Monday, July 22, 2019

Beaded Street Wear

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My Daughter Was At It Again!
  
"Mommy, can you make this for me?" 
Gotta love it!
Of course I can!


I searched and searched for beaded black tulle and finally found it online at Mood Fabrics.  
I was ecstatic to find it...but then I'm always ecstatic to find the perfect fabric for any project. 😃 
I love the quality of this...very soft and it has a great drape!



The beads may look symmetrical, but they are not! The good news is that I only lost a few of them when I squared up the fabric...we all know how those cuts can be a bit crooked!


I didn't use pins or scissors...just my DYI fabric weights and my rotary cutter with a fresh blade!  I cut the back just a bit longer...to prevent a raised back hem.



I made a basket full of fabric weights quite a while ago.
I purchased metal washers from Home Depot and wrapped 2 each in a square of cotton fabric, then tied it with ponytail holders!




I used my zipper foot to sew it. Glad I though of that! 

Don't forget to check out my Online Presser Feet Class
They can be used in sew many applications!

While sewing I only had to remove 1 bead.  They come off with a very slight twist!
 Whew!


I made the waist casing for the 1/2" wide elastic with 5/8" grosgrain ribbon.

I always try to work "in the flat" as much as I can with any garment and this was no exception.  
So I finished the skirt with just one center back seam - after the elastic was inserted.





















Street wear is not for everyone, nor is  it for the faint of heart, but she wore it well!


Happy Endless Sewing!



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Saturday, June 15, 2019

One Pattern 2 Ways

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I AM IN LOVE!  



I've had this McCall's 7348  pattern for a few years, but recently pulled it out when I decided I wanted a quick make for Mother's Day.  
Yes! I made it the night before!  

Why do we do this to ourselves?  This time my excuse is that I was buried in Prom and Graduation makes!

But, I'm so glad I decided to make it at the last minute!
Why? 
Because I didn't have time to go through ALL of my stash to find a piece large enough in a color I wanted to wear.  I knew I had 6 yards of this coral ITY knit that I purchased years ago from the warehouse we affectionately call "2121".


I made view D with the sleeves from view C. 
It came together very quickly! 
I did not need to make any measurement adjustments at all!  
That is an anomaly - as I usually have to make fit adjustments on commercial patterns!

I did all of the construction on my serger.  I didn't have thread in this beautiful coral color, so I did what I normally would do...I blended a few colors to make it work!


Before I added the sleeves, I got out my heels and tried it on!  

I WAS IMMEDIATELY IN LOVE!

I walked around in it about 10 minutes!  

Yes! There is absolute joy in sewing for yourself!
  This was one of those moments!  I loved the fit, the flow, the drape and how it made me feel!
  



I added and hemmed the sleeves finished the neckline. 
But my serger decided it did not want to do a narrow hem, and I needed to get some sleep, I decided to leave the bottom raw.  
I cleaned up my slightly imperfect scissor cuts with my rotary cutter and I was done! This was my first time doing a raw hem.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it!  Time (and fabric type) will tell if I do it again.


This top/dress even looks good on the hanger! 😍 Look at that drape!


SEW!
I made it again! 

I bought this beautiful ITY from Vogue Fabrics earlier in the spring. When I saw it, I had no idea what I'd do with it, but after making the coral piece, I knew it would work for the pattern...and for another special occasion...my Grandheart's Graduation!




























I laid it on my cutting table to take a look at the direction and area of the print, because I knew I'd have to "mirror" the pattern to insure the print matched.

I laid out and cut the back piece 1st.  When I attempted to lay out the front piece, I realized I did not have enough fabric to use in the same direction as the back.

Sew, I flipped the direction of the front pattern piece. After moving it around a few times, I decided that I wanted the smaller print at my neckline and the solid black at my waist.








Again, when I tried in on, I was in love with the outcome!

I really love how this print drapes on my body!
  Sexy!  I can say that, right? 

Again I used my serger (4 thread set up) to construct this one.



Of course, things don't always go as planned when making garments.  
But I'm happy that this time it only running out of thread on the spool of thread I was using to hem it.  I only needed about 3 more inches of stitches to finish it.  Sew out came a new spool and I finished it!
No raw edges on this one!



I narrow hemmed it with the lighting bolt/wobble stitch which stretches with the garment...no future popped stitches!

Finished the neckline and added my label!


I am happy and proud to say that my dress/top was featured by
 Judith Rosalind of the Instagram @sewover50 hashtag...which has over 12, 000 followers! 
This was quite the surprise and an honor!


I actually don't know which I like better, the back or the front!  I do know that I love the way I look and feel when I wear it!


And...I've taken a few orders for it!  Of course not in the same fabric!  LOL!



Sew!

I am definitely making another one! 

How often have you used the same pattern to create a new look by simply switching up the print and/or fabric?

Happy Endless Sewing!



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Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Embroidery Event/Girl's Weekend

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Reen from Embroidery Garden taught her ITH (In The Hoop) designs class at All Brands in Baton Rouge again this year!
We (her entourage 😉) joined her again this year and now call it our Girl's Weekend/Reunion!


The Girls!
Reen, Marilee, Me, Lisa, Rhonda and KC




The event was sold out - no surprise there - and everyone had a blast!  Three of her designs were completed on each of the 2 days...
  • USB Case
  • Organizer
  • Frame Tool Holder


We also served as helpers during the class! Rhonda was our photographer extraordinaire! Sew fun!


Most of you know that I am one of the Embroidery Garden Educators!  A job that I truly love!



 Marilee, one of Reen's Educators helping an attendee.




Rhonda, the owner of A Stitch in time Designs took some spectacular photos during the class.



KC, Reen's Daughter In-love joined us this year! We see you, Lisa! 💗




The Entourage! 
We were missing a few people: Molly, Tammy, Michelle and Jennifer!
We missed them! 😞



 The entire class from the Day 1 event!  Organizers, USB Cases and Framed Tool holders!  Oh my!


Attendees' completed Framed Tool Holder.  Look at those smiles!


Lisa tried on my knit cardigan from my 3rd Online Class - I think she likes it! 😊




Reen and John Douthat, owner of AllBrands!  
Check out her jeans that she embellished with lace from Angela Wolf's embroidery designs!


You can embellish your jeans (or other garments) with these designs! 
Take advantage of a 15% discount on Angela's entire site - by using the code 
CARRIE15 at checkout!



 Lisa and Rhonda!



Fun hanging out in the French Quarter with Reen and Tammy! 
We had a blast!
Of course the 1st thing we ate were beignets.



Reen and KC! Dinner! 
That is only half of the stack of onion rings we were served! 😮



Of course we had a Cajun Dinner together!  
I love these ladies! We always have a good time together!  
Laughs, conversation with loads of love!
💝

Can't wait to get together again!

For now I am prepping for my trip to teach Embroidery Garden ITH Projects
at Prairie Quilt in Oklahoma next weekend!
Hope to see some of you there!



Happy Endless Sewing!



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Monday, May 20, 2019

Sewing Encouragement for Beginners from the Pros - Elizabeth Made This

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My sew sister Elizabeth Farr of Elizabeth Made This, who is a self proclaimed sewing nerd and refashionista with a passion for DIY wrote a blog to encourage beginner sewists. 



I am honored that she included my advice along with many friends and pros who I admire!


There are a total of 3 pages of quotes!  

Some of the topics are: Sewing Fearlessly (check out my quote on page 2), Enjoy the Ride, Mastery, Going Easy on yourself and Starting Small.  All of the quotes are packed with help and encouragement for new sewists!

The pros and friends who contributed are:
  • Meg Healy 
Lead educator, Burdastyle and Co-host of Sew & Tell Podcast

  • Sandra Betzina
Author of many sewing books, Power Sewing dvds, host of the Power Sewing Web-tv show, Vogue Patterns designer under the Today’s Fit Line
  
  • Rachel & Kate
Owners of the Fold Line Online Sewing Community

  • Melissa Mora of Melly Sews and Blank Slate Patterns




  • Designer Joi
Sewlebrity, Designer, Author, Licensed McCall Pattern Designer, Craftsy Instructior

  • Judy Hale
Designer at Patterns for Pirates

  • Lauren Guthrie
Owner of Fabric Emporium and Sewing School Guthrie and Ghani and finalist on the Great British Sewing Bee, series 1

  • Colleen G Lea
Certified Fashion Design Lecturer, YouTuber #fsbtv

  • Amy
Editor of Love Sewing Magazine


  • Anita Morris
Sewing Blogger, Sewing Teacher at Anita by Design

  • Helen Wilkinson
Sewing Pattern Designer, Blogger, @Helen’s Closet and one half of the Love to Sew Podcast





Check out Elizabeth's blog to read all about it!



Happy Endless Sewing!



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Monday, April 15, 2019

Linda Faye - Sewing Community's Loss

Our own Linda Faye Lewis made her transition on April 11th. 
Linda inspired me and I know that she inspired many of you! 
Let's keep her family and friends in prayer! 
Below is the link to her obituary and service arrangements:

I never met Linda in person, but I communicated with her via Facebook messenger.  She was one of the admins of the Sew Much Talent Facebook Group.  Shortly after I joined the group I had a ton of questions about some of the activities and monthly challenges in the group.  Linda answered all of them with patience and grace!  

She did the same thing when I asked tech questions that had nothing to do with the group!  So sweet!
She inspired me with her sewing talents and her style, which was always so elegant!  I actually copied 2 of her dresses...with a little bit of hacking!


 This coat is just one more of her many creations! Wow!


She was also a great cook and called herself the Sewing Gourmet! 
She often shared recipes on her blog! 


She loved making aprons!



Linda conducted the very popular "Tops that Pop" sewing challenge and actually contacted me last year to encourage me to join the challenge. I was swamped and could not participate. But, I felt honored that she'd contacted me. I was looking forward to joining this year...but no...she's gone!
July 2018 was the 10th anniversary of her blog, Faye's Sewing Adventures! 10 years!  She was followed by so many!  I love her tag line at the head of her blog: A Co-Creator With Him! She loved God! 💗

My last contact with her was to check in because I knew she'd been ill.  She said that she was not fully recovered, and that it would be a long journey.  She thanked me for praying for her and asked me to keep the prayers coming!

We already miss her, but as Alethia Hudson, founder of the Sew Much Talent Facebook Group said, "We must take what they have shared and carry on their legacy!"


We have had 3 losses in the sewing community this year! And it has hit us hard! 
But, we need to follow Alethia's advice! 
Let's carry on their legacies!



Happy Endless Sewing!


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Tuesday, March 5, 2019

My 1st PDF Pattern

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Well!  It's taken a while, but I finally did it!  I've completed and published my 1st PDF Pattern! 

Many thanks to those who pushed, helped, tested and supported me!




It is a "Soft Top" Fold Over Bag/Clutch!
It includes a zippered top, custom interior pockets and no exposed seams!
The finished size is a roomy 13 inches wide x 9 inches high closed - 13.5 inches high open!

I'm sew happy to be able to offer this pattern to everyone!  
Don't sew much?  You CAN make this bag!

Make one or several to coordinate, or even match your garments!

I am offering a 10% discount that ends Wednesday, March 6 at midnight!
So don't miss out!  
Discount code: Celebrate

If the code is not used, the discount will not apply!
No refunds or adjustments will be made!

Don't miss out on the sale...it ends tonight at midnight!


Happy Endless Sewing!


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Let's Make and Wear a Kaftan

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase from these links, I may earn a small commiss...