I bought this lovely chambray fabric (Robert Kaufman, Nautique Chambray) because anchors! I had ideas for a skirt which never materialized, and then felt inextricably drawn to the idea of making Grainline's Maritime Shorts with it because, well, anchors. It's kitschy, sure, but once my mind latched on to that idea, there was no going… Continue reading Really Maritime-y shorts
Between the end of the school year for me and the kids, vacation on the East coast, and a general lack of interest in spending time in the hottest room in our house (my sewing room), I haven't been very productive, sewing-wise. So, for my first day without kids (camp/ daycare) in a while, I… Continue reading Sick-day PJs
Since I made them at the right time, I entered my Hawaiian print shorts into the "Shorts on the Line" sewing competition sponsored by Imagine Gnats. I was so surprised to see that they made it to the top 21 for viewer's choice voting! Woohoo! Go check out all of the lovely shorts (men, women… Continue reading "Shorts on the Line" voting
I'm STILL not on vacation (t-minus 20 hours or so), but at some point it will be summer break for me, since thankfully, it's kind of inevitable. I'm done with pencil skirts and wool pants for a while; on to summer attire! So, shorts. I'm so not a fan of shorts (still not after making… Continue reading Summertime shorts
It's been two years since I made my last two bathing suits (here and here). I love them, but much like underwear, bathing suit sewing is addictive, so when I spotted this fabric, I had to make another. For my first attempt, I found the Abigail swimsuit pattern by Ohhh Lulu. I'm a huge fan… Continue reading Two bathing suits, but only one winner
Pin-tuck blouse muslin (left) and revised version (right)This blouse. I've had plans to make an official pattern for that top since I first made it. I even bought fabric (years ago) for the job, as encouragement. Ha. In cleaning out my sewing room this weekend, I found a partial pattern of the blouse--just the back--and… Continue reading Self-drafted pin-tuck blouse, two ways
So I understand this tutorial might help only a small slice of the population, but it feels important enough (to me anyway) that I decided to just go ahead and write it. I don't know about you, but having a sports bra pressing in on my ribcage is bad enough without adding to it another… Continue reading Tutorial: Heart rate monitor-sports bra sewing hack
Hey, did you know anyone can learn how to draw? On the first day of my Fashion Sketching course, we all drew our best fashion figure. Here's mine: Over the semester, we've learned how to draw a 9-head fashion figure, garments and garment features, shade with markers, and render textures and patterns. It was truly fascinating!… Continue reading Fashion Illustration
I've been intending to make the Coffee Date dress by Pattern Runway for years. Then, I finally broke down and bought the pattern, and it has taken me months to figure out what fabric to make it from. Once I determined I'd use some less-expensive fabric to give the pattern a go, it took me… Continue reading Coffee date dress…finally!
I've been taking fashion design classes at a local community college...a class a semester, whatever I can fit into my teaching schedule, nothing too strenuous. Anyhow, while sitting in my fashion illustration class a month ago, there was an announcement for a fashion design competition. Well, the college athlete in me can't resist a competition,… Continue reading Pop art-inspired Shuttlecock Dress
Bea & Lucille 