Veruca Salt Dress

Every year we perform a musical and one of the highlights for me as a theater mom and seamstress is I get to make costumes! I love sewing and when I can sew for a show or for a music reason it is awesome! This year was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and I was able to recreate Veruca's red dress. The first step is to find a sewing pattern that I can manipulate to look like what the character needs.  I wanted to make the dress out of Pont de Roma fabric so it moved with the actress. Then I remembered the Marianne Dress by Christine Haynes, it is perfect because it also had a peter pan collar.

The peter pan collar did have some issues. I did not want a t-shirt binding. Also, the back of the collar did not have a collar. I drafted a back collar piece and since the opening was not stretchy, I created a keyhole with a button and loop closure.

I lengthened the sleeves and used the cuffs from the pattern for long sleeves. Next, we added the buttons! We also added ribbon for the waistband that goes across the front and back.

 I used tape to give myself a guide for all of the front buttons. Then I had a guide for my buttons.

They turned out great and then I added cuffs to the sleeves and buttons on the cuffs.

As soon as she put the dress on she started acting in character, that is a sure sign that we got it right!

I love sewing for the theater. I could see myself doing that after I retire from music teaching.

Best wishes and tons of stitches.

Amy Butler In Town Bag, Enclose Zipper

I created a Schoolhouse Tunic March 2010 using this gorgeous fabric Anna Maria Horner, Good Folks Fortune in Chocolate and since then I realized I don't wear it anymore and I still love the fabric! That's when I realized I have to upcycle it and make it something new. I chose to make the Amy Butler, In Town Bag. It is a super small bag so I knew right away that the button closure would not work for me. Then I thought about a magnet closure but that would take up more of the inside of the bag. I found a tutorial on how to apply an enclosed zipper!

This bag is tiny and to best utilize the space a zipper was the best closure. I used 4 pieces of fabric cut to 9" long X 1.5" wide to create the enclosed zipper.

I placed leather for the bottom of the bag. It is easier to keep it clean and looks great!

I did sew in the slip pocket template on one side of my bag. The zipper closure falls over the pocket to keep items from falling out. If you are interested in learning how to enclose a zipper check out this Baker Bag Tutorial the zipper part starts at 13:5 in the video.
This was a beautiful schoolhouse tunic but I love the bag even more!

Best wishes and ton of stitches!

Sew Over It Heather Dress #3

I made a plaid Heather Dress designed by the Sew Over It! Making anything out of plaid is extremely hard. You have to make sure you are lining up all of the horizontal and vertical lines with the grain lines on the paper pattern pieces. I used a ruler on top of my paper pattern pieces to make sure that everything lined up. It took longer to true up the fabric than it took to make the actual dress but it was well worth it! In the end, I had to decide that the horizontal lines mattered more. I placed also paid close attention to where the notches where on the separate pattern pieces so when I sewed them together it would also align. If you don't want to deal will plaid craziness and you still would like to have plaid on your dress, you can use plaid fabric for the center front and back pieces of the pattern.

I am not sure I recommend others to sew this dress pattern totally in plaid. Many have used a plaid or other design for the center panel and that works very well. I am a crazy person, who loves a challenge and the feeling of frustration in my sewing space. This is a size 10, bust size 35. You really need to follow the 5/8" seam allowance as you are sewing the entire dress pattern. I wish there was a neckline band pattern piece, it states in the pattern to measure and then attach it. I guess the reason for having you measure your own neckline is because all of the seam allowances come together there (6 different seam allowance sewn) if you did not follow the 5/8" seam allowance then your neckband piece would be different in length. I will definitely buy more Sew Over It designs! I am looking at the  Ultimate Trousers sewing pattern. I love making my own clothes. I can create what I want in a garment. I don't have to wait for someone else to design it for me. I don't have to hunt for clothes online and/or look for it in the stores around me. Sewing gives me the freedom to make and wear what I love. What is on your sewing table?
Best Wishes and Tons of Stitches!

Two Zipper Hipster Review

This pattern is called the Two Zipper Hipster, by Dog Under My Desk. I first reviewed it four years ago here after receiving my embroidery machine for Christmas 2014.

I love this design and I have to say I believe this crossover bag to be the best crossover bag pattern out there. The slip pocket and zipper front pocket is super convenient. I use it for my phone and glasses. The adjustable strap makes this bag perfect for anyone.

I personalized the front of the zipper pocket with my initials and added a Sew Spoiled design on the back. Selfish sewing is so much fun!

I realized when I got home from the fabric store that I bought the wrong color in zippers. I bought navy and the denim was not navy and not dark enough to be black. Well, with black zippers it looked navy and with navy zippers, it looked black. So I decided to go with light blue and match the embroidery to tie it all together. This also made me realize that you could do this with a variety of colors; making the embroidery and the zipper color match.

I also changed the top of the slip pocket zipper panel to accent the blue zipper color, this fabric is also the lining fabric. I couldn't be happier with the entire project!

Sew Over It; Heather Dress #2

See I told you, after sewing Heather Dress #1, here is Heather Dress #2. This time I used a sweater knit fabric. It is so warm, comfortable and soft. Great for the wintery weather we are having in the south this year. Also, the pockets seem to perform better in this fabric choice.

Here is a close up of the pocket!

I again had a little extra fabric. So I made a knit pencil skirt. I just used a pencil skirt that I had in my closet as a pattern. Yay, I love getting a little extra fabric for one more design. This stretches my fabric wardrobe budget.

Piecing everything together can be fun and give you the boost you need to start sewing!

I love how easily this dress comes together. It looks professional but at the same time feels great. I can teach music and move around and look great all at the same time.

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Orange Everyday Sweater

This pattern is the Everyday Cardigan by Lisa Clarke. It is a fast knit and there is no button band.  I love that. There are just a few patterns that are tried and true, this is one of them. They are staples in my wardrobe. I would love to make one every year! This year when the weather started to get cold, I began wanting to make another Everyday Cardigan.  I bought this beautiful orange yarm and set to work. 

I love the orange color and sweet snuggles that I received from my puppy knitting. Knitting does take a long time but it is a craft you can do anywhere. It is so relaxing and warm. Hope this inspires you to give it a try.

Sew Over It; Heather Dress #1

I love this dress pattern, The Heather Dress from Sew Over It! Of course, that means that I have to make 100 of them. I apologize now to you, my readers. You might have to see many more of these. These dresses are comfortable and soft, they look great in Pont De Roma fabrics and you can find this fabric in every color. Also, the Heather Dress, from Sew Over It, combines two of my favorite things knit fabric and pockets! I love pockets! No wonder I love making bags so much, bags are all about my pocket addiction. I have made many knit dresses but it is nearly impossible to place pockets in a knit dress because the dress sags. The entire dress droops and gravity takes its toll. By the end of the day, your dress is longer just because you put things in your pockets. The Heather Dress is different the pockets can be used and look great. 

Knit fabric dresses are extremely versatile! You can wear them in the spring/ summer with sandals and you can wear them in the fall/ winter with boots and legging and layers.  I have 5 knit dresses and I wear them all year round. I also love 3/4 sleeves so I can wear them at any time of the year. The knit dress is a staple in my wardrobe.

It was my first so I was expecting to have to tweak it a lot but to my surprise, I didn't! I took the sides in a little and shorten the hem but that is all.
I also had extra fabric to make this cute top.

Best Wishes and Tons of Stitches!