Pattern Challenge: Coffee Date Dress

I completed the Coffee Date Dress!  I have been looking and looking at this pattern and everyone's versions for a long time and finally made one for myself.  This adorable pattern is designed and offered for free by The Selfish Seamstress.  As I follow her blog, I'm really doubting her title...

Here is my dress:

 I added the wide belt for fun detail.  It also helps camouflage the belly.

 If you know me, I won't be drinking coffee in this but most likely tea.  I drink tea morning, noon and night.  I think Rod needs to take me on a date now in my new dress. Then it can be my wine and a movie dress, he he he.

View of the back with my invisible zipper.  It looks pretty invisible, I'm getting better.

My Coffee Date Dress is made from charcoal grey linen (100% cotton) that I purchased from JoAnn's.  This pattern was pretty easy and fun to sew up.  I liked adding the ruffle to the front.  I had to take in the dress almost 2 inches around the waist and chest and then adjust the front seams.  I thought I read the sizing correctly but I guess I should have cut out one size smaller than I did.  I used french seams for the first time and it really makes a pretty and professional finish on the inside of the garment.  I also used a blind hem for the first time.  That's gonna take some getting used to.  It might have been easier if I had cut the skirt on the bias.  This was also the first time that I used my dressform.  I love it!  It really helps when you are pinning and sizing.  I'm so glad I have one.  I've decided to name my dressform Genevieve after my grandmother, Eudalia Genevieve.  She used to sew and she bought me my first sewing machine.  I'll have to do another post introducing Genevieve and my sewing space.

Pattern Challenge: Cynthia Rowley Dress to Top

I've completed another pattern but in record time.  I cut out the pattern one night, then sewed almost all of it last night.  I started around 7:30 pm and stopped around 1:45 am.  I was trying really hard to get the top made so I could enter it into Rae's Spring Top Week challenge.  The deadline was today by 8pm.......EASTERN TIME.  I didn't realize the time zone till I went to add my top to the Flickr group.  We are PST so I was already 3 hours late.  Booo hoooo!  I was a little frustrated that I stayed up till 2 and then had to get up at 5:45am the next day for a seminar.  Oh well, at least I completed another pattern toward my Pattern Challenge! Yeah me!
Here it is:

Simplicity Pattern 2406 Designed by:Cynthia Rowley

There's an opening at the back that closes with a hook & eye closure just at the top/neckline.  I think I might just put in an invisible zipper.  I shortened the opening to 8 inches instead of 16 inches.  It looks so cute and sexy on the dress but not as great on my version.  I was trying to make a more practical version (so I could wear a bra).

I'm happy with how it turned out.  The sleeves were very tricky though.  I was stuck on them for an hour last night.  I finally figured it out on my own.  The directions were also very confusing on attaching the sleeves to the top.  Again, I just did my own thing.  Why can't patterns be a little more detailed.
It's fun to be adding to my wardrobe with things I've made!

Pattern Challenge: Chiffon Pleated t-shirt

I completed the t-shirt!  I'm so excited it turned out well.  I was a little discouraged the first time I made the neckline.  I made a binding from the fabric and attached it with some chiffon all around.  Even though I used a stretch stitch the neckline looked way too big.  I ripped it out and tried a different method.  This time a used a zig zag stitch all the way around then folded the neckline toward the inside.  I then attached the chiffon from the inside and the neckline didn't stretch out. 
Here is a before picture and the after shots:

Ugly stretched out neckline

New neckline and added chiffon pleats

I love my new t-shirt.  It's so comfy and soft.  I think I can wear it casual or dressed up.  The chiffon was left over from the Can-Can Skirt I made for Avery's 1st Birthday outfit.  It's nylon chiffon from: http://www.afc-express.com/nylon-chiffon.html
I entered my shirt in Made by Rae's Spring Top Week.  It's not a flashy shirt but I like simple and feminine.

I also participated in Andrea's (from The Train to Crazy) "Make it, Wear it" blog party. 
It's so fun to see what everyone else has made.  Go check it out!

Pattern Challenge: Jacket Frustrations

We have been so busy lately but I have been trying to work toward my Pattern Challenge.  I had started my Jacket awhile back and finally got a chance to really get some sewing done.  I didn't want to start anything else till I finished this project.  Well, everything was going fine till it was time to sew the back and the sides together.  I realized that something was REALLY wrong.  I think I cut some of the pattern pieces backward.  It didn't seem like there was any going back so I cut some things and just sewed to make it work.  It was also way too big, so again (yikes) I cut (ahhh) and sewed to make it work.  I've decided to stop working on it indefinitely.  I don't see how the sleeves are going to attach to the way the arm holes are now.  Once I get my dress form, it will be a lot easier to visualize and plan.  Until then, I'm moving on.

Cute pockets and pleats.

Back detail with pleats

Top of front arm hole is too narrow and how am I to attach to back and the sleeve.  Ugh!

I'll take it as a learning experience as I  teach myself to sew garments.   

Next project. . . I'm making a t-shirt to enter in Made by Rae's Spring Top Week. I found some cute fashion knit jersey on sale at Joannes.  I love this light pink striped fabric. It's so soft and sheer.  I used one of my shirts that fits me well, for a pattern template.  I made my own bias tape from the material and added some blush pink chiffon to the neck line.  For some reason this made the neck stretch out even though I was using a stretch stitch.  Since then I have redone the neck line and it's much better.  I'm going to embellish the front of tee with more chiffon.  I'm still planning out the design and taking inspiration from one of my favorite stores, LOFT.

Here are the before/in process pictures of my t-shirt:

Three-quarter length sleeve

Stretched out neck line with chiffon.  This has been ripped out and redone.  

I hope to post pictures soon of my completed t-shirt.  I'm also going to make a matching one for Avery.

Pattern Challenge: Project #2 for Goal 1

I just bought the fabric for the jacket I'm going to make.  I'm really excited but nervous too.  When I picked it out I think this pattern was rated easy, but I'm thinking this is really going to stretch my "beginner" skills.  Here is a picture of the fabric and buttons I chose.

 

Pattern Challenge: Sleeveless Blouse

I'm on my way to meeting my 1st goal.  I just finished my pattern 2593 Simplicity by Cynthia Rowley.  I did the sleeveless version with folded neck band.  I used a sateen ( I think) fabric.  This was tricky to work with. Very slippery.  I think next time I work with this fabric I will use a rotary cutter so I can have more control as I cut around the pattern pieces.  This was a pretty easy pattern and came together real fast and I'm sure it's super easy for the experienced out there.  My skills are improving with each pattern I do.  I had a little trouble with doing the binding around the arm holes and neck hole but this was a good learning experience.

Here it is!

It's a little difficult to see the twist of the neck band in the pictures because of the pattern.

 

  

  

 

I wore it to work today with a black bolero and some pearls. Cute huh?

Pattern Challenge

I'm very excited!  I stumbled across a site called Come See the Seitz: Creative Sewing Projects by Sarah Seitz.  She is asking people to join her in a pattern challenge.  We are to make our own (attainable) goals, blog about them, then post on our finished projects.  I love it!

Here are my goals:

1. Make all 6 Simplicity Patterns to add to my wardrobe. DUE:  2 done by April 1st, 2 more by May 1st and the last 2 by May 30th.
2. Make a dress for Avery from the corduroy fabric that I bought before Christmas. DUE: June 30th

Since I dusted off my sewing machine, I've only been making things for Avery, my little girl or for friend's babies.  Now it's time to make myself some clothes.  I'm really excited and these goals with due dates should help me stay motivated.
Here are my patterns: