The Touch, the Feel

of faux fur.... lol


I have wanted a faux fur for some time and thought about making one for just as long.  However, I never got around to making one.  With the wedding fast upon me like the next day, and wanting to wear one with my dress, and being that I had to make a pit stop at Burlington Coat Factory annnnnyway, it was the perfect opportunity to buy one. 

Burlington Coat Factory use to carry a large selection of faux furs, but guessing they are not in high demand as they use to be.  The faux fur inventory was scarce, but there were sufficient puffy coats and wool coats.  Mixed in the lot of coats were a measly few faux furs and there squashed between a faux mink look alike and a sable faux fur was a cute black one.  Tried it on and it was perfect.

Now, I was ready to attend the wedding.   The wedding was beautiful and had a great time.  Omygoodness there were so many people that after a while I escaped to the children room... Yes... I did... it was too crowded. There was a period of dodging cake... The kids had cake everywhere, if it wasn't being eaten, it was smeared on tables, chairs, hair & on clothes...lol

Of course, the one pic that was taken of the bride and me is blurry with a mix of someone's shoulder and the back of someone's big head... umm yeah. 

The coat was perfect, the temps had dropped last nite and I was as snug as a bug in a rug.

Have a Great Week Everyone.

Alt+Ctrl+Del = Do Over

Remember I said that if I had the energy I would remove the facing from the dress and fix the shoulder seams... well I didn't have the energy and went ahead and removed the facing and fixed the shoulder seams.  End result a wonky neckline... dayummmmm those necklines.  Thankfully with the remaining fabric I was able to make another dress, which now means I have no more fabric to make a wrap.... Sheesh...

Lesson learned.... DNSWT (Do not sew while tired).

Distracted after not making the Bridesmaid Cut

... now what the hell am I going to wear?... ok.. totally joking...

I will be attending a wedding this weekend, which we rsvp'd it seems forever ago and of course I'd forgotten about it.


One would've thought I would have immediately begin preparing for what to wear... but nawwww.... instead of selecting a pattern, fabric, etc., I spent a good amount of time sewing blankets, crocheting and personalizing purchased blankets... just having a giddy ol' time.

For my great-niece, I used printed baby flannel and cotton candy fleece for the reverse side & embroidered her name, and of course what fun is there if it doesn't include burpers & bibs.  All of the pieces were serged right sides together leaving an opening, then turned to the rightside & edge stitched.

Also working up these pieces was a great way to use leftover cotton candy fleece from a project I made for my daughter in 2009.

a peek at the fleece side

Then I was asked to crochet a blanket, which was also a good diversion, single crochet blanket using Red Heart Yarn in blue jewel & blue hawaii for a new mom.  Added a cute carriage applique from Embroidery Library.  After stitching out the carriage, it was then machine stitched onto the blanket.  To ensure the dog feed would not eat my blanket, I used wax paper for the underside.

Pellon Sew-In interfacing is perfect for embroidering appliques.

I couldn't resist embroidering these plush blankets.  One for a new mom and...

one for my great-nephew.

After I was satisfied with my distractions, I finally turned my attention to deciding what to wear to the wedding with only 6 days remaining.  Luckily the fabric was right in reach (I had planned to use it for my daughter's new years dress, but that didn't happen).  The fabric is an interlock knit with crosswise stretch & gold lurex threads throughout.  I'd purchased the fabric about 2 (?) years ago from Sav-a-thon when they were going out of business (Brooklyn location),  .50/yd.


Browsed through several patterns in my stash and pulled a few that would be perfect: New Look 6070, McCalls 6460, McCalls 5752, Butterick 5672, Burda 7352 & last but not least my rtw wrapdress pattern.

Since the fabric speaks volume... like bedazzling sparkly volume, I knew that I needed to do something simple and decided to go with my rtw wrapdress pattern. 

Sunday, I cut the fabric, Monday I was just plain ol' lazy, Tuesday sewed the bodice & attached skirt


The pictures shows a subtle glimmer, but up close & personal... its bedazzling...lol

Last nite I did the neck facing and ties and was too tired to continue and headed to bed.  Tried the dress on this morning and it looks good, but realized I did not do my sloping shoulders alteration... grrrr, so the shoulder seams do not sit squarely along my shoulders.  I normally deepen the shoulder seams and lenghten the armholes, so depending on my energy level when I get home I may undo the facing and part of the side seams to make the shoulder alteration.... double grrr.

Honestly, there is not a lot remaining to finish the dress, hemming the dress, and since it will be sleeveless finish the armholes and make a wrap with the remaining fabric.

I think the hardest part will be deciding which shoes to wear with it... here are two in the line-up... I know I have another pair somewhere..

Until then..... Happy Sewing



Member in Focus

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If you are not a member yet, come aboard.  A great place to check pattern reviews, sewing machines, techniques and more importantly meeting friends. 

Thank You.

Burda 7352

was my last garment for 2011.  My daughter had mentioned a week ago that she wanted me to make her a dress.  I advised her to either stop at the fabric store or sift through my fabric stash for the fabric, that was December 22nd.   She wanted sparkly fabric and I told her to make sure it had some stretch and also to pull out a pattern or two that would work with the fabric she intended to buy.   She said nothing further thoughout the week.

 Ok, fast forward to December 31st, prior to rushing out of the house that morning she said "Oh Ma... I need a dress for tonight.  Of course, I went into a rant about how am I suppose to make a dress in a day, you didn't even get the fabric... let alone pick out a pattern.... and with a quickness she was out the door @ 7:00am. 

I went into full throttle and sifted through my patterns & fabric stash (my sewing room and the downstairs closet was a hot mess afterwards), picked out a few fabrics (taupe knit with gold sparkles, royal blue faux sequin & silver faux sequin) and Burda 7352,  texted her pics of both... no response.... then I remembered that she had to take an exam.  She finally touched basis with me around 12:00 noon responding that she was looking for shoes and not sure the fabrics I texted her would work and also asked if I had any black fabric.   Thankfully, I keep my black fabric in the sewing room which was easy to get to.

The day was getting long and to play it safe I cut the pattern and decided the black fabric was the best bet and proceeded to cut the fabric.  She called me again around 3:00pm and I told her that I cut the black fabric and to bring her azz home so we can get this dress done and also told her just in case buy a dress.  Dear daughter didn't get home I think until around 6ish., by then I had started sewing the dress and thinking if any change needed to be done, I could do it at the side seams.

Pattern Description: Strapless dress with slightly flared skirt, ties which are attached in the front seam and various styling options

Pattern Sizing: 6 to 18

Did it look like the photo on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? close enough

Were the instructions easy to follow?  The instructions were easy after I recovered from the first pic regarding using twin needle for stitching edges, then realized it referred to the hemline.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like that it was quick and easy and especially being that I needed to finish the dress in a day.  I didn't like the super wide ties and cut them in half.

Fabric Used: Black polyester/spandex which has nice movement, great stretch & recoil.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Luckily no alterations were needed and the only change I made was cutting the ties in half, also I did 1/4"fold along each edge of the ties and stitched, then cut very close to the stitchline.  I anticipated her asking to shorten the dress, but to my surprise she didn't... she said the length was perfect.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? My daugher loves the dress and want another one.

Conclusion: When my daughter arrived home I was in the process of putting in the zipper and told her she can try it on when I finished the zipper.  Finished the dress and it fit her perfectly, no alterations needed.  The shoes she purchased worked well with the dress and she said she would decide which pair to wear once she was dressed and ready to go out.  She said I knew you could do it Ma... my only response was don't try that sh*t again...lol

Around 11:00 pm I peeped in on her wondering what she was doing and my baby girl was sound asleep and decided not to wake her, however she woke up at 11:48...  decided to watch the count down and enjoyed the beginning of 2012. 

Although she didn't go out... I was glad I was able to make the dress for her which she will wear the next time she goes out.

Happy New Year & Blogiversary Winner

May every day of the New Year bring you & yours

 Love, Hope, Peace & Joy

Velosewer

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Thank you all for participating and Wishing you A Happy New Year

Infinity Scarf Bonanza

all started after reading Carolyn's post on making Christmas Scarves.

 I was totally inspired and made a list... checked it twice and during my lunch break headed to my favorite spot, Fulton Fabrics.  Checked out different fabrics available and went for the knits.  My mind was bubbling overtime, the sales clerk was likely thinking I was on something.... my eyes were huge, hands gesturing & pointing to the fabrics I wanted cut and jerking back & forth as he proceeded to pull the various fabric bolts out.  Settled my bill and headed out the door, of course, the day I decided to do this, was a tad bit too warm, had on a too warm coat & had to walk 4 blocks back to the train station in high heels.   One block away and I was a sweaty hot mess, the streets were croweded with vendors, local office workers, shoppers, etc... as I teeter tottered on my heels with 20 yds  of  58" x 1-1/2yd  fabrics. I must've looked crazed, pedestrians were parting the sidewalk like it was the red sea... ok... I'm being overly dramatic...lol , but must've had some crazed look on my face though...lol 

Since I wasn't scheduled in the office on Friday, it gave me time to make scarves for family, friends, & coworkers.  I was able to complete the scarves for my family thursday nite and spent the better part of Friday working up more.... they are so addictive.  I followed Secret Life of a BioNerd's tutorial... Awesome instructions.

Thursday nite batch of Infinity Scarves.

Of course, I had to snag a few for myself

sporting a Crochet Hat made by my Daughter

and although you can't see them, I scored a pair of awesome suede boots @ Nine West

...they are super comfortable & great traction.   I'm thinking about the leather ones...mmmmm

Nine West Pinktop Wedge Bootie

which is a jump-off from Camilla Skovgaard's jagged rubber sole ankle boot

ok... back to the matter at hand... my sisters loved the infinity scarves and asked if I could make them one or two more... umm yeah.  I also gave them as gifts to my co-workers who also love them.

I wrapped them in tissue paper and organza fabric,

 topped them off with ribbon and there you have it.

I still have a few more to make and mail off and if you haven't tried an infinity scarve... please do... they are  easy to wear and versatile. 

 To Infinity & Beyond

Thanks Carolyn for the inspiration

and

 until then Have a Joyous New Year.