Geez Louise! I’m so happy that I did not skip making this coat in muslin first. I did it to make sure the fit was right but it’s the opportunity to figure out the collar construction that makes me glad I’m sewing a muslin. Let me share my confusion; Read more…
The Start of a New Project – A Wool Coat
I always say if I’m going to take the time to make a garment then I’m going to take the time to make it right. Trying my best to be efficient, by all means, but no short cuts. And now I sound like a complete hypocrite by challenging myself to get this coat done in […] Read more…
Bunting; An Easy and Fast Project For Any Festive Occasion
I see bunting for sale in catalogs and at craft shows. It can turn any room instantly festive. We use it outdoors at the school I work at on special days and and at booths when we have a table. Teachers have borrowed it to use at home when they’ve hosted baby showers. If done […] Read more…
Tinkerbell Costume – Completed
I finished. I made a gathered tulle skirt to wear under the “skirt” of the pattern. I think it should be called a peplum and I added an inch to the length. I cut the bottom edge of the tulle skirt in a points. Just random points, after I had sewn the skirt. Since the […] Read more…
Sewing the Lining to the Bodice – Not How I Thought it Would Be.
Sewing my daughter’s Halloween costume, Simplicity #2757. I didn’t have the camera when I was sewing this part so I drew the steps out. Because the front and back pieces form a right angle with the side pieces at the neckline I couldn’t just sew one seam starting at the left side center front, around […] Read more…
Tinker Bell Halloween Costume
My daughter is 18. She wants to be Tinker Bell for Halloween this year. When you’re 18 your Halloween costume has to be somewhat stylish no matter what you’re dressing up as (I’ve seen Mean Girls). My daughter is away at University so pattern decisions took place via email. Measurements were taken on a recent […] Read more…
How a dress became a skirt and a purse. Part 3: the Purse.
What got me started on this project, or what made this project (turning my mom’s dress into a skirt) jump to the front of the line, is that I really wanted a simple bag for summer. And I really wanted a grey bag. I saw that dress crumbled up in my mending pile and realized […] Read more…
How a Dress Became a Skirt. Part 2. OR Patch Pockets Tutorial
The Details: The skirt, like its parent dress, was simple but now, without its boat neck to echo the horizontal tuck near the hem, it lacked something the dress had. The tuck looked like a mistake; like I added on fabric to the hem as a way to add length. I needed to accent the […] Read more…
How a Dress Became a Skirt and a Purse. Part 1
Recently my mom was cleaning out her closet and thought I might like a dress she had made in 1982. Maybe I could put it in a consignment store she suggested. It was a simple, straight sheath dress made in a silvery grey raw silk with a boat neck and an interesting detail of a […] Read more…
The Sundress is Done!
It’s done! Did I finish it in a week? No but I came close. I lost momentum when my daughter was never home for a fitting (I needed to fit the straps on her for the correct length) and on the day before our trip she said it was no big deal if she packed […] Read more…