The easy DKNY dress is underway: Vogue 1250

When the latest designs from Vogue Patterns were released I fell in love with the DKNY knit dress, Vogue 1250.  As did many of you!

I was eager to whip one up for myself after seeing Carolyn's (LOVE), this beautiful red version (GORGEOUS), a vibrant blue version (WOW!) and of course the versions viewed on PatternReview.

Between working and taking two classes my spare time (i.e. sewing time) is very limited. However, the other day I found myself with a few hours and quickly set out to sew this dress for myself.


I choose a knit purchased recently from SR Harris. I knew the bold graphic print needed a simple design and with only two main pattern pieces this dress definately qualified. As I did zero alterations to the pattern I was able cut and sew it in about two hours.

As soon as the last stitch was sewn I was changing out of my yoga pants and tee into the dress.

Wearing my new creation, I stepped in front of the mirror expecting to be wowed and .... blah.

That's right.  Blah.

I hated the way it looked.  The shape just wasn't working for me. Oh how disappointed I was. After all everyone else rocked it!   

"Okay" I thought "Maybe it wasn't the best fabric choice."

Because that's how I roll. I try and find some logical explanation (i.e. excuse) for why I don't like something I've spent time sewing. 

So number two is under way - the purple one.

The truth is, I'm not positive this is the best shape for my body type. I suspect this will be a dress I'll need to wear belted - if I wear it at all. 

For now you only get to see them on GiGi.  But if I like the purple one I'll style it and model it for you.

*************************************************** Pin It

Happy Easter

I won't be online Sunday as I'll be busy celebrating Easter with my family.

Easter 1962 - complete with a mini Mad Men

He is Risen and it is a joyous day to celebrate!  May you and yours have a blessed and joy filled Easter.

********************************************* Pin It

DIY - Sew an Easter Egg Pajama Bag Tutorial

I don't know about you, but as a child we rarely got away with leaving our beds unmade.  That included folding our pajamas and tucking them neatly beneath our pillows.  

How much more fun would it have been to tuck our nightwear into a pajama bag? 

This Easter, along with the jelly beans and chocolate bunnies, why not tuck a cute little Easter Egg Pajama Bag into that special child's basket? 

I made this one for  my sweet little great-niece. Although she's way too young to appreciate it, her mother will get a kick out of it. 

It's super easy to sew one up so let's get started.

You'll need about 1/2 yard of white flannel, cotton or fleece; assorted colorful ric-rac trim, a zipper, fusible fleece and paper to trace your pattern

Make the pattern

• On a piece of paper draw one egg shape 22" wide and 14" high for front.  
• Draw a second egg shape 22" wide and 15"high for back.

Note: This is not drawn to scale

Cut out the pieces

• From white fabric, cut one front and one back. 
• From fusible fleece, cut one front and one back. 
• Cut the back pieces in half as shown:

 Add the fleece

• Following manufacturer's instructions fuse the fleece to the back side of each fabric piece.
• Sew-in fleece will work also - I just find the fusible easier. 
• If you're using fleece for the pajama bag you can eliminate this step.

Add the zipper

• Press under 1/2" along the long center edge of each back piece.
• Butt the pressed edges of the back pieces together.
• Place a piece of tape across the edges to help keep them together. 
• Place the zipper wrong side down centering it over the pressed under edges.
• Stitch the zipper in place.  
• Be sure to unzip the zipper before stitching the front and back pieces together.

Zipper as it looks on inside of pajama bag

Zipper as it looks on the outside of the zipper bag

Add the trim

• Grab an assortment of colorful trims and ric-rac and lay them on top of the front piece until you find a pattern that pleases you. 
• Stitch trim in place. 

Finish the pajama bag

• Pin the front and back right sides together.
• Make sure the back zipper is unzipped as that's how you'll turn the bag right side out.
• Stitch around all edges using a 1/2" seam allowance.
• Turn right side. 

After sewing this Easter Egg pajama bag I realized it looked a lot like a football - so I whipped up a football pajama bag also.  I'm sure I can find a little man that would enjoy the sports-themed pajama bag.

Hope you enjoyed this little sewing tutorial.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled sewing which came to a screeching halt due to the lack of an orange zipper anywhere in my sewing studio.

****************************************** Pin It

Weekend Wrapup - This Week I'm Thankful For

As the week draws to an end I've spent some reflecting over the past few days.  By nature I'm a fairly positive and optimistic person, yet I discovered something about myself. There are times that  I choose to focus on negatives rather than blessings.

Beginning today, I'm making a conscious effort to end my week sharing at least five things I'm  thankful for.

This week I'm thankful for...

• Dining out with my husband and my two children.  The service was a little on the slow side and guess what?  I'm thankful for the extra time I was able to spend laughing with the people I love. 

• The April snow we received the other day as it will hasten the growth of the green spring grass.

• The ducks wandering through my front yard as they remind me that spring really is just around the corner. 

• Dry streets so our little Maltese, Sophia, doesn't return from our walks in need of a bath, like this time.

• A lemon mouse Godiva truffle shared with my lovely daughter while shopping together at the mall.

What are you thankful for this week?

*************************************** Pin It

I do tables too: another DIY project

I swear this family room / dining room redo is taking forever.  But considering we moved in here eight years ago and have yet to complete the kitchen makeover I guess a few months on this room is nothing.

So far we've ripped up the carpet, installed a wood floor and painted the walls. I customized and lengthened new curtains, sewed a one-yard beaded table runner, and customized a set of accent tables.

As a huge bargain shopper I found the glass top I wanted,  in the size I wanted,  at a price I liked - three tables for less than $200, and that included tax! But the bottom piece was a glossy black - not the look I was going for at all.

While considering if I should purchase the set, I knelt down to check out the black finish wondering how easy it would be to paint over the black. Then it hit me. I'm a DIYer! Why couldn't I just rewrap that section in fabric? 

And that's what I did.  Easy peasy.  I'll show you how.

Gather your tools. You'll need a screwdriver, a staple gun, fabric of your choice, scissors, removable fabric marker and ruler.

First things first. Use the screwdriver to remove the portion of the table to be covered in fabric. Remove any additional pieces if needed.

Lay the piece flat on the wrong side of the fabric and trace around the edge.

Add a "seam allowance" and cut out. I added four inches as this allowed me plenty of fabric to wrap around the edges.

 

 With the piece centered on the cut out fabric begin pulling the fabric up and stapling in place near the edge. It works best if you alternate the stapling - pull the fabric up on one side and staple. Pull the fabric up on the opposite side and staple. Continue in that manner around the entire edge being sure to pull fabric taunt before stapling in place. 

Trim excess fabric close to the staples.

 

Using the screwdriver reattach any pieces you removed previously.

The finished fabric covered piece. I covered this part on each of the three tables. At that point I just needed to put the tables together.

 

Ta-da! Customized accent tables. 

 

See how easy it is to DIY? 

**********************************

Pin It

Now and Then - Flashback Friday 80s style

So the other day I'm browsing one of my nieces set of photos on her Facebook page. She's quite the photographer and I'm always eager to view her photos after she finishes one of her photoshoots.

As I'm looking at the photos I suddenly notice the lovely white lace dress she's wearing.

"Hey K" I wrote. "Where'd you get the dress? I used to have one just like it!"

"Ha, ha, ha!" she wrote. "It was my mom's garage sale a couple years ago. I bet it was yours!"

Sure enough.

It might be vintage to K but it was brand new to me in 1984.

She makes it modern with her headband and soft hair but I rocked it 80s style with my white lace gloves and big hair.

*********************************************** Pin It

Only behind by four

Finally! I'm sewing for me.

While I'm  way behind schedule on the one jacket a month sewing challenge, I've begun work again on a jacket from McCall's 5818.

 

Lovely spring color isn't it?

**********************************

Pin It

I heart linen

Mmmmmm linen. The colors. The feel. The texture. I heart it enough to even save the scraps. And I'm not a save-the -scraps kinda gal.

Pin It

Mailbox treasures

I know y'all were expecting to see a box of gorgeous fabrics from my favorite online store ( fabric mart fabrics) but not this time <grin>

Just a batch of new magazines. I like finding those in my mailbox almost as much as fabric or patterns.

Sadly I have class tonight so these will have to be savored anther day.

**************

Pin It

From the sewing room floor

My little helper, Sophia. Although she soon turns nine, she still likes to go after the pattern paper.

She had a field day this morning as I started over on a project for Sew It All, Volume 3 - on new stands November or December.  I liked what I had created but at the last minute figured out a better way - isn't that always the way it goes?

I've been busy with these projects which is why you haven't seen much of the sewing I've been doing posted.

But my three projects are done and instructions are written. I'm super pleased with how they turned out. Just need to get everything shipped. 

I leave you with a sneak peek as you can't see the final product until the magazine goes on sale - muwhahaha!

************************************** Pin It