Happy Self-Stitched September!

Here it goes...

'I, Rebecca, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavor to wear at least one handmade and/or refashioned item of clothing every day for the duration of September 2010'.

I signed up in the beginning of August after coming across this post, and was super eager to start sewing up some essentials. Within a week of signing up I produced a pair of pajama pants, 9 pairs of underwear, and an almost completed vest.

9 pairs of underwear

I paused for a day or two, stuck on the issue of what to do about work shirts. Plain boring black work shirts, I wasn't inspired at all so I didn't do anything sewing wise. Then the rest of August happened, during which I learned/applied new skills, and submitted my letter of resignation to my current employer, thus solving my issue of what to about work shirts. No, I didn't quit because of  work shirts, in all honesty it is just my time to leave and start something new.

The whole thing is bittersweet, I'm happy because I'll have a career rather than just a job in a mall, but I am kind of down that I'll no longer be working with a bunch of really great people.
 
Anyways back to Self-Stitched September. I woke up today, not with S.S.S. on my mind, but with thoughts of my first ever business meeting floating around in my head. It wasn't until half way through getting dressed that I realized what I had to do. At least it wasn't a formal business meeting, I'd like to call it semi-business casual at its finest.

What I Wore:

Shirt: Banana Republic(thrifted)

Shorts: Refashioned

Bracelet and Necklace: Made by me

Underwear(not shown): Made by me

Close up of necklace

That's everything, I plan to post every couple of days with what I've worn this month, and perhaps finish up a few things that have been tucked away in my sewing corner. But for now, it's time for coffee.

it was a day of firsts

A few weeks back I went to visit my family and see the first of my childhood friends get married (She looked gorgeous!). I'm still finding it hard to fathom that we are actually adults now, and that our 10 year high school reunion is only a year and a half away.

It was my first time wearing heels much higher than 1 inch. Technically they were wedges but still, they count in my book.

Ah yes, and it was my first time wearing a dress since 5th grade. My friends didn't even recognize me when I came running up to them outside the church.

That dress was the first dress I have made in my life. I used simplicity 2406 and made the closed back version of it sans pockets. When this pattern came out, I knew I had to have it if only for the sleeves.

 The fabric I used was a cotton/poly stretch twill that I picked up from Joann's, sure I didn't have the greatest selection to choose from but at least I could touch and see the actual fabric. I personally have bad luck when it comes to online fabric shopping, I chalk it up to lack of fabric buying experience which I vow to work on.

 Back- Take 1

 

 

 I was slightly worried about under taking this project for two reasons. One, I'm really not a dress person and I find it really hard to visualize things like this on myself. Two, I doubted my ability to actually create something nice enough for such a special occasion.

I went ahead and checked out all the reviews on pattern review. The one thing that every one seemed to mention were the directions for making the sleeves. Taking that information, I sat down one night and read the sleeve directions about 10 times, made my muslin and jotted down notes to help myself out along the way.
Once I figured out the sleeves, everything else just came together.

Well, almost everything, I didn't mention that this was my first time inserting an invisible zipper. I tried to put it in by machine three times, but ended up with puckers every time. So I did what anybody would do, popped on Bright Star (followed by Zombieland) and hand stitched the 16 inch zipper into my dress.

Back- Take two,  the back facing was tacked down after this was shot

I am quite happy to say that the dress held up well, even with my 3, possibly 4 hours on the dance floor.

Front- I still need to work on standing like a lady

In action!

So yes, that is my first ever foray into dressmaking and it turned out well in my opinion. I will probably never make this dress again, but I would love to make a tunic length top from it at some point.

That is it for now, hopefully I'll be posting a smidge more often, but I make no promises.

Not much sewing going on...

except for this little thing, which will be fully completed tonight or tomorrow. More details and pictures (with accurate color) eventually

Quickie

Simplicity 2560...what can I say. It was quick, it was easy and I'll probably make it again at some point.

I made view A, but used the cutting line of view D for the sleeves. The fabric I used was picked up from the local Goodwill, I believe I got at least 3 yards of it for 99 cents on two color Tuesday. It is a very light weight knit jersey with clear sequins(not a whole bunch but enough). To be honest I didn't notice the sequins until I got the fabric home and I was a tad put off on the fabric when I discovered them. I figured I'd use it to test out the pattern, but after trying it on I am in love with it.

{Simplicity 2560}

The sequins are more subtle than I originally thought and as long as I pair it with more neutral pieces I think I can get a lot of daytime wear out of it.
Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do with the remaining yardage.

Oh how I love thee Christmas Tree Shop

I arrived at my place place of employment early yesterday, so I decided to walk around the nearby Christmas Tree Shop store to kill some time. I picked up some awesome nail polish and strolled around the book section. Imagine my surprise when I spotted this book on the shelf with the price tag of $3.99.

 

A few months back I looked it over in Barnes & Nobles and put it back. There are some nice pieces in it and the software that comes with it allows you to input your own measurements for a customized pattern, but I could not justify buying it at the time. Into the basket it went, it was then joined by this book with the price tag of $1.99

 

I consider the BBC version of What Not to Wear to be vastly superior to the American version of the show. It really all boils down to the hosts, I find Trinny and Susannah to be more likable than Clinton and Stacey, simple as that. The fashions book may be slightly dated(especially the trendy pieces) but still gives some solid advice on dressing well. Gotta love unexpected bargains.