A fleece jacket for the wienie dog

Somehow the dog knew I was making this for him and spent the whole evening giving me baleful stares, aka the Stank Eye. I traced his previous jacket, which was much too short. If I remember correctly, it was a medium sized dog according to the pattern. It was tiny and only covered his back about 2/3 down, and not his sides. Here is the first version.

Same as the other one, it is two different types of fleece, so its reversible. It closes with velcro. After I made it and tried it on him, the butt part stuck out oddly. So I added two tucks along the top stiching seam, so it curves down like a dog saddle.

This side is dinosaurs, and I cut it out so that there is a big T-Rex right over his back. Hee hee!


It's a super quick and easy project that took around 30 minutes. The dog isn't too happy now, but he loves his jacket when it gets cold. We also recently discovered it makes him much more willing to go out and potty if it's raining. He is such a priss!

Nov goal 2 complete: the blue flowered dress

This came together very quickly last night. All I did today was put in a zipper and sew down the neck facing.

I wanted to take the pictures next to these stone lions in City Park, but some jerks were having weddings photos taken there. Idea thieves! Instead, we went to the canal on Bayou St. John, where the water always looks clear and blue.

I took the bodice from a vintage Butterick pattern. This will be the third dress that used that bodice. I made the neckline into a scoop neck and re-drafted a facing to match. I also made the short sleeves into elbow sleeves in honor of fall.
Somehow the pieces magically matched themselves, since I never take the time to do things like that.
The skirt is just a big rectangle that I gathered using the Ruffler. You must always capitalize The Ruffler because it is the most intimidating attachment. However, it is magical. I gave it a little kiss because it saves so MUCH TIME!
I love this fabric, and the simple lines of the dress make it just right.

Now, I just bought some fleece and I'm going to make T-Rex a coat that better fits the frame of a wienie dog.

Thanks-gloving

Andrew and I had a fun Thanksgiving here, with just us and the dog. We still made a whole dinner, of course!! We made my mom's stuffing, his mom's stuffing, a turkey, cranberries, yams, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole and gravy. I think gravy is my favorite food...

Earlier in the day, I decided to use the stove-top dyeing method on my Rit box. It would have worked perfectly except I used way too much dye so they look more black than green, and....

the gloves were leather! Duh! I am a moron. When I fished them out, they had shrunk to little toddler-hands size. I can only give myself a duh for that one. I forgot to take a picture, I'll post one later.

The purple dress is ALMOST finished. I tried to hem it on the machine and it looks like absolute shit. So now I am going to have to hem the whole *((%$@% by hand! It is like 12 feet of fabric! I was going to do some of it yesterday because I thought I was getting 2 Closer episodes in the mail from Netflix, but I had the queue all wrong. I got Rome season on for Andrew because he is obsessed with Roman military history. He will talk your ear off if you get him started... He is so funny because little details that are wrong or illogical make him crazy. For example, we were watching Pirates of the Caribbean on tv and they run back and forth and succeed in flipping the ship upside down. Then when they turn right-side-up, they try to shoot each other and Andrew says "Ugh that wouldn't work. The powder in the guns is wet." LOL!

I was going to use fabric covered buttons, but they were not working. Instead I am going to use these cloudy red vintage buttons. The contrast is much less noticeable in person.

And, I made a waist stay like I said. I love purple and red together. I had a purple and red swimsuit when I was maybe 8 and I loved that thing!

I used some of my credit card miles to get a ipod. It's one of those things that I would like, but never have the money for, or the desire to save up for it. I have been playing Angry Birds for hours, so that explains why I have very little sewing done for the week.

Look what I just slapped together in about an hour. I need to buy a zipper tomorrow, but other than that it's finished. I love the fabric! I used an old pattern that fits well and has nice sleeves and I redrafted the neckline to get more of a scoop. I also used my gathering foot on the skirt, which was AMAZING! Such a time saver!

I hope everyone else had a good Thanksgiving!

Bridesmaid Dress Purchased!

I went to David's Bridal with my list in hand, and I rooted out about ten dresses that were possibilities. The one with flowers on the shoulder looked really cheap and tacky in person, and they didn't have one in my size. So I tried on all of them and ended up with two long ones and two short one.

Then I tried them on again and eliminated one of the short ones. The construction was shoddy. The lining of the strapless top was trying to roll over the edge.

In the end it came down to two. This one, with a cool neckline, a tie at the waist, and a snug skirt that flares out at the feet. And this one, strapless, with a draped chiffon skirt.

It was a tough call, since my mom is in Oregon and couldn't go with me (wahhh), but I eventually decided on the one with straps. It fit better, and I liked the sash and the fitted skirt. It makes me look slim, but there are gathers on the neckline to give some faux-fullness to the top. That and a super padded bra.

Anyways, they ordered it and I should have it around New Year's! Yay!

My week in pictures

This is the pattern I am currently working on, with the 3/4 sleeves.

Bodice.The thread matches pretty well, I think the flash just made it look weird. The pattern does not call for interfacing for the front yoke, but I read a really helpful review on pattern review, and decided to interface it. It is super stiff, so I know it will hold even after the dress is washed several times.
It needs button closures for the bodice and hooks for the front flap. I am also going to try Tasia's advice and make a waist stay. Since I used cotton sateen, the skirt is incredibly heavy. Try to ignore the filthy living room in the background.
Then I murdered my first two lemon babies to make a pie. They are super juicy- two lemons gave me over 1/2 cup of juice!
Andrew was playing with fire making a sauce au poivre for the steaks.
Here is some hilarious student work. Sometime I just can't resist taking a picture. Here are some intriguing, anatomical-looking fireworks...
And, I can't even begin to imagine what an iron pillow is? (Plus, the question should say history, instead of religion)
Hope you liked the pictures! I get all of this week off for Thanksgiving, so I will be sewing and hopefully finishing both of the dresses for my November goals!

Argentine Presents

Andrew went to Argentina on a business school trip and brought me back some presents.

He bought me a cool scarf, earrings, some random candy and the number one dessert, supposedly, these little cakes called alfajores argentines.

Cool, huh?

Cape pictures, finally!!

Here is the pattern, Simplicity 3122, from 1949. As you may know, this has been a work-in-progress for years, since 2007, in fact.

Here are some previous posts:

Finished

Progress

Finally getting over my fear of welt pockets

Confusing myself with the collar

Choosing the lining

Constructing the body

My inspiration, from the movie Atonement

This project was way beyond my skill level when I embarked upon it. I can definitely say it has made me a better seamstress. I now know how to logically problem solve, make welt pockets, line a coat/outer garment and more.

Plus, it is awesome, and it is certainly something no one else has, or will ever have.

On to the photos! I took them in a cemetery near our house, and the sky is accordingly gloomy. I think it gives the pix a nice autumnal look, since its really about 60 degrees out and I have worn a jacket 2 days so far this fall.

Wearing it unbuttoned:

This was just funny to me. PS, I love these boots so much, they are awesome.
Hands in pockets, although the pockets are really tiny. If I made it again, I would make them bigger.
From the side, you can see how it gets longer in the back.
This picture shows the collar, and the awesome buttons, the armholes, and how you can see the lining in that back, which is cool because I like the color I picked.
The back has a great shape.
Look, no hands!
And, to flash you the lining:

So, what do you think? Was it worth finally finishing? I say yes, but I would love to hear your opinions!

Dress Idea/ Coat Inspiration

I saw this coat in my last issue of Lucky and I really liked it. There is a much better zoom in and out feature on the website here.

I am picturing it as a dress, though. I really like the front, of course. I also like the long sleeves. I like the cuffs. The bodice has double princess seams, which I like. I also really like the fitted waist with the two big pleats on either side. Or would tucks be the right word? I even found the perfect fabric in my Winter 2010 mailer from Vogue Fabrics. It feels like a microfiber of some kind, and it's the exact shade of green. It has that nice microfiber fuzziness and a bit of stretch. I like the look velvet would give it, but velvet is too hot, too expensive and too impractical with the dry-cleaning.

I would have to draft a pattern, I guess. Maybe Tasia will draft one for me and add it to her line of patterns! I'll cross my fingers!

What do you think, could this become a cute winter dress?

I was just featured!

I was just featured on Be @ Home's Best of the Web with some other sewing and crafting blogs. Go check it out here!

And, not to leave you without a picture, the T-Rex. I love that it's getting colder here; it forces the dog to snuggle to stay warm. Ha ha ha. Then I make him wear his fleece sweater!

Goal #1- The cape is FINALLY done!

With the advent of daylight savings time (which is a misnomer because now when I get home from work it will be dark out!), tis the season for some terrible inside-with-flash-at-night photos.

However, the beast is done!

The back. It has a triangular yoke, which you can't see.
I finally finished sewing in the lining! Somehow, I ended up with a massive bunch of fabric at the bottom center back, so I made two little pleats on each side.
Andrew has gone on a business school trip to Argentina, so no pictures until he gets back. Maybe this next weekend, in the daytime? I already have my outfit planned out, since it has taken me about three years(!!!) to finish this cape. Wow! I hope, and promise, that my Vogue coat will not take three years to finish!!

New Vogue Patterns

I had a lot of sewing plans for today, but now I have a crushing headache. I just want to go to bed, but I'm not tired. Fun fun. I did manage to hem half of the bottom of my cape, so maybe one more hour of sewing and it's finally done! Yay!

I went to Hancock and bought these two Vogue patterns on 3.99 sale. I will never get over how expensive patterns are full price- it takes all the value (money-wise) out of sewing if you pay 27 bucks for the patterns alone!

Anyways, after watching Gertie make her whole coat step-by-step, I have realized that I have no interest in hand tailoring my coat. I hate boring hand sewing. That just seems like a way for me to never, ever finish my Vogue 755 coat. Which I haven't started... I saw these in the book of patterns a few weeks ago and was waiting for a sale. I got the last one left of both, and the only one in my size! What luck!

I have been wanting this pattern for a long time too, but Hancock was out of it, and I keep missing Vogue sales at Jo-Ann. So today my mom picked it up for me in Orgeon! Yay! Thanks, Mom!

Time to go sleep off this horrible headache. Maybe tomorrow I'll make more sewing progress!

#4 complete- Navy Swirl Dress

The dress is hemmed and ready to wear, in fact I wore it to work today. The dress is very comfortable. I left the hem a little longer than I normally like to maintain the proportions of the dress. It's a cute dress, it fits in with my personal style and it was only $3! I wore it with my dark denim jacket and my black heels with bows on the toes until one of the heel caps fell off. Time for a trip to a cobbler!

I only noticed when I hemmed it, but the plaid on the front is straight and the hem is straight and on the back wrap it is bias-cut with a circle skirt. Interesting, huh?
The pockets are kinda gigantic, but I do love to slouch around with my hands in my pockets.
I also fixed the Social Studies dress (#5) and hemmed 7/8ths of my cape (#1), so more pictures to come soon!

November Sewing Goals

Most importantly, my first lemon baby has ripened! How exciting! The tree was blooming for my birthday in Feb, so they have almost taken as long as a real baby.

I have decided on five specific sewing goals for November, so that I can hold myself accountable and you can shame and nag me if I am slacking.

1. FINISH THE CAPE!!! It is already shameful that the cape has been unfinished for years. All it needs is the rest of lining sewn in by hand. Maybe a few nights in front of the tv!

2. Make a (probably full-skirted) dress out of these 3 yards of cotton. Pattern is still undecided.

3. Make this Vogue dress in the 3/4 sleeve view. The fabric is a rich, purple, cotton sateen with a little stretch. It told me to buy 4 yards, but I bought 3. I bet I'll need to shorten the dress skirt by a foot anyways.

4. Hem the navy blue Swirl dress from the estate sale. It will be first because I have matching thread.

5. Sew down the kick pleat on my Social Studies Dress. I went to wear it the other day and it will not lay flat. I didn't shorten the dress on the right line, so the proportions are off and it looks like lumpy ruffles from the butt down. Ugly, but easily fixed!

Therefore, I have one month to complete these five tasks. I have the whole week of Thanksgiving off, so there should be no excuses!!