11 posts tagged “projects”

I've had this fabric, already sewn into quilt squares for, no joke, over 10 years.  From a sewing class I took eons ago when we first moved to Texas.  Anyway.  It was meant to be a quilt, obviously, but who the hell would use that?  So, I took some of the fabric and made a kitty bed :)  I've got a bit of the fabric left, and still have a sheet that is supposed to be used as a quilt (you know, printed pictures, border, etc, already made type quilt fabric), but at least some of it is gone.

Figured I would post these as well.  I wasn't terribly happy with the way they turned out.  I finished them quite a while ago but never posted them.  Couldn't hurt.

Maybe I never posted because the pictures turned out so horrible?  Even though I wasn't happy with how it turned out, the dress doesn't look this bad in person.  The fabric was a nightmare to work with, but the side that I used as a DULL satin, not as shiny as the pictures make it out.  The only shiny thing were the dots.  Since it isn't as shiny in person, it doesn't look quite a messy.
Still, I used this pattern and I blame most of my problems on the pattern.  After the first bit, I noticed my fabric stretched A LOT, so I stay stitched the edges, so it wasn't that.  The pattern pieces were just so awkwardly shaped and sized that NOTHING fit (notice the elastic in the back?  My addition)  Just....nothing fit were it was supposed to, the neck was about 5 inches too long, the back gaped, but if you tried to bring it in it stretched everything across the bust really awkwardly.  It as just a disaster.  I didn't give up on it though.  Until the hem.  I finished the dress and after I spent AGES putting up the hem, I realised what a disaster the hem was.  It was all puckered and bubbly.  It needs some hem tape very badly but I'm not really willing at the moment to work on it.  Maybe when I need something to do during a movie.  Anyway, This is my disaster of a Monroe dress.

Here is another one that didn't turn out so hot, another repro vintage pattern from butterick.  I'm almost unwilling to try the other ones that I have.  Anyway.  This is after I took it in about two inches on both sides around the waist.  The stupid thing fit like a mumu. And while I know wiggle dresses may sort of look like shift dresses, they aren't supposed to FIT like them!   The fit ended up being a little better, but it is still a little awkward and doesn't really fall like it is supposed to.  I tried taking it apart and ruching it on the side, but that didn't work either, though it would if I made my own pattern for it.  This one has the possibility of being wearable, but I'm not sure.  Eh.  Oh well, they don't all turn out.

I'm fairly certain those are all the disasters I have for now.  I'm working on a shirt that may end up in that category too...


~Nikki

I've been wanting to make these for years.  Seriously, I bought the pattern even before I began sewing, before I bought I pair of silk ones in China, just, way forever ago.  FINALLY made some!  Probably the easiest project I've ever done.  There was some gauze in a colour I loved for sale at Hancock, so I picked some up and also bought some chiffon-weight material as a lining (1/2 sheer+1/2 sheer=opaque?).  I stuck in Bride and Prejudice, started and finished it!

And she said I think I remember the film and as I recall I think we both kind of liked and I said, well, that's the one thing we've got

This was my inspiration.  I'm going to a reunion in Chicago and there is a cocktail party.  Would you believe it, I don't own a black dress.  Anyway, I've been planning on making this dress even without a reason for MONTHS.  This was the perfect opportunity.  And, going with tradition, I wait until the last minute to finish it :P

Okay, well, this was the first ANYTHING I've ever made without a pattern.  I've spliced patterns together, altered patterns, but this started with absolutely nothing.  It was rough, let me tell you.  Kind of exciting though!  It took me a lot of mock up fabric to get things right, but whatever.  I enjoy it.  It isn't perfect, and I wanted to make it shorter and less formal, but I'm enjoying it.  I'm wondering what length it should be though.  Most of my dresses are vintage and therefore longer, but my mom said I was too young for that.  I'm thinking it can be made shorter without cutting off the length so I can change it later, but I'd have to sew the hem up probably while I'm in Chicago.

The reason I waited so long to post pictures was because I was having a VERY unphotogenic day yesterday, but nothing can be done about it.  Excuse my stupid face.

Realisation::

Man, I was really having picture issues yesterday, you don't know how many I had to take to get these few.  Anyway, that last one is with the dress quickly pinned up to a shorter length.  I'm not sure I have time to change it, but let me know what you think!
Some construction notes: The fabric is much more textured and much less shiny than it looks, it has a horizontal noticeable grain (think dupioni - esque).  There is a side zipper, one of the shoulders unlatches and there is a semi-high slit up the left side.  I didn't line the bodice or the skirt, since it is to be worn in summer, but there are obviously facings.

Anyway, that is it!

Oh!  And guess what!  I'm going to be in Chicago an extra day with no one to hang out with and dude, I found like, a motherload fabric store.  VOGUE fabrics!  From Vogue pattern company?  I'm so excited :)  It may be too expensive, but I'll let you know how it goes :)

~Nikki

Since my partner and I both received our stuff, time to post it!
For those who don't know, on Craftster there are 'swaps' with different themes that people create and you sign up for.  There is a set number of projects (and the sizes of the projects) and then you send them to the person the swap mod set you up with! 
So, since it was the beginning of summer, I signed up for a Vegan/Vegetarian swap!

Here is the stuff I SENT

One of my market bags, inside all fused plastic as usual.  'Too Cute To Eat' on one side, and 'Powered by Tofu' on the other.  Then, the box is a recipe box, with recipe cards inside, double happiness on the top in gold paint.  I had fun painting that :)  And then little magnets, ideally, to hold the cards up while cooking.
And no, I didn't send my cat.

Next post: What I received!  Really awesome stuff, so prepare yourself :)

~Nikki

I'm so excited!!  My partner looks great!  An artist, which is always a good sign!  She is a semi-vegetarian (I've already stalked her blog :P) so I'll have to come up with something to push her all the way!  Man, this'll be awesome, I have so many ideas!  I'm annoyed I can't really get started until after finals. It'll be a nice treat for getting through  MY LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL.  Crazy.  Seems so unreal.

Maybe I shouldn't work on it till after the mother's day presents anyway...

Anyway, expect updates on my Mum's Day gifts!  My swap updates will be on LJ since it is friendslocked and she can't see it :P

Mum
I started 2 bags for her.  The first just didn't work out because I couldn't find any applique fabric to match the colour/design of it.  So, I opted for a plain canvas instead.  It is going to have a green band around the bottom, which I haven't done before, I hope it turns out.  And since I'm totally at a loss of what to put on it, it is just going to be flowers and butterflies and bunnies and happy things :)  She enjoys that.
Btw, here is the market bag I made her last Christmas
She is using more and more reusable bags and always gives them to me or my sister when she brings stuff to us, so she needs more.  Mine are cuter than the ones at the grocery store :P

Anyway, that's all for now.  Off to school to dread finals.

~Nikki

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Finished this today instead of doing homework....just wasn't in the mood, lol.
Patches all done by me, two pockets on the inside.  Very durable bag as the only thing I had lying around to line it with was a heavy black canvas material. 
No pattern, just threw it together off the top of my head.  There needs to be some sort of closure on the top, though.  I'm thinking button + loop, unless I can find one of those magnetic snaps or something.  But, other than that.  Ready to be used!

I don't know what else to call it.  I don't often make any new patterns, usually just vintage ones.  And every time I try I realise why I don't....they just never turn out.  I put this one together today.  It was really easy but it I just don't like it now that it is constructed.  Of course, this is the trap I fall into.  I get discouraged and never finish it.  But I'm going to work to try and make this one wearable.  The front and the back gape.  Badly.  Bodices never fit me right, so I should have figure that one out. The hems (all but the bottom, I haven't done that one yet) are really awkward.  The fabric just doesn't work well with it. 
1) Move the front and back 'overlaps' so that it doesn't gape.  (which sucks, because I 'serged' that part...damn).  Not to mention it is entirely too low cut in the front and back to wear anything underneath.  Moving the 'overlaps' will most likely solve that problem though.
2)Do something to the hems.  Maybe put a line of something on it?  A trim, rick rack, jewels, small embroidery?  It would solve that problem but I'm also think that maybe it would make it too heavy and do something weird.  I think it is the fabric with this pattern, it just isn't working.
Anything tropical or beachy would work, which gives me quite a few options.
3) Way off the pattern, but maybe take in the sides a bit and put in a zipper to make it more fitted?  That'll be the last resort after I try everything else.

My problem is that there are so many patterns I want to make over spring break!  Damn.  I'm annoyed this didn't turn out the first time around

The second picture shows the weird hem thing.  Do you think any of those ideas would work?

The pattern is Simplicity 3503
You know.  I actually have a lot of this fabric left over....maybe I should try making one of the different tops for it? 

.....Any suggestions?

~Nikki

Alive?  Why yes, I am still around.  I've been so busy I haven't spent much time on the computer other than writing up court briefs and the like.  I'll try not to disappear for so long.
I finished up a project though.  A little house-dress from a 60's pattern

I'm not hugely proud of it, it just isn't terribly flattering in my opinion (but then again, most 60's patterns aren't), but I never really intended for it to be worn out, I intended it as a house dress.  And hey, we can't just post pictures of what we are hugely proud of, got to get the whole spectrum
.

After I had cut out most of the pieces I realised that the front bodice pattern was missing (Note to self: Always check pieces of vintage patterns BEFORE cutting), so I had to make one up myself.  Not bad for a first shot at drafting pieces of my own pattern.  I wanted the neckline a bit lower than the original pattern anyway.  Even made my own facings and everything :)
Really easy to make, went pretty fast.  Working with fabric that is wrinkly and plaid is sort of a pain, especially when you can't iron it (I wanted it to stay wrinkled -- I had to use a mini iron just for the seams).  But actually, when I think about it, it worked out because you could focus on lining up the plaid lines to make it even...

So, just a cute little vintage back-wrap dress in happy summer fabric :)  I needed to make something summery.  And the dress is growing on me the more I look at it too.


Well, there we go, first finished project in a while!  I have bought TONS of fabric lately.  No time to make patterns, but I have ideas of what I want to use the fabric for, so when I have time, I'll be able to get started.  Many more vintage dresses on the way!  Maybe I'll have time during Spring Break :)

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I made some for Christmas, but the problem with those is that once Christmas is over, you can't use them for another year.  With school starting, I knew I needed an apron.  There was reasoning behind that statement, lol.  I don't want to have to change when I come home for a few hours to cook lunch since I (occasionally) wear nice clothes to school.  So, here we are, a crazy coloured, year round apron :)  I loved the fabric, lol.  I didn't have enough of it that I could really play with the placement of the pattern pieces on the pattern, but I like the way it came out nonetheless.
I have to say though....I hate making these things.  The pattern is such a pain in the ass.  This is the same new/vintage pattern as the Christmas ones.  If I ever feel the urge again, I will stick to a half apron :P

Anyway, I have other projects to work on, this was just something I needed :)  Too bad I like aprons so much.  I need some better patterns.  Once I recover from spending $30 on a lot of vintage patterns on ebay, maybe I'll look for some.  They are just so popular now though, expensive!  Maybe I'll make my own :)

NO!  Stop Nikki, no projects to work on, SCHOOL to work on.  Court briefs to write.  Stop slacking, Nikki.