sewing Tag

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...

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...

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...

07 Jul One $ Wonder(ful)

Posted at 14:44h in Refashioning Clothes by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

My mother gave me this dress some time ago. She bought it for $1.00 at a thrift store and thought the dress might look cute if I hemmed it. O k a y y y y y … I thought it had potential, but a little hem seemed like just the beginning, or perhaps the grand finale. The fit was acceptable in bust but was too big elsewhere. After releasing a few stitches of the bust lining, I was able to adjust the bodice. Following the stitching lines I removed two inches from the upper bodice through the hips. I then tapered the lower...

11 Jun Style Arc Lexley Blouse

Posted at 17:15h in Mood Fabrics, Ruffles, sewing blog, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops, Style Arc Patterns, Tunic, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

“Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” Richard and Karen Carpenter Not really………………… I have been out-of-town for nearly two weeks and came home inspired by the beautiful tunics I saw on women of all ages ……. on the beach, on the streets, in restaurants and concerts. Upon returning home, I headed directly to the sewing machine and finished this tunic just in time for heavy downpours on this dreary Monday afternoon. Earlier this spring I placed my second order from Style Arc which included the Lexley Blouse and Dress. I experienced a setback upon receiving the pattern when I realized the ruffles are intentionally...

19 Feb Austerity or Abundance?

Posted at 08:34h in clothes, sewing blogs by goodbyevalentino 25 Comments

I was at a social gathering over the weekend wearing my Red Ruffle Dress when a friend made reference to my year of "austerity". Now, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but I thought this was an interesting choice of words for I’ve felt anything but austere. Based on some of the definitions and synonyms for austerity and austere, I suppose the word can be applied to my abstention from buying ready-to-wear clothing for a year. AUSTERITY 1. Economy measure 2. Severity or plainness 3. Enforced thrift AUSTERE 1. Suggesting physical hardship 2. Unsmiling 3. Plain and without luxury 4. Plain in style or design Sewing clothes rather than buying clothing...

24 Jan The Latest

Posted at 21:19h in McCall's Sewing Pattern, sewing blog, sewing blogs, sewing patterns, Sewing Tops, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 28 Comments

One top costs $150.00 and the other is $29.99. Why is that? In March of 2011 I bought the blue and white top at J. McLaughlin in Charleston, SC. I thought $150.00 was expensive for a spandex top, but the sales clerk explained to me it was made of fine French swimsuit fabric, and somehow I justified my purchase. I love the top and have worn it repeatedly since I bought it. This McCall’s pattern reminded me of my J McLaughlin top, and I anticipated replicating it. I bought fine Korean swimsuit fabric – seriously, it...

14 Jan MISSON(I) ACCOMPLISHED

Posted at 07:20h in clothing designers, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 19 Comments

It’s done. I love it, and I’m glad it’s over. My Missonish fabric has become a dress! It was one of those sewing projects that didn’t come together until the very end…. as in when I basted the hem in place. I glanced over nearly 100 reviews of this very popular Very Easy Vogue 8379 pattern on the Pattern Review website before retrieving it from my pattern stash. One promise I made to myself during this 365 day challenge is that I will not be in a hurry when I sew, and I dutifully made a muslin of the top before I cut the fabric...

10 Jan Skinny!

Posted at 13:12h in Refashioning Clothes by goodbyevalentino 10 Comments

This morning I cut out the paper pattern pieces for my next project, a dress using a Missoni knit I found at Mood Fabrics...