(mini) Maxi Skirt

Following Mimi G's tutorial I created the following:

 

 

 

I never made the linen pants(only a muslin and addressed fitting issues) for my son's gf... had to purchase more fabric. They are back from Asia and had a wonderful time. I will get stated on the the second muslin and hopefully I can post them here by the 1st weekend in December... Where did 2013 go?

 

Also I have my first prom dress order! We have to set up and initial consultation but I am excited. My daughter is still undecided on the design of her gown. I had ordered some fabric swatches (for her original design) but none of them made her happy..

 

I have set up my sewing studio in my dining room (with the blessing of the hubby) which will make for an interesting Thanksgiving...

 

Praying for a safe and merry holiday season for all of you!

 

 

Love and Blessings,

Dawn

Trying my hand at draping

I just ordered: Draping: The Complete Course Paperback by Karolyn Kiisel.  In two days I saw this reviewed on two different blogs. I will write a review post.

I am working a pair of navy linen pants for my oldest son's girlfriend, to be worn on the flight to Thailand in November.

Wearable muslin?

I just completed McCall's 6515, view D.

The pants are too big everywhere except for my waist. I purchase size E5, the smallest is a 14... It is really not as bad as it sounds but the crotch length is too long.

I will most likely wear them one day, but I put the remake in my queue and use the Sandra Betzina "pants fitting techniques" Craftsy course I purchased awhile back.

I think I did a pretty good job with the waistband and zipper insertion, using one of Mimi g's tutorials.

Front view pleats and matched pretty good at the center front seam.

side view, invisible zipper and matching at the seam

hand-stitched waistband

machine finished waistband at the zipper

Self-drafted jumper...

First please excuse the straps....
Second please excuse the bad cell phone picture...

I made this using Mimi g's jumper tutorial I purchase in June or July.
the only changes I made was that I added a front drape.
I like how it turned out.
The only thing I would change is the adding about three inches to the pants length.

Love and blessings,

Dawn

Better late than never....

I started working on McCalls 6700  back before my son came home for spring break.

Son home = sewing in the living room.

Needless to say I never got around to finishing this until the Friday before Labor Day. I wore it that night to a birthday dinner/karaoke party. My husband took some pictures but none of them were blog worthy.

 So is the dress on Dora. I added a lining to the bodice and a slip down to the split I added.

 

 

 

Love and Blessings,

Dawn

Stay tuned... upcoming DVD review..

Yesterday I received the DVD set from that I had won. It is Gentleman Jim's Alteration dvd set. I will try to watch this weekend (if I do not have my grandson over).

If you have not done so already head over to The Lost Art of Fine Tailoring and pick up your copy.. He is having a 50%off sale!

Although I have not watched the dvds yet, I have watched all his videos so I feel confident suggesting the purchase!

Love and Blessings,

Dawn

Today's date in the Bible...

Luke 9:25

New King James Version (NKJV)

   For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

Love and blessings,
Dawn

 

I won....

Glory to God and thank you Gentleman Jim!

http://finetailoringbyjim.blogspot.com/2013/09/alteration-dvd-set-winners.html?showComment=1379606922720#c1572765454272853557



Love and blessings,
Dawn

Meet Gentleman Jim....

and enter for a chance to learn from a master tailor, pattern maker, designer, sewing instructor and clothing manufacturer.

Visit his blog @ http://finetailoringbyjim.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Love and Blessings,

 

Dawn

This is MY Confession...

I am a borderline hoarder. I reached that conclusion by taking a look at the last patterns and fabric I just recently purchased. I have no problem with having lots of patterns and fabric if you use it (even occasionally). I have not been doing that. I love sewing but fitting issues have been my deterrent. So since there will always be new patterns and more fabric sales, I have decided to start making things. At least one item a week. I have to justify my purchases to ME. The above statements have no relevance to anyone but me. You do you and I will do the same. As matter of fact I love reading sewing blogs and seeing other people's stash, but I also know that I love even more looking at the garments that they create from their purchases. I need to stop hoarding and start creating!

So, I spent Sunday afternoon considering what to sew next. I decided to watch the Mimi G's DIY Strapless Jumper tutorial. After watching it I thought about trying my hand at a simple down and dirty maxi skirt. I wanted to make one with the fold over like on yoga pants. I went to you.tube and rediscover a young lady whose DIY peplum skirt video I had watched. Her name is tglashen and I fell in love with her. Not only is she very creative but she teaches the obvious without you feeling like duh… What I love the most is that at the beginning and end of each of her videos she displays bible verses. I love, love, love creative people who know from whence their talents flow!

So I went to my basement fabric stash and found some striped knit fabric I was gifted from my mommy. She no longer sews and she has begun sending pieces my way(adding to my hoard stash)… (She makes jewelry now). The fabric I picked was very familiar. When we would fabric shop we often would go home with some of the same pieces. I had (many, many years ago) made my youngest daughter a cute little summer top from my yardage (she says she still has it somewhere in her bedroom).

Following most of tglashen’s instructions I made the following two skirts. The striped one for me and the other for my daughter.

 

Even after using the exact same instructions, because of the difference in the fabric, my daughter’s came out a little more form fitting than I had desired. She, however, loved it. My next iteration will fit with more ease.

I really need more light in my house and a camera phone with flash. Sorry again for the not so great pictures.

 

Love and Blessings,

Dawn

Out with the old, in with the new!

Well, I mentioned in my last post that I was in the process of making the infamous "Regal Maxi Skirt w/ Sash"... I had only the zipper and the hem to finish when my oldest daughter came in. I decided to try it on to get her opinion....I had told her that I was going to wear it the next day to a ministry event that I was a part of. So when I came out in the skirt she said" oh, I did not know that you were doing a praise dance". Well since that was not the look I was going for I figured that I should wear something else.

I did agree with her that my rendition had too many gathers. I will remedy that at a yet-to-be-determined time.

I took Wednesday thru Friday off, so on Wednesday I cleaned my overhead built-in closet in my bedroom. In the process I realized that I am a border-line hoarder. I am proud to say that a recycle bin full of useless papers dating back to 1997 and three bags of shoes have left my home.

Now, I am not so proud to say that on Thursday I went to Gaffney Fabrics and purchased 27 yards of ITY knits (they were on sale for $1.50/yard)  and then I went to Jo Anns and took advantage of the McCalls pattern sale. I bought 12 patterns, but 10 of them were for kints!

Last night I started working on M6752, view B. I used stash fabric(linen blend Jersey knit) purchased online in 2013. Sorry for the dark photo.

Not sure what is up next, but it will be done within the next week!


Love and blessings!
Dawn

The hard and soft of it...

Well, I still cannot get my oldest daughter to pose for a picture in her pleather(purchased from Mood) skirt (McCall's 6706).  And now my youngest is unavailable to pose for pictures in her linen pants(Simplicity 2700). Here are some shots of the two pieces on(and I use the term lightly) Dora. Hopefully I can get a picture of both of them wearing the pieces soon.

 

I used cheap/wrong interfacing (see how wonky waistband looks)

First time using both button hole and button attachments

Leg with ribbon sewn on for a pretty hem

 

Next up is Mimi g’s Regal Maxi skirt. I found this yellow shantung at Jo.Mars in Philly. It fit right into the time of a ministry event that I am part of.

Fail: I am having trouble fitting my large abdomen while making skirts/pants. The trouble I had with was also due to time constraints(I was trying to make it to wear later that day! I am not there yet.. lol ) and I got frustrated when I attached the waistband on upside down. (I was trying to make it to wear later that day! I am not there yet.. lol ) I will finish this…No UFOs in 2013

Love and blessings,

Dawn
 

Serging (surging) ahead....

As a young parent I owned a sewing machine. My mother had always had one and I thought that it was a household essential. She would make clothes (mostly summer) for me and for herself.  She never really taught me any techniques and I cannot remember us even discussing sew, but I vividly recall her cutting out patterns at the kitchen table.

As I began my own family I purchased my own machine.  It was used primarily for sewing curtains, pillows and hemming pants (into shorts) that my children had outgrown.  As the children got older I started thinking about sewing apparel. I wanted to teach my daughters how to sew and so I took a home sewing course for apparel and received a new computerized Brother sewing machine at “graduation”.  

After a couple of years of occasional sewing, I began to seriously want to take my sewing to the next level. I was discouraged by the lack of classes available in my area. I found a group on meet-updotcom and joined, along with my mother. That did not last long because of conflicts in dates and travel difficulties.

I started purchasing how-to books, but many of the ones I really wanted were too expensive for my meager hobby budget.  I would ask for gift cards to Joann’s for holidays and birthdays to support my growing fabric/pattern obsession.  A few years ago I asked my husband to buy me a serger for Christmas.  I really tried to use that serger but fear held me hostage….fast forward to last night..

I was determined to figure out how to use it so I could finish the inside of the linen pants I am making for my youngest daughter using Simplicity 2700. Lately in church I have been hearing a lot about being bound by fear. I prayed about all of the areas that I can identify where fear is keeping from the best God has for me. I decided NO MORE. Last night I went in my basement, and dug out my serger. I cleaned it, re-threaded it and read the owner’s manual, and two other books that I had (one is The Easy Guide Serging Fine Fabrics and the other I cannot think of right now.). After about three hours total of cleaning, reading and trial and error, behold the fruit of my labor:

 

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I did finally finish the pleather skirt for my oldest, but I am having a hard time catching her to get a picture. Of course the zipper was not installed as perfectly as the original one.

 

Blessings,Dawn

The Great British Sewing Bee

I really like the BBC's reality show about home sewer. I read a comment on you.tube and I could not disagree more.. The commenter thought that perhaps this show would discourage the beginner home sewer. I think just the opposite, at least for me. It has really given me the opportunity to see mistakes that others make and help me to not beat myself up when I make those mistakes. I am already encouraged by the awesome work that may bloggers share. And although people speak of their wadders it just does not speak to me as watching this show does. Helps with my personal condemnation...

Check it out here.

I learned of the show on FB, butI learned of the you.tube video from Carolyn of  Diary of a Sewing Fanatic.

Love and Blessing,

Dawn

Pleated pleather panic...

My daughter turned 23 yesterday. She asked me to make her a pleated pleather mini skirt for her. She told me that she needed it for the weekend after her birthday.

On Monday past, we (two daughters and a cousin) went to Mood to look for prom dress fabric and the pleather. We found the pleather but the prom dress fabric is a story for another time.

On Tuesday she told me that her co-workers were throwing her a party on her birthday and that she really wanted to wear the skirt. Well, I had women's ministry on Tuesday and so I did not have much time to work on it.
Yesterday after work, I started working on the skirt. She told me that she was leaving out at 10:30, so I put the petal to the metal and tried to grind out the skirt.... I always make dumb mistakes when I rush. ......

I was watching a tutorial on inserting a zipper and I wanted to keep the slide out of my way... so I placed the top of the zipper up over the desired insertion spot, but I forgot to create a new stop!  I did a great job. The zipper was great zipped up! the best I ever did...After sewing the waist band facing and the waistband along the short edge (right sides together then trim and turn) to create a clean edge to the zipper tape, I pulled the zipper up again and right off the top of the skirt. I screamed NOOOO and my grandson, asked me what was wrong. I told him and he told me not to be too sad. He just turned four last week. I few minutes later my daughter came in to get dressed and he said "You cannot wear your skirt because mom- mom pulled the zipper right off the top of the skirt!"

Needless to say she wore something else and I will be spending a lot of time with my seam ripper this evening.

You can see the zipper slide on the pattern envelope

 

 

Love and Blessing

 

Dawn

Best laid plans...

FIT museum is closed on Mondays!! One of the reasons I wanted to go back to NYC is to see the Shoe Obsession exhibit...ugh!

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Ayyy Matey....

So I finished McCall's 6470 view b.  I will call it a wearable muslin.  The shiny fabric (satin)  that I used and the design of the blouse made me think of swashbuckling (and Seinfeld's puffy shirt).

My machine was acting up during the topstitching of the neckband so I had to do a lot of pulling the tread through to the underside, because each time I stopped stitching the tension of the top thread would leave a loop. I must get my machine serviced soon! I tried adjusting everything from the stitch length and the tension to another sewing needle.

However, I do see the potential in this. I will make it again in a gauze, lengthen the bodice and remove some of the width in the sleeves at the wrist. I like the elastic that I added at the hem so I will keep that.

Here is the blouse on Dee:

 

 

On to the next one.

 

 

Love and blessings,

 

Dawn

Shopping in the City...

 

My mom and I had a great time in NYC. Mood was amazing and overwhelming. I had a picture from Mood on my cell but I can not rotate it. Also went to M & J Trimmings.

Already made resevations to go back next month.  I have a formal event and my daughter's prom is in May.

 

I am currently working McCall's 6470 view b.

I should have lengthened it but my goal is to sew and if I come out with something wearable I am going to call that a plus!

 

Love and blessing,

Dawn

NYC or bust!...

For my birthday I was thinking about taking the day off work and visiting the Garment District in NYC.
I thought that I would be traveling alone, but when I mentioned my plans to my mother, she jumped aboard.  What a nice birthday present.

We will be taking the Mega.bus for the first time so I will let you know how that works out.

Whatever happens I will be thankful for spending the day with my mom.

Love and Blessing
Dawn

Resolution?

I have been reading a lot of inspirational post about changing habits and putting in the work needed to achieve personal goals.

If I cannot do anything I can dream, but a dream is really nothing without the work to bring the dream into fruition.

I have decided to change some habits and start living my life as a conqueror. My God tells me that I am more than a conqueror. If (since) I confess that I believe God's Word than I can not pick and choose which parts I am going to live out...

My resolves:

To dedicate at least 45 minutes a day to devotion to God(reading, praying, singing dance)

To do something sewing related five days a week for at least 20 mins.

To do some form of exercise five days a week for at least 30 mins.

To spend more quality time with my husband.

To spend more productive quality time with my youngest daughter.

To drive at least once a week.

I am going to print this out and place it on my night stand in a frame.

 To God be the glory!