McCall’s 7531 Round 2

I love this pattern, quick and easy. The choice of fabric makes the dress and in this case, I made this dress with this lovely printed knit from Angel’s Textiles in Los Angeles, CA for the second time. Yes, the same dress and the same fabric for Round 2, why?

Front – Round 1

Back – Round 1

Well the first time I made it I didn’t lay the fabric correctly. Fabric should be laid selvage to selvage when working with knits, this allows the fabric to stretch where it needs to be stretched. SO when I tried on the first dress, after I had completely finished it, it was so tight I couldn’t get it off and I had to cut it straight down the front to get it off. CRAZY!!! I saved that fabric and will use it to make a clutch or a head wrap, That’s how much I love this fabric.

I purchased 4 yards of this fabric so there was enough to make the dress again for Round 2. I checked and double checked to be sure I laid the fabric correctly this time. I tried it on, once I had it all assembled and it fit perfectly. From there I serged the inside to make it as pretty as the outside.

I wore this dress today for a very special reason – my mom was being honored at the California State Capitol as Woman of the Year for her District. It was an amazing experience and very much deserved as she is one of the hardest working women I know. I am so proud of her.

McCall’s 7531 – Learn to Sew for Fun

Misses Very Close Fitted Dress

Size Cut – Medium

Level – Easy to follow, great for beginners

Fabric – Stretch Knit

My Space -Sewing in the Living Room

My Sewing Space is nothing fancy, but it is where I create my garments. I love the space I have and I am very thankful that it is mine. There is plenty of space for all of my patterns, sewing notions, sewing machines and sergers, fabric, and anything else sewing related.

I realize that my space is taking up all of the Formal and Dining Room Space, but we don’t have visitors much and those that do visit are family and understand that I work on my garments at home. They all respect my craft.

Hopefully at some point I will be able to have my own space with a door where I can close it and know one will know if it is clean or not. Right now it is in the open space and I, myself feel guilty about not having it clean and all put together when I walk through the front door.

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My Pattern Storage. This cabinet holds all of my patterns. At last count this (according to my Pinterest Board), there are approximately 600 – 750 Patterns housed here. I have the major patterns, McCalls, New Look, Butterick, Simplicity, Burda, Kwik Sew, and Vogue. I also have a few other brands that include, Cotton and Chalk, and Simply Sewing. img_2265-1

My machines, this the heart of where all my work gets completed. There are 2 Sergers and 3 Sewing Machines that live in this space in front of these 2 large windows that have so much natural light when the sun is shining, which is a lot. My main go to Sewing Machine right now is my Babylock Aria. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this machine. This machine does everything, there are still somethings that I haven’t discovered. I have 2 brother machines that I purchased from Costco. The first brother was purchased when I was into scrapbooking and I wanted to create borders around my scrapbook pages. I couldn’t figure out how to thread it and it sat in the box for about 2 years before I was able to figure it out with the help of YouTube. The second brother machine was an impulse buy because it was such a good price at Costco and I couldn’t pass it up.

I use both of the Sergers equally. One is a Babylock Ovation and the other is a Brother, yep purchased at Costco, don’t sleep on Costco, they have great machines. I keep black thread in one and white thread in the other. When I am sewing they are both on and ready to roll. They make all your garments look as good on the inside as it does on the outside and I love that I have the ability to have that professional look, made by me. img_2261-1 My Library – I keep my books on top of this shelf, so I can easily access them when I need to reference a technique or look up a fabric option. I am a bookworm at heart and I love to read. There is a lot of knowledge here on this shelf. In the bins are all of my notions that are not out for display. I keep my extra thread, serger thread, an extra iron, interfacing, some fabric scraps ( I don’t keep all), bias tape, elastic, zippers, buttons, and all other notions. I know I missed some.

Workspace in use. As you can see all my things out on display, when a project is being completed. I typically work one project at a time, unless I am having a cutting party. A cutting party, is when I will cut out multiple patterns, but not the fabric until I am ready to sew them up. This saves me lots of time on the weekends when I actually sew my projects.

My Fabric Stash. Yes this is my stash and not actual store. I have been asked if it was a store. LOL! I thought that was funny. I do shop for fabric faster than I sew, but that’s okay, because I have options. I love my stash.

Goodbye 2017, Happy Sew Year 2018

2017 has been a great year for me, with my sewing skills. I have improved on some skills, I have said “oh my gosh, what was I thinking” to some garments, and the one thing that I am so proud of is my enrollment in school for Fashion Design.

I am starting at Sacramento City College, taking the basic classes and moving my way up the ladder, well I kind of have no choice but to start at the basic level, because all the classes build off of each other. I have learned so much after one semester and I am actually enjoying what I am learning. Once I have completed all the courses at the Community College level I will go on to Sacramento State University.

Here are few of the garments I completed in 2017, I would have to say that these are my favorites.

The Infamous Vogue 9253 I was sure this dress would break the internet. There were so many posts of this beautiful dress on the McCall’s Facebook page and they were all just fabulous.

: McCalls 7664

I love this jacket. Quick and easy to make and the bias tape trimming gives it life!!!

Simply but classy. This dress is a must-have. Depending on what fabric you use it can be dressy or casual. LOVE this pattern!!!

Okay, can we talk bodysuits? Bodysuits are making a comeback and this is the first of many for me. The pattern was easy to follow and this stretch velvet fabric- HEAVEN!!!!

This fabric is FIRE!!! This photo does nothing for it. It is a stretch knit that I found at Angels Textiles in Los Angeles, CA. I wish I would have purchased more.

Modified Burda 7065 using a Mimi G tutorial, what girl doesn’t love a Little Black Dress?

This dress was hot for the summer. I wore at the Mimi G Style Conference in Los Angeles in July, so did a lot of other women, but none of them were the same. This is a go to pattern for sure. 2 pieces and a neckband, quick, easy, and cute!

My biggest fan and I on our 20th Wedding Anniversary

This guy right here is the BEST Husband ever. He loves me for me, supports all I do and NEVER, EVER complains. He even went pattern hunting for me, more than once. He is patient and even sits at the table at the fabric store while I do my shopping. It helps a lot when you have someone that supports your hobby. I love me some him. He is awesome!!!

20140910_070635-1 — My first project – self drafted skirt

One of the very first maxi skirts that I made once I was able to get my machine threaded correctly. One seam up the back, elastic waistband, and a hem. I was so proud of this skirt that I made like 4 more the next week.

I “borrowed” the bookshelf for my fabric stash. I need to see what I have. Of course this stash has grown even more since this photo was taken. I now have this shelf and 2 large sized rubber mate tubs filled with fabric. Shh, don’t tell.

This is my workspace. I am the proud owner of 3 Sewing machines (1 Babylock and 2 Brothers, which I purchased at Costco), 2 Sergers (1 Babylock and 1 Brother, also from Costco). Believe it or not I use all the machines, depending on the project. Sometimes I have 3 of them in use, so I don’t have to change the thread.

I wore this dress for the Mimi g Fashion Show. It was a great experience and I was so nervous, but I can proudly say that I have been in a Fashion Show wearing my own handmade design. That was a huge accomplishment for me.

Made this to wear on a date with my husband and the weather turned cold. I have it for next year.

Love this simply pattern. Pink Camo was a hit this summer and yep, I jumped on the bandwagon.

This dress was my everything and it didn’t fit. I was in a rush to make it and failed to do the fitting, went to wear it and the bust needed an adjustment. I was so sad. Well at least it looks good on “Brianna”, my dress form. I know for the next time I make it, that I need to make that adjustment.

I am so ready for 2018. I have my planners out and all ready to go. Here’s looking to a Happy Sew Year!!!

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McCall’s 7020 Poncho Season

I am so in Love with Poncho’s right now. This is McCall’s 7020, super EASY to sew and it has pockets. Who doesn’t love pockets? img_20150704_172417-1 I used a Jacquard Knit fabric purchased from Michael Levine’s of Los Angeles, CA last year. I really loved this fabric and the way it drapes on the hood in the finished garment. I cut a size medium, but will make it in a small on the second one, as it fits really roomy in the medium. The instructions were simple and easy to follow. For the next Poncho I may switch to a lighter weight fabric, just to be able to wear it now. The weather here hasn’t changed to cooler temperatures, except for in the early morning hours.

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McCall’s 7255 Poncho

It may not be quite cold enough for a Poncho here in California, but I sure do hope the weather will change and soon. Made this quick and easy Poncho out of a lightweight sweater knit fabric from The Loft at Michael Levine’s in Los Angeles. If I remember correctly it was about 4 yards left and I took it all. The pattern isa Misses’ Poncho with a Belt. I made View C which does not require the belt, but will be making the belted view, View E soon. I cut a size medium, but probably could cut the size small. I like my ponchos a little roomy. I like to wrap up in them when it is cold.