sewing clothes

16 Aug Sewing For a Postulant

Posted at 06:22h in sewing clothes, Sewing Skirts, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 67 Comments

At the request of many readers, I am writing a post about my recent sewing project. My neighbors' 30-year old daughter, the oldest of seven children, is an Air Force Academy graduate. She completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan while on active duty before settling in Columbia, SC as an engineer. In March she made the decision to pursue the religious life and is joining the Dominican Sisters of Mary in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her parents paid me a visit shortly after her decision to ask if I would sew the official clothes Katie would wear during her postulant year. The clothes include 2 white aprons, 2 blue aprons,...

02 Nov Marcy Tilton Interview & Giveaway!

Posted at 12:24h in clothing designers, Ready to Wear Fast, sewing clothes, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 548 Comments

A Marcy Tilton interview and giveaway? It's true! Get yourself a cup of coffee or beverage of choice, sit back and enjoy! _______________________ I am so pleased to announce the utterly creative Vogue Patterns designer, Marcy Tilton is kicking off my series of interviews with leaders in the sewing industry. When I think about how I'd live my life differently if given the chance, I'd certainly be more adventurous like Marcy Tilton, who in the mid 70's, with a group of friends, drove from Denmark to Kenya. When her clothes began to wear out she bought wonderful cotton fabrics from the markets and made herself...

02 Jul J McLaughlin Refashion

Posted at 07:54h in Ready to Wear Fast, Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014, Refashioning Clothes, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

The RTW Fasters and I are halfway through our pledge to abstain from buying ready-to-wear clothes during 2014! Lots of the women are knocking it out of the ballpark sewing incredible clothes too. I've found reaching the halfway point serves as a great incentive in achieving nearly every goal I've set out to accomplish, and I celebrated the six-month marker by cleaning out my closet. :) While I've questioned the wisdom about going on the RTW Fast during the same year of my child's wedding, the closet exercise proved my decision sound. Closet organization generates a different type of creative pleasure for me. I do not...

15 Jun Dare to Wear

Posted at 22:37h in Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014, Ribbon Skirt, sewing clothes by goodbyevalentino 143 Comments

When I started sewing again in August 2011, I vowed to wear my clothes in public. I’ve been true to my word with two exceptions - here and here. While a job well done should be reason enough to do one’s best, knowing that others will see (and judge) my clothes is one of the incentives to get it right. Hubby and I spent the weekend in Charleston, SC, where my daughter and her fiancé were honored with a party hosted by friends of the groom’s parents. I packed a Me-Made suitcase and hoped for the best. Clockwise from the top left: The...

10 Nov The Shanel SUIT

Posted at 11:49h in Mood Fabrics, sewing clothes, Sewing Skirts, Simplicity Patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 165 Comments

I always thought I wanted to be cremated, but now I’m not so sure. I mean, now that I’ve got something to wear………. At last, I have completed the coordinating skirt to my Shanel Jacket, which means I have a brand new suit! Goodness, I never wear suits, but I’m going to start, and pray I am lucky enough to wear this one out before it’s time to go. ;) ________________ Over the last 26 months I’ve sewn many skirt patterns and deemed Simplicity 3648 worthy of sewing the last yard of the lofty Chanel tweed. I so wish the camera could capture the beautiful metallic thread...

28 Aug Butterick 5917 – The Un-Preppy Version

Posted at 18:38h in Butterick Patterns, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Sewing Dresses by goodbyevalentino 108 Comments

After all of my carrying on about colorful clothes, I’m back in black. I enjoyed sewing Butterick 5917 so much I had my second version planned before finishing the madras patchwork version (blogged here), and I’m tempted to make it again! I envisioned this pattern as a black dress from the beginning and used a black textured French polyester/cotton taffeta from Tessuti. The fabric certainly highlights the dressier details of the pattern and gives the dress a more structured appearance. I believe this is the fabric featured in the most recent Tessuti contest for a knee-length formal dress, but I think the...

07 Aug Happiness is …….

Posted at 09:22h in Butterick Patterns, Ruffles, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I don’t know what makes me the happiest right now…… … the top I made, the pants I bought, or being back at Edisto Beach where I can eat fresh shrimp, silver queen corn and home-grown tomatoes until my heart’s content. Greetings from George and Pink, a hot spot on the campaign trail for South Carolina politicians, and the finest produce market on the planet in my humble opinion. I was once hesitant about shopping at the dirt floor market amongst the chickens and goats that roam the property, but once I quit worrying about getting my clothes dirty, the quality of our...

01 Aug Gettin’ My Preppy On

Posted at 09:28h in Butterick Patterns, Mood Fabrics, Ruffles, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Madras, anyone? Finding this multicolored cotton patchwork on the Mood Fabrics website was almost as refreshing as a dip in the pool! I looked forward to putting a feminine twist on this classic preppy fabric and paired it with Butterick’s dress pattern 5917. Perhaps I’m a child at heart loving those madras children’s clothes filled with ruffles, but I thought this pattern had just the right feminine touch without the fussiness for the busy fabric. Actually, I’ve seen lots of RTW seersucker dresses sewn in this style. Since there was only one review on the Pattern Review website I wasn’t sure what to expect,...

17 Jun Superfly!

Posted at 22:37h in sewing blog, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 83 Comments

“You look like you’re still on vacation!” I know – I’m just in denial. My vacation was a blast. If this Superfly fabric by Sis Boom doesn’t make me feel like I’m still on vacation then nothing will! I only wish I had made this easy summer dress before I went on vacation rather than after :) Shall I blame it on Tia Dia of Mezzo Couture? Her recent Vogue 2864 dress was exactly the pattern I wanted to try- a relatively fitted empire waist shift. I ordered the OOP pattern from Etsy before I finished reading her post, and it was waiting...

04 Jun It’s June Too Soon!

Posted at 21:52h in sewing bloggers, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 55 Comments

Dear Readers, The conclusion of Me-Made-May '13 was over four days ago, however, my Me-Made-May '13 page fizzled out shortly after mid-month ...