sewing patterns

20 Nov Robe de Soirée

Posted at 18:44h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 22 Comments

It has been eighteen days since my last post! Making an evening gown consumed every precious free moment I’ve had – physically, intellectually and emotionally. The ball is in five days and the dress is finished! Up until making this gown I have really enjoyed sewing again, but I put such pressure on myself to make a dress that will match up to the others (including the ones I bought for my daughters) the experience has been stressful, but I persevered. Other than several dyslexic incidents brought about from working on a one-shoulder dress, this Butterick pattern was easy enough and presented no...

24 Oct I must make an evening gown

Posted at 23:07h in clothes, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I was hoping to tackle the more ambitious projects towards the latter part of the year but here I am in the second month faced with a challenge that has brought my momentum to a standstill…………….. an evening gown…….. for a ball……….. the day after Thanksgiving……… h e l p . I would have considered an exception to my year of no shopping but both of my daughters are going and you guessed it…………. they need new gowns too. I’ll buy their dresses and make mine - something is wrong with this picture. The last time the entire family went to...

30 Sep Ruffles!

Posted at 12:41h in clothes, clothing designers, DIY Clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, shopping by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I’m ending the first month of my one year promise to make and not buy clothes with ruffles! Around a year ago I saw these beautiful tops on the LaRoque website. When I recently discovered this Simplicity pattern I thought I had a close match and decided to put my newly learned Cal Patch skills to work. I spent $9.00 on this pattern solely for the neckline and the ruffle – definitely a worthwhile investment. I’ve...

27 Sep Simplicity

Posted at 15:53h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, shopping, skirt pattern by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I’ve was so busy assembling the 24 pieces of this skirt that I barely had time to glance at the Kate Spade 1 Day only 75% off online sale. Making this skirt saved me hundreds of dollars in that respect alone. The skirt is fine and it does fit but it doesn’t have much pizzazz. I was tempted by the Amazing Fit title and ordered it some time ago. I found this beautiful woven silk at Mary Jo’s last week and thought...

23 Sep To Share or Not To Share?

Posted at 12:07h in clothes, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, shopping by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I haven’t told my family about my blog yet for lots of reasons. I know if my daughters learn I’m sewing my own clothes this year they will think I should spend all of the money I’m saving on them – specifically clothes. I realize I’ve helped create this shopping mindset and I’m constantly thinking about how to change it. Secondly, my immediate family will tell me there is no way I can go a year without buying clothes and will offer hypothetical situations for me to consider that I don’t want to think about. They will also tell me I don't...

20 Sep Second Peasant Top

Posted at 22:31h in clothes, clothing designers, Fashion Sewing, New Look Sewing Patterns, sewing patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I’m not really sure I would call this a Peasant Top, and it’s nothing like what I was expecting from this New Look pattern. While visiting family last weekend I heard a wonderful sermon at Seven Lakes Chapel in the Pines. It was about ‘no whining’. Because that sermon is still fresh on my mind, I will not subject anyone to the ugly details involved in making this top. Let’s just say this is the last “Peasant Top” I’m making for a while and it’s hardly the Milly I had in mind. Since the top is not as full I had planned, I...

18 Sep Obsessions

Posted at 15:02h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, New Look Sewing Patterns, sewing patterns, shopping, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Hmmmm…….. I’m feeling divided. My goal is to make clothes and not buy clothes for one year. Through my self imposed challenge which will save me lots and lots of money, improve my sewing skills and give me a new sense of accomplishment, I’ve become more obsessed about clothes than I’ve ever been before. This obsession isn’t what I was expecting but here I am. I remind myself that I’ve got enough clothes for a year even if I don’t make anything! This challenge isn’t about seeing how many clothes I can make in a year but to remove myself from the endless...

15 Sep The Top of Many Lessons

Posted at 00:56h in clothes, clothing designers, DIY Clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, New Look Sewing Patterns, sewing patterns by goodbyevalentino 3 Comments

Oh my goodness. I thought this would be sooooo simple – loose fitting, no zippers, darts or buttonholes. My first Peasant Top. I know it's not the Milly top I posted, but I like it. My mother gave me the silk over 10 years ago, and I used a New Look pattern which I bought last year but never made. The Lessons………. From Cal Patch – measure and make a “muslin” for fitting purposes. I’m so glad I did this because I did make some simple fitting alterations such as adding two inches to the length From the muslin I decided to use elastic with...

10 Sep CAL PATCH

Posted at 12:21h in clothes, DIY Clothes, sewing patterns by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I just received my copy of Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch and realized the first thing I had to do was take my measurements…. E x c r u c i a t i n g is all I’ve got to say. Now that I’m finished I’m enjoying the book and really appreciate the easy to understand instructions. Thank you Cal Patch! I’m not sure what I’ll try first but I’m ready to make clothes that fit well. I’d love to know if anyone has sewn from this book....