Jacket and Dress

My Saturday project for the week was this jacket and dress outfit. The dress was a cinch, even with the gathering around the waist and band at the bottom. The only problem is that it is about 6 inches too long and 2 inches too wide. I blame the pattern for that, but those are easily remedied. Maybe tomorrow I'll shorten the dress and tighten up the sides.
I'm so proud of my zipper - I'm getting so much better than my first attempt.
The jacket, on the other hand, was an enigma wrapped in a puzzle. Cutting out the pieces was no problem. Sewing together the torso was no problem. Even the collar with the gathering and weird shape was fairly easy. Then, for some reason the lining around the edge stumped me. I ripped out the seam no less than three times before the puzzle came together and I actually felt pretty stupid for not seeing it earlier. It still needs buttons, and it looks pretty rough on the inside, but at least it matches the dress.. Next time, no collar on the jacket (if I make a jacket at all), 6 less inches on the skirt, and 2 less inches on the sides.

By the way, it is important to note that Ella picked out the fabric - both the glaring yellow and flowery pink. They would not have been my first choice in fabrics, but the dress is for her, not me, so why should I care?

A pretty dress for ME!

This weekend has been all about ME! First, the failed shirt, then dress success! I happened upon this pattern while out shopping for some new needles, and I thought I could put some of my fabric purchases from last week to good use.

I ended up only using 1 yard of the patterned fabric and just about 1/3 of a yard of the accent fabric. I have no idea why the pattern calls for 2 full yards.

I am extremely happy with the result. The pattern did not call for a belt, but I thought it needed one after I tried it on, so I grabbed a couple of scraps and sewed them together to make a quick belt. Also, the straps were too short, so these are just pinned on until I can make some more.

The front.
A close-up of the gathering in the front. This is my first attempt at gathering. It was super easy! There are gathers in the front and back.
The back. I am getting better at zippers!
Me, wearing the dress.

Shirt Fail.

I was excited to make this shirt to wear on a "date" with Chuck and some friends tonight. Everything turned out great...except the collar.

I was nervous to work with this silky polyester fabric, but once I got going, it wasn't so bad, and actually fairly easy to sew. The first task after cutting the pieces was to pleat the front and back - success! The shirt was beginning to look cute!

Then came the task of putting on the collar. The pattern instructions were horrible, so I had no idea what I was doing. I ripped seams, I wadded up the collar and threw it in the garbage - only to dig it back out again. After at least an hour of trying to figure out this puzzle of a collar, I finally could visualize how it should go. Then I had the task of trying to make the collar fit on the shirt, which it didn't - not quite anyway. The back and most of the front fit just fine, but the pleated part in the front center was a bear. I thought I figured it out (mostly) and finally finished up the shirt - cute flutter sleeves and all.

Then I tried it on. Something went wrong with the collar, and it just didn't fit right around the chest. Disappointment is what I felt when I realized I couldn't wear my shirt on my date. Oh well, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

Shopping Spree!

Hancock Fabrics had an awesome sale on patterns today. Just $1.99 for all Simplicity patterns and $1 for McCalls! I stocked up and bought 14 patterns. I had to do it.
I also bought 8 yards of fabric - 4 yards for shirts for myself and 4 yards for dresses for the girls. I am extremely happy with all my purchases, and am a little apprehensive to work with the shiny, slippery, polyester fabric.

The patterns I bought today are as follows:
Simplicity Patterns : Car Organizer
Simplicity Patterns : Grocery Cart Covers
Simplicity Patterns : Misses Tops
Simplicity Patterns : Misses Knit Tops
Simplicity Patterns : Toddler Separates
Simplicity Patterns : Child Separates
Simplicity Patterns : Toddler Dresses
Simplicity Creative Group - Child Separates
Simplicity Patterns : Child / Girls Dresses
Simplicity Patterns : Child Dresses
Simplicity Patterns : Child Dresses
McCall's Patterns: Girl's Jumper
McCall's Patterns: Girls's Tops, Dresses, Shorts, and Pants
McCall's Patterns: Girl's Tops, Dresses, and Shorts

Valentine Dresses!

Inspired by this adorable corduroy, I made the girls dresses in the spirit of Valentines Day. I'm getting better, and the details on these dresses look more "finished" than previous versions. Ella's sleeves are too long, even after I shortened them a good two inches before I even tried it on her, so I need to fix those. And the pattern for Anna's dress is just too wide for our skinny little girl. So, I'll know for next time to modify the patterns for both. Anyway, here they are - enjoy!

Peg Bear!

I used my 101 One-Yard Wonders book to make this cute Peg Bear for Ella. What can I say, I have a hard time just laying around doing nothing anymore - I gotta make stuff!

Baby Gift Set!

My friends Sara and Matt are having a baby soon, so as a gift for them and the new baby, I made a little gift set inspired by my 101 One Yard Wonders sewing book.

First we have "Steggie". His feet were a PAIN.

Next, we have the "Petite Diaper Tote with Changing Pad" (that is Steggie's tail poking out), which turned out great.Steggie modeling the diaper tote all folded up.
Finally, all three gifts (including the "Newborn Flyaway Jacket").
Happy Baby Shower Sara and Matt - sorry I won't be there!

Another dress - long sleeves and a zipper!

This dress was much harder than it needed to be. The pattern was just awful. Making the bodice and sleeves took absolutely forever because they seemed to add unnecessary steps and put the steps in the wrong order. So, I just ripped out the seams the pattern told me to make and sewed it together in the way I thought was most logical. AND, the neck was too high and nearly choked Ella to death, so I had to modify that as well. Not to mention about 3/4 of the way through the bottom hem, my bobbin ran out of thread, so I threaded a new one, then the stitch didn't work right, so I had to cut off the part I just hemmed, and I agonized about what could be wrong with the damn thread, then I checked the manual, then I threaded a new bobbin, and it finally worked. Geez.

In any case, she loves it - especially the heart applique I added just for her.

My first ever zipper - success!
Isn't she sweet?

Project Pajamas

After struggling with a frustrating collar, finally ditching it, and completely trashing one failed attempt: Pajamas! The pants turned out great, but the shirt leaves something to be desired. Mostly, the fabric is just awful - that's what I get for buying $4.44 fleece at Wal-Mart. Anyway, the final product is cute, and that is all that matters.

I added a small turtle applique from the pants fabric to each of the tops to tie the set together.

Ella's Dress

After Ella saw Anna's dress, she had to have one of her own. So, off to the store we went to get another pattern and some more material. Ella picked her own material for her dress, and it turned out pretty well! I modified the pattern a little by making it sleeveless and adding the trim at the bottom and the empire waist tie-back.

Sewing: Day 2 and 3

A dress! I bought a simple dress pattern and some cute fabric from Wal-Mart. I had a Valentine's Day dress in mind for Anna or Cadence. Little did I know all of the intricate details that would go into my "simple" dress. Oh sure, it is basically a smock, but then you add the "appliques". Geez Louise, those little details create a TON of work! In any case, it turned out pretty good considering it was my first dress ever. I would totally send Anna out in public with it on and not be embarrassed.