Butterick 5493

I did this top last summer but never blogged about it(oops) . The fabric is from JoAnn's and the border I cut off to make the trim around the neck. It is a little wider than the requirement for the pattern. I lengthened the blouse since I have a long torso and that was the only adjustment I made. I double stitched the trim also since it is wider than what pattern required. I have enough fabric to make a skirt which I hope to do this summer.

I am still fumbling around my stash and patterns trying to decide what to sew next!! I am so boggled with sewing for the bridal shop I need something fast and quick to do for myself!!!

Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2012 has 175 new colors!!!

http://www.pantone.com/






Check out this website!! Pantones has 175 new colors for the Spring. This should help in stash busting or if you are buying new fabric what colors to choose. I am already thinking about what is in my stash I can put together!!


Please let me know your thoughts if you visit my page, I would really appreciate it!!!

Some of Jason Wu's Spring 2012 collection

 So soft.

 Love the detail on the collar of this leather. Sweet!

 Pretty!

 Love the feathers on the peplum skirt.

 Is this too much for a wedding? Definitely a special occasion.

 I would probably close the plunging neckline a little. Still very sharp.

 I don't own any skinny pants. I might try this style. Love the white blouse and fullness at hips.

 Cute!

 Pink is not my color. But, I like this on the right person.

 Very feminine(the blue) The black and white below is stunning. You will be noticed in the room with this outfit on!!!

These are perfect styles for the straight body type. Hmmmm...which one, or two or three will I attempt to make, I know I can't afford to buy them. There all gorgeous to me!!! I'll be all dressed up with no place to go with the dressier dresses. I  will dig through my stash of patterns and see what I can up with. Enjoy the pics!!!

McCall"s 6400 Completed

 This is McCall's Pattern 6400. It has only one pattern piece, Yes!!!!

 The fabric is a medium weight ribbed knit. I added a faux suede to sleeve and the color is gray, which is difficult to see.

 The skirt: I just cut the fabric the width of my hips, stitched it on the sides and added elastic to the bottom and machined stitched the hem.

 The necklace is my own design which I made last year (or  was it 2010?) for a fashion show.

 Although, I think the top is designed for my body type and don't think the skirt is, but straight elastic waist skirts are easy and fast to make when you are short on time.

I will make this again for the spring with the sleeveless armhole and something real bright!!

My Inspiration_St John Collection 2011 Scenes of a Woman

 This is Kate Winslett. I'm sure you all have seen this ad. I love this style. I don't think it is quite appropriate for my body type, but... I love it!!

Here is my inspirtation pattern. I will make the longer sleeves for now and try this outfit again in the Spring with the sleeveless. Pics soon to come!!

V1250 Completed

This was after dinner. It was a really nice time at the LeMont Restaurant in Pittsburgh. These ladies are my friends and members of my church(our church!). The dinner was in sponsor of our Excellence in Education program. The program helps students attending college with school supplies.

 I tied the shawl the night of the dinner, but you couldn't see the belt. These are more members and a very nice couple!Jeff and Rhonda!!

 So, this is me , the next day, I tried the outfit on again and fixed the belt a different way to hide the middle section and give me more fullness at the hip area as suggested by shopyourshape.com.

I think I will wear this again and make it again in a spandex knit. I am also heading for the gym this morning to see how many sit ups I can do!!! Although, in this picture I don't see the bulge as much!! And I tried to give you the best of the pictures that I took because some of them were shameful!!

What's your body type?

After making V1250 and seeing all the beautiful rendentions of the pattern I thought mine could've looked more flattering after I took the pictures. I did make the wide belt to go with my dress but the belt kept slipping down. I will have to add snaps or something to hold it in place the next time I wear the dress. I will show them but my midriff bulge takes away from the look. So I figured if I am going to do all this sewing I really need to know what looks good on me. I found this webpage that was excellent in showing me my body type and what clothes I could make to enhance my shape.

www.shopyourshape.com

straight Rollover to enlarge

Your body type is: Straight

You have the most common body type. Over 45% of American women have a Straight body shape (sometimes called rectangle or ruler). This means that your hips and bust are balanced and your waist is not very defined. You probably have a bottom that is more flat than round. You tend to gain weight in your torso first and then your upper thighs and arms. Your lower legs are always shapely and one of your best assets.

How to Dress a Straight Body Shape

The key to dressing a Straight body type is to proportionally dress the top and bottom of your body while enhancing your waist. If you are comfortable doing so, you can wear form fitting clothing (such as a tube-type dress) and create a waist by adding a wide, dark belt. However, to create a more curvaceous effect add volume (or the illusion of volume) proportionally to your upper and lower body by mixing and matching suggested separates.

These the recommended types of styles of clothing

Tops

Look for tops that will add curves to your upper half and create a more defined waist:

• Tops with nipped or belted waists.
• Off the shoulder, boat-neck tops, wide V or U necks.
• Structured shoulders, princess or flutter sleeves.
• Embellishments around the bust and shoulders.
• Tops that are full, rushed or flowing around the bust

Bottoms

Look for bottoms that add curves to your lower half while creating an hourglass effect:

• Pants with full or moderately flared legs.
• Go for details such as whiskering, embellished pockets & flap pockets.
• Full, tiered or bubble skirts.
• Cargo or safari pants with pronounced hip and rear pockets.
• Mid to low-rise waists with wide waistbands.

v1250-Near complete!!

This is the near complete dress. I still have to hem the sleeves and the bottom and do a small adjustment in the back area. I am very pleased with it overall and it sewed up extremely fast. I am sure I will make this dress again for the summer. It's a perfect go to dress when you need something in a hurry!!

  I was a little nervous when I was making this dress because I thought it would show too much of my middriff bulge, but it actually fits pretty nice. I will take pictures on Sunday when I am all dressed and ready to go out.  I did have to add a seam in the back because I just couldn't get enough of the front panel moved over to cut both pieces on the fold. You also see where I pinned the back in a little, there was some puckering in the back panel, so I have to do some adjusting. My hips fill this dress a little more than my dressform so there is no adjusting I will be doing there. The fabric is gray and has a little sheen to it. You really can't see it in the picture.

 This knit lace is what I originally was going to overlay the dress with but I changed my mind and I think I am just going to make a throw with sleeves. I have an old one from Talbot's in a cream color that I will duplicate.

 These stones I bought from JoAnn's. At first I was going to sew them to the knit lace, but I think I will string them together for a necklace.... we'll see. I might change my mind and dig in my jewelry box.

And these are the shoes I will be wearing. Can't wait to finish everything!!! I hope it looks nice.

HDAT Summer Intensive

This a picture of one of the classes I taught during the summer of 2010 for HDAT. They made dance skirts, and I am sorry to say I never took pics of the completed projects. These girls were such a delight.

Very Easy Vogue

I love this ad. The cape is V8776, The coat is V8775 and the flounce jacket is V8780. I had to research the type of fabric suggested and found that wool fleece, wool jersey and boiled wool was recommended fabric for these coats. These fabrics are used because you really don't need a lining and they have enough body to them that gives that crisp look. Problem is they are hard to find . JoAnn Fabrics did not carry it all. So I checked online.Fashionfabricclub had some wool jersey. denverfabric.com had wool jersey. Ask.com gives you instructions on how to boil wool, but I don't see any boiled wool by the yard. If anyone sees anything please give me a heads up!!. It looks like fabulous fabric, just hard to find.

Vogue 1250

Just recently received this pattern as a giveaway from "Adonising" Dressing for Dinner. Thanks again!!! I am so excited to get started. Although, I have some sewing to do for the bridal shop I work at parttime, I am going to do my best to get this done quick. I purchased a gray lace knit and a spandex, polyester with a little sheen to it to go underneath it. Will have some pics next time.

Butterick 5313

I started digging in my collection of patterns after doing B4914. Basically looking for patterns that had no zippers, no lining, no pockets. So here is what I found. B5313. I chose view B.

 I cut it into a size 14 but this one the sleeves are a bit snug. Still have learned my lesson to do a pattern fit.

 I added jewels around the neckline for some embellishment. The fabric is stretch lace which I doubled so you couldn't see thru it. The black is ponte knit.

I didn't put any jewels on the sleeve ends, but that might change. I just didn't want to overstate it if I wanted to wear a bracelet. That is still questionable. Any thoughts/suggestions/feedback.

Butterick 4914 in Purple passion!!

This is the completed dress. I really like it but I had to do some adjusting to the top of the dress. I have a long torso and sometimes in my eagerness forget I need to adjust for that to make a good fit.

 I added about 2 inches to the shoulder. This is what happens when you don't do a pattern fit or muslin. It works for me though.

 I also added darts to the back. The pattern was cut in a size 16 which of course was way too big. I usually cut a size 12 or 14.

This is what I am working on tonight . My fabric is a cotton purple knit. It has no zippers or elastic, just seam binding as a notion so I hope this doesn't take me long. I already cut it out so off to the machine I go!!

Sewing and Sleep Deprivation have become my way of Life!

I copied this quite appropriate post from blogger "Quality Time".

Simplicity 5645

This is the pattern I used to make my granddaughters' dress. View A which I shortened and narrowed the sleeves.

Simplicity 5645

I am such the blogger bum. I work two jobs now and it seems impossible to ever take a picture of any of my sewing projects. I happen to have called off work today so I could do this dress for my granddaughter who has a christmas party at school. The picture does not do the dress justice. The fabric is stretch velvet, deep purple with glitter all thru it. I did narrow the sleeves and there is a variation on where the embellishment is added to the dress. She was so excited and could not sleep all night because she knew I was diligently trying to get the dress done in the middle of the night.!!!