sewing skirts Tag

12 Jul McCalls 3830

I recently bought the August – September issue of Vogue Patterns magazine. When sewing blogger Robin Denning announced her new position as Editor of the magazine I immediately renewed my lapsed subscription, however, after catching a glimpse of pages 76 - 83, I wasn’t willing to wait for it to arrive and bought a copy.  This issue provided me with instant inspiration along with a solution to a four-month dilemma! In March I ordered this fabric based on the jpeg below.   H e l l o………..   “Too bold.” I said. “Too bright……too big……..too much…..” The 7 magazine pages filled with big bold stripes changed my...

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08 May Gilding the LILLY

If ever there was a dress that did not need to be remade it was this one; a Lilly Pulitzer sundress, circa 2003. I bought this cute dress for my older daughter when she was in high school. I’ve always loved it but she left it behind several years ago. I understand. Twenty-somethings don't want to wear 10- year old dresses, nor did I at that age. The dress isn’t my style or size, but I didn’t want to give it away. I decided a remake was in order, so I picked up my seam ripper and watched Diana Rupp’s Sewing Studio skirt tutorial...

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02 May McCalls 3830 + Craftsy Class

Since the last post my sewing took a domestic turn in the form of window treatments for my daughter’s new apartment in Charleston. My husband and I drove down to check out her new home and help her settle in. I sewed, she pressed, he hung; a comical scene since our family isn’t exactly handy. Thirty-six hours later we congratulated ourselves on a job well done and headed for Edisto Beach. Shortly before leaving for Charleston, I decided to enroll in a much-needed sewing course.  For months, maybe years, I’ve been looking for the perfect skirt pattern. I finally concluded the only...

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08 Feb WORTH IT

Four years ago I bought this skirt at a Worth trunk show. Worth is one of my favorite clothing lines, but the clothes are expensive and I consider my Worth purchases to be very  special. At the show I tried on a sample several sizes larger than what I usually wear.  After the Worth representative carefully adjusted the skirt to my body with clothespins, I pictured myself wearing this beautiful silk skirt everywhere and bought it. I   n e v e r   w o r e   t h i s   s k i r t. When the skirt arrived...

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07 Dec Tis the Season to Wear Red

Ah… D e c e m b e r !  If you’re a woman it’s stressful -  period. So busy was I making the evening gown last month, that I gave zero thought to holiday apparel. Hoping to find time to make something…. anything……. to add a little splash to my ho – hum  holiday wardrobe, I stopped by Mary Jo’s last weekend while traveling. I bought the brightest red I could find in the store. Then I bought this pattern. Last month I became intrigued with the Badgley Mischka evening gowns and the designer name caught my eye. What I really like is...

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26 Oct BASICS is not a dirty word

Now, I know there is nothing unique about this skirt, and I took dozens of pics trying to capture its special qualities. There are none. What is special, is that I found a skirt pattern that fits well, as well as one that I really like! I suppose if one sews long enough, one will have a collection of go-to patterns. I now have three but this is the only one I have not altered in any fashion, and the fit truly resembles the Simplicity pattern photo, although I omitted the front pockets. As a person committed to sewing my own clothes...

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17 Oct Talbots & Kate Spade

If I like Kate Spade so much, then why is my wardrobe brimming with clothes from Talbots?   [caption id="attachment_284" align="aligncenter" width="127"] I love Kate Spade's color combinations![/caption]   I’ve been in a wardrobe rut for a while. My mother worked at Talbots until she earned a lifetime 40% discount, hence many of my clothes are from Talbots.  I’ve been in such a Talbots rut that I have bought things on my own without the 40% discount. It’s easy…. the sizes are reliable… and of course, they are good old basics which have added up to a predictable and unexciting wardrobe.   I’m not knocking...

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09 Oct Sevier Skirts Party

One of the determining factors to give up buying clothes for a year came after my daughter and I attended a Sevier Skirts trunk show at a friend’s home. Let me begin by saying the woman who started this company is brilliant… Several years ago, one of my best friends suggested she and I start a skirt company. Her ideas were general and I couldn’t envision how to develop a successful skirt business so we moved on. Then I attended a Sevier Skirt Party in August. Sevier Skirts offer customers the choice of three styles of skirts; pencil, a-line and swing, along with...

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27 Sep Simplicity

                                            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...

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