Grandma Made It! Hi-Low Skirt!

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Hi/Low Skirt!  Grandma Made It!

My daughter is usually the one sending me pics of garments to make for her, but this time it was her oldest who sent me a photo and said, "Grandma, can you make this for me, please"!

How could I resist!  So many of us Grandparents don't get to see our older Grandchildren as often as we'd like - because their busy lives get in the way!

But I am blessed to have Grandchildren who call me often and invite me to various events! I also feel blessed that they actually want to wear something that I've made!

These pics were taken at her recent senior photo shoot!

Yes, she's a budding model!  

I made her hi-low skirt using an Ankara Kente print that I purchased from LLD720 African Fabrics. 

It is a self drafted skirt - using half circles as my template.  I added an invisible zipper in the back and in-seam side pockets.  

Pockets!  We all need pockets! 

I just completed a bonus pocket class for those who have purchased the 6 month membership program for my online classes.  

Memberships and stand-alone courses are still available!  

The 3rd class will be posted in January!

She and I mulled over adding horsehair braid to the hem, but in the end we decided against it.  The hem is a narrow hem...oh the circle hemming!  LOL!

Once I saw these photos, I knew we'd made the right decision!

The top is a RTW.

 This was her Instagram post after she received the skirt!

 Gotta love the expressions of thanks...especially when it's posted for all to see! 💗

            I'm quite pleased with how this turned out!  We did measurements only...no fittings!

                 I finished it and shipped it to her!  She called and said it was a perfect fit!

 You might remember this 2 piece dress I made for her prom!  Yep!  Another Ankara print!  

And yes!  It has pockets, too!

I'm happy with the skirt, but more importantly, I'm very proud of this young lady! 💓

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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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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Fun at the Houston International Quilt Festival - 2018

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Fun at the Houston International Quilt Festival - 2018

I had a blast working with Reen from Embroidery Garden at the Houston International Quilt Festival last week! We were easily found under the AllBrands and Brother "umbrellas"!

This was the 2nd year that Reen invited me to work with her at the fest!

 And this is the 2nd year we had a blast!

I spent a lot of time working on the Brother Dream Machine 2.  I learned a lot and created and stitched out a ton of designs, thanks to Reen! Below are just a few that I designed and stitched!

Reen taught many classes on the Design Center of the new top of the line machine...
The Luminaire Innov-is XP

We were next to Brent Taylor from Durkee Hoops, and Mike John's of Mama's Boy booths again this year! We also were neighbors with Scott from Hot Fix Fabrics They were all fun neighbors!  

Look at the size of that Durkee hoop!

Angela Wolf was also there! It is always great to see her!

  

I got to spend some snippets of time with many, many people...The talented Earlene Stalks and Barbara Douthat Chatelain were just two of many!

I had the pleasure of running into and meeting Vivian Varble of @_stitchesandseams_who I knew of from the weekly sewing show, "That Sewing Blab".  She is a fun, sweet sewist!

Everyone had fun!  Look at all the great smiles!

I got to see Sonja again this year! Sew fun!

Reen taught this young lady how to design and make her own luggage tag by using the Design Center on the Dream Machine 2 in just a few short minutes!  That smile says it all!

I've known Karen Pharr for many years, but we only get to see each other at sewing events! I was thrilled to see her!

Views from above!
The event was on the 1st floor of the convention center.  These photos were taken from the 2nd floor!  I think they give you an idea of the expanse of the space!  You definitely need a good pair of walking shoes!

Reen made Angela a "fish" Christmas Stocking! How adorable!

Wow! Check out Reen's blinged out Event Badge Pouches these ladies made!  Sew Creative!

And what would the Quilt Festival be without antics!
This was my runway walk! HAHAHA!

 More Antics!

Massages!  Ahhh!

 I wish we'd done this on the last day of show!

  We had a blast, but we were tired!

I hope you enjoyed this mini-tour of the 
Houston International Quilt Festival!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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