Progress, I Promise!

Posted in Musings & Everything Else by

Just a quick update to say that all the pieces are cut for my Vogue 8379 wrap dress! Phew, it took a couple of evenings to cut these out. They’ve taken over my living room and I couldn’t get them all in this photo, but you get the idea. :) I’m not going to have much time over the next week to work on this, so I figured I’d give this mini progress report to keep the momentum going. (I decided not to take the fullness out of the skirt like most versions I’ve seen online – I’m curious to see how it will look.)

Oh, and I also traced the pattern pieces for Gertie’s Pencil Skirt. I didn’t realize when I bought the book that a lot of the pieces are printed over each other like patterns from magazines. Kind of the pits to trace, if you ask me. All those lines overlapping each other = confusing. But, hey, it’s done!

“Don’t You Love New York in the Fall?”

Posted in Musings & Everything Else by

“It makes me want to buy school supplies.”

Do you know that movie reference?! :) Such a good one! And such a timely quote given that Saturday was the first official day of fall.

Gourds aplenty at the Union Square Farmer’s Market. Doesn’t it look like that lady is holding up those wee pumpkins just for me?! Alas, it isn’t so.

Well, anyway, the cool autumn breeze is in the air and though I do love warm weather and sunny sundresses, it’s time to get real and plan for the cooler months ahead.

The pieces below are ones that I consider to be good additions to my handmade closet; I also have ones that I didn’t photograph that I’d like to sew up in the coming months. Some of these I feel will transition well into spring, which gives me more time to get them done!

Here’s what I’ve dreamed up so far:

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Gertie’s Book Launch Party!

Posted in Reality? Check! by

Last Saturday, I made it to Gertie’s book launch party held at the Sewing Studio in the Garment District! I’m wearing my Muddy Waters dress (aka the Cambie Dress from Sewaholic Patterns). It was great fun! I absolutely loved Gertie’s 1950s-inspired dress – soooooo pretty. It’s a variation on her sundress pattern that’s included in the book. Basically I’d love to find a reason to make and wear this dress. :)

Here you can see I’m holding my signed copy of Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing. Let me tell you, there are more than a few of these patterns that I can’t wait to sew. So hard to focus on the sewing pattern at hand when there are so many great ones out there! I would absolutely love to tackle the pencil skirt at some point. Definitely a great office wardrobe staple.

Please pardon the grainy photo!

Gertie was chatting with everyone all night, that must’ve been exhausting! I actually tested two patterns in the book – the Portrait Blouse and the Wiggle Dress – ages ago. Really, I remember thinking I couldn’t share these patterns for a whole year and a half. Yowsa! Alas, they’re still only in muslin stage, but I hope to sew up finished versions. At the end of the evening, Gertie cut up the cake and we all partook in the eating of it. An image of the book cover was the top of the cake. Don’t you just love the crowd of ladies visible in the mirror? I think that’s so cute!

I was thrilled when ladies (and Peter!) came up to me and either recognized me or my dress pattern. There was even talks of a fabric buying meet-up! It was great to meet other sewing enthusiasts in person and chat about each other’s dresses. I have to admit, I’m a bit shy when it comes to approaching people at parties, but I do like to chat with you, I promise! Needless to say, it was wonderful to meet all of you. :)

Kwik Sew 3749: Cats Out of the Bag

Posted in 2012 Sewing, Finished Projects by

I took a little break from garment sewing to make this bag for a little girl’s birthday present. It’s a miniature version of Kwik Sew 3749, a pattern I’ve made a ton of times but have never shown on the blog. That pattern makes a HUGE bag so I scaled down the pattern pieces to make it “little girl” friendly.

The print is so sweet. I scooped it up the second I saw it because the black cat reminds me of the little girl’s cat! I figured she’d get a kick out of that. The fabric is a sturdy cotton, which works perfectly for a bag and whatever Care Bears or Rainbow Brite dolls she’ll carry in it (or whatever the kiddies are into these days ;)).

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Coletterie Featured Seamstress!

Posted in Featured by

Hi again! I’m really, really late in posting this, but I wanted to share that I was featured over at the Coletterie back in February. I just love Colette Patterns – being in a small design studio surrounded by colors, sewing tools, and your imagination? Yes, please!

I think I kept putting off sharing this on my blog because it almost feels like bragging. But, hey, it’s exciting so why not?! Since this blog is my sewing journal of sorts, it’s nice to remember fun features like this. :)

My Sydney Harbour Dress based on the Oolong Dress pattern was the featured creation. Here’s a snapshot of the Coletterie blog post:

Thank you, Colette Patterns, for featuring me!