Mother of the Bride - Jacket Progress

Hello again,

I just wanted to post a few pictures of the MOB jacket, and its inner workings.

View of the jacket's seam lines.

The pattern instructions to create the double welt pocket were AWFUL!!  Despite my best efforts, the welts kept coming out uneven...

 ...so I had to utilize a completely different technique using fusible interfacing to first create the pocket opening on the jacket front, and then construct the pocket behind the opening using all of the pocket's components.  This worked out much better.

I zig-zagged the welts so it functioned as one piece during construction.
Camouflaging the visible interfacing in the corners and removing this stitching will be the final
"finishing touch" once the jacket is completed.

  

The two-piece sleeve's seamline perfectly meets the jacekt's seamline...love it!! 

Jacket front view.

Time to construct the jacket's lining.

  

Be blessed!!

Aisha





Projects in the Queue

I'm still working on Vickie's suit and making great progress.  I'll post pictures tomorrow.  But, I already know the next project I'm working on...Vogue 2891.

My daughter is accompanying her boyfriend to his senior prom and this is the dress she selected.  It's very nice, but I think the back dips just a little too low for me, so I'll be making a slight modification.  Since this pattern is OPP, I've purchased it from a private seller on eBay.  With postage, it only cost me about $13, versus the $27.50 price of ordering directly from Vogue.

I've also been asked to make a bridal veil for a co-worker...more details to come on that.  I'm so looking forward to working on these projects.  More to come...

Be blessed!!

Aisha

Mother of the Bride - Skirt Progress

Hello All,

Just an update on how Vickie's suit is progressing.  For the most part, the skirt is complete.  I just need to close the lining's back seam, and hem both the skirt and lining.  I love the details on the skirt, which are all in its construction.  None of this will be visible when Vickie wears the outfit for her daughter's wedding, so I thought I'd share some of them now.  I LOVE when a garment is as beautiful on the inside as outside.


Skirt front view - still needs pressing and hemming.

Inserted an invisible zipper in the skirt's center back.

View of the skirt facing...

...which is free from the skirt lining.  I love how this facing looks.

Front view of skirt facing.

Back view of the facing and zipper.  The lining still needs to be attached, but
I'm waiting for a final fitting before I close it.

And, of course, my sewing companion doing what he does best!!

I notice my camera does no justice to the lining's color.  It is a beautiful Robins Egg Blue, which is Tiffanny's signature color.  The combination of brown and blue is gorgeous.  Until next time...

Be blessed!!

Aisha

Linen Skirt Finished...FINALLY!!

Good Day Everyone,

So, I admit that I'm not the most dedicated blogger out there.  Of those that I follow, I find myself wondering how the authors are able to publish so many posts and updates and still live a life away from the blogosphere.  I also admit that, while I LOVE sewing, I sometimes find it difficult to nurture this love by working on (and completing) new projects - especially ones intended for me, which often get pushed aside for the sake of completing projects for others.

You may recall a post I published last May that I wanted to make a black linen skirt from Butterick 5966.  I cut the skirt out last year, but as Spring slipped into Summer, and then Fall, I decided to postpone its construction.  Two weeks ago, I started putting in sewing time on my skirt while working on Vickie's muslins, and I'm proud to say I finally completed it!

I love when a garment looks good inside as well as out, so I really focused on the construction details.  For instance, the skirt was designed to be unlined, but I added a lining to make it easier to wear and extend its life.  I also tapered the sides for a more flattering silhouette.  I must admit, it fits me perfectly.



The skirt is hugging Momma's curves!!  No bunching at the waistline.

So, now I have to work on the accompanying top...maybe that will be done by Spring 2013... ;-)

Be blessed!!

Aisha

Mother of the Bride Muslin Test

Hello All,

I know it's been a "minute", but I wanted to give you an update on my March 31st post.  I made the pattern adjustments to Vogue 2607, constructed muslins of the jacket and skirt and was able to test fit them with Vickie today.  I totally zoned out and forgot to take pictures of her wearing the muslins, but - great news - everything fit very well.



Muslin jacket.

Muslin skirt, with front hemline style adjustment.

Other than the style adjustments Vickie requested, I only have to make a minor adjustment to the skirt waist and the jacket's sleeve width.

Skirt waist needs to be taken in about 5/8-inch on either side.

Jacket sleeve needs to be taken in about 1/2-inch.

Making the skirt waistline adjustment will be easy, but I had to put thought into removing the excess sleeve width.  Considering I made an ease adjustment to the sleeve pattern pieces, I think I'm going to use the original Under Sleeve with the adjusted Upper Sleeve.  This should remove the excess fabric without creating problems with fitting the sleeve in the jacket's armhole.



Adjusted sleeve pattern pieces.

So, next steps are to cut the pattern in the brown satin, and get a lining fabric which closely matches the Tiffany-blue accent color.  My thought is to line the jacket and skirt in the accent color, which you'll be able to see behind the skirt's front hemline.  It's gonna be hot!!

:-)  I'll keep you posted.

Be blessed!!

Aisha

Mother of the Bride

It's been a while since my last post.  My work schedule and activities in my personal life have kept me very busy, however, I can always make time for a new project.  My good friend, Vickie, has commissioned me to make her "Mother of the Bride" dress for her daughter's June wedding.  After much searching, she's settled on Vogue 2607.  This is a Guy Laroche design, which I find very elegent.

From our conversations, I've learned that she likes a slight train on her skirt backs, and a "lift" on the skirt front to make walking easier - and show off the hot shoes - so I believe we may be making these modification in the design.  Also, she'd prefer three-quarter length sleeves.

The wedding colors are chocolate and blue (like Tiffany's signature color), so Vickie selected this brown satin for the jacket and skirt.  My initial thought was the fabric's weight is too light for the jacket, but after handling the full cut of the fabric and reviewing the pattern instructions, I believe the choice will work just fine.

I'm making adjustments to the individual pattern pieces to accommodate her measurements, and will make a muslin of the jacket and skirt to verify the fit before cutting into the fashion fabric.  I will post updates on my progress.

Be blessed!!

Aisha

It's Official...

...my favorite new pattern is Vogue 1296!  I simply love this top's pleated collar and the skirt's godet.








Hey, do you remember when I wrote about the "Dare to Flare" article in January Vouge magazine?  I just realized this top includes that peplum design which is supposed to be hot this spring.  Even more reason to love this pattern!!

(Side note - my daughter has a theory on why peplums are coming back; girls realized that being "skinny" is over-rated and started eating again, but then realized they got a little extra cushion around the middle.  So, the peplum covers up the muffin-top!  Hmm...interesting theory.)   






Excuse me, but, ummm... I have to go to.  Gotta confirm when JoAnn is having their next $3.99 Vogue pattern sale.

Be blessed!!

Aisha



P.S.  Oh noooooo!!  The Vogue sale ends tomorrow!!!  So much for that 15-hour hibernation I had planned for Saturday.

Sick Days

I picked up some "bug" which has caused me to stay home for 2 days now.  I won't go into gory details about it, but suffice it to say I'm feeling pretty bad.  Hopefully, I'll be able to return to work tomorrow.  Believe me - I'd rather be at work than home sick any day!!

In between popping Motrin like peanuts and NyQuil-induced naps, I went online and discovered some interesting sewing-related blogs that I'd like to follow.  Here are the ones I've added to my homepage.  Enjoy!

• Sewaholic
• A Dress a Day
• Diary of a Sewing Fanatic
• Hungry Zombie Couture
• Amanda's Adventures in Sewing

Also, the eBay merchant from whom I purchased the wrong-sized Vogue 8305 agreed to swap patterns with me.  I mailed back the original pattern last week, and should expect the replacement soon.  Thank you, Debbie, for being so understanding.  I really, really appreciate it!!

Be blessed!!

Aisha

Marc Bouwer Inspiration

I'm a little behind in my TV watching, but I finally saw Monday's "Wendy Williams Show" and I absolutely LOOOOOVED the Marc Bouwer dress she wore, particularly the blouson sleeves.  Now, here's another current style which reminds me of an earlier era - particularly the early 1970s.  Although I was a very, very young child, I remember the "puff" sleeves which were extremely popular at the time.

(Dress details)

So, I've added this to my sewing "Wish List" and am on the search for a pattern that can be easily modified to replicate this dress.  I did see a couple of "costume" patterns which may fit the bill.  Anyway...

Be blessed!!

Aisha

What a Dunderhead!

I really, really dislike making mistakes, and it seems to me that I'm prone to making them when I don't pay attention and simply READ!!  I recently took a business trip to Houston for training, and while the information I learned was extremely helpful and everyone in class was wonderful to work with, I encountered issues making my travel arrangements simply because I didn't read the instructions provided to me prior to the training.  You'd think my lesson was learned, right?

I finally received my Vogue 8305 pattern in the mail - YAAAAAY!! - but then I noticed the pattern I purchased is too big - AAAAAW!  I just sent a message to the eBay seller to find out if we can do an exchange.  I hope she's agreeable, because I'm really looking forward to making this dress.  If she says no, then I'll simply have to channel Tim Gunn and "make it work"!

I'll keep you posted.

Be blessed!!

Aisha