Jewelry Roll

Here is a project that Mom just finished. It is a jewelry roll for traveling. The center roll has a button closure for holding rings. The fabric is from our favorite Lancaster county fabric store, Obi's. They have a whole section of beautiful fruit and veggie prints like this one.

Its An Amy Butler Explosion!

I have spent enough time drooling over Amy Butler fabrics and decided it was time to actually buy some. I originally ordered 1 1/2 yards of this to make myself a skirt. I changed my mind and put it to use to change up the scenery in my living room. You all are probably tired of seeing these silhouettes by now, but they are quite easy and satisfying to change up. To adhere the silhouettes, I used this nasty no-sew fusible that I have no other use for. I say nasty because the stuff is a) stiff, b) doesn't hold up through the wash, and c) don't dare sew with it or your machine will get all sorts of gummed up. Despite my animosity toward the poor roll of fusible webbing, it does work for this quite nicely. I can iron them on, slap them in the frame, and peel them off and repeat for the next background fabric. This is the third change so far and they are holding up nicely. I will post my other Amy Butler fabric project later this week.

Skirt McCalls 5523

I went to JoAnns a few weeks ago and saw this wool-blend tweed (?) that I just loved. It is a deep plum-y purple. I don't normally buy fabric without a pattern in mind, but this time I made an exception. I decided to use McCalls 5523 to sew up a skirt. The pattern has 4 different options for the lower back panel, included pleats, ruffles and flounces. I made the option for the 'shaped lower flounce.' I am very happy with how it turned out. I will be making this pattern again, with a few adjustments. First, seems to run small (even by following the measurements on the envelope) and fortunately I had cut a size up just in case. I also want to try the different back options, as I think the flounce isn't all that noticeable. However, that might be the fabric I used.

Big Jeans to Skinnies

I have a stack of jeans in my closet that are a couple of sizes too big but they are basically new.  I didn't know what to do with them and I didn't want to get rid of them.  I just got some winter boots and needed jeans that would fit tucked into them so I decided to try to modify the legs.  Incidently, right as I decided to try this I ran into this awesome tutorial about changing regular pants into skinnies (the easy way). I never intended to wear them alone but I liked how they turned out so much that I've actually worn them several times already! I'll be doing this to at least one more pair so next time I'll post a before and after.

A Real Live Coat! McCalls 5525

 

I've never made a coat for myself. In fact, I've only ever made one coat before this and it met its demise when a certain someone put crayons in the dryer. I must say that making a coat isn't as mystical and scary as it sounds. The pattern calls for 3+ yards of fabric, and I didn't want to spend a lot until I had tried the pattern out. After much hemming and hawing...ha!! get it...hemming?!...I decided to use this raspberry pick corduroy that I got at JoAnns for a whopping $2 a yard. I have been hoarding it for a while, knowing that it would come in handy. I figured (hoped!) that the addition of black piping and buttons would keep it from becoming too obnoxiously pink. The lining is just a black quilting cotton with white polka dots. The buttons are my favorite part. I was originally going to use self-covered buttons with the polka dot fabric. They were cute, but then I saw these buttons. I spent more for the buttons than the fabric! Still, the coat cost just 20 bucks to make. The pattern went together nicely and I even figured out the lining technique they used. The only thing I would do differently if I make it again would be to enlarge the pockets and move them up a little.

Basic PJ Pants

I haven't had the opportunity to sew much lately but I needed the satisfaction of a finished project. I just stocked up on some nice cotton prints so I made these super easy, cuffed PJ pants :) They're burnt orange with tiny, white flowers and after some minor pattern alterations, they fit perfectly! I think I'm going to whip up a few more pairs of these as the season gets cooler...maybe in some flannel with a drawstring?

Sewing Class

I haven't posted since the beginning of August.  No, I didn't fall into a pit or anything but after vacation, things certainly went in a direction I didn't anticipate. As soon as we got back, I started interviewing and going through all of the ensuing responsibilities that go with that adventure. I then started grad school and got a job.  Incidently, I started my new job and grad school in the same week...realized my brain would break if I tried fitting it all in like that so withdrew from grad school for the semester.  That brings me to now...about to hit my 4th week on the new job, boring pants hemming projects behind me, ready to actually start sewing again. 

I knew I had the mental margin to create again the other day when I was standing at the shredder daydreaming about the next dress I could make.  It was perfect timing then that G-Street fabric ran an awesome Groupon deal...hooray! Anyway, I digress. Since I dropped my classes I felt a little sad that I wouldn't be in a classroom anymore so I decided to look for a sewing class to take.  I've really been wanting to learn more about couture technique and tayloring and I happen to love 1950s and 1960s style (Hello Madmen!) and I ran across an online class that teaches you how to make a classic, sarong-style/fitted bodice bombshell dress.  I knew who the teacher was already because I read her blog and it made my day to find out that she had come out with an online class. I've never really delved into using boning or making crazy adjustments so I am really excited to get going on this course.  The fabric I chose is a multi-colored polka dot on cream by Moda and I even have red pumps to match! When the dress is done, all I'll need is a big beehive hairdo and some cat eyes to match :)