Another selfish sew! Look at that face! That’s someone who was super excited about some more new clothes.
I found this snake fabric on Etsy a month ago and loved it. Only in hindsight I’m sure it’s kids fabric but still I love the colors and and how the design was. I love the weight of the jersey fabric too – generally jersey is pretty see-thru but this was so thick and not see-thru. Since it was sturdy material I didn’t even use my serger as there was no tension issue.
This was less than an hour project as I almost got thru 1 hour of the Roosevelt’s Doc from PBS. I love that documentary – I’ve seen it probably 4 times all together. I think I love it because it so radically changed my perspective on so much about that family. I especially love watching it now since our political climate has changed so severely.
I used this Pattern from McCall’s:
Specs on Time/Cost
Total Time: < 1 hour
Total Cost: $1.99 Pattern + $24 for 2 yards of jersey fabric on Etsy
Have you ever bought the wrong sized pattern? I did here lol whoops! But i just shorted the smallest size by 2inches and aimed for 10-12. I didn’t want this one to be skin tight since I wanted to wear it to work, so I think it worked out perfectly.
Pattern was super easy.
I’ll be making the V-neck and the long sleeves for sure.
I did a little selfish sewing last week. Finally caught a tiny respite from the great baby making of 2017 😉 JK I love that all of you are having babies because baby stuff is my favorite kind of crafts to make. However, I had another 1940s ball to attend so instead of buying my dress this year I decided to make one that was more traditional (less ‘retro’ stereotypical). This is the Original 1947 Design of Vogue V9126 Dress Pattern. Available at Vogue Patterns or Joanns. I picked up this pattern for $5 on one of the ‘sale days’ at Joanns.
I know that Joann’s is sort of the anti-craft movement for a lot of people. I happen to find it really convenient, affordable and they do have a pretty nice selection of fabric, yarn, supplies. Plus and this is why it’s so hard to say no to Joann’s they always have a coupon(s) to use.
But I digress. I found the pattern and the Fabric (50% off that) at Joanns and decided to make this for the ball.
The collar took quite some mulling over. It was not easy to create shape for that just from ‘folding it over.’ I ended up hand sewing the lapels to each other in the front to give it the shape I wanted.
The waist was too small for only a short bodice zipper – I had to let out the waist by 3 inches to get the waist over my shoulders (I’m not that big there). If I make this again I will put in a zipper that extends down thru the waist so that I can just zip it up and keep the shape once on.
Bust was taken in considerably. I used the 36in bust – (I’m a 34in) and it was like a burlap sack – I ended up taking in the pleats so significantly it was starting to distort the shape on the bodice. If I make this again I will use smaller bodice all together and then gather skirt in back if necessary.
Anyways enough of my bemoaning about having a small bust and big shoulders 😉
the bodice and skirt connected by front feature
Juanita Tolve’s Hawaii brooch ❤
All and all it was a super fun, cute dress. I’ll be making more in the future!
A month or two ago, I got this western themed duck fabric for $6 a yard! SCORE. I bought 3 yards of it because I knew I wanted to make an Amy Butler Floor Pouf with it. I finally got around to doing this last Saturday Afternoon – it took maybe 2 1/2 hours total (including a trip to the local craft store to buy 10lbs of polyfil). I forgot how easy this pattern is – remember back to 2+ years ago when I made my first AB floor pouf. Go ahead, click on the link and imagine the wavy lines and harp music as you travel back in time…..
Okay welcome back to 2016. So I remembered one of my greatest complaints about this pattern was that you a) have to hand sew it shut and b) can’t really do anything once you get it dirty. Sadly the floor pouf from 2014 was thrown away in the great migration west in 2015. Well, to solve that issue – I decided to sew a zipper on the bottom of the pouf to prevent that from happening again. Now if I need to wash it, I can just remove the polyfil and wash the pouf easy peasy!
is that a cactus or are you just happy to see me? zipper with polyfil coming outhe’s sticking his tongue out at me.pretty boy and floor pouf
I made an adorable little Blouse over the weekend and just had to share!
I found the Pattern here on BURDASTYLE. I’m a huge fan of this site because the patterns are very current, reasonably priced, and you can just print them and assemble at home. Plus they are in you account forever so if you misplace one small piece you can always re-print.
I really like it – after wearing it on Monday I just need to move the snap button closure a wee bit and then finish the snap buttons down the front. Also I chose not to add the cuffs because I’m lazy.
Is it just me or is this week kind of dragging? Maybe because it’s supposed to be Spring, but the weather still stinks? I mean I can’t complain that much – it’s been above freezing in Chicago so that’s like heat wave status.
Anyways – I’ve had a pretty great week so far albeit a little quiet and slow.
First: Been really enjoying my gym time. I go 4-5 times a week now and just feel like I’m killing it there. I’m still amazed that I have lost no weight, but the overall shape/tightness of my body is radically different. Don’t believe? oh look a before and after! My favorite! (haha). I have been going between 2-4 miles a day and as of last weekend have been using intervals and inclines to keep me on my toes.
after on left 3/14 – before 12/24 on right; same weight 160.
Second: I FINALLY found a great dentist here in Chicago. I had avoided the whole ‘check up’ thing since I moved. I take insane care of my teeth now (after root canals, LANAP surgery) and so I knew I wasn’t going to have any cavities or major plaque issues. I did have a consult done on my ‘root canal-ed’ teeth that are in the front. I’m nervous, but incredibly excited to move forward with that. To say that I have adjusted my lifestyle and smile to accommodate my always graying teeth would be an understatement. It’s a major bummer to look at photos and have it make my teeth look misshaped or worse look like I’m missing teeth! So that’s an endeavor I’m about to journey through and am excited to move past.
Third: I scheduled my GMAT exam. I know what you are thinking “Brianna, you just graduated with your MA last year.” Well, you all know it’s a goal to get my PhD and this stage of my life would be the best time to just ‘get ‘er done.’ So I have 9 weeks to study my face off. I’m not too concerned about finding time and I bought the Manhattan study prep kit so I think I’ll do just fine.
Fourth: I beefed up my sewing skills with a simple skirt class. The highlights were learning the ‘french seam’ and some nice hemming techniques. I’m excited to begin sewing more especially since I’m at the size I want to stay.
pattern and fabric.little ‘faux fur bag’ i made the cats. the safety pins make the cover/lining removable (i.e. washable) they LOVE it. both fight over it.adorable yarn draw string bag i made. i actually did the inside with french seams and practiced my casing skills haha.
Fifth: GREAT progress with the Heliopath KAL with socalmeaghan. I’ve seen quite a few followers/fellow KAL friends are WAY ahead of schedule. I am right on track. It’s taking me about 4 hours (!!!!) to knit the 16 rows of the cable lace pattern over 151 stitches. (That’s 2416 total stitches if you wanna think about how much work in a different sense). The pattern is easy, but tedious and as soon as I start getting tired I have to stop because I start fumbling and it gets scary with all the YO / K2TG / P2TG and cables.
4.5 inches of pattern / 2 inches of ribbing. sigh.
So there was the weekend/first half of the week. I’m ready for spring. I feel lonely and whiny. Lois is coming to visit Friday so I’m really excited to be around family.
Well after my Amy Butler Gumdrop Pillow , I’ve been inspired to sew some things. I did a small pair of shorts, I’m going to make some jersey tees for the cats (since one of them *ahem* VLADIMIR *ahem* always takes his knit sweaters off). Anyways, if you aren’t familiar with Burdastyle, it’s a wonderful sewing website with patterns, inspiration, seminars, classes, and forums. I have recently found some amazing patterns that I think would be perfect for me to gain more confidence in garment sewing. Shall we take a look? *clicking on the photos takes you directly to the Burdastyle pattern page*
Cape 01/2010 – always a classic.Empire Waist DressKnotted Dress – VA VA VOOM.Elasticated DressDouble Layer DressKeyhole DressU Neck Dress
Well I had a great weekend! It’s my last one here in Chicago before I leave for Thailand on Saturday!!! (WHAT TIME FLEW BY!) On Saturday I got a new iPhone 5s for my trip/life. Ever since I updated my 4s to iOS 7 it was just so slow and the battery would not even last for a few hours. The upgrade came at a good time because I’ll be able to use this new one on my trip as my primary camera.
Anyhoo. I met up with an old Mullen (my high school) buddy who recently relocated to Chicago and finally got to eat the November burger at Kuma’s Corner – the immortalized SLEEP burger. Pretty much it is a ‘Thanksgiving style burger’ with cranberry, gravy, turkey burger, topped with tempura fried stuffing and sage leaves.
The Sleep Burger
Yesterday I accidentally got into the holiday spirit… I know what you’re thinking – “But Bree it’s only the middle of November!” I know I know. BUT Since I’ll be gone for Thanksgiving I had to set up and shoot all the photos for my annual Ugly Tribe Calendar this weekend. That meant I got to buy/set up a tree – I didn’t get to decorate at all last year so this year is gonna get nuts.
My blue/green candy cane tree.Baby Boris’s first ornament THANKS AUNT LORI!Spotted at BigLots!
Then being such a coconut milk/almond milk enthusiast I was super super excited when I saw that this year there are even more holiday/seasonal flavors for the non-bovine ‘milk’ drinkers. So far – So Delicious is winning by miles and miles.
BARF.CRACK HOLIDAY JUICEI bought these awesome slippers at BigLots! SORRY I’M NOT SORRY!
In terms of CRAFTS! I know it’s seemed a little dry here lately. BUT I’m gift making so I can’t very well put up photos of people’s future gifts. But do note that I finally bought the contrast color for my sweater and have been marathon knitting gifts so once I can give those gift I’ll post all the photos here. I did manage to use the sewing machine extensively last night/yesterday afternoon during the Chicago Tornado watch 2013.
STITCH WITCHERY. From now on what I will call my sewing crafts.Stars for a GIVEAWAY Holiday door panel!!! Get excited!!!Epic PRO patch job on werk pants. Just look at that reinforced stitch witchery.These will be made at some point.Then here is a shot from the Calendar Shoot….
It was a super busy, but fun weekend – Now on to the busy week before I jetset to Thailand on Saturday!
ghostfaceknitter.com 