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I made this skirt using Burdastyle's Michelle pattern. I was going to wear it on Christmas day but it was too cold, so the first time I wore it was my baby girl's first birday party.
I used silver ric rac around the hips and silver ribbon around the hem.
I took this huge red tee that the hubs didn't want any more (made out of super-soft jersey!):
And pinned and sewed my way to (just the red part - I'm wearing it over a black shirt):
What do you think? I'm kind of really into it. It looks better in person than I could capture on camera. It's got kind of a Anthropologie sale rack feel to it. I might add some beads or something else to pile on the details. Here are some closeups:
The waist:
The top:
In the making of this I realized two things:
1. Sleeves are hard. That's why this has none.
2. I really could benefit from one of those duct tape dressmaker's forms, since it would mean not having to constantly keep putting on and taking off a shirt covered with pins. Plus of course, I could actually pin fabric without having to do it on myself backwards in the mirror.
I am pleased to report that I have successfully completed the first garment to be sewn on my "new" machine.
Not without problems, however!
New Look 6843 is my favorite skirt pattern and I've made view D (bottom left) up about eight times, so far! This time, for some unfathomable reason, the skirt came out exactly 1" too small - something that I did not realize until I'd already hand-stitched the waistband down.
I figured that it was because I didn't have my familiar reference marks on the new machine and that I'd managed to take wider seam allowances than desired. But, a quick check with my seam gauge eliminated that possibility. Well, I picked out the waistband and narrowed and overcast the side seams. (It's a very good thing that I: 1)steadfastly adhere to 5/8 seam allowances on pattern pieces and 2) I don't use a serger. )
The skirt is now finished and hanging in the closet. I am still confused by what happened and how I lost that 1" but it must have happened when the pattern was being cut out. I might have caught the problem earlier, if I hadn't been so focused on learning the "new" machine that I neglected to try the skirt on.
The lesson (re)learned here is that it's important to try a garment on at several stages during construction....no matter how many times you've made up the pattern before!
I've been thinking of making my self a duct tape dummy. But is it easy to do and easy to use? Or is there a better choice? I can not buy an adjustable dummy as I'm too tall :( And I'd like to save some money as well. I'd like to hear your comments and hints :)
Hello from Kate,
I've become quite enamored with Generation T: 108 ways to transform a T-shirt, which I checked out from the library but may have to actually purchase. I ran my first test projects by raiding my stack of "too baggy but maybe still OK for gardening" T-shirts. I also plucked two nearly new Old Navy Perfect Fit Ts for good measure (I bought them last year while losing weight and they fit me properly for about two nanoseconds before failing to be my perfect fit).
My first guinea pig was a turquoise heather ONPF T, which I
transformed into a "stegosaurus T" (number 33 in the book,
"tying game"). All it required was cutting off the sleeves, hem and
neck, making one vertical cut all the way up center back, then making a series
of 3-inch horizontal cuts 1+ inches apart on both sides of the center cut, then
tie a bunch of knots and you're in business.
My pink ONPF T got a different treatment (number 19 in the
book, "fermez la ruche"). I started by (again) saying
"bye-bye" to sleeves, neck and hem. Then, I stitched new side seams
1" from the existing seam. That extra seam allowance became casings for drawstrings
made from the few inches of T I cut from the bottom. Cute! I posted a "detail" photo here, you can find a full view photo on my blog or on my Flickr page.
When I lived had a P-Patch (community
garden) plot, I bought a P-Patch T-shirt because I liked the color and
graphics. What I didn't like was that it was a man's-style T. Now that it was
even baggier than ever, I never wore it. But now, minus mannish sleeves and
too-long hem, plus two new side seams to nip it in, I think I will wear it
quite a lot (it's number 14, "classic punk"). I gave a similar
treatment to a really baggy white V-neck (keeping the original) neck, but felt
it was to utilitarian to bother photographing.
Just checking in.
Haven't gotten to the pants yet, but I've been knitting a pair of dishcloths for my sister and darning my sons' socks. They don't make Hanes socks like they used to! The whole pack sprouted holes all of a sudden. (of course my boys swear they haven't been outside in sock feet... LOL)
Here is my first try at making mittens from a felted sweater. I didn't use a pattern, ended up with some lumps and bumps, and went back and adjusted one thumb, but they are wearable and warm - the most important things here in Vermont. They go nicely with my thrifted coat. Definitely something I will try again, a bit more carefully next time.
I never find patterns at our local Salvation Army but found these 3 for 19ยข each. They haven't been opened or cut. Woohoo! Perfect for using up the thrifted sheet and pillowcase stash I have. I can't wait to get started. The patterns and found fabrics behind them have me thinking spring. Read more about my thrifting finds here.
My daughter loves the braids on the ear flaps and just continuously plays with them unless they are tied together. When in action, the hat is kind of bonnet-like. I love it.
Have a great week, everyone! Cheers, Anna at fortytworoads.blogspot.com
I recently wrote that I was learning to sew with my "new" computerized Brother machine, after my ol' mechanical Singer began to show signs of impending demise.
Well, the new machine is taking quite a bit of getting used to.
For one thing, it's not so much a machine as an appliance.
I feel as if I'm sewing with a coffee maker!
The feel is very different and I'm reminded that my writing has a very different "voice" when I write long-hand than when I compose on the computer. So, I suppose that one's tools affect the creative process on multiple levels.
Still, I did manage to get darts sewn in a new skirt, this afternoon....so progress is definitely being made!
I feel as if I'm learning to sew all over again!
