Sewing Love

I didn't get around to the Sew Weekly challenge this last week (Musicals) since I've had company last weekend and my mom is visiting this week. So I thought I would take a moment and share my pattern swap partner with you!

I got to send a pattern to Seeks Corey (her blog here). 

 I sent her a wonderful 1960s vintage Vogue pattern for a classy wiggle dress with a bolero jacket.

 

 And as an added bonus, I found this beaded collar decoration while I was in the garment district and decided to send it to her along with a challenge. I told her she needed to make an amazing New Years Eve dress for herself, by dropping the neckline of her pattern and using the collar I sent!

Hooray pattern swaps!

Spanish Harlem, or My Perfect Pencil

For this week's sew weekly challenge, we were told Spanish Harlem. After last week's nightgown, I knew I wanted to make something I could wear in public. I've also come to the decision recently that I don't own enough skirts. But what about sticking with the theme?

Step in the fabric I found earlier this week! It's a wonderful Spanish orange corduroy with a rather busy pattern of diamonds that makes me think of those ikat patterns I've seen ladies wearing around Harlem since this summer. It also happens to fit with my fall palette I'm trying to work in. Pretty perfect, right?!

I took a ton of pictures yesterday while I was sewing. We had beautiful afternoon sunshine filling the apartment and I was inspired to capture my progress as I was chugging along. I've also thrown in a picture of my sewing machine. It was my Christmas gift from everyone in my family last year and I love it so! I also have a domestic Kenmore, but he hasn't seen the light of day since this beauty arrived.

Another awkward photo for everyone out there keeping count!

Please note the fantastic pattern matching and how great my legs look in skirts this length!

I used one of the retro Simplicity patterns I had laying around, number 2154 to be exact. It's a really simple pencil skirt that I shortened by about 5" before I cut out. I could have just patterned it myself, but I've been feeling lazy lately. Also, why make a whole new pattern when you can just adjust a preexisting one to fit your needs?

Like I said, lazy!

Finished hems!

Hemming.

Anyway, I'm quite pleased with how everything turned out. The pattern didn't call for a lining, but I added one. Really, skirts should be lined, and if I'm going to take the time to make myself something you better believe I'm going to make it beautiful. I HATE when homemade outfits look homemade. The kick pleat is wonderful, I made it super short and thick, something different from what I've seen on the back of most skirts.

Kick pleat outside.

Kick pleat inside

Look at that beautiful texture!

Fabric: Spanish Orange Corduroy with diamond design, a one way pattern.

Cost: $18 for a yard of the corduroy and $9 for a yard of the navy Bemberg I used to for the lining. I had the zipper, interfacing and hook in my stock. $27 total!

Time: 2 hours to cut (I ran a basting line by hand down CF and CB since there was pattern matching involved.) and another 4 to assemble.

Details: Fully lined pencil skirt with CB kick pleat, invisible zipper, and hand stitched hem. This garment is made of love, every little detail I could have thought of is in this skirt.

Wear again: Hell yeah! This is going to be a staple in my fall wardrobe, I can't get over how great my legs look!


And on a closing note, I'm taking part in the Sew Weekly pattern swap! I'm so excited, the pattern I bought for my partner just arrived in the mail and tomorrow after work I'm going to stop in the garment district and pick her out some goodies to send with it! I'm thinking something with some sparkle for the upcoming holidays!

Think Pink, or The Night Cap Chemise

Let me start this post by saying what everyone has been thinking, "about time!" I know, I know. But better late then never! And, oh how glorious this chemise is.


I started with Simplicity 2890, then added the straps and sash to give me a little shape. The pattern is cut to just be this giant rectangle of a chemise that gets smushed into a corset. Not so attractive by its self. I also added the black lace and the pearls. They lend it some 1960s drama that made me decide the perfect setting for these pictures was pouring myself a night cap at the bar.

 

 Look at how beautiful the fabric drapes! It just seems to flow across my shoulders and down my back.

Fabric: I have a wonderful story about this fabric! It's some kind of a silk blend that I got while I was in Abu Dhabi last winter. I was there for work for two weeks and where I was staying also just happened to be their version of the garment district! I haggled, but the dollars to dirhams conversion was still in my favor so I'm not too upset knowing they probably still over charged me. But back to the fabric, it just spoke to me when I walked in the door of the store. It's so soft it feels and looks like the petals of a flower. I ended up buying 2 yards. I bought it with the plan of making a robe, but I thought a chemise would fit the fabric better.

Cost: 20 dirhams (about $5.70) for the fabric, and then I bought the black lace too $8 for two yards. The pearls were in my stock and the pattern cost me $1 at a Joanne's sale in Portland, ME. So total? About $15.

Time: 6 hours to cut and assemble, then about 4 more for hand sewing lace and pearls. I ignored the pattern direction for armhole facings (what?! let's add bulk where we want it the least, okay Simplicity) and just made all my seams french seams. So to make that easier on myself I made sure to set in the sleeves before I closed my side seams. My sleeve hems and skirt hem are all 1/8" rolled hems (I'll have to show you my trick later, it looks amazing! and goes super quick)

Wear again: For sure! Just never out of the house. This is an apartment only look, consider yourselves lucky you got photos of me wearing it. I almost just put it on the dress form, but that wouldn't have done it justice. 

Just look at how lovely my shoulders look peaking through the fabric!

 This last picture here is the neckline. I love the trick of a massive amount of gathering over the chest to make it look like my waist is itty-bitty when I add the sash. Perfect! In closing, I love the drape, the neckline, the shape, and how wonderful I feel in this nightgown!

Think Pink Teaser

Okay, as promised here's my inspirational photo, which I can proudly say Mike saw and told me it was rather sexy (lucky him, right?!). After taking this picture, I decided my project needed something extra. So I stopped in the garment district on my way to meet up with the Sew Weekly crowd for dinner and picked up some really nice black lace to help kill the massive amount of pink.

I'm all cut out and ready to assemble this weekend, I'm hoping I can get everything finished by Sunday night. Look who's helping me out already!

Gotcha Morelle. Look at her "who me?" face. It's like she hears my patterns rustling in the wind and comes running, only to sit on whatever project I want to be working on. It's impressive, really.

And most importantly, I had a WONDERFUL time at dinner tonight with the Sew Weekly group! It was great to meet everyone and hear everyone's real voice! Thanks to all for great conversation and for splitting that bottle of sparkling wine! Oh! And least I forget, I also walked away with a pattern left over from the swap they had that afternoon. I'll have to move it to the front of my to-do list in honor of our evening out.

Now I'm back home with Mike, who informs me that even though he had hamburgers for dinner, he had whiskey afterward so he's safe to kiss! I don't eat red meat or pork, so he usually cooks those items when I'm not around to complain. But seriously, why cook it if I can't eat it?!

Au Revior for now! (That was for you Oona and Vicki, and I want you both to know I spelled it "avoir" before I realized that was the verb "to have" and had to look up the correct spelling.)

Friday Excitement

Good morning!!

I have 423 things to be excited about today, but I'm only going to tell you about three of them, and quickly since I still have to get ready for work!

1. Tonight I'm getting together with the Sew Weekly hits NYC crowd for dinner! I can't wait to meet everyone and see what they are all wearing.

2. It's FRIDAY! That alone is exciting all by its self.

3. Inspiration struck last night like a hot iron on fabric. I have my first challenge cut out and a plan in my mind. Let's see if I can pull it together this weekend, shall we? My teaser for you: pink (duh, right?), pearls, gold chain and a ton of hand sewing. I would have a photo of my palette for you, but I need to recharge my phone first. Maybe later?

I'm sure it's the coffee talking at this point, but I just realized, I need to wear something fabulous and homemade today since I'm meeting up with everyone! Crap. Now it's off to hunt in the closet, wish me luck!