#clothes sewing

[intolaurel]

2024.10.17

Floral greek-inspired dress + corset belt. Finished a while ago but finally had the time to take some pictures (technically two videos + screenshots).

The dress is simply two rectangular sheets sown together + tucked in at the top of the sleeve. The corset belt I made by tracing the desired outline from my dress block pattern. The belt is also reversible, the side shown here is black whilst the other side is the same floral pattern as the dress. I'll probably post a more detailed how and what tomorrow / this weekend.

Overall I'm very happy with how it turned out. It is sooo comfortable to wear. Thinking about making a few more of these next year ahead of summer.

[san-sews-seams]

When you need to make a dress twice to make sure it fits/the bride approves the design for a special occasion, you might as well pull something fun out of the stash for the first attempt!

I'm making the Seamwork Frankie, with the skirts extended to ankle or floor length (actual final length to be seen and adjusted in the final dress). The bride's specified a chiffon or mesh finish, which means the final dress will need to be entirely underlined, so I figured this was a good excuse to play with a springy embroidered tulle outer layer. The base layer is a cotton gauze from Cali Fabrics, which may need some reinforcement through the waist for this particular application. I'm still debating applying a cotton fusible interfacing or a cotton lawn interlining to the bodice waist front and back. (Advice appreciated!)

Also, if you, like me, like to buy long cuts (4+ yards) of fabric and you live near a closing Joanns, you can drop by and get some empty cardboard bolts for free, and they make managing the fabric for cutting much more convenient!

[cosy-crafty-corner]

I do basically all of my sewing by hand. For the embroidery, that makes sense because the way you do those hand embroidery techniques is, well, by hand. But even for projects where I'm sewing bits of fabric together with straight lines (like the Christmas gift bags), I still sew by hand.

But I want to make a top using the magic illusion waistband idea shown is this video from The Stitchery and this is going to involve sewing a lot of short, straight lines. So I figured this would be the perfect time to dust off my sewing machine and actually use it for this project.

So far, I've sewn the side seams and three of the little waistband pleats and I'm just finding the process annoying. I'm sure it's quicker and that I'd still be on the first side seam if I was doing it by hand. But I'm not enjoying the process. I feel like I have a lot less control, and I'm getting irritated at the sewing machine (the needle has come unthreaded three times - am I doing something wrong?).

So now I'm torn. I could assume that I'm not liking the sewing machine method simply because I'm not used to it, and if I press on then I will get the knack for it once I've done a few hundred waistband pleats and I will find I enjoy it. Or I could switch back to my usual method of hand sewing and have the top ready to wear sometime in the next six months.

[mystic-crafting]

I'm so excited with how this turned out. I have some finishing touches to complete but it is absolutely gorgeous

I can't wait to see it on my model, she is already stunning and I know that she will make this piece shine

[wolfinasart]

I sewed up this dress prototyping a pattern for a friend (face up and hair done by a different friend as a commission Morrowcreations on instagram)

If you want to see more stuff check out my Instagram wolfina5

[san-sews-seams]

I really though I would finish my vest and pirate pants set today. In retrospect: HA.

But I did get a fair bit done! I digitized my dea serpent embroidery designs. I spent... most of the afternoon troubleshooting said designs. I got said designs embroidered over the waistcoast welt pockets, and the pants slash pockets, and the pants waistband! I tweaked the fit of the vest darts, traced off lining pieces, cut and sewed said lining pieces, including a little interior welt pocket. I realized that the vest pattern uses an entirely unfamiliar welt pocket methodology, and I decided that was as good a sign as any to quit for the night before I made any irreparable mistakes!

[cosy-crafty-corner]

I'm blaming @vincentbriggs for the pile of fabric currently spread out over my bed.

After reading this Tumblr thread, I went to the eBay shop mentioned and my finger may have slipped a few times and somehow a stack of extremely cheap kimonos and obis found their way into my cart.

I have spent the past week disassembling three kimonos into piles of fabric. Some of the pieces of fabric are very small but would be usable for patchwork, but each of the kimonos have long, rectangular pieces that will be very much usable for what I have in mind.

The obis are made of much thicker fabric. I had intended to combine the obis and kimonos, but I don't think it would have the right effect because the kimonos are made of lovely, drapey fabric, but the obis are very stiff (the one on the left especially). I maybe be able to use some of the fabric for a stiff waist band, but I need to figure out what to do with the gorgeous teacup and saucer embroidery that the middle obi has because that needs to be turned into something special.

Next step: cutting the disassembled pieces of fabric into the right shapes.

[intolaurel]

Look at this gorgeous fabric.

Making a very simple dress based on chitons. So little sewing, so little waste, and yet so comfortable.

These pictures were taken before I finished the side-seams. The “belt” in the two bottom pictures is just a matching strip of fabric. Probably I’m going to sew it so that it can be worn in different ways. Either loose & flowy for at-home days, or tied & dressed up for when I want to look more put-together.