Butterick 6872 is a new pattern for spring ’22 and has all the elements of the perfect summer dress for this season. Ruffles! I also wanted to create a dress using different Shibori dying folds on separate parts of the dress. Sort of like a patchwork Japanese Indigo quilt.

I used a white bedsheet and my Indigo Dye kit which I had already made several projects with on Mother’s Day.

While this looks like a simple pattern, I had a time getting it together. The facings on the parts between the ruffled sleeve inserts were really confusing. The fit was good out of the envelope. I cut a size 12 with no adjustments. For reference, I’m 34,28,36. I would not recommend this pattern for beginners.
In the end I did a lot of hand sewing on the inside. You just have to do what it takes to make it work sometimes! It also has tucks on the bodice.

On Mother’s Day I had my son visiting and and mom fiance and Gigi over, and we made Shibori dying projects together. I used a kit bought from Dharma Trading. It was such a fun time!

The vat stayed active for over a week and this dress was my last project.

We made dipped baby outfits, T shirts from Wal Mart and a workout outfit bought on Dharma TradingDharmatrading.com.

I wanted to incorporate all the interestIng folds I learned in my dress.

I also sewed a purse from my fabric! This is the Buttercup Pattern. It’s a free pattern on the Made By Rae website.

Well sewing friends, I think I’m all dyed out for the time being.

I actually made New Look 666 last year but I would feel remiss not to post about them since they are among my all time favorite pants. Sewn in a non stretch thrifted corduroy which is extremely unforgiving, the fit is almost perfect. Kudos to New Look patterns once again for producing a well cut pattern which sells for four dollars.

I had no issues with the sewing instructions and sewed them straight out of the envelope

In my experiences sewing with NL I would say the fit is very accurate with not very much ease included. This can make it easy to cut a pattern too small since I have found that other Big4 patterns can run a size larger than depicted. My waist and hip 28 and 36, are the same as the pattern size 12 and they fit almost snug. I wouldn’t mind adding about a half inch ease but still, i have found myself loving these pants and wore them many times over the winter. Stay tuned for my summer version!

Simplicity 8875 is a midi length dress with pleated sleeves and a ruffle at the hem. I like the vintage look and the trim fit as well.

Pattern Sizing:
I cut a size 12. It fits more like a 10.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes the instructions are great but I had a fiddly time setting in the sleeves. This fabric was difficult to gather as it’s very shred happy. It has non functional buttons sewn down along the center seam.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the 30’s look of this dress. It’s dressy ans modest but also quite fitted in the hips.
Fabric Used:
A sheer poly georgette ? I’m not sure as it was in bargain section in one of the many small shops of the fabric district of Los Angeles. i bought about six yards since it was only a dollar a yard. This was a few years ago. Due to the sheerness I absolutely have to wear a slip since its sheer. i found a cute semi fitted Vanity Fair black slip on Amazon. i looked in a few stores for a plain unfitted black slip but could only find tight shape-wear type slips..
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
None.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes! I would love to have another go at this pattern as I may have stretched the neckline on this one

Conclusion: 
Great pattern but runs small!

I’ve been experimenting to come up with an easy no pattern needed skirt to teach my sewing club how to make their own skirts. They have already learned to make an encased elastic waistband on their PJ pants, a gathered flat waistband on their apron project, and hems. Yay girls!!! Since this skirt uses all these techniques, I felt it would be a great project to build upon those skills.

However, this project will have to wait until next year. Our school year is almost over and I have decided to teach an even easier skirt, which is also very cute!

While perusing the sewing section at my local Wal-Mart, I came upon this adorable “Cottage Core” cotton print from The Pioneer Woman, whose cooking blog I adored.

To make this skirt, you cut two pieces of fabric each being as wide as your waist measurement. This creates a very full skirt! I happen to think this style is adorable for girls but not so flattering for most women. Which is why it needs a flat front waistband.

Cut one waistband piece 6 inches tall and half your waist number wide. Cut interfacing to match and press on. Press in half along width to make crease.

Cut back waistband back piece double your waist number wide by 6 inches tall. Press in half along width too. No interfacing on this piece. It will be the elastic casing.

The front skirt piece is gathered to the width of the smaller front waistband and sewn in. The back waistband piece isn’t gathered at all, but sewn to the back waistband piece which is the already the same length. This will become the back elastic casing.
The front flat waistband piece is interfaced for more structure.

Finish sewing waist front: Press long top edge of band under a half inch. Also press under the side edges of the front waistband. Fold the waistband pointing up. it will be sewn to back piece unfolded. Sew skirt edge to unpressed edge of waistband.

Fold under back waist band and sew closed along seamline creating an open casing. Insert a two inch talk piece of elastic half your waist number minus 1 inch. In my photo I use two one inch pieces, making a double casing, but its not necessary.

Feed elastic through with a safety pin and sew down at edges.

Finish skirt side seam edges by serging or zig zagging side seam allowances.

Sew front flipped up piece to finished back piece. making sure to match up the pressed creases of the front to the finished top of the back
Now flip the folded waistband over and cover the front waist and the side seams and stitch closed. This will cover the exposed seam allowance at waist and also the raw edges of the back waist. Finish with a one inch hem.

I sewed crochet trim to my skirt giving it a homespun look.

Happy sewing!

I must say that I am having really hard time figuring out how to post on my blog so forgive me that the formatting looks clunky and awkward. After not blogging for two years and almost having my blog deleted forever, I decided to get it back up and running. Only to discover that the whole formatting of the WordPress has been completely changed. It’s an entirely new method and I’m finding it very difficult to navigate!

I started blogging in 2010 so the whole site needs to be updated, (like my profile) and I don’t know if I will get around to it!

It’s no wonder so many bloggers have quit their blogs and switched over to the ease of Instagram. But I always really enjoyed having my own little space so I will try to get all the kinks out.

This dress was sewn from one of my vintage fabric purchases at the many estate sales I have visited over the years. The photos were taken few months ago on a beautiful warm day by my daughter who is now a talented world travelling photographer. We were just talking about how she started with her photography as my ‘assistant” when we started out here. She took a lot of my photos as a kid and has since become a very prolific and creative photographer.

So what can I say about this pattern? It’s classic, tried and true. Butterick 6453,

Cost is also a factor since I’m volunteering and working with an extremely limited budget. Getting canvas for 15 tote bags can be quite expensive, so I decided to use a canvas painter’s drop cloth. I had the girls make their own prints with some of my fabric stamps and craft paint. That was fun!

The girls made their own straps which was quite hard for absolute beginners so I am recommended buying webbing for straps to make this project quicker.

To make a drop cloth tote bag ( or one made from any type of canvas), you need the following supplies:

1. A piece of fabric 18 x 36 inches. Approximately 1/2 a yard of canvas
2. 1.5 yards webbing for straps.
3. Matching thread

1. Mark a one inch line along the outside of canvas along the top and bottom. Make marks for strap placement 4 inches to either side

2. Fold over hem then fold under again to tuck away the raw edges.

3. Secure straps under hem pointing down from he top of the bag. Pin the straps securely.

4. Sew along the edge of the hem securing the straps underneath. Make sure to backstitch at the start and finish of the seam.

5. Fold strap upwards and press flat with an iron.

6. Sew across the strap near the top edge of the bag. This will secure the straps in the right direction and make the bag stronger.

7. Line up edges go bag from top to bottom with the RIGHT side facing out. It will feel like you are sewing it incorrectly but this is how you start a French Seam which has two steps. Use oils to secure the seams.

8. Sew along edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Then trim the seams down to a scant 1/8 inch if you can. If that’s too close for comfort, 1/4 inch is fine.

9. Now turn the bag inside out and make sure it’s lying perfectly flat and all the sides are pushed out. You can use your scissor edge to fro this. Press flat with steam iron

10. Sew from top to bottom with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

11. It’s time to make the boxed corner of the bag. It also has French seams. Turn bag the out as shown, creating a triangle, with the seam in the middle. Measure with ruler straight across two inches and draw a line.

12. Sew across line making sure to backstitch with 1/2 seam allowance. trim down to 1/8 inch as before.

13. Turn bag inside out and sew along the edge that was created by the box corner, encasing the raw seams. Done!

Making tennis dresses: Jalie Anne marie

It’s been a long while since I’ve posted and I’m glad to be back! However my blog formatting has changed quite a bit since 2019 and I have to learn all the new bells and whistles. But I have many projects to share and I will be posting them again! I’m also teaching sewing and doing bridal alterations so I will be posting some of these projects as well as my Me Mades.

The Jalie Anne Marie has proved to be a real workhorse to my tennis wardrobe and I highly recommend it. I’ve made myself many versions and always get compliments from my tennis partners!

Recently, I’ve made one for my youngest daughter who is now 12 and starting to play competitive tennis. The fit was good and I followed the tutorial for lengthening the torso for my tall and very slim child who fit a younger size but was much too tall.

I plan to make a customised 70’s version of this pattern so stay tuned! I have no complaints with this pattern but do recommend the You Tube video as the inner bra straps have been tricky for me. I find I still have to follow also with the video every time I make this dress.