Mad Men Sew-Along

I don't follow this particular blog much anymore, but was looking through their archives and noticed they are doing a "Mad Men Sew-Along" of a dress pattern similar to the sloper we are using. I'm only posting the beginning post, but there are others where she discusses making the darts and adjusting the pattern, such as this one where she talks about adjusting the skirt (which I'm in the process of doing right now).

Skirts on the Internet

Hi, everyone. I made a skirt and wore it to church last Sunday, but we left that day for our vacation and I never took a picture. I promise to put it on tomorrow and have someone take a photo for me to share with you.

I know we've moved on to another dare, but one of my favorite bloggers, Dana, posted this cute skirt tutorial that is so simple and adorable. After I gave birth to Claire last May I made myself a bunch of skirts in basically the same way Dana shows--except mine were cut in a slight A-line. It was great for my post-pregnant belly that wouldn't fit into any of my old summer shorts or skirts. Actually, I still like elastic waistbands best because I feel like my shape is always changing. I'm also planning to make her circle skirt, which a different version of a skirt I made last summer as well.

This would be an easy skirt to add pockets to, so it could fit into our next challenge too, right?

Free Child's Dress Pattern

So, my thoughtful mom sent me a pattern for a girl's dress that she thought looked like one I would enjoy making. The thing is, I already own the pattern and have made several dresses with it. In this photo you can see Audrey being silly in one of them. So, would anyone like the new pattern? It is Simplicity 5695 and is in size 2,3,4--which was the perfect size for both girls when they were 2 and 4 and is now too small for Audrey now that she's a tall 5. It's very simple to make and a very cute dress. Or, if you know someone who might like it, just take it from me and pass it along. I'll give it to the first person who responds to this post.

Mine

Okay, side by side mine isn't as cute, but I still really like it. Also, please overlook the way I'm standing. I don't know how to pose for pictures. Also, I cut my head off because I'm too vain to post on the internet how I look at the end of the day.

I bought a long-sleeve t-shirt, cut off the sleeves, made long strips of ruffles from the sleeves, and sewed them onto the shirt. It's quite simple and something I've tried before. For that reason I feel like I took it too safe with this challenge. I had plans to buy some interesting and fun stuff at Dongdaemun to embellish a t-shirt with, but when I went at night it was closed. So, don't go there at night. Someone told me the hours are 9-5ish. I can't guarantee the closing time, but I was there at about 8 p.m. and it was dark and empty. I've always gone in the morning before at about 10 a.m.

I also made the shirt a little more fitted in the sleeve and sides. This shirt is 95% modal (which is "essentially a variety of rayon" according to wikipedia, and as you know wikipedia can be written by anyone so it has to be true) and 5% spandex. So it's a slick fabric, if that's the right word. When I cut the sleeves I kept getting a v shape on the top of the arm, which I tried to fix and never could. I decided I liked it and left it. I also didn't hem the sleeves because 1) I was feeling lazy 2) I like the raw edge look sometimes. I tell myself that the raw edge of the sleeve goes well with the raw edge of the ruffles.

I have more shirts that I'm going to ruffle or otherwise continue to embellish. I know we've moved on to another challenge, but I may still share with you my adventures.

Inspiration

I think Etsy is a great place to find inspiration for our embellishing challenge. Below are some favorites if you're interested in embellishing a t-shirt like me. I'm actually going to have Audrey and Megan do this along with me. The photo is from a shop called I love treasures. It is so simple, but my girls would love it.

1) Lace

2) Matching appliqued t-shirt and jeans

3) Matching fabric & shirt

4) Ice cream applique (selling for $3, we can do that with leftover scraps)

5) Ruffles on a cardigan

6) Leaves

7) Matching mickey mouse applique and headband (I think of Amber when I see this)

8) A little crazy, but I like it

9) Crocheted flower

10) Rosettes

11) More flowers

12) shirt & tie (same shop as the mickey stuff above)

and here's one thrown in from the Gap. Ribbons.

Introducing . . . Carolyn

Well, Kimberly keeps telling me to write my introduction and I do whatever she tells me to :)

I grew up with sewing all around me. My mother sewed a lot of our clothes--especially dresses, made crafts, and now has a long-arm quilting machine business. Her mother is an excellent seamstress and when I was a teenager made me the most awesome fitted skirt and jacket that I wish I still had. My other grandma was a home-economics teacher and still sews now at the age of 88. So, I learned basic sewing skills by default, but actually had no interest in it.

When I graduated from college, I thought a digital camera would be a great gift, but instead my mom and grandma bought me a sewing machine. I think I used it once in the first four years I had it. Then one day in Relief Society we were talking about how our mothers taught us modesty. I commented that my mom always sewed my prom and homecoming formal dresses so that I had something modest and beautiful to wear. Suddenly I realized, hey, I have daughters (Megan was a newborn) and I'd better improve my skills so that someday I can do the same for them. Thus my sewing adventures began.

My skills are still very basic (i.e. I still need serious help with zippers) but I have learned a lot and had a lot of fun in the last few years. I've made many dresses for my daughters, skirts for myself, curtains, bags, blankets, etc. One of the things I had a lot of fun doing while Curtis was in business school and we didn't really have any money was "refashioning." My friends and I discovered that our local thrift store had 10 cent sales on certain days, so we'd go fill our carts with "fabric" from the thrift store. I call it fabric, although it could be shirts, pants, a big mu mu . . . you get the idea. Then, I'd make it into something else. It's a really fun thing to do and brings out your creative side. I also would buy things and then try my hand at simple alterations to make them fit better. I am still not a tailor by any means, but I hemmed a pair of pants for a neighbor and felt proud that she trusted me enough to ask and then wore them afterwards.

The one thing that really made me start loving Korea was the Dongdaemun fabric market. I love to go there and just look at everything you can buy. I'm excited for the embellishing challenge because there is just so much to experiment with. I follow some sewing and fashion blogs that have given me some ideas. For example one of the sewing bloggers I like Is always showing how to copy the J. Crew and Anthropologie tops that have ruffles, etc. that are so cute these days, here is something that would be fun, and here are some inspiring tops she pointed out. I'm thinking of trying this for shirts my size as well as my kids. We'll see what happens.

Having baby #3 has made it difficult for me to find time and space to sew. My sewing room is now Claire's room, so I have to find a new space for all my stuff. Also, my sewing time was usually in the evenings after the kids go to bed, but lately I've been too tired to do much. So, I'm hoping this group will help motivate me to sew again and that I can push myself to learn new skills that I'll need to one day make those prom dresses!