Simple Chic No. 12

In my experience sewing seems to mend the soul, so lately I tend to spend a lot of time thinking that more people should be sewing these days. 😆This dress comes from Machiko Kayaki's Simple Chic and is dress No. 12. It has a v-neck in the front and back, side zipper, waist ties, and an inverted U-waistline at the natural waist. The fabric came from Mill End Store in Portland, OR during Pattern Review Weekend 2019, which I have also written about here: PRW 2019.  As the first pattern, I've made out of this book, there was the usual amount of experimentation with trying to get to know the book's style and cut. It was tragic. So much doing and redoing, especially in the bodice. I will always make a muslin for this pattern in the future. For example, I cut 3 in off the back bodice neckline and took out the pleats, but that was only after I seam ripped and resewed the back bodice-to-skirt seam about 3 times trying to get rid of all the extra bagginess on the back. I guess my torso was just to short for the original dimensions. I also flattened the the top of the back skirt by about a graded 1 in off the top to cut some of the bagginess as well. 

My alteration reminder to my future self. 

On the whole, this pattern was a little surprising because I've never had to readjust patterns by Machiko Kayaki this much. They're usually reliably well-fit to my body shape. Another very important lesson I learned this time: if you're unsure of sizing, make a muslin!!! I spent a ridiculous and unwarranted amount of time trying to work out the back. However, I'm glad I used up some fabric I've had for a while and have another cute little dress. Still worth the hassle. A little ironic food for thought-- I needed the challenge to do a little "soul mending." Happy Sewing!

Measuring Tape Madness: Dress B from One Piece Dress is the Best

    Time for another little revisitation. This project uses the same pattern I used a few years ago from a Machiko Kayaki Japanese sewing pattern book, and that was the first successful dress that I made for myself. I used a cotton print, cotton twill for the tie, and made a size 13 (JP).  This time, it was super easy and I had it cut and sewn in 3 hours, which includes time spent on snack hunting and making googly eyes at other exciting projects. Below are the mood board and the pattern example from the book.

The mood board

Pattern example

    

The result! So, I pulled the old one out to humor myself, and it was a good idea because it served as a big ego-booster to see how much better my work on the new one was. Straighter seams, actually remembered to add seam allowance, better fit. A testament to practice, I think. This project is my little ode to sewing because of the little measuring tapes (Measure once, cut twice. Measure twice, cut once.) and because it revisits one of my personally crucial beginner milestones. There wasn't really anything so big as making a dress and having it fit after all that work. 

Happy Sewing and Happy Memorial Day!

Remembrance and thanks to those that have given their lives for our country. 

The Sketchbook Project: Saturday Dressmaker // Tactile Qualities

I don't normally work on really long-term projects because they tend to be forgotten. However, I decided to take on Brooklyn Art Library's Sketchbook Project. It was great opportunity to actually create some mood boards. I was assigned to the Volume 15 group. The picture above is out list of suggested themes, of which tactile qualities stuck out, naturally.

https://www.sketchbookproject.com/

What I wrote in the 'Artist's Comments' section:

"Tactile Qualities: Sewing Mood Boards for Nov. 15, 2019 - Jan. 25, 2020

Sewing is equally creative as it is cathartic for me. When I sit down to work on a project, it's relaxing and energizing, but that same process draws out my inner creative, fixer, and maker. This collection of mood boards gives a peek into my "idea bank" during the 2019-2020 winter, when I finally put down the inspiration I had mentally stockpiled from the months before to paper. It ranges from everyday clothing inspired by characters from a book I read and a dress I made simply because I was freezing the day before, to special occasion projects. My mood boards are my last round of visualization before making a garment, a final meeting place for all the ideas to sort their problems out before the hands-on project begins.
Everyday, home, and personal sewing (both practical and leisure sewing) require a unique, and often underrepresented, artistic process and skill from the individual that I hope to represent a little bit of in this sketchbook for the Brooklyn Art Library."

Happy Sewing!

Simplicity 8230

It has definitely been a while and lots has happened!
While we're all under quarantine, I've had some extra time to start wedding planning. That's right, I'm engaged. We're pretty excited for what lies ahead. 💕 My "something borrowed, something blue" is pretty much my mom's wedding planner for guidance. 😆

I'm still tutoring online, but school is out for the year for the local school district, which gives me a little bit of a break and time to catch up on hobby and home projects... and wedding planning and getting a head start on putting together our future house. 

One of those projects I've caught up on is Simplicity 8230 by Dottie Angel.  I worked on this apron dress over two days, but if I had not handsewn the binding, I think I could have had it done in 2-3 hours. The apron ties can be tied at the front or back. I prefer the back. As I said already, I hand-sewed the hem, armhole, and neck binding for a clean and finer finish. I also think that hand-sewing it (especially with seam binding) let it fall in a more flattering way on me. I also shortened the overall length by 2.5 in. I made it in a heavier linen that a friend picked up for me just because it reminded her of me  (can you feel the love?😄) I also just remembered that I finished this right in time for Me Made May. 🎉

#derpface

All in all, an easy and satisfying project. If I could change anything next time around, I would shorten the dress at the natural waist and not the hem. However, it's another good one in the books. 

Happy Sewing  (and don't forget to wash your hands!🧼)!

             

Aprons & Tea Parties: Simplicity 8152

One of the best combinations is family and sewing. It had been a project in the making for almost 2 years, but the ladies of my family finally all settled on a date, pattern, and place, got together and decided to make cute little aprons. We chose Simplicity 8152.  Although it took a few days (and tea parties😉), we finally got them done. There were 5 of us total, but 9 (or 10?) aprons to be sewn!

After packing all our fabric, bias tape, sewing machines, and standard sewing supplies into the car, we dashed over to my grandmother's house for our ladies' day. We dined on fine china, drank Earl Grey and English Breakfast out of fancy little tea cups, and snacked on little macarons, eclairs, and finger sandwiches. Oh yeah, right, and we made aprons. This is what we came up with. There are some notes about each in the caption area. Since we are still sifting through pictures and finishing aprons, I'll add updates as they come. Believe it or not, there's more!

Finished the plans.....after the aprons 😂

Mine. LOVE the lime green bias tape.

My grandmother's variations. One is going to her sister in France! Gumbo print. 

A better look at the altered neckline.

Mom's finished apron with cheerful yellow bias finishing and with the modified neck. Appropriate for the gardening family 🌱

Becky's apron in a delicate floral and bright yellow bias. Reminds me of summer.

My aunt's apron -- complete with retro theme! All we need now are our classic Pyrex and Fire King sets!

Close-up of the retro pattern. Love the little teapots.

A lemony apron for Rachel (that I made). 10/10 tempted to steal!

Another apron completed for a cousin with classic Minnie Mouse.

The pattern was fairly easy to follow (except the section about the tie loops). We all agreed that we would sew the bias tape to the wrong side first and then stitch to the front, so we could make sure  to get a good, clean and even seam. Why do patterns always direct you to do the opposite? Seems a little counter-productive. Speaking of counter-productive, here is a funny: My fabric had to be cut a certain way to keep the text right-side-up, and I, trying to be efficient, layered two fabrics and never thought twice about....until I started pinning things together. My mother very lovingly let me use her fabric  since we are using the same kind and said she would make hers the next time. Thanks, Mom! ❤ 

Some changes we made:

Mine has extended ruffles.

My grandmother took away the arched half of the back piece and just had the back go around the neck and there are no slots to slide the ties through. 

Yays:

Loved the way the bias tape highlighted the lovely shape over the apron, especially the arched back.

Ruffles give a more feminine look, but without them the apron looks just as good or sharp.

Nays:

Some of us didn't like how there was so much going on at the back, so we altered the pattern to just go around the neck. 

Some views of the parties:

Becky brought her 1951 Singer Featherweight. We all marveled, of course. 😍

The cutting table.

Time for cutting and trying to be time-efficient. Before a big, bad mistake 😭 Can you see where I'm about to go wrong??

Photo Credit: Mom!

Conclusion: Success! We are dubbing it "Crafty Teatime."❤ Time to make it a tradition.
Our Motto: Measure Once, Cut Twice.😂😆 Mistake intended.