Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Fashion Plate: Diner Delight Dress

Make This Look: Diner Delight Dress

I love houndstooth and I think this Michael Miller fabric is so classy! There are lots of colors available in the basics collection if the red sells out. The good thing is that this fabric is regularly stocked and reorderable, so check around if you can't wait for it to come back in stock from fabric.com. I've chosen Simplicity 2444 again for the sillouhette of the dress.  ModCloth's Diner Delight Dress does have a waistband.  That detail is easy enough to add on your own.  I was going to order the MM fabric in teal, but there's only 1 yard left!  Sad panda.

Hopefully it will be back in stock soon!

Any ModCloth items you want to challenge me to find fabric and patterns for?  Link 'em to me!

Monday, October 28, 2013

FO: The "Emerald Lady" Lounge Tank

It was finally less cold yesterday and I was able to get some pictures of Butterick 5932.  I was not even going to put this on and stand outside in the 50ยบ temperature! 

The "Emerald Lady" Lounge Tank


Just the Facts:
Fabric:  emerald two-way stretch fabric FREE!
Notions: Thread from stash, clear elastic
Pattern:  Butterick 5932, view A
Year: modern ~2013
Time to Complete:  ~4 hours including tracing the pattern
First Worn: October 26, 2013 just for the pictures
Wear Again: yes, when it is warmer!
Total Cost: $2 including the pattern

This is the cami pattern.  I lengthened the skirt 2.5" on the bottom to get it more "dress" like.  I also omitted the lace on the bodice.

This went together really easily and was super-fast to make.  I used a zig-zag stitch for all the seams.  I guess my knits needle was old because it skipped stitches frequently.  Annoying, but I didn't care enough about the project to change the needle.

Yup.  I'm wearing a bra because hello internet!

The bodice piece is actually 4 pieces sewed together--two each for the front and the lining.  You gather the center of each front and then stitch those together.  The second to last step is attaching the lining.  I didn't like how the instructions had you attaching the lining, so I did it differently.  I think I stitched the sides first, then stitched the top.  Instead of handstitching the bottom of the bodice, I just straight-stitched the seam allowance in place.  I also straight-stitched along the top to keep the lining from flipping up.

A bug just flew in my eye!

I don't know why the stupid self-timer photos turn out blurry every single time!  Here's the back.  The straps aren't gathered because I had to chop a bunch of the strap off for fit.  The back has two rows of elastic to keep it fitted.   The bottom of my foot really wasn't dirty!  That must be a shadow! (as I look at the bottom of my feet...)

So that's it for this project.  Super-easy and I highly recommend it if you are into these lounge dresses like I am.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Fashion Plate: Bingo Barrel Roll Skirt

Fashion Plate: Bingo Barrel Roll Skirt

 
I have a bonus Fashion Plate for you today!  ModCloth just introduced the On A Barrel Roll Skirt in Bingo and I had to find the fabric to recreate it.  Go back to my last Fashion Plate post for other details.  You can still use Gertie's tutorial for making this skirt.  I happen to think the pocket is adorable on the Bingo Barrel Roll skirt (I wasn't a fan of the pocket on the music notes skirt), so I highly recommend adding a self-lined patch pocket.  Measure your hand to get an idea of how big to make the pocket.  I'm guessing you would need 11x17 to get a 5x8 finished pocket.  That was a tangent!  The fabric is Timeless Treasures Bingo.  I love the dotted tights with the skirt, so I'm linking to those too!  This is such a fun look. 
 

Friday, October 25, 2013

America's First Settlement: Pensacola

I had a class in Pensacola yesterday.  I always manage to squeeze in something fun, even if I am supposed to be working. ;)  Pensacola claims to be America's first settlement.  I know there are lots of cities that claim that title, but I think P'cola has the most legit bid.  It was settled in 1559, 50 years before Jamestown.  There's some really cool historical stuff in Pensacola.  Obviously, it's a big Naval hub.  The city was protected by 4 forts in it's history:  Barrancas, Pickens, McRee, and Redoubt (or Advanced Redoubt).  Pensacola is often called the city of five flags because it was ruled by five different countries throughout it's history.  Those countries include Spain (three times), France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America (twice).  The settlement was called a few different names over it's history, the last of which was Panzacola by order of Spanish King Ferdinand VI in 1757.  Pretty much my favorite place in Pensacola is the Plaza Ferdinand VII at Palafox and Government Streets.  There is a bust of Andrew Jackson at the place where he was inaugurated as the first territorial governor of the Florida Territory after the territory was ceded to the US by Spain.  How cool is that?  It's become a bit of a tradition for me to take my picture with Andrew (who I call my homeboy or Andrew.  My friends just take Andrew to mean Andrew Jackson any time he's mentioned in the same breath as Pensacola.)  It's hard to take selfies, but here's the one I got today. Soooo bad.

  
Andrew insisted I get his good side.
There are always squirrels running around and under your feet in the Plaza.  I like to think this squirrel was saying, "Please take my picture.  Please take my picture!!"
 
There is a fountain at one end of the plaza, Andrew at the other end, and a big obelisk in the center.
City Hall (I think?  Gah.  I should know that!!) at the corner of Government & Palafox as viewed from Plaza de Ferdinand VII.
OHAI!  Is there a party?  Why. . . 

YES!!  Yes, there is a party on Palafox!

Not a chalk party. Or a music party.  Or even a drinking party.  (Though there was lots and lots of all those things.)

It's a party to celebrate Palafox's greatness.  Seriously.  The American Planning Association recently designated Palafox Street as one of the 10 best streets of 2013.  So what else is a town to do if not throw a party to celebrate the greatness of one of it's streets?  Yeah.  I got nothing.

I wish I had more cool pictures to show you of that, but I was pretty tired after the class and I only stuck around the Greatness Party for about 45 minutes.  Here are some photos I took at the Pensacola Crowne Plaza Hotel, which is actually built around the L&N Passenger Depot & Express Office (train station).  The lobby of the hotel is the old train station.  I took some photos of photos of old P'Cola and I'll try to elaborate on the photos as best I can.
American Planning Association (APA) announced the designation of Palafox Street as one of 10 Great Streets for 201

Read More at: http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/palafox-st-shut-down-party-celebrating-its-greatness-thursday-37371.shtml
the American Planning Association (APA) announced the designation of Palafox Street as one of 10 Great Streets for 2013

Read More at: http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/palafox-st-shut-down-party-celebrating-its-greatness-thursday-37371.shtml
the American Planning Association (APA) announced the designation of Palafox Street as one of 10 Great Streets for 2013

Read More at: http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/palafox-st-shut-down-party-celebrating-its-greatness-thursday-37371.shtml


Pensacola Lighthouse

Pensacola City Hall facing Plaza Ferdinand VII (see, I was right with the above!!), circa 1910.  The clock tower in the photo I took yesterday was moved to city hall sometime in the last 50 years or so.

This is Palafox north to Wright Street..  Plaza Ferdinand VII is in the bottom right corner.  Circa 1927.

This is the Blount Building and Hotel San Carlos at Garden and Palafox Streets, circa 1912.  I love the "drive in!"

Fountain and library in the lobby of the Crowne Plaza.  The fountain was just looking pretty and not actually fountaining.

National Geographics.  I so wanted to stick one or three in my purse.  I would love to read how we viewed the world 25 and 30 years ago.

Who doesn't need all the editions of the Florida Digest?

Or the Florida Statutes?

I love this chair and I want one.  You will be mine, oh yes, you will be mine.  This looks like the Edwardian style, though I'm no furniture expert.  Thanks so much Art Humanities!

The windows are what connect the original train station with the new hotel.  The train station is two stories.  The hotel is fifteen.  

(wish I'd cropped this one) This gorgeous stained glass clock sits in the lobby.  It has three clocks, which I guess is useful to show the times in different locations (New York, Pensacola, and Chicago perhaps?) It would be cool to find out if this clock was original to the train station.  It says "antique clock attached to the train station" and I would like to know more than that!!  I'll have to do some digging.

And on that note, I gotta wrap this up.  Time's zipping by!  Happy Friday and have a fabulous weekend!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

(Pattern) Stash Enhancement

I keep a list on my phone of patterns I like while I'm reading blogs.  It's always ready when JoAnn's is having pattern sales.  I bought a bunch of patterns over the last couple weeks and I'll probably pick up some McCall's patterns tomorrow during the 99¢ sale.
 
Butterick 5930 has princess seams, a faux-wrap style, and a collar.

Simplicity 2146 has princess seams, 4 sleeve options, and 2 neckline options.

Simplicity 2648 has princess seams, two bodice options, and two sleeve options.  You can also choose between a tab and a belt front.

Simplicity 1801 has a knee and maxi length and a couple sleeve options.  Not for knits though, despite the surplice dress look.
Simplicity 1666 has a dress, skirt, and peplum top pattern, as well as a tote.  Lisette patterns are made by the same designer of the Oliver + S patterns.  I wish I was close enough to small children to sew cute things for them.  Eh. Who am I kidding?  I'm too selfish for that nonsense.

Simplicity 1606 has princess seams and a circle skirt. Optional lace overlay, halter, or high neck bodice.
This is New Look 6020 (not on sale below the standard $3.99 price), which has three neckline options, a belt, and a clutch.  I just had to have this one.  I love the neckline options, especially D.

Simplicity 2337 has front and sleeve variations.  I'm not digging the gathered sleeves, but I love the gathered front.

Butterick 5932 is PJs.  I made the tank/dress version A already.  It needs to be less cold outside, so I can take photos of it.  
Butterick 5953 is a fitted wrap dress with a back godet and side front button closure.

Butterick 5882 has a close-fitting boned bodice with princess seams and a bias pleated bra and straps.

Butterick 5814 is the Joan Holloway wiggle dress.  Seriously.  The season 4 (I think) Mad Men poster has Joan in a dress just like this.  Thanks for the dress, Gertie.

Speaking of Gertie. . . I finally got her book!  

I've only read to page 34 so far, but I'm so in love with it!  I read several not so stellar reviews on this book, but I had to give it a go myself.  It has so much information in it.  The techniques section is amazing.

This is just two pages of fabric descriptions--there's more!  I love this illustration.

The size chart is a little weird.  I think I'm a "5" according to this and my high bust measurement.  I'm not sure which cup size these patterns are written for, but I imagine I will read something about that in the book.  I always get confused on the hip measurement too.  My butt is at least 2" bigger than my actual hips.  Should I make the size that's bigger to match my butt, or is that largely irrelevant if there is a skirt involved?  There are so many of these things I just have to learn.  I was working on the Clover pants (yes, still!) and I keep going back and forth between what size to make.  I think I'm just going to have to go with it and hope for a wearable muslin.  These actual muslins are getting old.

Gertie shows the innards of most of the garments in the book.  I think that's so important, especially when you are teaching couture.  I want to see your silk organza and horsehair.  You are telling me it's important for reason XYZ, yet you leave the reader open to interpret shortcuts taken by the sewer by not showing the inside.  I want to see what the insides look like!

Here's the pattern envelope and the pattern pages.  The patterns are printed double-sided on a fairly thick paper.  This is another something I've read negative things about.  I actually LOVE the thicker paper.  This will be so much easier for tracing.

There are only 5 folded pattern pages in my book, so hopefully they're all there! I spent a big chunk of Saturday tracing patterns.  I don't think I'll have any pattern tracing mojo for a while, which is perfectly fine by me.  I need to get reading!






Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Fashion Plate: On A Barrel Roll Skirt

Make This Look: ModCloth On A Barrel Roll Skirt

This one is so easy!  The inspiration is Modcloth's On a Barrel Roll Skirt.  The skirt featured on ModCloth is actually a 6-gore skirt, but why would you want to cut all those pieces (yes, more structure, blahblahblah) when all you really have to do is use Gertie's Gathered Skirt tutorial.  All you need is your waist measurement and desired length in order to cut your rectangles.  You can even add side seam pockets to her tutorial instead of using that giant patch pocket shown in the ModCloth version.  Way better right?  The fabric I chose is Kaufman's All That Jazz metallic.