Oh Those Summer Nights

On July 23, 2015August 11, 2015 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects, Small Projects3 Comments

Pattern: Crudely self-drafted

I’ve been working on a few blog posts for completed projects, however it’s tough to get any of this stuff done in the summer. Plus I really need a photographer since I have yet to get pictures of me in my new skirt. But anyways, this weekend I did a thing! I had a few extra minutes and access to my mom’s serger, so I tested out my own drafted pattern of pajama pants.

I used to use an old pair of pjs that had been taken apart as a pattern. But unfortunately it was thrown out after I moved out of my parent’s house. So I traced a pair that I had made a while back and then added seam allowances and extra space to make the waistband.

I traced them on this material on a kind of interfacing that has red dots on it (sorry I have no idea what it’s called). Continue reading “Oh Those Summer Nights” →

Summer sleeves…make me feel fine

On July 8, 2015July 27, 2015 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects7 Comments

Pattern: New Look 6104 (view D)

While I was in the middle of trying to finish up my cold weather projects that got away from me last season, I realized I would always be a season behind if I didn’t get working on some summer clothes. So I dropped everything and whipped up this little shirt, made from fabric I got for $1.99 a yard at Sewfisticated in Framingham, MA.

When I bought this, I had a vision of making a sleeveless shirt. This New Look pattern that I had already made a muslin from seemed perfect, especially with the tucks in the front and the collar-less design.

Based on my experience from last time, I cut the neckline a bit smaller to compensate for my small shoulders and cut the bottom part a little fuller. It could probably use more adjustment next time – with the bottom more flared out and the middle part taken it a bit at the waist. Continue reading “Summer sleeves…make me feel fine” →

I tried it! Burda style pattern

On June 25, 2015July 7, 2015 By qplourdeIn I tried it!, Sewing Projects7 Comments

Pattern: Burda Style Flounce Skirt Mini 09/2014 #104

New Skills Acquired:

Tracing

I’ve been curious about Burda Style patterns for a while now, but it took me awhile to figure out what they were and where to find them. In fact, it took me awhile to figure out this was a regularly published fashion magazine that featured the patterns to sew the clothes featured. I somehow came across one of these patterns when I was looking for a skirt to make that would go with some plaid rayon blend I had just recently bought. You actually can get individual pdf patterns on their website, but since I’m a bit overwhelmed with putting together a pdf pattern (have not attempted this yet!), I thought purchasing the magazine would be better for me. Plus there would be other patterns as well!

I’m not sure what I expected when I got the magazine, but when I pulled out the pattern section…

Yikes, it looked like an astronomy map. How was I going find my skirt? Continue reading “I tried it! Burda style pattern” →

Striking a new corduroy: part 1

On June 20, 2015December 30, 2015 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects7 Comments

Pattern: McCalls M6610

New skills acquired:

Flat-Felled Seams
Double Needle Action

I’ve been kind of down on my sewing lately. Things are just not coming out as nice as I want them and it’s been a frustrating few weeks. This could be why I haven’t been writing in my blog – I have been working on projects, but have no feelings of satisfaction. Also, it seems most visitors are getting to my blog by searching for “amateur in bikini” but that is another issue.

For the past few months I have been piecing together some corduroy pants, which I am affectionately naming Grape-Cord. I am using a blue jean pattern that I have actually made a muslin of way back in the early days of my blog. My biggest accomplishment to date is the fact that I can now spell corduroy without looking it up. No, just kidding, I’m having some wins on these.

What is working…

Look how professional I am! — Drafting a new pattern for a better fit

1. Adjusting the pattern for size

I have big hips and big thighs. There, I said it. It makes jean shopping a frustrating task that usually ends in tears and typical sewing patterns for bottoms don’t work so well. I end up making the size for my measurements and the crotch ends up around my knees. So I decided to try to adjust the pattern on this one. I added a good Continue reading “Striking a new corduroy: part 1” →

The big v-string underwear project

On May 26, 2015June 25, 2015 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects3 Comments

Pattern: Self drafted and improvised

My goal of buying as little clothes as possible has been going well. When I thought about the next item I may need to purchase, I realized it wasn’t any type of garment. It was underwear. But could I actually make my own underwear instead of buying it?

I am actually quite picky about underwear. I like thongs because I am self conscious about panty lines (sorry had to say the word). But some thongs are pretty uncomfortable…you know where. I happen to like the Victoria’s Secret V-strings the best. I think they get their name because the elastic thong comes back and makes a V shape in the back. The front is also V-shaped so maybe that is the actual reason, who knows. I like them because they are comfortable, but they are also quite expensive for being just two small v’s of cotton. I tried looking for a pattern online, but it seems like all underwear patterns are for giant briefs or those thick thongs which I hate. Studying one of my pairs, I thought, I can construct this. I have the technology! I just need the elastic…. Continue reading “The big v-string underwear project” →

There will be only one: a difficult kilt project

On April 22, 2015May 26, 2015 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects, Uncategorized8 Comments

Pattern: Simplicity (vintage) 7213

I was doing so well on my last few projects, so I was not anticipating any problems. Unfortunately this one knocked me down a few pegs – I don’t think I will be attempting another kilt-skirt any time soon. And definitely not this pattern.

Some Background

I got the idea to make a kilt-skirt last summer, when I went to Scotland for a vacation. Okay so what I really wanted to do was make something in the clan colors shown in Highlander: the TV series (not the movie), since I have always been a huge fan of the show. Finding clan tartan fabric was not as easy as I had hoped – I found some fabric from a few of the clan names but they were all in this really heavy wool that I knew would make my skin break out immediately. And I couldn’t even find MacLeod tartan, which I’m not even sure is historically accurate on the show.

Author’s note: I apologize to all people that may be Scottish reading this! I am definitely not Scottish and I am probably not using any of these words (clan, tartan, etc) correctly since I have no idea of what I am talking about (and all my knowledge comes from the TV show Highlander). Feel free to correct my knowledge about clan or family colors/tartans as I don’t mind being educated! Continue reading “There will be only one: a difficult kilt project” →

The baby sleep sack and the series of wrong decisions

On April 20, 2015April 28, 2015 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects3 Comments

Pattern: Butterick 5583

New skills acquired:

Ribbed cuffs and collar
Time management?

There is nothing like rushing to finish a baby gift an hour before you are supposed to give it at the baby shower. This sleep sack marked the first baby item I ever attempted. In the end, it came out pretty good, but I did have some difficulty.

First of all, when I borrowed this pattern I started looking at all the wonderful fleece that was available (and on sale!). I had picked out something perfect for a baby girl when I remembered that my friend was due in April. This was a newborn sleep sack that she would not be wearing as a newborn. WRONG! I immediately picked out some cute cotton knit instead.

I do not have a serger at home, so this required me taking a special trip to my parent’s house in order to sew this up. Continue reading “The baby sleep sack and the series of wrong decisions” →

Bringing back the southwest

On April 17, 2015April 20, 2015 By qplourdeIn Shopping Notes, Travel3 Comments

I’ve decided that I like going fabric shopping on vacation. It’s usually pretty tough to squeeze it in, but if you do your research ahead of time and you have an understanding travel buddy, you can make it happen.

While I was in New Mexico a few weeks ago, I made the discovery that there was a fabric store a block from the B&B I was staying in. It was a sign! The store was Stitchology in Albuquerque,a very small and very cute sewing shop. For such a small place, it had a pretty decent variety of fabric types.

I bought some embroidered cotton & a yard of blue rayon that I thought had an interesting print.

I liked what I bought, but I didn’t feel it was really Southwestern enough. I wanted something that would remind me of this trip and capture the spirit of region. I made an extra stop at Southwest Decoratives, Continue reading “Bringing back the southwest” →

A change of scenery…

On March 27, 2015March 26, 2015 By qplourdeIn Travel, Uncategorized3 Comments

Well I have a couple finished projects that I still need to blog about, but I’m off on vacation for a week! I’m going to be touring around New Mexico, getting some sun and dry desert air. Just the cure for this miserable winter, and by the looks out my window, the start of a rainy spring. And I just found out that one of the B&B’s I’m staying in is only a 2-block walk to a fabric store! Here’s hoping I can bring home the Southwest, in fabric form. I’m excited to get some inspiration as well…and a much needed change of scenery.

Sheer Skill: beautiful inside and out

On March 13, 2015March 18, 2015 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects, Uncategorized7 Comments

Pattern: Butterick ivy + blu B6021

I live in New England. This winter has been murder with the snow – more so than usual. February was one big white blur and everywhere you turned, snow banks were piling up higher and higher. Houses were buried, mailboxes were lost and ice dams were creeping onto many a roof. People have grown a little colder as well – sick of shoveling the stuff, driving in the stuff and seeing the stuff. The waste management company for my town actually hurled my recycling bin on top of a giant snow bank where I could barely climb to reach it. I just left it up there for four weeks. I love snow, but even I realize it has been a little much this year. I decided, as the icy winds blew outside, to make this sheer dress even though I knew it would be a while before I could actually wear it.

I finally got around to using the birthday material my mom got me, seen in this post. This was the first time I have worked with material so thin and sheer, but I knew french seams were the way to go. They work so well on this type of material, plus I’ve been striving to make my garments look more professional, inside and out.

The Tale of Two Bodices

When I saw the picture on the envelope, I had a feeling the bodice on this might be a bit too big. I generally have this problem anyway, having such small shoulders. And look at that model – it looks like the top is just falling off her. So I cut out a smaller size, which still seemed to match my measurements. After I sewed up the finished seams and stitched in the lining, I tried it on. It was so tight under my armpits, it started to leave welts. The straps couldn’t even rest on my shoulders straight. I was going to try to adjust and let out the seams on the arm holes, but I realized that I still had a lot of the fabric left – plenty more for a new bodice. I was even able to squeak out a new lining, although that was a close call. Looks are definitely deceiving with this one – the top is not as loose as it looks.

Pinning it Down

This pattern was mostly easy to follow. It has an elastic waist, so you have to create a casing and do the whole thread-the-elastic-through-the-hole thingy. But no zipper!! Getting the dress on and off is also surprisingly easy despite having no zipper, although figuring which was front or back took some thought (sewing a tag in would be a good idea).

The only directions I got confused by was Continue reading “Sheer Skill: beautiful inside and out” →

Threading Lightly

Author: qplourde