Sew What It's Summer - Week 9

I had a major case of indecisiveness while creating this week's Bejeweled project. First I decided to make a shirt that was jewel colored and picked out my pattern. Then I changed the pattern, followed by changing what I wanted to use for material. Then I changed the pattern and the material once again. Followed finally by a change back to the original pattern and material.  Indecisiveness.

I, after all that changing, made a simple t-shirt, using a New Look pattern from two jersey materials: a striped purple jersey and a thin plain purple.  All of a sudden I have been feeling like I don't have any t-shirts to wear, so that's why I went for something simple. At the same time I wanted to make something with at least a little character.  I picked up the striped material at a discount store last year and was lucky enough to find a jersey in a color that perfect match  the striped material this past weekend. My local fabric store in small, and even the larger stores in Portland and Boston are smallish by NYC and LA comparisons. To find a matching material a full year after buying fabric, in my area AND on sale is an absolute miracle.


Here is the resulting project. Sorry about the pictures, I haven't quite figured out this self portrait thing yet. I really need to get a tripod and a gorrilacam tripod.

Sew What It's Summer - Week 7 Finally Completed

It took another week but I finally completed Week 7's challenge - Retro Rundown. I used a Vintage inspired Simplicity pattern to make a 1940's-esque blouse. I love the fashion of the 40's. The 40s were a decade of change and that definitely influenced fashion.  Women began to break away from the every day dress to pants, jeans, blouses and even the beginnings of the t-shirt.  It was a great decade for fashion.

I altered a few items on the pattern. First I had to enlarge the sleeve, bc as i've said before my fat arms need room. Second I loved the pleats in this top- they flatter in all the right places but I didn't like the little flutter one made on the back of the shirt. Instead of two pleats on the back I only did one.  Third the shirt seemed just a little short so I added a band to the bottom. This was my favorite addition and it didn't even change the look of the shirt. It instantly made it more comfortable though. Fourth I didn't add the ties and bows. every opening and gather on this shirt seemed to have a tie attached to it. I opted not to include them.

So here's the final product. I love it and will definitely be wearing this one to work.

    

Sew What It's Summer - Week 7

So I started this week's challenge, Retro Rundown, I swear I did, however it's definitely not done for today.   Last week was a busy week but in a good way.

I worked on this little dress for my niece (Challenge #6)

I met a friend for lunch and walked around shopping here:

And then I spent the rest of the weekend at my sister's, where I played and swam with this little goofball at Nantasket Beach.

So today I feel like I need a weekend to recover from my weekend, and I never finished my project but it was a great weekend.  hopefully this week I will be able to catch-up and finish Retro Rundown and Chambray.

Sew What It's Summer - Week 6

For this week's challenge, Maxi Dress, I deviated a bit. I still made a dress but not quite a maxi dress.  I have piles and piles of patterns scattered throughout my house. Every time there is a sale on pattern's at Joann's (which is often) I stock up. They go from costing $10 - $20 down to about $2 a pattern. I would be crazy to pass that up. The result is piles and piles of patterns. So a couple months ago my niece found this princess pattern on my coffee table and immediately wanted it.  She's turning 5 this Friday and in her sweetest little voice asked "Auntie Manda will you make this for me?" Of course I said yes, that I would make it for her birthday. She picked out the dress style and the color fabric and I picked out the trims. A week ago when the dress was still sleeve and peplum-less she tried on the dress for a fitting and twirled around my kitchen like a little princess.

I used a medium weight hot pink/raspberry color linen and even managed to find thread and a zipper that matched the fabric exactly.  I then used a white & pink daisy trim on the collar and a pre-gathered pink satin trim at the wait.  The peplum was suppose to be removable but I know my niece - if the peplum was not attached this would be the only time it would not be lost somewhere hidden in a pile.  I stitched the peplum and waistband to the dress front, just past the back sides, leaving the ties free in the back.  I will say that although the pattern was very easy to follow their construction steps were a little odd. They had items completely finished, hemmed and trimmed on the top before the skirt was even attached.  It seemed a little odd to me.

Over all I think the dress came out great and my niece is going to love it. I'll post pictures next week of the princess in her dress :)