Practice run of cotton blouse

New Look 6803

My mom says ignorance sometimes serves as a good thing because you don't know enough to be intimidated. You don't know what you don't know. Apparel sewing is still new to me. Sure, I can make a drawstring skirt but things that fit? Not in my skill set.

Because I read so many sewing blogs, the idea of a "practice muslin" finally sunk into my stubborn brain. If it is a good idea for sewing veterans, maybe it's a good idea for a newbie.
Quilting fabric* pulled from my mom's stash. Fabric pre-washed. Fabric ironed. Fabric cut from pattern view "A" (sleeveless blue dress) at blouse length.

Easy tucks at neckline but once I began to construct the blouse, the desire to use those neat finishing techniques from Michelle's Cheap and Picky blog interrupted my progress. I sent her a late night e-mail and she was kind enough to share her expertise on her blog.

Here are my attempts to play with the big girls:

• missed my opportunity to do complete French seams at shoulder so folded under the seam allowances and topstitched. This is when I realized I needed Michelle's instructions.




• Shoulder seam interior - tacked bias tape edge to inside to stabilize interfacing piece. (I skipped the iron-on interfacing step because I didn't want it to be too stiff. Shame on me. It was too wimpy so had to hand tack at shoulders, front and back.




• For front neckline, made small tack stitches to back of pleats to hide threads.



• Same thing for back of neck - hand tacked down to center back seam allowance.






• Fashioned my own split seams.



• Serged raw edges.

Why did it take so long to post? Well, at some point, I realized the bust was entirely too large so tailored to friend's size. There is no way I am gonna "waste" all my time on a throw away practice muslin; someone is gonna wear the quilting cotton blouse, dammit all. Believe it or not, it looks cute on my friend. Gave it to her but forgot to take photos. Visited the shirt this week and took the snaps. Not sure I'll revisit the pattern again but I learned alot.
Thanks for your help, Michelle!

*The Selfish Seamstress says nothing screams "homemade" like clothing made of quilting cotton and I must admit the wrinkled shirt on hanger photo isn't fantastic. Visualize it under a cute brown jacket, styled with leather cord necklace. It kinda has that Ralph Lauren or Hilfiger vibe.

Skirt from scraps

Last May, Chrysanthemum and I did another skirt marathon with summer fabrics. She graciously left behind her fabric scraps and I found there was juuuuuust enough of the sheer paisley print for a shorter skirt for sister RikkiTikkiTavi. Happily, Ernest sent me a box of varied fabrics last month and this cool purple is perfect for an under layer.

Over the weekend, I ignored overdue tasks in the house and used every shortcut I could think of to sew this skirt.

Shortcuts:

• Used RikkiTikkiTavi's favorite skirt as a pattern


• Serged the sheer fabric side seams


• Serged the purple underlay side seams and hem


• Joined sheer and purple layers at the top with foldover elastic


• Straight stitched the purple hem


• DID NOT hem the sheer layer but left the raw and cool looking selvage edge.

Complete and really cute! Another FREE skirt!

Hope to have a photo of Rik in skirt soon.

I love my serger

When I was new to sewing and only making pillows and pillowcases, I didn't know anything about seam finishing. This weekend, while doing laundry, I spied some nasty unfinished seams on my gingham pillowcases and immediately serged the ragged edges. All better now.

Baby gown from recycled shirt

Remember this shirt?

Cut off the sleeves and used the remaining fabric to make a baby gown from a tutorial by This Mama Makes Stuff.

Cute cotton skirt for the sister

Other than a well placed crotch air conditioning vent in your vehicle, there is nothing cooler than wearing a skirt in the summer.

Please to enjoy, a skirt made for my sister RikkiTikkiTavi with drawstring waist and serger produced rolled edge hem. I made one for me too!

Skirts for days and days

Chrysanthemum visited last week and we made 17 skirts by the time she left.
7 for her,

4 for me,

4 for sis RikkiTikkiTavi and

2 for Kay.
2 sewing machines,

1 serger and

2 visits to the fabric store.

Chrysanthemum was in charge of cutting and although she cut out 4 different sizes for 4 different chicks, she did each one perfectly. It's a gift, I tell ya!

Chrysanthemum is a big fan of using drapery and upholstery fabric for skirts. You like? Skirts above are hers, photographed before she packed and left. (More to come.)

See the purple paisley sheer? $1.50 a yard from WalMart with fold-over elastic waist.

She laughed at me because, after finishing each skirt, I would exclaim "this is my favorite!" Each and every one of 'em.

Refashion a large shirt

Sister gave me this brand new golf polo with a corporate logo. Her husband never wore it so I cut it straight across under the armholes. Looka, a cute summer skirt with fold-over elastic waist. No hemming necessary!

Spring time skirt

Couldn't help myself, I made a skirt of the people give me stuff fabric bounty with pink vintage floral print accent band at the hem. Band was folded in half lengthwise, sewn onto bottom of skirt and then raw edge was serged.

Tie silk skirt

With that big silk stash of mine, I attempted a six gored skirt from an online tutorial. I drafted the pattern, computed some math and carefully cut panels from black and blue panels of the silk necktie fabric. Proud to use my serger for the nicely finished edges, I whipped up the skirt in almost no time.

But I made a rookie mistake - I didn't make a muslin version first. The skirt didn't fit. Not even close. With no more black and blue fabric, I added two contrasting red gores on each side. It looked homemade. And sad. Ripped out the red gores (ripped red gores, that sounds somehow gross) and resewed the skirt and gave it to my mom. It looks quite good on her.

Will try another six gore skirt but next time it will be of a "throw away" fabric until I get the math right . . .no more ripped red gores for this girl.

Serger magic

Finally ventured into serger land to see what else I could do besides seam finishing. This is a rolled hem (or napkin edge) and it provides a great finish to a raw fabric edge.

Mind you, I do most of my sewing and embroidery experiments on pajama pants because

1) that is what I am usually wearing

2) no need to retain lots of scraps for experiment results

3) easy referral

How many times did I re-thread the looper: 4 times

How many curse words uttered: just 1, but held out for a long note

Emotion at seeing the end result: JOY!

Craft room hangover

My friend Chrysanthemum visited me last week and brought her sewing machine with her. She wanted to sew skirts so I was all up for it. I introduced her to the wonderful world of serger finishing and she cut out the skirts. When we finished there were 10 skirts for her, 2 skirts for little girl neighbors and 4 for me. That is not a mistake, 16 skirts in all.

Chrysanthemum complimented me by saying that the SkitzoLeezraStudio is like working in a factory; everything is there at your fingertips.

It was the first time that I had a little buddy sewing with me in the Studio and it was different - and fun. Makes me wish that she were back next week.

About the fabrics:

Chrysanthemum likes upholstery and drapery fabrics for skirts so you might recognize a few prints. My buddy Ernest gave me the most fabulous wool fabric samples several years ago. The wool is usually used for very high end men's sports coats and it drapes incredibly well. The Ernest wools are 3rd from the top and 2nd from the bottom.

About the pattern:

A bastardized version of easy sew a-line skirt. Some finished with drawstrings, some with elastic waists.

New toy - a serger!

WooHoo! I have a new serger! Not even sure what it will do but already I have serged seam allowances and such.

Bestest thing I have ever sewn!

Attempted to sew a tank for Kay and planned to "learn" on hers before making one for me. Pattern is New Look 6761, the leopard print tank. It was a bit too long so changed hem length. Of course, the silk fabric stash was used.

The new serger finished the seam allowances. Yay!

Did not realize that I needed purchased bias tape for underarm seam so made my very own!

Flipped pattern back panel to match yellow tone stripe in center.

Silk tank top made from of uncut tie fabric.