Happy Halloween: 1881 Bonnie

Bonnie got a lot of mileage out of her Halloween costume this year.  Her 4th grade class got to visit a one room schoolhouse in Waterford, VA this month.  I made her costume because of course I am obsessed that way.  She was able to wear the costume to several Halloween parties and will wear it tonight. 

The dress is silk taffeta that I have had in my stash forever.  I think I got it at Fashion Fabrics at least 8 or 9 years ago.  I underlined it in muslin to give it some body.  I used Simplicity 3725 view A.  I omitted the stand up collar and added the lace collar shown above.  While searching through my stash I came across the collar.  I think a friend gave it to me in college - like 25 years ago (yikes!).

I barely had enough fabric for the dress, so matching plaids was SUPER fun.  It took me far longer to cut out the fabric than it did to actually sew the dress.  I had to fudge a little, but at least the lines across the bodice and skirt look reasonably straight.

I also omitted the zipper and added buttons down the back.  Buttons are a little bigger than I wanted, but it's what I had in the stash.  I had to create a placket for the buttons below waistline because there is no center back seam. 



The lace from the cuffs was from the stash.  I actually have lots of white lace in my stash, unfortunately I either didn't have enough or it didn't look right for the hem.  I ended up buying the lace for the hem and Bonnie's hair ribbons from JoAnn's.  Total cost for Bonnie's dress was $12 (excluding sunk costs from years ago).

I attempted to french braid her hair.  Bonnie informed me throughout the process that Aunt Ann (my sister) did a much better job.  I can sew - but I can't do hair.

The chaperons were asked to dress up, so here is my ensemble.  Nothing like a shawl and full skirt to make you look svelte.

Happy Halloween from Princess the Guinea Pig!

And Katie!

All Tops All the Time

I decided to make a quick and dirty version of Simplicity 2369

The top did not turn out to be "dirty" or "quick". Well, certainly not quick.

I omitted the front ties and decided to use a 1 inch maroon elastic trim I purchased as a foldover elastic. I folded and ironed the elastic trim in half and attempted to sew it down as neck binding. It got totally stretched out and end up an unholy mess. I had to rip it all out and used the same foldover technique I used for the teal and maroon floral knit versions of 2369 that I made.

I used the foldover binding for the neckline and the sleeve cuffs. The entire top is serged. I only used my sewing machine to run a gathering stitch for the cuffs. I used the coverstitch for the hems.

I used purple, pink, white and maroon rayon knit from Denver Fabrics. This fabric is super soft and it feels like I am wearing a jammie top.

Verdict: I love it. I love the colors and it feels great on.

I am wearing Lane Bryant pants and Easy Spirit sandals.

A Brown Trumpet

I finished another trumpet skirt using Simplicity 5914. I previously made it in a black and white rayon. This version is made from brown linen that I got from G Street last summer. I bought almost 7 yards with the thought that I would make pants, a skirt and a jacket. Here is the skirt. Hopefully, I'll get the pants and jacket done in my lifetime.

I see from these pictures that I need to shorten the lining.

The top is Simplicity 2369 previously discussed here.

I used an invisible zipper.

I made a thin waistband that was attatched by stitching in the ditch.

I finished the inside of the waistband by cutting it out on the selvage. I used pink poly lining that I got from a long closed Vietnamese fabric store in Arlington, VA. I hand stitched the lining to the zipper.

Here is a picture of the skirt with McCalls 5522 that I blogged about here.

Another 2369

I finished another Simplicity 2369. I previously made a teal version. This is the miracle pattern that didn't need any alterations.

I love this fabric! The fabric is from Michael Levine's in the LA Fashion District. I think it cost about 2.99 a yard so it is a $6 top. It is a poly knit with a paisley pattern that is accented with gold paint. It definitely has a fall vibe to it, but it is very lightweight so I think I can wear it for summer.

For this version of 2369, I added an inch to the sleeve length and added cuffs. The pattern includes cuffs, but I was too lazy to find them amid all the uncut pattern pieces, so I just measured two cuffs and sewed them up.

Everything is serged. I finished the hems with my coverstitch. I am getting better at the coverstitch and much faster at the re-threading of the machine. The only problem I have with the coverstitch is sewing over side seams. The bulk (even though I trimmed it down) makes it hard for me to control the straight line. Any suggestions? Maybe loosening the tension?

The skirt I am wearing is from Lord and Taylor.

I flipped the facing up again. I like the clean line it makes.

It's a Miracle

I believe this is the first time EVER that I have been able to make an article of clothing for myself straight out of the envelope with NO modifications for fit. I cut out the the pattern, basted the seams and tried it on. I used $2.97 fabric from G Street , so if it didn't fit, I wasn't going to be traumatized. It fit! Shocking. Truly shocking.

I used Simplicity 2369.

The only thing I changed was to press up the neck binding instead of pressing it down and top stitching. I liked how clean the finish looked. When I make the top again, I will cut down the neck edge a 1/2 -1 inch. I think I will also shorten the hem by another inch.

I serged everything except sewing down the ties to the front bodice overlay. The hems were all sewn with coverstitch. I'm starting to get faster at changing the machine from overlock to coverstitch.

The fabric is a teal cotton lycra knit with a shimmer surface heat bonded to the right side (I think?). It's pretty cool fabric.

I really like this pattern. Unfortunately, my guess is that if it fits me perfectly, it will fit no one else in the universe.

Trumpet Skirt

I've finally finished something. It's not horribly exciting, but it is wearable. I made a simple trumpet skirt.



The blouse in the photo is one of my favorites. It is from Macy's. I tried it on and had to have it. It is rare I find something that fits perfectly. I bought it on the spot, even though it wasn't on sale.

The pattern is Simplicity 5914. The only change I made to the pattern was to take in around 1/3 inch between the hip and top of each flounce. It was baggy instead of swishy without this alteration (how is that for technical terminology?).



The fabric is black rayon with fine white polka dots. I'm pretty sure I bought it from Fashion Fabrics Club at least 7 years ago. I must have 8 yards of this fabric - maybe I'll make some pants.

I stabilized the waist with clear elastic that I slightly stretched as I sewed. I also installed an invisible zipper.

I lined it in pink poly lining.

And...on a totally different topic, here is your glamour parting shot. The boy scouts had an overnight camping trip. Bill's idea of roughing it is a Motel 8, so I was the responsible adult. This is me and the boys after a 3 mile hike (uphill both ways...) on the Appalachian trail. Thankfully, I was able to keep up and didn't embarrass myself or the boys.

Christmas in July

While I am trying to finish up a couple of projects, I thought I would finish a post on the vests I made for my sons' for Christmas. I posted a picture of the kids last December.

Bonnie's dress was purchased for $30 from Lord and Taylor. I'm sure I would have spent more to make her an outfit.

The vests were a 100% stash project. The fabrics are a novelty acetate and a black acetate taffeta either from Hancocks or JoAnns. I originally bought the novelty fabric to make Christmas stockings 6 or 7 years ago (at least).

I used the pattern: Simplicity 7030.

The vest is the same pattern I used for Gus' Monopoly man costume.

My favorite back tie for vests is to sew and press flat two 1.5 inch tubes. Insert tubes into side seams. Sew down ties approximates 3 inches down the ties from the side seams.

I believe that the trick to great vests is understitching as far as you can around the entire vest.

Finally: A Jacket!

It took awhile to find the time, but I have finished a jacket and it fits!


Note to self - always wear makeup! The straight hair was accomplished after 2 hours at the salon. It won't look like this until I make it to the salon again.

I have met New Year's resolution #4: Make a jacket. Since I haven't made a jacket in years, I picked a jacket with as many pieces as possible - 29 pieces of fashion fabric, 10 pieces of lining and 14 pieces of interfacing!

I made the jacket from Simplicity 2703.

The fabric is a cotton denim with a flocked floral pattern. I think it is from Hancocks. Almost everything to make the jacket came from the stash including: fabric, thread, interfacing, lining, shoulder pads, batting for the sleeve heads and the button. I did have to buy a large snap because the button was too big for a button hole.

I bought the button several years ago from a vendor at the Sewing Expo held in Virginia. It is Chekoslavakian glass.

Changes to Jacket from pattern instructions:

1. Added Lining
2. Full bust Adjustment
3. Full hip adjustment
4. Full arm adjustment (I guess I'm pretty fluffy)
5. Took in waist
6. Added shoulder pads
7. Added sleeve heads
8. Added one inch to sleeve length
9. Added back facing piece



10. Cut under collar in 2 pieces on the bias
11. Used a big snap (a.k.a. whopper popper) for button closure.
12. Applied interfacing to hem, back and entire front of jacket.

It took 2 muslins to get the fit right. I really like how it turned out. If I make it again, I will tape the roll line of the collar. I think the collar will lay better.

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.