Made in Spareoom: 2014

Halloween 2013

While brainstorming 2014's costumes a few days ago, I realized that I never shared pictures of Geth's Perry the Platypus costume from last year. Even more crazy is that it still fits! Sorry, not sorry, little dude. You're going to be an awesome Perry two years in a row.

We love a themed family costume around here, but Miss E wasn't having any of our Phineas and Ferb ideas last year. So the Hubs and Geth were the only two.

Side note: I opted to make things less crazy and not dress up. Then had a last minute change of heart and made myself into a birds' nest. Miss E went as Ariel. She's 2/5 with the princess costumes, counting this years'. (bet you'll never guess who she's dressing up as. Let it go if you can't.)

Here we have Dr Heinz Doofenshmirtz and Perry the Platypus, with a beached Ariel. Now that I think about it, we did have a Disney theme going on.

Geth's Perry costume was made from three $4 Target tshirts. I made both the pants and hoodie from scratch, tracing a few garments I had in Geth's drawers for pattern pieces. Or maybe the pants were from an old pattern I had, I can't remember. I do remember drafting them up, though. The pants ended up being far to long in the rise, but that ended up being a blessing, as they now fit Geth perfectly. Last year, I just rolled the waist band down a few times.

Perry's bill and eyes were ironed on, then stitched.

For the tail, I sandwiched a piece of cotton batting between two pieced of orange jersey and quilted them together. It's attached to the pants just under the elastic in the waist.

As my serger is forever on the fritz, I used my old Bernina 800 for all the seams. A small zig zag works really well on knits. Not as professional looking, but I'm not bothered by that. All in all, this was a fun and somewhat easy costume together. Most importantly, it was and is super comfortable for baby to wear. Nothing like a soft knit on that sweet skin!

A Formal Topped with Lace

Months ago, I finished my most labor intensive alteration yet. It's a good thing I adore the girl whose dress it was. I was up hours past my bedtime for days, draping, drafting, pinning, carefully cutting lace, hand sewing it into place, and beading. My nieces hold a special place in my heart.

Carli, my eldest niece, just graduated from High School in June. Como say what?? She's still the sweet little girl wearing a fancy pink dress at my wedding. *sigh* I'm not even her mother and I get all nostalgic, thinking about how young she was when I married Dave.

I digress. Dress! Let's talk about the dress!

My first look at the dress was a hastily snapped picture, taken in a dressing room. I just about died when I saw it. Plunging neckline, tiny halter straps, low back and a lovey blush satin. Oh my. For Carli, though, I put on my thinking cap, researched Monique Lhuillier's beautiful lace wedding dresses, and came up with this:

First item of business was to find lace and lining fabric. There were many butterflies over finding the perfect lace. As beautiful as the blush pink satin of the dress was, it was impossible to match exactly. We toyed with the idea of white lace, but I was worried it would make the dress look too much like lingerie. My sister in law and I happened across a beautiful lace a few shades darker than the dress fabric - it was love at first sight. For us. Maybe not for Carli. There's a vast amount of trust that goes into letting your mom and Aunt pick out fabric! The lining satin was a titch darker, as well, but I knew that layered together it would be perfect.

And it was. See that thread escaping? Just keeping it real.

My absolute favorite part was the back cutout. Holy hannah,there was much draping and pinning to get it just right. I was wishing for a dress form the whole time. Fit is everything when you are altering formal wear. No gaping, sleeves lying flat, bu still allowing for movement. In other words, one needs perfection. Especially when you want it to be modest, not dowdy. (It is possible!)

Once the fit was right, I cut out the muslin and used the pieces to cut out the lining and lace. I'll admit to some major nerves at this point - beautiful fabric is never easy for me to cut into. I sewed the lining and main pieces together and then attached them to the bodice top. Which makes it sound easier than it was. At this point I think Carli was ready to kill me. With out the lace edging the bodice and dress were rather lack luster. (Again with the trusting your aunt.) Once the dress was back together, I started attaching the scalloped edges.

To get the lace edging just so, I had to carefully cut the lace to fit and hand sew it into place. In some places, I had to re-bead, too. My stitching skills were definitely put to the test on this one!

I put in two hook and loop closures at the top of the back bodice. I had toyed with the idea of buttons, but there was no way I was going to try to put in button holes. A huge thanks to dear Andrea, who came to my rescue the day before Prom. Silly me didn't have enough hook and eyes and the nearest sewing shop is 40 minutes away.

When Carli put the dress on for the final fitting, I'm pretty sure I let out a whoop and threw an air punch. It was exactly how I had envisioned. I love the rush of getting a project just right and the rush of seeing my niece's face light up when she saw herself in the mirror. Pure happiness. Worth every minute of work, just to get that smile. Lovely girls deserve lovely formal wear that let their personalities shine through, not just put their bits on display. I'm so very grateful that the Lord has blessed me with the ability to do so.

My only request is that she gives me a nice long break before I have a white dress to alter. *wink, wink*

Birthday Shirt

For my birthday this year, my hubby surprised me with a new (to me) sewing machine. I could scarce believe my eyes when I opened up the giant box and found a lovely Bernina Activa 230 PE waiting inside. For the past 15 years, I've been sewing on my mom's old Bernina 800 (circa 1970). A workhorse of a machine, it never batted an eye at leather, denim, satin, knit, or anything else I put it up against. My only complaint was that it only did two stitches: straight and zigzag. Not a big issue for me, but it was literally my one and only complaint.

Only when I noticed that all of my female in-laws seemed to be getting new sewing machines, did I ever voice a wish for a newer machine. (I am, after all, the seamstress/ tailor of our group.) David, the darling husband that he is, heard the longing in my voice and searched eBay for a suitable upgrade. Luckily for him, any machine made in the last 30 years would be an upgrade. As long as it was a Bernina, of course. And a Bernina he found. Even one purchased from the same store my mother purchased hers from in the 70s! Serendipity, I say. Serendipity.

I have used my machine almost every day since I plugged it in. Shorts for the kids, alterations, teddy bears for the Kinder Teddy Bear Picnic, among other projects I can't even remember sewing. For myself, though, I sewed up a shirt. A birthday shirt, drafted, cut, sewn and worn on said day. I can not say enough about the ease of a machine that can do everything. All I have to do it switch a foot here and there. It is bliss.

Don't be fooled by my "sunisinmyfacedidthestupidremoteworkthistime?" face. I love this shirt. Laundry gets done so I can wear it. Around here, that sort of a big deal.

Self drafted from a GAP outlet knit shirt that I adore, this top is made from a rayon challis, black cotton lace and a cheap black quilting cotton for lining. I didn't want to line the lace, but once I cut out the top, I realized the lace was too open for my level of modesty. Layering in heat is one my least favorite things, so I opted to line the lace and forgo the dreaded undershirt. This top is so light and airy - perfect for the heat that has already blasted us here in NorCal.

Both the cotton lace and the floral rayon challis are from Fabric's R Us in San Jose. My favorite place to buy fabric - their selection is huge, the prices are super cheap, and the Vitenamese ladies who run the store are adorable. Well worth the long drive to get there. I think the whole shirt cost me a whopping $5. Happy Birthday to meee!

KCW: April 2014

Seems that I participate in Kids Clothes Week annually. Usually at the same time I am busy altering prom dresses, designing fliers, logos, etc. Go figure. I seem to function best with a fire lit beneath.

My planned KCW projects were whittled down from four to just one... and a half. A dress for Miss E and a bow tie for Geth. No pictures of the bow tie, as Mr Fourteen month old refused to leave it on. Oh well.

Miss E has asked for more dresses, which I am thrilled to make her. Shirts and pants, but dresses were my first sewing crush. I let her pick the fabric for this dress from my stash. Which is over run with girl prints. Yet another reason this attempt at KCW was derailed. No fabric suitable for the wee man, who really needs clothes.

(excuse all the visually amputated feet - Miss E has become extremely stubborn and only lasts about 2 mins these days)

After attempting to draft my own pattern, I decided to go the easier route and used a vintage Simplicity pattern. Super simple, quick and twirly. Problem is, I don't want her wearing it to school now!

The popsicle print cotton poplin is from Joanns, part of the Little Lisette Spring 2013 line. Such a lovely, high quality fabric. Not something I really want her to romp around the playground in, now that I've sewn it up.