Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Last year a friend of mine told me that all she wanted was a colorful summer dress, but that she was having a hard time finding one.  Well a year later, I decided to make her one.  So for her 30th birthday/thank you for being so awesome gift, I decided to make her Simplicity 2250:

Here's my version:

This is by far the most difficult project I've done.  I was very surprised because it looks like such a simple dress...well, looks were definitely deceiving!  This took me a few days to complete...I thought it would take 1, at most 1 1/2.  The bodice alone took me like 2/3 of a day to complete.  This is because I did mess up the pleats and had to rip stitches probably twice.  Also, I was originally going to make spaghetti straps.  After spending 2 1/2 hours trying to turn one strap right side out and still only getting it halfway done, I gave up.  Luckily, I still had enough fabric to make the larger straps.  All the pleats were a bit confusing, but all in all not too bad.  I think it would've been much easier if I picked a fabric I could actually see my markings on!!

She loves it!!:

My First Pants!

The past couple of weeks have been so cold (wind chill below zero), I decided it was finally time I tried to make some pants in order to stay warm.  I wanted an easy pattern for my first attempt so I went with Vogue 2923:

I had some brown suiting in my stash for a long time so I got to work.  The pattern was very quick and easy. My only qualm, is that the pattern is really just for coca cola bottle shaped women.  After I cut out the pieces I realized the pants were not going to fit my waist.  I couldn't re-cut the pieces b/c I barely had enough fabric to cut it the first time, and I don't know how to alter waists (I really need to take a course on pattern alterations).  I ended up just sewing it with as little seam allowance as I could and they just fit!  The effect - which may in part be attributable to the fabric - is a tummy control pant, which I love!  To be fair, the package does say that this pattern is not for boxy shapes...

...but I thought that only applied to the jacket.  I was wrong.  All in all, I am happy with the pants.  I did make one mistake...I ironed the pleats on the wrong side!  lol...oh well

(I still have to put a hook and eye in them.  I know I have a lot, but I can't find them and I refuse to buy more!)

I like the wide leg look.  But, now I know I have to be careful wearing these.  I wore them last week and was running up the escalator at the metro when my foot got stuck in the pant leg and I fell!  Luckily, no serious injuries and my pants are unharmed!  :)

I will probably make these again...just in a bigger size.

Fleece Navidad

This year, I decided to give everyone in the fam a gift and to make things easier on myself, I decided to make fleeces.  

For the little kids, I made McCall's 6222:

(pattern reviewed here)

For the teenagers, I made McCall's 5538 view A:

(pattern reviewed here)

... and McCall's 6252 view A with the pocket from view C:

(pattern reviewed here)

And for the adults, I made McCall's 5538 view B:

(pattern reviewed here)

I don't want to touch fleece ever again....  :)

Ladybug Rug

After seeing the bear playmat I made for a coworker using McCall's 6719, a colleague asked if I could make her a ladybug.  I knew the pattern had a ladybug option, but also knew the ladybug from the pattern looks nothing like a ladybug.  see exhibit A:

I agreed to make her a ladybug knowing I would have to do some modifications to the pattern, but thought it wouldn't be that difficult.

I used the head, body, face, and antennae from the pattern (view A).  I also used the heart applique from the bear.  I made the wings using the body pattern piece, but cutting it into a full circle and then cutting the circle in half.  I spent some time searching everywhere for my protractor to make perfect circles and after I found it and cut out all my circles, I realized the size I chose was the exact size as the cheeks, so if I ever make this again, I'll just trace the cheeks on webbing.  I added jumbo rick rack along the edges to give it a little something extra.  I drafted my own legs on parchment paper:

and made ruby slippers with some left over red sparkly fabric I had and some ribbon:

I also decided to make a bow for the antenna.  

I think it came out great!!  It was a lot of work (took me over 24 hours), but it's so cute!

Mini Wardrobe Contest 2013

So I decided to enter this contest again, and again my wardrobe is for work.  This time, I'm lightening up the color scheme.

PIECE 1:  Simplicity 1658 view A

Front view

(For some reason, the picture looks like there's a spot on the front, but I don't see the spot in person.)

Back view

This dress was a lot more work than it looks.  From the pictures on the envelope, I could not tell that the front overlay is open on the sides.  I also assumed that the overlay on view A was really just the dress such that there weren't multiple layers, but not so.  For all views, the bodice actually has 3 layers!  I completely wasn't paying attention to that when I bought the pattern, so I ended up having to go back to the fabric store to purchase lining...and then I had to go back again for the right size zipper.

This style of dress is my favorite...I love drop-waisted blousy dresses because they hide everything, but I think this one isn't particularly flattering because the overlay is open on the sides.  I just feel really big in this...like football player big.  If I ever make this again, I'll sew the sides of the overlay closed.  I think I'll end up tacking under the arms so that it's at least a little more fitted in the bust.  Sadly, just as I was finishing up the dress trimming frayed edges, I accidentally cut a hole in the front!  It's small so I sewed it closed, but it's still visible.  I think once I tack under the arms, the hole will be under the arm so it won't be a complete disaster.

Anyway, piece one is done.  I also plan on making a suit and another top to complete my wardrobe.  I'll update this page as I complete my pieces.

 

Wore this today:

 

For Yelena

On June 21st my cousin gave birth to this little cutie:

For months I've been planning on making her a quilt, but I just can't seem to get going on that project.  In the meantime, I decided to make her a dress.  Since this is my first attempt at making something so small, I decided to go with an "easy" pattern - McCall's 6015:

Here's my version:

It's not perfect, but it's pretty good if I say so myself.  :)

Design changes:
I completely enclosed the zipper...the pattern only has it enclosed on the bodice.

I also added a lace overlay to make it dressier.

Originally, I planned to use this as the overlay:

..but it was just too bulky to work with.

I went back to the fabric store and got this:

...which was much much easier to work with.
I also made bias tape out of the fabric remnants to enclose the raw edges of the lace:

Now I'm just waiting on my cousin to send me the baby's measurements so I can make the panty.  In the meantime, I guess I'll get back to the quilt...

UPDATE 8/11

I finally made the matching panties:

Vacation Preparation Pt. II

It's almost here!!  I had hoped to make more dresses and I do have time to make one more but I'm exhausted.  So here's the last of my vacation wardrobe...

Simplicity 1614 view B:

I don't really like it, but I'm going to wear it anyway with the skirt below.

Butterick 5756 view D:

I LOVE this skirt!!!  Can't wait to wear it.

Vogue 8574 view A:

This is my second time making this dress.  This time I put darts in the bust to make it fitted.  Also, as much as I love pockets, I omitted them in an effort to save time and get more dresses done.

Now I need a vacation from preparing for vacation...