Tailor Swift

Last night I sewed in a super fun and unique event! The event was called Tailor Swift and was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown Denver. 

Tailor Swift was all about listening to Taylor Swift songs sung by a live band while tailors hemmed pants. The tailors were Sadie, Tina, Miranda, and myself. We hemmed pants to make them shorter, let out original hems to make pants longer, repositioned buttons, made buttonholes, mended holes, and restitched loose hems.

Tailors: Sadie, Tina, Miranda, Claudia

The hemming we did was a good variety of what most people end up needing done with their clothes. The skills required to hem and mend aren't too difficult and can be easily done if you know how to sew by hand or machine. If you don't know how to sew, let me recommend you take a sewing class from Sew You Studio or FTC and you'll be a swift tailor in no time!

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HANDMADE: Halloween Costumes, October 2013

Since Halloween (All Hallow's Eve) is the eve of All Saints Day, our school requests that the kids dress up in a costume that represents a saint or angel. JP was Saint Juan Diego. (His older sisters went on field trips that day so they didn't wear saint costumes.)

For the Saint Juan Diego costume he wore: karate pants, a white shirt, and a tilma (cape) with a drawing of the Virgen of Guadalupe that he drew himself. I made the tilma from a 1/2 yard of fabric. I cut a placket for the neckhole in the center of the 1/2 yard and overlocked the raw edges along the outside. We also hot-glued silk roses to the tilma.

For trick-or-treating, there was a mechanic (I called him "Mister Mechanic-o"), a construction worker, a 1950's sock hop girl, and Shirley Temple.

I didn't have much time or focus for sewing costumes this year. The kids were all okay with putting something together with what we already had or what we could find at the thrift store. I did make the jumpsuit for Mister Mechanic-o because it has been on my to-sew list since last spring when I found a vintage sewing pattern for it. The poodle skirt, the sailor girl jumpsuit, and the construction worker vest were thrift store finds.

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Handmade: My Fall Time Handbag

I made myself a handbag! It's been so long since I've made a handbag and this one's been waiting to be sewn up since last May--when I bought the fabric. I like it. It makes me smile.

Pattern: BIG Handbag, designed by Claudia Miller
Fabric: home decor fabric by Mill Creek Fabrics for the exterior. Kona cotton for the lining.
Accessories: Japanese bag handles
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Skill(s): straight seams, curved seams, patch pocket, double-welt pocket, lined handbag, hand sewn handles, hand sewing

It's a very big bag with an interior pocket, an exterior pocket, and a wide gusset that goes all the way around the bag.  It can be worn open or bunched up.

The interior pocket is divided into 3 parts and is helpful for sorting your little things, e.g. pens, gum, business cards, lip balm, prayer beads, phone. . .

The exterior pocket is a double-welt pocket and has no closure. I made it this way for easy access to my keys or my phone. It's a very handy pocket since this bag is so deep.

The handles are pre-fabricated and it's the first time I've used this type of handles. I really like them!

+/- (The good and not-so-good.)
I designed this bag myself and was inspired by a few bags I've seen online. It's so satisfying to dream up a project and then be able to create it! I am happy with the final result.

+I really like the look/design of this handbag.
+It was a simple bag to put together even with the addition of the double welt pocket and the handles.
+Handbags are a great way to sew up a project that doesn't require fitting (like garments).
+This handbag also makes for a great market or travel bag because it's big enough to hold a lot of things and pretty to boot!

-I hope to make another one but the next one will be a few inches shorter because a shorter handbag will be more practical for everyday use.
-This one is a bit too long for my liking and and has earned the name "bagzilla". Not a very pretty name for a pretty bag but a great way to describe its size!

Would you be interested in making this handbag? I'm considering putting together a pattern or teaching it as a class. Please let me know!

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Me-Made-May 2013 :: what I wore (a few months late-r)

It's already September and this news is from May but I still want to write about it. . .
Back in May I decided to participate in a month-long challenge: Me-Made-May!

Each participant was asked to make a pledge to wear and make handmade items throughout the month of May. We each had to set our own personal goals for the challenge.
My pledge:
I, Claudia of Dia's Days, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '13. I endeavor to wear a handmade garment or accessory 2 to 3 times a week and sew one garment each week of May 2013! 

Here is a collage of the clothes/accessories I wore or made during May. 

I wore dresses, skirts, scarves, and tops. (My son wore a handmade superhero cape on a day I didn't wear me-made.) I made a Mathilde Blouse, a Staple Dress, a Wiksten Tank, and some scarves.

The Me-Made-May Challenge renewed my interest in garment sewing and I look forward to the cooler weather ahead so that I can spend some time sewing clothes for myself and my family!

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Time to catch up!

So much goodness has happened over the past couple of months! I'll be writing all about it over the next few days (or so). Here's my list of what I'm going to catch-up-and-write about:

-My summary for Me-Made-May 2013.

-The clothes I've been sewing for myself and the changes in my sewing room.

-The sprouts, blooms, and fruits of my gardens.



-My adventures in New York City.

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My Feather Bed Quilt

   

Last August I had the pleasure of taking a class with Anna Maria Horner. In her class, we learned to piece together the beautiful feather block she designed for the Feather Bed Quilt pattern.

It has taken me 8 months to complete my quilt but it has been worth the slow pace! I chose to make a twin-size quilt with 38 feathers. Anna was helpful in the color selection for the background of the feathers. Instead of choosing one color, there are three different colors: blue, gray, and silver. The feathers are mostly made using Anna's fabric line Field Study.

Once all 38 feathers were made, then I had the difficult task of deciding how to lay them out! Oh, that was hard and took me many days to come to a decision. I tried many variations and then finally decided to pair up the feathers by background color in a repetitive order: 2 by 2 by 2, row by row from top to bottom. The feathers that are pointing down are the ones with a solid print on one side.

The layout on the bottom left was the winner.

BACK OF THE QUILT: I didn't think much about the design for the back of the feather quilt until I completed the front. I knew I would have to be inspired. Once I got to this step, it also took lots of thinking, dreaming, and looking at fabrics. I intended to use Anna's Field Study fabric but one day I came across Canyon Stripe in New Day from the Hope Valley fabric collection by Denyse Schmidt and I knew it was meant for my feather quilt!

I paired it up with a navy blue Kona cotton but I felt they needed something more. I added a long strip of pieced scraps from the feather blocks to separate the Canyon Stripe fabric from the navy blue Kona. This gave me the opportunity to use up lots of scraps and also play with create-as-you-go piecing.

QUILTING: I thought about the quilting design throughout the whole process of making this quilt. The idea that kept popping into my brain was that whatever design I chose it would have to be straight lines, not curves. I thought I would use a long arm machine and I even took a basic class to learn how to use one. That idea didn't last long because I wouldn't be able to quilt straight lines. I almost settled on hand quilting but once I realized it might take me days or weeks to complete, I didn't do it. Finally, I decided on "arrows" because I felt that it was manageable on my home machine. The arrows basically are angled lines that meet in the center of the quilt and point towards the top. I am thrilled with the design and the final look!

(Look closely to see the quilt lines.)

BINDING: The binding is a dark gray Kona. I chose this color to add some definition and frame the quilt.

And, here it is. . . my finished Feather Bed Quilt!
I love it!

(Believe it or not, this was the weather on May 1, 2013!)

So, how will I use this quilt or who will I give it to? Initially, this quilt was one of two I would be making for my boys. Well, this one took me so long that I didn't think I would try making a second quilt. However, now that it has been placed on one twin bed and I was given a great big THANK YOU by my son, I think I will make a second quilt after all! Thankfully the other boy sleeps in a toddler bed. I have some time. . .

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This is Fun! (Me-Made-May '13)

Day 1: Infinity Scarf              Day 2: A-line Skirt

      

Yesterday I wrote about Me-Made-May '13--a handmade garment/wardrobe challenge. Wow! What a change in perspective in just 2 days (both in my opinion of MMM13 and the handmade clothes I have made)! Initially, my thoughts about MMM13 were that I would be making clothes all month long; that seemed stressful and overwhelming. In reality, it's about wearing handmade clothes all month long--anything you've made in the past or made this month. I'm excited to dig into my closet and find those pieces that I made long ago but have been forgotten.

I'm also getting started on sewing a blouse for week one. One step at a time is my motto!

I will be posting pictures of my own MMM13 journey on my Flickr if you want to see what I've made and what I'm wearing. Stop by!

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My Pledge for Me-Made-May '13

I learned about the Me-Made-May '13 from sweet Caitlin of Sparrows & Spools. MMM'13 is a challenge to those who make their own garments to actually wear what they make! You pledge to wear something you have handmade every day of May. You can change up the pledge if needed but the point is to focus on wearing the things that you make (sew, knit, crochet, repurpose, etc).

Without a goal, it's hard to set a challenge. So, my goal is to add some pretty garments to my wardrobe because I think I have too many casual and comfortable garments. I would like to make some blouses and dresses for myself. The MMM'13 challenge will be a good start.

My pledge:
I, Claudia of Dia's Days, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '13. I endeavor to wear a handmade garment or accessory 2 to 3 times a week and sew one garment each week of May 2013!

Are you in? What is your pledge?

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Painted Portrait Dresses (x2), my review

I have made two Painted Portrait Dresses and I really like them!

I made one last October for my trip to New York City.
(Fabric: Free Spirit Fabric, by Jay McCarroll, Center City in Downtown)

And I made one last month (March).

(Fabric: Art Gallery Fabrics, by Pat Bravo, Carnaby Street - Ladylike Black Tea)

Pattern: Painted Portrait Blouse & Dress by Anna Maria Horner
Fabric: info is listed with my photos above (Note: I think this dress looks best with lightweight cotton, voile, or rayon. The drape is nicer with lighter weight fabrics, in my opinion.)
Level: Intermediate
Skill(s): straight stitching, lined yoke/bodice, gathering, simple bias tape-making and attaching, bias tape hem, hand sewing
Fit: XS-XL. I would say it runs true to size, but check out the finished garment dimensions on the pattern cover to make sure. 

This pattern gives you a few choices: make a dress or a blouse, make it with sleeves or without, with pockets or not. As you can see, I chose sleeveless dresses without pockets. I like the sleeveless version because I can wear it in warm weather. If it gets chilly, I can add a cardigan. It's comfortable to wear and I like the fitted bodice with an empire waistline.

I enjoyed figuring out how this dress comes together. The instructions are well-written and make sense. If your sewing skills are "beginner", give this dress a try but take your time. Read through the pattern cover because it has helpful information and definitions. As with all of my pattern reviews, I have a + and - section where I talk about what was good for me with sewing a pattern and also what was not so good. Find +/- at the end of this post.

Each of these dresses has a hem that is slightly different than what is instructed.
The hem on the October dress is done with store bought bias tape that shows on the outside of the dress. (The instructions suggest you wrap the bias tape to the inside so it isn't visible.) I wraped it to the outside because I wanted to define the bottom edge of the busy Jay McCarroll print.

The hem on the March dress is done following the instructions of the pattern except with a fun twist. I didn't make bias tape for the hem because I didn't purchase enough fabric for it. Lesson learned here, read the fabric requirements thoroughly when you're buying fabric!!! So, rather than have this dress become an unfinished project, I used the scraps from the dress pieces. The selvage scraps, that is. I could have used pre-made bias tape from my stash but I liked the selvage idea better. It's not bias cut but it still works and now I'll always know which fabric I used.

+/-
Good:
+I like the design of this dress--yoke and side panels.
+I enjoyed constructing the yoke.
+Bias tape is a great way to finish a hem and armholes.
+The short length of gathers in the front and back are sweet.

Not so good:

-I did have some difficulty in lining up the side panel to the yoke. The top of the side panel folds over if you match the notches as instructed. This happened with both of the dresses. My "fix" was to lower the side panel until it fit nicely inside the yoke. These pictures show you the difference.

Here's a shot of what the Painted Portrait Dress looks like on.

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The Great British Sewing Bee!

Wow! The Great British Sewing Bee! Have you seen this show? It is sew much fun!

I was so intrigued by the buzz about this show a couple of weeks ago and couldn't wait to watch it. It is a BBC programme which means we can't watch in here in the USA, but you can find it on YouTube!!! Only two episodes have aired so far (out of 4) which means you still have time to get all caught up. Go find it!

I'm really into it probably because I would love to participate in a sewing bee just like this one! What I like best about it is that it is a competition among home sewers. The challenges are realistic and run at a good pace (at least compared to the pace of American TV shows). There is a pattern challenge, a quick 60 minute alteration, and construction of a garment fitted to a real live person. There are also tips and tricks explained throughout the show with great visuals. There is a quick how-to for the home segment so that you can try your hand at sewing too!

All of the sewers are fun and they all have their own special approach and uniqueness to the projects they make.

The judges are May Martin and Patrick Grant and the host is Claudia Winkleman (great name, yes!).

(source)

A book that accompanies the TV show has been published and is available as well! Here's part of the book description: "Includes a number of designs from the TV series, technical know-how and insider sewing tips from the judges, this book will help the beginner achieve professional results." Isn't that what we're all looking for when we sew! I wonder if it's available in the USA or what the cost will be to get it shipped here?

Oh, I almost forgot to talk abou the sewing machines used on GBSB! They are the same machines that we use at Fancy Tiger for sewing instruction! These sewing machines are made by Janome and are hardworking, easy to use, and durable. The model is the Sewist 500 (the older model has gray accents, the newer green). If you are looking for a "good" machine, I highly recommend this one. It isn't computerized but it does make quality stitches, has a metal bobbin hook, and offers a nice variety of stitch options at a reasonable price. If you want to learn more about sewing machines, read my blog post entitled "Let's Start with Sewing Machines".

I encourage you to go watch The Great British Sewing Bee if sewing interests you (newbie or not) or if you just like to watch creative and skillful minds at work. AND, if you're interested in getting together to sew (and live in Denver), just let me know! We can start a sewing circle*!

*I was part of a sewing circle with friends for a couple of years but we haven't met for a while. I think it's time to get started again!

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9

This fun girl of ours turned 9 today!

We celebrated as a family and braved driving through the snow to go watch 

Oz the Great and Powerful. It was a fun movie and we all enjoyed it. We 

spent the rest of the day doing some shopping, baking cookies, and playing. I

know she'll have fond memories of this special day.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

I made her an appliquéd t-shirt and this is what I came up with for "9". 

I'm happy with it and she loved it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET JULIA!

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An "Infinity" Amount of Scarves

I love scarves but I especially love making them!

Here are a few infinity scarves I have made as gifts.

Most have been gifted to teachers and friends.

The fabric used for these scarves ranges from 

shirting to voile to challis to sweater knit.

(All purchased at Mood NYC and Denver Fabrics.)

 

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