Tip for Beginners: Mini Tutorial!

This is one of those tips that I thought I would share because when I started sewing, this never occurred to me, but it seems like second nature now.

When hemming, especially in the round in a small space,  after pressing up the hem, flip the garment right sides out and sew in the circle of fabric.  This really helps you see what you are sewing better, and prevents you from accidentally sewing through the other layer of fabric.

Do this:

Not this:

Because this will happen:

Hope this helps some newbies out there!

Bad Blogger

I know, I know! I haven't been around, but I have been reading and commenting!  School FINALLY ended and I have a 3 week vacation.  Woohoo! The last two weeks were a little rough, but I survived and am pretty sure I did really well :)

To catch up, remember when I said I made this shirt:

Well here is my version:

Not the best, not the worst.  I have nothing to wear with it!  This is the best I could come up with and it needs a belt.  I lack accessories.  I made the short version, because I am on the shorter side, and the tunic was way to long and looked awkward when I tissue fit it.  

I think the fit is pretty good.   I added shoulder darts for a little more room in the back for my prominent shoulder blades/beginning of a hunch back.  I also did a significantly large sloping shoulder adjustment.  

My mom bought me these really pretty glass buttons to go with the shirt at an expensive little designer fabric boutique in Newport Beach.  Beautiful fabrics well out of my price range. I have seen similar designers on Emma One Sock or Gorgeous Fabrics for a fraction of the cost.    The buttons were expensive, but I think the shirt is a lot prettier with them.  The chambray was $3 at a rummage sale for over 3 yards. So the price balanced out in the end.  

Tried to get a detailed shot of the buttons....The placket is actually straight and so is the topstitching.  Its not nearly as wiggly as the picture portrays.  

Is it a keeper, or a wadder?  I'm definitely keeping the buttons!

Oh, and I mentioned I found my first doll I ever made....Here is the ugly little thing:

I  think the doll was part of a pantyhose doll kit. I used a pair of my mom's old panty hose, some random scraps of fabric that must have been in the kit, the ugly fuzzy hair, and barbie shoes that I sewed through.  I remember the plastic was very hard to get the needle through.  I believe I made this doll after seeing much better versions at a doll show.  I was obsessed with Ren and Stimpy, hence the ugly mole.  The doll is now in the trash now that I have a picture.  It was really too hideous to keep, but I thought I would document probably my first sewing experiment (at least that I can remember).  

I'm going to try to keep posting throughout the weekend! Lots of stuff to share. 

Just a Boring Post

School's been rough the last week, so nothing really to post.  I have pictures of a top I made using this pattern that just need to be uploaded:

I also took a picture of the monstrosity of a "jacket" that I made for pattern drafting.  It's well made, just ugly!  The pictures are for Al...

Last weekend, we found out the family storage unit was broken into (again!) and my parents lost pretty much everything in there and I lost about 1/2 my childhood toys/memories.  They left me (among other things I'm so thankful I still have) this silly little doll I made when I was about 9 I think.  I took a picture of it, but it too isn't uploaded yet.

What else, what else?  I've been working on slopers for school and they have been killing me!  They have to be exact and they aren't.  It is so frustrating because I've made them at least 4-5 times!  If they were just for me, I wouldn't stress so much!  I have to have them done by Friday.  On top of that we have to design a dress, draw flats and a fashion figure for it, draft the pattern and sew it up.  Oh, and 12 flats in Illustrator! and Finals!  

Okay, this was me procrastinating....

And now thanks to my newest followers!

miss b, Gypsy Thread, and Meranda! 

Thanks Ladies!

Vintage? 1980's Blouse

If the 1980's are considered vintage, does that mean that I'm vintage too???

About a month ago, my mom and I went to church rummage sale.  This is the second time I've been to it and last time we scored 2 vintage sewing machines (which I have yet to post!!!)  This time around we got some fun fabric, a vintage sheet, some notions (a pointer press, grommet setter, etc) and patterns for a nickel each.  Found some really fun patterns including this one:

I think my mom found it, but it was in my size (sort of) so I nabbed it.  I was drawn to it because it resembles my favorite outfit when I was in pre-school, a white jumper (shorts attached to the top).  I remember it had thin red, blue and yellow vertical stripes and it buttoned at the shoulder.  I think the buttons were pieces of fruit!  I loved that thing, but it was a pain to use the restroom.  Definitely a challenge for a 5 year old.

Then a couple weeks ago I went to JoAnn's for some patterns and found a blue and white stripe poly charmeuse!  A match made in heaven!

So here's the top:

I decided that since I was working with poly charmeuse for the first time, I would not do the buttons at the shoulder.  I'm surprised I had very little trouble working with the fabric.  It did not press well though and shredded like crazy.   I sewed french seams throughout and lengthened the pattern by 1".  I should have widened it in the hips a little, but it fits, just a little snug.  I want to make a white skirt now to go with it.  Still haven't decided on whether or not I will put the pocket on.  What do you think? Does it need it?

Update: Giveaway winners!

Just a quick update:

The patterns are being shipped out tomorrow! I forgot today was a holiday.

Three winners have not claimed their patterns.  Please check if you have won and email me asap so I can mail them. You have until Tuesday May 31st at 12:00pm Pacific Time. I would like to get everything mailed tomorrow because the week ahead is a busy one.



Also,

Thanks Mariah :) for becoming the newest follower!  Hope you enjoy the blog!

New Followers

Good Morning everyone!  Pearl's just waking up and I'd thought I'd take the time to thank all my new followers.  It was a real challenge finding everyone in my blogger list, but blogger hasn't changed the order of my followers so it wasn't too difficult picking out the newbies :)

Thanks to all my new followers:

The Empress Nina, Dayna, Ebony, Modern Suzie, Martha P., penelope10, sweet jane, AliceCloset, Carly Manson, Alison H, Stacey (SewButterfly), perlchyk, LaKaribane, Sarah, geminimistress, KDinh, Abby Loden, rowsella, Jeannine, Xye, Kerri, kehall81, robinsnc, Alba Elvira, lesthor, Navaeh, kathleen c., and the last but not least, K.

Still waiting on a couple of giveaway winners to email me.  :)  

These are a Few of my Favorite Things...

Like my "The Sound of Music" reference???  So, I'm in the middle of studying for my Textile Science midterm, and I'm really bored.  Instead of studying, I thought I would show you some my FAVORITE sewing notions!

1)  Mr. Spikey! or the technical term Needle Point Tracing Wheel (Tracing Wheel-needle Point)

I use Mr. Spikey A LOT when drafting patterns.  He helps me transfer markings from muslin to paper, and from one pattern to another.  I used it here to transfer the markings from a my floral dress muslin to the back to the pattern piece.  It does not reck the cotton muslin, but I would not recommend using it on a satin.  

2)  SIMFLEX! I've been wanting one of these things for a year and I couldn't find one anywhere.  Finally found it at a sewing supply shop in the Downtown L.A.  And now, it's on Amazon! Simflex Expanding Sewing Gauge.  It is so cool! It's great for marking buttons and buttonhole placements, and pleats, and its really fun to pull apart and put back together.  

I'm going to use it on my button down chambray shirt! Hooray!