Tag: sewing

Secrets.

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I haven’t posted in months! I am working away at the fit for my wedding dress. I have sewn three muslins so far, and its still not quite there. I found my fabric, it is being special order-ed and I am OH-SO-excited about it: silk charmeuse and silk chiffon, what luxuries. I have plans for my grandmother’s veil, it is not in the best shape so I took it to see if I could get new tulle. I want to keep the dress and veil a secret, but here’s some other stuff i made to distract you!
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Silky.

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A few weeks ago, Jacob took some things to the dry cleaner for me and the salesperson commented that “Your wife must really love silk.” Besides the wife comment (not yet!), I felt sort of embarrassed, but I DO love silk. Case in point:

1. A few months ago I attempted to make this Viviane dress, but had a huge fail. the fabric pattern I picked for the yoke just didn’t look right with any other fabric. I ended up going to Joanns and didn’t really think through the peacock green mother-of-the-bride-looking fabric before rushing to purchase it. I started sewing with it and really, really hated it and gave up. So a few weeks back, I gave the pattern another go with some silk I bought in Lyon. I was so excited to make this into a dress, but when I opened the fabric the whole way, I realized it was NOT two yards of fabric like the woman who sold it to me said, it was only ONE. So I very reluctantly made the shirt version of the pattern instead of the dress. I used some REAL Liberty of London for the yoke— I got that teeny, expensive piece of fabric in Sarlat.  Wow it is so luxurious— I think I have enough to make Jacob a bow tie out of the rest.

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French seamed! I added some top stitching to the shirt which helps— the silk is so delicate that its hard to hold up to the quilted yoke. I would really like to make this again as the dress and possibly use lace instead of quilting.

imagetopstitching.2. In other Silk News, I just finished a silk Hawthorn. It was my first try with a sleeve placket and I don’t think its terrible, but I can definitely use some more practice. The drape of this fabric is marvelous, it is so smooth and luxurious. Glad I found 5 yards for $10! I lined the skirt with some freebie ocean blue silk. This is not a quick sew, thats for sure, but I took my time with it and I think it paid off. I have been reading couture sewing books, and wanted to try interfacing with silk organza instead of fusible. I love the results! Thanks to Hannah for snapping some pics.
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one more dress…

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one more dress before we leave for France. I got this fabric when I visited A Verb for Keeping Warm with a beautifully talented friend. It’s a voile, and I lined it with some of that Britex muslin that I used with that Wiksten tank dress. The pattern is from the BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook, and I really like how basic yet fitted it is. I want to make more of this pattern. I made a muslin for this dress bodice, and I had a lot of fitting tweaks. I wish i would have paid closer attention to the back of the neck, because the final dress has a lot of gaping there. Overall, though, I am really happy with how this turned out. Très Parisen!

Currently reading: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Currently listening: How The Louvre Works Stuff You Should Know Podcast (France in 9 days!)

underlining.

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so i learned about underlining. its sort of like lining, but it lays against the shell fabric and is seamed in with it, so the two pieces act as one. its supposed to add body to the shell fabric (depending on what you use for underlining).

i got some gorgeous blue linen and some cotton muslin at the remnants section of britex in san francisco. i was really struggling with what to make with the fabric, since i didnt have much. i settled on a wiksten dress, but made the small (last time i made the medium). i added pockets and cut the chest pocket on the bias. the side pockets were sort of wonky at first and hung very weirdly inside the dress and made it uncomfortable, so i decided to topstich them on the front of the dress. i really like how they turned out. i also added some back darts but im unsure of how i like them so far (ive only basted them in). as i was finishing the blind hem (which is so worth it no matter what… a machine straight-stitched hem really doesn’t cut it for me at this point), i wondered if the dress looked too “Puritan,” but i got a lot of compliments on it when i wore it yesterday, so im won’t heed that voice in my head.

i will say i don’t love the wiksten pattern, it is very shapeless and has weird gaping issues at the armpits, but i think this could be solved with front darts (although i was too nervous to improv them). but overall, im very happy with the dress result, and i cant wait to wear it when we go to FRANCE next month. please ignore the wrinkles– ITS LINEN, PEOPLE.

 Thank you, Leah for the pics

i really love this water bottle, btw

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I’ve been up to so much, but how could you know… I haven’t posted. Tuesday night I took a Zippers class where I learned to put in an on-seam zipper, lapped zipper, invisible zipper and a fly zipper. Wow, was I doing it wrong. As soon as class was over I thought back to all of my garments with zippers and felt mortified by how badly I had inserted them. Oh well.

Before zippers class (B.Z.), I made a lovely Georgia Dress from By Hand London. I tried very hard to make the weird straps version, but it just wasn’t going to happen, so I did the more normal-looking straps. I used some silk from the PA Fabric Outlet (it was $2/yard!!!). per usual, I’ll try to get some nicer pics of this dress, but here are some for the meantime.

not my favorite pic but here it is
look at those finishing skillz!
the pattern up-close
 I also recently got some silk from Loom that is to die for, but I don’t know what I’ll make with it yet… something very special I think.
are you thinking a mod dress? cause i am!

Im flying this week so hopefully I can get some knit time in. I am starting to get so excited for FRANCE in less than two months! I’m hoping to find some fabric / yarn stores to get some goodies.

Currently reading: The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara

Lately.

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Been doing a lot of reading, cooking, sewing (and a littttle knitting) lately. did i tell you i have a 2014 book-a-month goal? so far im on track!

Made another dress from Stylish Dress Book.

red buttons, huh?

And here’s a knitting update: 

progress on my cardigan.
Spent last weekend in Elk County, PA with some lovely people who I don’t get to see enough. Jacob’s mom gave me her old film camera and since none of the little stores on the way to Camp sold film, I just used the expired film in her case. Some turned out really nice:

Camp!
Playing Rummy 500
my crappy rummy hand
walking up to The View

enjoying The View
good morning!