Butterick 5115 - Modified View D

It's finished. I was trying to get a picture of the shoulder shaping but you'll just have to trust me when I say it's awesome.

I need to take photography lessons, I'm terrible at photographing black.

A little tip, I used a purchased shoulder pad but it was much to wimpy so I sandwiched it between two thin pieces of batting, covered and sergered. I was afraid they might look a little 80's ish but I think they're just what this dress needed. As you can see I used what I had to shape the shoulder pad.

Warning--Project Runway Rant!

I am so over Project Runway, WTH, Emillio should have won that hands down. I don't think I will watch it again, I'm just too distraught.

I hope everyone has a great sewing weekend.

Looks Like I'll Make It

There's still quite a bit to do but I'm sure I can have it finished before Saturday morning.

I have to do the shoulder shaping, sleeve heads/shoulder pads, buttons and hem it. I didn't include the flaps, didn't see the point nor will I add buttons to the sleeves, especially since I couldn't find any that I liked that wouldn't break the bank, I will be doing covered buttons.

After the black dress, (I refuse to call it the funeral dress) this happy Spring fabric will be just what I need.

Please excuse the blurry pic, but I plan to make the view with the print. Haven't decided on a jacket pattern but it will be something simple.

I will try to post a picture of the black dress before I leave but if not I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures when I get back.

Real Quick

It's much too cool here to wear this outfit.

So after getting home from work yesterday I changed into this outfit and made my son stop mowing the grass to snap these pics, to which he replied; "REALLY"

And I replied; "YES, take the damn pictures.

Brought to you by another happy family moment.

I started before I got the call

When I made this dress for Trisha last year I knew what I wanted to do with the scraps.
This morning I was itching to get started on this. I made the suit sometime in the 90's, before digital cameras, I used a forest green (which was really popular in the 90's) with a pretty floral for the collar, it came out great. I stayed up all night working on it because I wanted to wear it to lunch with a client, I got a lot of compliments on it.

This time I'm making the dress (view D), then I got a call from my dear friend Gwen asking me to accompany her to a funeral, what a terrible coincident. In any case now I'm in a hurry to get this finished before Friday. Which wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't so anal. I'm showing the front pattern piece here because I learned the hard way when making this type of dress to add a few inches so it doesn't gap when you sit down, I think this tip came from Sandra Betzina. Of course it will be fully lined and every seam finished, you know I'm anal right?

This simple Butterick 5046 top took forever, funny it's a fast and easy, not if you're me. Since it's another sheer fabric I wanted to line everything except the sleeves. Even though it's lined I finished the seams of the sheer fabric with a french seam and serged the lining seams, which was left over broadcloth from the shirt dress, which washed beautifully BTW.

Pas vous amour juste une couture française, that's french for, "Don't you just love a French seam." I don't speak French I found the translation here. I also did a rolled hem. I still have to add the buttons and hem it, I couldn't decide 1 or 2 buttons, shank button or not, anywho I need to finish this so I can start on the dress because this top will be perfect for April in Arkansas.

I've figured out if I wasn't so anal I could crank out a lot more but then I wouldn't be happy with it anyway. So I guess I'll just be happy with quality not quantity.

No More Blame

It's done and I freakin' love it. Here it is with a white belt, I don't know what I was smoking the studded belt is gray the dress is obviously blue/white.


Without a belt, I will definitely wear it with a belt but the fit is great. I did have to let out the arms a smidge but other than that the pattern was right on. I am becoming a Palmer/Pletsch fan.




I used 14 snaps, the last time I posted something with snaps someone asked for a tutorial, I tried to take a picture of the process but they didn't come out, the biggest thing when working with snaps is your placement, I try it on after every snap just to make sure the placement is correct and with the pearl snaps I use a cloth buffer with the attachment tool, also use a very light hand with the hammer, I've cracked more than a few. I hope that helps and next time I will try to take better pictures.

I Blame Tyler Perry

That's right I'm blaming Tyler Perry because I haven't finished this yet. We went to see "Madea's Big Happy Family" Wednesday night and I haven't worked on this since, I guess it's not all his fault between that and working on my room makeover I haven't had any time to sew.

All I need to do is finish the sleeves, hem it and add the snaps, BTW I think I'm going to go with the pearl ones, even though I did find the silver ones at a different JoAnn's, everyone voted for the pearl ones and you guys are usually right.

So far so good, I lined it with white broadcloth.

I have the same fabric in red/white and plan to make another one, maybe I'll use the silver snaps then. We won't even talk about my Month of Tops, only one done so far and it's not looking good for this weekend.

Oh well, sometimes life gets in the way of sewing.

Shirtdress Drama and some Easter Pics

I switched patterns for the shirt dress, the 1987 version had pretty much disintegrated and then I remembered I had this McCalls 5847. I cut out view C (the red one) but I added the pockets to this view.


I had my heart set on silver snaps and wouldn't you know neither JoAnn's or Hancock had them in stock, really, simple silver snaps and you don't have them, it's not like they go out of style.

Since they didn't have silver I purchased these pearl snaps instead but I really, really want the silver ones, I think either one will go with the shoes I plan to wear it with. So do I try to find them on-line or go with these?

Here I am trying to do a twirl in my kite top, my son says it looks like it will fly away like a kite. I love the way it wears very soft and fluttery.

The boys were very serious about the Easter Egg hunt, last year if their egg had "pick a prize" inside they got to choose a toy.

They knew what was up this year and were intent on finding those eggs.

But McKenzie was just having fun. This picture makes me smile.

I hope everyone had a great Easter and please help me out with my snap dilemma.

A Few Days Off

I took yesterday and today off with plans of getting tons of sewing done. Started the day off right with Apple Spice Muffins, yummy. The link for the recipe no longer works if you would like it let me know and I will post it.



So far this all I have to offer, Simplicity 3786 view D. I made a couple of sheer blouses last year and fell in love with them, this one not so much.

Don't get me wrong, I love the finished product but making this was like trying to sew clouds together, the fabric was very slippery and raveled like crazy which explains why my tucks look so wonky. Anywho this will be my first submission to Faye's April Spring Month of Top's blog.

Hancock's blunder ended up being my blessing, this fabric was supposed to be 9.00/yd with 30% off but the sign said 6.99 with 30% off, I almost didn't buy it until I over heard them discussing this mix up and immediately got in on it, it probably just evens out all the times I've been over charged. I really want to find a print for the top or dress haven't made up my mind yet.

I purchased this fabric last year at Hobby Lobby with a shirt dress in mind; yesterday I found this belt at Forever 21 (don't tell anyone I still shop there) I really want to make this shirt dress Butterick 4734 which I've had forever, can't decide on short sleeves or sleeveless, buttons or snaps, this is what makes sewing fun, since the belt is studded I'm leaning towards silver snaps.

I have been trying to make this pattern forever, maybe Faye's sew along will make it happen.

Picked up a couple of stretch knits to make some quick summer tops.

Send good sewing vibes my way, time is quickly getting away from me and I have my Easter cooking/baking to do.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend.