Blog Change

I will officially "close" this blog on April 18, 2015.  My first blog post was on April 18, 2010 in honor of my mother, Virginia, who was a passionate, self-taught seamstress.  She shared her passion with me and taught me to sew.  Virginia passed away on April 18, 2014 and although she's no longer with us, her creative legacy lives on.  

I am now blogging at: virginiasdaughter.wordpress.com

If you currently follow on Bloglovin' you're following the new blog already and if not, you can follow here:

http://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/virginias-sew-blessed-daughter-13624269

Thanks for the encouragement through your comments!  

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

McCall's 5233 - OOP - Repeat!

This is the same pattern I used for a previous project seen here.  I knew that prior to "retiring" it I'd have to make View A...the "chemise" dress.  CHEMISE -  [shuh-meez] 2."in women's fashions) a dress designed to hang straight from the shoulders and fit loosely at the waist, sometimes more tightly at the hip."

The fabric for this dress is also on repeat.  I first used it to make this Burda Style Coat last year.  In addition to the lovely hounds tooth print this fabric is very warm!  This is the second warmest dress I've made lately, the first, can be seen here.  Who doesn't love a warm dress in the winter time?

I love the simple style of the dress, the boxy (added shoulder pads) shoulders, the skirt vent and the way it hugs the hips just enough.  I initially thought that I would like to add a collar but am glad I left it alone.  Only five pattern pieces to contend with.  I lined it (except the sleeves) with a remnant jersey that I had in stash.

 Of the four views offered with this pattern, I managed to make two.  I can put this one into retirement…at least for now.  I’ve been eyeballin’ View D.   As a workin’ girl, I can appreciate patterns that have multiple options that are simple to make and lend itself to good wardrobe building.

UNTIL NEXT TIME...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

Ohio State 2014 National Champs!!!

In case you didn't know...

Photo source  

...this is where we belong!

"Buckeye Swag" - Sugar Bowl 2014

un·der·dog - 

noun \ˈən-dər-ˌdȯg\

:a person, team, etc., that is expected to lose a  contest or battle -  Definition source - 

HOW 'BOUT THEM BUCKEYES!!!

#knowthisisasewingblogbutI'm100%BUCKEYE!

Satisfied! - McCall's 6586

Easy Stitch 'n Save by McCall's View A

"You satisfy me more than the richest feast.  I will praise you with songs of joy." - Psalm 63:5

  FABRIC:  Lightweight wool blend suiting - Jo Ann Fabrics

CHANGES:  omitted tie belt closure, currently in need of a different type of closure to prevent slippin' & slidin'.

CONCLUSION:  Super easy pattern with great potential.

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

Thankful! - Simplicity 1884

Kimono and Dress

"Oh give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name:

Make known His deeds among the people." - Psalm 105:1

FABRIC:  rayon tweed-like suiting from Virginia's stash.

LIKES:  easy/great wardrobe builder

CHANGES:  Dress - added back seam

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

McCall's 5233 - circa 1991

...the year our youngest was born.  Twenty-three years ago.
Yves Saint Laurent said it best..."Fashions Fade - Style is Eternal."   

This pattern appeals to me as much now as it did back then.
A vintage classic!  It's quite simple yet makes a nice statement and remains my style.

It's rated "easy" and rightly so.  I love everything about it including all of the other Views! This is View C.
The suggested fabrics are challis, crepe, cotton, cotton blends and light weight wool, to name a few.

  I chose a lightweight double knit, purchased from Fashion Fabrics Club.
This lovely fabric looks navy half of the time and black the other half.
My better half says navy.  I think navy.    

 The back neck facing is sewn right sides together with the top back and then flipped to the inside,
a "new to me" method that I like.  I included the shoulder pads and am considering adding
another hook and eye...I have the hardest time gaining satisfaction from this type of closure.

 Although the fabric is lightweight, the four yards wrapped up in this four gored flared skirt,
creates a "heaviness" that translates into this fabulous drape.
Very, very, very nice movement  - with movement.

If there were a single downside to this fabric it would be that it is a magnet for lint,
dust and "all things" airborne.  Even a ladybug got in on the action and graced my top
during this shoot!  It is the perfect candidate for "dry clean only"care.

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

Vogue 8919 - Again!

Got my money's worth with this pattern.  This is View B.  View A was blogged about in a previous post. 

   I got this fabric on clearance at Jo Ann Fabrics.  Something about the way it felt.  It's a slinky ribbed knit.  I know...somewhere there is a proper name for it...if you know where to find it let me know. I should warn you though...I've not looked.

 It is much lighter than the fabric used in the previous version. More like what the pattern calls for.   

  If you didn't know it, you may not even think they (the two dresses) were cut from the same pattern. They look quite different from one another.  I like that.  

 

Thankfully it was a warm day today yesterday - unseasonably (and kind of eerily) so - otherwise I would have layered it up.

Not much more to say about this dress but I will reiterate that it is a very easy sew and the possibilities seem endless.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!  

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!!!

Vogue 8919

The fit is not the greatest and the fabric has a mind of it's own especially after a full day of wear but...I LOVE IT!  

This dress is warm, comfortable, easy to make, has not a single closure and is sure to frequent the Fall/Winter rotation this Season.

 These two medium weight sweater knits are remnants that have been in Virginia's stash since I inherited it.  I knew that I wanted to pair them up somehow and this dress, which is View A allowed me to experiment with the color pattern. 

 I would highly recommend this dress with modifications if you use a heavier knit.  It's designed to be "close-fitting through the bust".  You might consider going smaller at the top and adjusting for a sway back if you've got the curves.  I chose this fabric at all costs and have no regrets.    

 This is a great dress pattern that will serve as a great addition to the wardrobe.  I've gotten my money's worth as I have nearly completed the second of only two views, View B.   The fabric is a much lighter knit and the fit is quite different.

 Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!! 

Butterick 5794

I THANK AND PRAISE GOD FOR KEEPING ME ANOTHER YEAR!!!

This is another one of those fabrics that I had a hard time deciding what to make with.  It was a purchase from Fashion Fabrics Club a little over a year ago.  I ordered quite a few sweater knits at that time so I'm guessing this one may have been classified as such.  

I decided on View D.  I also like Views A and C.  This (c.2012) pattern is currently out of print.  Although it was the entire look of Dress C that drew me to it, I decided during construction that I would omit the elastic from the sleeves...no regrets. This view is described as "loose" fitting and I like that about it. 

I was a little short on fabric hence the directional change on the bodice front and back.  I didn't mind so much as I think it adds visual interest.  The collar/tie however is another story...

Don't get me wrong, I love the black contrast - but the cotton jersey, the only complimentary fabric that I had in stash - is a little too heavy for the dress fabric.  What would have been my first choice -and would have been perfect by the way - had already been used to line a different dress...just sayin'. 

Now if I could just tie the tie correctly I'd be in business.  This is quite the easy dress to make and dare I say "cute...to boot"!

Until next time.....PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

McCall's 6506

"PLENTY" BY TRACY REESE 

I cut this dress out last summer with every intention of making it "right away" but didn't get to stitch it up until recently.

It's a TRACY REESE design.  It wasn't until I'd gotten the pattern home that I discovered this delightful fact.  I love most things by TRACY REESE!

I love the style of it...the pleated skirt, the large collar, the pockets...yes I love the pockets but you don't see them here do you?...not sure why I omitted them but now finding myself wishing that I hadn't.  On the other hand...I meant to omit the attached belt.      

 The fabric is a lightweight, highly woven, slightly stretchy, cotton from Virginia's stash.  I would venture to say that she must have really liked this fabric as there was more than enough to begin with and still some left.   

 This is an easy dress to make and just as easy to wear.  It does have quiet a few buttons but I think it adds to the design.  I runs a little large in the waist but other than that...it's perfect!  Thank you Ms. Reese!

 Enjoying the last few days of Summer!!! - Hope you are too!!! 

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

Simplicity 1884

This rayon challis has been in my stash for "a minute".  

I'd purchased it way back when to make a dress.

Fast forward some years to Simplicity 1884 - a great pattern with several appealing pieces.

The top and pants are Views B and E respectively.  

Two rather simple pieces, both very comfortable.  

One minor adjustment involved shortening the length of the top.  

I made the tie for the top but the busy print "swallowed" it up so I omitted it.

CONCLUSION:  A great pattern with great potential!!!

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!

McCall's 6758

I think Virginia would have liked this dress.  I had her in mind when I made it.  It's (in part) red.  She loved red.  It's different.  She was a huge fan of "different".

Both fabrics are from her stash.  The red linen blend was used previously in this project and the creme is a polyester blend with a huge wrinkle effect.

The dress is View C.  This is another one of those patterns that I could take one of each view if I could somehow find the time to make them all.  

I like the "lines" and the overall simplicity of the dress. Simple hooks and eyes as closures are all that's required.  If I had one "do over" it would be to decrease the height of the collar.  It's a little high for my taste.

 The only changes that I made to the pattern was to cut the center front piece into two pieces so that I could divide the dress evenly between fabrics.  

 Yep...she would have liked this one...

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!