Maxi Dress Tutorial Revisited

I recently completed a dress that was 3 years in the making...and several different things. I picked up this knit print in Arizona a few years ago at a large fabric warehouse. I tried to make it into a maxi dress early in my sewing clothes days and it didn't work out well. Then I attempted to turn it in to a high waisted maxi skirt with elastic thread around the top section, but I wasn't thrilled with the outcome. So, I turned to my Maxi Skirt Tutorial and combined the top of the dress with the elastic waist skirt to create a maxi.

The Original Maxi Dress Tutorial

After I combined the top to the skirt, the finished dress was too short, so I added a band of navy knit around the bottom and it is now finally completed. This maxi is one of my favorites. I love the comfort of the dress and the way the elastic waist allows it to be worn with no belt or sash.

 To add the elastic shirring at the waist you just need to add elastic thread to your bobbin and sew as usual. You do have to hand wind the bobbin with the thread and rethread often if you are making this many rows. This dress has about 12 rows of shirring, each about 1/4 inch apart. Use the side of your sewing foot to guide you. This stitching should be much straighter than mine, but like I said, most of this was in my early days of sewing...so I worked with it :) And it hasn't really bothered me when I have worn it. The thing that does bother me is the fabric is piling...what am I doing wrong? I wash it inside out, hang dry and it is already looking really worn. Guess I need to research that side a bit and try to fix it.

I am currently working on another maxi using my peplum top as a base...I hope to have the pattern and tutorial done soon! It seems to be taking me forever to get anything completely done these days.

Shannon

The Poppins Bag

A couple weeks ago I wrapped up my school year and needed a thank you gift for our dear friend and daycare provider. I had recently made three Poppins Bags as diaper bags and decided to make her one as a purse.

I used the same alterations I had made with the other bags by adding Peltex to the side and base piece. I also deleted the toddler handle on the outside.

I used the new HGTV line of fabrics (Ring Around in Peacock) for the exterior and a fun turquoise polka dot from Joanns for the interior.

After four of these bags I think I need to move on to a new one soon :) but I have definitely gotten some great use out of my pattern.

Shannon

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Is anyone else still trying to decide on a Father's Day gift? I am a little clueless right now...need to find something quick. So, in an effort to help out others in the same boat here are some "man" crafts/projects we have done in the past...I may have to whip up another "Hoppy Beer Cake" if I don't make up my mind soon :) Have a great weekend-

DIY Beer Flight Paddles

Diaper Doodie Kit for the Dad to Be

Beer Cake (just change to "Hoppy Father's Day")

Table Before and After

So I have this little problem...some projects take me FOREVER to complete. I don't know if it is being overwhelmed by the amount of work or a distraction with a sewing obsession or what...but I struggle at times. I bought this table at a thrift store last summer for $35.

It was a pedestal table in good shape, with a leaf and cheap enough to make it worth a go. I intended to refinish it immediately and then it sat, and sat, then it was sanded and sat, then it was stripped and sanded again and sat, then stained and sat...you get the point. Several months later I have finished it. Unfortunately, I don't think it is done. I just am not loving the end result when you are close up. Here is the story of this table.

First I worked hard to remove all the blue paint by stripping with Citrustrip and sanding. Once it was all sanded down and looked good, I started with the top. I used Minwax prestaining wood conditioner and then a coat of stain in Jacobean. I loved the way the stain looked wet, but when wiping it down (after letting is sit for 10 -15 minutes) I was disappointed. It was not evenly staining, even though I thought I did all the prep work right. So, I stained a few more coats and it never really got better.

I searched for solutions and came across Censational Girl's post about her banister (which is also a project I plan on tackling). I decided to give the watered down paint method a go. I used a combo of brown and black acrylic paint and water and quickly and thinly coated the table. It filled it in the color differences but it is too much of a painted look for me. But after months of working with this thing, I was frustrated. So, out came the white paint for the base: Sherwin Williams Alabaster White and then everything got 3 coats of polycrilic in semi-gloss. While I like it enough for now...I see some more refinishing in its future...ughh...I don't even want to think about it. I am so behind on other projects and want to paint my kitchen cabinets white, so for now...here she is:

Have a great week,

Shannon

Linking Up Here:

Voting Open at Project Sewn

Please take a moment to stop by Project Sewn to vote for this week's challenge: Signature Style. If you enjoyed the Mod Cloth Knockoff I created, I would love your vote. I am #8 in the link party- Thank you for your support.

Shannon

Project Sewn Signature Style

When I first saw the list for Project Sewn weekly challenges, I was most excited about this final week.


It seems easy for me to recognize things that appeal to my signature style. I am definetly a classic dresser. I love dresses and skirts with clean lines and classic silhouettes. I also love heels. I actually used to wear heels all the time (up until about 8 months pregnant with my first). Since kids, I have modified to wedges and actually have several flat shoes in my closet now (something I never had before!). I also am drawn to basic colors, especially navy blue. Seriously, I have a small weakness for all things navy blue! So, looking through some style icons I guess I could say I love the style of Jackie O. Here she is in a lovely sheath dress:

Photo Source: http://trippingthistles.tumblr.com/post/29823461705

Then one day while looking at Pinterest I came across this and I instantly fell in love:

Source: www.modcloth.com

More info on the dress found here

What is not to love? Navy blue with cream, pleats, a lovely silhouette...I had to have it. (oh, and it has pockets...awesome!) So I set out to make it. I bought 4 yards of some inexpensive navy blue cotton from Joanns. It was only $2 a yard (not the highest quality, but I wasn't sure if it would turn out). Then I bought the cream broadcloth (3/4 yd for a couple bucks too.) So armed with $10 in fabric, a heavy metal separating zipper, and 2 patterns from my stash I got started. 

For the bodice I used Butterick 4443. I cut a size 10 and ended up taking it in quite a bit at the chest. I had made this before and found it to be too baggy in the bust. (poor me :( haha) The only downside is I ended up losing the pleating detail at the neckline. I tried to make it work...but it just didn't fit with this pattern. 

For the skirt portion I used McCalls 5591. I used view C and made a view alterations. I cut a 12 and ended up losing quite a bit of fabric to make it work. Similar to the inspiration dress, I lost one pleat in the back and made only two. I also did not use the yoke pieces for the pattern. It took a lot of seam ripping and basting to get the top and bottom pieces to line up correctly, but in the end I am happy with it. I cut off about 4 inches from the hem and added a strip of cream broadcloth at the hemline. 

                         

I tried a new technique with this dress called bagging the lining (or I think that is what this technique is called). I had pinned a link to it and decided to give it a go. I really enjoyed it and it worked great. It helps eliminate a lot of the hand stitching which is always a plus in my book. In the original dress there is no lining, but I added one to the bodice. If I would have had enough fabric I would have done one for the skirt as well, but a slip will have to do. 

I am really excited that this dress turned out. In the future, I will have to trust my sewing skills more and allow my pocket book to be stretched for better fabric or find a fabric store to send me some free samples...anyone, anyone? 

Please stop by Project Sewn to see all the lovely looks people are creating.

Shannon

Updated 80's- Project Sewn

So, I have to be honest- I was going to sit this round out. The 80's style just didn't seem to appeal to me and I didn't want to make something I would never wear. And I had no idea what to make. But when Elizabeth and liZ posted the description and included peplums...I was totally in. I love peplums right now and had recently made a few. One of my favorites was this lace one that I created using my own pattern. I will post the pattern for the top as a free download soon...but unfortunately, I have still not learned how to grade patterns so it will just be this size.
                     Please check out all the submissions and vote for your favorite: HERE

 My take on the 80s was to use the look of the peplum, paired with a tapered leg pant. In place of lovely little socks with pumps (a beautiful 80s hit) I paired some 5 inch nude stiletto pumps...I love the picture below showing what fun stilettos and rocks are to mix...

And of course the look wouldn't have been complete without a side ponytail. That was one of my favorite looks in elementary/middle school (which was the 80s for me). So, I decided to do a more grown up version of the side pony. 

Peplum Top: DIY (pattern coming soon), Skinny Jeans (Walmart- $5 bucks), Pumps (Target- clearance, $9) Necklace (Clip Clip Hooray run by the very beautiful and talented Bethany).

Now, this is a top I know I will get a lot of use from and hey...if it has a touch of 80s to it, all the better :)

Shannon