tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25136621797498530362024-03-08T03:01:50.380-08:00More Sateen, Please!Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15911664372509530414noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513662179749853036.post-80627911388164572222012-09-10T07:55:00.001-07:002012-09-10T07:55:40.508-07:00here comes the bride's bodice<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--bodiceoutside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="640" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--bodiceoutside.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">outside holding my pretend bouquet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bodice of my wedding dress is finished! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked all weekend, and by 3pm Sunday, I was putting the finishing touches on the armscye seams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are very minor issues with the fit and construction, but overall I’m pretty happy with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am using McCall’s 6599, one of the brand new Fashion Star patterns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is marked “Easy,” which I felt was important – not just because I am a beginner, but also because I knew my fabrics and construction techniques were going to be more demanding than usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fabric (4-ply silk crepe) turned out to be quite demanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">T</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">here were tears, I admit it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">McCall’s 6599<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here are some shots of my muslin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually completed it a few weeks ago but was too scared to cut into my fabric.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--muslin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="456" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--muslin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(please ignore my hot pink bra strap)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was some excess material in the muslin, but I wasn’t too worried about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it was going to have more than a few layers, and I wanted plenty of room to accommodate them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bodice shell, in fact, consists of 3 layers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a pale blue silk crepe sandwiched between bleached muslin and an embroidered organza overlay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sad to say that the organza overlay is 100% polyester, which I was trying to avoid at all costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found this organza in the clearance bin at JoAnn’s, and the navy blue floral pattern won me over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even mind the glitter, although my entire house is now covered in a fine mist of silver glitter dust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was even in my fiancé’s hair, awww.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have never sewn anything with an underlining, and I am officially hooked!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bodice has so much shape and body and feels luxuriously substantial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--bodicetripleshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="470" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--bodicetripleshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">finished bodice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(with denim skirt)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I apologize for the quality of these pics, by the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am by no means a photographer and totally fail at taking indoor pics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did scoot outside for a few shots in natural lighting, but it was super-quick because I was embarrassed to be seen by my neighbors posing in a half-finished dress that was pinned up the back.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have 3 concerns right now:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sleeve length</strong> – I kept shortening the bracelet-length sleeves without thinking about them in relation to the waistband, and I’m not sure I like the result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waistband will be slightly shorter when I attach the skirt, but I’m still uneasy about the proportions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had chosen an elbow-length sleeve for the muslin and might still return to that choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>forward shoulder issue</strong> – I never learn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I do have slightly forward shoulders because my tops always slide backwards on my shoulders, and my waistbands end up higher in the front than in the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>GRR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was OK on the muslin, but it is obvious in the pics that the waistband is riding up in the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it will straighten out when I attached the skirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am keeping my fingers crossed because I don’t know how to fix it at this point. Might have to sew it to my bra and call it a day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bullseye booby syndrome</strong> – There are two big flowers right over my nipples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t help but chuckle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The size and placement of the floral motif turned out to be awkward to maneuver on the front, but I’m going to let it go and hope no one else notices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But tell me that fit across the back is not 99% perfect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YAY for small victories!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--innards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="400" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--innards.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">right side & wrong side, as seen from the ironing board<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That picture up top is a great representation of the color. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s such a dreamy blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lining is bleached muslin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--neckline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="300" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--neckline.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">neckline<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am so proud of the neckline!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a design change from the original pattern because I wanted a modest sweetheart-ish neckline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the first V-neck I have sewn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a little trickly, but I think it came out well!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--armscye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="400" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--armscye.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">inside of sleeve</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To finish the armscye seams, I cut the bodice seam allowance down to a quarter-inch while leaving the sleeve seam allowance at 5/8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I wrapped the sleeve seam allowance over the other and sewed it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While certainly not couture by any means, it got the job done quickly – which is good because I hate hate HATE sleeves and armscyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sooner I can get that unpleasantness over with, the better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And now for the best part of the whole dress!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to include 2 very special things, and I decided to sew them into the waistband facing….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--lace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="300" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--lace.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">lace from my mom’s wedding dress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom agreed to let me cut apart her wedding dress overlay and use some of the lace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and my dad have been married for 41 years, and it meant so much to me to bring a part of her wedding into mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--blankey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="300" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--blankey.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blankey!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will admit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a security blanket – for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom always said that I loved my blanket so much that she was going to tie it around my waist when I got married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I decided I had outgrown it, she put it up in an archival plastic bag for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked it up from their house a few weeks ago, and despite every part of me screaming in protest, I managed to cut off a little section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section now lines the front waistband facing of my wedding dress, which gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling – both literally and metaphorically!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now all that’s left to do is sew and attach the skirt, insert the zipper, and hem the dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe shorten the sleeves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The skirt will be pale blue silk crepe with a silk chiffon overlay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next pics I post will probably be from my wedding day, but I could not resist blogging about my progress so far!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel such a sense of pride and accomplishment now that the bodice is completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t think of any other garment I would rather be married in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Signing off with my “sassy” pic (and please forgive the cut off head and feet)….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--bodicesassy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="640" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WD--bodicesassy.jpg" width="406" /></a></div>
Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15911664372509530414noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513662179749853036.post-72520045718977832282012-08-30T07:49:00.002-07:002012-08-30T12:42:41.098-07:00the little denim skirt that could<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterick 5649 skirt in stretch denim</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At last – some more content on this little beginner’s blog!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, Butterick 5649….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my most favorite flawed sewing project to date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many things wrong with this skirt, but that has not kept me from wearing it everywhere all the time.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here be the pattern illustration</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have wanted a denim straight skirt for ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if these things are stylish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t seem like you can find them anywhere in stores, and I remember them being a wardrobe staple when I was in junior high in the late 80s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess this should tell me something, but I just don’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted a denim skirt, so I made me a denim skirt!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/B5649--innards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="295" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/B5649--innards.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here be the innards as seen hanging from the ole ironin' board</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used this wonderful, comfortable stretch denim that I got on sale at JoAnn’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stretch denim has to be one of the best inventions ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had some issues with the waistband and front closure – which, granted, was the only tricky thing about this pattern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was my first attempt at a fly-front zipper closure, and I kind of stumbled my way through it.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my first fly front zipper</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought I had everything cut and marked and lined up properly, but I ended up having to sew directly over this metal zipper, which just doesn’t seem right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily it did not break a needle or throw my machine off-kilter, but it made a lot of scary noise, and it looks strange to me from the inside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The waistband is wonky….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hand-worked buttonhole / ugly waistband with pretty button</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In case it isn’t obvious, the waistband doesn’t really line up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure that 99% of this wonkiness is the result of my waistband ineptitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this is only my second attempt at a non-elastic waistband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the waistband pattern was confusing because there were a lot of different lines to be sorted out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would help tremendously if there was a different waistband pattern for each size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this is not going to keep me from wearing the heck out of this skirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Actually, I already have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I finished this skirt over 2 weeks ago and was too lazy to take pics until last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hang my head in shame.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, my cheapo machine makes questionable buttonholes at its best, and it did not like this stretch denim at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I ended up having to hand work the buttonhole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result kind of makes me chuckle, and it’s OK if you chuckle a bit, too.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">triptych of poses, including obligatory booty shot<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall, I am thrilled with this skirt!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have worn it to work with a pretty blouse and out running errands on the weekend with a plain t-shirt and statement necklace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is just something about dark denim…. It has an almost magical way of instantly multiplying your wardrobe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">AND!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice, deep pockets!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enjoying my pockets</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On an unrelated note, have a look at all of my poor UFOs….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/Aug12UFOs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/Aug12UFOs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aren’t they sad?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never, ever finished a top, which is problematic because I am sorely lacking in nice tops and blouses for work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the rundown:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- New Look 1607:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confused over what to do about the front facings, which will show right through this poly chiffon if sewn as drafted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Butterick 5615:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That front tie was much cuter in theory than it is over my belly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Simplicity 1779:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Way too low cut!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also a bit too small.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I hung them all up on the ironing board, it occurred to me that I seem to have a thing for the color blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll never guess what color my wedding dress is going to be!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">300 dollars worth of silk</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of which, there is some progress on the wedding dress front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a sneak peek….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WDMuslin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="240" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/WDMuslin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oooh.... musliny!</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I sign off, I wanted to thank all of you who have stopped by say hi and give me some words of encouragement!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a newbie to both sewing and blogging, I really appreciate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend! :D<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15911664372509530414noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513662179749853036.post-37107065403252543662012-08-08T07:28:00.001-07:002012-08-08T07:28:40.236-07:00summery green dress
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterick 4443 in cotton twill</td></tr>
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First sewing post - yay!</div>
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I live in the hot and humid South, and it is especially hot and humid right now. I wanted to make something that would be cool and comfortable for work and also transition well into fall. This dress fit the bill. I made it up in a bluegrass-green cotton twill with a geometric print that I got on sale at JoAnn's about a month ago. It feels heavenly on a hot day like today.</div>
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The pattern is Butterick 4443.</div>
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<a href="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/Butterick4443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kda="true" src="http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj485/moresateenplease/Butterick4443.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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I wanted an A-line dress with a simple style, and I liked the lined, princess-seamed bodice and the somewhat retro feel. I made View C without the self-fabric tie. I wasn't sold on the high bateau neckline, so I lowered and narrowed it. I also shortened it at the hem a tiny bit.</div>
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When they say "easy", they mean it. This is a great pattern for beginners like me. The only tricky part was attaching the lining to the bodice at the shoulder. I know there are tutorials out there with much better ways to do this, but I had never lined a bodice and thought I would try it according to the instructions. Yeah, next time I'm going for the tutorials. I don't mind the hand sewing, but I didn't think I would ever get the shoulder seam to lie flat long enough to stitch it.</div>
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Here's a shot of the "innards":</div>
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I'm pretty proud of my lined bodice. The lining is bleached muslin - so soft and comfy.</div>
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And here is the zipper, another point of pride for me on this dress (the pic might come out wonky - I had some trouble uploading it):</div>
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This is only my second zipper, and I think it turned out great! I love the method of zipper installation in the pattern instructions. First you line it up and baste it to the right seam allowance. Then you lay the dress flat and baste all around the zipper on both sides. This helped me get it lined up perfectly.</div>
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I put a lot of hand stitching into this dress. The lining is slipstitched to the zipper and all around the waistline seam per the instructions, and of course the hem is hand sewn. But being the crazy hand stitcher that I am, I went a little further. I understitched the lining by hand using a short backstitch. And as usual, I hand overcast all of the seams to finish them. Yes, I know I am a nutcase. I love to sew by hand. It's a zen thing for me.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hand understitching at the neckline and armholes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hand overcasting at seams and hem</td></tr>
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This is the first time I've worn a dress with a zipper in maybe 15 years. I am short and chunky AND short-waisted, so I gave up on finding ready-to-wear fitted dresses in woven fabrics years ago. Any time I've bought a dress, it has always been either knit or loose or two-piece. Learning to sew has opened up this whole new world of possibility for me. I love my knit dresses, but there's nothing like slipping into a full-skirted, zip-up dress to make you feel like a lady.</div>
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I even kind of look like a lady - ha! :)</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15911664372509530414noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513662179749853036.post-79906391197548684952012-08-02T12:39:00.000-07:002012-08-02T12:44:56.434-07:00introductions are in order<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hi there, internets!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’ve stumbled across this blog, it’s probably because I’ve been leaving random comments on your blog, and you’re curious about whether or not I am a creepy stalker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe I am a little bit of a stalker, but mostly I just love clothes and fashion and sewing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So… background info!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In case you’re interested…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m 36 years old with a wonderful fiancé and a day job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After years spent living in a personal style oblivion, I hit my mid-thirties and suddenly felt an urge to reinvent myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost some weight and started frequenting thrift stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I have every Vogue fall fashion issue dating back to 1997, I started regularly sifting through magazines and scrutinizing details and looking for ways to translate high fashion into everyday wearable style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discovered various style blogs and lurked around for more ideas and inspiration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Six months ago, I took another big sartorial step and signed up for a 6-session evening sewing class at my local community college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled out the sewing machine that my parents had given me for Christmas 4-5 years earlier, took it out of the box, and finally disengaged it from its Styrofoam padding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was love at first sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since then, I have started a dozen or so sewing projects and finished 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the six was a gift and came out great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The other five were for me, and f</span>our of them are even sort of wearable, yay!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am hoping to use this blog to document my progress, but I warn readers from the get-go that I am pathetically lazy about taking and uploading pictures, and posts might be few and far between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now I have a bad habit of starting projects, realizing two-thirds of the way in that I’m not happy with them, and abandoning them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe blogging about projects will make me more accountable to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, I am getting married in (gasp) two months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am attempting to sew my own wedding dress!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see how it goes….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you sew your own wedding dress, or do you plan to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does blogging push you to follow through with sewing projects or keep honing your personal style?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you always had a love of clothing and fashion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you had to wear the same outfit for a month, what would it be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re reading this and feel the inclination, tell me a little something about yourself!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15911664372509530414noreply@blogger.com6