White Out! Self Drafted (Copied) Linen Pants

I love the look of linen, anything linen, but especially pants.  Summers in Central Florida get so hot and wearing jeans is a no go on a hot summers day for me.  I love the look for a pair of wide leg linen pants that you can dress up or down.  I purchased a pair from NY&CO and they were $70.00 before tax.  I was gasped but they were a great fit and I love the breeziness and the flow of the pants, so I sucked it up.  But I had another thought in mind when I purchased them!  They were going to be used to make a pattern for future pants.

I've been backing off from sewing pants for along time.  I just could never seem to get them right, no matter the style.  Even elastic waist, zippered front, side, back, nothing seemed to totally make me happy.  So I have been practicing and I came across a few Youtube Videos and Websites that showed you how to use a pair pants that fit you well to make a pattern for your pants.

I decided to try this method and it worked for me to some degree.  I did have to make a lot of modifications, and guess what!  I still don't have a pattern because I traced my pants onto newspaper which was torn and ragged so bad I had to toss it. But nevertheless, I am please with the outcome.

Something I learned while working on this project:   Even though I always pressed my seams, finishing them is so important.  Something I did not really get the full concept of until now. 

Happy Sewing!

Momma's Got a Brand New Bag, Oh and Shoes, Oh and Hair Do! McCalls 6797

Hubby and I celebrated our 10 years of marriage with family and friends this past weekend in Atlanta.  We had an awesome time. We didn't do anything spectacular just enjoyed each other and our families.  We attend my twin cousins 50th Birthday Celebration on Saturday night and had a ball.


I made McCalls 6797 to wear to my cousins birthday party. It was an all whit party (of course I added a colored shoe):

We went to dinner at restaurant called Arizona's in the suburbs Atlanta in an area called of Stonecrest. The Crab Cakes were to die for and the Cheese and Jalapeno Grits were amazing.   They had a live Jazz band and the music was awesome too.

I made a clutch bag to take on my trip to go with my my new Nine West shoes that I had to have as soon as I saw them.  

I also decided to get a new hair do!  I wanted something young hip and jazzy.  So I decided to get a little faux mo hawk type of thingy majig.  I absolutely love it.  

Happy Sewing!

Weekend Wrap Up

I had a great time this weekend at the Mid Florida Technical School's Car and Bike show which also featured vendors.  My sister who makes jewelry from polymer clay both set up our little tables to display our items.  This is our third year participating.  We really enjoy it.  We both did very well and look forward to next year. 

Now back to sewing.  Happy Sewing!

A Little Bag Sewing

This weekend I will be participating or should I say I will be a vendor at a Craft Bizarre.  Its actually a car show that will have vendors as part of the festivities.  I normally participate every year, it only cost a $20.00 to set up a table, and it gets a great bit of traffic.  This will be my third year participating and I do okay.  So I started last night sewing a few bags, yes I k now I'm kind of pushing the envelope.  I have some inventory already, so I am not too concerned.  I will also do a few infinity scarfs and few of my Easter Baskets.   

Here is a sneak peak at what I got done last night.  I will take pictures of my set up this weekend. 

Happy Sewing!

The Polka Dot Revolution Continues - New Look 6119 and New Look 6181 - Frankenpattern

As I am sure you guys have figured out, I am a Polka-Dot-A-holic, and I don't think I can personally have too much of the stuff. 

Summer is approaching fast and so is my many vacations. I am beefing up my work wardrobe but also adding a few pieces to my summer wardrobe.  Next week is my 10th wedding anniversary and later on this year we are celebrating these 10 years married and 12 years together on a beach in Punta Cana  if the Lord sees fit.   So I want pretty outfits in every photo op.    

Here is my inspiration and final product:

I used New Look 6119 for the bodice and New Look 6181 for the bottom and the fabric is a Jersey knit.   I really like both of these patterns as they are easy to make and so many different variations.

Happy Sewing!

The Ultimate Hi-Lo Skirt

A few months ago I shared that a friend asked me to make her a skirt to wear to her 15^th wedding anniversary party.  She sent me a picture of the look she was going for.   I spent weeks staring at the picture because it was not very clear.  She wanted a statement piece with a long train, so I mentally concentrated on that aspect of it first.   I knew the train part would be my issue.  I wanted to make sure that the train was a continuous flow from the waist down to the floor.  I didn't want the skirt to be pieced together.  

I knew a circle skirts would give me the fullness it needed and the body I wanted.  Taffeta was my first and only choice of fabric.  She knew exactly what color she wanted, so I sent her on the hunt for it.  I did a muslin using a thrift store sheet, which came out decent but not what I wanted, still keeping in mind that I would be using Taffeta so I knew it would have more body.  Finally when I was ready to actually made the skirt, darnit, I made the darn thing tooooooo short.  Luckily I had her get about 2 extra yards of the fabric then I knew I would need, so had enough to make another. 

When I delivered the skirt to her, I gave her both skirts, she loved the longer one and said she could probably use the shorter one with another outfit.  Then I get a text message a few days later, and she has both the skirts together, (I would have never thunk it), and it worked.  She put on both skirts, the longer over the shorter one, and then she suggested we make little tucks in the front alternating them so as to give it more of a blousy effect, and it worked. 

So here is my friend wearing our collaboration, the Ultimate Hi-Lo Skirt.  Isn’t she beautiful?

It was such a wonderful project and she was such a joy to work with.  Was so honored when she strutted into the party, and danced the night away in her skirt.  She had a smile on her face which in turn had me beaming from ear to ear. 

Happy Sewing!