicity 2406

I absolutely love this dress! This  will be my second time making this dress, and since it's a little fashion forward, I don't want two of the exactly the same, so I am going to change it up a bit. 

New Look 6910

Sheath dresses will always be a classic silhouette than almost anyone can wear, I probably own at least 5!   I am making view B out of this geometric silk.