Getting Back to Designing

I haven't posted anything in a while.  Mostly because I wasn't able to work on much of anything for a while.  I was in summer classes and they kept me pretty busy.

However, I made this dress the other day and wanted to share it.  It felt so good to get back into designing!  (The dress isn't finished in this pic.  I still had to finish hemming the hem and sleeves and neckline, so no the hem isn't sitting even, but it does now! :)

Also note the fabulous background I chose for the picture.  A kitchen counter complete with zucchini, and other various items for your viewing pleasure.  No really I just wanted to take a pic while in the process of creating, and it was raining so this had to do.  ;)

Also I have some exciting news!  I recently was able to get a computer program that allows me to create patterns on the computer that can then be saved and printed from a home computer!

Also I took a course on pattern grading recently and can grade the patterns into different sizes (the correct way).  Yay!  I am so excited about this!

So I will soon be getting some of my sewing patterns, like my striped dress and the above knit dress up for sale in my etsy shop! 

If any sewers would be interested in purchasing either one of the patterns I hope to have them up in about a month.

That's all I have for today.  Anyone else working on any sewing projects?  I'd love to hear about them in the comments.  Leave me a comment or a link to your blog and I'd love to see what you have on your sewing table!

-Em

An All Nighter

I was at the mall a few weeks ago and stopped in to see what the store Down East Basics had.  One of the first dresses they had on display was this lovely dress. 

Does it look familiar?!  It sure did to me!  :)

I was shocked to see how similar it looked to mine I blogged about in January on this post.  There are lots of striped numbers on the market but this one had similar pleating at the skirt and also had princess lines.  It's lacking the tulip sleeves, the angled side bodice panels and there isn't a pleat in the middle of my skirt but it's pretty similar to my design!

I think they should hire me to design for them!  ;)  Seriously though, obviously great minds think alike!

If you like my striped dress though and wouldn't mind finding one of your own, this was in Down East Basics a few weeks ago.  I don't know if they still have them anymore though.

A few weeks ago, I was thinking about how my summer wardrobe is really very sadly lacking.  I have collected quit a fabric stash and knew I didn't need to go buy anything.  I pulled out some of my stash items and got to work.

I mad these shorts from a pattern I bought. 

Yes that is right, it was a pattern I bought.  Which wouldn't normally be a big deal, except I very rarely spend money on patterns anymore. 

I had to swallow my pride a bit and realize that I had exactly one Friday night to make them.  Which also meant I didn't have time to tackle drafting a pattern for a pair of shorts. 

It was the first item in a long while I've made using a store bought pattern instead of my own.  They worked out really well though.  Dare I say I even think you could find something very similar at J Crew, or Banana Republic etc. 

They look really pink in the picture but they are really more of a coral.  And I love them.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.  I was up all night sewing these shorts and making the top to go with them.  (A self drafted pattern, which was the same one I used for this top.)  It's made of a cotton/nylon lace, lined with rayon jersey.  I think it may have been the first time I actually stayed up all night and didn't sleep until the next night in my whole life!

It was actually a little bit of heaven.  To have uninterrupted sewing time was great!  Everyone else at my house was out of town, and I usually get spooked pretty easy being home alone.  These kept my mind and hands occupied and they were really fun to make acutally. 

That's it!  Have any of you been sewing this summer!  I'd love to hear what you have been making!

-Em