Face Masks

It's crazy that we've got to the point of needing facemask. 

I made a few facemask for the family.  

If you want to make your own facemask there's quite a few videos on YouTube. 

This is the very first mask.  

Then I went crazy with fat quarters and fabric scraps.

Here's a few more. 

After making a few masks I ran out of elastic.  Then I read somewhere that hospitals do not use masks with elastic due to allergies.   Which makes sense so I decided to make a pattern that includes a filter pocket and does not have elastic. 

This is where I started

 Drafting a pattern is not easy but the final product is worth it.

Heres the results of my self drafted pattern.

The green mask was my first make and it gets better after that. 

Yesterday I took my son to the doctor for an allergy test.  This was on the doctor's wall.  I love this!!!

Have a wonderful day.   Stay safe!

Work in Progress and Therapy

Good day!!!

I realized that I owe you guys some pictures.  Please know that I'm not behind on my sewing plans but behind on pictures.

This Global Pandemic,  the Coronavirus has put a stand still on events outside of the house.  So it might take a little while longer for photos.

During this time of isolation, I  am taking advantage of family time, videochating, anddddd SEWING!

During the last two months, back druing my sewing hiatus I realized that sewing has relieved some of the stress that I have been carrying for the past few months.  Sewing has been so therapeutic.

My last job made it impossible to have a life outside of work and it did not end well.  I worked with difficult people which exist in every line of business.  I was borderline crazy.  I felt like my world was going to crash in front of me.  I would never wish that experience on anyone not even my enemies.

I'm going to stop ranting and let's move on to my WIP items.  Last year I added at least 1 WIP per month.  It was quite sad and when I look at my WIP pile I get overwhelmed. 

This year, I am going to knock out some of my WIPs.  Below I have included photos of some of my WIPs.  These are just a handful and does not include fabric and patterns that were cut and never pieced together.

Skirt -  I'm not sure what pattern I used to cut this skirt.  This skirt needs a closure and a waistband. 

Self draft skirt also missing a closure and waistband.

McCall 7543 this blouse needs sleeves, a closure, and needs to be hemmed.

I started this dress for my eldest but struggled with the sleeve detail on View A

This self drafted skirt is missing a waistband.  Yes that it. Do you notice a trend with skirts.

Here's another look at the self drafted skirt 

This skirt needs to be hemmed, closures, and waistband 

This dress has a long way to go.

These are only a handful of my WIPs items that I will work on this year.

Sewing Queue for Quarter 1

Pair of Pants ----Complete

Bowtie Blouse

3 UFO Challenge Items----work in progress

Once I complete my Quarter 1 plans I  hope there will be enought time to make additional items.  Items that I want to add to my sewing queue:

-McCall 7931- Bias Skirt

-Sheath Dress- I have this amazing grey and black knit fabric that would look great as a sheath dress.  I need to find a pattern to make it with.

-Blazer

-Burda 6293-Jacket View A

Please stay safe during Coronacation and enjoy some quality time with your family.

Simplicity 8982

I'm officially jumping on the bandwagon!!!!  This pattern was the Sew Your View Challenge for November 2019.  This pattern is simple and has so much potential especially with the right fabric.  In my stash, I had this burgundy knit fabric that I was planning to use to make a dress. 

I made this pattern out of the envelope with no modifications.

Sewing Pattern Review

Pattern Description:

Pattern Sizing:
8 to 24
I made the top in a size 18.  The skirt was cut in a size 16.  To eliminate the need to adjust the sleeve band, I cut a size 14 sleeve band.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the fact that this pattern was easy to make.

Fabric Used:
Burgundy Knit Fabric with raised flower design  I have no idea where I purchased this fabric.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes. This pattern would be cute in a striped knit. 


Sewing Queue for Quarter 1
Pair of Pants
Bowtie Blouse
3 UFO Challenge Items

Once I complete my Quarter 1 plans I  hope there will be enought time to make additional items.  Items that I want to add to my sewing queue:
-McCall 7931- Bias Skirt
-Sheath Dress- I have this amazing grey and black knit fabric that would look great as a sheath dress.  I need to find a pattern to make it with.
-Blazer
-Burda 6293-Jacket View A


How are you guys doing with your quarter 1 sewing plans?

Have

Plaid cloned skirt

A  few years I made my eldest daughter a skirt that she wore her first day of school.

Heres the picture from the first day of school a few years ago but you can barely see the skirt.

This all began the week before school started.  I was minding my own business when out of nowhere Pinterest attacked me.  That's not how it really how it went but close enough. Lol!  I was looking for outfit ideas for my tween when I can across this photo on Pinterest.  I felt like this photo slapped me. Why didn't I think of this Look before.  I could not seem to find a pattern to achieve the Look that I was going for.

So I made this skirt and now a few years later I need to make this skirt again as part if a cosplay costume.

I figured I would share the steps I did the first time to accomplish this look.

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I used this skirt as a guide for size and construction.

 Here's the beautiful fabric that I picked up at Joanns

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Instead of making a pattern piece I laid the skirt on the fabric.  I cut the fabric an inch longer and 4 inches longer to have enough fabric to create the pleats.

 
 I serged the edges for a clean finish look.

The beautiful inside.

To create the pleats I pinned the fabric an inch wide.

After pinning, I handed basted it.

Once done I measured the from to the back piece to ensure that it would be a perfect fit

Created a 1 inch hem at the bottom if the skirt.

After basting all of the pleats, took the fabric to the machine.

I hand basted the pleats to ensure that every pleat was the same size. 

Here's a closer look at the serging.

Next up is pressing.

Heres a picture of the inside before serving the seams.   This fabric really frayed

Heres my finished skirt!

I hope this was helpful.  Have a wonderful day.

Anniversary Dress Simplicity 7926

Good day sewing family,

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Yesterday was my anniversary.   15 years with the best man in the world.  He knows how to drive my bonkers.  But he also knows the key to my heart.  You all know that I needed a dress for my anniversary since I wore Vogue 8825 to my son's Valentine's Day Dance.  I had 7 days to make a masterpiece.

When I purchased this pattern, I opened the pattern envelope to find a great surprise.  For some reason, it did not  click that I purchased a Create it pattern.
I made a video about the Create It Process.  Enjoy.

Sewing Pattern Review

Pattern Description:
Knit dresses are fully lined and very close-fitting through bust with either pencil or circle skirt. Asymmetrical bodice features one-shoulder, strap, sleeve and cut-out variations; pencil skirt has either stitched hem or shaped hem with band and slit. Create your own design with mix and match pattern pieces.

Pattern Sizing:
this time around I cute a size 18 all the way through.   The fabric does not have a lot of stress ak I should have cut a size bigger.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I struggled with the line drawing for attaching the lining.

Fabric Used:
Red Ponte purchased at Joann's.  I am not impressed with the feel of this fabric.  The fabric does not have as much stress and it's not as soft as I would have liked.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Absolutely

When I started this dress I was super excited  until....

Until I realized that I missed a step. I did not cut the lining.  No biggie right? Wrong I had less than 3/4 of fabric left.  

No problem I squeezed the pattern pieces to fit the fabric and then continued the process.

The night before my anniversary I attached the skirt to the bodice and tried on my new dress.

I could not get the dress over my head. The lining was too small because I did not cut in according to the grain line.  After making some last minute changes I was able to wear this beautiful dress.

My husband loves the dress and we had an amazing night.   

Unfortunately I didn't take pictures wearing the dress.  I will definitely take pictures and post later.

I hope you have a wonderful  Valentine's day!!! 

Foxxy

10 Valentine's Day Sewing Patterns

Good afternoon all,

This week I have been looking through my pattern stash and searching online for a dress pattern to make for my Anniversary.  During my search I realized that there's a lot of amazing dress patterns for Valentine's Day.

I have selected 10 sewing patterns that would look great for Valentine's day.  I am actually using one of these patterns for my Anniversary Dress.  I can't tell you which one because my husband reads my blog. :-)

I have to admit that it was difficult to narrow down to 10 dress patterns.  I selected a handful of patterns that you can hack and create a completely different look.

Here's the my top 10 sewing patterns for Valentine's Day:

1)     Vogue 8825 which I made earlier this month.  This pattern is easy to make and you can make it in a plain fabric or cute print fabric like I did. 

2)     McCall 6884 is a Wrap Dress Pattern that's extremely easy to make.  I made this pattern a few years ago. 

3)     Simplicity 7653 View B a sexy dress that drapes in the front.  I love front draped dresses and blouses.  Make this pattern in a sequined knit and you have a showstopper.

4)     McCall 7999  View B would look great in a velvet. 

5)     McCall 6886 is a simple dress that you can modify and hack to create an amazing dress. 

6)     McCall 7926-- I love this pattern.  It is one of McCall's Create It collection.  This pattern has 4 bodice options and 3 skirt options.  Have fun with this!

7)    McCall 7833-  This dress is super cute that can be made with a solid color knit, animal print, or a floral print.  I want this dress in a leopard print or a bright red stretch velvet.

8)     McCall 8023  This pattern is super cute.  At first glance, the fabric is a little busy and takes away from the beauty of this pattern.  If I look at the line drawing, this would be gorgeous in a soft pink georgette or chiffon.

This pattern is not a quick make because this dress has boning, elastic belt with bra extender, and bra v-separator.  But the final product will be worth it.

 

 
 

9)     McCall 7654-  This is another McCall's Create It pattern. The different sleeves makes me want to make all of the looks.

10)   McCall 7719 is another McCall Create It pattern.  Yes, I am obsessed with Create It patterns.  This pattern has 3 bodices and 2 skirt options.  I love bodice 2 and the back of bodice 1!

Pair one of these dresses with a pair of cute sandals or pumps and you are going turn heads.

Let me know which pattern you make for Valentine's Day.

Have a wonderful week and a fantastic weekend.

Quilting Progress Update

Morning!!!

It's February!  January was extremely long and a lot has happened.  Sadly we lost a legend, Kobe Bryant and the world is facing the effects of the Coronavirus.  Despite everything that happened in January we need to strive to make 2020 a great year.  We can't give up on our goals.  Keep focus and push through obstacles.

We're making progress on the quilt. Making a quilt is not a light task. Theres multiple steps and the hardest part is the size of the project.   Literally the size.  The larger the quilt the harder it is to maneuver it into the sewing machine.
So far, I have cut out the blocks sewed them together.

After sewing the blocks together I sewed the pieces to batting.  It was not easy to maneuver the batting and blocks on the sewing machine. 

During this adventure, there's 2 books that i used to guide me through the process.  I have listed the 2 books below.

1. Quilter's Precut Companion: Handy Reference Guide by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
2. Quilt As-You-Go Made Modern: Fresh Techniques for Busy Quilters by Jera Brandvig

These 2 books were heaven sent.  Next up is meandering.  Wish me luck.

I'm making good timing with my Sewing Plan for this quarter. 

Sewing Queue
Vogue 8825-- Done!
Simplicity 8982
A quilt
A Pair of Pants
Bowtie Blouse
UFO #1
UFO #2
UFO #3
Anniversary Dress

~Foxxy~