Category: Sewing

Keeping a Gift for Myself

Marie HaighLeave a comment

Last year, I made this messenger bag with every intention of giving it away as a Christmas gift.

Instead I decided it didn’t suit anybody on our list and tucked it into my closet. Surely, I would find somebody to give the bag to next year.

That year is this year. The gift list has been made because I’m crazy about Christmas and love to start shopping in late summer.

The result is the same though. I’ve made several excuses as to why I can’t give the bag away. It all comes down to the simple fact that I don’t believe anyone will love the bag as much as I do.

So, I’m keeping it.

Pattern: Messenger Bag by Sew Liberated

Fabric: Denim recycled from an old pair of jeans, 100% cotton in polka dots purchased from Pottstown Sewing store and 100% cotton in pink elephants purchased from Walmart

I found the section on the making of the exterior pocket to be confusing. I actually had to recut the pattern pieces because I had stitched it inside out or maybe upside down. It’s been over a year since I made it. I forget what I did wrong.

The rest of the pattern was straight forward and I do love the way the bag turned out. I suppose that’s obvious since I refuse to give it away.

Dress Progress

Marie Haigh4 Comments

Although the taffeta fabric is gorgeous, it is persnickety to work with. It is constantly slipping about. Coupled with the underlining, it feels like I’m working with bullet-proof material.

The other issue is that the pattern I’m using for Elly’s dress has no straight edges. Every edge is a curve. So, like inserting a sleeve, I have to ease in each and every piece of fabric. It takes time.

Despite hand-basting all the seams before I sew them on the sewing machine, I’ve made some minor errors. Rather than rip them all back, I plan to hide them as best as possible and just hope nobody notices. Or if someone does notice, she minds her manners and says not a word.

For the first time since buying this fancy sewing machine, I’m using the decorative stitches. When topstitching, I am using a flower motif for the stitch and a gold thread so it pops on the dress.

I love the results.

Almost no progress has been made on my dress. Elly’s dress is more important in my book, since she is the flower girl. So, I’m trying to finish her dress first. I’d say I’m about a 1/4 of the way done on her dress. It’s coming together nicely despite all my complaints above. The end justifies the means.

Hand Sewing Replaces Knitting

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It’s been 2 weeks since I finished Elly’s skirt. I haven’t knit a single thing since then. Despite reminding myself repeatedly that I need to rummage through my yarn to find something that will compliment the brown wool I plan to knit into a skirt for myself, I haven’t done that either.

All my once free time that I used to sneak in a little knitting has been used to hand sew the underlining to the purple taffeta fabric.

It’s also been used to hand stitch accessories to Elly’s dress.

There is only 1 month left before my sister-in-law’s wedding. It’s officially crunch time.

All knitting and home decorator projects have been placed on hold. Sewing Elly’s dress as well as my own has taken front and center stage. Though right now we are eating home-cooked meals, that may change as the day of the wedding draws near. I’m determined to finish these dresses. Bound and determined.

Fun on MPB Day

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Saturday was MPB day. Saturday was also my birthday.

I decided that there was no better way to spend my birthday than hanging out with Peter and people who loved to sew.

Though the day started at the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, I opted to meet up with the group at the Brown Cup due to travel time.

They were just sitting down to lunch when I arrived.

After lunch was finished, the group divided into two. Half of the group went straight to Mood. The other half followed Peter to the budget-friendly fabric stores. I went with the latter group as this was my 1st time in the garment district and I wanted the full experience.

The first store Peter took us in was unlike any other fabric store I had ever been in. Bolts of fabric were leaned up against the walls, leaned up against each other and blocking passage way through some of the aisles. Almost nothing had a price tag. There was no air conditioning. A yard stick in hand was used to measure the fabric rather than a ruler anchored to the cutting table. The owner of the store along with his son were present and remarkably friendly. It was overwhelming and amazing. In the midst of it all, I found a cotton embroidered fabric that I couldn’t leave behind.

Here is Elly looking it over later in the day.

Our next stop was Paron Fabrics. Though they had better organization and even AC, I didn’t fall in love with any fabric. However, Peter pulled this fabric out and remarked about its uniqueness.

During the conversation, it occurred to me how wonderful it would look on a bag. I tried to walk out of the store without it, but I knew I would regret it. So, I blame Peter for this purchase.

Next we made a quick stop in a magazine store where most folks perused the sewing magazines; I flipped through some old Trend magazines on Knitwear.

Then, it was on to Mood. At this point, I was slightly disappointed that I hadn’t found any fabric suitable for Elly. So, I headed to the printed cotton section at Mood. I found nothing close to what I was looking for and yet I found exactly what I wanted.

Apparently, it was designed by some well-known designer. I was told the name at the cutting table by the friendly staff member named George who assisted me. But as I’m not up and up on fashion and designers, I neither recognized the name nor cared enough to write it down. George did tease me for buying designer fabric for a 2-year-old. I just loved the colors and the apple motif.

The tour was to continue on to a park, but I and another lady said goodbye here. I was eager to meet back up with family and spend time with them.

It was a wonderful day!
Thank you, Peter!

For complete photos of MPB day of which most are of Peter, see the link below.

MPB Day 2012


–Marie

Still Cutting Fabric

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Staring at the piles of fabric already cut out, it would appear that I could start sewing the pieces together anytime now. Except the truth of the matter is, I’m not even halfway done.

There is much more fabric to be cut, marked and thread-traced.

Here is the polyester lining that will be used to line the skirt portion of the dresses. It needs to be pressed, cut, marked, and thread traced. Then, there is the taffeta and lace to cut, mark and thread trace.

I wish I could hurry up this process up, but I don’t want to make any stupid mistakes. Plus, the Olympics are not helping. I spent all last night knitting in front of the TV watching our girls win the gold in gymnastics.

Underlining for the First Time

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I have never underlined a dress. Up until a few days ago, I didn’t even understand what an underling was and what it was used for.

Thankfully, one of the sections of Gertie’s Bombshell Dress class is on underlinings.

Based on Gertie’s recommendations, I will be underlining the bodice of both my dress and Elly’s dress. It will provide extra body to the taffeta fabric and also allow me to catch stitch the seams without my stitches showing through. Plus, it will keep me sane because I can write all my notes for each pattern piece on the underlining. Nobody will see them as they will be hidden in between the taffeta fabric and the lining. Brilliant!

I’m using a purple cotton from my stash for the underlining. The muslin in my stash felt too lightweight and it was 11 o’clock at night.

I still haven’t cut out the taffeta fabric or the colorful lining fabric. I’m hoping after I do all the thread tracing on the underlining I will feel more brave.

A Muslin for Me

Marie Haigh6 Comments

It fits!

It also looks nothing like Simplicity 1910.

I changed my mind. When I saw Gertie’s Bombshell Dress class on Craftys.com, I fell immediately in love.

Since having Elly, clothing with clear waist definition looks more attractive on me. It draws attention to my waist and bust and away from everything south, such as my squishy tummy and my American thighs.

It took two fittings to get the muslin just right.

The first thing I noticed was that the cups sagged. My days of being perky are over it seems. A halter strap came to my rescue.

Additionally, the initial fitting had me struggling to breath and that was without the underlining, boning and lining. So, I let out the side seams a 1/4 inch.

It’s perfect now. I can breathe. It fits.

Now, I just have to get the nerve to cut out the gorgeous purple taffeta and irreplaceable Mexican lace. Gulp.

Elly’s 2nd Muslin

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Ever am I glad that I chose to make a 2nd muslin for Elly’s (untraditional) flower girl dress. Though the belly darts still allowed for a perfect fit around the waist, Elly had grown so much (since March!) that the bodice was ridiculously short on her. The 1.5 inches I had taken out of the straps had to be let back in.

With the wedding 3 months away, I am terrified that Elly will shoot up again and the dress will once again be too short for her.

I don’t want to wait till the last minute to sew Elly’s dress. My nerves will snap under the pressure. I know me. I’m likely to make some stupid error and weep in despair.

I also don’t want to use buttons for future growth such as you would see on overalls. It would take away from the elegance of the dress.

At this point, I plan to leave a generous seam allowance and just check the fit a week before the day of the wedding. A week should be enough time to make a quick alteration. Another option would be to make the next size up, the size for 7-8 year olds. It just seems absurdly large for my daughter who will only be 2.5 years old. Elly is a big girl, it’s true, but she’s not that big!

Is there a better option? I’m open to suggestions!

Wing Chair Looks Worse

Marie Haigh1 Comment

Before

Now

It’s more colorful – just not in a good way. A store-bought slip cover will go back on until I can finish sewing the main body together.

This seat cushion took a lot longer than anticipated for 2 reasons. First, it took a back seat while the sheer curtains were being made. Secondly, all the seams were encased with a Hong Kong seam finish.

Typically, there is no reason to do anything with the seams other than press them open on a slip cover. Yet, as lovely as the green fabric is, it frays like mad. Plus, this is a slip cover that due to its light color and the fact that it must inhabit a home with a dog and a small child will get washed quite frequently. It needs to be able to withstand the wear and tear from the washer and from us. I do not want to be making another slip cover in a year. The memory of this one will need to fade away first.

In other sewing news, the pattern pieces of muslin #2 have been cut out for both Elly’s and my party dress. I anticipate a lot of work needing to be done on my muslin, but Elly’s muslin should fit perfectly. I probably just went and jinxed myself.

The Last of the Red Curtains

Marie Haigh2 Comments

Goodbye red floral curtains. You will not be missed.

I still have 2 more panels to sew of the sheer curtains, but I couldn’t wait a moment longer. It was with glee that I took the old red curtains down and cut into them with my sewing sheers. I hope to reuse the fabric when I make Noodlehead’s Go Anywhere bag. Perhaps I’ll make some pillows too just to remember the curtains by.

With Dan’s help and perhaps Elly’s help too, the new sheer curtains were hung.

Now as much as I love the new sheer curtains and I especially adore all the light they let in, I am on the hunt for new home decorator fabric that can layer overtop. Our front room faces south and gets blasted by the sun all day long. By noon, it’s like an inferno in the living room. The old shades provided much needed protection from the sun by blocking it out. The sooner I can find new fabric and line such fabric with flannel – for that is the key to weather protecting curtains – the less often we will have to run our AC.

This post was added to TDC’s June Before and After Party.

TDC Before and After