Red dress- it's about time

Did you ever see those old Mormon ads? "It's about....time." Hahah. I was just thinking about those. They're pretty cute. But back to my point: I finished my dress (ok, actually I finished it a few weeks ago but I got around to wearing it to my friend's wedding on Saturday).

Remember this? And Gertie's version? Sooo great. So here's mine. This is the same altered pattern I did for the cream floral dress. I started with McCall 6201 and changed the top in case you forgot.

 

 This is outside the San Diego Temple (lds.org for more info). I'm so glad I got to wear this dress finally. I love it. And I worked really hard on it.

One last thing to share: their cake.

Oh what's that? It doesn't look like cake to you? That's because it's donuts. Yup. Delicous, delicious donuts. Best thing ever.

They cut a giant maple donut. It's on the top. They rule.

Cream floral dress

I went to my brother in law's wedding a few weeks ago in Utah. Let me first start by saying that it was one of the funnest trips to Utah I've had. It was just a great time all around. From spelling obscene words with sparklers to floating down a freezing cold river, to horse back riding...there was fun to be had. And I had it. 

But here's what it's about. The dress:

 

Remember when I said I was going to use this fabric to make this dress?

I did. 

But I didn't wear it.

I made this dress as a type of "muslin" but I'd rather call it a prototype. That word is better.

I used McCall's 6201 as a basis. I know I haven't posted in a long time so I'll just go ahead and tell you that I basically made this three times. And all of them were different.

Don't you just love pictures at weddings? I didn't realize I should take my sweater off to get a picture of the front. I think I styled it pretty cute with that sweater. Is honeysuckle still the color of the year?

 

I redrafted the whole top. I eliminated the lining for starters, changed the neckline to a beaut neck in the front with a deep v in the back (does that have a name?) and added drop shoulder sleeves instead of set in. It sewing up pretty easily, especially since I'd already sewn two other dresses that were...well...almost the same.

 

I finished the neck and armholes with single fold bias tape in "oyster." What a gross name for a color, am I right? Ugh. I stitched it to the seam allowance like usual but instead of top stitching I did a kind of blind stitch to tack it down on the inside. It took way too long though. The family kept teasing me because I was still hand stitching part of it the morning of. My other brother in law loved that one.

So I don't like how the back looks in these pictures- it was the end of a very long, sweaty day so no wonder it looks wrinkly and strange. And the reception hall lighting is less than idea of  modeling your custom dress. Look for some better pictures in the near future.

Continuing Education

Guess what?

I'm taking some classes.

No, no, I'm not going back to college, I'm just doing some continuing education. It's through the San Diego Community College district. It's called SDCE. I'd say the majority of their classes are free. Some have a very low fee. You know what the best part is (besides being free)? They have sewing classes! Go figure. Take a look:

See that one on the bottom? "Swim Suit Construction"? Yup. I'm taking it. The instructor is top notch.

They have classes in other semesters, too. I'm working on a one piece right now. Hopefully it will be better than last  years swimsuit fail. I'm not drafting a pattern for this one. That was far too ambitious. I'm using a pattern. Should be done this week.

But. My point being: use your local educational resources. Did I mention these classes are free? Not just in San Diego.

Here's the link again in case you forgot: San Diego Continuing Education

Hats. Maybe I'll make one?

I decided to start with a visual.

HAT MAKING!!!! Wait to watch it until you finish this post.

This is a video on threadbanger. I made a hat like this about...oh, maybe three years ago? I think I wore it around my house two times and then ended up throwing it away because I wasn't really into it. And it was small. I looked around for the website that used then but I can't remember what is was. This video is about the same.

I want to make a hat. I know.. it's like, whaaaat? But the other day I got a wild hair (I won't finish this idiom) and wanted to make a hat. I think this started when I saw people wearing cute fedoras. I used to wear fedoras back when I was a teenager and I was the most ska things to ever happen to the greater Cincinnati area. Yeah. I was on fire.

you can visit their site here

I am so up to my eyeballs in projects right now. Do  you ever feel like you spend more time looking at things to make and other creative things than actually making things? I'm feeling that way.

I have to admit this post doesn't serve a lot of purposes

On the to-do list  (yes I write down a to-do list. I get it from my dad)

~Finish my flowered raglan dress

~Work on  my swimsuit

~Re-cut my tweed dress

~Draft a hat pattern

More to come soon? I'm sure.

Sea Foam Green Skirt

I actually made this skirt a while ago. Not a long while but I haven't posted much sewing lately.

I haven't been doing a ton of sewing lately to be honest....whoops

 

This skirt is very....sea foam.

It's also the only A-line skirt that fits me. My other ones are too baggy.

 

It's one of those articles of clothing that is difficult to wear. Just because it's hard to find things that it doesn't look too insane with. I'm not sure I'm succeeding at this. It might just be an insane skirt anyway. I had this fabric in my stash for about... 3 years. So I'm glad I finally used it. I do like the color, but sometimes I don't pick good/appropriate fabrics (but I'm getting better at this).

Summer Skirts at Anthopologie

Not sure if you've looked lately but Anthropologie has some great skirts this summer. I know that Anthropologie has had a lot of attention over the past year or so- really rocketing in popularity. And for a number of reasons I don't really care for them... BUT... I looked on their website because I was looking up a particular skirt that a friend of mine bought and saw a lot of cute ones. And by that I mean ones that I will probably take inspiration from. I haven't been sewing as often as I'd like and I think a skirt is just the ticket. I'm wearing skirts about 3-4/7 these days. That's substantial.

This one has seam details in the front instead of darts.

Really not into the color on this one but I do like the detail.

I think I'd omit the ruffle, but I'm for the angled buttons/pleats.

  

 I hope paperbag waists are still in vogue because I like them. . . 

I think anthropologie agrees.

 New England sea scape, anyone?

Can you tell I think A-lines right now? I have a lot of pencil skirts, but a-lines say summer to me.

And to save the best for last....This AWESOME green lace skirts. I should have bought some of that eyelet in another color and made a skirt like this. That's right up my alley (as my Dad would say : )

source

Gertie's Daily Dress...

Saw this dress on Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing. I thought it was amazing. It's not very often you find magically perfect eyelet dresses with sleeves. I didn't seriously consider making one until I saw her version.

The black is very...classy? Updated LBD or what? 

It wasn't until I went to the National City Swap Meet and found RED EYELET fabric with a flower motif that I thought "Hey, I could make that dress".  The beauty of the N.C. Swap Meet is that you can find different, interesting things. Had I been looking for red eyelet I surely wouldn't have found this. But luckily I did. And so I'm going to.

I've got a few patterns I want to try out- see what I can put together. I need more sleeve than Gertie's.

I love a good drop shoulder. I'm going to line mine.

So these are what I'm working with:

(I'm so lousy at altering patterns. Somehow that is still lost on me no matter how much time I take it doesn't work out)

My first instinct was to go with Butterick 5316. I made this dress about two years ago. I put it on recently and it did NOT fit well at all. At least...anymore. But looking at the silhouette it's similar with the little cap type sleeves. I don't like the waist seam though. I have a long waist and I'm finding it difficult to properly fit the waist seam on dresses (remember how I'm no good at altering patterns?)

So I thought I might go with:

McCall's 6201which I picked up yesterday. I'm not sure how the "cap sleeves" will translate but I like the fact that it's one long piece as opposed to having a waist seam. I'm going to make a sample and see how it goes.

Here's a better look at the fabric I got at the swap meet:

The eyelet flower motifs are about ~1.25" each.

Hey There! Remember me? And a blue skirt.

Remember how I said I'd be back? Well I finally got a picture of a recent skirt. I've been on a skirt kick lately. Go figure!

Do you remember my white skirt from a few posts back? You guessed it...its' the same McCall's pattern. I really am in love with this skirt. For starters: it's navy blue!, it makes me look like I have a waist, it was easy to sew, and the length is short enough to be modern but long enough to still meet my coverage needs. Definitely loving it.

It has front pleats, which I was apprehensive about at first, but now realize that they are very flattering.

Is there a back drop behind me? OH  wait, that's just how beautiful Kentucky is... (ignore my weirdy face)

And this last one just because I like it

Summer Sewing: Bow Front Bag

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about my Summer Sewing Goals? Well. Here is another one I can cross off.

I started with this shirt from... you guessed it...the free bin. I liked the ticking pattern, but when I put it on it was so shapeless. I thought about just trying to tailor it....but I don't need anymore shirts right now. What do need is a spiffy purse!!

You can see above the front of the original shirt with lots of pin tucks.

Basically I made two rectangles, rounded off the bottom corners, made a long strip and sewed it in between the two sides. I'm gonna be honest: it was kind of all over the place. Not my most thought out project, but still fun.

I used a yellow and white plaid Cotton for the lining. I had lots of bits of this in my sewing stash (yes, I have one). You can see in the above picture what I meant about making two rectangles, rounding off the corners and then a long strip to sew them together

You ready for the finished bag?

Here it is in it's sewn glory::

(Do you like my photography skills?)

Let me just say I'm kinda in love with bows right now.

The back of the tote. I used a pocket from the shirt to make an outside pocket on the bag. I could have sewn it on a bit better though.

An up close of the sublet yellow plaid lining.

Only three more days until our big move!

Once we're in San Diego you can expect me to fulfill the rest of my summer sewing goals.

Oh an if you're interested, I found these very cute bags on craftster.

Super Easy Maternity ReCon

I think I can scratch off  a little bit from my Summer Sewing Goals as I tailored this shirt sitting in my refashion pile

It started out as a cute, but frumpy maternity shirt. It also had a whole other layer underneath from the bust gathers down....I've never been pregnant, so I'm not sure of the function that this plays? Keeping the belly button  a little more subdued under two layers? Fill me in.

(doesn't actually have any kind of stain)

I started by cutting that out, since, well, that would be quite warm.All I did after that was just reshape the sides and the bagginess in the arms.

I told you it was super easy!

Pink Shirt ReCon

I'd liket o thank the freee bin for giving me the materials to make this shirt happen.

 It started as a regular [bubble gum] pink crew neck shirt and a white and gray stripped shirt.

First I cut the neck of the shirt off. It was cute but a little too constricting. I lined up the shoulder seams and just cut a circle out of the front to create a scoop neck.

This is the only in-progress shot that I took of the shirt while making it. After I cut the scoop I interfaced around the edge of the shirt with lightweight interfacing to give it some stability. I mostly just used scraps and small bits to go around the neckline since it was fusible. Here's what I mean..

Don't mind the food in the background; the only space to iron is on the kitchen counter!