A Few Small Projects

There’s no one project that I have been working on that deserves its own blog post, but I have been sewing and completing some small things.  Actually, after the white jacket, I made a wadder.  It has been a loooong time since I’ve made something unwearable, and I was a bit traumatized.  It was a pair of plaid shorts.  I very carefully matched the pattern at the side seams.  Then as I was making them up, I realized that I had cut them exactly wrong.  The edges of the squares matched up, but the pattern did not.  I felt like the universe was laughing at me, although obviously the universe has better things to worry about than my shorts.  Anyway, here are some small consolation projects that I have been working on.

 

DD and I made a dress for her new doll.  We worked on the project together using her sewing machine that she got for Christmas.  She loves it.  The dress and the sewing machine.

 

White linen shorts in the same fabric as my jacket.  The pattern is from May Burdastyle.  I tapered the back pattern piece a bit, which opened up a second dart in the back.  To taper, I used a method described in Threads 106, page 20.  The description is for a skirt sloper, but you can easily adapt it to shorts, and the taper looks much better than just pulling it in at the side seams.

 

A bias cut silk charmeuse top.  I am planning on making several of these in different sizes and selling them on Etsy.  This is a size L or maybe XL.  I pulled it in at the shoulders  a bit so it would stay on my form.  The charmeuse came from London Textiles, which we visited on PR Weekend in Philadelphia.  I bought a lot of silk there (over 50 yards), but, having worked with this piece, I think I should have bought more.  It is a pretty unbelivable quality.

 

Bias cut silk charmeuse top back.  Again, it is too big for my form, so you get those drapey lines near the hem.

 

 

lastly, slippers for wearing around the house.  I used an embroidered wool scrap for the upper, a cotton twill scrap for the back of the upper, and a leather scrap for the sole.  I made the pattern by tracing my foot.  They are a bit snug, but they will do.

 

another view of the slippers.

 

 

Trousers for the dd’s out of printed twill from JoMar, using an Ottobre pattern

 

 

 

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11 Comments

  1. Posted May 23, 2010 at 10:56 am | Permalink | Reply

    I don’t have too many wadders usually, but lately in trying to fit some blue jeans I have had 2 wadders! It is not fun.
    Your jacket and shorts are great, and by the way Threads does have an article on tapering pants. It is on their website if you search the fitting section. I use it and it works well.

  2. Posted May 23, 2010 at 10:56 am | Permalink | Reply

    Oh, the silk tops are great.

  3. Connie B
    Posted May 23, 2010 at 12:20 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I knew you bought a lot of silk charmeuse, but 50 yards! That top looks great, and it’s a great use for that fabric. Going now to take a gander at that Threads issue.

  4. Posted May 23, 2010 at 12:44 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I love the blouse! Great design.

  5. Posted May 23, 2010 at 12:56 pm | Permalink | Reply

    You have been busy! I should have stood behind you in line when you had the silks. I saw you. I knew you had a good bargain and yet I went outside. *sigh* Another fabric regret from PR Weekend! *LOL* I love the slippers. My favorite pair is falling apart…maybe I should copy you! And I love the jacket/short combo…it looked fabulous on you!

  6. Posted May 23, 2010 at 4:38 pm | Permalink | Reply

    You’ve been busy! Great projects, but that bias silk blouse is the star — it flows incredibly! (50 yards of charmeuse? Hmm . . . there was even more power shopping going on than I imagined!)

  7. Posted May 24, 2010 at 2:51 am | Permalink | Reply

    Hi, the dolly dress is cute. What machine did you end up getting for your daughter, out of curiosity?

    I like the top as well, and I have already formed a high regard for your fabric purchasing abilities. I think your Etsy store is a very interesting idea and I’m eager to see how it turns out. When will you open?

    You look *great* in your white linen summer outfit. Just super.

    • Posted May 24, 2010 at 9:01 am | Permalink | Reply

      Thanks! I got her the Hello Kitty machine by Janome. It was fairly expensive, but it got the best reviews that I saw for a childrens machine. I could have gotten several fantastic vintage machines for the same price, but I would have worried too much about her sewing through her finger. The Hello Kitty machine goes very slowly.

      I will definitely announce here when I open the Etsy store. I kind of have to, because this is the only forum that I have for advertising. I want to have at least one top in each size before I start putting them up.

  8. Posted May 24, 2010 at 12:54 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I saw you carrying the roll of printed twill up to the cutting table at Jomar’s and wondered what you would be making from it. Your daughters’ pants are so cute. It must be fun sewing for little girls.

  9. Posted May 24, 2010 at 10:15 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I love the silk blouses – you may need to make another trip to Philly soon. Great projects.

  10. Posted May 30, 2010 at 11:07 am | Permalink | Reply

    You have been busy! I should have stood behind you in line when you had the silks. I saw you. I knew you had a good bargain and yet I went outside. *sigh* Another fabric regret from PR Weekend! *LOL* I love the slippers. My favorite pair is falling apart…maybe I should copy you! And I love the jacket/short combo…it looked fabulous on you!
    +1

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