Remember when I said that I was fine with the sleeves ties of this dress being kind of (too) longish?  Well I guess that was a lie because I kept thinking about those dang sleeve ties after I posted about them.  That is actually a really great thing about taking photos of your work: you see things (aka problems) you would normally miss otherwise.  And overall I thought the dresses were a bit too plain although simplicity is what I was going for.

So back to the drawing–sewing–board!  I re-cut and sewed the sleeve ties and added a slouchy little pocket.  Much better I think.  Now it looks finished.

The denim dress needed a little extra love too and got a sassy heart-shaped pocket added to it.

Sorry, this detail pic out of focus; my camera did not want to cooperate with me.  Just wanted to show the stitching a bit close up.  The opening is in fact reinforced (like I did with the pocket on this skirt) but that’s done in navy thread so it would blend in with the fabric.  These photos were snapped after I washed the dress and you can see the edges now have that nice, faded rumply-ness you see on jeans.

Did you have any grand plans for the weekend?  I’ll be playing housekeeping catch up for part of it since I was out of commission last weekend.  But I hope to get to some alterations: I’ve got some lovely (and very girlie) vintage dresses that need to be hemmed and repaired.  And a sweater to continue working on before spring really takes hold!

Thank you for your “get well” wishes–I’m feeling much better today with the exception of the occasion coughing fit.  I had to leave the house to drop off some packages at the P.O. so I threw on this outfit.  (It’s quite warm and Spring-ish today so no jacket needed!)  I decided to snap a couple of pics since I haven’t shared this hankie top with you yet.

It’s a pullover style and has to fit loosely (to avoid tearing while slipping it on) because of the delicate vintage hankies, but it’s looser than I would normally prefer.  My concern with too-loose fitting clothing is looking shapeless, but I think it’s okay with fitted pants.  (Dare I say jeggings?  Yes, jeggings.)   Maybe I should add a ribbon belt to cinch it in a bit?

The pattern I used is Simplicity’s Built by Wendy 3835, my fave as you know.

I’ve been terribly sick all weekend and now that it’s Monday I’ve had to drag myself out of bed to try to have a normal workday and now I’m considering braving this rainstorm to go out and get some TheraFlu.  The one good thing about being under the weather is having a cat who loves to cuddle.

Last week I reworked (embellished, rather) a couple of recent projects but it’ll have to wait for better lighting and for me to feel a little bit better to take any photos.  Hope you’re having a great start to the week!

Work has been so busy, I’m seriously behind in my sewing!  But I can’t really complain, work is good.

But I guess I’ve been so consumed by it that I completely missed my Burdastyle Feature–BACK IN OCTOBER.  I know, how embarrassing.  Rachel (who interviewed me) was so sweet and nice and I hope I do not come off as unappreciative by posting a reply to the article 3 months late.

Anyway, if you’d like to take a gander it’s here: Featured Member: thefabledneedle!

How cool is this?  Have you seen it before?

(via Happiness is…blog)

Happy 2012!

I’m starting the year off right by sharing not one but two projects I recently completed. Today is the first official day back to work and I’m simply not ready so I’m posting to the blog instead (being used to working into the night and occasionally on weekends, my slowness into getting back to work is not such a big deal).

First up is another Built by Wendy #3835 dress, this time with the sleeve ties.  Honestly I don’t know why the ties on my version are so long compared to what is shown on the pattern cover.  I really think there is some serious funny business when it comes to companies representing finished garments from sewing patterns, at least there seems to be!  But the super long ties don’t really bother me, not enough for me to redo them (I didn’t notice how long they were while I was stitching them on, oh well).  We’ll see…let’s just say they are very fashion statement-y!

The fabric is a lovely cotton voile in a print that reminds me of the night sky.  I’d probably wear a slip under this is real life because the fabric is thin.  I also made this version super short because I’m realizing that short dresses/skirts really does look better on me (being 5’2″) although I’m super self conscious about my legs.  But I’m I’m feeling particularly modest (or cold) I can wear leggings underneath.

And I just this morning finished this dress:

I took New Look #6022 that I used for a blouse and merged the top of it with the lower half of BBW #3835 because the latter had more shape and is overall more flattering.  The fabric is a super soft denim and I top-stitched with traditional mustard-gold denim thread.

Seams are pinked because I figured serging them would make them kind of stiff.  I almost added patch pockets but decided to keep this one really simple and to keep the focus on the pleat details.

Now I’m going to trace off this new pattern 6022/3835 hybrid so I can make another dress just like it!

I just ran up and down the hallway 5 times with Spoo Kee on my heels (so that he’ll attack me with his hilarious Matrix moves) so I need to catch my breath before I continue on with the gibberish.

*deep breath*

I’ve been enjoying all the year in review-type posts going around lately, and thought about writing one myself, but seeing as how I feel *meh* about 2011 I’m not particularly motivated to do so.  (Don’t get me wrong, 2011 had its highlights, like watching my 2 year old nephew laugh hysterically while my husband karate-chopped bubbles in my parents’ backyard on Christmas morning.)

Some plans I had this past week fell through so it’s been a nice and quiet few days at home.  Initially (and as usual) I dreamed of all the stuff I’d accomplish but here it is, Saturday, and I don’t have much to show for it!  That’s okay, right?

But I do have these jeans to show you.  I feel kind of silly for posting about PUTTING PATCHES ON MY OLD JEANS but my fave pair just turned into my most favorite-est pair ever.

I wore these jeans to the point of the knees busting open and at first I thought: Cool, now I have authentic holey jeans and I did not have to buy them this way–ha! But the big holes really annoyed me, especially went I bent my knees which was a lot of the time.

So in true “make do and mend” fashion I patched them up with an assortment of denim scraps and calico.

Yes, they are a bit 1930s boxcar hobo but that’s not such a bad thing; I rather like it.  Anyway, Happy New Year to all my blog-friends!  Be safe and see you next year.

I really thought I’d have a sewing project to share (I’m making another Built by Wendy #3835 dress, this time with the sleeve ties!) but I simply don’t have time to finish it before Christmas, what with all the last minute gift-wrapping and pie-making going on.  So, I’m just here to wish you all a joyous and safe holiday with your loved ones.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season so far!  I haven’t been a very good blogger lately and posting has been sporadic the last month or two, even for me.  In a nutshell life has been unusually hectic except for this week which has been gloriously slow-paced; I no longer feel like I’m constantly on the verge of having an anxiety attack.  I’ve also been considering re-thinking my blog, its purpose, etc., and haven’t had a lot to say or was feeling too lazy to write, snap photos and the like.   (I’m still in this mode actually.  These photos were taken with my phone and I didn’t even bother to open Photoshop to edit them, ha.)

Anyway, I hosted Thanksgiving for my parents which was nice especially now that we’ve got a real grown-up table, perfectly rustic and charming.  Out came Grandma and Granpa’s wedding china, their Wedgewood candlesticks (that you can see are still there because they look so festive), and a big leafy bowl to show off persimmons from Mom’s garden (she said she left the stems on because she knows I like that sort of thing).

Now it’s onto Christmas.  I HAD to share this darling old-time kitty that came in a set I bought on Etsy.  Isn’t it sweet?  I favorited another item from this shop months ago but at the time I thought it was actually vintage, I had no idea there was such a wonderful variety of these newly crafted ornaments until I spotted them on the Design is Mine blog.

Do you have any plans for this weekend?  For one thing I am NOT working!  I have to say I’m looking forward to catching up on some sewing.

Sarah Sophie Flicker for Stylelikeu.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo (via Helmi Otsalla).