--Back again after a weekend of making muslins and starting my second garment: McCalls 2401 is a classic sheath dress with variations in neckline. I chose View F' the sleeveless version to make up in the Missoni-like highly textured knit from my stash. I decided that since it has a very wide stripe, I would use the fabric horizontally (I know, I know... horizontal stripes add width..but in this case I think it will be balanced out by the lower hemline!).--First: a confession: in cutting out I laid out my fabric carefully and ensured the stripes matched on the sideseams...only to doscover I HAD FORGOTTEN TO FOLD THE DART ON THE FRONT FIRST !! OH, Ugh !!--So I had to take extra time to slide up the Back to match the stripes, then carefully slit and take up a narrow seam in the top back ( the green stripe)to match the side seams and compensate for the bust darts. Then I had to re-mark the long back darts proportionately...luckily the fabric is heavily textured, so the seams look more "decorative" than strange..but what a lesson to learn!!
The companion piece to the dress will be a simple cardigan made of a shell-pink cotton rib knit, using leftover scraps of the novelty knit for the front bands. I purchased Butterick 4740 for this simple garment. Itt has loads of potential for wovens.
--I also have a working muslin ready for my Wrap Front Blouse..
---At this point I would like to thank my very good friend/ fellow seamstress Cathy for all her help with pinning and fitting--Cathy without you I would have real problems getting a good fit on my "tops". I will pay it back by cleaning out goat pens!!!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
WARDROBE REFASHION/ SWEATER TO SKIRT
Here's my latest project, inspired by reading my great books...a Sweater Refashion.
Here's what I did yesterday. I was amazed how quickly the project went, and I'm sure next time I will
be more sure of myself..I was hoping I wouldn't wreck the sweater because I love it so much..on the other hand, I bought it at the V.V. for $5.98., so it wouldn't have been the end of the world if I had ruined it--and you know, with ReFashioning, there's always another creative use for failed projects!
Here are the steps...
. In this technique, the sweater basically gets turned upside-down, so the neckline becomes the hemline, and the ribbed bottom edge becomes the waistband---clever, hey--I wish I'd been the creative soul who thought of this!
1. I pinned a rough line from the bottom of the neckband to each shoulder, front and back (note: I kept the back line higher than the front, because I wanted the skirt to hang a bit lower at the back.
2.--then machine-sewed with a small running stitch to prevent fraying.....
3. I cut BELOW this line from shoulder to shoulder in a slight curve (this is the hemline).
4. Then hung the sweater upside down to see how much sleeve lenth to leave on--the sleeve becomes a ruffle on the sides of the hem..--then chopped off the sleeve.
5. Then cut from shoulder down the top of the sleeve, opening it right up (this is where it got a bit
scarey!).
6. I thought about the best way to stabilise the hem, since my knit was rather stretchy, and decided to use some red lace hem binding along the inside edge. I sewed both edges to the inside of the hem using a small running stitch, and mitred the corners when necessary...since I managed to fing a pretty good match for thread, the seamlines blend in quite well.
7. Now for the waistband. I tried on the skirt inside out and pinned the sides in fron the waistband, tapering down the side seams like a dart. I basted this before sewing the final seam.
8. It was still a bit baggy. My sweater has an eyelet pattern, so I snipped into the eyelet and threaded a ribbon tie through.--looks pretty good!
9. I may add godets to the side openings because the edges look a bit rough..probably some pieces of red lining or red lace I have in my scrap bin....
--Tomorrow I will try it on and post a pic of the finished project.
---TTFN----Marg.l
Here's what I did yesterday. I was amazed how quickly the project went, and I'm sure next time I will
be more sure of myself..I was hoping I wouldn't wreck the sweater because I love it so much..on the other hand, I bought it at the V.V. for $5.98., so it wouldn't have been the end of the world if I had ruined it--and you know, with ReFashioning, there's always another creative use for failed projects!
Here are the steps...
. In this technique, the sweater basically gets turned upside-down, so the neckline becomes the hemline, and the ribbed bottom edge becomes the waistband---clever, hey--I wish I'd been the creative soul who thought of this!
1. I pinned a rough line from the bottom of the neckband to each shoulder, front and back (note: I kept the back line higher than the front, because I wanted the skirt to hang a bit lower at the back.
2.--then machine-sewed with a small running stitch to prevent fraying.....
3. I cut BELOW this line from shoulder to shoulder in a slight curve (this is the hemline).
4. Then hung the sweater upside down to see how much sleeve lenth to leave on--the sleeve becomes a ruffle on the sides of the hem..--then chopped off the sleeve.
5. Then cut from shoulder down the top of the sleeve, opening it right up (this is where it got a bit
scarey!).
6. I thought about the best way to stabilise the hem, since my knit was rather stretchy, and decided to use some red lace hem binding along the inside edge. I sewed both edges to the inside of the hem using a small running stitch, and mitred the corners when necessary...since I managed to fing a pretty good match for thread, the seamlines blend in quite well.
7. Now for the waistband. I tried on the skirt inside out and pinned the sides in fron the waistband, tapering down the side seams like a dart. I basted this before sewing the final seam.
8. It was still a bit baggy. My sweater has an eyelet pattern, so I snipped into the eyelet and threaded a ribbon tie through.--looks pretty good!
9. I may add godets to the side openings because the edges look a bit rough..probably some pieces of red lining or red lace I have in my scrap bin....
--Tomorrow I will try it on and post a pic of the finished project.
---TTFN----Marg.l
Saturday, February 9, 2008
WARDROBE REFASHION...........
I have started posting on the Wardrobe Refashion site..I signed up for SIX MONTHS....i.e. I pledged to not buy any clothing from retail for six months..to thrift and refashion as much as possible..quite tough I think but I have been "in training" since early December! The more I research and read up on ReFashion..the more inspired and excited I get. Excellent books on ReFashion I have picked up....
1. RECONSTRUCTING CLOTHES FOR DUMMIES---Miranda Caroligne Burns:
Took me from trepidation to tearing into sweaters to refashion into skirts..so easy and so fab!
2.ALTER NATION----Shannon Okey and Alexandra Underhill:'
carries the theme into altering wovens..on with learning to slash and be fearless!
3. SUBVERSIVE SEAMSTER----Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng, Melissa Rannels:
Lots of great tips and techniques like adding shirt collars onto knit tops...thing I would never have thought possible....
My first Refashion happened before Christmas..I was DETERMINED to not buy anything new/retail for the annual dance...so I went to my local S.A. and found 1. a teen girls red plaid kilt, and 2. a homemade black crushed velour skirt--obviosly a project "gone wrong"--the total was $6.50.....I took them home and started fiddling around with the kilt. I'm obviously Not the same size as a Teen 14..so I unbuckled the kilt, swung it round so the opening was centre front, and took off the side buckle and moved the strap to the front. I then took asome cheapie black ruffled lace and sewed it from the centre of the waist down in a cascade on eother side. I wore the crushed velour skirt under it. I added a thrifted and altered black velour v-necked top, fishnet hose, and black suede shoes with gold buckles..and a punky/Goth chain necklace...At the dance I received many compliments on my "outfit"--proving you really don't have to spend big bucks to look and feel great!!
1. RECONSTRUCTING CLOTHES FOR DUMMIES---Miranda Caroligne Burns:
Took me from trepidation to tearing into sweaters to refashion into skirts..so easy and so fab!
2.ALTER NATION----Shannon Okey and Alexandra Underhill:'
carries the theme into altering wovens..on with learning to slash and be fearless!
3. SUBVERSIVE SEAMSTER----Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng, Melissa Rannels:
Lots of great tips and techniques like adding shirt collars onto knit tops...thing I would never have thought possible....
My first Refashion happened before Christmas..I was DETERMINED to not buy anything new/retail for the annual dance...so I went to my local S.A. and found 1. a teen girls red plaid kilt, and 2. a homemade black crushed velour skirt--obviosly a project "gone wrong"--the total was $6.50.....I took them home and started fiddling around with the kilt. I'm obviously Not the same size as a Teen 14..so I unbuckled the kilt, swung it round so the opening was centre front, and took off the side buckle and moved the strap to the front. I then took asome cheapie black ruffled lace and sewed it from the centre of the waist down in a cascade on eother side. I wore the crushed velour skirt under it. I added a thrifted and altered black velour v-necked top, fishnet hose, and black suede shoes with gold buckles..and a punky/Goth chain necklace...At the dance I received many compliments on my "outfit"--proving you really don't have to spend big bucks to look and feel great!!
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all pieces minus purchased shirt
