I Go Retro and Recreate Henry VIII

Several things are happening over this break; I'm working on a mock up of a Henry VIII costume for my brother's madrigal costume, working on my senior project, personal sewing projects, and writing endeavors. Although the list is vague, I have my hands full.
One of my personal sewing goals was to make the wrap dress out of the Best Dresses book, and it turned out alright. The sleeves fit well this time, but I added 9 in to the tie that goes through the dress and around the back to have a proper bow on the side. I have reached my goal to make a satisfactory collar on the first attempt. The finished project looks a little retro, especially since I chose polka dots and the waist has a sort of "oomph." I do have some trouble keeping the collar flat under the front of the dress, so I stuck a pin there until I tack something down or summon up courage to adjust, but I'm tempted to just let it be. (Would it really be mine if it did not have my signature mistakes, haha.)

The book's example...only loose fitting on tiny people

The front.

The back. It looks tight here, but it fits comfortably.

A satisfyingly stiff collar.

 The back band.

I love this style. It has a little drama to it.

The bow.


















While I work on the Henry VII mock up, I make sure to drink my new Ahmad tea (which I already practically drink by the gallon anyway). I ordered a Period Patterns pattern off of eBay, and have several swatches of brocade for the doublet and some curtain-y looking fabric he wants for the jerkin. We plan to make view IV, front and center on the pattern. The gown/robe has hopes of being in velvet. I've already warned my mother of the immensity of this process, but we are prepared and ready for this...uh...adventure. Pray for my soul. For the mock up I only plan to recreate what I am not sure about which includes the jerkin and the gown. The actual costume should be pieced together over the summer when I am not looking for a post-graduation job (no more work-study...).

I really like the far left, with the coral, tan, and green, but my brother favors the black and red. His choice would be easier to find coordinating fabrics and colors (but who needs conventionality??)

When not holed up in my cave sewing, I'm reading my DWJ book, Reflections on the Magic of Writing, which is wonderful. It rekindles the desire to write as it humorously addresses the writer's philosophy, Jones' own experiences, and the responsibility of writing children's fantasy. Go buy this book if you love her work. >>http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Writing-Diana-Wynne-Jones/dp/0062219898

I've also finished the final Professor Layton game, "PL and the Azran Legacy." Took me forever, but it is done, and there is a little empty spot in my heart which I will just have to fill with playing the games again, and binge searching "professor layton" on Pinterest so that I find things like this...PL funny

And here's a quiche recipe I've recently tried and loved and added bell peppers to: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/466263367651349850/

This is a really good sewing article about looking good in your square one creations and as you progress. Amen to the pressing point.5 Ways to Make Everyone Think You Are a Sewing Pro - McCall's

Anyway, Happy Sewing and Happy New Year!

Just in Time for Christmas

The semester is coming to a close after a very busy four months. Life off campus is its own wonderful adventure. I've acted in front of a class, TWICE (never thought that would ever happen), wrote 6 research papers that were all due the same week, put my budgeting skills to good use,  plenty of other English major-y things, took a friend to the ER, and changed the spare tire on the mini-van all by myself, and still managed to sew a little. In this particular season of sewing I've been using some beautiful fabric from MissMatatabi on Esty, which ended up being used for a dress and a shirt. There was another dress in September that I made with some stash fabric, but it was a little disappointing.

That said, the dress turned out alright. Some setbacks: it is a bit tight in the shoulders; I now know that I am going to make the armholes of the Best Dresses book dresses bigger (look at the side bar for the books I'm using>>>). I put my zipper in after I already sewed up the other half of the seam it was on and hemmed the dress. I won't do that again; there was some "Make it work" moments with the unevenness that comes from putting the zipper in after sewing the rest of the seam. The bunching around the waist (not the gathers) that comes from the shoulder being to tight have inspired me to start truly altering patterns to fit me, intimidating, tedious, and messy as the process may be. The dress looks alright, but I want it to look like it was made for me.

I'm also working on a shirt with lace trim I'll share in the next two weeks.

Here's a random detail of my life: I'm working on watching all the Studio Ghibli movies and two that you should really watch if you have not already are The Wind Rises and Porco Rosso.

This is inspired by the fact that I am doing my Senior Project on Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle on which Hayao Miyazaki based his film. I love the book and film so much, that I decided to spend 9 months writing about the book and its place in children's literature. 

Happy Sewing!

Thailand and A New School Year Begins

During my 3.5 weeks away in Thailand I found out a lot about myself, as well as experienced some wonderful events/turning points. A tropical spot is the place for me; the country is beautiful, and I am a lover of hot weather. I sat in on translation and translation check (one of my favorite parts). I went to a conference for translation consultants in training, ate many spicy things and tons of rice at local Chiang Mai restaurants (and entertained the staff as we tried our Thai on them), took Thai lessons (it was hard, y'all), met some brilliant people, made some good friends (the team) who were a blessing to be with, learned that God does not give us bolts of lightning or bright neon signs (usually), but rather we have to listen in the still quiet moments and go forward in faith. You cannot erase it from the equation. Did I figure out if translation is where I want to go or not? It was definitely informative on what this life involves, and I still feel that I am meant to be involved. I know that I would prefer being a NT scholar to an OT scholar now. So, right now I'll focus on finishing my last year at Covenant, and perhaps put in an application for Payap for kicks, even if I know I can't afford it now. It never hurts to apply.
Here's the team at our favorite lunch spot for the first week and a half. The glass case in the back ground holds tasty fruits and/or desserts such as palm seeds, jujubes, lotus seeds, etc. all served in ice and coconut milk. One side is open so dozens of bees are attracted to the sweetness.

The Group.

Where I ate breakfast at the wonderful Riverside House B&B every morning.

The Iron Bridge on the Ping River

Looking at some literacy materials at FAL.

The Mekong!

I did get fabric at the Tapei night market, and sadly, did not have time to visit the actual fabric market. The green is the first that caught my eye, and the purple was chosen after long amounts of horrible indecision because all the options were incredibly ornate. So, with that ornate fabric I attempted to make some traditional Thai skirts.  It was a breeze except that my pleats won't stay pleated, and I didn't want to iron them so much that I damaged the silk. I tried a 1:1 vinegar/water mist and ironing and I stitched some small chains at the inside hem to see if weight would pull them straight. Alas, there was just a little change. Cotton twill cord was used for the bit that ties around the waist. If you have any suggestions they would be appreciated! :)

Heres the video I used as a guide:

And the results:

Happy Sewing!

A Bunch of Little Things

Well, before I head out to Thailand for 3 weeks here are some wonderful things. My sewing has ceased and projects have been put on pause so I can prepare to leave, and then actually leave. It's going to be wonderful!
This book >>>>http://www.japanesesewingbooks.com/2014/06/24/book-review-clean-and-natural/
I think I might look into this after One Piece is the Best. I find a lot of things I like at Japanese Sewing Books, which is where I found One Piece. But then again, maybe I should look into some dresses with more structure, step up the challenge.

The Sewing Boutique - I found a sewing store in Vicksburg! It mainly focuses on quilting and children's clothing, but there was plenty of sewing supplies to marvel at (and for good prices) and classes offered. I did buy some thread and mother of pearl buttons.
http://www.thesewingboutiqueshop.com/

I made a dish-towel apron for one of my dad's co-workers. I'll also be making one for my dad (in a different pattern when I get back. Another project in the works is a laptop bag for my sister.

The Thailand project was completed, and my handmade closet is packed and ready to go! This includes the peacock feather dress (with a black waist tie), the black floral dress, the green fan dress with slits, the Zinnia pants, the label dress, and the butterfly dress. Of course I have some other items to finish out a week, but there will be a good bit of washing. I've even packed my little sewing bag (pins, needles, some thread, measuring tape, etc.) into my suitcase.
Although I'm going for career exploration, I did find this post that piqued my attention. >>Seamstress Erin's Chiang Mai fabric shopping It looks promising!

pc:SeamstressErin












I also spent a large chunk of this afternoon organizing my sewing area, and have collected a scrap stash. It's inevitable.
I'll be updating when I get back! (maybe before if I have lengthy access to a computer)


Happy Sewing!

Cross Stitch Storage Bag for Mom

Now that I have completed all the items going to Thailand (which is happening in less than a week!), I'm moving on to some bags. I currently I have more scraps from making clothing than I know what to do with, so I opened up the offer to family members. First up is my mother, the avid cross-stitcher, for whom I made a bag for her cross stitch materials and projects!

 The bag is something of a combination of two styles out of the Simple Bags book (look in the right column of my blog under "on the sewing table" -- I should be making a master list of the books and patterns I use soon), a jewelry pouch and an embroidery bag. To fit her materials in I made it a little bit bigger than the example. The fabric was from my Label Dress (Dress "m") out of One Piece is the Best (also in the column>>). I lined in cream cotton and put in some iron on interfacing.This post could be considered part-tutorial part-experience example.

 The embroidery bag.

The jewelry pouch.

Because my scraps were not long enough, but plenty wide, I cut them in half and stitched them to mirror each other, so that when folded they would both be right side up.

Lining was cut by tracing size of the outside fabric, both on fold.

I then cut pockets (three total). My mom needed a pouch for glasses, so I used a method similar to the back of a pillow case, making two pockets overlap, open ends together. I used my own glasses for scale.

Pin and sew the pockets to lining and interfacing. Keep in mind that the bag will fold together when done.

Cut handles and button loop.

Fold long, raw edges of handles to the center, then fold in half and iron. Sew over long edges.

Pin loop and handles to the outside with raw edges in the same direction.

Place lining over that, right sides together. Sew together around edges leaving an open spot to turn it right side out.

Turn it right side out. I went ahead and topstitched where it was open, close to the edge, and on both sides to make it even. I also stitched under the handles.

The inside: two large pockets and one for glass or smaller things.

Found this cute tutorial for origami dresses and hope to make them for room decor!

Happy Sewing!

Kamikaze Butterflies

Yesterday evening I finished this up, and it had been quite the unexpected trial. I messed up on pocket interiors with french seams. The original sleeves were way too small (I tried to adjust them and failed miserably), and I eventually took them out completely. I did the topstitching on the facing along the neckline multiple times, and still couldn't get a nice, straight seam along the intended-to-be-square neckline (no pictures of that stuff). I even cut the top of the dress out upside down (hence the name Kamikaze Butterflies, as they "flew" downward), and had to recut. (Where was my head? Obviously not on my shoulders.) Oh well. I suppose we all have those days. 

The fabric, though, is why I pushed on to some sort of finished, and I rather like it. The pockets were higher than I thought they would fall, but they will be handy. There are some small darts on the bust to give a little shape.

The front. (Notice the new shoes :))

The back.

 Pockets!

It was inevitable while making this to not be reminded of A Bug's Life...

Happy Sewing!

Dress "m"

Another dress has been made. It was very easy, and took just over 3 hours. This one does actually have a tent vibe about it, and it looks alright left as is, but I put a little belt around the waist to satisfy myself. The only details were the front and back yokes, sleeve binding, and some tucks(which I did not do because it would have made the sleeves too tight. I plan on making one of these again when I get back from Thailand. There's only one piece of clothing left to go for Thailand, and its currently a work in progress (it has butterflies on it !).
Also, did you know that Agatha Christie wrote a mystery that takes place in Egypt in 2000 BC? It's titled Death Comes as the End.  I listened to the audio book, and am now reading the actual book because I loved it so much.
I also bought some shoes this past weekend to go with these lovely dresses during their debut in Thailand. I found them at Cathy Jean at the Birmingham Galleria for only $20 (Thanks to my mom for spotting them.)>>Cathy Jean Sandals Link. They're ridiculously comfortable.
 So. Here it is.

 

The cathy jean shoes, if you didn't click the link.

 The front (with the handy-dandy belt)

The back.

 The sleeve binding.

front yoke

 a la tent.

















The book's example, which is, of course, adorable.

 

P.S. I finished Atlas Shrugged!! A personal accomplishment.

Happy Sewing!