Stitchin' in My Kitchen

Looking to make something transitional from winter (California winter) to spring, I decided to make the  Sew Over It Vintage Shirtdress .  I recently made a button down shirt that I hated on myself, so a shirtdress isn't exactly setting myself up for success, is it? But  here we go! I made the sleeved version, in a size 10. The fabric I chose is a black and chartreuse printed cotton from Mood fabrics: I'd describe it as a heavy-lightweight with a slightly stiff drape. It's heartier than typical shirting. It's a circuit board design, so a bit of novelty but in a chic colorway so it's not too juvenile (in my opinion). I bought 2 yards to make Tim a shirt, he didn't like it, so I bought an extra yard and decided I'd make a shirtdress, and that's how we got to this point. The pattern is very well-drafted and quite simple to make. There are no darts, just pleats, 2 front and 2 back, on bodice and skirt.  There are no really tricky techniques, jus...

I've made quite a few dresses since I've restarted sewing, most of which don't get worn very often, unfortunately.  So why not my wedding dress? It won't be a traditional wedding so I don't want a traditional dress. A year or so ago I found some green sequined fabric at Gorgeous Fabrics, and I decided, I think when I get married I'll wear green sequins. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I bought 3 yards and put it in my stash...fast forward to this past fall, when I realized (after having more experience working with sequins) that these dense, reversible sequins would be a challenging choice, to say the least. Some might say a poor choice.  So while at Fabric Outlet on my birthday shopping trip I found some beautiful green sequins (with bonus stretch) that I knew would be much better to work with.  I also wanted to make sure I had enough fabric - the pattern I chose, the Sew Over It Betty dress, is a fabric hog.  The pattern called for 4 yards, and I only had 3 of the other kind of s...

The next stop on my pattern tour of pussybow blouses is the Sew Over It Pussybow Blouse.  I decided to do Version 2, which is the attached v-neck (on the right, as opposed to the open v-neck), since Version 1 is almost exactly like the Style Arc Holly I had just made .  This was going to be another trial version or wearable muslin, so I used an inexpensive polyester woven from Mood fabrics.  I cut the size 10 based on the finished garment measurements.  This sewed up very quickly. It's not a complicated pattern and I had basically just done the same thing with the StyleArc version, and most of the major construction components are pretty similar.  I did not put the little buttons on my sleeve cuffs, not because they are tiny and fiddly but because I don't like button cuffs and I was happy just sliding my wrists through.  No other deviations from the instructions.  The results: This fabric makes me look like I escaped from a hospital for...