Friday, December 30, 2011

Ruffles for the New Year

                               New Years 2011 but in with New Years 2012


I sew for myself at the last minute sometimes because I have to envision what i want to look like. I go back and forth on the color and the style. Last years dress I used a Butterick pattern that is OOP Butterick  3137. I decided to add the the ruffles at the neck inspire by the Cynthia Rowley dress pattern Simplicity 2497. This is made out of embroidered taffeta.







This year I used a new Butterick pattern 5714. I  made a sheath dress to go under it in stretch knit using no pattern at all, there was little time to spare. As you see, last year the dress had no sleeves and I froze leaving the event even with a coat on. So was smarter this year (I dislike being cold) and made a dress coat which the coat is the dress in my opinion not to be worn with out the sheath dress.





I had bought this red taffeta and ruffled taffeta in Miami but couldn't decide what I wanted out of it. So I will put it in my stash for another party or New Years.


So here is the 2012 coat dress. I lined the entire jacket. I made the cuffs the opposite of the fabric. They were added not apart of the pattern. I was sewing by the seat of my bum because I finished this jacket at 8:00pm on Saturday night. But Boyfriend said I look great and I value his opinion on what I wear because he has a great eye style.





Not sure what's in store for the next New Years Eve Party I have 12 months to ponder and not sew it the day before or 2 hours before I put it on. But I can do some of my best work for myself under pressure. Right now I am pondering a knit gown I saw in Mannequim magazine.

The Fabric Stores for Royalty or that's what I saw

My Boyfriend and I spent 8 days in Miami to celebrate his birthday and Christmas. So of course while there he had to tour some of the fabric stores.

The trip to find fabric stores in Miami was easy. Google maps works great along with the Miami-Dade transit system of trains, buses and the Metro Mover.  The layout of the city is easy to navigate.   Taxis are available but we only used them at night time to get to South Beach.

We went to Rex Fabrics: Fabrics from Around the World they have a website http://www.rexfabrics.com/
They definitely had fabric from around the word.  All of the Italian designers and famous designers are there. They post pictures from the Fashion runway catalogs next to the designer’s fabrics. I thought I had descended into a dream world. I would walk by and touch and feel what I could but others you just have to stand and look at. They have the most expensive fabric I have ever seen in my life. And I thought I saw expensive in New York but this takes the cake.





We went to Isa Couture as well. The fabric is not like a store but is laid out like a fashion house. Ear winged chairs and carpeted floors and the fabric on bolts laid on shelves. This store had couture fabrics as well. Beautiful wedding lace and fabrics or all kinds, and the store has 2 floors with an elevator.

We went to Ultra Fabric they had really nice knits and silks as well.  I didn’t get a picture of the sign. It sits in a strip mall. We went to the fabric stores in downtown Miami but I didn’t get pics.  Linda fabrics and Carol fabrics.  Boyfriend found fabric to make bow ties. I bought fabric to make a new Years eve dress. 
Since I wasn’t the designated driver I could indulge on a few Mojitos and 1 martini.  But I did manage to work out in the hotel gym 3 days while there. But we also walked blocks after we ate and after each train stop or bus ride we had blocks to walk or stairs to climb. I can say we made it a green friendly trip by not renting a car and I was happy to not have to drive as I drive everyday 7 days a week.

All these but No sewing Going On!

We (the Happy Boyfriend and I) went to Alton Road Mall in South Beach Miami for Christmas and while window shopping and walking along I saw these sewing a machines. So I had to go inside. This was a regular clothing store that had relics of old Singers in both windows and old vintage machines. I wasn’t impressed with the clothing because there was nothing of color. All the clothing was black or dark navy blue, we did see some nice 100% wool sweater and a wool dress.  These are clearly Vintage but really make for a nice display.



Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Been Here but Starting Here



I have been inspired by others who love to sew and are creating clothing we love.

I love to sew and do it most everyday and have a sewing business. I  love Burda magazine but Vogue does it make fashion forward clothing that I have admired all my sewing life. I have started collecting some Mannequim patterns that I discovered on the blog Fehr Trade. I have been sewing since I was 13 because I was to old to go to camp and to old to get a job. But found that as I learned to sew it relaxed me. Besides it was gratifying to wear something I made and know that it was a one of a kind. My mother taught me and her mantra was "sew and make clothing that to the average person it doesn't look like you made it."  When I was 15 I one a raffle to get $25 worth of fabric from the Piece Goods Shop.

Pattern: Vogue 1250, Donna Karen

Project details: Fabric Black and White hounds tooth ITY knit

Sizing: I cut the size 8


I have made three of these dress, I needed this one  for a black and white party in New york. I had this fabric for years and it was right on time. Hounds tooth is in but is a classic print.  It is an ITY knit from some store in Philly I have had it in my stash for 3 years. I made a dress for a friend out of the first 2 yards.

This dress is easy to wear and was super easy to make. It only has 2 pieces.


I used the rest of the fabric for a color block dress which I will post soon.