Half Way Done Celebration Giveaway!

Hi Everyone!

Grades have been posted for this past quarter and I'm half way through school!  I'm really excited, but oh so tired.  Unlike other Professional Designation students (those who already have a college degree), I decided to spread my course work out 6 quarters, instead of 5.  I'm a little jealous of my fellow classmates who are more than 1/2 way through the program, but in doing it this way, I have been able to focus more on my studies, I haven't stressed as much, and I'm able to use the FIDM resources an extra quarter.

Anyways, back to the real reason for this post.  A Giveaway! The last giveaway I had was a success, but some readers didn't claim their patterns :(  I decided to hold on to them and give them away at a later date.  Well, today is the day!

I'm giving away this lovely pattern:

If you recall, it is a size 14, Bust 34.  The envelope is torn, (so sad) but the pattern inside is in good shape.  I just love the little bow in front!  

Here are the rules:

1) Anyone can enter, international readers as well.  (just be aware that I will choose the least expensive shipping method, so the pattern may take a while to get there.)

2) There are 2 ways to enter:

           a) Leave a comment saying you would like to be entered.  For fun, let me know what sewing or    crafting you have planned for the summer?

           b)  Link this post to your blog and share with your readers!  Then leave another comment on my blog letting me know you linked to this post.  (Two entries!)

3)  Giveaway closes on Sunday, June 26th at 8pm PST.  I will use the random # generator to pick the winner.  

That's all!  Good luck!

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!

A Case of the Uglies...

A few weeks ago for my pattern drafting class, we each had draft a simple jacket/blouse thingie with with front and back bodice gathered into a yoke and the vertical darts left un-sewn for flare.  Sort of a swing coat.  We had the option to draft a bell sleeve, puff sleeve with barrel cuff, or a leg o' mutton sleeve.  Also had the option to do a peter pan collar or a mandarin collar.  We actually drafted all the versions, but only seweed up one...thank goodness...

I decided to pick the ugliest version, just for giggles because 1) I really didn't design it and 2) It was going to be tossed at the end of the quarter.

Here it is:

sorry, creepy eyes!

Al, these are for you...

Also,

Happy Father's Day to my dad and other dads out there.

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?