Hey all (and by all, I mean…my husband?) I know, I’ve not update even though I said I would. But I’m here now, that should count for something?

I’ve completed my first paid project! I made myself a very cute wrap dress for Easter last year, and ever since my friend Sally has wanted one. So, we found some amazing fabric at JoAnn’s and I got it on sale, because I’m like that:

It’s REALLY cute fabric!!  Jersey Knit, so a pain in the ass to sew with, but makes really nice clothes!  So got the fabric, cut out the pieces, and then Thanksgiving hit!  My husband and I hosted family from both sides, so it was hectic with planning, cleaning, cooking, cleaning and hosting.  It was a great time though and I’m so happy everyone made it!

So after the Thanksgiving rush, I was finally able to get down to business and make the dress:

It turned out really well I think!!  I sent it out in the mail today, so hopefully she will get it early next week!  It helped a lot that I had made this pattern before and worked with this type of fabric so I knew better what I could and couldn’t do!  I’m also really hoping that it fits!  Guess we’ll find out…once I get a pic from her, I’ll post that up as well!

I also finally finished my Harry Potter dress and wore it for Halloween.  I was Helena Ravenclaw:

It’s mostly finished anyway…it ended up being too big when I tried it all on!  So, my friend Trish and I did some quick fix tailoring and used some fashion tape to keep it up on Halloween night.  At some point in the future I’ll have to take the bodice apart to really bring it in, but for now it works.  I gotta say though, those sleeves were a B*TCH to put together and figure out!

Grosgrain is doing a give away of the “How Much Fabric?” cards…I’d love to have one of these! Head on over to check it out, or visit GwynHug to buy one of the cards!

I’m back!  Sorry I’ve been out so long…I’ve had a very bad year personally, plus a move, so sewing has really been at the bottom of my list, but I’m back now.

I’ve got some fun projects on my list of “things to do” and also I”m looking forward to attending this event in November and hoping to network some!

I’m also hoping to get some more knitting under my belt, so I may be using this site to that purpose, too.

I just wanted to check in and see if anyone is still reading this…thank you SewDucky for your support and comments on my other blogs over the past months.  I’ve been an aweful “internet friend” lately, but I still check in on you!  Hope you’re still around and want to be “bloggy buddies” still!

Okay…hope to have some stuff up for you all in the next few days!

Hello.  Yeah, I’m alive, but just haven’t been sewing.  I did not finish my HP dress, because I tried it on the night before I was leaving for the convention and it’s about 2 sizes too big.  Bah!  I got very frustrated and put it down and haven’t touched it since.  At least it’s too big and not too small, so it should be easy to fix.

Also, a winner has been decided in the Chicago Flag skirt:

Design number 2 won with an 8-3 vote.  Thank you to all who participated, and thanks for choosing this design!  The more I thought about it, the more I liked this one, so I’m glad it won!  Hopefully at some point in July I can begin to work on it.

I have a project for a gift that I really need to complete by June 20th, but I’m not sure it’ll get done.  My husband and I are moving on the 27th (still in Chicago, just a different neighborhood).  Our whole lives have become packing.  My house is a disaster and we have 2 random people staying with us this weekend for a wedding we’re going to on Saturday.  Should be interesting…I gotta try to move the boxes around to make room for walking and an air mattress tonight!

Hope you are all well.  Happy sewing!

Grosgrain is one of the sewing blogs that I like to look at from time to time.  She does a lot of give aways, usually of children’s clothing.  It’s all WAY too cute for words and amazingly well crafted.

On occasion she also gives away adult sized clothing.  Unfortunatly, they are still too small for me   I love her style and the clothing she makes, but I figure there’s no sense entering the contests when she’s probably half my size!

However…there is a contest going on now for a too cute for words sundress that will be custom fit to the winner!!!  I’m in!  To check it out, click here!  This is also my entry into the contest.  Keep your fingers crossed at I win.  This dress is totally my style, and I’m always wishing I had a cute little sundress to throw on during the warm summer months!

There is also a give away for a fantastic necklace and a very beautiful cocktail ring.  I’m also entering for those, though if I win any of these, I REALLY hope it’s the dress!

I highly recomend checking out Grosgrain’s blog sometime and seeing her creations.  They are truly inspiring!

So, every once in a while, I’m sitting somewhere and all of a sudden an idea hits me for a sewing project.  A couple of years ago I all of a sudden decided I needed a red and white polka dot halter dress.  I drew out the sketch using “paint” on my computer:

And I gave the image to my friend Kate who then made this for me (this was before I began sewing myself):

I love this dress, and the inspiration hit me when I was sitting in church and one of the kids walked by wearing a really cute red dress with tiny polka dots and a white collar.  I quickly grabbed the nearest pencil and paper and sketch out my dress during the sermon (oops, don’t tell my pastor!).

Well folks, inspiration has struck once again!!!  I think this happened in church as well (yeah, I must REALLY pay attention well during church)!  I can’t remember why this struck me as something that I had to have, but it did.

I live in Chicago.  I LOVE Chicago.  Chicago has an awesome city flag (if you’d like to see the meaning of the flag, click here):

I’ve decided I need a Chicago city flag skirt!  So, I have 2 possilbe designs for the skirt.  This is where I need your help.  I’ve once again used the “paint” program on my computer, so it’s just a crappy sketch drawn with the mouse, but I hope you’ll get the general idea.  I’ll put up both the pictures I’ve “drawn” and then I’ll put in one of those poll things.  Please vote for the one you think I should make!  I’ll pick the one that gets the most votes.  Hopefully I’ll be able to get to this project sometime in July!  Okay, here you are…

Design #1:

This is more of a straight forward interpretation of the flag design.  The top white field would probably be in panels, and the bottom part would be one section.  The design would be repeated on the back.

Design #2:

This is more of an abstract interpretation of the flag design.  It would work out to be more like a “cheerleader” skirt, where the blue fields would peak out from underneath the white fields where the stars would be.  I came up with this design because I really do not look the best in solid white, so this was a way to get some more color into the skirt.  The top panel would again be one section.  The design would repeat on the back.

So there you have it folks!  Help me pick my next original creation!  Who knows, if it turns out to be an easy project, I may be able to sell something like this!

Vote away!

I have almost all the pieces cut out for my HP dress.  I forgot to bring my camera with the pictures, so I’ll have to post those later.  I all of a sudden realized that I’m leaving for the convention in 8 days!!!!! Um…yikes!  I’m going to be sewing like crazy every day this week and cross my fingers that I finish it in time and that it fits!  I’m a little nervous I won’t have enough time to finish, as I’m heading up to Minnesota to visit my parents on Friday…crap!  Okay – mission tonight, finish cutting out the rest of the dress and get at least to step 3 on the instructions.  I’ll let you know how that goes…

Hey all! I’m finally getting some work done on the Harry Potter dress. I spent Saturday morning with my fabulous and talented friend Kate, learning how to alter patterns.  First, she measured me to within an inch of my life (which is good, because I had NO idea how much I needed measured, how to measure it, or have the extra arm required to measure myself)!  Then we looked at the pattern and she showed me how to figure out how much more to add to each piece and where to add it.  She then said the best thing to me: “I don’t expect you to be an expert at this after one day.  You can come back and we can do this again.”  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I did pick up a few things here and there, but for the most part, I’m still pretty lost!  Good to know I can ask for help and not feel like a dunce!

Anyway, she I and worked together (mostly she…) and fixed up a few of the pieces.  For the rest, she figured out how much needed to be added and I took them home to work on.  I finally got to that last night.  All the pieces have now been (hopefully) re-sized correctly and ready to be placed on the fabric for cutting.  Here’s a few shots of the work I did on one of the pieces last night:

BEFORE…

DURING…

AFTER…

Tonight…I cut out the fabric!  Oh, and I got some new contrast fabric.  I was at Hancock (of course, where else would I be?) and found this beautiful bronze-y colored Brocade.  That is what the contrast fabric was supposed to be.  However, when I initially got it, I had NO idea what brocade was and I couldn’t find a little sign in the store pointing me in the right direction, so I just got some “special occasion” fabric in a bronze shade.  The day after I bought it, I found a sign that said brocade and hit my forehead with a resounding “DOH!”  Anyway, I think the new stuff with look MUCH better.  I’m going to keep the other stuff, because I’m 99.9% sure the store only charged me for 1 yd of it instead of the 4 I bought.  There’s no way it was only $6 when it was on sale for $5.99 a yd.  I’m sure I’ll find a use for it at some point in the future!  I’m still looking for some 1 1/2″ flat ribbon trim though.  I bought some stuff, but I’m not happy with it, and it’s too small.  I’ve found the PERFECT ribbon with the blue and bronze in it, but it’s on back order and I don’t think it’ll come in before I need it, so I’ll keep looking.

Okay, that’s it for now.  Hopefully have more in the next few days!

I’ve made progress on my Harry Potter dress, but I didn’t take pics yet – try to get them up here tomorrow! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Hey!  Yes, I’m still alive, and still sewing.  Finally getting around to posting.  First things first: the final finished project photos from my Easter dress.  I had my husband take them.  We were in Louisville, KY staying with his brother and sister-in-law and nephew for the holiday.  It was gorgeous outside, so that’s where we did the shots.  Look how GREEN the grass is!

It’s very light and flowy, and fun to wear!  The only problem is the stretch.  It keeps pulling lower, so I’m hoping washing it will tighten it back up again…we shall see.

Next, I thought I’d finally post up some pictures of the fabric I bought for my Harry Potter dress.  I’m doing Ravenclaw colors (blue and bronze).

Also picutred is the pattern envelope and the trim I’ve gotten.  I think I may have to get some bigger trim though.  Here’s a closer shot of it:

I like it, but I think it’s too small.  I found this awesome ribbon that had both colors in it, but when I took it up to be cut, there was only 1/2 a yard on the roll and they didn’t have any more.  Angry.  Maybe I’ll order it from the website?  We’ll see.

In other news, I thought I’d put up some patterns I’ve been collecting.  I have a ton!  I’m sure you all have boxes and boxes of patterns collecting, but I’m just getting started here.  Hancock was again having an amazing sale when I went in on Sunday: 99 cent McCalls patterns!  I’m including those that I got Sunday, as well as other ones I’ve been storing up for a rainy day.

These 3 are all from Butterick: B5052, B5262, B5193

Of the Simplicity 2938 pattern, I have made the tank (though not posted about it) and I have the stuff for the pants and jacket.

The McCall’s 5116 pattern has kicked my butt for the moment.  Need to buy new fabric for it.

Some McCalls from the sale Sunday: M5484 & M5145

A possible Halloween costume someday? McCall’s 4954

Some crafty McCall’s patterns I got to make gifts for people: M5826 & M5644.

And finally, some stuff to make for my husband! Butterick 6844 (He’s starting seminary in the fall to be a pastor) and McCall’s 4244, ’cause he needs some new jammie pants!

BTW – If anyone has good leads on mens clothing patterns, let me know.  The main companies (McCalls, Simplicity, Butterick…) don’t have much to choose from, and many of the choices are very dated (think 1980’s tanks and short shorts on guys…eww).  Thanks!  Happy sewing!