Wedding was Perfect

Judy's wedding was just beautiful and everything went great. The dress looked so pretty and she looked perfect in it. It was such a bear to make but I couldn't have been more pleased with how she looked on her wedding day. I've never put so much work in anything I've ever made. Judy had a friend make a custom pattern but it came with no directions and no patterns for the front overlay. I had a hard time getting the poly chiffon to pleat but with tons of ironing and some steam-a-seam to keep the pleats from puffing out I managed to get the look Judy wanted. The front was the problem I had. I draped right breast and was able to make it look fitted and was happy with it. But the left side because of the direction of the pleats just wouldn't conform and fit to the bust. I took it apart 5 times trying differnt things. I even decided to start from scratch with a different pattern that had long ties that wrapped aroung the waist. I had made the new bodice and was attaching the long ties that wrapped over the bust and around the waist. When I got the bright idea of using the ties from the second bodice and attach to the waist of the original bodice so that I could get the fitted look on the left side of the bust and still use the bodice I had worked so hard on pleating. It worked like a charm and everything finally came together. All the aggrevation and hard work was worth it when I saw her in it. She loved it.

"The Joker" Halloween Jacket

I've almost finished "The Joker" Halloween Jacket for my grandson Dylan. I used Simplicity 2513 and added length since it's suppose to go to the knees. Still need to press it and hem it. Ordered the material for the vest and waiting to get it. Got my mother of the bride outfit cut out and found lining fabric to match so need to start on it.

Wedding dress muslin

So we got the pattern from the custom patternmaker yesterday. Here's the muslin from it. It's perfect in length and only a little snug in the bust- easy fix. A little loose under the bust in the ribcage- easy fix. I want to change up the curve of the sweetheart neckline which is super easy fix. Couldn't be more pleased with it. Will save me from having to do all the length adjustments that long tall Judy takes. And buying three patterns and making a frankenpattern to get the look she wanted. Yippie. Looking forward to getting started with the fashion fabric this weekend. Hoping to get at least partically cut out.

Vogue 8123 Muslin & Alice & Wonderland dress

I'm working on my mother of the bride outfit for Judy's wedding. I'm making a suit using black with blue flecks boucle from fabric.com. I used Vogue 8123 in a size 22 at shoulders and arms but sized out the sides to fit all my additional girth. I did a high round adjustment and shortened the sleeves 3" since I'm only 5' 3 3/4" inches and have short arms and of course did a full bust adjustment and added a dart. I'm pleased with the fit and it's a super easy pattern. I'm going to add a lining and I'll fuse knit interfacing to the boucle. I'm nervous it will be to warm since it's far from cold in Texas in November. But hopefully with the wedding in the evening it won't be to warm. It's 88 today so still warm down here. I really like this pattern and will make the other versions. And this is the dress I made for Emma who likes Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. It's

recycled t-shirt pattern

from you can make this.I bought a junior women's shirt and cut it up for top of dress, scraps from a top for myself for the sleeves and trim and used some random shiny hot blue fabric for skirt. The skirt material isn't wearing well so will probably have to replace skirt but it sure is fun.

Judy's Wedding Dress & Halloween

I'm going to be making Judy's wedding dress for her November 20th wedding. A friend of Judy's is making a custom pattern thats a knock off of a RTW dress that doesn't fit a tall women. I'm getting nervous to get it so I can get started. I don't want to have to rush rush rush the dress. I've been working on somethings for her honeymoon. I've basted Kwik Sew 3760 tried it with all ivory fabric and then ivory/black print at waistband and upper neckband but she hated it. She wants black or navy at waistband and collarband but everything I've tried has bleed when I tested it. So on the look out for some black or navy that won't bleed onto the ivory double knit. Here's a pic- basted and not pressed version. Been in a Halloween mood so made a couple of wall hangings. Have to make a Joker costume for Dylan, does anyone know of a costume pattern with a large boy or small mans that is a knee length jacket? I don't want a detailed real suit, this will be a one time wear so don't want to put to much work into it.

Sewing for Granddaughters

Life has been crazy this summer. My father was in a serious car accident and when he left the rehab hospital he came to stay with us. He finally was well enough to go home last week so life is much calmer now. I've sewed some during the last three months but not much. So I've been going to town the last week. Here's a couple of things I made the Granddaughters. I made Emma two gymnastics outfits the brown skirt set was two Jalie patterns 2006 is the top and 2796 is the skort. Love the little skort it has a pocket in the side for a ipod and you can put shorts or panties under the skirt. I also made her Jalie 2797 but left off the skirt and cut the body of the leotard as one piece instead of putting the seam at the waist since I wasn't adding the skirt. Just used some swimsuit material left over from a past projects for both. I'm working on some little A-lines for Hailey and Alyssa. The pattern is Burda 3026, I changed the back from a button closure to a back zip and lined it so the applique wouldn't be scratchy. Hailey has very sensitive skin. I got the jungle prints from fabric.com a year or two ago. I appliqued the lion from Planet Applique and the monkey from Sewing for Sarah. I've finished Hailey's but haven't gotten a picture of her in it yet. And last but not least is a little dress made from scraps from a project my daughter Nicole made for Lucy for baby Sophie. I wish I had a picture of her in it but still waiting on it. It's Simplicity 2572, I just used three cordinating prints in lieu of using all one fabric. I also used bias turned to right side in lieu of suggested method. I'm glad my Dad is home and doing well with help from a friend from church. I'll be starting on Judy's wedding dress soon and want to make her some things for the honeymoon also. So lots and lots of sewing needs to get done in the next few months. She's getting married Novemeber 20th and it's creeping up quickley.

McCalls 6109- Liz's new dress

Sorry the pictures are so awful but here's McCalls 6109 dress for Liz. I had to shorten the top and take an inch out of each side seam. Not sure if it just runs big or if that was design ease. But looked much better taken up. These pictures of dress on Judy before I took it up and hemmed it for Liz. Judy's 5'10" and Liz is 5'4" so had to shorten it also. It's a quick dress if I didn't have to take it apart to resize. I don't like that the neckline isn't finished but on it looks cute. Also some pictures of the pj's (Kwik Sew pattern)I made for William and Dylan plus undies for Jacob.

Judy's Romper- McCalls 6083

This is McCalls 6083 Romper I made for Judy for the July 4th weekend. I added 3" to length of top for Long Tall Judy's length and to add additional blousing per Judy's request. I also added 3/4" to length between waist and hips. I did the top different I added contrast and turned to front and used that for casing. The material is cotton shirting from Joanns last year and the plaid is from who knows where and when. She likes it and so did my niece and she wants one now. I would recommend this fun and easy pattern.

Tiana Dress for Hailey B-3351

This is a dress up dress for my granddaughter Hailey who loves the Princess and the Frog movie. She's been asking me for a Tiana dress so I used Butterick 3351. I made it a little big so she could play in it for a couple of years. Put a grow tuck in the hem to let down later as she gets taller. I changed up the top -gave it a sweatheart neckline and gathered the rest of the front. Not crazy about it but it's to play in so it's fine. My youngest daughter got engaged on Sunday so will be working on her wedding dress soon. The wedding is in November so have lots of time to get it finished. Picture of Cowin J Pussycat whom I thought looked cute that day while I was taking pictures for the blog.

Sewing Miss Daisy

Made one of the Lil Blue Boo Recycled T-shirt dresses again. Emma Daisy loves cheerleading so cut up an old t-shirt and made her a dress. No model pics yet. Also made another version of the kwik sew nightgowns for Emma Daisy with some scraps from a shirt I'm working on. And of course a matching doll dress to go with it.

Fab Four- UK dress for Alyssa

Well when my daughter in law Liz saw the dress for Sophie we had to make one for Alyssa Grace. I used the top of the Lil Boo dress and just made the bottom layers wider and gathered them. Doesn't she look adorable in it. Now her sister Hailey wants one. That's what happens when you have 9 grandkids, they all want one. ha ha