Free Dress Pattern!!!

Hey ya'll!  I just wanted to let you know I have decided to offer a dress pattern for free!

It's this one:

 

Just be aware that the pattern is only one size.  I have not yet graded this into different sizes.  The size is a Small/Medium I'd say?   

Finished garment measurements are:

Bust: About 35inches
Waist: About 27inches
Hip: Would fit any body shape as it's a circle skirt.   

It has 5/8ths inch seam allowances.  Though if you wanted to make it a little larger you could sew it at 3/8ths and it would give you an extra 1 inch in the width measurements.

*There are a few things you'll want to know about downloading the free pattern.  (You can just print it at home!)

1- I just created a pdf document to share.  I used google drive, or google docs.  I am not very tech savvy, but just know it's just a free no string attached google drive document I've made public for people to use.  Here is the link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18_VblG1MHDNV91MDdtNmJZb3M/view?usp=sharing

2- There are little plus signs you will line up on the corners of the pages.  The pages are also numbered and labeled by row. 

Your printer should not change the scale or you will have the wrong size when you print this pattern! (Make sure it's set to print at 100% scale, not more or less or it will change the size.)

You then can just tape it together.  Make sure you do so on a flat surface so everything lines up correctly. 

4- It's made for thinner jersey knits.  Though I think it could work in any number of knits, I'd kind of like to see what it looks like in Ponte de Roma for winter! 

5- There are no instructions, so you'll want to know how to assemble a very simple dart-less knit pattern.

6- You'll want to sew this with a stretch stitch or a serger, and hem the neckline, sleeves and skirt with a double needle (or a coverstitch machine, which if you have one lucky you!).  Though since it's such a wide circle skirt you don't need the hem (of the skirt) to be able to stretch, but a straight stitch might make thinner knits all wobbly like.  

7- Make sure as you tape your pages together all the lines line up correctly and smoothly and you'll be good to go!

I have one small favor.  If you print this up and make it and like it, will you leave me a comment?

If you share it on your blog will you leave me a link in the comments?

You don't have to...  I would really appreciate it if you did though!

I'd also love to see pictures of it.

So again, if you do make it, share your thoughts with me!

*Note, I am sharing this for home or personal use only.  Feel free to make it and give it as a gift, but please don't sell use finished dresses made from this pattern.  Thanks!  

Merry Christmas!

-Em

Recent Projects

Last weekend I was in need of just sewing something for myself.

I couldn't get this blouse I had seen at Anthropologie out of my head.

 

I think I fell in love with it's pretty drapey floral print and cute rounded patch pockets at first sight.  

This blouse however was $78 and made of polyester.  I also wasn't crazy about how the dropped shoulder seams looked on the model online when I looked to see what it looked like on a real person.   

So I pulled out this Rayon that had excellent drape, and a fun print and made this blouse.  

 

It was an easy quick pattern to draft, I did finish the sides and sleeves in french seams.  The back is sewn at a regular 5/8ths inch and finished with hongkong seams.  The hem I ended up finishing the same width as the sleeves are in the photo.  The neckline is faced.  I will probably just use a bias binding for the neckline next time, the facing is pretty unruly when I wear it even after understitching.

I also opted to put only one cute rounded patch pocket.  I had to move it from where it is sitting in this pic.  The fabric snagged really easy so I just carefully unpicked the one, sewed it back on straight and called it good. 

I have been wearing a necklace with it instead of a scarf.  I also wear my jeans tucked into my tall brown riding boots.  Had I been able to find a cute modern floral print I would have used it instead, but I like the polka dots as a good substitute. 

It cured me of a bit of creative fever for the next week or so until I am able to finish assigned school patterning and make all the pretty things I want before starting back in January.  :)

What have you been making?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment and a link to a blog if you have one!

-Em

Follow Me on Bloglovin!

I am linking up to bloglovin!  Do you use bloglovin to keep up to date on all new posts from your favorite blogs?

Because if not you should!  I hope you'll follow!  See you around!

-Em

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The Holiday Spirit

I broke out my Christmas music a little early this year.

I have been loving the cold weather, stove top potpourri, and cozy days inside sewing.

I also loved this youtube video.

Hope it helps get you in the Holiday spirit!

A Day in the Life of a Fashion Design Student

I haven't blogged much lately.  My time has been spent on school projects, the bulk of which are assigned patterns made out of muslin to be brought to class, graded and then they aren't really good for much.  You don't want to wear them, they are fitted to a dress form anyways so usually they end up being thrown away. 

I thought it could be fun to share a few pictures of what I have been doing in school and give a little glimpse into what it is like to be a fashion design student.  I think I would have found it fascinating so I thought I would share. 

In Pattern Drafting Procedures we are drafting and sewing like mad!  We use basic slopers and pattern paper to draft with.  I've been through almost 20 yards of this paper and probably about that much muslin this semester as well!

Slopers sewn up are boring and plain.  This is what a "torso" sloper looks like in fabric:

However I have come to love a perfectly fitting sloper!  It makes the job of pattern design so much eaiser!

 I have to laugh about this next picture.  We had to choose two sleeves from the "Wedding Sleeve" portion of our pattern book for this week.  Most sleeves in that section look as if they came straight from the 80's.  (So you know, fairly ugly...)  Haha!  They don't look nice sewn in muslin.  That is just how it goes so it's fun. 

The sleeve on the left in the picture is supposed to button behind the wrist up the arm.  (I don't have to add buttons for class, so it looks a bit shapeless.)

 The sleeve on the right is a "tulip" sleeve.  I do love tulip sleeves, I just usually prefer them put in right side up.  ;)

I was rushing to get it sewn in before class when I finished and needed to leave to get to class.  Right after I took it out of my sewing machine I realized it was sewn in upside down.  There was no time to fix it.  So I just took it to class like that and gave everyone a good laugh. 

It's not the only time this semester I've made a mistake like that...  Whoops!

 This next picture is part of a fitting for my final project for Digital Pattern making.  I wanted to see the size difference between my dress form and the one at school.  I found out my dressform is quite short in the waist compared to the one at school. 

I am fairly happy with the pattern, and even happier I was able to draft it on the computer.  There are a few things I might change or tweak if I feel I have the time.  My teacher looked it over and gave it the okay in class today if I just take 1/4inch from the back neckline out.  So I might leave it for now and change it after the semester is over as well. 

 .

Anyways there is a little glimpse into my life lately.  I am really glad I have had this semester!  At first I was feeling a bit discouraged.  I have changed my mind, I feel like it's been a good one and I am amazed looking back now at how much I have been learning and have grown in fashion design skills!

I am now off to relax and have some fun!  Enjoy the weekend!

-Em 

Knits are Great!

My sister-in-law was gracious enough to snag a few photos for me before she went to a photoshoot the other day.  She emailed me these photos today and I thought to myself "did I really make that?  Because I kind of really love it!"  :).

Feeling like a pretty legit pattern maker right now.  While I love the way this dress turned out, I'd say the real legit one is my sister-in-law, her photos are what I really needed to highlight the dress.  If you need photography services and you are in Utah check her out by clicking to link through to Becky Ann Photography!!!

Besides the real story behind the design of the skirt of this dress is I made a mistake in cutting out the skirt, and this was born after trying to save fabric.  ;)  Isn't it great that sometimes in life, our mistakes end up causing beautiful things as a result. 

 

 

 

I also have to tell you about my digtal pattern making class.  I am so excited to be making patterns on computer rather than by hand!  This was our first project we were required to actually print off and sew up after learning the basics of the program.   

 
The design isn't mine, (not that there are any real innovative variations left for basic t-shirts).  We had to copy a t-shirt that fit us well, measure it out, plot it in the computer program, print it out and sew it up.  Then take it to class to have the teacher check it for fit.

I was pretty happy with how it turned out!  I did feel as if I didn't take out enough ease for the neck band.  It was a tiny bit loose before washing it, but now after washing it, I think I'd take out even more ease to get rid of the gape, for a flat or flush finish at the neckline.  However, that is an easy fix for the next t-shirt.  

I used a stretch stitch I've never tried before and love the professional look it gave to this knit.  It was the perfect stitch for this weight of fabric.  I was just surprised how much I enjoyed this project especially for it being "just a t-shirt", and a "copy" of sorts at that.  It was so much fun though!  

 

Here is the stitch up close.  I do think it is my new favorite stretch stitch for knits!  I never knew playing around with the stretch stitches could be so great.  I would now definitely recommend testing out different stretch stitches on scraps to find the best stitch for the type of knit being used for a project.

Also I find it interesting that while talking with people at the shop I have been teaching sewing lessons at, most are more afraid of knits than wovens!  Did you know knits are actually much more forgiving than wovens and can help hide some mistakes better than a woven ever could?  It's true!  So if you are one of those people who haven't yet dared to dive into sewing with knits, let me talk to into trying them!  I'll bet you'll love them.  

Anyways, that's all for today folks.  :)  Thanks to all my readers who stop by and visit even when I am not able to post as often as I'd like!  Hope you all have a wonderful day!

-Em

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

Sew up Some Skirts!

I just found out that for the month of July Simple Simon and Co. have announced their blog event "Skirting the Issue".


Basically all month long they are hosting "Skirting the Issue" asking everyone who'd like to participate to sew up skirts (or I'd imagine other items could be used as well) that will be donated to girls who are placed in foster care in time for school to start this fall.


While all sizes are needed the most need is for tween to teenage sized skirts. 

Read all about the "Skirting the Issue" by clicking here, here, and here is a measuring chart. 


I actually have fabric I'd like to offer to anyone who'd like to make some skirts for Skirting the Issue.

Here is the story:

A few months ago I bought some striped knit jersey online.  I thought that it would come in one long continuous piece of fabric.  The pieces actually came in 1 yard pieces.  It is way cute fabric!  It wasn't expensive but it is on trend, comfortable, and a good quality.  The only problem was having it cut into the 1 yard pieces didn't really work for what I needed it for my idea. 

Those 1 yard pieces have since been sitting in a box in my closet. 

When I found out about Skirting the Issue and what they were trying to do, I realized this fabric would make great, cute and trendy tween/teenage skirts!

I've seen skirts made out of stripes everywhere it seems! 

I don't have time at the moment to make 12 skirts myself as I am in school full time, working, and have other sewing commitments for items I've told people I will make.  I plan to make a few, but need help if I want to use this fabric up.

That is where my local friends and family come in.

I'd love to have anyone who'd be interested in taking either one yard or several yards and make some skirts out of it.  I can't afford to be mailing out tons of fabric so I have to arrange with readers I know personally to deliver it or arrange for you to pick it up. 

I'd then be happy to gather them and deliver them myself before August 15th in time for the skirts to be donated for the girls to have for back to school.

If you read my blog and know me personally contact me on facebook, or call/text me if you have my number and I will get the fabric to you!   

-Emily

 

My Dress Form!

I was just out and about today and decided to pop into the craft store.  I didn't see anything exciting, so I was leaving when I saw these dress forms in the display at the front of the store!

 
I was so excited!  I have been wanting a dress form for a while.

The only problem was that they were more for decoration or store displays, so they didn't have a size.  I just unashamedly asked the fabric cutting table to borrow a tape measure to measure them.

Guess what!  They were pretty darn close to my size!  Even better is that not only are they the same width wise (as in maybe an inch off in the waist) but the shoulders are the same, bust and hips are the same, waist to seat are the same.  Even the waist is only an inch (maybe not even that) smaller and higher than mine.

I am excited.  I had a hard time deciding which color I wanted so of course I put it to the ultimate test.  I texted a picture to my mom and sister.  They both said to avoid the chevron.

I had already been thinking that, and my sister made the point that the stark white and black print may show through items I make.  I also figured that even though I think the chevron is really cute, it's a little more trendy than the postcard/burlap print.

So I brought home the burlap.

To put it to the ultimate test I pulled out a top I designed, drafted, started sewing and haven't finished.

It still needs a zipper so where I've pinned it closed on the dress form it's a bit wonky.  I am excited to wear it as soon as I am able to finish it!  

It has three legs, it's pretty lightweight, and I don't think it will last forever.  It's great for right now however and I am happy I can move it easily.

I plan to wear this top with dark wash jeans and aqua colored sandals when I finish it.  I just get excited thinking about the color combination!  

The color combo was inspired by this pin I saw on pinterest.  

I recently found these burp cloths that were all sewn up recently in one of the areas I keep my fabric.  They had a matching blanket with them that was so close to being finished I think it's ridiculous I hadn't finished it before.  It took me just a few minutes to finish the blanket. 

They coordinate with the colors my brother and sister-in-law are planning for their baby girl they are expecting.  That made it easy to know what to do with them.  :)

(For those who may be wondering ;): I have two dresses for two cute sisters I know that I will hopefully finish this coming week and another dress for a friend that is so shamefully late and overdue I am embarrassed.  It's already been cut out for a few weeks, and I started working on it again last night so it should be done soon!)

After those fun projects are done, I hope to get back to designing some more items and will of course be sharing them when they are done!

That's it for today, hope you all enjoy your 4th of July!

Friendship....

I saw this on pinterest tonight and I am not sure that C.S. Lewis really said this because I haven't looked into it.

However I thought it was pretty profound and I just wanted to share it.

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, it has no survival value.  Rather it gives meaning to survival."  -C.S. Lewis

I just feel as if lately I have seen how true this really is.  I have been both blessed, and felt lonely by either the presence of good friends, or someone being a friend, and also the loss of friends for happy or normal reasons such as friends getting married and starting families or moving away.

What a wonderful thought.

The world can't live without beauty and friendship.  So pass some on!  Be a friend!  If you are the creative type, share your talents!  If you are the thinking type share something you find inspiring!

Coral Lace Blouse

I have a quick project to share today,

An easy peasy coral lace blouse that I sewed up in about an hour.

It was quick, it was simple and it saved the day as I needed something new and this fit the bill perfect.  So I guess it's fitting that this blog post will be quick simple, and to the point.

Have a wonderful day!

-Emily

Vintage Prom Dress

I made my first prom dress this week.  My adorable cousin asked if I would make her a prom dress.  I had already made her a Kate Middleton look alike dress, so I already had a sloper made from her personal measurements that I could use to draft a pattern for her.

Originally we had a design picked out, after some pinterest inspiration.  However when I got the materials together, it just looked bad.  I just knew that it was going to turn out differently than the picture of the dress on pinterest.

So instead I got some great butter yellow silk dupioni.  I had some beautiful vintage looking embroidered tulle.

My cousin loves all things "old fashioned" and "vintage".

So we made a mock up.

And we made some changes, so many in fact the mockup was really pointless.  However, I didn't mind in the slightest.  

She had only ever worn straight dresses to her High School dances.  Most of which she rented.

This was going to be her last formal, and she wanted something with a full skirt, and half sleeves, a high waistline, and she liked the yellow and the tulle.  I also thought at the beginning the butter yellow silk and flowy sheer embroidered tulle looked somewhat vintage together.

I asked her what she wanted the top of the dress to look like.  When she said she didn't know I asked if I could have creative license which she gave me.

I originally wanted to pleat the top and have it be a v-neck crossover.  I made a muslin and the pleating was great, however to make it high enough at the "v" part of the dress I had to bring up the sides so far it looked funny, and I had very little fabric to spare to begin with.  I knew to make a full gathered skirt I was cutting it really really close.

So I ended up going for more of an asymmetrical pleated bodice with a rounded neckline.  After all was said and done the dress turned out really really vintage looking which was perfect for my cousin.  She loved it.

I took the dress down to her today.  I had to finish today as tomorrow is her prom.

When I got to her house her mom informed me that she had been nominated as Prom Queen!

Such a fun surprise!  It was a surprise to her as well.  She got a note in her second period that she had been nominated and was supposed to walk up on stage when they called her name at the assembly.

She is incredibly humble and doesn't like having attention drawn to herself.  She decided she was just going to stay in the audience and let the show carry on without her.  However when she got to the assembly it turns out she was the only one invited up to stage because she had been nominated prom queen!

She got a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a pretty sparkly tiara to wear to the dance tomorrow.

I just couldn't imagine her being any more deserving than she already is to have such a fun thing happen.

She is just so much fun, has the kindest heart, loves to make people feel loved and has a love for all things vintage.  (She had even gone to the trouble of finding vintage looking penny loafer heels, and looking for a pair of gloves to help aid in making her prom dress more vintage thinking that her dress probably wouldn't be, but she wanted to look vintage.)

I think the buttery yellow silk, and ivory embroidered tulle were meant for her.

She loved the dress, though we all agreed she needed to shorten the sleeves to short sleeves in the end.  We also made a belt that has some of the flowers from the tulle sewn onto it to tie in tulle layer over the skirt.  The belt also has some vintage yellow buttons I got from a fabric swap at the fabric shop I teach sewing lessons at.  She ended up loving it and that is what made it all so so worth it!

I feel so honored to be able to have custom sewn a dress for royalty!  ;)

I will get pictures posted and added to the post as soon as her mom has taken some tomorrow on her way to the dance!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  Easter is probably my favorite Holiday.  I love Christmas and Thanksgiving as well, because my family is all around.  I love the happy message of Easter though!  I also love the beautiful time of year it comes.

Most of all I love the message about Christ.  Because of him, we all will live on with our loved ones after death.  Because of him, the most important things in life aren't things.  Because of him, my life is wonderful, and I have many wonderful things to be thankful for.

I am Obsessed with Stripes!

I have a little sneak peak of a project for you today!

I recently found this striped knit for $5yard.  I don't know what it is lately but I have been OBSESSED with stripes.  Ever since I made my striped dress I have been wanting more and more striped items.  

When I posted this picture I realized this fabric is almost the same as the striped dress I made.  I really think I am going to have to start stopping myself from buying anymore striped fabric.  As much as I love the clean look of grey and white stripes, I think it's time to start incorporating more variety to my summer closet.

I have started working at a fabric shop where we have an area I can sew while I am there during the day.  I have learned to not take anything that requires concentration.  So generally I don't take custom work, and I don't take anything I have to think too hard about.

This skirt was just the ticket.  I didn't even draft a pattern.  I just took inspiration from a simple skirt I repinned on pinterest.

It was quick and easy and I just need to hem it to the length I want and press out the pleats and I have a cute new summer skirt to wear!

  

Also I am excited to announce that I am now going to be teaching a beginning drafting class!  If you have always wondered how to draft up a skirt without a pattern I will be teaching a class on drafting a pencil skirt this coming April at a fabric shop in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The shop is "A Fashionable Stitch" and they sell all kinds of wonderful natural fiber apparel fabrics.  I am excited!

This also means I am going to have to cut back on my custom sewing.  I wish I had more time to do more custom work as it can be really fun!  However, sadly I will no longer be able to do custom work.  

*I do plan to still sew for anyone who has contacted me in the last little while.  However, I have really thought it over and I have come to the conclusion that custom sewing will have to be the thing I let go.  Between trying to come up with my own designs for myself (to start a fashion line), sewing for others, keeping up my blog, and now coming up with lesson plans and teaching sewing classes, I just need to let something go and I think it will have to be custom sewing.  Thanks for everyone who has asked me to sew up to this point though!

Any of my readers have any fun summer sewing projects going on?  I'd love to hear about all your projects!

Like and Follow me on Facebook!

Hey all!  I really do have some projects I'd like to share.  I really will be posting more often.  So please keep reading!



Have you seen this cute/funny video floating around Facebook of this couple singing a Frozen song that is NOT "Let it Go"?  It's pretty entertaining.









I have a really cute summer blouse planned, ooooohhh and a cute pencil dress, with a fun and flattering waistline.  AND another cute casual striped summer dress with a nice gathered skirt to wear when the weather warms up.



Also I am now on Facebook!  Like my Sewing Machines and Crafting Routines page on Facebook!



Also, have you ever tried Pioneer Woman's 16 minute meals?  Particularly her "Bowtie Chicken Alfredo"?  I thought since I didn't have a crafty post I would share one of my all time favorite and EASY pasta dishes.  It's quick, it's tasty, it's easy.



The ONLY change I would suggest is to thicken the sauce by whisking in some cornstarch to your chicken broth before cooking it to help thicken that delicious sauce so it can stick to your pasta noodles better.  MMMMMMMMM.  You can thank me later.



Until next time!



-Em

Sunday Will Come

Last Sunday as I sat in church I was struggling with something and needed to know the Lord knew and loved me.  I needed to know the Lord cared.

There was a testimony given that touched me so much that it left me in tears.

A young woman who is engaged to one of the young men in my ward shared her testimony and love for the Savior and the opportunity to partake of the Sacrament every week.  She shared that after a particularly trying childhood, she found the gospel, was baptized and looked forward each week to partaking of the Sacrament.

She shared how Sunday coming around brought her peace and was such an important day for her that when she is struggling her fiancé plays a song titled "Sunday Will Come".

She then shared that all her life when she felt she has needed or wanted something when she prayed she knew the Lord loved her, heard her prayers and would answer them.  She shared this pointing out that when she needs something and has been waiting that the Lord knows and "Sunday always comes".

She shared her conviction that our Heavenly Father knows us and that our "Sunday Will Come".

It was something I needed to hear in that very moment.  This was no coincidence.  As I sat in church last sunday with a trouble on my mind and a need in my heart, I had been in my own way looking for my own "Sunday".

Hearing her promise that the Lord knew what I needed and wanted was the answer to my own personal struggle.  I needed to know that my "Sunday" would come.  I think Heavenly Father knew that her message would be the one thing I would need to hear to realize that he knew me, he loved me, he cared and that my "Sunday" would come.

I really did need in that moment a reminder, something to know the Lord was aware of my needs that felt urgent.  I needed to feel it.

Her message made me cry.  I had tears spilling over, and I was unable to stop them for the rest of the meeting.

Her message talking about how the Lord always made sure that "sunday came" for her, was my very own "sunday" sent to me and reminded me that the Lord knows and loves me.  He knows the thoughts of my heart.  Just as he knew the things she wanted and prayed for, he knows the things I want and pray for.  He knows what is important to me.  He knows what my own struggles are.

He sent me my very own Sunday.

This might not seem like much to you.  Just a reminder that the Lord knows us may be simple, and may come more easily or through other ways for some.

For me that was however it was exactly what I needed at that point.

I came home that day and kept thinking of how grateful I was for this small moment.

The words "Sunday will come" were in my mind.

I looked up "Sunday Will Come" online.  I wondered what this song that had a phrase that suddenly felt so close to my heart meant.  I wondered what inspired it.  I wondered what the lyrics were.

Somehow my search led me to a talk given by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin.  The title of this talk was "Sunday Will Come" and he gave the talk in General Conference of October of 2006.

I was even more surprised to find out the talk spoke about separation from our loved ones after deaths being one day overcome by the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ.

After having lost my dad at a youngish age I knew this phrase would have more than one meaning for me throughout my life and would indeed become something I could think when I needed hopeful reminders that better days always come.

Elder Wirthlin in his talk spoke about the death of the Savior and how horrible it was for those that loved him.  How heartbreaking it is to lose loved ones.

Elder Wirthlin shares how dark the Friday the Lord was lifted up on the cross.  He shares

"I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest."

This Friday that the Savior of the world was sacrificed on the cross truly must have been the darkest day of all days.

A little farther in the talk he shares this message:

"Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

I even hesitate to share, however, on Sunday and for quite some time, I felt as if I had been walking through one of the darkest moments of my life, and I had reached a point where I needed to hear that Friday was not the end.   I needed to know eventually that Sunday would come.  

This testimony by the sweet girl who shared it was my answer.  

Even before reading the talk be Elder Wirthlin I knew the phrase "Sunday will come" would be one I would be able to recall to bring myself hope and peace.  

However, even more so now, this phrase will be so important to me.  

"Sunday will come".  

Sunday will come for all of us.  Please just remember that eventually time will pass, Friday will become part of the past and Sunday will come.

So if you are going through your own Friday.  Just remember that "No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come.  In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

And it will.  It did for me, just when I needed it most and I am sure it will come for everyone, in the Lord's timing, he will provide relief and "Sunday will come".  

*Click here for a link to the talk or listen to the video below:

Sewing for My Nieces

I started working at a fabric shop recently.

Last Friday we had a "Spring Preview Party" and invited our shoppers on our email list to come after hours to get first dibs on our new spring fabrics.

It was a ton of fun!  All the employees were invited to choose some of the new spring fabrics to make something to have at the party.

I took in my striped dress to share, and also took some beautiful coral pink linen to make something.  I knew I'd only have the morning/afternoon of the day of the party to make something.  So I decided to sew a couple of dresses for my nieces, as children's clothes was one of the comments a reader left in my last post.

Here is what I came up with.  I am pretty happy with it!

Front

Back

The night of the party we had a fabulous group of shoppers.  One of whom bought some linen for her baby girl, and who I promised I would post a tutorial here on my blog of how I made the dress since I didn't have a pattern I could refer her to.

Here is the tutorial on how I did it!

Taking a dress in my nieces size, I folded it exactly in half, lined up the folded side along the edge of my paper as best I could so that the folded side of the dress and the edge of the paper were lined up.  

I traced from the neckline to the hem of the dress and was left with this:

Then I took a t-shirt and got to work on a sleeve.

I ever so carefully took the sleeve on a new area of my paper and folded the seam at the shoulder back to trace the curved seam where the sleeve seam joins with the shirt.  

Then I laid it back down carefully and traced the outside edge from shoulder seam to armpit seam.  

You end up with this:

  

NOW here is the tricky part:

I knew since my dress and tshirt were different garments.  The armhole on the dress wouldn't necessarily match up with my sleeve.  So I knew I had to measure.

I took my measuring tape and carefully followed along the shoulder seam of my sleeve with my measuring tape.

The curve where my arm hole would meet with the armhole of the dress was 15.5 cm.

I then measured the armhole on my dress.  It HAS to be the SAME or SMALLER!  Or it doesn't work.  :)

My dress armhole was 14 cm.  :)  I had an armhole on my dress that was smaller so I was okay.

NOW if you want a GATHERED sleeve head, then having the measurement longer on the sleeve is what you want.  You just run some gathering stitches to gather the sleeve head to match up to your armhole and then ease in your sleeve to your dress like any other gathered sleeve you'd ever make from a store bought pattern.  

I didn't want gathers for the look on my dress so I just took off the difference from the top of the sleeve.  

I hope that makes sense.  Here I am moving the top of my sleeve down.

Next I added seam allowances to my dress and sleeve patterns.  

I put on a 1.5cm (the same as a 5/8inch) seam allowance.

I then copied my dress onto a scrap piece of paper tracing an exact copy.  

Then I erased the neckline, and traced a new one so I could have a "front" to my dress.

You can see here I put both pieces together and one is longer at the neckline than the other.  You want the one that is lower to be your "front" so the poor child you put in the dress doesn't feel like they are getting choked by their collar.  :)

Okay the last step is making a "yoke" (the white area at the top of the dress).  I measured down to about half of the armhole on my dress.

I used a ruler to measure a straight line.  (Please excuse me if you are confused why I have two pattern pieces above and one that is not cut out below…  The above pieces are the 2T size, the below I made a second pattern in a 3T size for another niece.)

***Cut the two pieces apart and MAKE SURE YOU ADD THE 1.5cm seam allowance to where you have just cut off the yoke from the body of the dress!!!!  (I was worried you wouldn't, and had I thought about it, and how confusing that might have been for the tutorial I would have fixed it beforehand.  So sorry!!!) 

Do this for both the FRONT and BACK of the dress.  

Now you can actually throw one of the "body" pieces of the dress away.  The body of the dress you just cut off the yoke from, the one you just added seam allowances to the cut line?  Yeah that one, it's the same on the bottom for front and back.  So you just need one!  :)

*One more thing.

You'll notice my dress I decided to add a white band and more grey trim to the bottom.  I like it this way.  If you want to do that you just cut off a band from your pattern and add seam allowanced to where you cut from.  and just cut the middle of the pattern in pink, and the yoke and bottom band in white.  Or whatever color scheme you've chosen. :)

Okay here is where I didn't get pictures.  The back yoke you need to add extra seam allowance to allow for a button placket.  So you have an area in the back you can add a button closure so you can slip the dress on and off the babies head, then button it closed.  I hope that makes sense.  

Here are your 4 pattern pieces!  

(I am sharing this because here is where I forgot that the top of the sleeve didn't need seam allowance.  You cut it on the fold.  Make sure you catch that if you didn't before.  Also mark the front yoke you cut on the fold, mark the dress body you cut on the fold.  mark the top of the sleeve you cut on the fold.)  

Like I said, the top of the sleeve you need to cut off any seam allowance you may have added.  (Ay yi yi, I learned a lot from making this tutorial.)

I added even more length for my button placket at the back.  I wanted lots of room.

Okay by this point I didn't have time to take pictures of sewing the items up.  

However, I did use some grey rayon seam binding as a decorative trim on my dress.  It looks black in the picture because I didn't have my amazing photographer here to take pics for me.  It's actually really trimmed in grey and I really like how it turned out!  

*Just a note: Don't use seam binding.  It was really hard.  It doesn't curve like biased binding does.  

Save yourself the trouble and if you want to trim the dress in a fun color, make or buy bias binding!  It will make your life much much easier.  

Or use the seam binding for something decorative that doesn't require curving it around the neckline.  For reals though.  

I felt like the dress needed just a little something more, so I also added the three tiny buttons down the front of the dress.  

I thought it turned out really cute!  

Okay so now that I have written that first tutorial, if you were the sweet lady who came in and bought the linen, feel free to contact me with any questions.  You can just come into the shop and I can help you.  :)  Or you are always welcome to leave comments for me or whatnot.  

With this being my first tutorial ever, and you may just want to bring your fabric and a dress or tshirt in the size you need in and I will help you draft the pattern.  

Whew!  I think making the pattern and dress was quicker than writing the blog post!  

I think I need some ice cream and a nap.  

Until later!  

-Emily