This might have crossed the border from Spring into Summer, especially considering our weather here in Michigan.
But here’s a little tank I made for the Spring Sew-Along hosted by Made by Rae!
It’s solid navy jersey in the back. Bright, crazy striped jersey in the front!
I used a tank I had as a launching point, started sketching and adjusting on my Swedish Tracing Paper, and this is what I’ve got ! And I love using piping for the edge finishes – like on my Laurels!…
Filed under Clothes
Coletterie has launched a new pattern called The Laurel and is having a contest! And it just so happens that this contest is happening at the same time as Made By Rae’s Spring Top Sew-Along showcase/contest! So I had double inspiration to make a couple of tops.
Here’s my first Laurel blouse! I made it with some red polka-dot fabric that was handed over to me from a friend. I think it’s rayon? It goes swish-swish when you rub it against itself, it doesn’t wrinkle, it pretty transparent, doesn’t fray, and it holds its shape.
Adjustments to the pattern included dropping the armhole down an inch, reducing the shoulder ease, adding about three inches to the waist and another to the hem (!! am I really that stretched out!?!?) and I moved the back darts down an inch.
Also – instead of bias tape binding for the raw edges, I did piping!!!!! I am so happy with this choice. I think the edges look super sharp and it was SO EASY (especially since I just used ready-made piping binding from the store).
Yay new blouse! Clap clap.
Filed under Challenges, Clothes, Fabric, Techniques
After seeing this post, I knew that once I felt I had a handle on garment sewing, I wanted to try to replicate this look: Vogue V8615 Very Easy in a jersey.
I cannot emphasize enough googling the name of the pattern before proceeding to sew a garment. Find all the blog posts you can and read up on the desired alterations. After reading though a bunch of posts I knew I was going to…
Read on for tips on pursuing each of these alterations and for a general walk-though on the pattern!
Filed under Clothes, Pattern, Techniques
I made a Tova! 
I would do a pattern walk-through, but really the only adjustment I made was adding a bit of length to the sleeves (5 inches to made them full-length for my monkey arms rather than 3/4 length) and to the torso (one inch longer than the largest size hem line).
Sleeve pattern piece with my length adjustment.
The pattern isn’t necessarily tricky, but I found VeryKerryBerry’s Tova Sew-A-Long blog posts IMMENSELY helpful. And like Kerry, I lined the bodice panel – baste stitch your lining fabric to your Tova fabric wrong sides together first thing, and then proceed as normal! I did this because I’ve seen that the Tova collar kind of flops open adorably, and I found the idea of having some “peekaboo” fabric inside appealing for everyone who chooses to stare down my shirt.
Read the note at the bottom about why I have my iPad in my lap here…
My shirt is made from Mixed Signals Voile in Striking, which I got from Pink Castle Fabrics.
I did my best to line up my pattern pieces smartly so that the vertical lines of this fabric aligned nicely in the finished product. I was pretty successful!
This was my first time sewing with Voile, and it was wonderful! I used my walking foot while sewing and didn’t experience any trouble.
Okay – a little note about why I have my iPad in my lap in that picture… My husband got me the coolest little gadget for my birthday! It’s a Nikon WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter (they don’t sponsor, obvs – I’m small ‘taters). I plug the little square into the side of my camera, and it creates a wifi network that I can join on my iPad. Then I can open the app on my iPad and see through my camera THROUGH MAGIC through my iPad!!! And then I can take the picture by clicking the button on my iPad!!! So cool. UPDATED TO ADD: Also, the dealy automatically sends the pictures on my camera onto my iPad/PhotoStream – no more chords for getting the photos onto a computer! Here’s a youtube review.
I needed a sharp looking skirt that would work for winter, and I turned to some handwoven fabric I received as a present and this chic Burda Style Pattern.
If you are interested in learning how to put a vent into a slim-cut dress or skirt, how to add a lining, or tips on working with handwoven fabrics, read on!
Filed under Clothes, Fabric, Pattern, Techniques
Even though I didn’t add to the Costume Party this year, I still made many costumes…
Oldest son went as a Cheetah…
And I was a “Safari Guy” on the lookout for Cheetahs…
Hubby was a hunky Paul Bunyan. (He pulled this together all by his self)… With Son #2 being “Babe the Blue Ox” ! How cute is this?
Made this for my niece Kylie!
It’s “Boo” from “Monster’s Inc”…
And for my friend Irene… a chicken costume!
Bok bok!
Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween and are happily looking forward to joyous Thanksgiving!
Just in time for tonight’s big game against Alabama, I whipped up a Michigan tee for my youngest, using Made by Rae’s Flashback Tee pattern. Here are her tips for making the tee short-sleeved.
Henry’s wearing a 18-24month size, but the only Michigan shirts we had in that size were long-sleeved! Considering it’s in the 80s around here, that just won’t do. So I ran out to Meijer, snagged a cheap XXL shirt, took it home and scaled it down! I just kept it as a raw-edged, rolled hem – and used the shirts original neckband. That made things super easy! Thanks, Rae!
I had a pair of shorts that were fairly low-rise and were too tight on my hips. I decided to turn them into a skirt! As a skirt, I’d be able to wear the item a bit higher on my waist, and therefore it wouldn’t be too tight.
So here are the shorts, pinching my hips uncomfortably…
Now this is a bit confusing because these next two pictures are of a different pair of pants I was attempting to do this same transitions with… It didn’t work out (sometimes too tight just means too tight) but these images will help guide us through the next two steps.
First cut open the leg seams all the way through the crotch and down the other leg. Turn your shorts or pants inside out and lay flat with “legs” together.
Draw a guide line smoothing out the curve of the rump and the little point on the… ahem… crotchal region. Sew down the line and down the pant leg.
Try on your tube (it may be super snug) and find out where you’ll want the hem to be. Cut the skirt to desired length. Go back and reinforce seam stitches.
If you want, you can hem the skirt with a blind-stitch or top-stitching, but I chose to let mine fray.
And yes, this was too tight to be functional – as someone who is often running and chasing and wrestling little boys. So I added some little “pleats” into the sides. I slipped some scrap fabric behind a slit in the sides and top-stitched the triangles into place. I didn’t turn the fabric under here, because I was cool with the frayed/raw look.
And then in the back, I cut a little slit and turned the edges under, top-stitching in place.
Now it is a very comfortable skirt!
Made another Sorbetto tank top just in time for the Fourth!
I started off with the FREE PATTERN, added about four inches in length. Then I moved the bust darts – aiming them about .75 inches lower at the tip and moving that tip in .75 inches close to the side-seam. Then I added back darts. Then I added rick-rack to the bottom.
Instead of quilting cotton (which, as it turns out, is not so great for clothing – says the sweat monster) – I made this one out of a bizarre poly-rayon from the “Linen-Like” aisle. It has a decent drape and doesn’t wrinkle easily. Sold.
My friend said it’s got a touch of Mad Men flare to it – Sounds good to me! Clink!
Filed under Clothes
I – like many quilters – am a fabric lover. I noticed I was avoiding wearing a couple of t-shirts because they had sad, saggy, pockets. Finally it occurred to me to replace the pockets with some of my favorite fabrics.
Yup – my last scrap of mermaids : )
These are not actually pockets. If you are really using the “pocket” function for these shirts, I don’t know what to tell ya. Here’s how I make them:
Authentic 1950s fabric
I just got this fabric recently from an Ebay auction. It’s said to be from the 50s and it certainly has that feel! Spoiler alert – if you’re in my guild, you could land a half-yard of this at the next meeting’s swap! Wouldn’t it look cute with Flea Market Fancy?
jenna brand 