Category: Simplicity

Simplicity 8382 Learn to Sew-View A

This simple easy to make dress, took about an hour to complete. Had I not been watching TV while making it, it could have taken less time. This a great piece for summer, although Fall is fast approaching, I think I can squeeze out one, maybe two more before the weather turns to true Fall weather.

There are 2 pieces to this dress, the front and back, the tie string for the neck, and one piece of elastic for the back. I used a single knit fabric purchased from Angel’s Textiles in Los Angeles, CA. This fabric was $3.00 per yard and it is super soft.

I made View A for this one as the fringe on View B is cute, it wasn’t my style. I like a long maxi. I did trim off 4inches from the bottom to adjust to my height and it hits perfectly to wear with flats and wedges.

Bye for now, time to go Sew Something!!!

Goodbye Valentino Ready to Wear Challenge 6 month update

It has been 6 months since I joined the Goodbye Valentino Ready to Wear Challenge. I thought it would befitting that I provide you with a half way mark update. Well, I La Riesha Simmons have NOT, I repeat have NOT, bought one single item of ready to wear clothing during this time. I am so proud of myself. Before joining this challenge I would purchase something clothing related at least 4-5 in a month. That’s just ridiculous. My shopping was more of a want and not a need.

With this challenge I have paid off some credit card bills I created, I am able to save more, and the best benefit of all is that I am sewing more and learning new things about my sewing machine, the Babylock Aria, that turned one year’s old this month. I just love her. Happy Birthday Aria.

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As you can tell I am enjoying every single minute that I get to sew or share my creations on my blog, instagram, and facebook. I am proud of myself, if I can’t be proud of myself, I can’t expect anyone else to be proud of. I am my own cheering squad. 🙂

So, what have I made during these last 6 months? Well here are my makes so far for 2018. There are lots more to come, some easy, some intermediate, and I have my eye on an advanced piece that for sure will help me to increase my skills.  Happy Sewing Everyone.

Simplicity 8655 Misses’ Top

I love this top. It is super easy to make. It is a Mimi G for Simplicity pattern which means it has a YouTube video with the instructions. I completed it without the YouTube video, but ended up watching the video later.

I cut a size M. It looked like the photo on the pattern envelope and I am in love with the outcome. I see another in my future.

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I originally made this top to go over a maxi dress that has the back cut too low and I wanted to cover it with this top. Well the weather changed and the wind picked up, so I decided to style with the jeans for a casual Friday look.

 

 

Here my mannequin Breanna is wearing the top, this way you can see the fabric better. I get that taking the photos under the tree with the green top did not give the best photos. I still love the top and the photos.

 

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Summer 2018 Pattern Haul Part 1

Each time a new pattern is released, I have to have it. LOL!!! Not really it’s a want, not a need. McCall’s and Simplicity have been my go to patterns for a long time. I purchase from Burda, Butterick, New Look, and Vogue as well, but I find that when I make a list of sewing items, McCall’s and Simplicity are ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS on my list.  With the last pattern sale, I purchased a few more patterns for my stash. Here I have shared a few of what I have purchased and the views I intend to make. Don’t hold me to the view, as I am constantly changing my mind. the change usually comes with what fabric I have picked out, if the weather has changed, the occasion I am wearing it for, lately the items I have been making are for work.

Well here is my pattern haul for Summer 2018:

McCall’s MP688 also McCall’s 7752 Misses’ Top

My view the top left choice with the upper and lower peplum bottom. This pattern is in pieces and you can select the pieces to create the look you want. My choice would include the following pieces 1. bra, 4. strap, 7. midriff with upper and lower peplum.  The fabric suggestions for these tops are Poplin, Cotton Blends, Gingham, and Shantung. I am thinking a Gingham print will be cute for this one.

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McCall’s 7790 Misses’ Jacket and Belt

I have fallen in love with view B. The only thing is the extra fabric in the sleeve, does not always look good on short body types. I am of short body type, all of 4’11 tall of me. LOL! I have always been a rebel, so yep you guessed it I am going to make anyway. If there are modifications that need to be made I am sure I can work it out. Fabric choices for this beauty are Crepes, Drapery Wovens, Stable Knits, and Challis. I am just starting to get of sewing everything in a knit fabric, so this will help me on my journey.

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Simplicity 8635 Misses’ Dress, Jumpsuit and Romper

I am in love with Jumpsuits right now. Is it because they are so cute and versatile? Maybe it is because I had success in the first one that I made a few weeks ago, blog coming soon for that one too. So now that you know I love jumpsuits, my view choice is view C. The back of this jumpsuit in the right print fabric will be fire, now let me find the right fabric. LOL!!! Fabric options for this pattern are Batiks, Chambray, Cotton Lawn, Cotton Types, Crepe de Chine, Lightweight Denim (not this time of year in the California heat), Linen Types, and Silky Types. I can’t wait to cut into this one.

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Simplicity 8137 Misses’ And Plus Size Wrap Dresses, Top, and Pants

This pattern is going to be everything, it has all the pieces in one pattern. That makes me happy. More than likely I will be starting off with the View A, the Maxi Wrap Dress, of course I will need to modify the length, but that is an easy fix. Next will be the top, View C. I don’t have enough tops and find my sleeve putting a cardigan over all that I wear. Then last will be pants, View D, I am in the learning process of making pants and hope to have those skills mastered in no time. Fabric options for this pattern are Batiks, Challis, Chambray, Cotton Types, Crepe Back Satin, Gingham, Linen Types, Poplin, Sateen and for Views ABC, Double Georgette, and Crepe De Chine. Not sure which fabric type I will pick for the dress, but I need something in a bold powerful print.

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There are lots more patterns that I have selected and I will continue next week with another blog post for those. Happy Sewing everyone.

 

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_2261-1My 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. img_2220

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.

 

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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.