Blue but not feeling blue

Finally!  This blouse was hanging in my closet begging for attention.  I already reviewed this top Vogue 8898 here

Featuring my Hurricane Bag (McCall ) !!!

Holiday Party Dress-Vogue 1520 Part 1

Do you remember my potential company Holiday Party Dress?  Well a few ladies on Facebook decided to form a Sew-a-long Group on Facebook.  everyone's welcome to join.  That's awesome because I was afraid to make this dress, especially without guidance.

The designer Badgley Mischka sells this evening gown for $800 and its currently on sale for $550. This does not include tax or shipping.

Thankfully I  am going to sew this a beautiful gown.  I'm super excited.

So I begin this adventure with the fabric, a beautiful stretch velvet from Vogue Fabric

I am still ify about the lining and the beaded cuff.  

If I don't do the beaded cuff I will probably modify the dress.  instead of a long sleeve it will be a 3/4 sleeve.  I am also going to shorten the train.  

So is there any tips for working with Velvet?

A student once again

I consider myself a beginner to garment maker not to sewing.  When I was a teen my mom taught my brother and me how to sew home décor.  After all these years I still get a rush when I sit in front of a sewing machine.  As a baby to garment sewingI'm learning a lot.  It feels good to learn something new.  YouTube and Sewing Books, and sewing magazines like Threads and Vogue Pattern have blown my mind.  So much to learn.

In order to start my journey I knew I needed to get a sewing refresher.  There's some awesome beginner videos on YouTube which are linked below.

• Mimi G
• Gertie
• Anita by Design

I've watched all of their videos and each one taught me a lot!!!

Threads Magazine has a great article "Sewing Tip: How and Why to Sew Directionally".  I never knew there was a direction to sew.  I wish I found this article before I sewed my first garment. 

Many of the blog sites use abbreviations.  I have to admit that I was intimidated but not anymore.  Here's some of the abbreviations and meanings.

Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) most patterns are drafted for a B bra cup.  A Fba is done to the bodice of the garment to increase or decrease the bust cup.

Ready to Wear (RTW) clothing you buy at the store

Unfinished Object (UFO) in the beginning of my adventure I had a few of them.  I think I should go back and finish them.

There's a lot of different stitches out there!  For my Hurricane Purse I used a slip stitch

Slip Stitch ( not the slip stitch to start a Crochet project) used the finish a project that has lining. Example:  A purse with lining will be sewed with a machine except for one small hole.  That hole will be closed with a slipstitch.  Once the lining is closed it was impossible to see where the slipstitch was done. Check out this video by Professor Pincushion.

Duct Tape Madness

For about two months I have been looking for a dressform. Joann's has the Dritz My Double Dressform for $300.  If a wait for an awesome sale or coupon I could probably pay half price for it.  Or I will have to save up money to it full price. Until I found this awesome video.

Last night, I'm at home and a light bulb lights up! Bing!   I should make a dressform!  There has to be a way to make one.  After searching online, I found an awesome video on YouTube.  Check out this video if you would like to make a duct tape dress form.

You will need a lot of duct tape.  I used 5 rolls of duct tape and ran out in the process of applying the 3rd layer.  The video recommends 5 layers.  My awesome husband was very patient with me last night. 

My family sat in the living room looking at me like a MAD WOMEN!  I couldn't stop laughing.  So the first part is done. 

Tonight my new dressform will be filled with newspapers.
It is not pretty but its the right measurements.

She needs a name

Progress Report

There's a couple projects in the making. 

• Simplicity 8202B: I still need to stitch the bodice and skirt together and install buttons
• New Look 6449B: I need to reinstall the facing.  I did a horrible job the first time
• McCall 7441C:  Need to install the sleeves
• Simplicity 8124: Pattern cut but I'm not sure if I like the fabric I choose.  Back to the drawing board



Simplicity 8202B Part 1

I'm a newbie!  So every sewing site and books states that newbies should avoid fabrics that require matching.  I understand but I couldn't help myself.  This fabric will look great on my daughters.

Cutting fabric is a lot harder than I thought it would be.  So I am trying something new.

It was interesting nonetheless.  It took half the time to cut the fabric. Woohoo!  We're getting somewhere!  Tonight I will start the first dress.

I love a PATTERN sale!!!

Today is the last day of Joann's sewing patterns sale.  $0.99 for Simplicity patterns $1.99 from McCalls patterns and $4.99 for  Vogue patterns.

I walked to the pattern drawers and almost fainted when I saw the sale sign.

So you know that vogue released their Winter line.  I had my heart set on Simplicity 8229 (i wanted to venture into making bras.) and some of the winter vogue patterns but my nearby Joann's was sold out.  I did grab some patterns on sale.

Did I mention I have 4 girls.  

My mom loves hats so she will live this Vogue pattern.

 Mimi G- all I can say is beautiful!

I hope these two will look good on me.

I love the back!

Well I have some sewing to do!

Vogue you did it again !!!

I've never thought of wearing a pantsuit.  I just don't think it will look good on me.  But, after looking at Vogue's new patterns I am will to give it a try.   Oh Vogue why do you taunt me?  LOL

This dress would look great for the company Holiday Party.

How can you say no to this top?

And this one...

I can hear them whispering.. "sew me", and I'm saying there's not enough time in the day.  But I will definitely try.  Hehehe.

Hurricane Purse

Living in South Florida has its flaws. Flaw # 1 to 100 hurricane season.  So Hurricane Matthew wanted to visit us this week   I've never experienced a hurricane so it was a big deal and my husband was panicking.  But God is awesome and didn't allow Matthew to come.  We had some rain and wind and we lost power for an hour but that was it.

Yesterday, I left work early which means one thing...extra time to sew. :-)  WOOHOO!  Please meet my hurricane purse


Pattern: Mccall 9132

Fabric: Canvas purchased at Hobby Lobby

Lining is a quilting cotton purchased at Wal-Mart


Mccall 9132 took a lot longer than it should have taken.  I didn't do a good job following the instructions.  I should have my kids give me a lecture about following directions.  :-) Pieces were sewn on wrong, I do not own a zipper foot, and I broke 2 needles. Horrible!!!  Now I'm best friends with my seam ripper.

Lesson learned!

What should I make next???

Simplicity 8202E--Oh yeah!!

Well I'm celebrating two birthdays in 4 days.  My beautiful 6 year old daughter and my handsome 9 year old son.  I decided to use my new skill to make something for my baby girl.  It took me three days to try to complete this project between work and being a mom. 

My daughter loves pink and flowers.  We found this beautiful cotton fabric at Joann's.  I really love that place!!  I made Simplicity 8202 Pattern E the little purse on the right.

Finally a great project for a newbie like me.  It allowed me to practice skills that I know and learn a new skill- Lining.  I used a bright pink/fuchsia cotton fabric to line her purse.  The instructions asks to cut the other material 4 times but I wanted the lining brighter than the other fabric. 

This is a awesome pattern to try.  My daughter wants dress B.  Of course I have to make my little girl happy so I need to figure out how to make it. 

Vogue 8898...Problems

It's early.  A little too early.  Well, I made it.  Vogue 8898 is a beautiful dress... at least the picture on the envelope is.  My version was extremely large.  I removed 4.5 inches . From the sides.  I added 2 inches to the length.  Now I need to figure out how to fix the arm holes.  After doing some research I think I need to do a full bust adjustment (FBA).  Every site shows how to do it on a pattern but how do I do it on a garment?

On another note I am working on a bag for my daughter.  Last night, I cut the pattern on outer fabric but I forgot to buy some lining.  I guess I have some shopping to do after work.

To do

Well, I decided to make a sewing plan so I can stay focused.  I am currently working on Vogue 8898.  I'm having some trouble with the belt tie.  From this pattern I noticed how important the patterns markings REALLY are.  Is there any tips to transferring the pattern markings?

Hopefully when I'm done with my masterpiece I will make New Look 6487 for my oldest daughter.  I found a beautiful blue shirting material at Joann's.

The cape below is a dream.  It cost over $3,000 so I figured I would purchase the pattern and make.  Once I get stronger in sewing I plan to make a cape similar to this.  This cape is the light at the end of the tunnel or better the middle of the tunnel.

First pattern just for me. VOGUE 8790

I've made a few garments without a pattern.  Some items I have not worn.  I think I've made about 25 items.  This first pattern for myself  is a beautiful blouse.  I love wrap blouses and wrap dresses.  I think I look good in them.  Wait... I make them look good. :-).

 

Blue is my favorite color.  

Fabric used: Rayon Spandex

I selected this blouse because it's labeled very easy.  So I am a newbie but this pattern was not very easy.  I'm not complaining, I do love a challenge. 

I love this blouse so much that I'm making one with 3/4 sleeves for my mom with a yellow Rayon Spandex.

The finished garment was very long so I cut off 2.5 inches.  

I'm going to wear this blouse on Sunday.  I will upload a picture then.

Back to my Day Job

Today was my second day back to work.  I worked yesterday and today and I am exhausted.  I haven't touched the sewing machine let alone look at it.  All I want, the only thing on my mind is fabric.  I need to crave out some time to finish my project.  I'm hoping I can figure out a way to work and sew.