Dress to top, almost a flop

I fell in love with this dress way back in 2009 when I got the October 2009 issue of Burda magazine. The effortless flow of the fabric paired with shiny patent heels and chunky belt. Slimming effect everywhere. What's not to like about that?

The construction is very basic.
But when I ignored the suggested fabric of "wide stretch jersey" and used the light satin poly (no stretch) from Jo-anns, it didn't look anything like what I had imagined. The Laura Ashly belt that my sister gave me or my favorite black patent heels were not able to save the look. It resembled a cheep kimono dress you buy for your kid's dress up box.

I was ready to throw it out, but then Scott suggested I turn it into a shirt. "Maybe it is just too much of that wild fabric." he said.

So here it is. What do you think? Still wild, but I think it is wearable now. I tried to cut the hem short enough so it didn't look like a maternity shirt. The skinnier belt in grey blends in better as well.

I am going to consider this a practice round, and make the dress with black rayon jersey just like Burda suggests.

Easy Summer Dress

Just a quick post to let you know what I have been up to. I am finally back in the groove.

This easy dress is the first of several projects I have planned for spring and summer.

Pattern: Style 114 of May 2009 Burda Magazine

Fabric: herringbone cotton from Japan (I love the bumpy texture and gauze-like softness of it.)

I first made a muslin with a $1/yd fabric I had on hand. It fit without any adjustments, so I ended up sewing it up to another dress.

Here is another gathered camisole for Asha. (the first one posted here.) I cut up my tunic. It was one of those "I will wear this when I loose weight" purchases. Now, two kids later, I would be happy if I could go back to the size I was then, and the tunic had to find a better purpose. I kept the side seams and bottom hem intact, so it ended up being a quick and fun project.

"Turtle Hood" Pullover

My baby sister is getting married, and I am leaving on Thursday for Tokyo to attend the wedding.

Alison suggested I sew something comfortable to wear on the plane, and this is what I came up with. It feels like pajamas, and that is just what I will need on the 11 hour flight.

pattern: Turtle Hood pullover from hibi+

size: medium (I am a large on the Japanese size chart, an 8 in the US, but this medium fits OK as long as I don't wear anything bulky underneath. The sleeves could have been a little longer.

fabric: juicy Couture cable grey velour from Fabric Fairy

Burda Top

This is a pattern I had been wanting to try for a while. I just love the sleeve detail. It should have been an easy/quick project, but I had a hard time getting the tension right on my serger after Quinn played with the dials, and that resulted in lots of picking of the stitches and resewing.

Pattern: Burda World of Fashion Jan 2009, style 106B

Fabric: Premium stretch cotton from fabric.com

In the magazine, the model is wearing this shirt with a wide enamel belt. I love that look, but my black belt was too dressy for this cotton. I am going to make another one with shimmery stretch fabric.

Simplicity 3887

If you want a quick and satisfying project, this is it!   

I made size 8, after I read a few reviews that said the pattern runs big.  I am happy I did.  The fabric is a poly blend I got a long time ago at Vogue Fabric in Evanston.             

The shirt on me

How do you take a picture of yourself?  And what do you do with the arm that is in the way.   It was a lot harder than I thought.  Here is my best one taken in front of the mirror on the coat closet.  I guess it is time to look for the little remote that came with the camera.  

One question... Does the shirt look too long, still?  I have shortened it by an inch, but it looks too long in the picture.    
Here is the shoulder detail I adore.  I used cotton-lycra from here.  It took exactly a yard.  
And Kai who also wanted his picture on my blog page.    

Burda World of Fashion 01-2009 #125

A few weeks back, Alison, Kim, and I decided to try sewing something for ourselves.  I love sewing for our children, but hardly have the motivation to sew for myself.  My children look great in whatever I make, but that is not always the case with me.  Last time I tried was four years ago when I was very pregnant with Kai.  I made a kimono style wrap maternity top.  The light blue shirting fabric I chose made it look like scrubs, and no matter how I changed the way I tied the sashing around the waist, I looked like I already belonged in the hospital.  I threw it away.  The challenge and the support we can give to each other gave me hope that I might get out of the fear of disappointment.     

After I talked patterns and fabric with Alison for a while, I decided to try this polo shirt from Burda magazine first.  It looks like my favorite Old Navy shirt, and I would love to own a pattern of something like that.       

The shirt came out really cute, just like the picture in the magazine.  The gathering around the neckline is my favorite part.  The detailed instructions were easy to follow since it was the featured "Sewing Course".  The only things I would have done differently is the sizing.  I made 40, but ended up having to take in more than an inch total off the sides, an inch off the sleeve length, and another inch off the length.  I am sure I could have avoided all that by making size 38.      

Happy Halloween

This is Tamsin, Scott's sister.  Isn't she a dazzling witch? 

Tamsin asked me to sew her costume, and I did.  She chose Simplicity 0517, view D.  The pattern was pretty simple and easy to follow.  It is made to flatter a curvy figure like hers, with darts in the front and back.  If you ever try this pattern though, keep in mind that attaching 10 yards of boa by hand takes some time.  Two and a half hours for me.  That is nothing in the scheme of sewing a whole dress.  But it is a killer if you are thinking the dress is mostly done, and there is JUST the trimming left to do.           

Tamsin and I followed the tutorial from this video clip to make the hat.  Again, a great tutorial and we loved the result.  

With extra long purple lashes and a long silver wig, she is ready to scare some nieces and nephews.  Actually, they just burst into laughter.    

Jerome is Luke Sky Walker and Asha, Dorothy. 

I will add a picture of Kai and Quinn later.  Quinn fell asleep and Kai was a big mess of dribbles by the time I remembered to pull out my camera.