Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU(!) for the kind words on my two new awesome dresses! :) I really love both of them and am grateful for the love!
I mentioned before that I am ready for spring and OVER my winter wardrobe. Trolling the stash, I found this brick-red wool/poly suiting from Fashion Fabrics Club. It was super cheap at $2.30/yd (they have good sales but I feel like their quality is far more hit-or-miss than Fabric Mart) but I scored and it was really great to work with!
I made no flat-pattern changes from the last time I used the pattern (which was awhile ago and I don't have any of those pants in my wardrobe because they'd gotten too big and I'd taken them in once. A second set of alterations wasn't going to happen!).
I ended up sewing 3/4" side seams on this pair though. I do *think* now that I can fix those high-hip wrinkles. I truly forgot how much I like this pattern. More of a trouser cut without being too full through the legs, and the nice, wide waistband makes them a hit for me.
These were hemmed long with a couple specific pairs of shoes in mind. But as you see here, I was losing daylight and just wanted pictures, so I grabbed the shoes I was wearing that day :) In the taller heels they don't pool at all.
I redid that fly topstitching once and wasn't going to redo it. I don't usually have an issue there so I can only assume I may have placed my zipper a bit too low, giving me an issue with the zipper stop.
I used these lovely shell buttons gifted to me by Carolyn -thank you again! :)
I left off the pockets and hand sewed the hem.
I really love these and they look amazing with black/white tops -- of which I have plenty!
I started this Cynthia Rowley vest (S1756) that I have been wanting for a long time! I decided on this linen/cotton blend and I thought, "oh how cool! It'll be super casual and lightweight and..."
No.
It looks like a lab coat.
Could be that I actually wear one but...Let me tell you; I am SO glad I didn't use patch pockets or I probably would've tossed it. The zippered pockets are the only thing saving it but I fear they aren't enough.
More on that when I finish it.
My wonderful, super awesome and fantastic daughter received her financial aid award package - 90% of her first year funded via scholarships and grants!
I am one happy and proud mama!!! And relieved! I don't want her to have the burden of student loan debt that I have!
I want this little decorative sailboat from Target SO badly but every time I see it, that uneven line of paint stresses me out.
Because I learn (sometimes) I cut out several samples of satin for the prom dress and tested needle size, tension, stitch length, etc.
I don't have adjustable presser foot pressure but I did find that the satin likes loose upper thread tension, a moderate stitch length and to be kept taut while going through the machine. Seams were pressed and flattened with my psuedo clapper (e.g. a thick but smooth block of wood!)
No puckers! YAY!
I have Lily WAY tall in this pic so the dress doesn't drag on the floor. I have to press the top of that slit a bit but hadn't tested pressing on the right side so I didn't dare touch the iron to it, even with the press cloth.
I used lining fabric for the underlay -- there'll be a layer of illusion over that and then the lace. But it's far more sheer than I bargained for so I may go back and use the satin. Doesn't seem like the lace will do much for coverage.
The back will be illusion only with partial lace (e.g. maybe up to the waist??). Details, details... ;-)
This was me today. All day. Life was HARD.
Oh and I am officially out of the Wardrobe Contest. Booooo!
I knew I didn't have time to be going off on tangents with this wardrobe. And I also knew I didn't want to sew to create a wardrobe for the contest but rather I wanted to create a casual summer wardrobe and enter the contest. Since certain parts aren't coming together, no need to stress over it. Aside from the chambray top and the white vest, I LOVE every other piece I've made. So I'm just going to stick to the original summer plans.
OH! I have to blog the failed M6965. Perhaps with the chambray shirt. A post of failures. Hahahaha!
