My Graduation Outfit

Patterns: Simplicity 5683 & vintage Simplicity 7308

Fabric: fabricclub.com & Denver Fabrics

This was my first foray into pattern tweaking back at the end of 2003.

I changed the blouse pattern to have flowy bell sleeves, and made it several sizes smaller and added back darts to make it fitted. I also added a side zipper.

On the skirt, I used the two-gore pattern, but pinned the pieces together so the front and back wouldn't have seams down the middle. Then I cut it out on the bias. Considering that I had no idea at the time of how bias behaves, it actually turned out quite splendidly!

Ocean Breeze bridesmaid dress

Pattern: Simplicity "It's So Easy" #3829

I made this dress for a friend of a friend. It was very simple to put together; the only alteration was to lengthen it from the knee to the floor.

Isn't the color scrumptious? It reminds me of the ocean in Hawaii.

Afternoon Dress in Black & White Toile

Patterns: New Look 6557 and vintage Simplicity 4706

Fabric: fabric.com

Spring of 2007 found my wardrobe with no suitable dresses for the coming summer, so I decided to make this one. The fabric is a linen/cotton blend.

I had always liked New Look 6557, but the back was a little more bare than I wanted, so I used the back piece from my vintage Simplicity pattern. I also changed the cummerbund/waistband a bit to be straight across the waist instead of curved, and I made the skirt as full as the 60" wide fabric would allow. The dress closes with a side zipper.

Dollies (Part 2)

Shortly after my first doll wardrobe went to Slovenia, the little missionary girl's sister received an American Girl doll of her own, and wanted some clothes. Out came the cute little patterns and cute little notions, and out marched my dolls modeling these cute little outfits! ;-)

Dollies

Earlier this year (MUCH earlier...), I made a few dolly outfits for a missionary girl in Slovenia. I have always loved making doll clothes...the first things I can remember making were doll dresses. It wasn't a very illustrious beginning, as doll clothes can be quite tricky with all the little seams! Nonetheless, I still enjoy the making of them very much...I call doll dressmaking "instant gratification" sewing! :-)

The Girls' Bathroom

The Inspiration:

My sister and I have our own bathroom (to share!) for the first time in our lives. We found this cute bathroom set called "Shopaholic," which includes this soapdish, a toothbrush holder, and lotion/soap pump. The walls have been painted pink with pink and white striped wainscoting. All that we needed was a shower curtain to match!

My sister took a picture of this lady, blew it up on the computer, printed it to make a pattern, and I did the rest!

Here's the finished product in our teeny little bathroom:

Bridesmaid 2006 (Part 4)

It's done! After making a complete bodice out of my fashion fabric with my original pattern, I discovered that I hated it! ;-) After some brainstorming and re-working, I am very pleased with the look and the fit (and that there was enough fabric to make a completely new bodice and lining!). There are definitely things I would do differently if I were going to do it over again, but I am satisfied.

This is the first time I have changed a pattern so much that it is indistinguishable from the original. It was also the first that I constructed completely sans pattern instructions.