No, no awards were won for this dress--hope I didn't misrepresent myself there! However, the fabric (Anna Maria Horner's Flower Circuit in linen) is what I bought with a gift certificate as part of the prize for my winning skirt from Skirt Week 2013! That counts for something, right? Mostly the print just reminds me of… Continue reading Blue ribbon dress
Remember my cowl neck top from last week? I finally finished drafting, grading and writing up the instructions for the pattern, and here it is, free (and in multiple sizes!). In this post, I'm going to walk through the steps for sewing this very simple top, but please contact me if you have any questions… Continue reading Cowl neck top pattern (free!) and tutorial
When scanning my syllabus at the start of the pattern making course I took last semester, I was most excited about learning how to draft cowl neck tops. When we finally got to it toward the end of the course, I was surprised how simple they actually were! Using a basic bodice sloper, it's just… Continue reading Cowl neck top in sheer viscose
Here, fellow sewists, is the culmination of my semester-long pattern making class! Throughout the semester, we did a few guided full-scale garments (such as my button-down shirt and an unblogged bias-cut skirt). For our big final project, we were instructed to draft a garment of our own design, then sew it in fashion fabric. We were… Continue reading Final project: silk blouse and skirt
Wow, a whole month of me-made clothing! Despite my initial pledge to wear handmade items only 4 days a week, I made it through the entire month wearing at least one me-made garment every day! I didn't think I had so many homemade clothes! Here's the final round up:May 25, Sunday: Strawberry picking and dinner… Continue reading Me-Made-May: final round up!
Despite popular belief, it really isn't that bad being short. At 5'1", I've got step stools all around the house and I can manage just fine, thank you very much. My biggest beef with being petite is that non-petite clothing just doesn't fit. It's one of the main reasons I sew my own clothing: with… Continue reading Sewing Indie Month: My SBCC/Britex outfit
Oops, my weekly roundup is a few days late! I'm sure you were all anxiously waiting 🙂 I've managed to maintain my streak of at least one handmade garment each day with only one (the first!) repeat garment. Not bad! And now for the week's outfits:May 18, Sunday: 30-mile bike ride event in Watsonville, CA.… Continue reading Me-Made-May Round-up #3
I just don't like the look of pants without pockets on the back. Even one pocket is good enough for me, just something to break up the wide expanse of fabric covering my bottom. But even when pants or shorts patterns don't have this feature provided, you can still add one! There are tons of… Continue reading Put a welt pocket on it! (Tutorial and free pattern)
Okay, second full week down and I've kept up my streak of wearing at least one me-made garment per day (and no repeats so far!). So here we go with the roundup:Sunday, May 11thTop: me-made hereGray capri pants: me-made hereMonday, May 12thDress: me-made hereTuesday, May 13thTop: me-made hereShorts: Anthropologie (though it hurt a little to buy… Continue reading Me-Made-May Roundup #2
It has taken me ages to get up the nerve to write this post. The undies I'm about to talk about and show pictures of are big. BIG. That's the point, really, since I was looking for "bloomers" that could keep me fully covered, and without panty lines, under a knit dress. I found the… Continue reading Dress bloomers: Betty High Waist Panties (and hipster hack)
Bea & Lucille 