My Sheer Duster - Last Make of the Summer!

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Chiffon Border Print Duster

This was yet another fabric piece that was initially destined to be scarves, but once I got on the "duster and kimono route" I kept at it when I found this in my stash!  

It is a lovely chiffon border print.  If you didn't know already, I LOVE border prints.  

I have a pretty large stash of them! 

I really love this one - I think it's my favorite! It literally floats! Sew fun to wear!

I used the same self-drafted pattern that I used for the "Bright and Colorful Duster" that was posted a few weeks ago. Then I added side splits! Oh yes!

Check out those long side splits! Sew fun!

I've styled it several ways. Here it is with skinny jeans and heels.

The seams were done with French seams.

Of course I had to do some print matching - which I love doing! 💓

The edges were bound with 1/4" double folded bias binding.  It was the perfect binding weight - it allowed the duster to retain it's airiness!

Then I switched to cropped pants and heels!

Of course I couldn't leave out my yellow dress! LOL! 

I really love this bright yellow under this sheer fabric!

I also really like the look of it with my tent/swing/trapeze Pinterst Interest Winner dress!

It's not fall yet, right? 

We are expecting temperatures in the high 80s this weekend. 

So I'll wear it then -  and put it away until next spring! 

Have you started your Fall sewing?  I have one jacket started. I always seem to be sewing during each season vs. prior to each one. But there are no rules, right? LOL

My virtual sewing classes will begin on September 24, 2018!
Registration is still open! Class size is unlimited! 
Click here for more information and to register!

I welcome your comments and questions and invite you to visit often for sewing tips and tricks!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Bright and Colorful Duster

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 commission at no extra cost to you.

Bright and  Colorful Duster   

I know, I know!  This duster is quite colorful!  But what a fun print.  😎

This fabric is another peach skin print I purchased from Hancock Fabrics...in 2014. My guess is that I bought it the same day I bought the black and white print I used to make the previous kimono! I think I was thinking of scarves when I bought this one as well.
It must have been a crazy print purchase day! LOL!

The print has just a bit of yellow in it and I thought it would be fun to wear with my yellow dress.

Click here to see the dress details.  

I hacked the same self-drafted pattern I used for the my acid washed duster that I made last fall.  Click here to see it! 

My hack was fairly simple...I cut the front of the duster back just enough to make it an open front duster, made the sleeves wider and squared the corners. 

Of course I print matched the shoulders and side seams!

I would have liked the sleeves to be a few inches longer, but alas...there was not enough fabric.  Remember...this fabric was originally destined for scarves! Ha! Not!

The duster was constructed entirely on my Juki MO 1000 Serger with a 4 thread setup.  After cutting, I completed it in about 2 hours from start to finish. Look at those bright colors!

I used a 3.0 stitch length to add the black 1/2" double folded bias binding that I purchase in bulk by the roll.

I also purchase white binding and red binding by the roll. 

No running to the store in the middle of a project. Who's got time for that?? Hahaha!

As you can see, I didn't use pins...OK...I used 2...one for each of the mitered corners.  I really like using flower head pins because they are long and very sharp.  But I recently saw Magic Pins which are heat resistant and have a comfortable grip. A couple of my friends bought them and love them! So, I'm going to purchase them and hopefully eliminate the need for including glass head pins in my stash.

When I got to the mitered corners, I used the tip of  That Purple Thang to ease the corner under the foot. I love that little tool, I use it for so many things!

I'm quite happy with the bias tape finish!

And then I wore it when I met up with my FaceBook friend, Sandy!  We've known each other for  about 3 years, but had never met.  She won the Brother 110 year anniversary contest, which included a trip to Florida for the Brother Sews Back to Business Convention, a new sewing machine and a class with Angela Wolf! 

We were SEW excited for her...her name was randomly drawn from over 25,000 entries!  Yep, I'd entered the contest, too.  But I can't think of any person who is more deserving!

  

She had a long layover in Chicago on the return trip, so I was able to meet and hang out with her and her hubby!  It was SEW wonderful to finally meet her...that was my prize!

Sandy asked me if I'd made the duster...of course I said, "YES"!  She should have known! LOL! 

I paired it with a peplum top and jeans! It felt quite comfy, but not too dressed down.

I think my next pairing will be with a pencil skirt!

I'm loving my duster makes!  And of course I'm loving wearing my makes!

Don't forget to watch for my upcoming virtual sewing classes!

I welcome your comments and questions and invite you to visit often for sewing tips and tricks!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Coming soon: Virtual Sewing Classes

Carrie Cunningham is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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!

Can You Say Yellow Dress?

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Yellow Dress Event

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending and being one of the vendors at the Yellow Dress Breakout Leadership Conference.  It was developed and lead by my friend, Delilah Jones-Bardlette, of Delilah's Downloads. 

I also had the honor of making her yellow dress.  And of course, I needed a yellow dress.  Sew fun!  Both dresses were made with a lemon yellow scuba knit.  

Delilah's dress included a lace overlay for the princess seamed bodice, complete with a lace peplum, self belt and of course lace sleeves! Her dress idea was presented to me in the form of a photo and we took it from there.

You may recall that I made another vision of her's for her wedding vow renewal. It was a white lace  high/low tiered dress. Just as for the white lace dress, her fittings were done in the midst of commuting from Hawaii.

  

Both dresses were self -drafted...a bit of work, but so well worth it!

When she did her final fitting and pick up, I told her I couldn't tell which dress she was happier with! It just filled me with joy to see her face and giant smile when she tried it on that last time! And I must say she looked radiant in it!

My dress was a hack of one of my favorite self-drafted tops (ya'll know I love pattern hacking). 😃

I lengthened it from the high hip down.  

It has princess seaming and I top stitched every seam! I even stitched an asymmetrical top stitch on the sleeves (forgot to take a picture of them).

After some trial and error test stitching, I used two spools of polyester embroidery thread on top (I wanted the shine) and a basic polyester sewing thread in the bobbin.   

 I was more than pleased with the outcome of both of our dresses!

For my vendor table, I spent weeks making Ankara African Print Maxi Skirts and Fold-over Bags as well as a few men's Bow Ties with matching Pocket Squares.  Again, it was work that was well worth it.

The ladies were quite surprised that the skirts were adjustable to fit sizes 2 to 22! It was a blast to see the surprise on their faces when they tried them on.  😊

More skirts, bags and bow ties are available on my website https://endlessdznsbycarrie.com/

This event was such a blessing! 

The inner beauty of the ladies as well as outer beauty was overwhelmingly evident! All those yellow dresses filled the venue with light!  And the speakers spoke even more light into our lives!

Wendy Manning, who holds an adjunct faculty position at Wright Foundation, and is a director of the Women's Leadership Program there, spoke with us about the difference between "wanting" and "yearning". 

Lynee Urban, owner/operator of Operation Fix My Life blessed us with information on health and wellness through surrender to God.

  And of course Delilah, who has published her 1st book, spoke about surrender and leadership and lead us through some thought provoking exercises.  One of which was all of us declaring God's Word over each other! Such a blessing to hear from other women profess who we are in Christ and to affirm each other!

 

I was blessed to be able to raffle 2 of these maxi skirts specifically to the ladies of Hardin House who were able to attend. Check out the link to see how you can help this non profit which serves men and women with living accommodations prior to re-entry into the traditional world of career and/or reunification with family and friends. 

This 1st annual Yellow Dress Breakout Leadership Conference was a blessing as well as a success!

I left feeling blessed, encouraged and spiritually stronger!