New Year, No Regrets

Well, I started this blog with the intent to have a post once a week...that didn't go so well, looking back I can see that I struggled to make a post once a week. I look at the start of my poet shirt walk through and tend to kick myself for not taking more pictures when I make one of these shirts. The fact is, I've neglected my regular costume making about the same time as I started those posts. 

I could blame it on holiday madness, or the ending on the college semester, or being overwhelmed at the "bill paying job" but really those are only a small part of what I've put ahead of my sewing. 

As the year has slowly been coming to an end, I found myself doing more stuff for me, and only me. I had the stuff that I had to do, but in my free time I did the stuff that I wanted to do.  This is kind of a new thing for me. I fill my life with pressure from outside my control and with in, but for the past 3 months, I've been taking care of me. 

This did include completing my second workshop with Cin-City Burlesque. If you are in the area, I highly recommend these workshops, along with the fitness class that they do. This is a lovely bunch of ladies, all shapes and sizes, and full of positivity and love. The way these ladies empower themselves and encourage each other and all that they come into contact with is just inspirational. This is on my list to continue to participate in for 2014. 

So, I didn't make the deans list this year. So I skipped the summer term. So, I didn't make all of the costumes that I dreamed of, or finished the gifts I wanted to. So, I didn't get a promotion at work that was hinted to me. So my apartment looks like it is an overpriced storage unit. All of that doesn't really matter because I'm finishing the year the way I want to...with no regrets. I took care of me this year, and that's more important than anything else that I could have accomplished. 

Inspiration

I am currently enrolled into a burlesque workshop. This is my second workshop and I am loving every minute of my experience. One of the things that these workshops really play up to is my love for costumes. Neither of these workshops have required very intense costuming, but I can not help but let my mind play. 

So as the performance part of this workshop draws closer, I am scrambling to decide on my pieces. I have some ideas of some things I might make, and back ups in case they don't work or I run out of time. Either way, I think this is going to result in some fabulous creations. Perhaps almost as good as my sheep costume for Celtic days. 

Be careful what ideas you arm a Sewing Wench with. 

"Baaah"

 

Into The Poet Shirt: Part 1

This is my favorite shirt pattern.

The pattern is from Butterick #5008. It has now been discontinued, unfortunately. You can still pick up the pattern from the website under "out-of-print"

As always we start by cutting out the pieces.

Some of the pieces require an interfacing such as the collar, cuffs, and collar-band. To do this, I like to iron the fabric to a fusible interfacing  and then cut out the pieces. 

I like to get all of the ironing and odd bits done first, starting with the flounce.

To get the perfect narrow hem, I sew a 1/4" stay stitch around the edge. Then iron along the stitch line, unfold and iron the raw edge touching the stitching. Fold over and re-iron. 

Do the same with the sleeve ruffles.

I like to use a ruffler foot to gather the ruffles, but you can use your favorite gathering method. 

That takes care of most of the tedious bits. 

In the next part we'll cover building the cuffs and collar. 

Crafty Wench!

As I was preparing one of my favorite shirts I realized some of the pieces are getting a bit worn.

The flounce around the neck opening piece was looking a bit worn. Time to buy another pattern? Heck no! Just iron it onto some fuse-able stabilizer.

Then just cut it out and it's as good as new! Better than new in fact because it will be thicker than the old thin paper and hold up to a lot more uses. 

I do this with many of my favorite patterns, some of which are now out of print and can't be replaced. 

For this shirt and all of our items currently for sale visit our new full site!

The Elvish Ways

This week has been the perfect week, no day job and the week before classes start. Just as I was starting this perfect week, I get a request to create an Elvish dress. SCORE!

So here is where I started.  Simplicity Pattern 9891. We're doing a version of "A" or the one on the upper right side. 

Because the dress is so full, pieces 2 and 3 have two pieces that have to be attached. This is done by simply matching the target marks and tape. 

We're using velvet for the entire dress, including the sleeves and nixing the sash. Once all of the pieces are cut, they go together simply putting the front together first and then the back. 

Now I also added ties in the front. So cut 16 pieces of a coordinating rat-tail, and place them about an inch and a half apart on the sides front center piece (1). 

I stay stitch these before putting on the front side pieces. 

Then sew the side front pieces to the center front. 

Do the same for the back center and the back side pieces.

Match the shoulders. 

This is one of the few times that I choose to sew up the sides before sewing in the sleeves. 

Then on to the sleeves. Match one sleeve front to sleeve back. 

Because we are not going to line the sleeves (which you could) I did a French Seam along the long underside of the sleeves. This leaves a neat finish when you look at the sleeves. 

Now once you have the sleeves finished, attach them to the arm holes. This is one instance that I pin. Pin every inch or so. 

The easiest way to sew this is with the presser foot on the inside. 

Add facing and hem the bottom and sleeves. Then you're ready to trim. 

Since this was a consignment piece, I gave a few options on trim. 

After the trim is sewn. You're all finished. 

And I love the Celtic style sleeves.

As always, you can check out my stuff here. 

This has really been a fun project. I can't wait to see it on the elf buying it!

New Tools

I mentioned in a previous post that I bought a new sewing/embroidery machine while at the Creative Expo in Sharronvile last month, but was having issues with the embroidery function. 

  

Not exactly what I had envisioned when I bought a $2000 sewing machine. 

After a lot of frustration, and a two hour class, I finally have learned my new machine. 

And can put it into use in all of the ways I had intended.

In another post I will go over the construction of this hunting vest. At the moment I'm contemplating the closures.

A Bit of Bustle

Last week a friend posted to facebook a photo of herself and her husband from a wedding "photo booth" set up. Upon seeing the photo it struck me that I had the very same fabric in my stash as the backdrop in the photo. That made me want to pull it out and play. But what to do with it? 

Then, as many days, I found myself in the fabric store and found the most beautiful crushed velvet on clearance. Instantly I knew what I was to do. 

The dress herself is a simple cut and a familiar pattern, and the apron included in the pattern. Of course this would not do alone, I had to top it. 

The bustle and train attach to the apron on the sides. 

It is very adjustable, so the bustles could be longer. 

Next up will be some undergarments and accessories to go with it. Hopefully I'll be able to arrange a photo shoot with models soon as well.