White Party

Earlier this summer, a friend of mine threw an all white beach party to celebrate her 30th.  Of course I decided to make my outfit.  I chose McCall's 6560:

 

Initially, I was going to do the full dress option, but I wasn't paying attention when I purchased the eyelet and only bought enough to make a top.  Because the fabric was so expensive, I decided to make a skirt as well in a different fabric.  As it got closer to the party, I realized I did not have enough time to make the skirt (I was also making a wrap dress for the birthday girl) and purchased a white denim skirt from Old Navy instead.  As a plan B, I found a dress at Ross for $8 at the last minute.

Here is my top:

 

It it way too low cut for my taste.  The picture doesn't do it justice...I feel really exposed, even vulgar wearing it.  I think you can see a little better how low cut it is in the pic with the camisole under it.

Here is the back:

 

The bottom of the back is really weird.  Admittedly, I didn't consult the directions before hemming (and I still haven't gone back to look at them), but the back looks terrible.  It bubbles out awkwardly and looks like I am with child, but carrying it in my back (sorry I don't have a picture of it on from the back).  I think I should have left the two back sides separate, basically leaving a split under the zipper instead of sewing them together and then hemming them.  I might still take it apart and do that...not looking forward to it though because I've learned that having to take apart eyelet is a bit difficult.

I ended up going with the dress from Ross.

Birthday gift - Butterick 5454:

For Mom

I've had a very long sewing hiatus due to studying for the bar exam.  Now that that's over, back to business!  Since yesterday was my mom's birthday and I'm broke, for her gift, I decided to finally do some projects my mom asked me to do.  Downside is that they're not surprises since she purchased the patterns and fabrics, but she understands.  I'll make it up to her later.

Anyway, they are all very simple, basic patterns that are great for beginners.

Dress 1 - McCall's 9172.  This is a very simple dress with pockets.  I made a fabric loop for the button to make it look a little nicer in the back.

 




Dress 2 - Butterick 5768.  This is one of the see & sew patterns.  It is sooo easy...only 2 pattern pieces!  The hardest part is the back pleats, and they aren't hard.

 

Dress 3 - Simplicity 1884:
I had to do a second row of the top stitching at the top of the dress because the first row didn't catch the facing.  The second row missed it in spots, but I think it will be ok.  I could just hand sew it, but I don't really think it's necessary.  I added belt loops instead of making thread carriers.

 

 

Skirt - Simplicity 2257
I added lining because the fabric was very light and sheer.

 

Happy birthday to the greatest mom ever!!!



***UPDATE***

Some pics of mom wearing the dresses:

                       

       

Mother's Day - Butterick 5454 and McCall's 5974

This post is a bit late, but I did not have my model (mom) until graduation which was after Mother's Day.  For Mother's Day, I made my mom 2 dresses:  Butterick 5454 and McCall's 5974.  For both, I used fabric (poly blends?) I purchased from G Street Fabrics.

Butterick 5454 view B:

 

I love this dress!  The pattern is very easy to follow.  I had only two minor issues.  One, my mom needs to wear a camisole under it, but that's not too much of an issue.  From the other reviews, it seems like the dress falls in a way that a camisole is unnecessary.  Mine might be like this because I needed to do an FBA(? I have no idea, just speculating)...in any case, it's no big deal.  Two, the sleeves are looser than they appear on the package.  My mom doesn't mind so I don't mind.  Highly recommend this.

McCall's 5974 view B with 3/4 sleeves:

 

This one has fit issues.  The front is way too low.  My mom is wearing a camisole in the pics below to illustrate.  The sleeves are also quite loose in this.  I'm going to need to take it apart and try to raise it and tighten the sleeves:

 




Not sure that I would try this one again.  Maybe I might try a different view.

Graduation and Vogue 8574

This weekend was graduation weekend.  To start things off, school held a reception for us and our friends and families at the Organization of American States.  For the reception, I made Vogue 8574, the shorter version.  I used some navy Casa Collections fabric (crepe back satin maybe?) I bought on clearance months ago that I had planned to use as a sort of muslin for another dress I am dying to make, but can't find the pattern for.  

 

For the lining I used scraps left over from a blouse I am currently making:

This pattern is very easy to make and Vogue says it's good for all body types.  I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a simple cocktail or evening dress (there is a floor length option).  My favorite part is the pockets:

 (I know I should've ironed the dress, but I was running late.)

Be mindful that it is a pretty deep split in the bodice.  When you're standing it's fine, but when I was seated, you could see my bra.  Also, if I had more time (I "finished" the dress about 2 1/2 hours before the reception), I would've put darts in the bodice...it gaps a a little in the bust.  Regardless, I think it came out well.  I received several compliments.  :)

Yesterday was Commencement....

I'm officially a lawyer now...or do I have to pass the bar before I can say that?...

 

One Yard Challenge

I entered yet another patternreview.com contest...the one yard challenge.  For this contest I decided to make a shorter version of Mimi G.'s maxi dress.  Btw, this is a great tutorial...very easy to follow and the dress is very easy to make.  I used fabric I've had in my stash for a long time because it was a remnant and I had no idea what to do with it.  Here's my dress:

I found the perfect beads to add to the ties at Joanne's:

 I plan on wearing my new dress this Friday to Chi Cha Lounge for my pre-graduation celebration with my 3/4 sleeve denim jacket (times like these I wish I had a khaki jacket) and my fave sandals:

 

Simplicity 1823

School's out for summer....school's out forever!!  I submitted my final brief on Sunday and have been free since so naturally that means I've been sewing (and sleeping) like crazy.  I really need to get started on my graduation outfits (a cocktail reception and commencement dress), but I decided to make some handbags instead.  I decided on Simplicity 1823 view E because I thought I could make them quickly.  I made one and then I was hooked and spent a little under 16 hours making two more (and another one started)!  Here they are:

If you stick to the pattern, it will not take 16 hours, but I added details.  For the first one, I added a simple pocket to the front:

However, I didn't think through the pocket and ended up placing the button too far down:

 

For the the next one, I got the idea to make a pan-African flag design...I already had black fabric and just enough red and green scraps to accomplish this.  For this one, I put the pocket in the inside:

 

To make an applique in the shape of Africa, I did a quick google image search and traced the shape on tissue paper.  After I applied the applique, I outlined the shape with beads.  I think it came out pretty well, but I think next time, I'll make the applique bigger:

  

For the last one - and my favorite (I love this fabric!) - I used the pocket from Burda 8344 and placed it on the outside.  Love it!

 

Overall, this pattern was very easy.  There is one step (step 8 - something about attaching hook and loop tape which I don't have and don't even know what it is) that I still don't understand so I omitted it and it doesn't seem to be all that important.  As such, I do recommend this pattern.  As you can see, you can easily add your own personal touches.

p.s.  The bags are available on Etsy

RTW Failure - Coeur a la Creme

Ever since I saw this dress on Modcloth, I was in love:

As it is no longer available (and I doubt that even if it were still available, I'd be able to fit it), I decided to try and make my own someday.  I thought patternreview.com's RTW challenge was the perfect opportunity.  I scoured through the various company patterns and found one that I thought was pretty close - Butterick 5605:

I even found a black buckle on clearance similar to the one in the original Coeur a la Creme dress.  

As you can guess by the title of this post, it did not work out.  I have not finished making this, but am abandoning the project as I don't know how to fix the problems.   I was way to ambitious.  Here's my unfinished version:

 

I followed an online tutorial to make the heart cut out, but I placed the heart too close too the edge.  This was very problematic when trying to turn it inside out.  Also, I should've used a heart that had sharper angles -if that makes sense- because it kind of looks like an oval instead of a heart:

Additionally, the fit of this pattern is very...umm...odd.  I'm daunted just thinking about all the alterations I would have to do to make this work.  I picked the right size for the bust through the hem; however, the clavicle area is too big.  It doesn't lie flat so the heart is a bunched up messed:

So I didn't get to enter the contest after all.... :(