tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13124766002521065102024-03-05T19:37:21.693-05:00Sew WrongAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-43316267820864421172015-11-30T08:49:00.000-05:002015-11-30T08:49:00.527-05:00Coat Sewing 101<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/16365940318/in/datetaken/"><img height="800" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8625/16365940318_dd562341a7_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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It's that time of year - the days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping, and the sewing blogosphere is turning to coat sewing. Just in the last few weeks, <a href="http://www.ericabunker.com/2015/11/vogue-couturier-design-2925-1970s.html" target="_blank">Erika</a> and <a href="http://closetcasefiles.com/introducing-the-clare-coat-pattern/" target="_blank">Heather</a> flashed their new coats and coat pattern, respectively, and <a href="http://www.cashmerette.com/2015/11/mccalls-5525-trenchcoat.html" target="_blank">Jenny</a> made a fabulous trench. My friends, it is coat making season. Bring it on, winter.<br />
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Having made some coats myself and discovering a geeky love for tailoring, I wanted to pull together some past posts with information that you may find helpful for jumping into the world of coat sewing. At first, I was overwhelmed with trying to compile information on making coats, since the majority of what's out their is geared towards traditional suit tailoring. Plus, a lot of the times patterns won't tell you how to go about tailoring your coat to achieve a nice, professional look. Tailoring = hidden engineering.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2015/01/gathering-supplies-coat-project-2015.html" target="_blank">Gathering the Coat Supplies</a> - these are all of the materials I used for my Yona Coat, pictured above.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2015/02/tailoring-yona-coat.html" target="_blank">Tailoring the Coat</a> - this is a pretty lengthy post on how I went about tailoring my coat, from pad-stitching the lapel and taping the roll line all the way to creating special sleeve stays for the raglan sleeves and interlining my coat with flannel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2015/02/i-made-yona-coat.html" target="_blank">The Finished Coat</a> - I learned some more as I made my way to the end of the coat and documented some of the changes in this post, such as choosing a different lining material.<br />
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If you're not sure where to look for coating materials or supplies to make your coat, here are some great places to start:<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.moodfabrics.com/fashion-fabrics/wool/coating.html" target="_blank">Mood Fabrics</a></b> - kind of a no-brainer. They have a whole section devoted to coat fabrics<br />
<b><a href="https://www.britexfabrics.com/fabric/wool-fabric/wool-coating-fabric.html" target="_blank">Britex</a></b> - gorgeous wools, more on the pricey side but so beautiful (I pine for their fabrics)<br />
<b><a href="http://bandjfabrics.com/fabrics/sunback-lining" target="_blank">B&J Fabrics</a></b> - if you call them, they can send you swatches of Sunback Lining, one of the few places I found that carries this type of lining<br />
<b><a href="http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/search.php?mode=search&page=1" target="_blank">Vogue Fabrics</a></b> - they stock Thinsulate...I need to try this out in my next coat! They also have flannel-backed lining fabric<br />
<b><a href="http://www.steinlaufandstoller.com/" target="_blank">Steinlauf and Stoller</a></b> - I bought all of my interfacing from them when I was in NYC, but you can call them and order what you need over the phone<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-38942427195700041212015-11-17T06:14:00.000-05:002015-11-29T00:09:21.581-05:00First Wedding Dress Update<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/23019294795/in/datetaken/"><img height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5769/23019294795_91223b9b2e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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Today, November 17, marks 200 days until the big day. That means there's 200 days left for me to get my wedding dress made. Ahhh!!! I wrote in <a href="https://app.convertkit.com/sew-wrong/JYWRCBWL" target="_blank">my newsletter</a> (psst you should sign up!) a few weeks ago that I needed to buckle-down and fully commit to getting this dress made - I've been thinking about it so much to the point that I'm having dreams of showing up to my wedding and not having anything to wear. That's my sub-conscious for you...no more "sew-crastinating" with other projects.<br />
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This past weekend, I pulled out my dress muslin I made back in August and noted what needed to be fixed in order to get the fit right. The neckline needed to come up at least an inch, the princess seams had too much fullness through the bust, and the waist of the bodice and skirt were too big. After some fiddling around with pattern alterations, I'm really happy with the fit of the bodice. It's fitted, but not so tight that I won't be able to sit down, eat, or dance.<br />
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The only problem I ran into this weekend was the time I had to sew vs what I wanted to accomplish on the dress...I just couldn't get everything done that I wanted to, and I'm not going to hit my self-imposed deadline of cutting out the real dress fabric this weekend. On top of that, I discovered a mystery waistband piece that I didn't use when I assembled my muslin, and it threw a wrench in my fitting plans. More on that for another time when I figure out what's going on with the skirts of the dress!<br />
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Are you on <a href="https://www.periscope.tv/" target="_blank">Periscope</a>? It's pretty fun to see snippets of other people's lives from around the world, and I'm enjoying sharing my sewing projects and what I'm working on with other fellow sewists. The only downside is that the broadcasts are only good for 24 hours, and then they disappear (kind of like Snapchat). However, my broadcast from Sunday was automatically saved to my camera roll on my phone, so I decided to upload it to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOgzFSuYbf3m_0_mmK8eRlw" target="_blank">Youtube</a> and share it here! The screen grab below is oh-so-flattering...and if it appears like I'm reading something off of my phone, it's because people watching the live broadcast can post comments and questions, so I was responding to some of those as I went.<br />
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Check out my video below to get a good look at my dress muslin and also see the fabrics I'm using for my final version - I also have some tips on working with Marfy patterns.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CyB2sSBlWHs" width="640"></iframe>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-31900763881593299692015-11-08T20:18:00.004-05:002015-11-29T00:12:04.918-05:00Sewing is All About the Details<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/8545908161/in/datetaken/" title="fabrichaul"><img alt="fabrichaul" height="427" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8545908161_1ac9ff3d29_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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One of the many things I find gratifying about making my own clothes, other than being able to play fashion designer when it comes to building my closet, is the reaction I get from people when I tell them I made the shirt or dress I'm wearing that day. Their mouths gape open and they look again, closer, because they're thinking there's no way a person can make clothes look as good, if not better, than something you'd find in a department store - surely anything made by a hobbyist should look Becky-Home-Ec-y (not!). My sewing didn't always used to be that way though; a lot of sweat and literal tears over the years went in to learning how get garments to fit right, seams to look seamless, and making fabric behave the way I wanted it to behave. Heck, I still run into problems every now and then that test my sewing skills and stretch me further in my abilities. <br />
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At the end of the day, sewing is all about the details: it's having the right tools to get the job done, the right supplies and materials for the garment at hand, and knowing how and when to use them. You could have the most beautiful fabric in the world to work with, but if you're using the kind of pins that leave holes in your fabric and a machine that chews up your seams, it doesn't even matter. Your results are going to look amateur, and who really wants that after spending so much time on a garment.<br />
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There's a lot of tools and gizmos out there for sewing. Not sure where to start or what you really need? Don't worry, I got a freebie for you with what I consider to be my 10 most important tools in my sewing box, along with links to the specific tools I use every time I sew. I wouldn't ever sew without them and you shouldn't either (Spoiler: #10 is the most important).<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-29809334676758081872015-11-04T20:46:00.001-05:002015-11-04T20:46:41.670-05:00Old Is New - Vogue 1194 DKNY Dress<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/22604952680/in/dateposted-public/" title="Vogue 1194_2"><img alt="Vogue 1194_2" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/664/22604952680_297bc7570d_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Pattern</b>: <a href="http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v1194-products-11332.php?page_id=854" target="_blank">Vogue 1194</a><br />
<b>Fabric</b>: ITY jersey from Metro Textiles in NYC<br />
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<b>Shoes</b>: <a href="http://www.dsw.com/shoe/ak+anne+klein+marisa+pump?prodId=326628" target="_blank">Anne Klein</a><br />
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<u>Fact</u>: I made this dress almost two years ago, wore it once, and never blogged about it.<br />
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However, thank goodness I had it handy for our engagement photos we took a few weekends ago! Originally, I planned on wearing another "never blogged" wrap dress I made last year to coordinate with the plaid shirt my fiancé was going to wear, but I opted for the contrasting color of this DKNY dress instead (and I'm glad I did). I seriously don't know why I only wore this dress once - maybe I didn't like the fit? I think I was crazy, because now that I "found" this dress, it will be in heavy rotation in the next few weeks for upcoming customer meetings at work.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/22804131211/in/dateposted-public/" title="Vogue 1194_1"><img alt="Vogue 1194_1" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5679/22804131211_fdd808c742_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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What I clearly do remember about this dress was that it wasn't fun to make with all of the fiddly pleating on this flimsy knit fabric. The neckline was also way too deep for my liking, which I read about others running into over on Pattern Review, so I stitched/tacked the center of the "v" higher up to avoid the neckline gaping open too wide. I also omitted the pockets since they would have shown through the fabric and wouldn't have been very functional out of a stretchy jersey. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/22804443741/in/dateposted-public/" title="vogue 1194_3"><img alt="vogue 1194_3" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5796/22804443741_1e4c0148a3_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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The twisty band around the bodice was also finicky to get right. There was a lot of strategic tacking to get the band to lay correctly and to spread out the twists evenly across the front. This could also be attributed to the slinky nature of the fabric, but it's a nice enough touch that I was determined to get it to look just right.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/22374885967/in/dateposted-public/" title="Vogue 1194_4"><img alt="Vogue 1194_4" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5709/22374885967_1d40b17a19_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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I don't own a lot of solid dresses, and haven't made a lot of solid dresses (#prints4eva), so this one saved the day when it came to figuring out what to wear for the engagement photos that will be on our "Save the Date"s, wedding website, and printed and framed for family (as well as for our house). I'm so glad I took a chance on this dress that I didn't think I liked, and re-discovered something in my closet that wasn't getting a lot of wear. <br />
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<i><a href="http://www.mariaburtonphotography.com/" target="_blank">All photos by Maria Burton Photography</a></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-21752122540296179782015-10-18T23:03:00.000-04:002015-10-18T23:03:33.856-04:003 Things To Consider Before Sewing Your Wedding Dress<center class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/22103771200/in/dateposted-public/" title="wedding buttons"><img alt="wedding buttons" height="425" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5666/22103771200_1a12db8335_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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It's been a while since I wrote a wedding dress update on the blog, so I thought I'd share a little bit of the progress I made so far and what I'm learning along the way. First things first - yes, I bought the fabric for my wedding dress! My trip to NYC was successful and I came home with just about everything I need to get cracking at stitching it up, just a few detail elements that I'm going to wait on figuring out (embellishments etc). The goal is to start the actual cutting out and construction next month, probably around the Thanksgiving holiday. I need to get a move on it soon, so many people are asking me how it's going so far and I haven't started yet! I blame the Halloween costumes...<br />
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There's a few things I realized so far during the process of planning my dress that I wanted to share, in case anyone else out there is thinking about making their own dress.
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<b>1. How much time you’re willing to devote to this HUGE project?</b> Of all of my DIY ideas for my wedding, this one is hands down the most important to me - it's the only element of my wedding that I thought about before I was engaged. If I end up needing to farm out some projects to my bridesmaids, or if it looks like I can’t make that giant photo booth backdrop of white paper flowers, I need to be OK with that because my dress trumps all. Don’t underestimate the amount of time it’s going to take to make your dress — like I said, I’m starting mine soon to make sure I'm not sewing under (too much) pressure.<br />
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<b>2. Understand Your Dress Style </b>It wasn’t until I tried on dresses at David’s Bridal (which was as un-magical an experience as possible, btw) that I felt confident in the wedding dress I wanted to create. It’s one thing to picture how something will look on you in your head, it’s another to actually put the dress on and really see how the silhouette looks on your body in the mirror, how the train moves, etc. From this appointment, I learned that a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves were something I wanted to recreate in my dress, but didn’t feel comfortable in a sheath-type of fit. Bring on the empire waist, Marfy Patterns! </blockquote>
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<b>3. Respect Your Sewing Limitations</b>How confident you feel in your sewing capabilities will ultimately determine the type of dress that you’ll sew and wear for the big day. If you’re relatively new to sewing, it may be beyond your skill level to recreate a fitted strapless ballgown complete with boning and layers of poofy tulle. If you’ve been sewing for a while, maybe you can tackle a dress with couture handwork and intricate draping. Sewing with silk and chiffon also present their own fair share of sewing challenges. At the end of the day, make sure you set yourself up for success with choosing a sewing pattern as well as fabric that will allow you to achieve beautiful results with your current skill set. It’s going to look great!
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-64850792913469693092015-10-13T07:30:00.000-04:002015-11-08T20:47:57.200-05:004 Essential Principals for Sewing Photography<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/11329746583/in/dateposted-public/"><img height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/11329746583_8808234bf3.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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I'm not going to lie: taking good quality photos for the blog is hard. It was especially tough when I had a shaky plastic tripod and had to run back and forth to hit the timer button on my camera. After writing the blog for so long, there's a few photography tricks I learned that improved the quality of the photos I took, and thought would be worth sharing with readers as well.<br />
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<b>1. It doesn't matter what kind of camera you have</b><br />
Sure, a DSLR like the one pictured above is great, but it doesn't mean diddly if you don't know how to use it. I use my iPhone regularly for blog photos and I used point-and-shoot cameras in the past. In fact, the DSLR camera I currently isn't even the latest and greatest technology, it's over 10 years old. However, I read the manual, played around with it, and even took a digital photography class to learn more about it. The bottom line is: if you don't know how to use your equipment, you're not going to get great photos.<br />
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<b>2. Timing is key for good outdoor lighting</b><br />
This is something that I still struggle with, but after learning more about how to use light outside, my photos are improved. Taking photos outside around noon is the worst time of day - the sun is directly overhead and casts a harsh light downwards and creates lots of shadows. Instead, try to take photos during the "golden hour" or "magic hour" - it's the first hour of light after sunrise and the hour before sunset. The sun is low in the sky at this time and produces a soft glow of light that's less harsh than during peak afternoon time.<br />
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<b>3. Change up your shots - try full-body, close-up, and detail shots</b><br />
Variety is the spice of life, and shooting different types of angles will give more interest to your garment and create the story you want to tell. Are you proud of your top-stitching? Show it off! Think about how the photos you're taking will help your reader to understand the fit and details of the sewing pattern and garment, and make sure to capture all elements in your photos.<br />
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<b>4. Use photo-editing software </b><br />
I live and breathe by <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html" target="_blank">Photoshop</a>, and now it's even more accessable as a monthly subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud (only $10/mo). I use Photoshop to tweak the color balance and exposure of my photos, and sometimes I need to do more advanced stuff like erase a sign or a person from the background of my images. There's other options, like Picmonkey and Flickr, that can do some basic photo adjustments and give pretty good results. Regardless of what you choose, adjusting photos post-shoot really elevates the look and feel of your photography and makes them look more professional. <br />
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Those are some of the most important principals I always keeps in mind when I head outside to shoot for the blog, and I hope you find them useful as well.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-67935666977857312132015-10-09T08:38:00.000-04:002015-10-09T08:38:00.432-04:00Pattern Review: Lindy Skirt<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21819390749/in/dateposted-public/" title="lindy skirt 1"><img alt="lindy skirt 1" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/630/21819390749_af46596921_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Pattern</b>: <a href="http://itch-to-stitch.com/new-pattern-release-lindy-petal-skirt-free-pattern/" target="_blank">Lindy Skirt</a> by Itch to Stitch<br />
<b>Fabric</b>: ponte and double knit from Metro Textiles<br />
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<b>Jacket</b>: Michael Kors<br />
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Looking for a quick, instant-gratification project that's perfect for any season? Say hello to this cutie - the Lindy Skirt from Itch to Stitch Patterns. I made this skirt as part of the <a href="http://itch-to-stitch.com/whos-turning-1-itch-to-stitch-giveaway-blog-tour-sale/" target="_blank">Itch to Stitch birthday blog tour</a> (1 year old this week!), but there was a catch - I needed to "hack" the pattern somehow. <br />
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How to hack a knit skirt with an elastic waist that's just three pattern pieces...I was stumped for a bit. Do I add a pocket? Some trim? Nah, how about different fabrics for the skirt overlaps!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21980101576/in/dateposted-public/" title="lindy skirt 3"><img alt="lindy skirt 3" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5630/21980101576_727f953b44_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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The solid black fabric is a nice, beefy ponte I've used for various projects, and the polk-dot is a double-knit I've had kicking around in my stash for awhile. Nothing like a stash-busting project! I thought it would look cute to have the polka-dot peek out as the bottom layer of the petal skirt, a detail that would take this skirt from another basic black skirt to something a little bit more fun.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21994066822/in/dateposted-public/" title="lindy skirt 2"><img alt="lindy skirt 2" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/606/21994066822_054922526c_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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See? Looks like a basic black skirt in the back. Business in the back, party in the front, my friends.<br />
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I honestly made this skirt in one evening, from cutting out to finishing the hem. The sizing was a little tricky to get right since I fell smack-dab in-between sizes, and I ended up cutting out an extra-small instead of a small, because the small ended up being too loose in the hips and waist. The fit is a little bit tighter than I normally wear, but I think it's necessary for a knit skirt.
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<br />
Now, the fun part - there's a ton of free stuff you can win! Kennis got a bunch of great sponsors for her birthday celebration to throw in some fantastic sewing goodies - we're talking free fabric, Craftsy classes, the whole lot. <span style="text-align: center;">Scroll to the bottom for your chance to win great prizes by these sponsors:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.craftsy.com/user/8290916/pattern-store">Wardrobe by Me</a></div>
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Follow <a href="http://itch-to-stitch.com/blog/">Itch to Stitch's blog</a> closely to win these patterns!</div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="54c2f8c07" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54c2f8c07/" id="rcwidget_1uuyvvzq" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-88779266118406989502015-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:002015-09-29T08:00:03.739-04:00Selfish Sewing Week - Breton Stripe Lane Raglan<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21611653279/in/dateposted-public/" title="breton lane raglan1"><img alt="breton lane raglan1" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5683/21611653279_363a460d51_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Pattern</b>: <a href="https://indiesew.com/products/hey-june-the-lane-raglan" target="_blank">Lane Raglan by Hey June, via Indiesew</a><br />
<b>Fabric</b>: textured double-knit from Metro Textiles<br />
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<b>Jeans</b>: <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=113332002&vid=1&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdkw=1969-deep-indigo-always-skinny-jeans-P113332&sdReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gap.com%2Fproducts%2Fskinny-jeans-2.jsp" target="_blank">Gap</a><br />
<b>Necklace</b>: <a href="https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/JEWELRY/necklaces/PRDOVR~47453/47453.jsp" target="_blank">Madewell</a><br />
<b>Sneakers</b>: <a href="http://www.reebok.com/us/skyscape-runaround-2.0/M47911.html?pr=CUSTOMIZE_IMG_Skyscape%2520Runaround%25202.0" target="_blank">Reebok</a><br />
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The timing for <a href="https://indiesew.com/blog/selfish-sewing-week-is-here" target="_blank">this round of Selfish Sewing Week</a>, hosted by <a href="http://imaginegnats.com/" target="_blank">Imagine Gnats</a>, <a href="http://www.kollabora.com/" target="_blank">Kollabora</a>, and <a href="https://indiesew.com/" target="_blank">Indiesew</a>, is perfect - it's fall sewing time! This past weekend, I converted my closet over to my fall wardrobe (sniff sniff, summer is over) and saw some gaps that I need to fill. One of the most glaring holes in my closet are knit tops that are a little more substantial than the tissue-knit type of long-sleeve tees good for layering - you know, something that can be worn on its own without needing to layer a tank top underneath. Seems so simple, but I'm in need of more of those. Hello my old friend, Lane Raglan pattern!<br />
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21610530080/in/dateposted-public/" title="breton lane raglan2"><img alt="breton lane raglan2" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/634/21610530080_c979057e39_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<br />
As bratty as it sounds (yup, total brat over here, I admit it), I never need an excuse to sew "selfishly" - just about everything I make is for me. I have a firm and fast rule that I'll only sew/knit gifts or garments for those that truly appreciate the time and effort it takes to make something by hand: my mom and my sister. They're both makers and "get" the thought and energy behind a handmade creation - and all three of us had experiences in the past with giving handmade gifts to others that don't understand what handmade is, and we got burned. No more.
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Of course, I'm sure once kids enter the picture, this will all change (like many things in life)...I'm already thinking about the adorable things I want to make my niece once she's big enough, too!<br />
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21611652529/in/dateposted-public/" title="breton lane raglan3"><img alt="breton lane raglan3" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5802/21611652529_b70ba8bc9b_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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I wish I had a picture to show the texture of this knit, it's pretty cool. The knit itself is very stable, like a double-knit, but the navy stripes are ribbed on the right side and its smooth on the wrong side. The drape is perfect for a mid-weight top, almost sweatshirt-like but much dressier. It just goes to show that the fabric choice for a garment can really change the look and feel - here are two other Lane Raglans I made last year, <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2014/07/pattern-review-lane-raglan-hey-june.html" target="_blank">one from a sweatshirt knit</a> and <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2014/09/indiesew-fall-collection-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">the other from a bamboo jersey</a>. I also opted to not add a neckband and instead turned the neck edge under and stitched it. The fabric is really stable, so I'm not worried about it stretching out (read: I totally botched the neckband when I sewed it on the first time and didn't want to bother with fixing it....so there).
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Also - check out that matching stripe action, what what!<br />
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21610529430/in/dateposted-public/" title="breton lane raglan4"><img alt="breton lane raglan4" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/761/21610529430_745ca20380_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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The Lane Raglan is one of my few TNTs I own that I seem to turn to over and over. Can't go wrong with a raglan anything in my book!<br />
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Oh, you know what I was saying earlier about only sewing for me? Well, that's not going to be the case soon...I have a couple's Halloween costume that I need to whip up next month for Chris and myself. It'll be two firsts - sewing a garment for someone else, and sewing for a dude!<br />
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Make sure to check out the other lovely ladies sharing their makes for Selfish Sewing Week:
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<div>
9/28: Priscilla | <a href="http://fashionandfishing.com/" target="_blank">Fashion & Fishing</a><br />
9/29: Lucinda | <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/" target="_blank">Sew Wrong</a><br />
9/30: Heather | <a href="http://www.feathersflights.com/" target="_blank">Feather's Flights</a><br />
10/1: Abbey | <a href="https://sewcharleston.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sew Charleston</a><br />
10/2: Teri | <a href="https://fasewla.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Fa Sew La</a><br />
10/3: Jess | <a href="http://shoplamercerie.com/blogs/keep-up-with-us" target="_blank">La Mercerie</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-4828865462617311842015-09-18T23:34:00.002-04:002015-09-18T23:34:37.778-04:00Why Is Fitting a Challenge?<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/16288984252/in/datetaken/" title="The trials and tribulations of fitting Vogue 1365 - on the blog, link in profile. Spoiler alert: it wasn't pretty #coatproject2015 #sewing #tailoring"><img alt="The trials and tribulations of fitting Vogue 1365 - on the blog, link in profile. Spoiler alert: it wasn't pretty #coatproject2015 #sewing #tailoring" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7497/16288984252_3ed12d9716_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The best photo of me. Ever.
</span></div>
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<br />
Before I get into this post, I wanted to <u>thank all of you</u> who filled out <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FLBJ2PN">my Reader Survey</a> in the last week - you all ROCK and I was overwhelmed at the number of responses I received. It was really interesting reading every individual response (believe me, I did), and seeing some almost-universal themes, the biggest one being: <b>fitting</b>. <br />
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Shocked? I'm not, and I bet you aren't either.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
I get the <i>why</i> of why fitting in and of itself is a challenge.</h3>
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Every body is different and has it's own unique proportions and measurements. That's why we sew, right? Because RTW is for a standard body size and shape and not everyone fits that shape. Ideally, we can create clothes that fit and flatter our body and make us look and feel our best. What was evident from reading comments from all of you, the majority of which have been sewing for over 10 years and identify as sewing at an intermediate level, is that this isn't happening on a regular basis. Pattern fit and ease vary from brand to brand, even within one brand depending on the design intention, and it can be hard to figure out if size A will work this time or maybe we need to blend together sizes A and B to achieve a good fit. And that's just one factor of many when it comes to getting fit right. We spend hours adjusting and retracing pattern before we can cut into our fabric and get to the fun part - the sewing!!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
What's perplexing is that there's so many resources out there that cover how to fit patterns to our bodies, yet we're still having a hard time.</h3>
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That's the part that's making my head scratch. Do a book search on Amazon, or even look at the class offerings on Craftsy - there's a lot of different sources out there that tackle how to fit our sewing projects. I have a whole shelf on my bookcase of books devoted to fitting, and it's usually what I spend the most time with on a project. After a lot of trial and error over the years, I have a pretty good understanding of how to fit patterns to my body (well, I admitted defeat with that above coat from earlier last year - I don't know <i>what</i> was going on!! And yeah, I have the occasional wader from time-to-time, I'm not perfect), but it's evident there's a lot of sewists out there that are still having a hard time. Don't even get me started on fitting pants.<br />
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<h3>
So let's talk: are the fitting resources out there not tackling topics that are relevant to you and what you need? Maybe there's too many books/videos/etc. to choose from out there? Write a comment below or send me <a href="mailto:sewwrongblog@gmail.com" target="_blank">an email</a>!</h3>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-72979723710985440282015-09-17T21:18:00.000-04:002015-09-17T21:18:30.368-04:00Opening Buttonholes is Easy-Peasy<center>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://vine.co/v/bF7quIrrMPU/embed/simple" width="600"></iframe><script src="https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script></center>
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<br />
You know what's great about sewing? Being able to whip up a new garment on a Sunday night and wearing it to work on Monday morning. I made a new <a href="http://shop.grainlinestudio.com/products/archer-button-up-shirt">Archer shirt</a> this weekend and proudly wore it to work this week, and it's probably my best button-down shirt to date. I owe a lot of it to my pretty, perfect-looking buttonholes that my new Bernina stitched with no problem, thanks to the automatic buttonhole feature (I'm in love!!!). <br />
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Even if you stitch the best buttonholes, they can easily be ruined it you cut them open incorrectly, or slice through your stitching with a seam ripper. Eeeek! Above is a quick Vine video of how I open my buttonholes using a buttonhole knife, block of wood, and a hammer. After I slice them open, I seal the edges with a little bit of clear nail polish, just for extra insurance from fraying.<br />
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Here's how my shirt turned out!
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21509039181/in/dateposted-public/" title="Floral archer"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5802/21509039181_4415eee619_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Floral archer"></a></center>
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Got one more cut out and ready to go for this weekend - I definitely think I'm in fall-sewing mode now.
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-53125468995624938152015-09-10T21:15:00.001-04:002015-09-10T21:15:49.702-04:00Hey! You! Tell Me About You!<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21122321789/in/dateposted-public/" title="HELLOReaders! (1)"><img alt="HELLOReaders! (1)" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5636/21122321789_2b20d76c10_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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<br />
Hey there, blog readers! I made <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FLBJ2PN">a quick, 9 question survey</a> to learn more about you lovely peeps who read Sew Wrong - what are your sewing habits, what you like to sew, and what you find to be the most challenging part of sewing. With your feedback, I'm planning on creating content for the blog to fit what you're looking for and make Sew Wrong even better. It'll take no more than three minutes to fill out, I swear.<br />
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And hey, if there's more info you'd like to share that isn't covered in the survey, feel free to leave a comment below. I love reading comments from you guys!<br />
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Here's the link to the survey: <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FLBJ2PN">Reader Sewing Survey</a><br />
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Thanks in advance!<br />
Lucinda<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-62771844853190875752015-09-09T07:02:00.000-04:002015-09-09T07:02:00.386-04:00Finished Project: Simplicity 1158 Hack<center>
<a hhref="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21195875012/in/dateposted-public/" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="silk tieback dress 1"><img alt="silk tieback dress 1" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5808/21195875012_8472854b48_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21018123470/in/dateposted-public/" title="silk tieback dress 3"><img alt="silk tieback dress 3" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5796/21018123470_156772fd28_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Pattern</b>: <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-12275-misses-project-runway-jumpsuits.aspx">Simplicity 1158</a>, with alterations<br />
<b>Fabric</b>: silk jersey from Metro Textiles<br />
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Most people, the night before going to a friend's wedding, would already have something picked out to wear. However, I'm not like most people, and decided at the 11th hour to make a new dress to wear to the wedding the next day...<a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/p/what-i-made.html">because it's not like I have a closet full of dresses, right</a>?? [insert sarcasm here].<br />
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I planned on wearing <a href="http://byhandlondon.com/products/georgia-dress">a Georgia dress</a> that was already in the works, but I hadn't factored in the amount of stretch in my fabric when making my muslin, and the almost-completed dress required a lot of fitting and taking in throughout. That didn't seem like any fun at all, so I instead decided, at 9PM the night before, to pull out my patterns and fabric stash to see what I could mashup in a hurry - how about a cute jumpsuit out of some silk jersey? Perfect.
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21019427199/in/dateposted-public/" title="silk tieback dress 2"><img alt="silk tieback dress 2" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/675/21019427199_018ffbf0a4_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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Yup, this dress started as a jumpsuit, like the original pattern. Once I had the shorts attached to the bodice and tried the jumpsuit on, something just wasn't right...maybe it was the proportions of the length of the shorts to the bodice, the fit - I'm not sure. I loved how blouse-y the bodice was, and it reminded me of <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2013/07/pattern-review-mcalls-6752.html">a dress I made a few years ago that had a similar b</a>odice but with a slim fitting skirt. After a little pattern hacking and taking it at the sides, I had a skirt pattern and got the exact look I hoped for.<br />
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20585112313/in/dateposted-public/" title="silk tieback dress 4"><img alt="silk tieback dress 4" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5789/20585112313_81743f56e4_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></center>
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The back is really the best part of the pattern, in my opinion. It's a little revealing, but not too much, like Goldilocks it's juuuuust right. I opted not to use the facing piece for the neckline (I never have luck with them staying put on knit bodices) and instead finished the edges with my serger, turned under, and stitched the edges down. Since it's such a loose fitting bodice, I wasn't worried about the neckline stretching out of shape.
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Speaking of the fit of the bodice, I went with my normal 10 and should have gone down at least one size. I had to tack open the front of the bodice, otherwise it would have been "flash-city. Going down a size would have made the back opening gape less as well, which wouldn't be a bad thing.<br />
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21195880172/in/dateposted-public/" title="silk tieback dress 5"><img alt="silk tieback dress 5" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/759/21195880172_8c6831dcdd_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></center>
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The finishing touch was the sash! It ties everything together, defines the waist and keeps the bodice looking blouse-y, and is fun to shake and shimmy with on the dance floor.
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<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/21179979896/in/dateposted-public/" title="silk tieback dress 6"><img alt="silk tieback dress 6" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/716/21179979896_0b7e8257d4_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></center>
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This dress was definitely a hurry-up-fast make, and not my best stitching by any means, but the fabric definitely makes the look and I loved wearing this to my friend's wedding. I can definitely see this being a great go-to dress next year for date nights, maybe my bachelorette weekend, and with a jacket or coverup it would take on a very different look. As for actually making the jumpsuit from the pattern? Maybe next year.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-18876338354614629112015-09-03T20:50:00.001-04:002015-10-18T00:42:01.021-04:00Mission: Wedding Dress Fabric in NYC<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19294530080/in/datetaken/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/401/19294530080_296a335b92_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></center>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Obviously an old photo, there's snow on the ground...</i></span></div>
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Hey NYC, I'm headed to you tomorrow! I'm on the hunt for wedding dress fabric and I gotta find it this weekend.<br />
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I made a preliminary list of must-visit stores to hit Friday and Saturday before I head back to Boston Saturday evening, but I'm looking for input from anyone else on other stores I should try to visit as well. For my dress, I'm looking for bridal lace (you know, embellished with beads and stuff), silk georgette or chiffon, and silk crepe-backed satin. Here's the stores I have lined up so far:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Sposabella</b></li>
<li><b>Fabrics and Fabrics</b></li>
<li><b>NY Elegant Fabrics</b></li>
<li><b>B&J</b></li>
<li><b>Mood (duh)</b></li>
<li><b>Metro Textiles (my fave)</b></li>
</ul>
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...and then M&J Trimmings, Pacific Trimmings, and Sil Thread for embellished appliques that I can add to gathered fabric at the waist and other notions.<br />
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<b><strike>Any suggestions of stores I'm missing that I really should visit for wedding dress fabric?</strike></b><br />
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<strike>Wish me luck!</strike><br />
<br />
UPDATE: Success! I found all of the fabric I needed in NYC and want to share everything I learned with you.
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<div style="background-color: #f6ed10; line-height: 1.4; padding: 12px;">
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BONUS: Get my free guide on Wedding Dress Sewing Resources and learn about where to buy your fabric, books to read, and classes to take for making the perfect wedding dress
<br />
<a href="https://sewwrong.leadpages.co/leadbox/144965c73f72a2%3A1398157c5346dc/5682617542246400/" target="_blank">Click here to get the free download</a><script data-config="%7B%7D" data-leadbox="144965c73f72a2:1398157c5346dc" data-url="https://sewwrong.leadpages.co/leadbox/144965c73f72a2%3A1398157c5346dc/5682617542246400/" src="https://sewwrong.leadpages.co/leadbox-909.js" type="text/javascript"></center>
</script>
</center>
</div>
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-20752518656347547322015-08-29T13:36:00.000-04:002015-08-29T13:36:52.951-04:00And So It Begins...<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20939816736/in/dateposted-public/" title="And so it begins..."><img alt="And so it begins... #weddingdress #sewing #testfit #muslin #281days" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5687/20939816736_1862952470_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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Last night I started the fitting process on my wedding dress pattern, <a href="http://www.marfy.it/sewing-pattern-s568.html">Marfy 568</a>, which just arrived from Milan this week (fancy, right?). I was so giddy to start working on this yesterday, it was all I could think about until I got home from work! Unlike the previous patterns I tried out earlier this year, I'm using a nicer poly charmeuse fabric to mock up the gown that better mimics the drape I want to achieve. The neckline is perfection, and I love the kimono sleeves - just need to alter the bodice to fit correctly, since the pattern is sized too big in the bust.<br />
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I'm a little hesitant about the skirts actually! They all need to be cut on a single layer and are extremely wide, which is going to pose a potential problem with finding silk and chiffon/georgette that's wide enough to cut out the pattern pieces. On top of that, the "instructions" printed on the pattern pieces are pretty vague, which I expected - I'm not sure what "loose" means along the waist, and grainlines are not printed but instead the wording "on the grain" is printed along an edge. I also thought, based on looking at the illustration and not seeing a seam down the center back of the bodice, that the zipper was going to be a side zip. Nope! It's all the way down the back...with no side seams in the skirts whatsoever. This may mean that I need to have a center front seam in the underskirt layer, which I'm not too keen on...but there's no way that I can figure out how to cut out that pattern, I'd need fabric at least 100" wide to have only one seam in the center back. <br />
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Anyway, lots to figure out this weekend!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-65194972001767513492015-08-23T18:22:00.001-04:002015-10-18T00:38:51.629-04:00Are Wedding Dress Sewing Patterns Turning Off Brides?<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20639630359/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/758/20639630359_6292af091a_c.jpg" width="450" /></a></center>
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I've been pretty hush-hush so far about my plans and progress on sewing my wedding dress, for good reason - it's been extremely challenging trying to find a contemporary pattern to use that fits the types of dress I want to wear on the big day.<br />
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Believe it or not, I purchased five patterns, made three different versions of what my original plan was, and almost changed course to a different design direction altogether before biting the bullet and committing to the Marfy pattern I will use (granted, this was made easier after I tried on a few dresses to make sure what I thought I wanted in a wedding dress is what I really want). But the main crux of the problem was that I needed to piece together different elements of several patterns to get what I wanted: the neckline from this dress, the shape of the skirt from that dress, sleeves from this one, the train from that one. So much work, it was like I was designing and drafting my own pattern to get the dress I wanted, which ended up fizzling out in the end.<br />
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I<br />
s this part of the reason why not many people make their own wedding dress?<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20637571718/in/dateposted-public/" title="etsy bridal"><img alt="etsy bridal" height="415" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5821/20637571718_97a92000c2.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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When searching for wedding dress sewing patterns, I found mostly patterns on Etsy from the poofy-sleeved hey-day of the late 80's and early 90's, with a couple of vintage shift-styled dresses from the 60's. With more people sewing then than now, it makes sense that so many patterns are still out there...but nothing that fit the sleeker, classic styling I was looking for.<br />
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Searching for current patterns to use wasn't a whole lot better - below are the selections from BMV, to illustrate the gap in the market of what's available for the home sewist. While some of these are nice, the scope of design is limited and doesn't match the current styles shown in magazines that brides are wearing today.<br />
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<b>McCall's
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20799267406/in/dateposted-public/" title="mccalls bridal"><img alt="mccalls bridal" height="373" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/658/20799267406_91780b7a68.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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<b>Vogue
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20816057522/in/dateposted-public/" title="vogue bridal"><img alt="vogue bridal" height="353" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/592/20816057522_5f111b492f.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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<b>Butterick
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20825558215/in/dateposted-public/" title="butterick bridal"><img alt="butterick bridal" height="474" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5717/20825558215_05cbd42f12.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Simplicity didn't have a designated "Bridal" section on their site, their limited options (like, 2) were mixed in with "Special Occasion"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Burdastyle, New Look, and Quik Sew also have a few bridal sewing patterns available, but again, the styling is limited.</i></span><br />
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Even looking in the Special Occasion/Evening pattern sections didn't yield anything that would be suitable for a wedding dress; they were too casual or didn't have enough of a "bridal" feel to them. <br />
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This has all made me wonder if the easily available patterns out there to make a wedding dress is a turnoff to the everyday bride interested in making their dress, and if there's even a demand for more contemporary wedding dress patterns since so few are available. Heck, if I had the skills and ability, I'd make my own line of wedding dress sewing patterns! I have so many ideas floating around in my head...<br />
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Anyway, I'm hoping my Marfy dress pattern arrives this week, so I can fit the bodice and gear up to pick out the fabric soon, hopefully over Labor Day weekend in NYC.<br />
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What do you think - are pattern options a reason not many brides sew their dresses? Or is it that it seems like such a daunting undertaking? Maybe it's access to fabrics? Tell me - I'd love to see if there's really a need out there!<br />
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<a href="https://sewwrong.leadpages.co/leadbox/140900d73f72a2%3A1398157c5346dc/5659313586569216/" style="background-color: #ffce0a; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; box-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.498039) 0px 1px 3px inset, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 0px 1px 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; max-width: 300px; padding: 10px; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 0px -1px 1px;" target="_blank">Download The Wedding Dress Sewing Resource Guide</a><script data-config="%7B%7D" data-leadbox="140900d73f72a2:1398157c5346dc" data-url="https://sewwrong.leadpages.co/leadbox/140900d73f72a2%3A1398157c5346dc/5659313586569216/" src="https://sewwrong.leadpages.co/leadbox-909.js" type="text/javascript"></script></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-35962390445322589462015-08-10T06:42:00.000-04:002015-08-10T06:42:00.972-04:00All Moved In<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20418357476/in/dateposted-public/" title="New sewing space"><img alt="New sewing space" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/362/20418357476_0401e0b6af_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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Happy Monday, fellow sewists! It's been a little quiet around these parts for the past two weeks because I recently moved in with my fiance, and I'm knee-deep in unpacking. Almost literally, really...we've been wading through a sea of boxes since I moved in at the end of July! It's a little cramped since we essentially have two units worth of stuff in his one-bedroom condo, but we're making it work. Plus, I have a storage unit I'm renting for my furniture and other odds and ends that don't fit, which has been a lifesaver so far. <br />
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Above is my new sewing area - quite a lot smaller than what I had in my old apartment! I'm using one table for both my Bernina and serger now, which is tight, but I keep reminding myself that I used to sew in spaces about this size and made it work. I've just been spoiled the last three years letting my sewing take over my entire apartment because hey, I was the only one living there and why not! This weekend I bought a pegboard to put on the wall above the space with some hooks and baskets for hanging my scissors, thread spools, and other knickknacks - vertical space is your friend when working in small spaces. I also picked up that ubiquitous Ikea cart that every sewing blogger has, in the right corner of the above photo, and loaded it up with most of the notions and tools that I used to store in drawers on top of my work surface.<br />
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The weekend before, I also made the mistake of trying to crank out a dress to wear to a wedding the next night, and most of my sewing supplies were still packed up. Thank goodness Chris wasn't home that night and was at the rehersal dinner an hour away, I tore up the place ripping through boxes trying to get the thread I needed, finding my scissors, and setting up my iron and ironing board in the kitchen. Not my best work ever, but I was pretty happy with the results considering the circumstances:
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20013758319/in/dateposted-public/" title="Had an almost crisis last night when my dress for a friend's wedding (tonight!) ended up needing too much work to finish it in time. Thank goodness for some silk jersey in my stash and a little resourcefulness! Whipped this up in five hours last night, no"><img alt="Had an almost crisis last night when my dress for a friend's wedding (tonight!) ended up needing too much work to finish it in time. Thank goodness for some silk jersey in my stash and a little resourcefulness! Whipped this up in five hours last night, no" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/452/20013758319_8c56119a31.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20022061939/in/dateposted-public/" title="Pre-wedding selfie, and back view of my dress! #sewing #dressmaking #diy"><img alt="Pre-wedding selfie, and back view of my dress! #sewing #dressmaking #diy" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/443/20022061939_6da559d16b.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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I need to get some proper photos of this dress - it's a cross between a Simplicity jumpsuit bodice and a skirt I drafted, out of a silk jersey from Metro Textiles. Thank goodness for stash fabrics!
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/20450840511/in/dateposted-public/" title="Moved in"><img alt="Moved in" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/482/20450840511_a662c9e246_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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So that's what's been going on in these parts, just trying to get through alllllll of these boxes so normal life activities, like sewing, can resume. Oh, there was some wedding dress shopping this weekend I can't wait to share! No, not trying on dresses to buy, just making sure that what I'm thinking about creating for the big day is what I actually like and looks how I want it to.<br />
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For those of you living in small spaces, any tips to share on maximizing sewing space? I've already come to terms that I'll need to go back to cutting out my projects on my cardboard cutting mat spread out on the bed, lol.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-50507947184202935312015-07-20T06:35:00.000-04:002015-07-20T06:35:00.252-04:00Happiness is A (Practically) New Bernina<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19222909333/in/dateposted-public/" title="bernina550_1"><img alt="bernina550_1" height="427" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/481/19222909333_5004de746c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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Happy Monday! I've been up to my eyeballs in packing/life-organizing this month for my big move happening a week from today (merging households with my fiance), but I wanted to share my new baby I came home with at the end of June. Say hello to the newest member of my sewing machine family, the lovely Bernina 550!
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19222908693/in/dateposted-public/" title="bernina550_2"><img alt="bernina550_2" height="427" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/495/19222908693_46c293266b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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<a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2015/06/time-for-upgrade.html">I wrote a post right before I went on vacation to visit my family in PA of all the things I was looking for in a new machine</a>. Namely, it came down to what I could afford, but this guy fit the bill with all of the features I was looking for and came in right at my budget. Plus, this is the exact machine that my mom has at home and I've used it several times, so I knew exactly what kind of machine I was getting.<br />
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Technically, this pretty lady is a "pre-owned" machine (a nicer way of saying "used," because she's classy like that). Apparently, the previous owner only used this machine for six hours before she came back in to trade it in for a newer version. Some people have more money than sense, I think! It was alright for me though, it helped to knock down the price considerably, Plus, I got allllll the feet for this machine (including a walking foot), a carrying case, bobbins, and a stitch regulator as part of the deal. There's no way I could have gotten this kind of a bargin at the Bernina dealer near me.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19848723731/in/dateposted-public/" title="bernina550_3"><img alt="bernina550_3" height="427" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/307/19848723731_014ac72d96_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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It's so simple, but I love the fact that this has two different types of thread spindles depending on what type of thread spool you're working with: cross-wound or stacked. In the photo here, I'm working with a cross-wound spool of thread, and having the spindle horizontally makes it a lot easier for the thread to come off of the spool in smooth way. Plus, I can put a spool of thread on the other spindle to wind a new bobbin and not have to unthread my machine. Love it!
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19222907523/in/dateposted-public/" title="bernina550_4"><img alt="bernina550_4" height="427" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/369/19222907523_1121a4a226_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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I also wasn't sure how the knee bar and I were going to get along, but I became quickly addicted to using it. How did I sew without one of these bad boys? It makes it so easy to adjust the fabric while sewing with a quick little bump of the knee to raise the presser foot, and it's great for those times when you feel like you need a third hand to keep things in place as you adjust. <br />
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Besides those little details, it comes with a whole slew of stitches that it can sew because this is a quilting edition model. That wasn't something on my list that I wanted/needed, but I'm sure I'll play around with them. And this sews like a dream! The stitching is so smooth and I have much more control over my speed than I ever did with my previous Bernina. I feel much more comfortable having this machine as the machine I'll be using to sew my wedding dress.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19220923944/in/dateposted-public/" title="hinkletown1"><img alt="hinkletown1" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/302/19220923944_8eea4ecc72_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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Deep in the heart of Lancaster County is one of largest, if not the top, Bernina dealers in the United States. <a href="http://hinkletownsewing.com/">Hinkletown Sewing</a> is where my mom bought the last few of her machines, and they know their stuff there. Even if you're not in the market for a brand new machine, they have quite a few used machines, and they also have used machines that Bernina sends them to sell, which is why the prices are so great. They turn through a lot of inventory in this tiny store.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19836168762/in/dateposted-public/" title="hinkletown2"><img alt="hinkletown2" height="600" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/260/19836168762_1186eb2d9e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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The sales associate took her time with me and walked me through all of the different options they had on hand based on what I was looking for. She even showed my mom and I how to use the automatic threading feature, which is a little tricky but we got the hang of it.
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19843563175/in/dateposted-public/" title="hinkletown3"><img alt="hinkletown3" height="600" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3818/19843563175_5b088e4e7f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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I loved all of the vintage Bernina machines around the shop, it was neat to see how some of the older models were designed. They even had my mom's Bernina 980 on display that she bought in the 80's when I was born - that machine is such a joy to sew on, and still purrs.
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19655510948/in/dateposted-public/" title="hinkletown4"><img alt="hinkletown4" height="600" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/500/19655510948_95c41d46f3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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How cool is this see-through Bernina??
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19220921254/in/dateposted-public/" title="hinkletown5"><img alt="hinkletown5" height="600" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/315/19220921254_7493ac5f52_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
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They're also a long arm quilting machine dealer. It was neat playing around with this Bernina Q24, definitely not something I'm interested in but it's great to see that Bernina is making a quality long arm machine. They also had <a href="http://www.bernina.com/en-US/Products-US/BERNINA-products/Longarm-Quilting/BERNINA-Q-20">the brand new Q20</a> which the sales associate demo'd. Long arm machines are a completely different way of sewing, it's like thread drawing with a machine.<br />
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Something else that was great - we ended up dropping off our current machines at the store for cleaning, went to lunch and did some more shopping in the area, and came back in the afternoon to pick them up - they were really busy, too! What place do you know that does same-day sewing machine cleaning?<br />
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All-in-all, I'm pleased as punch with my new machine and already made <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2015/07/pattern-review-chambray-dress-mccalls.html">two </a><a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2015/07/pattern-review-zigzag-harem-pants.html">garments </a>from it that turned out beautifully, which I credit it to my new machine. If you're ever in the Lancaster County area, and in the market for a new machine, I highly recommend checking out Hinkletown Sewing Machine Shop!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-76088774780639186092015-07-09T08:20:00.000-04:002015-07-09T08:20:00.286-04:00Pattern Review - Zigzag Harem Pants [Pattern Emporium]<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18797907983" title="harem pants v1 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="harem pants v1" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/555/18797907983_8a3cb1412b_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Pattern</b>: <a href="https://indiesew.com/products/pattern-emporium-harem-pants#product">Harem Pants by Pattern Emporium</a>, via Indiesew<br />
<b>Fabric</b>: poly challis from <a href="http://www.burkfabric.com/store/">Burkholder Fabrics</a><br />
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<b>Tee</b>: Banana Republic<br />
<b>Lipstick</b>: <a href="http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13854/310/Products/Makeup/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick">MAC Russian Red</a><br />
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Pants are still a garment that I haven't figured out yet, mostly because I haven't taken the time to really try to get a pattern to fit. Sure, I made some<a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2014/06/pattern-reviews-belcarra-top-and-floral.html"> floral pants</a> last year that were pretty close, but I have yet to get a TNT pattern that's a go-to anytime I want to make some pants. I also wear jeans 24/7 most of the year, another reason I haven't thrown myself into sewing pants.<br />
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However, I'm really digging this whole "track pants" thing, and I've seen some cute printed pants around the office that look easy-breezy to wear on hot summer days. <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2014/09/indiesew-fall-collection-blog-tour.html">The Hudson Pants</a> are a great knit track pants pattern, and I needed one for woven fabrics, like t<a href="https://indiesew.com/blog/introducing-the-2015-summer-collection#post">he Harem Pants that Allie made</a> recently.<br />
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Honestly, there's not much to say about elastic-waist pants other than they are ridiculously comfortable to wear! The sizing was a little weird on these - looking at the finished pattern measurements, I cut out a 10 in the slim version of the pattern since it matched my hip measurement, but they ended up being waaaaay too big in the hips and waist. This version is a size 8, and it's spot on. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19232265069" title="harem pants 2 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="harem pants 2" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/324/19232265069_dfb2df21b2_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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I like that there's a section of the instructions that show you how to customize the pants with different types of pockets, a drawstring option, and hem lengths. I opted for the angled pocket option and decided to leave the hem open at the bottom instead of using elastic to gather the cuff. The pockets bow out a little bit at the hips, but that's probably my fault when I basted them down to the side seams.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18795946174" title="harem pants 3 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="harem pants 3" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/260/18795946174_f185c13277_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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One of my hesitations with elastic-waist pants is how the butt is going to fit as well as the elastic waistband being bunchy around the middle. No problem here! I was pleasantly surprised with how well-drafted the back is - plenty of room to sit and I don't feel like I'm wearing some lumpy old-lady pants, these are nice and sleek. If I make another pair of these, which I probably will since they're a snap to make, I'll attach the waistband differently - I didn't care for the exposed edge inside and would rather have a cleaner, more finished looking waistband.<br />
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On a side-note, I was quite happy with how my french braids turned out on my first attempt braiding my hair last weekend. I don't think I'll be wearing my hair like that anytime soon during the week, but it was a fun alternative to throwing my hair up in a bun when it's hot! Hmm, how old is too old to wear pigtail braids...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-71444236963706709892015-07-06T08:05:00.000-04:002015-07-06T08:05:00.490-04:00Pattern Review - Chambray Dress [McCall's 7081]<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19181283419" title="chambray dress 1 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="chambray dress 1" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/348/19181283419_515d5c1a9f_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19361340012" title="chambray dress 5 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="chambray dress 5" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/259/19361340012_b580870902_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Pattern</b>: <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m7081-products-49276.php?page_id=96">McCall's 7081</a>, view C<br />
<b>Fabric</b>: cotton chambray from Metro Textiles<br />
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<b>Sandals</b>: B.O.C<br />
<b>Bracelets</b>: J Crew<br />
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Behold, the first garment hot off of my new sewing machine (more on that to come soon)! On my last day of vacation, I decided to throw caution to the wind and cut out this pattern with no muslin to test the fit. It was a bold move...and it almost was too small for me in the waist because I didn't pay attention to the finished measurements on the pattern piece (the usual size I cut was about 1 1/2" too small, whoops). But I recut the waistband and was good to go. Whew, close one!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19367463575" title="chambray dress 2 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="chambray dress 2" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/259/19367463575_db6f42d8ed_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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I love love love this dress. Usually I'm not one for circle skirts, but there's something about this silhouette with the nipped in waist and the full skirt that feels ultra-feminine and is fun to twirl in, an added bonus. After seeing <a href="https://instagram.com/p/1Nq6zSP1eB/">gal-pal Karissa's version on Instagram</a>, this pattern skyrocketed to the top of my sewing queue.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19181280739" title="chambray dress 4 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="chambray dress 4" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/264/19181280739_994a050815_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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The pattern is really straightforward to make - the bodice has some pleats in the front, a surplice faux wrap (which I tacked in place at the neckline to keep things modest), side zipper, and a real collar with collar stand. The skirt is a full circle skirt - let me tell you, it was a bitch to hem, but that's the nature of circle skirts amiright? Lots and lots of fabric in that skirt, but t<a href="https://blog.colettehq.com/tutorials/tutorial-hemming-a-curved-edge-by-machine">he method to hem circle skirts on the Coletterie</a> was a sure-fire way to get a professional, neat-looking hem. I cut out and assembled this dress in an afternoon and evening marathon sewing session, and then hung the dress up overnight for the hem to settle and spent the following evening hemming and hand-sewing the rest of the dress.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19371503261" title="chambray dress 3 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="chambray dress 3" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/536/19371503261_ab2651c6d0_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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If I had actually sewn a muslin, I could have corrected the fit in the back, which I didn't notice until I looked at these photos. I think the bodice may be a little too long, which is a problem I haven't encountered before with my sewing. If I choose to make this dress again, which I probably will because it's a great pattern and would look spiffy in a printed fabric, I'll need to make that adjustment.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/19179874218" title="chambray dress 6 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="chambray dress 6" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/372/19179874218_52c842d762_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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And lastly - chambray, why have I never sewn with you before?? So easy to handle and work with, and really comfortable against the skin. I love that it's denim-like in appearance, but much dressier feeling. This is a great dress to wear to work (and it hides a full tummy after a big lunch)!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-46099559682383521142015-06-25T17:00:00.002-04:002015-06-25T17:00:39.216-04:00Time For an Upgrade!<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/11891007185" title="Bernina 1005"><img height="500" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7354/11891007185_4a2d0bdb00.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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Tomorrow is a big day - I'm visiting my family in PA this week, and tomorrow we're trekking out to Amish country so I can buy a new Bernina! I'm very excited since this is something I've wanted for a long time (about five years?) and the timing couldn't be better as I start to sew my wedding dress. My OG machine above, the Bernina 1005, will be going in for a check-up and cleaning and will hopefully have a new friend to come along on the car-ride back to Boston this weekend.<br />
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I had to explain to Chris the concept of having more than one machine, he didn't understand...oh grasshopper, you have much to learn! I tried to put in terms he'd get: "you have your twelve-string guitar, your electric, your mandolin..."<br />
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Here are the three models I'm considering. Of course, price will really be the determining factor:<br />
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<b>530</b> - probably as basic as I'd go. All of these have an automatic button-hole feature, which is a HUGE deal for me, but I like that this one doesn't have all of those fancy embroidery stitches (don't need), has needle up/down, can wind a bobbin while sewing, etc. Pretty much all of the modern functions of sewing machines out there that I'm dying to have!<br />
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<b>560</b> - this one is a little fancier than the 530. It stitches faster, has a touchscreen, automatic thread cutter, tutorials, and a USB. Not must-haves, but nice-to-haves.<br />
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<b>710</b> - ooo baby, this is a Cadillac of a sewing machine. What's nice about this model is the longer arm, which would allow me to try some machine quilting without bunching up the project too much, or would just be helpful with a bulky garment. It stitches 1000 stitches/minute, has all of the fancy features of the above machines with LED touchscreens, stitch memory, and adjustable presser foot pressure. What really takes the cake is the Bernina Dual Feed - essentially, it has the capability of a built-in walking foot. How cool is that?? One of the reasons for upgrading to a new machine is that it's virtually impossible to find a walking foot for my model (nope, don't want one of those generic "converters" off of eBay). This would be so great to have...but it really comes down to price and what deal I can get. When I called the store they said they had this, but it was a floor model and was being discontinued...so maybe I can get a deal!<br />
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Do you have any of the above Bernina models? Wish me luck tomorrow!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-8756744104685723302015-06-15T21:03:00.000-04:002015-06-15T21:03:27.893-04:00Giraffes For Work<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18221815624" title="giraffe linden 4 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="giraffe linden 4" height="800" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3688/18221815624_c7732918a9_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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Last week, while packing for three back-to-back meetings in three states in the midwest, I came to the realization that I have very few summer clothes that are "work appropriate" for hot weather. I lived in graphic tees, shorts, and tank tops last year when I worked from home (and could wear jeans and sneakers to see customers), but now that I'm in the office and in front of large customers on a regular basis, I need to step up my game a bit! Cutesy sundresses just aren't going to cut it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18847103461" title="giraffe linden 1 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="giraffe linden 1" height="800" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3776/18847103461_7ca802c28a_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Patterns</b>: <i>top </i>- <a href="http://shop.grainlinestudio.com/products/linden-sweatshirt">Linden</a>, view B; <i>skirt </i>- <a href="http://pamelaspatterns.com/109-the-magic-pencil-skirt?ReturnUrl=LwBwAGEAdAB0AGUAcgBuAHMA">Magic Pencil Skirt</a>, reviewed <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2013/06/pattern-review-magic-pencil-skirt.html">here</a><br />
<b>Fabric</b>: <i>top </i>- poly knit jersey from <a href="http://shop.greysfabric.com/">Grey's Fabric</a>; <i>skirt </i>- ponte from <a href="http://www.fabricplacebasement.com/">Fabric Place Basement</a><br />
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<b>Sandals</b>: <a href="http://www.dsw.com/shoe/franco+sarto+jinelle+flat+sandal?prodId=319123&productRef=SEARCH">Franco Sarto</a><br />
<b>Bracelets</b>: J. Crew<br />
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With my hectic travel schedule lately, I'm tackling quick-and-easy projects during my downtime that also serve as stash-busters, in preparation for my big move to my fiance's condo at the end of next month. This Maggie London giraffe print has been hanging out in my stash for a year and a half mainly because I wasn't sure how to use it. I bought enough yardage for a dress, but the funny thing I didn't realize about the fabric is that if it was cut with the greatest direction of stretch going across the body, as usual with knit fabric, the giraffes would run horizontally across instead of up and down. Weird, right? The Linden top is perfect for this fabric because it's not fitted, but there's just enough stretch in the fabric to pull it on and off comfortably. And I love the drape of this top! It's so different than the other Lindens I made with sweatshirt fleece this past winter.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18223759123" title="giraffe linden 2 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="giraffe linden 2" height="800" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3865/18223759123_1f346756f5_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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I'm now in love with Steam-a-Seam tape - how have I sewn knits for seven years and never used it? Combined with my standard twin-needle hemming technique, it gave a crisp, perfect finish to the hems and neckline. This is now my go-to for any type of hemming on knits without bands.<br />
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This is also my first "high-low" hem garment ever in my closet - I was so anti these types of tops,dresses etc when they first came out a few years ago. This is a subtle high-low hem, so it doesn't bother me as much, and I think it works nicely on a loose silhoutte - it's more subtle. The skirt it's paired with is a high-waisted skirt, so I'm curious how this will look with my normal mid-rise jeans. This gal does not flash her stomach anywhere that's not a pool or beach!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18656691510" title="giraffe linden 3 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="giraffe linden 3" height="800" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5482/18656691510_363347a209_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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If you're looking for a quick, mind-numbingly easy project, I highly recommend the Magic Pencil Skirt pattern. After making your first version and getting the fit down, you can easily whip out one from start to finish in a little over an hour. I made the skirt and the Linden top between late Friday evening and Saturday morning - it was the top that took the longest because I wanted to do a nice job with the hems!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18586001828" title="Everything looks so much more profesh with a label #sewing #stashbusting #handmade by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="Everything looks so much more profesh with a label #sewing #stashbusting #handmade" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/465/18586001828_9ae5f0edf5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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Also note - "designer" label inside. This top looks totally profesh, amiright?
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18657815880" title="giraffe linden 5 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="giraffe linden 5" height="800" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5572/18657815880_8fd7d0debc_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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Usually when wearing a skirt like this, I pair it with a fitted top. This combination of a loose top with a skirt pushes me outside of my dressing comfort zone, but the silhouette also feels a bit more modern with the boxy fit and dropped hem of the top. I think I like it! I was also relieved that along with being very comfortable to wear, the top also hid the mimosas and apps my friends and I indulged in at a bridal show this weekend.<br />
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And now, to pack my suitcase for a trip to Texas this week. The travel never ends!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-73932655972328898622015-06-11T00:11:00.002-04:002015-06-11T00:12:05.844-04:00When Bad Things Happen to Good Fabric<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18094913489" title="#mmmay15 ready to go out in my new jumpsuit, a hybrid of a @mccallpatterncompany bodice and @byhandlondon Holly trousers #sewing #mmm15 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay15 ready to go out in my new jumpsuit, a hybrid of a @mccallpatterncompany bodice and @byhandlondon Holly trousers #sewing #mmm15" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7762/18094913489_02eb122e45_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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This was supposed to be a happy post about a sassy jumpsuit I made for a friend's bachelorette party a few weekends ago in Boston. A post about how I took two patterns, <a href="http://byhandlondon.com/products/holly-jumpsuit">the Holly pants pattern from By Hand London</a> and a McCall's bodice pattern from a dress, mashed them together, and came up with a jumpsuit that made me feel like a million bucks, as well as a jumpsuit that my fiance hated, which meant it must be 100% awesome (because boys are stupid sometimes). I was <a href="http://www.manrepeller.com/2010/04/what-is-man-repeller.html">man-repelling</a> in this baby, and I didn't really care.<br />
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However, that is not the story for this post. But, it does have a semi-happy ending.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/17939365306" title="Monique L'Huillier Silk Crepe de Chine, digitally printed in Italy. Destined to be a jumpsuit to wear to a friend's bachelorette party next weekend. #nuffsaid #gonnabeepic #fabricheaven #sewing by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="Monique L'Huillier Silk Crepe de Chine, digitally printed in Italy. Destined to be a jumpsuit to wear to a friend's bachelorette party next weekend. #nuffsaid #gonnabeepic #fabricheaven #sewing" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7697/17939365306_dc30bcae8d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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Wanting to wear something special for a night out in the city, I splurged on some Monique L'Huillier silk crepe de chine, digitally printed in Italy. <br />
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Did you catch that last sentence? There is nothing <i><u>not </u></i>amazing about that sentence!!! Her garments made out of fabric like this sell at Bergdorf Goodman, omg.<br />
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Stumbling upon amazing designer finds like that at <a href="http://www.fabricplacebasement.com/">Fabric Place Basement</a> is why I keep coming back over and over again. There were so many stunning prints to choose from, and I ended up landing on this green/black colorway that looked like abstract-printed butterfly wings. Beautiful drape, easy to sew, and felt great on the skin. I couldn't wait to wear it when I was finished!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18688650552" title="Untitled by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/540/18688650552_cab5ea580a_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></center>
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A full-length shot in my hotel room before we went out to dinner - was loving this whole look so much.<br />
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We then proceeded to have a fun night of dinner, a cruise out in the harbor on a boat with a live band, and then drinks and dancing back at our hotel. All-in-all, not a rowdy night, especially for a bachelorette party (we may or may not have asked some guys to pose for butt-judging contest...as you do when you're out for a bachelorette paty!)<br />
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With all of that being said, someone please tell me how this happened all over the front of my jumpsuit:
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/18070784324" title="Untitled by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/418/18070784324_5ae232db99_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></center>
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I started to notice this happening as the night went on. At first, I thought it was fuzz from my white napkin at dinner, but it grew progressively worse and worse as the night went on. Keep in mind, silk crepe de chine is a pretty durable fabric, dresses and blouses are made from it all the time. I also want to mention that I didn't wash/launder this fabric in any way, shape, or form before I made this, figuring if I needed to clean it I'd take it to the dry cleaners. This pilling/pulling/bearding was all over the top of my thighs, lower part of the bodice, and along the upper side seams of the pants. The back was completely fine, which I couldn't understand! If anything, if friction caused this, this should have happened to the rear-end from all of the sitting I did that evening. Even when I got home, I tried to replicate this effect by rubbing and picking at the fabric, but I couldn't get the fabric to behave as such.<br />
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So, I took my beloved jumpsuit to the store, spoke to a manager, and explained to her what happened - she was just as stumped and puzzled as I was as to why and how this happened. After taking it to the back to show one of the other associates and figure out if there was any kind of solution to this, she came back out and apologized for this happening to my garment and gave me a full refund. The whole point of taking my jumpsuit in was to let the store know they may have a faulty roll of fabric - I'd hate for this to happen to someone else! I'm also really glad she was so understanding and accomodating, because this wasn't a small amount of money spent on this project.<br />
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Trying to be the eternal optimist, I'm seeing the silver lining of this whole experience that this jumpsuit was a "first run" of the future version that I will eventually make again. I really liked this garment, and got lots of wonderful compliments in the few short hours I wore it, so I know the next one I make will be just as fabulous to wear. And yes, much to my fiance's protestation, I will wear the new version out to dinner with him. So there!<br />
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Have you ever had a freaky-weird situation with fabric for a garment you made? <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-57302094862214909162015-05-17T14:19:00.002-04:002015-05-17T14:23:07.246-04:00Knowing When to Part With Handmade Clothes<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/17783702541" title="Donation pile by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8855/17783702541_91dd73627c_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Donation pile"></a></center>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Donation pile...getting rid of the old!</span></i></div>
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Before I get into my post, I want to thank everyone who left kind words about my engagement, as well as encouragement about making my wedding dress. After thinking it over, I'm going to do it!! That will definitely be an upcoming post once I start making muslins. Thank you to everyone who left links to their posts on wedding dress sewing, I definitely have some reading to do now.<br />
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I'm going to be moving in with Chris towards the end of the summer, and after living on my own for almost three years now, I've acquired quite a bit of "stuff" in my apartment that will need to be downsized. As I started to switch over my closet this weekend from late winter/early spring clothes to summer, it seemed natural to start purging the clothes that I own and don't wear anymore.<br />
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When it comes to getting rid of handmade clothes, it can be hard to make the firm decision to part with something that you spent precious time on. For me at least, there's more of an attachment to handmade clothes vs clothes you buy in a store: creating a wardrobe is a journey from picking out the pattern and selecting the fabric to actually making it, whereas buying something at a store and plunking it down on the counter is transactional affair that only has a monetary investment. As I went through my closet and reflected back on what handmade garments I wore the last twelve months, I asked myself these questions:<br />
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<b>When is the last time I wore it?<br />Does it fit my current style/lifestyle?<br />Is there a sentimental attachment to this?<br />Am I proud of this garment when I wear it?</b></blockquote>
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As it turned out, I had quite a few things I was hanging on to that I wore maybe once or twice in total since I made them, some garments I didn't touch in the last year, and quite a few that just don't jive with how I dress on a daily basis now. There was even a cardigan I made that had a hole in the middle of the back that I couldn't fix!<br />
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I even have a small section of my closet that holds a few garments I need to finish or projects that didn't turn out right and need to be tweaked. The reality is that even though I have every intention of getting back to these projects, they've been hanging in my closet for almost two years and I probably won't get around to them. It's worth determining whether or not I get rid of them.<br />
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It can be a liberating feeling to free yourself of things you're hanging onto. Every garment I ever made is something that advanced my skills further and served a purpose at that time when I made it. And now, I have room to move forward with adding in new garments that fit my personal style and life, and I know each time I look in my closet I will only see clothes that I love and wear regularly. With <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/2015/03/me-made-may15-sign-up-here.html">Me Made May</a> in full-swing right now, I encourage you to take a look at what doesn't work in your closet and lifestyle anymore and free up some room!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-80680481168022934192015-04-21T07:00:00.000-04:002015-04-21T07:00:06.094-04:00Some News<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/17192520456" title="fiances by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="fiances" height="360" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7681/17192520456_b9786c6832_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
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April is turning out to be quite the month this year so far - my birthday is in two weeks (big 2-9!), I just became an Aunt last week (yayyy!), and I read plenty of these magazines on the flight to Las Vegas for work a few weeks ago:
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/16859796237" title="Airplane reading #surprise #ringadingding #happenedonsaturday by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="Airplane reading #surprise #ringadingding #happenedonsaturday" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/16859796237_c34180516e.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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<b>I'm engaged, you guys!!!!</b><br />
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It's been a short amount of time since Chris "popped the question", but I'm now in the throes of planning our wedding for sometime next year - I'm so excited! Of course the first question anyone asks when they find out when someone is engaged is, "when's the date?" And honestly, we have no flipping clue yet, haha. Somehow between his wacky work schedule and my meetings and travel, we'll need to nail a date/venue down soon. I feel like that's the biggest thing to figure out, and then it's all the detail-stuff. I've been reading the blog <a href="http://www.thebrokeassbride.com/">Broke Ass Bride</a> religiously for wedding planning ideas, those gals totally get what we're trying to achieve - not breaking the bank on one day (I'd say I'm more cheap-ass bride than broke-ass, but whatever).<br />
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Every night now, I fall down the "wedding planning" rabbit hole instead of doing anything constructive - my sewing is definitely suffering!! <br />
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Which brings me to the next big question I've been asked: <b>am I going to make my dress? </b><br />
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I really don't know yet...there's so much to figure out in the next year that I'm not sure if I can take on that additional layer of pressure/stress. After getting dress ideas on Pinterest, and then subsequently becoming sticker-shocked, the idea of making my own dress is appealing - I know what I want, what works on my body, and can make something for a fraction of the cost that they charge in bridal stores, but with much higher-quality fabric (helloooo I'm not paying thousands of dollars for a polyester dress okthanks). Even JCrew and BHLDN, which have beautiful wedding dresses, are a little over-priced in my opinion because of the materials used. I also got the idea from my Mom to think outside the box and look at non-bridal places - I found some cute white gowns with designer labels (Vera Wang, anyone?) at Bloomingdales and Nordstrom for a tenth of what the typical wedding dress goes for.<br />
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Making my wedding dress is the only thing I envisioned about my wedding, I never was "that girl" that fantasized about her wedding day. But I feel like because I sew and make the majority of my clothes, it's expected that I make my dress (and I want to!). My Mom made her dress when she married my Dad in the 70's, so I'd like to continue on that custom. At this point, I'm thinking about it, but not committing to the idea yet...however, I did order some swatches from Mood and patterns from Etsy this evening. You know, research...<br />
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So much to figure out in not that much time! But when it comes down to it, what I'm most excited about is starting a life together with him - that's what really matters, no matter what I wear or where we are. <br />
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So - did you make your wedding dress? Advice for anyone thinking about making their wedding dress?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312476600252106510.post-5973678930735986572015-04-07T07:30:00.000-04:002015-04-07T07:30:00.526-04:00Wrap Dress Sewalong - The Reveal!<center>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/17035945936" title="floral wrap 1 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="floral wrap 1" height="800" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7717/17035945936_cbcc6459ce_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/16874133338" title="floral wrap 2 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="floral wrap 2" height="800" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/16874133338_1b6eaf522f_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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<b>Pattern</b>: Butterick 5454; sleeve length altered<br />
<b>Fabric</b>: ITY knit from Metro Textiles<br />
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<b>Jacket</b>: Michael Kors<br />
<b>Flats</b>: Sperry<br />
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Surprise! This actually isn't the wrap dress I was planning on making for the sewalong - I started making this version in late February for vacation, but never finished it (hems - I hate sewing them...). I was almost finished with my original dress for the sewalong, but the flutter sleeves didn't look right and I wanted to make it a sleeveless wrap dress instead. So, this floral one ended up being perfect to debut this past weekend for Easter and the timing was perfect to coincide with the sewalong. Yay!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/16441772353" title="floral wrap 3 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="floral wrap 3" height="800" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8819/16441772353_7de28829da_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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For the third rendition of Butterick 5454 (I still have to post version #2!) I took a stab at shortening the sleeves for something more spring-y. The length is just how I like it - don't you hate how cap sleeves scrunch up into your armpit? <br />
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And yes, there's still snow on the ground here as you can see in the photos...but it's a million times better than it has been in the past month. We've had a lot of temps above freezing and the snow is retreating pretty quickly. Now it's leather jacket weather!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/17035939426" title="floral wrap 6 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="floral wrap 6" height="800" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7665/17035939426_1a07f24ed4_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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The <a href="http://www.sew-wrong.com/2015/03/wrap-dress-fitting-for-small-busts.html">no-gap wrap dress method</a> works every time!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchstitch/16874133478" title="floral wrap 5 by stitchstitch, on Flickr"><img alt="floral wrap 5" height="800" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7675/16874133478_2ab6a15893_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></center>
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Hope your wrap dresses were a success! My co-hosts <a href="http://wp.me/p4Ry2T-vp">Ruqayyah at Red Pants Designs</a> and <a href="http://blog.mccall.com/?p=1441">Meg at McCall's</a> also have their dresses up today, make sure to check them out.<br />
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And now, I'm off to pack for a work trip to Las Vegas for the week! This dress is definitely coming with me.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12783332949420937757noreply@blogger.com8