KEEP OR TOSS? LOL!

  after 3 trys of getting the darts to do what they were supposed to so it seemed easy from there on out lol!I love the fabric & thought it would cute as a lose fitting pullover dress, which it is lol! after it was all over & done with it's a tad shorter than I care to wear, that's just me, got ugly knees & don't show um lol! the dress on the pattern cover was short, that should of been a clue lol! anyways a friend says to keep it & wear it with leggings hummm wouldn't that just look like tights & a mini dress? lol!

Helen

MY FIRST FALL JACKET...

...
I figured with impeding cooler weather that is bound to get here one day in the future, my new Kay Unger dress, being sleeveless would need a jacket.  So I gave her one.  I wanted something simple and cute so I went with this pattern at WalMart for just 97 cents.  I think it makes a cool topper for my wardrobe - kinda like a cardigan alternative.

The jacket is made in black pontederoma knit which was easy to work with.

It's a great pattern, fits well and makes up easily.  I might add another one to my Fall Sewing Lineup (as soon as I can find and choose that special color)...

new black and white skirt

Hello everyone - I've just made a new skirt - drafted with a SureFit Designs template.  It is made out of stretch cotton sateen.

More details on my blog:http://sarahlizsewstyle.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/scary-september-skirt-success.html

Happy sewing everyone :)

Sarah Liz

Pencil Skirt #1

I decided that I wanted to try and do a pencil skirt a week to help build my wardrobe.  The base pattern I choose was McCalls 3830.  It's a very simple skirt and I am looking forward to the many looks I can get from it.

Here is the first skirt I make about two weeks ago.

Dress of the Day...Butterick 5211

This is definitely one of those dresses that would not sell in stores. In the hanger it looks like a sack, but once you put it on it transforms into a cute comfy dress.

I have the full pattern review on my blog www.mycreativeeclecticlife.blogspot.com

Peace and Blessings
Zeva

Fall Wardrobe Sewing

....I have a small collection of Kay Unger Vogue patterns, but this is the very first one that I ever sewn.

VOGUE 1329

I did make a rough draft muslin of this pattern, because I didn't want to guesstimate the fit.  My muslin revealed that I should have purchased the pattern that included size 14, because it would definitely fit me better through the shoulder and bust area.  But because I didn't want to spring for the $30.00 pattern again even at 40% off, nor wait for the next $3.99 Vogue pattern sale, I decided to go with what I had on hand.  Using the size 16 necessitated:

• A minor adjustment of the center front - where I removed 3/4" from the dress front and front yoke; 
• Somehow or another I had to remove a full inch at the center back; which I decreased by sewing a dart like wedge in the back yoke seam;
• Decreased the side seam with a 1/2" wedge right at the underarm which I have to do quite often for sleeveless knit garments;
• This dress also afforded full access without a zipper so I didn't use one.

I decided to use off white poly-interlock (that's what Hancock's calls it; the same fabric at Joann's is called Jet Set.) as my lining.   The dress was so easy to make - THANK YOU KAY UNGER!  Although I like a real sewing challenge every now and again, I can still appreciate an easy peazy project.   It's wonderful to end up with a great looking garment that was easy to make - don't you think?  The only slightly trying part of making the dress was understitching the neckline and  armscye - those were pretty tight places.

Front

Back - definitely need to balance my dressform, it always seems crooked in pictures.  Also need to fix her bowed hips that make my dresses look fat.

This dress will be included in the collage I make of me wearing all my recently made cool weather dresses when the weather changes...

New patterned pants

 Hi everyone, I've just made a new pair of pants for BeaJays's Scary September challenge.

Full details of what pattern I used and how I modified this pant, and BeaJay's challenge can be found here on my blog: http://sarahlizsewstyle.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/a-striped-pair-of-pants-for-scary.html

Happy sewing

Sarah Liz

Transition into fall...M6243 View C

McCall's 6243 View C

This is one of the submissions that I will be entering into the Mini Wardrobe challenge on Pattern Review. What I like about this dress is that it is perfect to transition into fall.  Here in Texas we really won’t start getting cooler weather until probably mid to late October.  And once the temperature drops, I can easy pair this dress with a light weight jacket complete the look.

For more pictures please visit my blog for the complete review.

THE THIRD OF MY NEW FALL DRESSES...

... Butterick 5554

I traced and altered the pattern at points I thought would make a better fit, like:

• Raise the neckline 1 inch
• Extend the shoulder seams 3/4 inch, that included extending the front and back neck facings
• Added three inches to the length of the dress

I used I used interfaced poly-interlock for the facings because I thought self facings would create too much bulk since my dress in made from pontederoma.   Even though I added 3" the dress it was barely long enough for my liking.  So I added a stretch lace hem facing and just barely turned up the hem.  I did not like to look of machine topstitched hems so I opted to hem by hand.   Another surprise was not having to use a zipper, yeahhhh!   Things just worked out, and it's a perfect fit!

I used black pontederoma for the sleeves and base of the dress, and snow leopard for the center panel for an on trend look, both from my stash.  The dress is unlined.

Choose solid black for the back of the dress.

This is the third fall/winter dress of my collection, and there may be two or three more coming up....

Five months in and cheering you on!

Hi Ladies,

This is says it all (cheering you on!):

My little striped top

I've started my spring/summer sewing (I'm downunder).  This is a little extended shoulder t-shirt.  Full details can be found at :http://sarahlizsewstyle.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/my-new-little-black-and-white-stripe-t.html

LABOR DAY WEEKEND SEWING

...I actually intended to make two dresses this long weekend, but it just didn't happen.  The weekend did yielded one dress though, so it still ended on a positive note.  I'm sewing for fall/winter, so this dress won't actually be worn for a while. 

Missoni-esque knit

MCCALL'S 6612

Wonderful pattern, but I didn't want the maxi.  I wanted a boot length midi with long sleeves, so that's what I made.  This pattern has a gianormous cowl neckline or collar - I LOVE IT TOO! I went with a straight 16 and everything worked out just right.  I made only two construction changes:  (1)underlined the body of the dress with poly interlock to negate wearing a slip, and (2)pegged in 2 inches at the side seams from knee to hem.

I predict that weather in my area will not permit wearing the dress until mid-October or even later.  But whenever the time does come I'll be just a little ahead of the game.  My dress will be ready for first chill.  All I have to do is decide...

Need I say, "I'm in Love"!!!