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

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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