Resized: Blue Dress

Merricks Art: does it again. This time she used a easier way to re-size a dress- I really want to try. You can see her tutorial here.

How cute is that!? 

She found the dress on the sales rack of Old Navy for $12!
Learning how to do simple tailoring/sewing really can save you lots of money!
(And you will always have cute clothes that fit you!)
Love this idea... you can be thrifty and still be stylish- without spending a lot of $$.

Wish I had known some of these skills as a poor college girl... young mother...etc.. but better late than never! It is always a great time to jump in a start saving money!

Color Me Challenge: Work

Okay- I belly ache enough about what to wear to work. (as I interpret)
I thought I would show you what I usually wear.
please try not to fall asleep

Here is one outfit- Navy Blue shirt with khaki pants.
Here's another outfit- Brown shirt with khaki pants.

Then I might pair Khaki's with a sweater- if it is really cold. (which in the winter- it usually is...)
You get the idea... very basic.
But after playing with my Navy colors- I thought maybe I'll add this light purple to the navy blue sweater... it adds something...

You have to admit: it is a challenge- because I can't wear light colors, prints on my top half, no distracting scarfs, earrings, necklaces, bracelet's, etc.. ( I changed sweaters- this one was less bulky/ box shaped.)

That is why I am thinking BELTS might be what I should focus on.
??? and better color combos...
Here's another outfit from work:

I like my blues and greys- what can I say?

Here are some cute ideas from pinterest.

 

 

This looks effortless too- classic shapes.
Okay... I'm off to search on pinterest!

Brown Version

These cozy - knit/stretch dresses are so trending now!
I can't wear stripes at work- but I love, love ... love this time of dress.
But why buy one... for $30 when you can make one for about $12?


That cute blue dress (can see HERE)-- was so easy, so comfy and so fast to sew!
So I made a second!

It's just brown.
kind of boring.
When I bought the fabric- I thought maybe that was too safe?
(I really like patterns- but I am gun shy- in picking out a patterns. Especially one that will work- at work, as an ASL interpreter.)

I am glad I made a solid brown dress.
It is a neutral - that will look great with many of my cardigans.
I can see wearing this and the blue dress a lot!
Did I mention how comfy it is?
It's like wearing cozy pajama's to work! Except- I don't look like I am wearing pajama's.

 

 

I cut the dress- exactly the same as the blue dress. (YES! the front is cut smaller than the back- lol)

Besides that goof-up,  I had modified the pattern to accommodate my smaller top half-- to my larger bottom half...

 

This time- when the pattern with fabric was cut out...

I placed the top piece over the bottom and lined up the silhouette's. I made sure they were the same. (trimmed where the shapes didn't match up)

That took care of the bubble- problem I had with the blue dress.

 (so glad I figured out the problem.)

 

Sleeves are the same as the blue dress.

 

So cute! I love this pattern. But I am going to limit myself to 2 dresses.

I feel like I have conquered this pattern.

(I might make another one in the future- a striped dress? Wouldn't that be fun for summer?)

 

I need to move on... continue on my path- of learning how to sew.

 

Buttons next! (gulp)

Ready or not...

Here I come!

 

Project Sewn: Blue Dress Success!

This week's challenge at Project Sewn- was to sew something that was our strength.

Since I am new to sewing- I don't consider myself as having many sewing strengths.

 

 

I learned a great tip on this project.

Don't cut your fabric out- while watching the Olympics!

I wanted to alter/tailor the pattern to my body.

My measurements said I was a size 8 top and 12 bottom.

(I am a classic pear)

I started cutting- and the dots and dash lines that distinguish the different sizes- became blurred.

Who knows what I cut! But I know the top layer was cut smaller than the back layer.

Since the fabric is a interlock knit, I thought it might be forgiving enough- to proceed with the project. (Even if the side seams aren't going to lay- exactly CENTER on my sides because the back part of my dress is wider and longer than the front side of my dress.) lol

 

Here is the finished version.

Can you see it "bubbling" on the right.. on my hip? Yeah I need to work that out.

 

I don't plan to wear this dress- without a sweater or jacket over it. I just wanted to show you the finished dress- without embellishments.

 

I love the color combo of Royal Blue and Light Blue/Turquoise.

(I've had this belt for probably 4 years- and have NEVER worn it. This is why I have a hard time getting rid of anything... because I just might wear it- ya never know! )

 

I didn't really wear this outfit with the scarf.

( I mean- Yeah- I wore it outside with my coat..

but I took the scarf off with my coat, when I was working.)

 

but I wanted to show you.... these are my favorite colors and color combination.

I am drawn to these colors! They make me happy!

 

 

And I just have to show you a close up of the neckline- Great job on the top stitching - if I do say so myself!

Now.. I need to fiddle more with the bubbling side seam... sort that out so it lays flat. But over all.. I am very pleased with my first dress sewn!

Signature style

Okay- I am so my MOTHER!
When I was a teenager- I was rummaging around my mother's closet to wear something- and I realized she only had Navy Blue dresses! ( Like- 14 different Navy Blue Dresses!) I made fun of her and suggested she branch out.

I went to the fabric store to pick out a pattern and such for this weeks challenge.
(I was trying to be thrifty-  Interlock fabric was 40% off and McCall patterns were on sale again for $1.99. That was my perameters for my selection.)

I picked out Navy Blue fabric.
(Haven't I already documented- I own a lot of BLUE already??)

Whatever- from here on out- I am going to be more thoughtful with my sewing projects.
Also- I am going to make more quality projects and not quantity. I don't need a closet full of mediocre articles of clothing. A few, well made, well tailored pieces would be my goal.

Here is a peek at  next  Monday Project Sewn project.
I can't tell you - how great participating in this link party- has helped challenge me to sew!

Also on the topic of Colors and me thinking of colors.

Wardrobe Architect shared her favorite colors HERE

I have to say- I am drawn the exact same colors!

I just had to laugh! The only 3 colors I would omit: Mint, Warm tan, Blush.
Other than that! Those are exactly the colors in my closet! It was nice to see them all together- and help me see... I DO have a color range.

If you haven't visited Wardrobe Architect yet- you should!
So many great ideas and assignments on how to create a wardrobe that reflects YOU- individually!

And please-- please wont you play along in July? Think about it!
It is exactly 6 months away! Plenty of time to put something together! click HERE to learn more.

Fitting a pattern

Okay for the last Project Sewn next week the theme is "signature style".
 Make something that is my strength. I kinda did that already on my flannel skirt. (click here) Tube skirts I would say are my strength. So instead of sewing another one- I thought I stretch myself.

I bought a simple pattern on sale- $1.99! (love that!) And the fabric that matches this pattern was also on sale 40% off at JoAnn Fabric. (I will admit. I kept those two elements in mind when I was looking for a pattern to buy.)

This pattern is a fitted, knit/interlock fabric dress. Simple construction, no zippers and such. I am a little scared because I don't normally wear "fitted". But I thought having a simple shell dress that I can wear my cute cardigans with, might be a great staple in my wardrobe.

I found a great youtube video - on how to fit a pattern.
I really want to learn how to do this- so when I sew my fabric together- there isn't major re-constructive surgery going on. A little tweaking is fine- but I don't want to have a bag- that I have to form fit to my body.
(or worse yet- there isn't enough fabric to tweak with in my hips area!)

For this pattern, my body measurements said I was an 8 for my bust area and a size 12 in my hips. (I told you- I am a classic PEAR) Instead of buying two different patterns, I bought the size 8- but enough fabric for the size 12 so I can alter the pattern myself in the hips and have enough fabric to do that.

Thanks Joy Bernhardt for such a clear- easy to follow tutorial!

Wish me luck! I will show you my finished project on Monday!!

Wardrobe Architect

Revolutionary Idea!
Taking inventory of all your clothes.
This was a challenge from the Wardrobe Architect. Why clean out your closet- with no plan.
Click HERE you have to read- and she has a free template to do your own Closet Inventory!

I really liked how she suggested, taking inventory of how I spend my time. Do my clothes reflect this accurately? For example, if 80% of my wardrobe is dresses... do I wear dresses 80% of my time?

I texted my sister this idea- and she said, she would need a lot more pajama's. lol

It got me thinking though.
I use to run every day (when we lived in Hawaii). REALLY! Every Day!

I don't run in Utah as much. More in the spring/summer...less in the fall and not at all in the winter. WHY? I looked at my wardrobe, and don't have any warm running clothes. All my exercise clothes are T-shirts and shorts. No wonder I don't exercise when it is cold? It's not rocket science and it's not that I am lazy...

I don't have the proper clothes! duh
So that simple concept- made me a believer.

I am going to take inventory of my clothes. Then I will really know what I have, what I have enough of, and where the holes are in my wardrobe.

 (I already know I have enough skirts & dresses.  I love buying them... I don't know why. I even like sewing them.. but I don't wear them very often. I wear them more in the Spring/Summer... only on Sundays in the Fall/Winter.)


I picked a 3-day weekend to tackle this project.
It was a TASK- going through all my clothes. (Kinda made me sick to my stomach a little- to be honest.) But it was so good for me! In a therapeutic kind of way.

I made a pile of clothes I want/need to tailor/fix/mend
Made me sort through and pull out clothes I really don't love... why keep them? I have so many other things?

And forced me to face the fact: I should NOT be sewing dresses and skirts! I need to make, pants-shorts- jackets, etc... casual tops.