Most of my time was spent on my blouse, the Archer by Grainline Patterns.  I love this pattern and I've already got a plaid cotton from Mood on standby for another version.  I followed Jen's sew along and it is super helpful.  I'm super happy with how my first version has turned out.  For my next version I think I will add some sleeve tabs since my sleeves are always worn rolled up.

For my vest I used New Look 6914, version B. This was a fairly easy pattern however I got totally stuck on how to attach the lining.  I was running out of time and after having a serious love affair with my seam ripper I had to let him go, I just didn't have time for him anymore.  After many tears and swear words I sat that bad boy down and put the lining in my own way.

This was one of the hardest challenges for me.  A week to make a two piece garment isn't near enough for a perfectionist like me.  I say that as I squeezed out three pieces!  I'm happy to say I have a wearable outfit for the office.  I will make all three of these patterns again and will be happy to be able to spend more time getting the correct fit.  I've already seen some of the other contestants outfits and once again I'm blown away.  Super talented peeps! I hope mine is good enough to get me into the next round!

Peg, when you ask you shall receive! My fabrics for Week 3...

(this is totally and educated guess on fabric content here)

Hello everyone! My week has been filled with a lot of sewing. I made it into the second round of the Fabric Mart Fabricista challenge. A big thank you to everyone who voted for me! Here are the rules for our second challenge: 

Using the pattern that we have selected for you, create a unique garment that reflects your personality. You can alter the pattern or add to the patterns to make it more you. Think of one or two words that describe you to inspire your look. You will be judged on creativity, craftsmanship, fit, how well represented your description words are in your design, and difficulty. 

The pattern...

I wanted this dress to reflect my love for vintage and my fun/playful side.  I don't always sew vintage because it doesn't always fit my lifestyle.  Most of my clothing is office professional looks (suits and blouses) and home lazy looks (sweat pants and tees).  I love retro prints and when I seen this cotton print I was instantly in love.  Joann Fabric was no longer carrying it in my area so one of my favorite bloggers, the lovely Rochelle of Lucky Lucille offered to pick up a couple yards for me from her Joann's.  So sweet of her. Thanks again Rochelle, xo!  

 

  

I have never worked with Salme patterns before so here are a few things to consider.  This pattern has no seam allowances.  Ugh I know!  I used my tracing paper and tracing wheel to add a 5/8 seam allowance to the pattern.  I also found the instructions rather vague and hard to understand.  If it hadn't been for me already making the Colette Macaron and being familiar with this type of style I would of been totally lost.  It's all the little details in a pattern that makes all the difference such as instructions how to assemble your darts and which way to press your seams and detailed illustrations.  Once I got my bodice pieces attached to my yoke pieces I never gave the instructions a second look until I decided I wanted to confuse myself again.  I attempted to follow the instructions on how to apply the bias tape to the armholes and neckline.  I found Amanda's tutorial here more helpful.  I always refer back to this tutorial when I'm applying bias tape. Lots of pictures is what I need!

I made the red bow belt to add some fun to the dress.   Follow Tilly's tutorial here, it's super easy and so fun to make.  I'd like one in every color!

It was so windy out I decided to come in and take some pictures in my sewing room.

I used a french seam on the shoulder seams, bias tape for the yoke seams, armholes and neckline and serged my side seams. The hem is finished with a hand slipstich.

Oh the suspense has been killing me! I've been dying to see what the other contestants did for the Recycle challenge.  The voting period is now open so go here to vote for your favorite refashion.  So many amazing entries my mind is blown!!  Voting ends at midnight on Wednesday.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my project.  I surely hope its good enough to get into the next round. There is some stiff competition to beat!

If you didn't get a chance to read about it you can find my post here.

Well week one of the Fabricista Fabric Challenge went by in a blur.  This challenge was to recycle.  You all know I enjoy a good thriftstore recycle so this challenge was right up my alley.  Here are the offical rules:.

The only thing this shirt has going for it is the polka dots.  To make it more fashion forward I cut a high-low hem, aka: mullet hem and cut out the shoulders.  I also altered the size by taking it in 2 inches on each side.  I replaced the boring buttons with some white rose buttons and I trimmed the shoulder cut outs with some lace trim from my stash.

My jeans were also thrifted.  I added heart patches to give them some personality.  I love refashioning so I thought the hearts were the perfect thing for this outfit.  I simply cut out the hearts, patched them with red scrap fabric and used embroidery thread to attach. 

I wanted to do a head to toe recycle so my shoes are also recycled from an old pair of flip flops that were literally days away from meeting the trash can.  I replaced the straps with an old white cardigan that was in a donation bag on it's way to the Goodwill and some o-rings that I found in my junk stash. 

I just started learning how to crochet again.  I use to crochet several years ago. Nothing major just easy scarves but I decided I wanted to take it up again and maybe crochet me a hat or sweater or something.  This belt is just a single chain stitch, the only stitch I ever knew so I'm hoping to eventually add to it and learn more stitches.  I've definitely got the basic stitch down pat now after making this belt.  My buckle was from my junk stash from an old belt I had that fell apart...  Yes I never throw away anything!

The other recycled accessories in this outfit are a fabric scrap necklace, fabric scrap flower ring, earrings made using the old buttons from this shirt and my favorite...a fabric scrap bracelet made out of pop tabs!

I really like how my outfit turned out. I have to be honest, about halfway through I was having major doubts. I feared Saturday evening would roll around to me frantically trying to rethink my whole strategy and come up with a whole new outfit but after trying everything on for the first time and seeing how it all tied together my doubts were quickly squashed.

This outfit totally represents my style and is something I will wear again and again.  Heck I'm even going to rock out that plastic bag belt because c'mon it's just awesome!  I'm really excited to see what everyone else came up with.  Entries should be up on the Fabric Mart blog soon so keep your eyes peeled.  We've already got a sneak peek at the next challenge and I'm really excited about it so fingers crossed I make it to the next round!

~Peace~Love~and Recycle~ 

 xo, 

            Shanni

Have you seen the new pattern by Christine Haynes??  Well if not have I got a treat for you! It's the Emery Dress and it's a vintage lovin' gals dream! 

I was lucky enough to be chosen as a pattern tester for this sweet little number.  First off I want to say it was just as much fun to sew up as it is to wear.  I really expected no less since I've already had a great experience with Christine's Sassy Librarian Blouse.  I've been busting at the seams since August 15th waiting for the official pattern release date to arrive to be able to show you my version.  That date has arrived and I can now let out a huge sigh of relief as I share with you my version of the Emery dress...

There are two versions of this dress.  I chose to make version A with the short set-in sleeves and the 1960's style bow at the center waist.  Version B has 3/4 length set-in sleeves and a vintage inspired flat pointed collar.  Both versions have a fully lined fitted bodice shaped with bust darts, waist darts and neck darts.  The gathered a-line skirt hits around the knee area and wait for it......has in-seam pockets!  What could possibly make in-seam pockets any better you ask?  Well they are sewn into the waist so they aren't moving around inside your skirt tickling your legs while you walk.  The dress is finished with an invisible zipper and the skirt has a hand sewn hem.

The fabric I chose for this dress is a beautiful retro floral print cotton sateen from Mood that I've been hoarding for over a year waiting on the perfect pattern.  I only had two yards and it was just enough.  I only had scraps left over so you know what that means, no room for error!  My lining was also from my stash, something I picked up at Joann's for a project I never completed.  I'm not sure of the fiber content but it's a beautiful champagne color and compliments the main fabric very well.

This pattern is rated intermediate and I feel that's an accurate rating as I learned a few things such as lining a bodice the correct way.  I've lined a dress bodice before but the instructions were of my own and merely a guess as you go type thing.  It's nice to have clear instructions and pictures to guide you the correct way.  

The size I made was a 4 and the fit was spot on.  Luckily all of the darts were perfect right out of the pattern envelope as I did not make a muslin (I know shame on me).  The set-in sleeves were easy breezy to put in.  The skirt's hand sewn hem lands perfectly right above my knees.  Being only 5'4" and some change it's rare that I don't have to alter the length of a skirt. 

Notice my bow? Well how cute is it!?  I'm going to point it out (and you probably didn't even notice) but the placement is all wrong.  It needs to be sitting completely on the bodice, not halfway.  I had problems getting my bow to stay put, probably because my hand stitching was atrocious and I was doing it all wrong.  I've since figured out my problem (shoddy hand sewing skills maybe), corrected the placement and now it looks super loverly and is one of my favorite parts!  

Even though the two versions of this dress have small differences I feel like it has so many different possibilities.  Next time I'm planning a sleeveless version with the collar.  Or if you like to get wild and crazy add both the collar and the bow to your dress.  It's sure to be a stunner any way you go so, GO! Go right now and buy this pattern. You won't regret it.  Christine is having a sew along mid October that will include different variations of the dress not included in the pattern like the sleeveless version, a pleated skirt, and a rounded peter pan collar...yaaahooo!  

What I thought was super cool about making this dress is that the techniques and skills I learned from Christine when I took her Craftsy course on the Sassy Librarian Blouse I found myself applying those same skills and techniques to the construction of this dress.  Her teachings have definitely stuck with me and she didn't even have to beat them into my head! 

How cute is this Pug label I sloppily sewed on!?

So if your still with me and you haven't skipped out on me yet to go buy your own Emery dress pattern well your in luck! Christine has been generous enough to offer up this wonderful pattern as a GIVEAWAY to one of my readers.  If you would like to be entered in this giveaway simply comment "enter me" below with an email address of where I can contact you if you win.  The pattern will ship first week of October so I will keep this giveaway open until September 30th.

 

Hey ya'll I'm super excited to be posting today to tell you that I'm a contestant for Fabric Mart Fabrics Fabricista Fashion Challenge!!  This is a fun sewing competition that works like Project Runway (minus the drama).  10 contestants will battle it out in 8 weekly challenges.  The readers (YOU!) will vote for their favorite outfits each week.  After the votes are in one person will be the winner for that week and one person will be "sent home".  There will be a chance to win weekly prizes as well as a Grand Prize winner and 2nd and 3rd place winners at the end of the challenge.  As you can imagine I'm super stoked to be participating as well as a little nervous.  As soon as these butterflies come down in my stomach I will be good to go!