This week’s theme for Project Run and Play was to make an outfit inspired by a child’s story book. Gigi wanted me to make something from Alice And Wonderland, and I wanted to make something from one her favorite books, The English Roses. So I’m doing kind of a mix up of the Mad Hatter […]
Oktoberfest Crop Top
This was fun project because it involved teaching my older daughter a bit of pattern drafting and sewing. She wanted a cropped peasant blouse inspired by a little vintage German style folk dress she loves wearing but which is falling apart. I was having a hard time figuring out what she wanted, so I asked […]
Gemma tank dress hack
After making three Gemma tanks and finally achieving a good fit, why not use the tank as base for a new dress? A simple throw on summer dress with a fitted waist. I used my size medium D cup tank bodice and extended it to almost knee length. Then I cut it a bit below […]
Fixing a droopy armscye on a knit turtleneck pattern- Kwik Sew 4069
This week’s project is Kwik Sew 4069, a fitted turtleneck long sleeved tee. While the fit on my black turtleneck isn’t perfect, after a few pattern changes, it’s a lot better than the first striped version. I may still have some fit improvement if I do an FBA, but the fit is now very close to […]
DIY Maribou feather trimmed stretch velvet minidress
When we were up in Berkeley last month for Oliver’s graduation, we were headed back to our hotel from his party on Shattuck Street. I spied the fabric store Stone Mountain And Daughter on the street. We had the Uber driver pull over and we jumped out! What a fabulous shop! We had about twenty […]
Drafting a lace bodice over bustier from scratch: Rosarios first muslin
Hi readers! I have a new sewing adventure this week. Isabelle’s classmate from high school, the lovely Rosario, is getting married! I’ve know her since she was a tween, and boy does time fly, doesn’t it? Rosario already bought a dress at BHLDN in Beverly Hills but after that, she realized she didn’t like it […]
Pattern drafting : Simple boned bodice A line dress
I finished Lily’s boned bodice and a line skirt dress and she likes it! This is the finished result and part three of my process of creating a pattern from scratch. In part one I draped the bodice to the dress form and created a paper pattern. In part two I cut it out of […]
Fitting bustier muslin 1 & 2
Last post left off with me making the pattern to fit my dress form perfectly. While the form is close to Lily’s measurements, aseach body is just so different even when the measurements are similar. One size never fits all! I wish. Here are the results of our first fitting…I knew the bodice was going […]
Making a strapless bodice pattern: part one
I thought it would be interesting to document a project I’m working on from start to finish. I bought some lovely periwinkle blue lace at The Fabric Store recently, and some navy silk lining. Lily wants me to make her a lace dress with a lace overlay for the school dance. I’ve decided to make […]
DIY Safari jacket using McCall’s 7058
I’m so glad to be done with my safari jacket with bellows and pleated flap pockets! It took me about two weeks to make it. It had to made in small segments since I’ve been so busy, what with hosting Thanksgiving and all the various Christmas parties and school events lately. Then it took me […]