Crafting Chavs

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Somehow I made two dresses this semester

Fabric from Joann (probably)
 It's pretty rare that I have two projects going at once. Even if I know I'm going to hate something, I just keep dubiously sewing until it's done. Luckily I did that for this number. 

I taught someone to sew using this dress pattern. We made the same dress and it was a lot of fun. But, when I put the top to the bottom and tried it on, I just thought it was so Meh. I really like the color of this fabric, but it was so boring! So I gave up on it for awhile. The girl I taught to sew finished her dress and it looked really great. I knew it wasn't a lost cause! Because I don't have time to just sit around thinking about design ideas, like a good sweatshop worker, I started a new dress.

Red fabric from Joann or something. Collar piece from The Common Thread

Excuse the missing leg.
Since I always have about 10+ projects in my head, there's always something else to work on. The fabric is a white pin dot quilter's cotton. I ended up with an unwanted $50 gift card to The Common Thread, so I went thinking I'd get notions (which I did), but also finally bought a nice pair of Gingher scissors. They cost $40 and are amazing! I never realized that people weren't lying when they said you HAVE to get a good pair of fabric scissors. What's the difference? THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. My new ones have little ridges that grip the fabric as you're cutting. Even when I cut out the lining (which I ended up not using), it didn't slide around at all.

Worth it. Especially if you can get them with a gift card you just happened to receive.


I changed the back skirt a little. Originally, it had these terrible pleats that made it look like I was wearing a diaper underneath. Seeing how my sewing exploits had been less than successful so far this year, I was worried I was losing my abilities. I was also surprised to learn there is no "back" drawing on Burda patterns, so I really had no idea there were back pleats until I was making them. Anyway, I cut out the lining piece with the real fabric, which only has darts and that made it look much better. This picture is before ironing, it looked better when I wore it. The collar is made out of the most luxurious cotton (there must be something else in there, but I don't check) which is funny, because it really doesn't matter, it's the collar.

Anyway, while I was working on this, I decided I'd do a little embroidery on the mint dress:

Embroidery pattern from Sublime Stitching

And just that dinky little thing on the front really made the dress! I felt like this when I wore it:

 So, lesson learned. If something's not working, put it aside. You'll either come up with something or you won't.

Friday, March 02, 2012

Sweater Vest

Sweater Vest
From Classic Knits by Erika Knight
Yarn from Hill Country Weavers- same as Mom's

There's been a bit of a delay in getting this up. I finished it in January at some point. Pictured here is the only time I wore it and it will probably stay that way for awhile seeing how Austin hit 80 degrees-- not for the first time-- today. Perhaps I can wear it as a swimsuit coverup?

I've got a couple of almost-finished dresses after my version of the pleated dress didn't work out. I'm working on this Lisette pattern with a friend and this Burda pattern independently.