Minerva ITY Knit - Wrap Dress

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Once again I've used fabric that was gifted to me from Minerva.com in exchange for a blog post!

This ITY knit is the perfect fabric for a wrap dress...which I've never made or worn before. 

I love the print!

I chose McCall's 6884 - view C - which has been in my stash for quite a while. 

  I was never sure how this style would look on me. But once I tried it on and made a few adjustments, I loved it SEW much that I didn't want to take it off!

Adjustments were interesting! 

Because I'd never made or worn this style of dress, I wasn't sure where to start. 

In the end, I really only needed to reduce the width of the under panel.  I gradually cut it until I'd removed about 3 inches. Of course I had to try it on each time until I was happy with it. This took a while, but it was worth it.  

I'm wearing a camisole underneath so that I'd be covered - if I happened to bend over.

I'm very happy with the outcome and the fit! 

I'm wearing my Mom's pearls with it.  I think she'd love the look as much as I do!

Most of the construction was done on my serger.  All hemming was completed on my sewing machine.

As always, with ITY knits...I used a fusible knit stay tape on the shoulders, neckline, hem and sleeves.  It stabilizes those areas, which extend the life of the garments.

I used a narrow (lightening bolt or wobble) stitch to hem the sleeves and bottom of the dress.

The pattern doesn't call for it, but I added a snap to the inside to ensure that the inside panel doesn't fall below the outside...I wanted to keep the hem even...even when I'm moving.

This is now one of my favorite dresses!  

I will definitely make it again...and I'll stick to using knits for it.

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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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Sew Let's Sew!

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Sew! Let's Sew!

I am SEW excited to announce that my 3rd, Yes 3rd 

Online Sewing Course is up and running on the website!

My classes are offered as either stand-alone courses or 6 month memberships courses!  You can register for classes at any time and will have lifetime access to any course you purchase.  

For those who purchase the 6 month membership course, you will also have access to a private group where you can post pictures and ask questions!

Click here for pricing and registration!

In this course I teach how to make a knit cardigan!  Cardigans are perfect all year round!

Below are some of the topics presented in this course!

• How to preserve fabric
• When, where and why to use interfacing
• How to make the pockets
• Top stitching
• How to choose the correct stitch lengths
• Serger tips
• Top-stitch finishes
• When and why to press
• Final finishes of your knit cardigan

Check out my promotional video!  

And while you're there, check out the rest of my YouTube Channel!

You will be using a combination of your sewing machine and serger (if you have one).

Pattern layout is a tedious, but necessary and fun part off the process!

Let's get those pieces together!

Use your sewing machine and serger in tandem to create beautiful, professional looking garments!

 Celebrate your success!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Final Makes of 2018 - One Top 3 Ways

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 Final 2018 Makes

I've had a ton of fun building up my wardrobe - with and without the challenges I participated in - as well as the garments that gave me pause - like my Pink Challenge Top did! LOL!  

Click here to check it out!

About These Tops!

All 3 of these tops were made using Simplicity 8529 with a few minor changes.  It is now one of my TNT (tried and true) patterns.  I love the slightly over-sized fit, the dropped shoulder as well as the over-sized push-up sleeves with cuffs.

I tend to only wear t-shirts around the house.  But because I have to go out sometimes, adding these pieces to my wardrobe is perfect!  I'll definitely be making a few more!

This 1st top is a 100% Cotton Ribbed Knit.  I purchased it for a different project, then held onto it for about a year.  When I saw this pattern, I immediately thought about this fabric! Because cotton ribbed knits usually shrink like crazy, I pre-washed it first.  Surprisingly, it did not shrink!  But it turned from off-white to this beautiful buttery yellow!  I love the color!

I made view B using my serger for the construction and my sewing machine for the finishes.

I hacked it by lengthening it, dropping the front neckline, making the finish of the side slits pretty narrow, and making the bottom hem 1 inch wide.  This is so comfy that it definitely qualifies for secret pajamas! 😎

Making this top with Red Stretch Velvet was SEW fun!

I chose view C, but after trying it on after the sleeves were in, I was not happy with that neckline!  It just did not look good on me!

I usually give designs a day or so before I alter them, but this was just not working!  So rather than fretting over it for days, I just started cutting away at the neckline until I got exactly the look I wanted.

This fabric was gifted to me last year, so I'm sew happy that I changed it, rather than relegating it to the back of the closet!

Please know that you can press velvet and stretch velvet.  My iron was set on cotton with steam (always test first).  I used a silk organza press cloth. I pressed - vs. ironing the fabric.  I pressed it lightly with a shot of steam!  In the areas I need crisp seams (like the splits and the hems, I used my clapper.

I used  Knit Stay Tape on the hem and side slits to stabilize them, which also gave them enough body to hang properly.

This clapper is Angela Wolfs new mini clapper!  I love using it for large and small areas!
You can purchase her clappers as well as anything else on her website for 15% off!  Just use the code CARRIE15 at check-out.  Make sure you use CAPS!  Click HERE to purchase!





My other hack was obviously the sleeves.  I cut the sleeves shorter and made the flounce by making a circle template with Medical pattern paper. I measured the circumference of the sleeve and determined how long I wanted the flounce.  Both circles were made with my 10 inch Clover 5 in 1 ruler.  I love this longer length ruler!

I did NOT cut the flounce open, I simply placed the sleeve in it - right sides together and stitched a 5/8 seam allowance with my serger.

To finish the sleeve hem, after serging I turned under a 5/8" hem and top-stitched it with a 3.2 stitch length.

I had sew much fun using stretch velvet that I had to use View B with this Blush Stretch Velvet which was left over from another project!  Scrap busting at it's best!! 😃  This was also constructed on my serger.

Believe it or not - I did not hack this one at all!  I love the sheen on it!

And yes!  I pressed it and used my clapper on it!  Yaaay!

Just like the red stretch velvet, I did not have any unwanted or strange looking impressions on this beautiful fabric!

I also used  Knit Stay Tape on the hem and side slits to stabilize them, which also gave them enough body to hang properly.

All of these tops can be dressed up or down! Jeans, skirts, heals, boots, booties, even over maxi dresses - just make 1 or 2 and go for it!

Now on to 2019 sewing!  What are your sewing/crafting plans for the New Year?

My sincere thanks to all of my followers, clients, subscribers, supporters, family and friends!  I wish each of you the very best in 2019 and beyond!!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Sometimes You Just Have to Try!

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Another kimono make from my stash! 

I purchased this sweater knit from Hancock Fabrics many moons ago and used it to slightly hacked

Simplicity 1108! 

As you can see it is very sheer!  So sheer that when I pulled it out to finally decide what to make with it, I didn't realize that it was folded in half.  So when I opened it up fully, it was even sheerer (is that a word? 😃) than I thought!

I've styled it here with my tent/swing/trapeze dress! Click here to see the details of the dress!

This was a fun, quick make!  I constructed it entirely on my serger...then had to consider my options for finishing the edges!  The pattern called for a wide band, but I knew the fabric would not support it, nor could I successfully interface it.

I considered using packaged cotton binding (due to my current binding addiction, I have tons of it).  But I felt that it would be to heavy and pull on the kimono.  

The it hit me...I've had fleece binding in my stash for years! 

If it's fleece added to a sweater knit, that should work, right?  

I had no clue, but decided to try it anyway!

 Drumroll!!!! 

It worked!

The fleece binding was not too heavy, the two fabrics played nice together and it framed my duster beautifully!

And I love what happened with the sleeves!  They ended up with a sort of bell shape!

 I could have prevented that effect, but I decided to let the fabric combos work it out!

Isn't it interesting - amazing really - how different fabrics have different looks!  

This kimono is from the same pattern as the kimono below.  But notice the attached band!

Check this one out here!  

It was a trial of a different sort...I wanted to see if I liked the silhouette on me!

I love it! 

And I really love the way both fabrics drape!

I also paired it with a peplum top, pants and boots!  It's a fun casual look!

I have obviously fallen in love with kimonos and dusters!

You will be seeing more on my blog, soon! 

Happy Endless Sewing!

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