March 24, 2016

Swimsuit bottoms

Come to mama!
This one is for me :)
Check out RUMS España for cool makes
 
 
Fabric: Lycra
Pattern: Self-drafted
Note: Nature blessed me with a tattoo on my lower back ;)
I believe it's a map, because it has darker freckles inside the visible outline. Connect the dots :)
As a young girl I was traumatized by it, but now I show it to the world!
 
 
Made the pattern from a pair of existing underwear :) Only one piece and a regular sewing machine (zig-zag stitch).
Didn't use elastic.
 
 
The fit is perfect! Already went swimming without wardrobe malfunctions.
 
 
I don't have children, but mom got in the frame at the correct moment :)
 
 
Wondering what happened to the top of this ensemble? It's in the trash, an EPIC FAILURE hahaha.........couldn't figure how to make it work, next time will be better.
Soooooo, I paired it with a sports bra!
 
"What a liberation to realize that the 'voice in my head' is not who I am. 'Who am I, then?' The one who sees that" -Elkhart Tolle-

March 17, 2016

Vintage High-Waisted Pants

First pair of denim pants!!!
They are not perfect, but they aren't the worst :)
 
 
Fabric: Black Stretch Denim
Pattern: Butterick B5895
 
No better feeling than a well fitted pant, however, these are not skin tight, but they still work for me...... sort of.
If I find the time in the future to remake this pattern, they will be constructed as skinny jeans.
 
 
The fit of the back is spot on!
No alterations.
7" zipper
Plus a hook and eye on the waistband, which by the way was sew by hand for a clean finish.

 
My continuous battle with store bought pants, is that they form a gap on the back of the waistband, but to my surprise, I did not encounter that issue with this pattern!
Thank you Gertie
 
 
Honorary mention to...........POCKETS!

 
Check out RUMS España where they post a variety of makes every Thursday.

March 13, 2016

Vintage Shorts and Jacket

Ever had the feeling that the pattern will fit you straight out of the envelope, without alterations???????
Well guess what? That's exactly what happened with these vintage high waisted shorts!
 
 
Fabric: Stretch knit with a quilt texture, extremely soft.
Pattern: Butterick B5895, View B
Patterns by Gertie
(View B are pants, but I decided to turn them into shorts to test the fit)
 
 
Closure on the shorts: A white zipper, hook and eye on the waistband.
Plus darts to shape the "toosh".

 
The waistband was sewn by hand, didn't want to stitch in the ditch.
Hem: double needle :) best invention ever for knit fabric.
Don't forget the functional pockets.
 

Jacket: Made with a light purple wool with grey specs (difficult to appreciate in the pictures).
Pattern: Butterick B6328, View A
 

 
Front panels of jacket are lined with the same fabric.
Both makes tested my patience for hand sewing, and the end product is a wearable outfit, to where you might ask?! Anywhere your feet might take you!

March 12, 2016

Sparkly Grey Tulle Skirt

Turns out that as lovely as the fabric looks, sewing it was a "fun" challenge.
 
 
Fabric: 6 yards of stretch sparkly Tulle
Pattern: Self-drafted
 
 Waist-band is a 3" black elastic, sized to 1" smaller than my waist measurement (luckily Daniella is the same size as "moi" ).
 
 
There are 2 layers of the tulle and a single layer of a stretch grey lining.

 
Behind the scene: I began this skirt on a bright morning and finished it in 3 hours, just in time for me to go to work and prepare for the photo shoot the next day :)
Talk about time management!
 
 
My least favorite part of sewing is HEMMING, but this fabric has a lovely finish, which was GLORIOUS!
(I second her smile)
 
 
The End

Polka-dot Maxi Skirt

 Today I have the pleasure to present my model!!!!!!!!
 
 
Model: Daniella Hernández
Makeup Artist: Alexandra Hernández
Fabric: Polka-dot chiffon
Pattern: Self-drafted

 
Nothing like laying on rocks on a chilly afternoon.
 
 
I used the rolled hem feature on the serger, because I was feeling lazy :)
 
 
Easy to make maxi skirt.
Literary a rectangle with one seam along the back and elastic waist-band.
 

 
The skirt has a black lining, because the chiffon is extremely see through.
Happy Sewing

March 6, 2016

Swimsuit


I cannot believe how quickly this swimsuit came together, and to think that it had been on top of my UFO pile for........3 YEARS!!!!
 
Originally it was intended for me, but it fits mom better, sooooo I guess it's changing ownership :)
 
 
Model: Mom
Fabric: 4-way stretch Lycra. Black with white and pink outlined flowers.
Pattern: McCall's M6759 view D
 
 
 She was a good sport about modeling with the swimsuit.
 
 
The front panel of the swimsuit is completely lined with a black 4-way stretch lycra, to avoid any see-through-ness.  
 
 
The armscye, neckline and the legscye (just made-up this term :) ) were finished with the serger and then elastic was sewn using a zing-zag stitch.
 
 
Enjoying reading surrounded by her bamboo.
 
 
Mom! No sleeping on the job!
 
 
After absorbing ultraviolet and infrared rays, we bid you all a great day.