Pink/Blue cotton madras for a shirt dress. I really like M6520, view A
Black polyester matte jersey for Vogue 1250, this will be my first LBD! I want to make it in time for the wedding rehearsal dinner. Time and energy willing.
Blue/black/gray abstract ITY knit for a DVF style wrap dress. I'll prolly remake B5030.
Black and white cotton seersucker for B5647, view B.
Graphic floral cotton twill for either a blazer or a pair of pants. If I can get to it by summer it'll be pants inspired by these beauties that I pinned.
Magenta r/p/l ponte. I got it with B5752 in mind. Then I saw Mimi's SMOKING dress and I knew I made the right choice! (my other option is a sleeveless B5559)
Joann's mini haul
Joann's has some really beautiful prints this season. I'm really in love with their "Global Traveller" collection. I purchased these "Simply Silky" cuts in February and got to cutting AS SOON AS I finished them dang bridesmaids dresses!!! As of Sunday night, they are sewing up beautifully! I am making two New Look 6053 sweatshop style. I hope to be wearing these bad girls ASAP! (*note. I scheduled this post earlier this week and have since finished the skirts! I'll take pics of and post them tomorrow.)
annnnnnnnd I forgot my Blogger Anniversary like I do every year. Happy 5 years to me.
I've been loving the lace dresses I've been seeing in the editorials and in the online shops. This backless style is very sexy, but not over the top!
Cropped blazers.... I wasn't sold at first. But with a baggy pant, they look super cute! I need to try one on to make sure it suits my figure.
You know I love printed pants, having made a couple of pairs last year. This year they are looking great in all shapes from wide leg to slim. I definitely want to make a silk or cotton pair for the upcoming summer. Those polyester pairs I've done have my knees sweating!
I've always loved angled and rounded hemlines so all of the asymmetrical hems I've been seeing are right up my alley. look 1, look 2, look 3
Somehow I'm afraid to start up any big sewing projects for me because I have the wedding to sew for and I'm not allowed show you what I'm working on. My first deadline is March 31st for the maid of honor dresses and the skirt of the bridal gown. But, I'm gonna try and sneak some pictures in tho, shhh.
Thursday morning I got up at 5am after tossing and turning all night damned insomnia!so I decided that I was gonna sew something new for me. I serged off a yard of fabric for a scarf, and my fuzzy brain handled it well. It was a nice & quick sewing fix and I felt cute wearing it that day. Good enough.
Scarf: "silky" double border print from fabric.com Dress:Vogue 8679 (I wore it with a boring black blazer and pumps, but I was still cute tho, lol)
Love this print, it's black and white with a pop of coral, red and yellow on each border.
Full shot. Ehhh, should I stick to wearing dangly earrings with this haircut? I have on "diamond" studs and I'm looking bare from the neck up, at least in the photo.
Thanks to a heads up from Erica B. I snagged these on sale at BMV.
1285 is a Tracy Reese design. I found a similar dress in her Pre-Fall 2011, but it's printed and longer. It looks great, but I definitely want this in a solid. (not white). Did some Googling and found this:
8797 is a shirtdress with the "mullet" hem. I've seen these from several retailers, but my absolute favorite rendition is by NiniStyle. (she's from Dallas too!!)
At the last Vogue Patterns sale at Joann's, I picked up V8781. Not sure why, I was just really attracted to the line drawing and thought it had some potential.
This pattern has some great individual basics for work! I really loved the jacket, which looks to be a LOT less complicated to sew than a set in sleeve blazer. Plus the princess seams will help minimize a waistline. I'd skip the shoulderpads unless you need them for fit.
After some internet window shopping I found a couple of great Raglan sleeve jackets.
Zippers on the arm seam!! Awesome.org This has a raglan and a set in shoulder combo, but can easily be straight raglan.
Color blocking!!! This tuxedo really opened my eyes for the possibilites with this patterns. I have some ideas up my sleeve so I am adding this one to the queue for sure. (*this one appears to have the combo shoulder too)
Right away I was attracted to the elements: Black (staple) Expensive looking fabric (wool) A-line shape (flattering) Leather binding and exposed zipper (edge)
My inital thought was New Look 6079, it has the gores and the pleats and the a-line shape without being too flared out like the original Fendi skirt.
The Vogue pattern is also a good match with all of the seams available to play with.
But upon further looking, a Butterick pattern stood out. How awesome would that pencil skirt be with the zippers on the seams? Or the leather binding?
Yes & YES!
I think would do BOTH, the exposed zipper on the back seam and the binding on the front seams/pleats.
Is it bad that I'm considering Spaghettios for lunch for the next 2 years until I save up for the Chameleon Satchel?
You've got your home of the brave and I've got my land of the free
You conform to what society says and I conform to me
Looking for light in the corners getting caught in the spider web
You look at me as if I'm giving a performance when I'm just feeding my head
And you know that I'm doing all right
And I won't explain myself to you just to avoid a fight
How I'm living ain't correct but for me it's just right
I'm not completely insane, I'm maybe just a little bit crazy
Lyrics from "Crazy" by Alana Davis
This post is more of a diary entry to air out my conflicting feelings on my sewing skills. Ultimately it's no big deal, but sometimes when I hear/read about how others are doing on the sewing blogs & boards it stirs me up a little bit. Sometimes I feel like I'm not "up to snuff" with my sewing, like I know I can be.
I pride myself on my sewing skills and being able to produce wearable and well made garments. I totally understand garment construction and I'm genuinely attracted to all things fashion and sewing. Sometimes I'm so desperate I watch the sewing machine demos on HSN (albeit with major side eye.) I feel like a super star when I receive compliments on my blog and in person and even better when I am wearing an RTW garment and someone who knows I sew asks if I've made it.
Reading about "couture" and "advanced fitting" techniques is truly enjoyable, and know I can do those things if I tried. I have learned and tried some really awesome things just by self study (not on any garment, just for fun. Truth is, I hardly ever employ them unless they contribute to the "sturdiness" of the garment. I make sure I do enough fit adjustments to not have me looking like a stuffed sausage. I barely read the pattern instructions: b-o-r-i-n-g, I'll just figure it out and do my own thing or look someting up in a pinch. Truth isI refuse to hand sew and try to avoid it whenever I possible can. I wear a lot of loose fit anyway, so unless I have some major potato sack-age, gaping or my rolls are showing, I don't bother doing any super custom fitting. Truth is realizing these things makes me feel like I'm not doing things the right way. and then I feel like I just want to get this thing made so I can wear it.
While in progress, I really don't care if the inside of my garment is as nice as the outside. I just make sure all the seams are neat and strong and that there's no fraying. Hand hemming - really? I use the machine blind hem in a heartbeat, it works and looks fine to me. I don't line anything unless the fabric is flimsy or it will be dry-cleaned - a rarity. I have learned the lesson about using quality fabrics, but I really feel like if it's sewn well and cared for well, it will last - even if it is polyester. (go polyester! yes roll ur eyes, lol.)
But then when I see other seamstress do couture techniques - even on simple garments - I am awestruck, motivated and then deflated because I felt like I shoulda-coulda done that.... But when the time comes to I sew, I just get in the zone. I just try to have a great time and make sure things are lined up well and don't fall apart. Does this make me a bad seamstress? Lazy? Can I even call myself a real seamstress? Impatient? How can I get the motivation to slow it down? What is my real skill level if I don't really practice any major techniques so I'm actually getting better? Am I being too sensitive?
Don't you just hate it when stuff like making a living--spending time with family--sleeping--taking care of home and stuffinterferes with your sewing? Then to top it off your teenager steals borrows your camera to take pictures of herself for Facebook and you are afraid to go in her room to get it back because.....
Actually, I have just been working offsite for a few weeks and it totally threw me off my routine (& sucked the life out of me) but I'm back on track now.
The three day weekend really helped get me back into my sewing. I went honey baked H.A.M. beginning Thursday night through Monday afternoon, cutting out several patterns, and finishing three pairs of pants and a dress. All that's left to do is install two zippers & hem that last pair of pants. Now I can sleep this week!
What I worked on:
You'll be seeing these when I wear them...
I was able to sneek in a few moments to check out the newest patterns and drool over some fashion blogs. Here are some things on my winter wish list:
For the last couple of years it was all about the DKNY Cozy, which I'm over. I still really like the look. It's just that my daughter is all into "long, slouchy cardigans" and mine end up missing... So, while drooling perusing over the Diane Von Furstenburgsmorgasbord site, I noticed a *new* look: PONCHOS!
No, not your run-of-the-mill raincoat/crochet/Mexican variety, think of them more as a layering element. Im thinking I'll be able to brave the impending cold now.
They don't have to be true ponchos, Maybe an oversized vest or sweater... The keys to the look: Solid colors. Wear something fitted underneath. Optional: Boots. (oh gosh, unbury me please.) Carry a BEAUTIFUL bag.
(Hmmm, ya know the kids like Ramen and Chef Boy R Dee, maybe I can sneak some of the next few months groce...)
Apples/Inverted Triangles rejoice! We can hide our boobs and tummies AND showcase our booties and legs in slim fit pants/skirts.
Over midi skirts or tights with boots!! S-L-E-E-K
Speaking of Ms. von Furstenburg, I'll take one of EVERYTHING in her shop. Thanks :)
I love,love, love the idea of a halter, don't know why I didnt think of that!I toyed with the caftan idea but then I bought something else KEWL for a caftan.
I still feel like its a lot of color for a maxi on my body, so I'm gonna go shorter. I love the retro Butterick, but I am really leaning towards the Vogue pattern, but I'll have to see where my "heart" takes me when the "making" time comes. I want this for vacation coming up in a few weeks so I gotta get started soon.
Again, thanks for the suggestions, I'm grateful to sew this out of my stash!! It was a fabric I got stole from my seamstress Aunt. So I'm excited to use it.
(and it's ok to laugh at my Photoshop skills, it's not my strong point - haaa!!)
**My second time with this pattern. My first pair wasreviewed on PR.This time, I didn't make pockets and I added an inch and a half of length to the inseam.**
I fell for this fabric a couple of months ago at Joann's. Something (the wierdo fairy perhaps?) possessed me to make pants with it. And yes, those kind of pants, tee-hee-hee...
I was supposed to make a full skirt, and I planned to wear a yellow tank, or maybe my yellow cardi, but the fabric already has a lot of yellow in it. Instead of getting teased for looking like a banana (in Hammer pants mind you - double whammy!!) I opted to go dark on top. The green tones it down somewhat, but still lets the color-richness show. It is an extremely bright and bold print, the photos do it no justice .I like it.
These are officially retired until the weather is 75 degress or below.
