2008 Sewing Highlights

1. Snakeskin Skirt

2. Bonnie's Halloween costume

3. Bonnie's school dress

4. Linda purse
5. Carl's bad bart shorts
6. Boys Christmas vests

Wow - not a particularly prolific year! This had a lot to do with finishing my masters this year. Not a lot of time leftover for sewing.

I certainly resolve to do more sewing next year!

Christmas Vests

I made the boys vests to match a purple dress I bought for Bonnie. I'll include pattern and closeups in another posting. I used a pattern, fabric and lining from my stash so they were basically free! or at least a sunk cost....

Snakeskin Skirt

I used the snakeskin fabric I got from G Street to make a skirt.
























I used Vogue out of print 2829. I made it pretty much exactly as the directions except I used a regular zipper I had in my stash instead of an invisible zipper. I lined the skirt in a poly black taffeta I had in my stash.

Here is the line drawing of the skirt. The drawing of the waistband is very misleading. It is a narrow 1.5in straight band. It looks wide and curved in the picture.

Trip to G Street

G Street had a 25% off sale and sent out an additional 20% off coupon - so of course I had to go.

There are several reviews on G Street by the sewing bloggers. Certainly it has the best selection of quality fabric in the DC area. Sometimes I get frustrated because you do pay more and I find that many of the cutters are suffering from the "clueless factor". They are certainly a step above JoAnns, but for the cost of some of the fabric they should be significantly more qualified to cut it.



These are my picks:

1. mustard yellow poly/linen suiting - from the infamous 2.97 table. I will probably make a pencil skirt from it. It matches a silk print I have.

2. Silver and black rayon knit - I'm thinking of a surplus top. I have gray wool for pants that I want to match.



3. Silk/rayon? brocade - I used this to make my first purse.

4. Poly snakeskin print fabric - a very unnatural fabric - but, I clearly have a snakeskin fetish going on. I actually seem to be going through an animal print phase. I have leopard print pumps and a cheetah print top also. Aaannyway... I have already made a skirt from the fabric. Because I don't think there was anything natural in the fabric, it was a lot of fun pressing. I'll share pics of the skirt in a future blog.

Gus' Easter Outfit

Well since it's almost Christmas and 30 degrees outside - it's time for a blast from the past showcasing Gus' Easter outfit in 2001.



Here is a closeup of Gus' button up pants outfit. I used linen/cotton with narrow rick rack and bear buttons from JoAnns.


I used out-of-print Simplicity 9641. I think this is the first time when one of my creations looks EXACTLY like the pattern picture.




Close up of shirt front.


Closeup of front back.

Little bear buttons.

Trip to JoMar

I was in King of Prussia, PA outside of Philadelphia on business. I dropped in on a nearby JoMar store.

JoMar is sort of like a step down from Ross with a fabric section. You have to search through the fabric - but you can find some pretty nice fabric at amazing prices.

I determined that I was only going to shop the $1 a yard table for muslin candidates. I really don't have any silky or knit fabrics suitable for muslin.

These are my $1 finds - 27 yards worth. Plenty of muslin - and who knows - maybe with the right pattern I'll be able to make a keeper.



Oh ya, I got my first blog comment from Christina -a sewing blogger legend. Yay!

Fabric Shopping in Los Angeles

Mood Fabrics

I was in Los Angeles for business so I decided to check out some of the fabric stores. First stop was Mood Fabrics. It is not located in the Fabric District, and I was able to park directly behind the building. This is the sister store to the NY City Mood Fabrics featured on Project Runway. It is a clean, well laid out store with beautiful fabrics. Lots of very expensive fabric, but actually a decent amount of reasonably priced silks, wools and knits. I guess reasonably priced is relative, It isn't JoAnns and you are going to have to pay a little more for quality.

You get the cool Mood bag with your fabric purchase.

Because one can never have enough fabric - my fabric purchases:

1. Silk Charmeuse - reeeeaally beautiful. It's a busy print so it will need to be something simple. Maybe something like Burda 12/08 -113

#2. Light blue snakeskin printed leather (the color doesn't show up so well in the picture) . I'm thinking a purse. I will need to buy a mallet and glue for sewing leather.

#3. Floral print silk: I have an orange wool challis that I want to use for a jacket. I found this silk that matches for a blouse. I haven't decided on a pattern yet.


Fabric District

After Mood, I headed for the LA Fabric District. This is quite an experience. A lot of small shops hawking cheap clothing and "stuff". There were several fabric stores selling lots of polyester knits and scary looking fabric. There are also men with flags that try to wave you into parking garages. This seemed a little scary to me - so I drove around until I found a parking spot on the street.

I decided to go to fabric stores recommended by several other sewing bloggers. I have never been to Los Angeles and the number of fabric stores was a little overwhelming.
Christina of Assorted Notions had several good recommendations.

Michael Levine
My first stop was Michael Levine's. It is basically a huge fabric warehouse with roving cutters.

1. 2. and 3. Novelty poly knits

4. I also got this silk chiffon. It is like air. I'm thinking about something like Vogue 8342.

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Fabric Fabrics (doesn't seem to have a web site).

Fabric Fabrics is almost the exact opposite of Michael Levine's. It is about the size of a large walk in closet with fabric roles piled to the ceiling.

I got 3 pieces of silk.

1. Silk chiffon. Vogue 8342 would work for this also.

2. This silk - its pretty heavy - matches perfectly a maroon wool I have. The pattern Vogue 8516 would work for a sweet blouse.

3. Another heavy silk. I'm not sure why this appealed to me at the time. It has really got an 80's vibe and not in a good way. Well, maybe it will grow on me.

Parade of Sewing Machines

First Sewing Machine: Singer Stylist



I got my first sewing machine (the Stylist) when I was 12 years old. I asked for a dollhouse for Christmas and my parents got me a sewing machine. I was very disappointed. What an ungrateful snot! Well obviously, it turned out to be my best gift ever. I used it continuously from 1980 until 1996 when I got my Bernina 1630. I used it to sew my wedding dress and 4 bridesmaid's dresses. I actually wore out the drive shaft and had to have it replaced.

It should be a good started sewing machine for the kids to use.

Serger #1: Bernette 234

In 1990, I got my first serger. My parents (yay Mom and Dad) sent me the money to buy a used serger. I worked in a costume shop with a couple Bernettes and coveted one dearly. I have been using it ever since.

Sewing Machine #2: Bernina 1630

After many years of mournful longing, Bill agreed to let me buy the sewing machine of my dreams. At the time it was the top of the line Bernina. He reminded me daily that this sewing machine actually cost more than his car (a late model used car).

I bought the machine at G Street Fabrics. It came with extensive lessons on its many features. When I arrived at the first class with my new machine, most of the women (all at least 20 years older than myself) hadn't even taken the machine out of the box!! Their husbands had bought them the machine - I think - because it was the most expensive machine with the most gadgets. I doubt that most of these women would use it for more than a straight stitch. They were thoroughly perplexed by most of the stitches the machine did. I think an analogy would be buying a Ferrari for someone who would be most comfortable with an Oldsmobile.

Sewing Machine #3: Bernina Artista 180

My mother inherited money from my Grandmother and gave me some money to get a new sewing machine. My Grandmother was an excellent seamstress and my mother wanted her money to go to a good cause. I debated between a coverstitch serger and an embroidery machine. The very coolness of the embroidery machine won out. I got a brand new machine that was last year's model so I got a pretty good deal. It's been a great machine and has every possible bell and whistle you could want.

One expensive thing (and kind of nasty) that Bernina did when it introduced the 180 is to make it so that the feet from the 1630 do not work with the 180. I had to buy all new feet for the 180. I guess those feet (at $40-50 a pop) generate a steady income for Bernina.

The only problem with my sewing machine is that the software for the embroidery module is no longer maintained or upgraded by Bernina. It doesn't work with Microsoft XP. Bernina's justification is that these machines are basically computers now and need to be replaced once they are obsolete.

In order to use my embroidery module, I had an older computer that I had repaired because it has Windows 2000 on it, which still works with my embroidery software.

People that are buying these new embroidery machines that cost from $6,000-11,000 need to understand that they will basically have an $11,000 doorstop in 10 years.

Bonnie's Silk Dress

In 2004, I made Bonnie a dress to wear to Bill's brother's wedding. I can't find a picture of her in the dress. If I find one, I will post it. At the wedding, she was fussy so I took her out of the church to the vestibule where she proceeded to step through the delicate lace border (you can see my hasty patch work on the front right side of the dress). I bought thread and a needle at a fabric store between the wedding and the reception and hastily tried to tack it up. This is not easy - heirloom sewing creates a scant 1/8 hem. Not a lot to work with.





Closeup of the back of the dress. I think I bought the dupioni from Curran Designer Fabrics. The laces are from GStreet Fabrics.

I'm not sure what pattern I used.



Closeup of sleeve lace and ribbon.



Closeup of lace hem.

Closeup of collar and embroidery motif. I got the embroidery design from Ann the Gran.

First Purse

I have completed my first purse. I did make a cat tote bag in highschool - so maybe that counts as a purse. This is my first "grown up purse".

Somehow this was a particularly difficult project for me. I am obviously most comfortable with clothing patterns. The directions for this purse continuously confounded me. I think I took apart the fabric that attaches the handles at least 7 times.


The fabric is a silk brocade from G Street Fabrics. The fabric was on a display and I fell in love with it. It is a "strong" print and would have "been a lot a' look" as a jacket - so a purse seemed like a good solution. With my 20% coupon, it was $16 a yard. Not too bad for a purse. I used rayon lining and a zipper from my stash. I purchased the handles from JoAnns.


I used out-of-print Butterick P166.



The pattern I used was the white purse in the pattern picture.
My one complaint about the pattern is that the zippered opening is a little small to open and see the contents of your purse.

I added a small pocket inside the purse for change and omitted the outside pocket.

Carl's Baptism

In 2001, I made Carl's baptismal gown. Picture above shows my sister with Carl and myself.

Linda and Bill with Godparents - my sister and brother-in-law. Notice Gus stealing Carl's cap. It was from his baptism so I guess he wanted it back. I ran out of time to make Carl his own hat.


Carl's gown is from a pattern from one of Martha Pullen's books. I ordered the batiste, laces, and entredeux from Martha Pullen also.


Carl just not appreciating all the work that went into his gown.


Picture shows embroidery, lace and entredeux work. I used my Bernina 180 to embroider a rose in each godet.

Still not happy.
Gus walking around Carl's gown.