V1247 Blue and White Smock...I mean Top

Remember the fabric featured in the pattern weight post?  Well, here's the blouse I made with it!

I used V1247, the Rachel Comey blouse.  I've been wanting to make this for a while, and finally got around to making it.

The fabric was actually from Joann's from the Lisette collection a few years ago.  I really liked it.  Unfortunately, I don't think it worked all that well with this pattern.  Again, I chose a pattern that isn't a stripe, but is.  The flowers converge on each other in a weird way in the center.  I must not have cut the fabric out as accurate as I had hoped.

Instead of following the instructions and using french seams, I just stitched the seams and then serged the edges.  It was quick and just as effective.  Not as pretty inside, but still professional looking.

I wish I would have made one size smaller and lengthened the pattern a bit.  I am short, but I would have liked it longer n the front.  Like the reviews say on PatternReview, the shirt is very low cut.  I'm usually okay with this, but since the top is large, I need to wear a cami underneath.

The Boyfriend says the top looks good on me, but he's always nice about the things I make.  It's a super comfy shirt, but I don't think I will wear it often.  :(  It reminds me of hospital scrubs.  What do you think?

The "Everyone and Their Mother Dress," Part II

Last Christmas I made my mom a black double knit dress using Vogue 1250 and she requested another one a while ago.  I definitely owed her a present.  Months ago we went to Michael Levine's to find a suitable knit and she fell in love with the sea shell fabric.  It has the loveliest hand and drape.   We weren't quite sure what pattern to use and settled on another V1250.  It worked out great because my mom had been wanting a summery version of the dress.

The dress sewed up very quickly with no major problems. My Brother NX250 hates sewing stretchy knits, so the tucks and the neck binding were a challenge.  I constructed almost the entire dress on the serger and used a double needle for the hems.  

I think my mom likes the dress.

There was a little more than a yard left over and I made myself something too.  Photos to come!

It's April, and a Very Merry Xmas to you!

School got in the way, so I never posted pictures of what I made as xmas gifts this year.  Here they are:

Vogue 1250!  The "Everyone and their Mother Dress"  Coincidentally, I made it for my mom.  She said she loved it and wants another.

Another Simplicity 2603 Cardi-wrap for my sister.  She requested another one this year:

A dress I drafted from my sister's favorite Michael Star top:

And knit scarves for my sister and my niece.  My sister got the brown and grey infinity scarves and my niece got the zebra/black braided scarf.  Its from a tutorial I found somewhere on the internet, but unfortunately I don't remember where:

And of course the shirt for my dad which I just finished last week.  I've taken pictures and will post it soonish.  

Vintage Hat Pattern Vogue 6121

My mom and I found this cute 1960's head scarf pattern at the flea market today.  It was such a good deal that we didn't even bother to open it up to check for all the pieces and instructions.  Well, we should have because the instructions are missing :( Views A and B seam pretty self explanatory from the pattern pieces, but Views C and D confuse me.  I think I could figure it out, but my mom could not and she was hoping to make a hat/scarf today :)  Bummer, huh?

Does anyone have a copy of this pattern and could scan the instructions for me? I'd be forever grateful and the good karma fairies will make a visit I'm sure :)  The wonderful pattern site Blue Gardenia has a copy of the pattern in mint condition, but it is too pricey for me.  

I also got this sweet children's book "Love is a Special Way of Feeling"

I love the illustrations in it

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  It's back to sketching for me..... :(

Vintage Vogue Pattern Score

This past weekend I scored two Designer Vintage Vogue Patterns:


This funky Valentino from 1970:

And a Chester Weinberg Vogue Americana from 1969:

They are both in great shape and complete and I want to re-sell them.  My mom and I have been accumulating a huge vintage pattern stash, but have been procrastinating getting them online to sell.  Also, we are both pack rats so its really difficult to give them up!


I kind of want to keep the Valentino pattern....sigh...


On the sewing front, I have completed another Victoria Jones Hawaiian shirt for my dad except for the buttons and button holes.  I will be finishing it today and taking pictures.  I'm also going to start drafting a dirdl skirt for myself which should be very easy, quick, and rewarding.  I really need solid color skirts. I also have to alter a dress I made for my Pattern Drafting class final.  It fits my sister pretty well and just needs to be taken in at the shoulders.  Also have to make her a couple of shirts for her birthday.

Tomorrow I am meeting up with one of my classmates to work on our personal slopers.  The first time around my measurements were not taken very accurately so I need to start from scratch.

I'll post some pics as soon as I can!

New Patterns!

A few blogs I read have already posted their picks for the new Vogue patterns that were released. The only one I really like is the new Cynthia Steffe pattern:

V1207

I probably will not buy it though because I need to wear a bra and the back is very low cut.  Maybe if I were to raise the back opening.  It could change the overall look and feel of the pattern though.

I'm much more excited about the new Simplicity patterns.  I want this one:

S2281

and this one:

S2284

Next Joann's sale I will be purchasing these two.

Vogue 8593 Stripe Knit Dress! (plus some pretty darn cute doggie onesies)

And no, we will never dress as triplets again.  

I finished Vogue 8593 and two doggie onesies and I am beat!  (I figured out what to do with the fabric scraps...silly dog PJs!)  I had a harder time with the dog clothes than the dress...that's how easy the dress was.  I did have some difficulty getting the facing to lay down properly.  

I had to cut everything out in single layer to match up the stripes properly.  I also used tailor tacks to mark all of those small and large circles. 

I use washers from the hardware store as pattern weights!

All of my tailor tacks.  I used a single thread to save me from constantly reloading the needle.

To make sure the sleeves and the 2 back pieces were identical, I cut out one piece and laid it out on top of the fabric in the exact same position to ensure the stripes lined up.  

Can you see the sleeve outline on top of the uncut fabric?

Close-up.

Here are more pictures of me in the dress:

I feel like Joan Holloway in this dress!

And now the puppies:

This one is my favorite!

Thanks for the suggestions of what to do with the scraps. I cut up a the fabric for the dog onesies before any suggestions were made.  Oh well.   I still might have enough for a scarf.  

Vogue 1151 Silver Knit Dress!

I have been diligently taking pictures (well having the Boyfriend take them) and posting to Burdastyle and PatternReview. I also started using Flickr to store my pictures. Here is the completed Vogue dress:




I love this Cynthia Steffe pattern. If the dress wasn't so trendy, I would make it again. It was very fun to construct, and not that difficult. I also used an amazing piece of fabric that I got for $1/yard. Although it was polyester, it sewed up wonderfully.

Pattern Description:

MISSES' DRESS: Tapered, close-fitting dress, above mid-knee has slightly raised waist, princess seams, cut-a-way armholes, two-piece bias, turned back collar and exposed back zipper.

Pattern Sizing:

AA(6-8-10-12), EE(14-16-18-20)
I made a size 10 in bust and graded to an 8. I ended up taking out a lot at the side seams so I ended up probably with an 8 in the bust and a 6 in the waist and hips. I like my knits clingy.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes! Better than I expected.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

For more pictures check out my blog!

This was my first Vogue other than a scarf pattern. They were very easy to understand.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I love everything!

Fabric Used:

A silver very stable polyester knit. A dream to sew!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

As I said before, I took a lot out at the side seams and had to grade it in quite a lot at the waist and hips. I wasn't quite happy with the zipper at the bottom so I pickstitched it on the outside starting a few inches from the bottom and it laid perfectly after that.

And here's the back:
The hem:



And a closeup of the front princess seams and collar: