Too Much of a Good Thing?

The first time I came across a Rifle Paper Co. product, I think I audibly gasped. Maybe I was at Paper Source, or a stationary store ...or was it Anthropologie? I loved the style instantly and I'm sure I thought something like "FINALLY!-- A brand whose aesthetic perfectly matches my tastes!" (yes, these are how my thoughts sound).

I think my first purchase was a set of "thank you" cards. It was several years ago, back when they were mainly doing stationary and paper products, and were just starting to dip their toes into other accessories, like phone cases and small zippered bags. 

After that, as soon as I (also finally) jumped on the iPhone train, I got a Rifle Paper Co. phone case, and I would get the odd compliment on it, from other fans of the brand, who sometimes weren't even aware that the product existed. "I love your Rifle phone case! Where did you get it?!" I think the brand was still kind of flying under the mainstream radar at that point?

Over the past several years, I've gradually accumulated RPC stationary, greeting cards, calendars, coasters, art prints, cosmetics bags, phone cases, and anything else I could reasonably get my hands on. I just found myself in love with everything Anna created and I wanted to sprinkle it everywhere in my life.

It felt like the designs added a clever, interesting, artistic touch to my style. Modern yet retro, with enticing color schemes and a dash (but not too much) of whimsy. I loved it!

Like most sewers, back when I was re-entering the sewing world, as an adult (um 8 years ago?), a significant issue for me was finding fabric that I actually wanted to wear -- it needed to be interesting and cute, but also appropriate for garments. Not quilting cotton. Exploring online, and occasionally at JoAnn's, I found some suitable fabrics here and there that helped somewhat quench my thirst for eye-catching prints and colorful designs I could make into clothes.

I remember wishing back then, "If ONLY Rifle would design FABRIC." That would be amazing and I could then proceed to make ALL the clothing of my dreams, obviously.

When RPC eventually released their first fabric line, I was delighted. Hallelujah! I can make my own Rifle clothes! The possibilities are endless! My clothing will be unique AND exactly the style I want it to be. Also, rayon everything!  This is THE BEST!

Birch Floral (Periwinkle)

I pre-ordered some Les Fleurs rayon as a birthday gift to myself and, once it showed up in the mail, I promptly tucked it away in my embarrassing fabric stash to await the perfect project. 

Somewhere along the way, before even cutting into the fabric, I started to feel less excited.

Over the past year or so, I found that clothing other bloggers and IG users made from the same, bold Rifle prints really started to feel boring and all the same to me, regardless of the actual style of the garment. Interesting details became invisible to me. The fabric appeared to be wearing the person, no garment even making a blip on my radar. It seemed like all I could see was Rifle fabric. Rifle, Rifle, Rifle, Rifle. 

Fast forward to present day. I now cringe as I scroll through Instagram (numerous times a day because I'm addicted). Rifle's latest (third? I've lost count) line of fabric is out and it feels like everyone's starting to use Rifle everything... yet again. (Also they offer Keds now, too?!) I can't escape it. It's like I'm suffocating in the pretty, painterly, detailed, perfect-color-combination, prints. It feels like too much. 

I didn't know that I could get sick of a style that seemed so well-suited to my own.

My beautiful periwinkle fabric is still siting in my stupid fabric stash and now I'm realizing I'm officially sick of all things Rifle Paper Co. I'm hoping to wait this out and fall back in love with my treasured cloth -- maybe next spring? 

I'm dismayed to admit I'm experiencing #RPCOverload and am totally burned out. How are you faring?

Thoughts on Pattern "Testing"

Let me start by stating the obvious: I love sewing patterns. Big 4, vintage, indie, free, printed paper, PDF -- all kinds. But, lately, I've been wondering: when it comes to smaller scale indie pattern companies...

What do you think about "pattern testing" as it exists in the sewing blogosphere?

I have a few thoughts that have been swirling around in my mind. I hope you don't mind if I share them candidly here.

My own direct experience is limited. I've helped "test" two sewing patterns so far (2nd tester project coming to the blog soon!), and the differing experiences I had, plus what I have read about from other sewers, have got me pondering the whole idea of bloggers as testers, in general.

There seem to be a lot more cooks in the kitchen. The whole online sewing community has exploded in recent years compared to what it used to be. As more (and more) indie pattern companies* have popped up and the number of sewers turning to blogging & social media has increased, now more bloggers seem to be testing indie patterns, too -- which used to just seem reserved for those more famous bloggers. At the risk of understating, I'd say that the more people there are now creating patterns and testing them, the wider variety of experiences (and professionalism) you'll have across the process.

*These aren't always full-fledged companies and can include bloggers simply dabbling in pattern drafting & design. Combine them with more established indie pattern companies and it can feel like everyone and their mother are peddling sewing patterns. I appreciate variety, but is it too much of a good thing??

Recently, I've taken note of some less than ideal pattern testing scenarios mentioned by other sewers online: strict/short time frames; over-the-top intense "applications" to even try to be a tester for some designers; the blurred line between "testing" as purely a marketing effort or something a bit more scientific; inadequate recognition for time and effort spent; the prevalence of uber positive reviews; the impression that it's only for the "cool kids," part of some elite sewing clique; etc.

With all that in mind, I know some of us in sewing blog land (and elsewhere on the internet) are simply not interested in being pattern "testers," but, for me (so far), I find I do appreciate being offered this opportunity to try out an independent designer's pattern in this way! I'm not anything close to a professional (I don't even like to think of it as "testing" -- that sounds too meticulous for an amateur like me) when it comes to testing and my reasons for engaging in the process are self-centered. Honestly, I volunteer because I like to get a first look at a pattern before it hits the market and a peek at what the designer is like in off-the-blog interactions; I like that participating presents me with the chance and challenge to sew something I might not have otherwise chosen for myself (of course I only test things I'm OK adding to my wardrobe); and, lastly, I like that: duh, I get a free** pattern.

**free, in the sense that I did not have to pay money for it outright, though I recognize my precious time and not-free materials invested as part of the process.

The post-test process is what I actually find the most exciting. The "tester roundups" that appear on the website of the designer once the pattern is released to the public leave me with mixed feelings, though. On the one hand, I really enjoy poring over the variety of iterations of the pattern and different sewers' takes and tweaks on the design. Sometimes a certain sewer's version of a pattern can really sell me on something I wasn't quite convinced was for me. The part about this "roundup" that rubs me the wrong way, though, is that some designers only include the best (however they choose to determine this) tester photos, leaving out those who don't make the cut for the aesthetic -or whatever- they're going for, and giving the impression to readers that those shown on the roundup were the only testers involved.

In a sea of sewers trying to get blog-famous, monetize their blogs, get book deals and other gigs, and rack up new followers, you can imagine how this is a bummer. If, like me, you're not trying to do any of those things (well, I guess I wouldn't say no to new followers?) and you're simply excited to participate in more sewing goodness, you can see how it would feel like a bummer and an insult. I say, in this case, if you're going to show any, you've got to show all in order to be fair to your testers and your readers & customers. Then, though, there are designers who don't share any tester versions, and all pre-release pattern testing is done discreetly, out of public view (and I presume by professional pattern testers? -- there is such a thing, right?) Should (and could?) smaller indies do this, too, or is the cross promotion between the tester and the pattern creator a good thing that should be preserved?

I'm finding myself grappling with the pluses and minuses of this whole process a little bit, and thinking about the two extremes that the whole endeavor seems to fall between: meticulous, technical testing of a pattern and then surface-level, fluffy marketing. I find the whole thing overall to be both fascinating and annoying! I like being a tester sometimes, and it's neat that this is an opportunity that's now available to more sewers than it's been in the past. Also, obviously, marketing your products helps sell them, which is the whole point, but what's the best way to do that while trying to consider everyone in this community? It can be annoying enough to induce eye-rolls when a tested pattern seems to take over your blogroll and a significant chunk of your favorite blogs are all overflowing with overwhelmingly gushy tester reviews.

At this point, I don't know what the answer is or if I'll ever be able to distill my opinion on it down into a single point -- is the current state of affairs when it comes to indie pattern testing good or bad or something else?

What do you think about it?

Jump in!

So, there's that

There's something I've been meaning to share with you guys for the past 2 months, but wasn't sure just how I should do it. At this point, all I can think to do is blurt it out, so here it is: after eight years together Tom and I decided to part ways, on friendly (but unavoidably emotional) terms. He's even made a big move across the country for work, which seems to have helped officially set us on our separate paths.

We still talk, and I'm still here doing my thing, but the creative juices have not been, let's say, flowing as much as I'm used to. Cooking dinner or rearranging pictures on the wall seem like very simple tasks but are the types of things that have been sapping me of creative energy day-to-day.

Please don't picture me dejected on the couch, though. I've also picked up a couple of new activities that have been filling my weeks. I joined my company's softball team this fall (had not picked up a ball/glove in about a decade) and have been taking a yoga class with my mom. I've also been going to at least one estate sale a weekend, which I'm definitely enjoying. Add hanging out with my girlfriends to the mix and there's not much time left over for sewing or other creative pursuits.

This life change has also brought me to work on revamping my home for a fresh start, and to fill new furniture gaps (I've learned I'm very picky about coffee tables!), including my sewing space, sort-of pictured above, and finally very gently dipping my toe back into some sewy things (yes, cutting out, but not actually sewing, a PDF pattern and fabric counts).

There is not much to officially show for it yet, but I just wanted to let you guys know I'm really still here... doing some things!

2 Years & 3 Big Announcements

I have three exciting bits of news to share with you today, friends!

#1: The little ol' blog turns 2 years old today. 

Over the past 24 months, I've sewn and blogged (to some extent) approximately 35 finished projects. I've tried new techniques, participated in a few sewing blogger challenges, completed my own Seamless Pledge, found a couple of tried and true patterns that I love, finally sewed something with a crotch, made projects from vintage, modern big-4, and indie patterns, re-vamped the blog, and made it to well over 150 posts. I'm sure I'm forgetting things, too -- there's been a lot!

 

 
Thank you all (really) for sticking with me along the way! I've loved reading your comments and advice and encouragement, sharing my thoughts and projects with you, and just being part of sewing blogland. Ooh, I'm also on instagram now, too!

#2: I'm throwing a giveaway to celebrate. 

Get excited, because one of you is going to be hitting the jackpot of Sewin' Steady favorites. I've got 2 cuts of vintage fabric, 2 vintage sewing patterns, and a handful of bright, vintage buttons up for grabs to one lucky reader.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Sunday, January 12, 11:59pm EST. Anyone can enter and I'll ship anywhere, because I love you.

There you have it! That's 4ish yards of black & white medium weight mini-hounds-tooth check fabric. I think this one's a blend of sorts, perhaps some wool in there -- I didn't do an official test. This would make a perfect suit, pencil skirt, shift dress... anything.

Also included is about 1 & 1/8 yard of the sheer, spotted, floral poly I used to make my floral pendrell. I adore this cute print, but there's really only room for one garment made from it in my closet.

Lucky you! You'll also win 4 cards of vintage buttons along with DuBarry 5172 in size 16 (bust 34") from 1941 plus Simplicity 6104 size 16T (bust 36") from the 1960s.

Hurry up and leave a comment before my last announcement blows your mind and you forget what you were doing! It's ok, I'll wait...







Ready? Ok.

#3: And, I've opened a vintage shop on Etsy!!!!!!!

Surprise! Do not fret if you don't end up the lucky giveaway winner. You can still snap up some hand-picked, Sewin'Steady-approved vintage sewing patterns AND clothes in my newly opened vintage shop. You're welcome!

 

***For now, the shop is offering FREE SHIPPING but is only taking US orders. Once I get the hang of this Etsy-shop-running-thing, I'll re-assess.

 

Some of you readers who have been with me for a while will recall I used to have a "Vintage Finds" page on the blog where I shared my latest thrifted pieces and estate sale finds. Though the page was taken down during some general blog sprucing over the past year or so, I've kept (and still keep) up the vintage collecting. 

At this point, I have managed to amass more old sewing patterns and articles of clothing than a single human could possibly use or wear in a lifetime (or so it seems). So, I've decided this is the perfect time for me to start sharing them all. I've always dreamed of opening a shop full of my favorite things and now I've finally got my chance!

There are still loads of items (clothing and sewing patterns) that I've not yet had the chance to list, so check back frequently because I'll be adding more and more (and more). 

Now, I'm just wondering. Did any of you have any inkling I'd at least be mailing something with that Sewin' Steady custom stamp I sneak peeked for you earlier? I know, it was pretty vague. :)

Anyway, it's high fives all around in these parts. Thank you for being awesome readers and hooray for exciting new vintage-y, sew-y things!

2013

Looking back on this year of thrifting and sewing and blogging, I found myself putting together a list of some of the best or most memorable things. With the end of year reflections and Top-5's I've been seeing around blogland this week, I thought I'd join in and share mine.

Favorite Me-Made Wardrobe Addition:

This would have to be my Anthropologie inspired Laurel v. 5 top.

This top gets worn all the time, whether I'm going to work or just running errands on the weekends. I love the cotton-silk fabric and the cute pink spots.

Favorite Dress:

I made a good number of dresses this year (10 blogged, 12 total), but my favorite has to be the Floral Wedding Guest Dress I made to wear for Tom's brother's wedding in June.

This is more of a special occasion piece than an everyday dress, but it still won this category for me. The fit is not perfect but it is still such a fun dress to wear. I love the rayon bemberg lined full gathered skirt -- it's just perfect for twirling and frolicking.

Biggest Sewing Fail:

My biggest "meh" project this year was the Pilgrim Peony (wearable muslin) that I never quite finished.

I surprised myself whipping up this project on a whim and really liking the futuristic/mod collar I came up with. By the time I'd blogged about it, I was mere moments from tucking the unfinished blob into the closet to revisit later. I suppose I just lost momentum and have not touched it since. I have a feeling it's going to be sitting in the closet for a while.

Best Pattern:

This for me, as I'm sure you're all shocked to hear, would have to be the Laurel top & dress pattern by Colette Patterns. When the pattern was first released, my initial reaction was "...eh." It didn't seem too remarkable to me, but I decided to try it and participate in the contest Colette held, and then I was totally hooked.

I ended up making a total of 10 Laurel variations this year (including a top and a dress made for friends). My favorite and most worn dress version has to be my Back to School Laurel. It came out a bit short but is still a really versatile piece in my wardrobe. I even wore it on Christmas (with tights) when we had everyone over for family dinner.

Favorite Thrifted Find:

My favorite piece found during my thrift store and estate sale travels this year has been the short sleeved camel colored Bobbie Brooks cashmere sweater I found at a thrift store. It was a great price, is in excellent condition, and has made a useful addition to my wardrobe. It also happens to look great paired with my leopard print belt.

I don't think a person can have too many camel colored separates. They're a great neutral to pair with any other color or style.

Project(s) I'm Most Excited To Sew Next Year:

This one needs to be split into 2 categories: Dresses & Separates. The dress I'm really looking forward to trying out in 2014 is the Hazel dress by Victory Patterns.

And the separate I've been dying to sew for months but am determined and excited to do in 2014 is Tilly's Mathilde blouse. I've even got the pieces printed out, taped together, and cut, so all I need to do is pick my fabric and get to work!


In addition to ringing in the new year, there will be a little extra bit of celebrating going on in these parts as Sewin' Steady's 2nd birthday is coming up in just a few days. I'm considering giving the blog a makeover, will definitely be announcing some exciting news, and also doing a giveaway to celebrate. You won't want to miss it!

A Sort of Vacation...

Sometimes, when you don't take the time to set aside a chunk of your life and plan a vacation for yourself, some subconscious part of you eventually takes the reins and forces you to take a kind of mental vacation in your free time. At least, that's what I think must have happened to me this month?

In my free time, I've been totally un-inspired to do anything other than veg by the (new, fancy) TV and watch Gossip Girl on Netflix. There are a lot of seasons (and cute clothes to study)! At first, I was just watching one episode here or there as a way to wind down or relax, but now I've been completely sucked in. All my brain wants to do now to unwind after work or on the weekend is feed its Gossip Girl craving, not sew, not even walk up the stairs to the sewing room/office.





(source)

SOME sewing has managed to get done on my friend's matching rayon Laurel top, but nothing to brag about.

You may notice I've added a blog button for The Quirky Peach (Sally is just the cutest) over on my side bar. I'll eventually be providing her with a button for my blog, once I kick my butt in gear and wean myself off of the dang Gossip Girl. If any of you all have blogs and want to swap buttons, send me an email & let me know! I'm happy to post yours up right away and give you mine as soon as it's ready. :)

Sew...much!

I feel like I've got a lot going on in my brain & sewing room right now! I'm clinging to multiple sewing ideas, while also trying to do some refashioning and complete my Pendrell blouse. I actually took some time off work to give myself a long weekend for getting things done. However, in the sewing department, instead of being productive, I've ended up spending a lot of time marveling over all of the ideas for things I could work on. There's sewing project inspiration, potential refashioning projects waiting in a pile, and my in-progress Pendrell blouse.



Inspiration:
Ever since starting to read (yes, read - not just flip through the pretty, pretty pictures!) 100 Years of Fashion, one particular style has been stuck in my head. I know I've claimed the '60s as my best style decade for its more wearable, cute fashions, but who can resist the New Look.

1947 'Bar' by Dior -  V&A

Something about the fitted jacket and or blouse belted over an a-line or full skirt, idea won't get out of my mind. For some reason I'm picturing myself wearing this type of suit, maybe in dark blue, boarding an airplane? Don't ask. I've found a pattern that I'm dying to try, but then again, I think I could turn Gertie's jacket and skirt from her book into just as nice of a suit, and I wouldn't have to purchase any new patterns. But, just look...

Source: etsy.com via Susan on Pinterest

It's even from 1960! But, then there's also this lovely '50s pattern, too.

Source: etsy.com via Susan on Pinterest

Pretty! I'm not normally into suits, but these seem so smart and fun to wear. I'm especially liking the look of the jacket being nipped in at the waist and extending down to cover the hips, but not as long as a '40s style suit jacket. This look definitely helps create that hour-glass silhouette, but isn't revealing or racy. I'd call it ladylike but cute - at least that's how I'm hoping it would look on me.

Drooling over inspiration is a lot easier than completing a sewing project, though. Which tends to leave me with too many ideas to narrow down to a starting point and no progress on my current projects.

That said, I'm also being tempted by the Polka Dot Frock Fest that's been talked up over at Scruffy Badger Time.

I already own this pattern but have yet to sew it up. I also own some blue, polka dotted fabric that's been sitting forlorn in my stash for longer than I care to recall. Sounds like a match made in heaven, if you ask me.

If I do participate in the frock fest, I'm hoping to make my version something I could wear in my casual work setting without getting "...you're dressed up today" comments. I'm liking the view that's already illustrated in a   spotted fabric on the pattern envelope. Hmm... we'll just have to see.



Refashioning:
Earlier this month, I picked up this black, wool herringbone pencil skirt at the thrift store. I think it's from the '70s or '80s? It's fully lined, has pockets, and has a little strip of elastic on each side of the waistband  This might not sound like a plus, but the elastic is not super noticeable and makes a big difference in terms of comfort! It's a great length for a vintage office-y look, but my office is pretty casual, like I mentioned, and I'll get more wear out of this piece if I shorten it to above the knee. Not really a drastic refashion, more an alteration, but yeah. That's the plan.

Thrifted wool skirt with pockets  - closeup shows elastic at side-waist

I also have 4-ish other thrifted pieces just sitting in a pile, unwearable until refashioned into something better. I've tucked them away for now because I don't want to get sick of them before I even have time to start working on 'em. I easily get carried away with all of the pieces I see with "potential," rather than keeping in mind what I'll actually have time/energy to work on and will be able to really wear when completed.



Actually Working On...
In the meantime, through all of the swirling inspiration and project plans in my head, I've come to terms with the fact that trying to work on, or even just think about, too many things at once ends up being bad news for my sewing productivity. Once I finish my current project, the Pendrell blouse, I'll move on to address any lingering sewing inspiration or refashioning ideas. That may sound dull, but I think I'll go insane if I don't focus!

In-progress, creased and droopy, teal Pendrell

Today I'm planning to draft a collar to add to my teal rayon Pendrell WIP. Gertie's tutorial from her book seems pretty easy to follow for collar drafting, so, hopefully that'll turn out nicely. I am trying to make an effort to not rush through this relatively simple project. I don't want to be tempted to cut any corners and end up with a poorly finished piece that I won't enjoy wearing. Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday!

Not to me, but to the blog. Happy 1st birthday, Sewin' Steady!

source

One year ago today, I nervously clicked "Publish" and let the blog go live. It's been an awesome experience and I've really learned a lot. Writing the blog has truly helped me focus my dreams and plans and center things. It's been fantastic connecting with you all and the rest of the online sewing community. Thanks for stopping by and sticking with me. I really appreciate it! Cheers to another year ...or two, or more!

Lessons Learned, Reflections, & Inspiration

When I went to compile my top 5 lessons learned, reflections & goals, and inspiration from the past year, I got a little bit overwhelmed looking back on everything that went on in 2012. I put together a few lists to share what I came up with and accidentally threw the "5" part of "top 5" out the window. (Get ready for a long post!)



 Cool things I did in 2012

• Started this blog and published 100 blog posts (without even planning to hit that number!)
• Was a featured seamstress at Colette Patterns' blog for my polka-dotted peony dress
• Participated in Julia Bobbin's Mad Men Dress Challenge with my Joan dress
• Went to my very first local sewing blogger meetup
• Sewed 15 completed garments (and several unfinished ones, too!) including a few sewn from vintage patterns 
• Took the Seamless pledge for 6 months
  
  
  
  

  

  Mad Men Dress Challenge - Joan Dress

  
  
  

Things I learned in 2012

• I love 1960s fashion. I'd always thought the 1950s were my fashion decade of choice, but have found that when it comes to sewing my own clothes (and buying vintage), for me, fashions from the 1960s are much more wearable and easier to fit into my life. Oh, and they're just adorable.
• Taking my time to set up projects the right way the first time around is really worth it, even though it often feels boring or too slow in the moment. We've all heard this before, but I've finally had to face facts and admit it's completely true. Do it right the first time and I won't regret it later! This means more carefully matching plaids, understitching where prescribed, finishing seams properly, redoing crappy zippers, and even walking away for a break instead of cutting corners in a rush to finish a project.
• Vintage patterns are not scary! I was nervous to sew with them because I assumed they were all more complicated, way too different from modern patterns, and just intimidating overall. Now, I've tried out a few and am in love! The style variations and garment details, not to mention the envelope illustrations are usually amazing (duh!). I especially appreciate that they just come in one size per pattern, so you don't have to trace out your particular size or follow too many crazy cutting lines.
• Wearable muslins are more my style (than the un-wearable variety). Making muslins has always seemed like one of those things that I know is good for me, but that I just do not feel like doing (kind of like flossing my teeth :-/ ). Instead of forcing myself to make the first go at a pattern with plain muslin or other un-garment-worthy fabric, I've found that planning to do a wearable test-drive of the pattern keeps me motivated enough to continue and helps keep me from ruining any particularly special fabrics before I've worked out the potential issues with a new pattern.
• Having the right tools for you makes a big difference. This year I got a new sewing machine that makes sewing much quicker, simpler, and more enjoyable than what I was experiencing on my great aunt's old 1960s Singer (I love that machine, but it wasn't the easiest for me to use). I also got myself some other tools, most importantly my folding IKEA table and magnetic pin caddy - both of which have been pretty much life-changing. Tools that better suit me mean more sewing, which is always good!
• Bias tape is your friend. Use it for embellishments, binding armholes or unfinished edges, or use it instead of a facing for a neckline or a hem! I've collected a shoebox full of vintage & new pre-made bias tapes, as well as begun to make my own for certain projects. I love using it!

Bloggers who've Inspired Me

I've found inspiration, great ideas, and general awesomeness on essentially all of the blogs I've come across. This online sewing community is awesome, but you all already know that! Here are a few bloggers who have really stood out as inspiring to me this past year:

• Tilly and The Buttons - Tilly's style is adorable, she's a smart cookie, and the clothes she makes are beyond cute. I really admire her fun, yet thoughtful, writing style and the impressive sewing knowledge she has gained and shared over the past months (and months). She's also got that awesome "Day in the Life" series that is always interesting. It's really exciting and encouraging to learn about so many creative people out there doing their thing.
• Cation Designs - You've all seen me gush about Cindy before. Her posts are always interesting and detailed (with plenty of photos of her cat, Walnut, too), she has sewn many, many lovely garments out of bedsheets (amazing! - she's inspired me to try it out, too), and she's the brains behind the Sewing with Cats blog award, among other things.
• A Fashionable Stitch & Sewaholic - I've grouped Sunni and Tasia as a single entry on the list here because they inspire me in similar ways. They both blog and sew about the lovely clothes they've made and plan to make, host sew-alongs and share tutorials for sewing techniques, and both have made their love of sewing a major part of their lives. Tasia designs and sells her cute, clever patterns and Sunni scours the earth for just the right sewing supplies to sell in her great little online shop. I love both of their shops, and really admire them both for doing what they do and sharing the details of how they've turned their passion for sewing into a career.
• Dixie DIY - Dixie shares her DIY projects and fashion on her blog and makes her own patterns as well. I love her style and her projects always inspire me (have you seen the swimsuits she's sewn?!). The topics she blogs about are interesting and her posts are often rather thought-provoking (like a recent post on "poly prejudice," something I hadn't really considered before). I'm really looking forward to seeing what she brings to her blog in 2013.
• Lucky Lucille - Rochelle is always sharing an adorable project or some fun sewing inspiration (or cute photo of her dog, Lucille), and also runs her own online store of handmade items. Her writing style is cheerful and easy to relate to and the aesthetic of her blog is so cute and fun to look at. She always seems to be working with pretty, exciting fabrics (even designing some of her own on Spoonflower), and has even just learned to knit recently (which I've been meaning to do, too, for a year).

These ladies are all so inspiring to me, but it feels a little odd to only mention a few of the numerous blogs I follow, because I'm really inspired by all of them and each one has something special to offer (that's why I read 'em!). If you're all "been there, done that" to these I've touched on, or even if you're not, I'd suggest also taking a peek over on the sidebar at the links in my blogroll. I really do read them like it's my job, and you might like to, too!

Gratuitous kitty photo

Goals for 2013

Now down to my sewing and making plans for the new year. I'm keeping these kind of general (you won't see "sew 3 pieces a month" on here), because I don't want to stress myself out or lose interest as the months go by.

• Learn to knit. This was a 2012 goal that I did attempt, but coordinating with my friend to have her mom teach me hasn't panned out yet and the local November knitting class I signed up for with my mom was canceled, due to low enrollment. :( Better luck next year!
• Embroider something. I've got inspiration, supplies, and a little instruction booklet, but have yet to try it out. I like that this and knitting are both more portable than sewing and could add a little more variety to my handmade projects.
• Focus on quality. I want to really aim for higher quality in the things I make (including finishes/insides of garments) and the supplies I use, as well as the clothing/accessories I purchase, so that they last longer and are nicer to use.
• Sew with knits (and get a serger). I've been saving up for a serger and am determined to sew knits (with, or without the serger) this year. I've even got a copy of Sew U to help me through the learning process and am ready to sew up all kinds of knit tops, dresses, and anything else I can come up with!
• Do more refashions - of things I already own  as well as thrifted pieces - and keep up on my mending.
• Wear more skirts/dresses year-round. I'd like to make this more possible and fill some wardrobe gaps with a few skirts and dresses that can be more casual/everyday & pair well with things I've already got. 
• Participate in Me-Made-May, on some level. I didn't have enough me-made clothes to play along in 2012, but I'm determined to participate this year, whether I have enough or not!

That's all folks! Thanks for sticking with me for the past year (and through this long post!). I have a feeling 2013 is going to be a great one. :)

Top 5 Makes of 2012

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! Thanks for your comments sharing my excitement about my latest completed project - I'll have a full, detailed post coming soon. In the meantime, since I'm playing along with Gillian's Top 5's of 2012, I've rounded up my 5 favorite projects from the year.

Up first are my top tops of the year: my Vintage McCalls 5970 double-knit top with little peter pan collar, and my Simplicity 2154 bow blouse.

These two have been my most-loved, most-fun-to-sew, and most-fun-to-wear tops I've ever made! They're both a little retro, both have collars (my favorite!) and are both definitely comfortable to wear - all things to keep in mind when planning upcoming blouse sewing projects.

My most favorite 3 of my top 5 have to be my party dresses, though. They were so fun to sew, though a bit more time-consuming than the quick & fun tops I just mentioned, and were definitely learning experiences, but have tended to give the biggest bang for my buck/time & effort investment. Each one turned out wearable, flattering even!, and really...special! They don't get worn as often, since they're designed for parties and special occasions, but they're the projects I'm most proud of and feel giddy just thinking about wearing them.

New Look 6910 - more details soon!

My Polka Dot Wedding Guest Dress

My Milly Wedding Guest Dress

It seems that tops and dresses are my favorite things to sew & wear and that doesn't really surprise me. They've always been my favorite things to buy, too.  I'll likely be sewing even more of them in the new year, but am also thinking I should try to FINALLY sew a skirt that I'm at least 90% pleased with, since I've yet to do that. Maybe Sewaholic's new Hollyburn skirt...? We'll just have to wait and see.

The Bad News First...

I'm sure most of you have heard about Gillian's "Top 5" reflection on 2012. She, and any other bloggers who participate, are sharing their top five favorite creations, sewing fails, lessons learned, blogs & bloggers, and goals for the new year. I thought I'd play along, and just to get the bad news out of the way first, I'll share my 5 suckiest sewing fails first!

Up first (these aren't in any real order),  is my swiss dot Colette Violet blouse. It was a great learning experience to make and I enjoyed the process, but the final product just does not flatter and never gets worn. EVER. The entire silhouette is baggy, the neckline is gapey/floppy on me, the armholes are too big? and I didn't space the buttons quite right, so the placket is a little ripply.

You may be surprised to see my Colette Peony on this list, but I've honestly only really worn it twice after I made it. I love the idea of it, and had a (mostly) great time making it, but there are some bulky issues going on in the shoulders and neckline, the waistline isn't in quite hitting in the right place to feel good/flattering (especially without a belt), and it's overall just a little bit too big.

Now, this blouse, I know you're not surprised to see on my list of fails. My "easter egg blouse" was a joy to sew but has never been worn. Mainly due to the huge floppy collar. Like the Violet, I'm glad I sewed it, and learned from it, but it gets NO wear in my wardrobe. If I were to make this blouse pattern again, I'd definitely reduce the shape/size of that massive collar, and not try to use muslin instead of actual interfacing.

This poor, sweet looking little top, has gotten zero wear because it has never been completed! It looks just great on my dress form, but just horrible on me. I was so annoyed upon trying it on after putting the collar on that I took it off, didn't hem it, couldn't figure out how to change the thing to make it fit nicely, and threw it in the closet. It's basically been there ever since. I can't bear to get rid of it because I'm in love with the adorable fabric. Every time I see this photo of it, I think, "hmm... I could probably revisit that and make it work," but each time I've dug it out of the closet, I've failed, and it's gone right back in.

Same goes for my Colette Jasmine blouse. Never hemmed/completed, and never worn. It went straight into the back of the closet, but I don't even dream of salvaging it. I'm OVER it. The collar looks kinda cute, but everything else is wrong. 


The End!


It's kind of therapeutic to reflect on my fails, as negative as it seems. Do you ever go digging through your UFO/fail stash and find yourself reliving memories and getting inspired all over again?

Sewing with Sheets

First off, thanks for your comments on my last post about my plaid skirt. I was a little underwhelmed with the final product when writing that post up and after re-reading it now, I just wanted to thank you guys for being supportive, even when I'm being a bit overly critical of something I've made.

That aside, I have a question for you. Bedsheets - do you ever sew with them?

I personally have always thought it was a great idea to sew with fabric from a sheet, but have yet to try it out. I love that you can pretty much count on (used) sheets always being soft, easy to find, cheap, and available in cute, funky, and eye-catching colors and patters. And, as if that weren't making them tempting enough to sew with, there are MANY cute examples out there of adorable outfits stitched from bedsheets. The two bloggers whose bedsheet makes have really stuck with me are Adey Lim of The Sew Convert, and Cindy of Cation Designs (who hasn't drooled over one of her cute outfits?).

The Conquering My Fears Shirtdress

This cute top above and below is Adey Lim's “Darling Stash” Peter Pan Collar Blouse

This cuff inspired the cuffs on my polka-dotted Peony.

And more dresses from Cation Designs...

Miss Lavender Goes to Hawaii

Anthropologie Knock-Off: Artist's Rendering Dress

That's right - all of these were made from BEDSHEETS!

I'm obviously quite inspired by these ladies' cute makes. So much so, that, when I was at the thrift store today browsing through the linens section where cuts of fabric are sometimes hidden, I made a b-line for this floral sheet. Before I knew it, I'd purchased it and was skipping out the door. $2.50? GIMME!

check out my new sheet!

I really like the autumn-y color scheme of this floral sheet, especially the mustard-yellow shade that's in there! I've been trying to scheme some way for me to wear mustard colored clothing, without having the unflattering hue right next to my face - this fabric could be the ticket! There's a white background and enough other colors going on, that I dont think it would make me look like I have Jaundice. Yay! There's enough fabric here in this sheet for a dress... but I'm kind of leaning towards a blouse.

What do you think?

Dress? Blouse? Skirt? PJ's?

Have you ever sewn clothing with a bedsheet? Pros/cons? Any tips or tricks to keep in mind? I'm dying to know.

My 6-Month Seamless Pledge Recap

On April 1st, I began my 6-month Seamless Pledge.

My initial pledge was this: I'm not going to buy any new, mass produced, RTW clothing for myself. If I need to make additions to my wardrobe for whatever reason, I've got to either buy used/vintage or make it myself! (with the exception of underthings - those I might try my hand at making, but will absolutely not be buying used, so I've given myself leeway to purchase new ones if necessary)

At first it was difficult for me, but I channeled my deep urge to shop into perusing vintage clothing online and in antique stores, as well as modern used stuff at my local Goodwill. This usually resulted in diffusing the craving for shopping, since there's usually less instant gratification in shopping used/vintage, as you've got to sift through things to find what you like and then see if it'll even fit.

After a little while.. maybe a few weeks? I found myself a bit numb to the whole clothing shopping thing in general and had no deep urges to buy. When I saw something cute online or in a shop window, I took a mental note to use it as inspiration for sewing.

I did cheat a few times, but I actually don't really want to call it cheating, because I didn't feel guilty...and I think it made sense to do. I received a few gift cards to clothing stores (modcloth and j crew) for my birthday in July and ended up using them to buy clothing - shock! I took the time, though, to make sure I was purchasing well made things that would get a lot of use in my wardrobe, as opposed to the "frosting" type pieces I'd usually gravitated to. I also allowed myself, without the use/excuse of a gift card, to buy a couple of pairs of jeans (can't sew yet), shoes (can't make, difficult to find used), an athletic/outdoorsey rain jacket (no idea how to sew, couldn't find used), and a few underthings new, rather than used, during my seamless pledge - a slight departure from the specifics of my original pledge, but I always made sure to look at used options first before buying new.

Despite what the fact that I purchased a dress from modcloth (with SEWING-themed fabric) the very moment the pledge ended for me seems to indicate, the pledge really did make difference in my mindset. (Just FYI, though, that dress was made in the USA and is good quality enough to hang out in my wardrobe for years to come, so there's that.)

"Well-Thread Dress" from Modcloth

It might sound like I'm doing a lot of explaining why I didn't completely adhere to the strictness of my initial pledge, but I really did drastically change my habits and got a lot out of this experience. Not only did I really focus on NOT buying fast-fashion, trendy, impulsive, cheap, low-quality pieces, but I also was able to hone in on the things that I already had in my closet.

I took the time to examine EVERYTHING clothing/apparel related that I owned, and only let myself keep things I would wear for REAL. I donated SO MUCH stuff, you guys! Heaps! Mountains of stuff that I'd been holding on to, and that had actually been like subconsciously dragging me down. I'd kind of been ignoring the little twinge of guilt I felt every time I stepped into my closet and tried to come up with something exciting/satisfying to wear, passing over SO many things I'd bought on a whim, liked for a month, then either got over due to the trendiness, or didn't feel comfortable wearing due to the low quality or change in fit.

It sounds a bit dramatic, but it kind of was life-changing for me, someone who has been in LOVE with clothes and shopping for them her entire life, to be not only not shopping, but also ridding myself of all of this closet baggage! I've always been good at purging things from my wardrobe bit-by-bit, after a while, but this was the biggest dumping of items yet, and I feel like the choices I made will impact my daily life. Yeah, it's just clothing, but I feel like I've started to actually build a sensible daily wardrobe that I can rely on for whatever needs/events/occasions life throws my way, and not always feel the need to shop -- it's a bit freeing. The basics have been covered and I'm just trying to fill in a few gaps here and there, with special focus on now trying to only sew things that really make sense for me.

Get ready to see some more separates in my finished projects section in the near future. (My sewjo may be a little bit rusty right now -plaid skirt is still under construction- but I'm getting there!)

Have any of you taken the Seamless Pledge? What changes did it bring about in your life?