Sizing it down

One of my most recent projects was working on turning a 70's Jumpsuit into a dress cutting out excess fabric to also potentially make a bowtie and cumberband to match the outfit for my clients Husband and new born boy.

The biggest challenge was taking it from a size 8 to a size 2.  I ended up cutting out approx 3 inches from the side seams on both sides and hand baste the lining afterwards.

There was a lot of pressing and use of weights to keep this huge swathe of a dress behaved as I worked on it.  not to mention pins were in heavy use as this was on the bias for most of the dress.  Working on the pants to dress was not so bad, you just have to find where the crotch ends and straighten it out by removing the crotch curves into nothing at the inseam.  The trick is getting the eact same measurements on both sides.  Also a challenge with the bias hang of the fabric since it wants to stretch as you cut.

**A tip when working in bias, before cutting lay some low stick masking tape about half an inch from where you want to actually cut the fabric.  Also put that tape on the garment part of the fabric and not the excess.  This will help it to keep it's shape in between the cutting and sewing.

There is absolutely no reason to disillusion people about my work space, which also makes it easier for me so I never have to worry about "cleaning up" for a picture.  Yesteryday I saw someone else's new workspace for sewing that they were super excited about.  All I could think was give it 2-3 years and it will be like mine, give it 5 years and you'll have as many machines as I do also.  Hard to believe that I have been sewing for nearly 22 years, since I was 8 years old.

June Riots!

Sorry I have been behind on the blogging and especially on OTD's but as I mentioned before with lack of camera it has been painful.

Also I have been extremely busy with my teaching at CCAD.  Let me tell you when it rains it pours but in the good way for me.  I am teaching both the Beginning Pattern Drafting and Construction class as well as my newly approved Draping into Pattern and Fabric Manipulation Class.  Both of which are completely full with waiting lists once again.  It's no joke with the waiting lists either.  Today is the second night teaching and first night of the pattern class and I had someone drop this afternoon and a few hours later the spot was filled.  I am supposed to be maxed out at 15 students but I have 16 in each one!  It is madness in a most delightful way.  I even have the pleasure of using a TA which they don't usually allow for Continuing Education classes.  Even more Lucky for me it is my FAVORITE T.A. Tosha who has her own fabulous blog called The Pop Bang Fizz. 

On the down side I will not have a life for the next month as I work my 8-5 monday-friday and then immediately teach 6:20-9:45 monday-thursday.

Back on the bright side I was approved for two sewing machines for my classes exclusively!  I got them both from Westerville Sew N Save (whom I will do a little intro post later).  I got two Brother Innovis 80's.  Something about these electronic machines are easier for the high school students to understand and work with. 

I got new cards ordered from Moo.com again.  I had been dragging my feet on it and thankfully so since I was able to hold out for another photo shoot with the fantastic Mr. Chip Willis (NSFW).  I also have some reprints from Adam Leigh Manuell and one from my first shoot with Matthew Roharik

Since I can't get a lot of sewing accomplished while I focus on teaching I might be able to get my website updated finally after ummm.......... 7 years? ohhh that's been a while.

Getting Wild!

So last night with about 3 hours of time I made majority of my MAX costume from Where the Wild Things Are.  It is going really really well.  All I have left is hood, butt flap, tail and Crown!

As for the Halloween Highball I am in a good spot!  Fitting with Gloria was PERFECT today and she told me that Priscilla rocked the Runway Class along with my given model Carolyn.  Tomorrow is the final Fitting on Angela for the Sea Anemone Costume and I am HOME FREE!

Oh I also started my new Job as Seamstress!  I have never had an easier more enjoyable job in my LIFE!  I spent all day just doing what I love, sewing!

Fencers & Alice

I had forgotten I had photos of my Fencer Shirt & jacket from my old pattern.

So this is something to look forward to me putting into my Etsy shop in the near future.

I just bought some more fabric today but they were stripes. What I really need is some black denim and White Denim. I also need to adjust my sleeve pattern to make it more mutton shaped like my Previous Alice blouse.

Alice is another pattern I will need to remake probably without the intense Smocking....... or maybe with......
I'm not sure. It's a lot of work but it looks so fantastic. Maybe I will find another application that will be better suited for it.

The Pants are easy and I still have that pattern which no one ever see's the bottom but it comes to five points along all the pinstripe lines and seams.

I did just buy two sets of striped fabrics from "stitching post" because they are still having their fantastical sale on fabrics. I'm thinking of also some corset type vests. We'll see what I come up with over the long labor day weekend.

Everything else is sort of depressing so all I want to do is sew right now and knit.