Archive for sewing

Pinterest as inspiration

By | Published July 7, 2011

I saw this dress on pinterest the other day, and I had to have it. The image came from a French fashion website, so I knew it wouldn’t be easy or cheap to buy. Thats ok though, I’d much rather sew it myself.

The pattern I will be using is McCalls 6117 (which is apparently discontinued, although I just bought it a few weeks ago.) I’ll be using view c, top right. I will also need 2.5 yards of 60″ denim and white top stitching thread. The pattern matches the original dress almost exactly, but I will need to make pockets, and figure out some way to add the buttons to the neck opening.

 

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Nostalgia

By | Published July 4, 2011

The last sewing machine I owned had a blind hem stitch setting, as well as the foot for it. Overall the $200 Viking machine worked really well for about a year, and then was painfully bad for another two. I was really disappointed in the very short shelf life of something that (to me) is quite expensive. I really do love my new quilting machine, but the fact that it has no zigzag or satin stitch whatsoever means that I can’t do buttonholes, overcast edges, or do a blind hem.

Hrm, I guess I will have to do all of that stuff by hand now.

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Hmmmm

By | Published April 19, 2011


DSC_5165, originally uploaded by kalamaridemocracy.

It appears as though 2 blocks have gone missing. When I matched all of the blocks up with their mates, I found none missing. So the only answer I can come up with is that I forgot to sew the last strip set together. Oops. Glad I have extra.

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Giant skirt refashion done!

By | Published April 19, 2011

So I finished turning that 4XL skirt into a dress. I opened up the waistband with a seam ripper and put some 1/4″ elastic in there. I added straps and a belt and now I have a new dress.

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The cover is officially dead

By | Published April 19, 2011

I tried to wash some of the scorched area, running the cover through a gentle cycle, but it came out like this. Everything about this cover is a lie! You can’t iron on it, or wash it according to their instructions. I’ve been picking little pieces of batting up for days.

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Hm, alright then

By | Published April 15, 2011


DSC_5134, originally uploaded by kalamaridemocracy.

So, what dingleberry thought it would be a good idea to make a very chic ironing board cover and not use heat safe fabric? Well I guess I know why it was on clearance now.

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New Machine

By | Published April 5, 2011

DSC_5072, originally uploaded by kalamaridemocracy.

I was going to take a picture of it after the set up. Pristine and new. I forgot though, and started sewing.

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Goodwill Refashion

By | Published March 28, 2011

I found this site a few days ago, where a woman documented a year of only buying second hand clothing and refashioning it into other things. I was really inspired by this, and actually amazed at how awesome some of her pieces looked.

So I set off to good will today to find some things for myself.

This dress was in really good shape, but is far too long and has shoulder pads. It looks like something I would have worn in grade school.
Looks a bit better from the back. I’m watching the cat here, she got out every time I changed outfits.
This dress is scandalously short for my tastes, so I was thinking of either adding a black band of fabric at the hem, or cutting a few inches off to make a top.
Another super long dress. This is made of purple suede, and it will be turned into a short jumper with pockets.
This skirt I am the most excited about. The fabric is navy and creme, and it is a 4XL that is far too long. I plan on opening up the waistband and putting elastic in it, and adding some straps to make it a short dress.
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I sure know what I like

By | Published November 6, 2010
 

4106, originally uploaded by kalamaridemocracy.

So I saw this coat on the Ruche website tonight, and I almost bought it immediately. Its green and girly and I love it. Then remembered that I have an unfinished sewing project of over 3 years that is basically the same thing. Its a green corduroy jacket without the ruffles, with the same collar, and cool trim on the sleeves.

I dug it out of the closet, and it turns out all I had left was hand stitching the lining on one sleeve and the hem, and sewing the buttons on. Everything else is basically finished. I did a pretty good job with the sewing itself. I seemed to always abandon a project when I had a lot of hand sewing to do. But now that I have hand stitched the binding on a few quilts now, the task is far less daunting. I was able to knock out the other sleeve lining and part of the hem tonight, and I’ll finish it in the morning when I can find some buttons.

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One day dress

By | Published July 8, 2010

DSC_3175

Sometimes I wake up and think, today I am going to get something done. And thats exactly what I did. I made this dress.

Pattern: New Look 6588 view B

Fabric: under 2 yards, on sale for 3.50 a yard

DSC_3176

The only modifications I made were adding bias tape to the necline and armholes, and shortening the hem by around 7 inches. I though the length would be fine until I tried it on and it went mid calf instead of above knee.

I’ve been wearing alot of dresses lately because it has been humid and over 90 degrees here for a week! I’m not a fan of shorts since I haven’t ever found any that look good on my body. I wear jeans all through summer so its nice to wear something a bit cooler.

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