By the book

Quote of the day:

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me. This is what you people do!!!!!! "

That was my initial reaction upon flipping through Singer's "The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing" which I never would have purchased if I realized 1/2 of it was taken up with home dec stuff. You see folks, I am a self taught sewist. After reading this book, I don't even think I could call myself "self taught". Because I never bothered to look up any proper methods. I've never even looked at a sewing reference book aside from some Threads magazines- and I always figured their complexly intricate methods were some kind of insider couture practice. It's a good thing the big 4 now assume we are all sew dumb, because I think the pattern instructions are where I've learned most of what I know - aside from bugging Karen.

According to this book, I've not even been pinning my fabric properly! It's a wonder anything I've made is wearable! At least now I know why I keep losing the buttons on my velour jacket :) So much to know, so little brain space left...

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January Review (aka: the one dress I finished)

That's right folks- one. I don't count Boopina's because she did the bulk of it herself.

Simplicity 2724

I finally posted the review, and I keep thinking of little things that I should have mentioned. Like the ruffling on my dress doesn't look quite as ruffly as the pattern pic. That might be the fabric, though, because the muslin (left) was ok.

And I wasn't crazy about the zipper placement. Maybe it was just too long. I don't think it helped the bellishness of the skirt. Then again, after reading the Singer bible, it might have just been my technique ;)

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It's February, and I still owe you a sewing backstory, a jacket with $8 buttons, and some accountability.

But I'm going to go sew lingerie now.

Spread the love :)

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

I came theeees close to having both dresses done in time for the Karate awards dinner.



It only needed the zipper finishing and the bottom hem, but it just wasn't physically possible in time. I'm sensing a disturbing trend. I ended up wearing the galaxy dress instead, so all was not lost.

Boopina was super excited about her dress and was telling anyone who would listen that she made it.


Here she is in her "I don't yet know I'm Student of the Year" glow :) She's so awesome.

I finished her dress about an hour before we left. Here is an in process shot:
Notice all those little pieces? If you try this pattern, make sure you label them clearly. Trust me.
My machine suffered a mysterious, but thankfully brief, total loss of bobbin thread tension during the evening.

I tried everything. I actually took this picture to post a "help me" on the message boards, but when I tried my machine again an hour later it was fine. I am at a loss.

I'll finish up my dress and post reviews next week, sometime after I dig out of the filth that has become of my house.


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Because of the awards dinner dress making frenzy, I've been neglecting my quilting. I did manage to get a a real square made:

Or is that a block? I have to admit the quilting lingo escapes me. And I have no idea what kind of pattern this is - I just cut strips and pieced them in rows. I figure after I bore of this pattern I'll just mix in whatever else comes to mind. I'll have a few small quilts made before I get all the materials for the memorial quilt.

This quiltmaking thing is going to be an exercise in precision for me. Notice my uneven end strips? I'm usually a willy-nilly sewist, and this will be some much needed practice.

coming soon: a sewing backstory...

Reason I'm Glad I Sew #4,000,000,007

The RTW disappearing trim. arg. My pet peeve is trim that doesn't continue around the back. And no, I don't buy it that they are trying to keep my hair from tangling in it. I'm keeping an eye out for matching ribbon to try to finish this one.

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The muslin of my awards dinner dress S2724 is done. Here it is in living color and in super exposed flash color.

I can't tell you how helpful that little extra "how-to" paper from the Project Runway curve ruler has been with figuring out pattern changes. I think I'm going to have a bunch of changes, too. This review is going to be fun...

I'm digging into the fashion fabric tomorrow, which is pretty close in color to the muslin fabric.

Boopina's muslin (oh she's gonna love me) is underway, as well.

M5380. She's basically done everything herself. I had to take a few deep breaths as she first started using my machine. Normally, nobody touches daMomma's machine. Nobody. But she's doing great, and I really think she likes it.

No. Seriously.

Well, I know she likes the sewing part of it anyway. I think when she sees the finished product next week, she'll be hooked :)

We are both going to have the same pale turquoise crepe-backed satin. This stuff has been in my stash for over 4 years, purchased for a dress that was supposed to be worn to a tattoo convention (that's a blog for another day). I'm thinking of playing with the gloss/flat sides for the front panels of her dress and the ruffle detail and sash on mine.

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The jacket is just going to have to wait, because I can't wait to get my hands on some loungewear.

Stop the Presses (or in this case, the jacket)

Finally. The kid wants to make a dress.
:) gleeful mommy.

She wandered into the sewing room today and asked "What's that on Beth?"

!!! interest in sewing stuff!!!

"Just a jacket."- you've seen the jacket- totally boring to an 11-year old. She's walking away.

"But I was just thinking I'm going to make a dress for the Karate Awards Dinner". (yes, I said it in bold.)

I get an eyebrow raise.

"Check out this fabric".

I whip out a creamy crepe-backed satin in her absolute fav shade of turquoise. The eyes light up... almost got her...

I show her my dress pattern. S2724.

"Oh, nice." Uh oh. Losing her.

"Not your style?" Head shake as she's turning to go.

"Well, what kind of dress would you make if you could?"

She stops. Silence. I'm hoping at this moment all those episodes of Project Runway are rushing back to her... She turns back around...

"Well," she begins, "I'd want straps like this (she motions spaghetti straps) and the top to go across like this..." and so it goes. She described a dress, I whipped out my patterns and... Voila! We are making a dress! :)

M5380 view A

I'm hoping I'll have enough satin so we can have matching fabric!

;) I am such a dork.