The Vintage Inspired Playsuit

This past week on the Sew Weekly, our challenge was to mix prints. I chose a peach floral cotton and a sky blue and white herringbone and McCalls 6311 pattern. I loved mixing these prints together, I loved stepping out of my comfort zone.  I have to say, I am pretty proud of this latest creation, especially because I have been working out hard core - I am almost at my pre-baby muscle percentage. Anyways, back to the playsuit. I added cups to the bust  to give it that vintage look that my body is unable to give. Okay, now I spilled the secret... Time to get back on track.

I really wanted to use these two fabrics together for this challenge. I love the pattern contrast, but I also love how the blue hue compliments the peach hue. In fact I love complimentary colors all together. But I didn’t have enough of the herringbone to do anything big with the 2 yards of floral cotton. Then I remembered Mena’s playsuit from the pin-up challenge. Why yes, a playsuit! What a grand idea! McCall’s patterns were going on sale, and I had more than enough fabric to do this. It also doesn’t hurt to have a playsuit to garden, tan, walk the beach, or go on that long awaited cruise I have been dreaming about in.

This pattern was the simplest by far to use. And very easy to fit to my measurements. Of course I always have trouble up in the bust and back area. What else is new? So I added padded cups to make up the difference. Maybe one day I will hit puberty. I wont count on it though. I know, I’m hard on myself.... The best part is the contrasting fold over at the top. I did have to take the straps down a few times trying to get the most comfortable and logical length.

I really love this playsuit. It’s hard enough to find swimsuits that make me feel womanly without compromising my modesty standards. A playsuit, I may not be able to swim in, but I could wear it to the beach or whatnot where I don’t plan on swimming but do plan on enjoying the sun with everyone else. I feel like this playsuit gives me shape. I like having shape. I never knew what it felt like before.

I wanted to take these photos at the beach, but there was no time with our busy schedules, so we headed to Dad’s pool again (which I am so embarrassed because it is so dirty)and borrowed my brother’s surfboard to give it a Gidget like feel. Thanks Mena for the fabulous idea!

Shirt to Dress Tutorial: H&M Inspired

I found this dress at H and M for $20! Total steal right? Well I could have bought it for such a good price, especially with how well it fit (that hardly ever happens). But realized I had a thrifted little boys shirt that looked just like the bodice of this dress, and I had some inherited denim that was similar to the skirt part of this dress, all I needed to buy was a zipper. So $20 versus $1.39. yeah, I'm that cheap.

I already had the perfect pattern for my skirt to attach to my shirt. I used New Look 6872. All I did was buy a 10in zipper instead of a 7in like the pattern calls for.

This is my awesome little boy shirt I found thrifting. It was too short but it fit in the bust. I knew I would eventually figure out what to do with it.

I turned my shirt inside out and marked with a pin where I want to attach the skirt, then I marked with another pin where to cut the shirt. I measured about 2inches down from the first marking.

I cut from this measurement all the way around the shirt to make it clean and even.

If you are using a boys/men's shirt, you will probably need to add back and bust seams. But if you are using a women's shirt, then the seams are most likely already there.

I then decided what side to have my zipper on. I seam ripped the side of the shirt where I will be placing my zipper. I ripped it about 3 inches up the side.

I then followed the directions on the pattern for my skirt, right up to where it directs you on sewing in the zipper. I then pinned my skirt to my shirt, right at the natural waist. 

Sew it down on top of the band and on the bottom of the waistband.

 Then sew your zipper in where your open seam on your skirt is and where you seam ripped the side of your shirt.

 And this is the outcome! I paired with a thick band belt for more character.

Very similar to the original, right? I am so pleased with it. And I seriously wear it all the time.

The beautiful model, M.E. and I

Sew Weekly Mother's Day Tribute: Grandma Mary

This past week the Sew Weekly challenge was do sew something inspired by a family member. I chose my Maternal grandmother. I am a lot like her in ways - such as her stubborn and tough love qualities. Sh has always been an inspiration to me, in more ways than just fashion. She raised animals, weaved baskets, grew fruits and vegetables, nursed beautiful flower gardens, cultured in the arts and helped others in need. As much of an amazing woman she was/is, this sewing project did not do it's justice. I totally bombed it. You may not be able to tell in photos - but if you saw this dress up close and personal you would tell me to throw it away. Here is my story:

First off, let’s talk about my inspiration for this weeks challenge. My Grandma. I loved this woman. She was so strong and amazing. She did things the best way she knew how and I have got to give her credit for that. She was a woman ahead of her time, but had some funny quirks. She was a sorority sister at University of Washington (go Huskies!) Majored in fashion merchandising, then changed her major to nursing. Good thing she did too. This woman was selfless. Born of German/Welsh parents, she loved fashion and was good at not only wearing it, but making it and styling it. She married my grandfather in the late 1930′s, this picture was taken in 1943. When she married my grandfather, she had to take on a different role in life. She had to take on more roles than any woman should have to. You see, my grandfather was an alcoholic. A dirty, mean drunk. Grandma sold their house outside of Seattle and moved the family to a little farming area on the outskirts of Yakima, WA. in hopes that Grandpa would be too busy with their new dairy farm to drink life away. Well, he did just that. He drunk his life away. he died in an automobile accident while driving under the influence of alcohol. Drove head on into a tree. My mother was only 14 and my uncle 16. Grandma became a stronger woman because she had to. Her love for fashion was put on hold for many decades and she helped organize a rehab center in Ellensburg, WA for alcoholics. What an amazing woman to pioneer this great cause before it was worldly recognized. When I came into the picture 1/4 of a century later, she passed on her love of fashion and beauty to me since she had to give it up so long ago. She became a woman of many talents due to the forces of nature. When it came to finding photos of Grandma, I noticed every dress she wore had huge floral print on them. I had only one fabric with huge floral print, the dreaded shirting material.

Which brings me to the low point of my post. See this awesome pattern? I fell in love, and was ready to use it. To my dismay the only pattern pieces that could be found were the facings and the long sleeve. I was so bummed out! But, I sucked it up and said I can make this work, Sadly I didn’t. I had to draft the entire pattern with only the help of the facings and the picture on the back of the pattern envelope. The sewing machine ate the material while trying to sew the button holes. The material did not fold well while trying to do EVERYTHING! But, I was not going to give up. I started this ugly project and I am going to finish it. I can be a stubborn mule at times. I guess I just channeled Grandma. So, I hate this dress, it will never get finished properly. I should have learned my lesson the first time working with shirting fabric. Please don’t make my mistake. I was so in hatred with this dress that I didn’t care that I have no make up on or my hair done properly. I said to the hubs, “let’s just get this over and done with” and handed him my iPhone to take the pictures. Grandma, I promise to honor you on another challenge. This one did just not work out. A funny thing about my Grandma, she didn’t believe in wearing pants ever! Even when doing farm work. The woman wore skirts, dresses, and culottes all year long no matter the occasion or weather. She believed women should not wear pants because it didn’t leave much to the imagination. Funny Grandma, she has a point, but pants are just so easy and convenient. She would have gruffed at that comment.

Top Ten Things I've Learned Doing Sew Weekly

I've been participating on the Sew Weekly since 2011, when I stumbled across Mena's site at the end of 2010, while searching "handmade vintage dresses". You see, I had inherited boxes and boxes full of vintage sewing patterns and decided I would sell some and use some for myself. I just needed a motivator. And their she was, Mena, my motivator!
In 2011 I sewed along the sidelines of the 5 featured sewists of the year, Mena, Debi, Veronica, Adey, and Sarah. I decided to tackle it, but only the easy ones so I didn't get over my head into something we didn't have money to spend on. I felt confident enough towards 2012, to be an active main page participant. And though I have learned a lot, I'm giving you the top 10 most important.

1. No matter how pretty the print is doesn't mean I should buy shirting fabric. This stuff does nothing for me. It's not comfortable, it gets eaten by my babylock, it's just not practical. I've made this mistake twice so far.

2. I've learned that teen vintage patterns fit my body type much better. Like I never went through puberty.

3. I can fake curves with certain fabrics and patterns. It's fabulous!

4. I can have a support system continents away! My close friends don't sew much, well not like I do. I feel they aren't even interested in my love for sewing. I don't even think they read my blog...but my Sew Weekly friends do. And they have such kind words to say, whether they are in New York, Australia, or Ireland. I love it.

5. There is a presser foot just for hems! Now I just need more practice with it.

6.  Thanks to the Sew Weekly, my husband is getting better at photography. He takes all my photos. I must work harder at my modeling and not feeling awkward when strangers stare at me.

7. I can do things I am afraid of trying - like buttonholes by machine.

8.  I can finish a project quicker than I thought I could. It's about making time for it and being motivated to do it.

9. Certain fabrics must be cut on the bias. Stop trying to pretend they don't need to be. This is a problem I need to overcome.

10. I have learned to like wearing dresses. I am a natural tomboy. Jeans and t-shirts suit me best. But when I make a dress I like, I am more willing to wear it for no reason at all.

Well, that's my list. I'm sure I will have more to share in 6 more months.

The Liebster Award

Jill from Laugh, But Not Loudly, presented and passed on the Liebster Award to moi. I am more than flattered. I am humbled and appreciative. I cannot say that I blog for the purpose of gaining a multitude of followers/fans/attention. I blog for the purpose of progressing my talent and encouraging others to find their talents and use them (and learn to sew in the process!) This is the first award I have ever received - and am incredibly grateful to Jill for choosing me and finding me deserving. Thank you Jill!

And now it's my turn to choose who this award goes to. 

The rules:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog;
2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you;

3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog;
4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed (see below);
5. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.

This award is designed to highlight the work of lesser-known bloggers. Do read what these other bloggers have to share by clicking on their names!


1. Meg The Grand: This girl is the party! She sews, makes cute clothes, and never gets defeated by her busy life. She does what she loves and it shows! 


2. Alice's Closet: Alice is fun to read. She lives in Italy, studied fashion in Milan, and designs and makes custom clothes. She lives my dream.


3. Pixie Patterns and Sewing: Tiffany works soooo hard, I love seeing what she is up to next. She deserves credit for her hard work, talent, and pushing through obstacles. She is determined and a good example to the sewing blog world.


4. Gina Clark Style: Gina has the most amazing talent for sewing the things we are afraid to try. I think that is why I look up to her so much. When you see what she creates and what she is inspired by you will be like "OMG" she just rocks!


5. Annabanana: Anna has a knack for sewing, and she tracks her progression through her blog. Get to know her and her fun style.