Mini-Post: Couch Pillows

 A quick post on some pillows I finished for my parents' newly reupholstered couch. I used some blue-green trim, a lovely linen, and performance upholstery fabric from The Linen Shop in Gluckstadt, MS. 

Grading Down McCall's 8107 with Toolfully Grading Tools

    After making McCall's 8107 (OOP) a few weeks ago from the single-size pattern that turned out to be a tad too big, I realized it may be time to try my hand at grading, which has always been a daunting challenge in my mind. How can one get each new point correct as you move each part?  Well, it was not as difficult as I had expected honestly, just meticulous. Foremost lesson: When grading, it pays to be precise and meticulous, even it it seems like a bunch of extra work. To guide the process, I used tools from Toolfully on Etsy and this video:  

    The fabric I used for this skirt was a linen I picked up in Portland, OR in 2019 during Pattern Review Weekend. The finished skirt was not as small as I had hoped, despite being meticulous about moving each and every piece. Maybe I was not as attentive to my seam allowances or something. It still turned out okay and was even approved by my parents' cat. 😄

I messed up the first try (the black markings) and had to redo it (in green).

    💙 Anyway, it was a good learning experience and I will make sure to be precise in every aspect in order to get each measurement right.

Blouse J from Sound Women's Clothing (Japanese)

New chapter, new shirt. Well, sort of. Now that I am finally getting settled in to married life and the new home, I've finally made something. It even has a little bit of a soundtrack -- lately I've really been obsessed with Kacey Musgraves' album Golden Hour. It's not my usual thing, but I LOVE it, so, naturally, I listened to it on repeat the whole time I was working on this blouse. 

As part of the Pattern Review Stash Contest, I used some lilac linen that I used for another Japanese pattern from One Piece Is the Best. I love linen, wrinkles and all, so I know it's going to get lots of use. The blouse pattern comes from Sound Women's Clothing Pieces (not sure about the translation), which is another Japanese sewing book. 

Blouse J has flutter sleeves, neckline facing around its scoop neck, and a peplum. Not to brag or anything, but I did great with laying things out and getting the most of my fabric. Just had little bits and pieces left over after everything was cut! It was as much a scrap buster as it was a stash buster.

In typical Japanese fashion, things were small as far as sizing went, so I made a 13, which is near a US size 8. Instructions were in Japanese, so it was pictures only. No English translation. However, I would only recommend if you have a little experience with sewing because there are not that many pictures to rely on. I just went on experience when piecing things together. I made one change. I shortened the peplum and sewed 3 shorter strips together to make the peplum because economizing fabric was critical to even get it made.

A few things I liked in particular about this pattern: The flutter sleeves. The neckline fits perfectly, especially on the back, which I often have trouble with gaping on lots of other patterns. Also, the fit around the shoulders was also spot on.

P.S. Give a little round of applause for my husband (just married Oct 17, 2020!) taking the first of what is to be many finished project/sewing modeling pictures...not sure he knows what he has gotten himself into, lol. 😊

The original dress that I used this linen for.

And... in  case you need any more prodding, here's Golden Hour for you to enjoy. 💕

Golden Hour (Full Album)

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!🧼)!

             

Ringing in the New Year // One Piece Dresses Are the Best: Dress C

This might be cheating, but I am going to make my New Year's Resolutions after I've completed them. What are they? Complete the sewing projects you plan. This little lilac number was planned the Christmas Break started when I bought the fabric to celebrate being out of school for two weeks, added to my Sketchbook Project sketchbook, and sewn up during the first week of January. For someone who works roughly 60 hours/week, I think I'm doing great.😂

As the post title indicates, this is Dress C from Machiko Kayayki's One Piece Dress is the Best. I've made this pattern before (for my trip to Thailand) when I was just beginning to sew my own clothes and distinctly remember two things: it was very easy to make and I hated it when I finished because I thought it looked too much like maternity clothing. However, the tides have turned, and it's one of my favorites now. 2020 Dress C is a revisitation.
It has a kimono style bodice with a loose empire waist, which is gathered all the way around, giving it an A-line look. Maybe even a "babydoll" look. And it has pockets.✔ The fabric I chose was part of my little splurge for making it to Christmas Break (I am an ESL tutor for the local school district.), and it is an lilac linen. Usually, I just fawn over linen in general, but the color is what did me in this time.

One change from the last dress is that I didn't add anything to the length and I really like it. I mean, it's still modest, but it feels a tad more summery. Last time, it stopped just below the knees. Also, there is a sign of progress in skill -- all the seams are finished. They're just zigzagged, but they are finished. I was also particularly eager to finish this one because I wanted to wear it on a date night! However, due to the inclement weather, that didn't work out.  

One of the things that really turned out better this time was the quality of the finishing on the sleeves. Pictured above is the inside view of the side seam. You can just make out the horizontal stitch I added at the halfway point between the sleeve opening and the skirt/bodice seam. Below is the first version I made of this dress, about 4 years ago, for comparison. All of the design features stand out so much more in the solid color version. I've included the first version I made below for comparison.

                               

Also, for reference, here is the song on my mood board, "Sunshine Girl" by moumoon. 😍💮 So very J-pop.

Happy Sewing and Happy New Year!🌸🎉

The 50 States: New Hampshire -- Floral Linen Dress

State #2 -- The Granite State

pc: WhistleOut

While in NH, I was able to find a fabric shop in Exeter and found two fabrics, but I chose the floral linen to represent this state and my time there. It reminds me a lot of the dark slate gray and deep greens of the White Mountains in the summer, which we drove through a few times. This large weave linen has a rustic and feminine feel to it, and I wanted to keep that vibe, so I chose a dress pattern from the Japanese sewing book Stylish Dress Book: Clothing for Everyday Wear by Yoshiko Tsukiori. As with many Japanese sewing books, they tend towards the feminine paired with either minimalist or delicate details. Subtle as they may be, with the right adjustments, the little things can really make or break a dress. For example, I don't think I'd have loved the results as much if I had not found such a complementary fabric for the button loops, waist tie, and waist band. Also, little wood buttons also contributed to a more natural theme.

A new experience I garnered from this dress was making my own button loops, which was a lot less complicated than I was expecting.

The pattern in the sewing book and the fabric in natural light:

As always, linen was nice to sew with. It has a good weight to it when I wear it. Definitely one of my favorites, as I said before. The little features, like the handmade button loops, contrast fabric, and pleat in the back make me love it more than I expected to. It turns out I cut the back pattern piece wrong and the pleat is there to fix a 3 inch mistake, but I don't think anyone would know unless I told them.

And the finished product:

Happy Sewing!

A Southern Belle in New Hampshire's Mountains

(Don't miss the CT Yankee in King Arthur's Court reference there...) Following my trek to TX, I decided to head up north to New Hampshire. It was a great time as well, full of sightseeing and catching up. We drove through the White Mountains, visited the Vanderbilt  mansions in Newport, RI, ate at Pickety Place (the house that inspired the Golden Books' art in Little Red Riding Hood), and watched a number of great period dramas. 10/10 would go back again! Great people and places 😆

I managed to find a nice fabric shop in the town of Exeter. These are my finds; very natural in theme -- the darker one reminds me of the surface of water. I'm sure I'll make a dress of the floral linen, but I am still deciding about the other. I tried to pick fabrics that reminded me of my memorable 2 weeks in NH. 

Happy Sewing!