Back from paradise

Just got back from our idyllic and relaxing honeymoon. The food was amazing, the weather was gorgeous, and I can't think of a better place to just sit back and unwind for a week. I'll post more about it later. For now, I'm happy to be home and itching to get back to my sewing machine. 

Look for more details about our trip later in the week, and then I plan to post my series on my wedding dress starting next Sunday. Until then, happy crafting!

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Crafted this week, vol 3

This will be my last post before I go on my honeymoon. I managed to knock out a few more pieces to add to my travel wardrobe. 

First, I made a Dahlia dress, using version 2 of the pattern.

It has some fit issues. I moved the strap points in too much and the straps don't cover my bra straps well. Also the armholes gape a bit. For next time I will probably re-cut out the bodice pattern pieces and grade it from an 18 to a 20. It is a very comfy dress though and the fabric was a dream to work with. The chambray was another part of Gertie's fabric collection ( found here .)

My second makes were 2 more Bristol skirts.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this pattern. I love the way the dress feels wearing it, but sewing the waistband always gives me issues. My first time sewing the pattern, I ended up with a waistband that was too small for the dress by 4 inches and had to take in the back seam. I had a similar issue this time with the black floral skirt. Also, following the instructions as written, trying to stretch and sew the waistband is very frustrating. For the white skirt, I did the following method:

1. Fold the waistband in half and baste it closed, leaving a 4 inch gap at the back seam.
2. Attach the waistband to the skirt, except for the section you left unsewn
3. Using the safety pin method, feed in the elastic and sew it together into a circle.
4. Enclose the elastic completely in the waistband, and sew your gap shut, attaching it to the dress at the same time.

Following these steps, the waistband fit perfectly and it was also a far less frustrating process.

Additionally, I added a lining to the skirt using the following steps:

1. Cut a second skirt from your lining fabric, omitting the pockets and the waistband.
2. Sew the lining together by sewing the center panel directly to the skirt panels.
3. After the outer skirt panels are all constructed, but before you attach the waistband, baste the lining to the outer skirt, wrong sides together. The lining will sit behind your pocket. When you attach the waistband, treat this all as one skirt piece.
4. Trim the hem about 1" shorter than the outer fabric and hem as usual.

The fabric sources for these skirts were as follows:  white version fabric and lining, black lawn version fabric.

The last piece I constructed was an Asaka Kimono by Named Clothing.

I had planned on making this after I got back, but decided I wanted something slinky to wear when lounging around the room. Probably not the best last minute project, but it feels so nice wearing it that I'm glad I did it anyways. Its made from poly charmeuse ( fabric here) which felt like I was sewing water for most of it. As a result, the collar and I had a disagreement, and since I didn't have any spare fabric this kimono is collarless. It likes to gape open at the top, but since I plan on wearing it over my pjs I'm not too concerned. I'll try this pattern again in the future, maybe springing for a true silk charmeuse next time.

And that's it, all my vacation sewing is done! I should have some nice sandy beach pictures next week :) Until next time, happy crafting everyone!

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The Near Disaster Aster

Sometimes the surest way to success is having faith in your assessment of a situation regardless of what someone or something else is telling you. I feel that my self confidence levels are improving simply because I can step back and do that.

It started simple enough. On Saturday I made a muslin to check the fit of the new Colette Aster pattern ( which I love by the way) and while the darts fit nicely, I had to add a dart to the armhole, and move the shoulder seams in an inch, like I pretty much always do. Since it was just a muslin I skipped the yoke lining and everything sewed together nicely.

After making my pattern alterations, I sewed up this wearable muslin version, bias binding the armholes rather than adding sleeves.

The fabric is thin enough that I will need to wear a cami under it, and I knew I needed to take in the side seams more and raise the armholes for the next attempt, but all in all it was okay, until I looked at the back.

Somehow, the back piece was inside out.

It was a minor enough imperfection, since the fabric was identical on both sides, so I just chocked it up to an error on my part that I wouldn't make with a more obvious fabric. Or so I thought.

Cut to Sunday. This time I'm making version 3 of the pattern in this beautiful double gauze. I sew the yoke to the bodice back, the yoke lining to the bodice front pieces, attach the yokes together and...the back is inside out again. So, I rip it out, check the instructions, sew it again, and...same problem. So, before sewing it again I remember the definition of insanity* and take a good look at what I'm trying to do.

The bodice back with the yoke is correct, that much I know. So I look at the bodice front and the yoke lining. I check the instructions and sure enough they match. But, sewn this way it always ends up wrong. So, trusting my instincts, I detach the yoke lining from the front pieces and sandwich it together with the bodice back the correct way, basting slowly and checking it twice before finishing the seams because at this point I hate my seam ripper, and the gauze probably can't take much more abuse.

I checked the file on the site after and it turns out I was using an incorrect version of the pattern instructions. So, if when you're assembling the pattern, if your yoke lining + bodice fronts look like this, do yourself a HUGE favor by going to the site and downloading the new version. Don't suffer the seam ripper like I did.

Despite the frustrations though, it really is a lovely pattern. I'm enjoying the gauze shirt right now. My sleeves ended up a little poofy because I didn't size down the sleeves when I did my other alterations, but I don't mind it too much.

Fabric sources: white linen top, gauze top.

* Insanity = doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

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Crafted this week, vol 2

 

Story time everyone.

Hubby and I are headed on a tropical honeymoon next week -- I'll be sure to post pictures when we get back!. Neither of us are particularly equipped wardrobe wise for tropical weather, so a few weeks ago we took a trip to Tommy Bahamas. Hubby spent an hour or so and this really lovely sales woman who reminded me of a red headed Judy Greer helped him get a full vacation wardrobe. It cost way more than I even want to think about, but the clothes really are lovely and made of nice breathable fabric that hubby has been enjoying ever since. Then, we're getting ready to check out, and she turns to me and says:

"Oh, we should get you set up too!"

"I don't think anything here will fit me," I reply, grimacing.

"Oh, well, we have some lovely cover ups, and, um, some hats," she replys, and then goes to ring up the hubby's clothes.

Moments like that are why I sew. I am not a very big girl. I'm curvy, but if I go to a true plus size store, like Lane Bryant, I am at the low end of the size range. At Torrid, where the arbitrary numbers are designed to make us curvy girls feel better, I am usually a size 0. Yet, if I every have to cross through a Nordstrom or Belk on my way into the mall, I try not to look too much at the clothes because I long ago learned that anything that might catch my eye would just lead to heartache when I realize I'm about 2 sizes larger than the largest size they offer.

Now, I make about 2/3rds of my clothes. I still buy some clothing from Old Navy, since their size ranges are much more forgiving and I still like their knit tops and pajama pants. And my underthings I still buy from department stores ( although I did make one bra from the Craftsy bra making course, and will probably make more once I'm back from my honeymoon. The cost of materials to make one turns out to be cheaper than the ones I buy at Lane Bryant). Other than that, I wear at least one hand made piece of clothing a day.

So, knowing that we would be traveling soon, just after the wedding I bought some lightweight fabric in light colors that I would ordinarily NEVER wear, and got cracking at making my own holiday wardrobe. This week alone I made 2 dresses, 3 shirts, and 2 pairs of shorts. I still have 2 skirts and 1 more dress I plan on finishing before we leave next week. So, here are some of the fruits of my labors

Clockwise: Seamworks Adelaide dress (fabric),  Colette Myrtle dress (fabric), Closet Case Files Carolyn Shorts (fabric), Bluegingerdoll Abby top (fabric).

My consolation is that my shorts cost me about $12 to make. The pants hubby bought made of pretty much the same fabric cost 10x that!


As for the Amy Butler top I had planned, the muslin I made had way too many problems for me to want to deal with before my honeymoon. I'll revisit it sometime before the end of the summer.

No post next Sunday, as I will be on holiday. However, look for a post tomorrow to make up for the week I missed, and if I'm feeling productive I'll do one last roundup of the pieces I finish before I leave. Until then, happy crafting everyone!

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