Wrap Pants - Camo Style

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These camo print wrap pants - yes pants - were sew much fun to make

and even more fun to wear! 

They feel like a maxi skirt and secret pajamas all at once!

I'm in love!

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And I love it with my self drafted cold-shoulder hi/low top!

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There are many video tutorials out there for these wrap pants. 

But, I chose the You Tube tutorial by my sewsister, Tree - of Stiitchless TV. 

Click here for her video.

 These pants are truly zero waste! Your scraps become the ties!

To wear them you tie the front 1st, then pull up the back and tie again.  

Of course you can use buttons, snaps or even hook and loop tape to fasten your pants, but for those times we need a bit more room in the waist, believe me - ties are better! 

There is only one seam - the crotch seam - just one!  

Of course I used my serger on this lightweight knit fabric.

Chiffons, challis, linen blends, cotton, rayon and medium weight knits will work as well.

The sides and bottom only need a narrow hem.  I'd suggest that you hem the bottom 1st (as Tree discovered).

I had to put my label in as soon as I stitched the crotch seam, because I didn't use notches yikes). 

And even though my front crotch is smaller than my back crotch (go figure) I would not have known the front from the back once they were stitched together!  LOL!

Once the bottom and sides were hemmed, I added the waistband - which included the ties.  I pressed the band in half lengthwise - to prevent crazy shifting.

I centered the waistband on the front and stitched it from side to side. 

I then sewed the ties from one side to the other, turning under as I sewed. 

I repeated the same steps for the back.

I made a cotton muslin (woven) first.  

As suspected, it opened on the side from the hip down when I walked.

Flashing is not good!  Hahahaha!

But the lightweight knit worked sew much better - the sides only opened from just below my knee.

No flashing, right! Yay!

I love how it flows and how the wind picked it up and how comfy it is!  

I was thinking to buy more of this fabric and make a maxi skirt, but these pants also fit the skirt bill!  

Did I say that I'm in love with it!

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Photo Cred:

Kari Bozeman

@karebearbozeman

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Day and Night Dress Challenge

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Elizabeth Farr from Elizabeth Made This is conducting a Day/Night Dress Challenge. 

Although this is the 3rd year for this challenge, this is my 1st time participating!

I know, I know...fewer challenges this year, she said!

But...I couldn't resist!

This was a mostly no-sew challenge for me!

The challenge was to pull a dress from our closet that we've not worn or hadn't worn in ages and create 2 pieces to wear with it...or create/add accessories! 

Sew I did! I altered my dress and added accessories!

I made this self-drafted black knit dress in 2007 for an event I was going to with my daughter.
  I made it full length and made a red shawl to wear with it.

Then I gained weight, but I still loved the dress and the knit fabric - so I kept it!

For the challenge I thought of this dress and pulled it out hoping that it fit now!  It did! But it was much too long and I didn't want to wear it as a maxi.  Covering my entire body with black is not a good look for me.  I need and love color!

Sew...I cut it shorter and left it a about 3 inches longer in the back.

 That was my only sewing for this challenge!

For my Day Look, I added my McCalls 6802 cardigan from my Online Sewing Class and my "go" boots.  I call them my "go" boots because they serve me well in the crazy Illinois winters. 

But for those of you who know me...you know I couldn't stop there!  

For my 2nd Day Look, I added my favorite infinity scarf and switched my boots for booties!

 I'm not sure which one I love more...the dress or the cardigan!  But I do obviously love gold! 😍

On to My Night Look!  

Same dress, but this time with the oh so popular McCall's 6844 peplum jacket (which I believe is now out of print).

I also switched up my jewelry and added my booties!

All of the jewelry I'm wearing in all of the looks is from my friend and sew sister Chandrika Hayes at Divinely 5 Styles - click here to see her unique pieces. 😎

For my 2nd Night Look, I simply switched to black pumps!

This was a fun challenge!  

The real challenge was bringing all the pieces together for the photos!  LOL!

Did you participate in this challenge? 

If so, I hope to see your creations on Instagram or in Elizabeth's Blog!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Sweater Hack!

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Sweater Hack!

If you know anything about my sewing style,

you know that I love a great pattern hack! 

This time I hacked Butterick 6244! I found a medium weight navy sweater knit at Joann's a few weeks before I went to the Houston International Quilt Festival last month.  Due to the changing weather in Chicago, I knew I needed something warm to wear while traveling - and I did not want to lug a full coat!

I was looking for denim for a totally different garment!  But when I saw this fabric, I forgot about the denim, because I knew this sweater knit would be perfect for transitioning from the Chicago cold to the cold aircraft to Houston (which was not as warm as it was last year).  The waterfall front was perfect for wrapping myself in this warm knit!

The pattern is designed to be longer in the front than in the back (a look I don't like for myself).  Sew... I reversed it and made the back longer and made it curved it vs. leaving it straight.  I love the resulting feminine look of the back!

I also hacked the waterfall shape of the front - I wanted soft edges vs sharp angles! I jokingly told the ladies in my FaceBook Group that I did 8000 fittings.  It certainly felt like that, but I am more than happy with the front shaping!

Now that all the fittings are done - I now have a new pattern that I can make again.  Oh yes, I make and keep copies of most of my hacks!

I completed most of the construction on my serger.  I set my differential feed to 2.0 for the entire construction.  Even though my current compulsion is bias binding finishes, I finished the edges on the serger by decreasing the stitch length - that gave the edges full coverage.  I opted to turn the sleeves up 3/4" and top-stitched them.

I think this is a very versatile piece! It can be dressed up or down!  And it is now one of my staple pieces! I received quite a few compliments in both the O'hare and Houston Airports! A Supervisor at the Houston Airport has actually commissioned me to make one for her!

A young design student in the Houston airport asked me to take it off so she could see the inside...I happily obliged!  She REALLY examined it!  I enjoyed watching her turn it inside and out and back inside again.  The entire time she was examining it, I could not help but think of what I often say to my students and other sewists...our me-made garments need to look as good on the inside as they do on the outside!

 Are you making cardigans or dusters this season?  My next Online Sewing Course will be a cardigan - which can be lengthened to a duster...with pockets! It will be available this month.  You can purchase the stand alone course or you can opt to purchase the 6 month membership, which includes all 6 courses regardless of when you join!

My classes include bonus videos for those who purchase the membership program.  This month the bonus videos will be about pockets...with a free pattern!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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September Sew Photo Hop Instagram Challenge - Week Four

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Sew! 

The Last Week!

 Week Four of the #Sew Photo Hop Instagram Challenge!

I really had SEW much fun with this challenge!

Day 22 - OOTD - Outfit Of The Day

This camo and lace top has become one of my casual favorites,

but I've also worn it with a maxi skirt and heels!

Day 23 - Fast Sewing

My Juki Serger is my go to for fast sewing!  She's a workhorse!

Day 24 - When I'm Sewing

I shut out the "noise" when I'm sewing with Pandora or an Audio Book!

Day 25 - Past Years

I made this dress after being self taught for 2 years.  

That collar!  LOL!!

Day 26 - Details/Close-Up

Print matching and a reversed invisible zipper! Yes there is an upside down zipper in there!

Day 27 - Other Hobbies

LOVE BOOKS!

Day 28 - Favorite Fabrics

Prints, texture, lace and did I say prints!

These pics are from my last visit to Vogue Fabrics!

Day 29 - Scrap Buster

My "Scrappy" Tops!

Day 30 - What's Next On My List?

Among other things - to complete my remaining 4 Make Nine Projects (yep, another challenge).😁 

That's it for the 2018 Sew Photo Hop!

I hope I didn't bore you with all the pics! I truly hope that I've inspired you!

I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Me Made May 2018

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Well!

I completed yet another challenge!  

So what is Me Made May 2018?

It's what I consider to be a rather loose Instagram challenge to wear something you've made. It didn't need to be made in May or even this year. It's just a way to remind yourself to wear what you make and take pride in your creations and skills.  

Each person made their own commitment. Mine was to wear at least 1 Me Made garment each week during the month of May. As you can see, I exceeded that with my 6 pieces! Ahhhh...yes...I'm a Type A personality!

If you're on Instagram, check out the hashtag #mmmay2018 to see all the wonderful makes.

Of course you can find me on Instagram @endless dzns by carrie.

Even though black and white are great spring colors, I made this in January as part of a Sew Your Stash challenge!

I hacked one of my my self-drafted tops by adding the flutter sleeves. Sew feminine! 

I love this top!

This was worn during week 4 of May. 

It's one of the 1st self-drafted tops I altered after the weight loss.

And it's still one of my favorites - mostly because of the super bright print!

I also love the hi/low draping.

And the journey through my Me Made May Garments continued with this Angela Wolf design that I made 2 years ago after winning the pattern. I made it almost immediately after the win and loved how easy and fast it was to make!

I especially love how beautifully the neckline lays. It was sew fun to make!
The fabric is a rayon knit that feels luxurious! Using my serger made it so much easier to complete!

This ITY knit top was originally a self-drafted maxi dress that I made last year. But after wearing it once and putting it on twice more, I decided it was not a print that I wanted to cover my entire body. LOL! So I cut it! It's so much better as a top!

I haven't yet decided what to do with the remaining fabric. But don't be surprised if it shows up as a sleeve or some kind of accent. 😉

This is a tunic length top I made during the Sew Your Stash challenge.

I love this asymmetrical neckline and will definitely make another one. 

The pink and black lace knit fabric used for the sleeves was initially purchased to make an over-sized cowl neck collar. I'm much happier with it as sleeves. 

And of course...

My yellow dress that I made for the May 19th Yellow Dress Breakout Conference!

I hacked (lengthened) one of my self drafted tops to create this dress.

  I used 2 spools of black embroidery thread as the top thread and normal polyester thread in the bobbin for top-stitching all the princess seams and hems.  I also top-stitched an asymmetrical design on the sleeves (not shown). 

I increased my stitch length to 3.5. It took several tests to get the effect I wanted.  But in the end I was quite pleased with the shine I got from the embroidery thread.  

I'm in love with this first Me Made dress of the season!  

I'm thinking to wear it later this week to my Grandson's 8th Grade Graduation. 

What was my take-away from this challenge?

It's pretty simple really...

It's quite OK to wear my favorite pieces repeatedly, while interjecting some of the not so tried and true pieces! 

I hope you've enjoyed walking through my Me Made May 2018 journey and that it inspires you to continue (or begin) making your own garments and to wear them with pride!