sewing clothes

08 Mar Anchors Away

Posted at 12:18h in McCall's Sewing Pattern, Mood Fabrics, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 105 Comments

“I don't really know how to do casual clothes.” Oscar de la Renta I don’t know how to sew casual clothes - the kind of knock around frocks you wear on the weekend - but I’m going to learn. I believe the art of making a simple garment requires an underestimated level of sophistication that I’ve yet to acquire. How does one Avoid the discount department store look? Address excessive ease in loose-fitting patterns? Achieve a finished appearance despite a lack of construction details? What is Eileen Fisher’s secret? I gave myself the assignment to sew a very casual top - one I would wear on a...

28 Oct Lucky 13

Posted at 21:26h in Ready to Wear Fast, sewing blog, sewing blogs, sewing clothes by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Maybe it’s just my love of Halloween surfacing, but I often believe the number 13 gets a bad rap. Today I added the 13th committed person to the RTW Fasters’ page and decided it was time for an update. These 13 women represent a diverse geographic area including three countries and several states scattered from Florida to California. They have been communicating about topics important to them as they sew themselves away from the retail madness, but more importantly they are sewing beautiful clothes. Linda, living in a warm climate resists the t-shirts and crops scene, and recently completed this crisp periwinkle...

25 Oct From Grim to Grinning

Posted at 07:08h in Mood Fabrics, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Sewing Dresses, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 59 Comments

What are your plans for All Hallows Eve? After wearing a ratty black cloak for 600 years, I was in the Mood for a makeover. How do you like it? Since I’m on call 24/7 , I need a dress perfect for morning, noon or night. Late one evening I walked through the walls of Mood Fabrics and found this gorgeous Italian wool double-knit. It was quite the bargain requiring only 1 ½ yards of fabric. After so many positive reviews on the Pattern Review website I put down the scythe, bought this Vogue pattern and made the dress in one day! [caption id="attachment_2047" align="aligncenter" width="270"]...

11 Oct Tunic Time!

Posted at 11:01h in Mood Fabrics, sewing clothes, silk, Tunic by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

If my favorite garments were ranked by how much wear they receive, this one would get the Blue Ribbon, the Silver Cup AND the Gold Medal.Now I get to see if my most recent tunic dress will earn its place on my list of favorites. Practicalities occasionally escape my aesthetic sensibilities, and I made the casual dress out of a silk charmeuse I bought at Mood Fabrics during my first, but hopefully not last trip to Mood in December 2011. [caption id="attachment_1910" align="aligncenter" width="284"] Butterick 5415[/caption] The easy structure, whimsical nature and versatility of many tunics continue to intrigue me. The trickiest part...

18 Sep Goodbye Valentino & Mood

Posted at 07:29h in Mood Fabrics, sewing blog, sewing clothes, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 92 Comments

I just returned from a wonderful two-week vacation and, WOW, do I have news to share….!!!!!!! Yesterday Mood Fabrics launched its Sewing Network and guess what? To say I was surprised when Mood Fabrics invited me to be part of its new sewing network is an understatement. W a s I i n t e r e s t e d ? Mood Fabrics, the splendid fabric store in the heart of NYC’s garment district featured in Project Runway wanted M E to help launch its new sewing network? Seriously?? As one of nine bloggers in the US, I receive a monthly fabric allowance from Mood...

31 Aug Celebration Time

Posted at 07:23h in Butterick Patterns, McCall's Sewing Pattern, Mood Fabrics, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, silk by goodbyevalentino 187 Comments

On August 31, 2011 I turned over a new leaf :) I gave up buying Ready-to-Wear clothing for one year and vowed to make my clothes instead. Today I’m celebrating because I not only set out to do what I intended, but I completed an experience that brought me great pleasure and satisfaction. I must have needed a challenge! I was spending huge amounts of money on clothes and was constantly shopping. I bought way too many clothes that looked alike, and had entirely too many clothes that were barely worn. One day I snapped, gave up shopping, began sewing my clothes and started a...

22 Aug “It Ain’t Me, Babe” B5567

Posted at 13:27h in Butterick Patterns, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Sewing Jackets, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 98 Comments

“This jacket just isn’t you,” commented my honest husband. “Shut up and eat your damn cake,” said I. _____________________________________________________ Years ago while dining at a very nice restaurant, my husband and I observed a drunk man tell his nagging wife to shut up and eat her damn cake in front of a table full of guests. It’s been one of our little jokes ever since……… It’s quite discouraging to spend three days sewing only to be disappointed with a mediocre result, but my husband is right – this jacket isn’t me. I believe the giant ric-rac just made it worse too. Would you believe I...

16 Aug New Look 6097 + Mood Silk Jersey

Posted at 18:08h in Mood Fabrics, New Look Sewing Patterns, sewing blog, sewing clothes, silk by goodbyevalentino 87 Comments

Until today I owned one silk jersey dress. I bought a Diane von Furstenberg silk jersey wrap dress in 2007 for which I paid $300.00. Since I've been sewing my clothes during the last 11 and a half months instead of buying ready-to-wear, I can hardly believe I spent so much money on a simple dress. Sunday, I returned home from the beach to two and a half yards of this beautiful black and cream silk jersey I ordered from Mood Fabrics. The pen and ink design reminded me of an etching from the Bloomsbury artists’ era; a period that has fascinated me for years. However,...

10 Aug Kwik Sew 2498

Posted at 00:02h in Amy Butler, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I hear many people saying they can’t believe summer is almost over. My youngest child graduated from college last spring, and I no longer follow a school calendar. Immersed in summer type activities for the next six weeks, I am in summer mode and that includes sewing! Recently, Irene made several tops from this Kwik Sew pattern inspiring me to give it a try.Determined to challenge myself during the past year, I chose more complicated patterns to sew, but adding five more buttonholes to my repertoire immediately qualified the pattern!Though there’s not much to it, I really like several pattern details...

15 Jul 68 Garments and 8 Pairs of Shoes

Posted at 08:47h in sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 46 Comments

I recently read an interview on The Pattern Review website with Elizabeth Cline, the author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. I have not read the book, though I plan to. Eventually ending up on Elizabeth’s blog I learned Americans buy 20.5 billion garments a year or 68 garments and 8 pairs of shoes per person. S e r i o u s l y ? I have been sewing rather maniacally this year making all of my clothes and let’s see……. just how many items have I made during the last 10 and a half months? 15 skirts, 15 dresses, 20 tops, and 7 pants which...