Lazy Days

The bridesmaid dress is approximately 80% finished. All to be done is attaching the skirt lining and hemming both dress and lining. This picture was taken before I put in the side zipper (yes, I sewed my first-ever side zipper!) and before I made a few minor fitting alterations to the bodice. More pictures to come after the dress is completed.


I've been knitting a bit lately although I really do feel like sewing. Before Christmas, my husband commented that he needed a hat that covered his ears when he takes walks in the cold. So shortly before Christmas I knit him a hat with ear flaps. I think he likes it! :-)


I've also been knitting wrist-warmers...a quick, last minute gift for Jessica (can't find the pictures I took of them), and now I've started a pair for myself. These last few days have been lazy days for me...just sitting around knitting, reading, and listening to my iPod. Lazy days, but so relaxing.

Ruth

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my house to yours!

Our table centerpiece this year is this yum-delicious gingerbread house made by Ellen. She spent a lot of time baking and decorating the house, and I just love it!

Blessings for a wonderful Christmas,
Ruth

A Bonnie Skirt

I should be sewing the bridesmaid dress, but I haven't dared cut into the satin fabric yet. Instead, I decided to make a quick and easy skirt for myself. Quick and easy, ha---not. Who in their right mind can call working with plaid fabric quick or easy? So, I spent way too much time sewing this skirt and I've postponed the bridesmaid dress until another day. (Hopefully not the day before the wedding, right?)

But the skirt is finished, and I must say, I love it! I love the purple plaid fabric, and I love the style of the skirt. Here's a brief run-down of the skirt...you can read more details on Pattern Review if you're into that kind of thing (like me).

Pattern:
Ottobre Woman 5/2010, design #9, the "Bonnie" skirt
Sizes included:
34-52 (I made the size 36.)
Design details:
curved waistband
front zipper and fly shield
pockets
belt loops
inverted pleats
topstitching

Okay, my next post should be about the bridesmaid dress. :-)

Happy sewing,
Ruth

Tools of the Trade

Thank you for all the comments on my last post about whether to use a side zipper or back zipper in the bridesmaid dress I'm making. I am still undecided, ha ha. And I'm afraid, really afraid, to cut into the satin fabric. I guess I just need to go at it. I got sidetracked yesterday and sewed a winter skirt for myself instead---just need to hem it and then I'll post pictures. So anyway, wish me luck in overcoming my fear of satin and cutting out the bridesmaid dress. By the way, what is the best type of hem to use on a tea-length satin dress?

Because I can't seem to post without including a picture, here's one for you. Last month I made over 30 sets of pattern weights for a group of ladies in one of the sewing co-ops I belong to. Today I received an email stating that one of my pattern weight listings from Etsy was featured in an Etsy treasury. I found the collection of photos of "Tools of the Trade" to be delightful, so I'm posting it here. :-)

Happy sewing,
Ruth

Sewing Again!

It's been such a long time since I've posted. Such a long time since I've sewn. Of course, I've missed sewing, and I've missed blogging about my sewing, and I've missed your comments. But I'm back again, at least for the moment.

The impetus to get me sewing again is that my almost-15-year-old daughter is going to be a bridesmaid in a January wedding, and I get to sew her dress. Oh the happiness of sewing again!

Today, aforementioned daughter helped me clean up my sewing room, and then I cut out the muslin for her dress. The pattern is Simplicity 2692. I am making View B---sleeveless, and with or without the sash (hasn't been decided yet). The dress has gathers at both the front and back shoulder for a Grecian-style dress. The fabric for the finished dress is a beautiful blue satin.



For the mock-up, I used a piece of calico from my stash. It doesn't have the same drape as the satin will have, but for fitting purposes, it suits just fine.

The neckline is too low for Ellen, and so I raised it following the detailed instructions at Gorgeous Things' blog. The picture here shows my new cutting line after I raised the neckline two inches.


The new neckline is better. Here, the seam allowances are turned under at the neckline, but not at the armholes.



From this next picture I see that I need to take in the side seams directly under the arm but keep them the same width where they meet the midriff band.


The pattern calls for a side seam zipper. I have never put a zipper into a side seam, so now I must make a decision. Should I take the easy way out and put the zipper down the center back? Or should I learn something new and place the zipper in the side seam? Are there any advantages or reasons why a side zipper is preferable? If you can give some insight on this, I'd like to hear about it.

By the way, Jessica is making a dress for another bridesmaid in the same wedding. The bride-to-be has allowed each bridesmaid to choose the design elements of the pattern she likes best...sleeves or no sleeves, long or short skirt, sash or no sash. I hope Jessica posts about her progress; it will be fun to see how these two dresses turn out. Jessica has much more experience sewing formal wear, and I am a little apprehensive about the satin. I may be calling you, Jess, to help with Ellen's dress. :-)

Happy sewing,
Ruth