Baby Dress

Here is a dress I designed, sewed and gave to my friend Tammy for her little Marea's baby shower.

Cherry and White Dress

I finished my dress for the Summer Spark Sew Along, Vogue 8615 a month ago but never got photos in time to post for the sew along. The construction didn't take long at all. I made the muslin in a day and the final dress in just 2 days (with many baby breaks.) This pattern is great because it comes with Custom Fit pattern pieces for A/B/C/D cup sizes. The only alteration I had to make to the pattern was to curve the darts a little at the apex to get rid of a bit of pointiness. Other than that, it fit perfectly right out of the envelope. I am so happy with this dress! It is a breeze to put together. Since it has french darts on the front, there are only 4 darts use to get this nice fitted bodice! (8 if you count the ones on the lining.)

The fabric is quilting cotton from JoAnn's. It drapes quite nicely. Since the fabric is just a tiny bit see through, I wear a nylon slip. I think I might buy a petticoat to give it more volume.

I lined the bodice but not the skirt as the pattern calls for. I don't want to use that much fabric =) I also   cut the front bodice pieces as 1 piece instead of 2 halves with a seam down the middle. They only drafted it that way to cut down on the length of fabric needed as the 2 half panels can be cut between all the skirt pieces. I finished the hem with bias tape instead of a regular hem because I wanted it to pop.

I bought the cherry print fabric specifically for this project. The white on white floral print lining fabric and the pattern were from my stash. The fabric I used for my muslin was also from my stash so this project definitely counts towards my Stash Busting Project. It also goes toward my 13 by 13 goal of using stuff from my stash. Apparently I really need to use stuff from my collection because I keep coming back to that...

New Simplicity Collection

I am very excited about some of the new patterns from Simplicity's Early Autumn 2012 Pattern Collection. (Early Autumn? Seriously? It isn't even officially summer yet.)

My favorite is Simplicity 1777, a 1940's reproduction dress pattern. I think I am going to add it to my list of items to make for the Sewing Through The Decades Sew Along.

Image from Simplicity.com

Simplicity 1778: I am not sure if I actually like this pattern or I am just excited because it has a red polka dot dress on the front. I am not sure how I feel about the bunching on the front.

Image from Simplicity.com

Finally, I like Simplicity 1779. I would like to make view c, white with navy ties.

Image from Simplicity.com

Summer Wardrobe Inspiration 2012

Summer Wardrobe Inspiration 2012 by ms-awesome-girl 

Just discovered Polyvore. Love it!

Sewing Through The Decades

I have decided to join yet another sew along type thing. Now that I have finally discovered just how awesome they are, I just can't stop myself from joining in!

The premise as stated on Rhinestones and Telephones:

"The basic thought is to challenge yourself to explore different time periods (which can be three years in one decade—1943, 1944, 1945) or several patterns across several decades (50’s, 60’s, 70’s). You can sew blouses, skirts, dresses, trousers…whatever you want! It will be fun to share our experiences in sewing from different time periods. The patterns can span both vintage and modern years."

I want to work on some patterns from the 40's and 50's. I am going to use the vintage/retro reproduction patterns because they are already in my stash and that will help me with my Stash Busting Project and my 13 by 13 goal to use up lots of my stash. Here are my selections:

1. Vintage Vogue 8811
2. Vintage Vogue 8812
3. Retro Butterick 5209
4. Retro Butterick 5748

I haven't even looked at fabrics yet. I'll blog about that another day.

Summer Spark Sew Along

Hosted by The Wardrobe, Reimagined

The Premise:

1 MONTH: 
In the month of June, sew one fabulous garment that you plan on strutting all summer.

1 GARMENT: 

Your choice! What's the most wonderful thing you'd like to wear again and again this summer? A pair of linen palazzo pants? A shoulder-bearing sundress? A swishy skirt? A floaty top? Why not make it now and flaunt it 'til the days get shorter?

1 GREAT LIST: 

We'll be posting photos of our finished garments in a Flickr group and, at the end of the month, we'll tally up all the fabulous patterns in a list to serve as inspiration to all. One person's amazing garment could spark another's summer sewing—in July, the season's still young, after all! 

1 FABULOUS PRIZE: 

All folks who have uploaded a photo of their finished garment by July 4 (a few extra days for good measure!) will be entered into a giveaway for ONE INDIE SEWING PATTERN OF THEIR CHOICE, to be shipped worldwide. Can't resist those Colette Iris Shorts? That Sewaholic Cambie? The Christine Haynes Derby Dress? It's a thank you for sewing along with us. 

I am going to make Vogue 8615 in a white cherry print cotton! I already have the pattern and the lining in my stash so this counts toward my Stash Busting Project. Also counts towards 13 by 13: using things from my stash!

The UFO /Stash Busting Project

I really need to join this one hosted by The Little Red Squirrel. Not so much for the UFO part, but the stash busting is a must. I currently only have 2 UFO's. That's right: count 'em 2. I have about 800 sewing patterns and 100's of yards of fabric that I need to use.

Here are the guidelines set out by Miss Katie:

1. Projects must use at least one item from the stash, for example one pattern or one piece of fabric. A combination of items can of course be used too! 
2. New elements may be bought but they must be used with an item from the stash. For example I can buy fabric and notions for a particular pattern in the stash, but I can't just buy fabric all willy nilly! 
3. For every new project I start a UFO project must be completed. I added this because I know that personally I get carried away with new projects rather than finishing older ones. This way I'm giving myself a bit of structure and discipline! (This one should be easy for me if I can just make myself stick to it./;') 
4. I will find and/or create projects that use leftovers from the stash. I find very often that I have pieces of material and balls of wool leftover when I have finished a project, that aren't enough to make an item of clothing on their own. I want to find ways of using these leftovers to make useful and beautiful things.