It has been a while since I have sat down at my sewing machine and completed a garment. I have 2 that I am working on completing this week. The first one is Simplicity 9544 View C. I started this jumpsuit in October with Carol’s Sewing Corner on Facebook. It is 95% complete, it needs the buttons attached and I ordered beads for the hardware for vthe waist tie.
I was looking forward to this one and actually wearing it before the weather changed. It didn’t happen and we are now in a rainstorm, so once complete I will be doing indoor photos with this one.
I started this one the week of Christmas and it has been hanging on Brittany, my mannequin, half done. It needs the sleeves finished and the bottom attached. My son, he’s almost 25, in a few weeks, asked if I were going to wear pants under it. Huh? What? No I hadn’t planned on it, guessing he thinks its too short. I am only 4’11”, so more than likely it is going to be real dress on me and not a “mini” dress as the pattern states. I do like the booties with it that the model is wearing, so more than likely I will pair it with leggings and a booties. I’ll keep the son happy and stay warm at the same time.
For now these are my sewing goals. I am also looking for an outfit to make for Valentine’s Day dinner with my husband. I haven’t decided if I want to do a jumpsuit, which you all know is my favorite, a dress, or a pants and jacket combo. I just don’t know. So for now I am going through my patterns to see if anything jumps out at me.
What are your sewing plans? Leave me a comment. Happy sewing!
Fashion is art and you are the canvas. ~Velvet Paper
This challenge was exactly what I needed to spark that SEW-JO I so needed. I love this and I may repeat this each month, a girl can never have to many Me Made Garments in her closet.
So just to recap what the Challenge consisted of, sew using the patterns and fabric from your stash. Don’t BUY any new patterns or fabric, unless you need the fabric, to finish off a garment. I thought this was genius and started using the structure of this challenge in other parts of my day to day adventures as well. Like what, you ask? For example, we buy facial products and the nice lady at the checkout counter provides you with all these samples, some are samples of the very same products you are purchasing. I am using those, as I don’t travel much and when I do, it’s usually in the car and not on an airplane. Where can you use the rules for this challenge in your life? I also blogged about the challenge here in my 2020 Sewing plans. Go check it out if you haven’t already.
So what did I make during the Stashed Gems Challenge?
Week 1 Tops
Yes you have seen this top, probably 1 million times, from me alone. LOL!!! It is a quick and easy top and it helped me with busting my stash of knits.
This baseball tee, New Look 6230, I love the fit and the white fabric is super soft. I selected the gray for the sleeves because it is a little shear and I didn’t want to line this t-shirt.
The 2 bottom tops are Simplicity 8988. I didn’t do the raw edges on the outside, as I simply forgot that was the concept of the top. Ay yi yi, I am a creature of habit. So since I didn’t do the outside seams, I made it off the shoulder without the ties. I plan on using it for lounge wear in the house. I plan on making this one, the right way, blue in a sweatshirt knit I have in my stash. The fabric selected for this one was a sweatshirt knit as well.
Week 2 Skirt and Dresses
Yep, again McCall’s 8982 in the Dress. I don’t fit skirts well, store bought or Me Made, so you won’t see skirts from me, until i truly learn how to measure myself for the perfect fit. It’s another thing I have on my learn to-do sewing list. Pants and skirts. All the fabric here is knit fabrics purchased from Michael Levine’s way back in 2016. The black, pink, red fabric is a border print, so I placed the top and the bottom on the black portion of the border in order to give it that affect of matching the top and bottom. I then placed the sleeve on the floral section, with just a tiny bit of black to have a flowing of the pattern effect. That one is my favorite.
Week 3 Pants and Jumpsuits
This week has been a real struggle, school has started back and I am spending at least 2-3 hours a night doing homework, for just one class, MATH. Not my best subject either, but hey I am going to push through. I have a pair of jeans that I want to make and I think I picked a fairly easy pattern, but something about Jeans that just makes me nervous. I guess I just need to get it done.
The pattern I have selected for my jeans is Simplicity 8701. I have a denim fabric with 5% Spandex that I think will do the job. I will start on the fitting , take my time, and see how it goes. I am thinking to do a muslin first, but this fabric was so low priced, that if they don’t fit I won’t be to upset about it. Hoping to have them completed in about 2 weeks, to allow myself time to focus on making them and not feel rushed.
So on that note stay tuned…..
Week 4 Outerwear/Sportswear
I made this cape, Simplicity A1226, using some pink and gray flannel. I think I bought this at Joann Fabrics, but it has been in my stash so long I can’t remember. The pattern is also out of print. I thought I had found one on Etsy, but when I clicked the link it stated that the page was no longer available. Oh boy look at all those scraps, under the table, I have been busy in January with my sewing. I LOVE IT!!! There are a few more days left in the Stashed Gems Challenge it ends on February 2, 2020. My plan is to continue on with busting down my stash and using the patterns I have already all year long. I am planning a trip to Los Angeles, in April, so of course I’ll be stopping by the Fashion District for some Spring/Summer pieces. In between now and April I am planning to make a list of makes, so that way I can select the fabrics needed, instead of just going hog wild, because they are all so pretty, that’s how I usually approach fabric shopping, but now I need shop smarter.
I will also be making my first make for someone else, so I heed good fabric, for that dress. I am excited for that too. Sewing for others has been on my list to do and now I have the opportunity to do it. So I am on it.
Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses. -Kobe Bryant
Hello all my beautiful sewists. I have come to the decision to relaunch my blog, in a few weeks, I need figure out exactly what I need it to be. I realize it needs some work done on it and I am going to take the time now to work on it. I will be adding additional content, such as, but not limited to, fashion, food, and lifestyle, pretty much all the things I love and do regularly. I felt as if I was limiting myself to only sewing. My sewing projects will be still be part of my content, as sewing is what I love most. With expanding my content I believe it be more exciting.
So for now enjoy a few of my favorite makes below. I’ll be back in a few weeks or so with a new look and new content. I will continue to post my makes as I work on my blog’s relaunch.
This dress has been on my list of makes for at least 2 years. I finally got around to making it for an upcoming trip. It was super easy to make and it has pockets. I love a dress with pockets.
There are 2 pieces to the bodice, front and back, along with the elastic and neck tie. I really need to invest in a point turner for the neck tie, that would make it os much easier to turn it to the right side once the seam has been sewn.
There is a front and back piece to the skirt with the pockets (4 pieces, 2 for each side), elastic waistband, and the waist tie.
I can thank my daughter for taking the photos of me wearing 99% of my garments. She has some mad skills behind the camera and this time she only rushed me twice. Love this kid.
And of course I forgot to wear the belt in the photos.
I cut this one in an extra small and remove 4 inches from the bottom. This dress can be worn with wedges or flats, I made sure to make it versatile that way.
Riesha Nicolle 