Last Mini Me Made Vacation Day

But not the last post about it. I definitely have ways to drag this thing out. For instance, the whole adding links thing. Edit: I've, with a little help, have attempted a few links. Fingers crossed.
But more than that, the last two days have debuted some new stuff.
Let's start with yesterday (Saturday). Side note...sometimes the weather does not turn out to be what you're expecting when you pack. It turned cool and rainy, and I really wished I had packed a pair of jeans. I didn't, so there was some layering and borrowing involved.

Top is a brand new Sewaholic Alma made on a white with red polka dot quilting cotton. In spite of what appears to be pulling across the bust, I love the fit. The skirt is a refashioned Colette Crepe. Black cardigan for warmth, and raincoat draped over my arm, Laura's (though it used to be mine).
We're visiting the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum.
Today (Sunday) was the main graduation for George Washington University.

Lovely weather.

This is the dress/jacket that I made to wear. Covered up with a stunning green raincoat. Shoes you haven't seen before... More on those another post. Well, frankly more on the whole outfit, complete with better photos.

Walking the grand puppies. Post graduation meant another outfit change. Me wearing my pavlova top with a RTW skirt. I wouldn't have chosen this combo if I wasn't out of other options, but I do kind of like it.
Synopsis complete. I'll add pictures to the Flickr group tonight, and work on some of the links in the next couple of days.
Stay tuned, and have a great day!

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The Bloggess' Book Signing

Just a quick post. Yep, I've been sewing this week. Yep, I've been emptying out cabinets in my kitchen. We're officially starting demolition there this coming Monday. Yikes! But tonight, tonight! I'm not one of those groupie kind of girls, but when I heard that Jenny Lawson was making a stop in Atlanta on her book tour, well, I knew I would be there!

And yeah, yeah, I'm wearing stuff I made, not that long ago. :D

Days 5, 6, 7, 8

Day 5

Top: Butterick 5495, originally blogged in July 2010
Skirt: originally blogged in May 2011

Day 6


The start of the "gardenia days"...

Top: Life is Good souvenir tee shirt from York, Maine
Shorts: Seersucker, Kwik Sew 3614, originally blogged July 2011
Land's End suede flip flops
Dog: Danny
Lipstick: what was I thinking?!

Day 7

Top: Anthropologie (old)
Skirt: half a Colette Crepe, originally blogged September 2011
Hand out oddly? Trying to get Danny to come on over
What I did: worked from home plus a trip to the grocery. Fun!

Day 8

Dress: Vogue 8553, originally blogged September 1, 2011
Belt: Talbots
Shoes: Land's End chambray espadrilles
What I did: worked from home, plus Parents Support Group at Skyland Trail

It's Me Made May Time!

Before I show what "me made" thing I'm wearing today, I just want to let you know that I'm not planning a daily "here's what I'm wearing" complete post. Only if I'm wearing something brand spanking new. That I haven't blogged about before. On the days that I'm wearing older stuff, I'll just post a picture and a link to the original post. I might even show 2 or 3 days of those kinds of outfits at a time. So, with all that in mind, Happy May Day!


Day 1

White blouse: Chico's
Linen Wrap Skirt (ties attached): Colette Crepe (skirt only)
Shoes: Land's End espadrilles 

If you were hoping for just a picture today, nope! Well, you have seen that skirt before, but it was part of this dress, made with Colette Patterns Crepe. Which, in spite of a handful of positive comments, I positively hated. Especially the way it made my shoulders look. I wore it once, washed it, and left it in a heap in the ironing basket (it's linen).


Two nights ago, I spent about two hours separating skirt from bodice (there were 3 lines of stitching. Go figure. Yesterday, I made a 1-1/2" wide waistband (3" interfaced and folded over), attached it to the skirt, slipped the long ties into the ends of the waistband, and stitched them securely.


I like the wrap to open in the front as well, so turned it around from the original "open in the back" way of the dress.


This blue linen will go with so many tops I have, so you'll be sure to see it again this month!

Half a Crepe

Do you ever have the picture of something you want to make in your head or that you want to knock off? I just could not find the skirt pattern that I wanted to make for a simple A-line, and while I felt like I could just draft it myself, past efforts had been unsatisfactory. Sad, I know.


Then Patty, who seems to be my inspiration for many a project, made a wrap skirt from the skirt portion of her Colette Patterns crepe pattern. Why didn't I think of that? I had already done the fitting, and while I'm not crazy about the crepe dress I made, it's mostly because of the top. I love the skirt part.


Then comes dilemma #2. I have a piece of denim fabric that is only slightly longer than a yard. And I don't want to make a denim pencil skirt. I knew it wasn't big enough for the wrap, but I could use the front piece for the back as well. After playing around with the layout I had no other choice to cut it cross grain. Good news is that this particular denim has little to no stretch, so that's not a factor. So in the vein of "only her hairdresser knows", that's what I did.


I did shorten it considerably, both because I wanted it to be shorter, and that's all the fabric I had. I think I should have made it about an inch longer (which was possible), but I am still super happy with the results!!

Top: Vogue 8649, blogged here.

Skirt: half a crepe

Shoes: Via Uno (completely broken in, thank you very much)

The specs:

• I used topstitching thread for jeans in a double line down the front and the back, and around the waist
• wide bias tape for the waist facing, and no waistband
• the waist also has a nearly invisible row of dark blue top stitching to secure the bias tape
• a side invisible zipper
• coverstitched the hem, using the same thread as the waistband
• the hem is only 5/8" deep
• it's unlined, but I made a quick tricot half slip to wear when it's cold (and so tights won't stick to it)

When I want another simple a-line skirt, this will be my TNT.


How about a few more pictures?

The topstitching

Back view (I was worried about the denim being too stiff, but it looks like it's draping well.) P.S. I hate the way the back of this top looks, which is probably why I don't wear it that much.

Finally, Roland MADE a necklace, and bought me some new dichronic glass earrings on his recent boy's trip.) I don't know why I'm making such a goofy face.

The Colette Crepe

First off, let me say that I love Colette Patterns and Sarai's independentness (clearly not a word) and design esthetic. My all time favorite make thus far is my Macaron. But. You know, not all patterns are everyone's style. I had some misgivings about the Crepe dress from the start, and it's not only because when I see the dress I always, and I mean always, start humming... "girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay...". I skipped Gertie's Crepe sew along at the beginning of this year because I just wasn't sure.


But. I won the pattern in a blog giveaway from Miss Snug Bug, and well, I did feel a small obligation to make it then. I mean, I try to only enter giveaways for things I want, and not just to enter and win stuff (ok, I did that once, and I actually won... oops...  it wasn't a sewing blog). So, I bought a gorgeous blue gray cotton linen blend, and made the first muslin in March. Then it lingered. Then I made another muslin, I think in May. OK, come ON. It was time to make the thing.


I'm going to show you the pictures and then give some observations.

• Construction-wise, its a beginner pattern.
• I'm different sizes on the top and bottom, so fit-wise, there are issues.
• Colette patterns are uniformly too wide across the chest (above the bust) for me.
• This stiff-ish fabric makes the sleeves stick out too much. I shortened them a little, and could have done with a smidge more.
• I had a heckuva time with the bust darts. I seem to remember Gertie covering this a lot during her sew along, and I should have gone back to see what she said.
• I had to do a huge sway back adjustment. Should have done more.
• The top is just not flattering on me. I'm too short waisted (or something) for that wide belt look.
• Not sure the butter yellow was the right choice.
• Linen is scratchy. I did underline the top, but should have made the facings out of a softer cotton.
• I used a catch stitch to anchor the facings to the underlining.
• I used a catch stitch to anchor the waist seam (covered with bias tape, but not folded over).
• I made the pockets out of voile.
• I wore a half slip for my skirt "lining".
• The wrap coverage is GREAT!
• The neckline needs something.
• The back darts are too far apart, and are in a weird place on me.
• I shortened the dress about an inch and a half (if I remember correctly).
• I'm not one for a big bow in the back (or even knot) and besides, no one in my house can do a good bow (but me), and my arms just don't bend that way.
• Gave it a test run today, and didn't feel too wrinkled.
• Wearability Index: 7

All told, while it's not my favorite dress, I do like it, and if my weight loss plan actually works this time, I can just wrap it tighter.