Sewing Update:

Ok, just so you don't think I haven't been sewing this week, I have. Actually last night would be the only night I haven't touched the project. I had enrichment to prepare for and go to. So there's my excuse. Tuesday night was spent cutting out the last remaining pattern pieces and fabrics. Wednesday was a lesson in underlining and overlay. Attaching the underlining to the bodice pieces, and then overlaying the lace pieces to the skirt and bodice. Fun Fun. Lace is such a delicate fabric, it's always interesting to see how well it can stay in place. I do like how it looks against the satin. Very cool.

After attaching the different fabric pieces, I sewed the skirt seams together. I figured with limited time, the skirt would give me a fast win. Let me just tell you, that is alot of skirt. Oh boy is it going to be fun to gather.

I don't have pictures cause I don't have a camera anymore. Sorry, it's being borrowed by a photographer who needs it up for some mountain pictures. Hopefully I get it back in time for the finished product.

So how are we doing? Well I'm not entirely sure. It's quick and simple in theory, but the actually doing? Well their is just so many little steps you have to take to insure it looks nice. So who knows. I don't think I'm aiming for Halloween. Mainly because just looking at the different pieces, even if I finish in time for Halloween, the dress will need a professional pressing job. Talk about wrinkled!

Oh well, just taking it one step at a time and really trying not to dread the steps still left to do.

Day Two

A Sewing Confession:
Now the first confession was I'm a terrible project procrastinator. Now the second confession is when I sew, I like to wear a baseball cap backwards. It keeps my hair out of my face and helps me focus. It's not the most attractive look, but I always feel in the sewing/designing groove when I place the cap on.

It's Monday Night and after making a couple of alterations to the pattern (only needed 1" of length, not two, and shortened the shoulder length a little.) I began cutting out the fabrics. First the lace, then the satin. I had to cut the bodice pieces twice - one for the fabric and the other for the lining. I still have a third time, cause it requires underlining.

Now it may not look like it, but cutting out the pattern pieces takes a long time.

I'm getting kind of tired, but I still have the skirt pieces.

Oh, boy. What do you do when the pattern piece is so big, not all of it fits on the table?
Start pinning one side and roll as you go.

Another question: How do you know when it's time to quit?

When you run out of pins?

Guess Not

How about when there is definitely no room on the cutting table for the last skirt pattern?

Nope, just keep rolling.
(By the way, my sewing professor taught me to never let the fabric hang over the table when I am trying to cut out pattern pieces. Oops, well I've already broken my #1 rule about not sewing after 7p.m. What's another one?)

So when do you stop?

Well, when you get to the top of the last pattern needing pinning and find you're 1 1/2 inches short of fabric and will have to unpin the whole thing and re-adjust everything.

Ya, that's when it's time to walk away girl
just let it go and go to bed.

Two weeks till Halloween ... So do you think I'll make it .. I've got my doubts

I'm not entirely sure, but I believe my first mistake was opening up the envelope and pulling out the instructions. Labor Day weekend, my Aunt and Uncle brought their daughter up to BYU. And with them came 20 yards of fabric and request to make a costume for my cousin. She's always wanted a dress in this style. (think Marie Antoinette) and they got an awesome deal on the fabric. So would I? Now in all fairness, I was forewarned before they arrived and I thought, there is no way I can sew a costume at this time, every Saturday in September is booked. I'm really busy. And when I was shown the pattern (not the one shown in picture) I really knew I couldn't do it. It called for 20 yards of fabric, and it had huge "walk through doors sideways" hips. You know the style. And the instructions didn't make sense at all, Hook and eyes in the front and laces in the back?? Ok, going for authentic are we? Can you start to see how I got pulled into it. Yep, I started analzing how it could be done differently and easily and ... I should of known I was getting into trouble when I went online and found a McCalls pattern that was the same style but so much simpler.
Now I only have two weeks left, I knew if I didn't get it started today, I would never make it by Halloween. Even now, with two weeks, it's a big question mark. I knew my cousin was long in the torso so I added 2" to the length of the bodice pieces. I wanted to make sure the bodice fit, and also to make sure the neckline wasn't too low. So I cut the bodice pieces out of muslim to make a fitting shell.


As I was sewing this together, I kept saying, it's a costume, it's a costume, don't over anaylze, or try to make it completely perfect. It's a costume, it's ok if it's not completely perfect. So I'm posting today's results. Not very far, considering what I have ahead of me. Oh, well she knows I may not get it done in time for Halloween, so I shouldn't be stressed for time. Except having it around for a month already, I don't want to have it hanging over my head for another month. I'll try to keep you updated with the process. Hopefully it will make me stay on track.

Anyway, getting the bodice done will be the hardest part, right??? it has the most details, the rest should be pretty straight forward ..... I hope

Oh why didn't I stick to my "no" answer, I'm sure I said "there wasn't any possible way" at least 5 or 6 times. The problem was I was saying it to them, next time I should say it to myself and then DON'T OPEN THE ENVEOPLE!!!!!

A Little Purse for a Little Miss

I tried out a new crochet pattern a couple of weeks ago. I worked this up in a couple of hours. It was fun, although I expected it to turn out bigger then it did. It's size is about perfect for a 2-4 year old girl. It reminds me of a strawberry.