Adventures in Vintage Resales... fka adventures in baby-sewing

Now I think this has been one of the hardest years of our lives, not sure why. I spent alot of the year fighting acid reflux, brought on by nerves, I guess, since it was a very rough financial year for us. 2009 saw a lot of people we knew pass on, too, family and friends, and some were very quick from diagnosis to death. That also contributed to my outlook. Despite it all, I have 4 very smart kids, who are too ingenious for their own well-beings, and that also contributes to my frustration. But I wouldn't trade them for the world. Now that past, our 2010 horoscopes, which I half believe, some is coincidence, are good on outlooks, so maybe we'll see some reward for our efforts made in 2009. Let's hope & pray... On the sewing front, I had goals set a year ago: 1. Work on better fitting of clothes for me. - I have learned some fitting skills from books and magazines, made a discovery that princess cut bodices can be my friend, and I look better in semi-fitted items...

We got through it all, my birthday is also past, now I feel like a cold is coming on. I have turned to quilt blocks for today. I am discouraged by the debacle of the dresses, when that happens, I turn to quiltmaking or something else for a bit. Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow.

Got a red velvet jumper this morning for the oldest, have white long sleeve shirt and a similar red velvet jumper in the hand me downs for the baby with it's white shirt. We are good to go. Sometimes sewing just doesn't work out! I am emailing Fabric.com to tell them about the designer techno taffeta being heavy and awful to work with. Maybe they will give a credit :) Pictures should be taken tonight at my mom's, those who are my FB friends can see them once I post them. I do not post their faces to my blog since it is too public. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! Tomorrow is my 42nd birthday, I see a little more gray in the hair, a few more wrinkles, well earned in this life. Ya'll have a great Christmas, celebrate the coming of our Lord for those who are Christian, and for those who are not, enjoy your holidays.

I think I have come to the end of the road on the Christmas dresses. I made the change to the black bodice, but it stretched out so, looked awful, I don't know, it just looks homemade. The baby's is somewhat ok, my older girls' looks homemade. I am going out tomorrow and see what I can find last minute for her to wear. I have plenty for the baby to wear since I saved all the dressup clothes from the oldest. I could use the handmade dress, but what's the point, if the one I buy tomorrow doesn't match. Well let's see what I find...

OK, I have been working on special orders, those are almost done, and the dresses for the girls. After putting most of the older girl's dress together, it is TOO. MUCH. GREEN. I love green, but whoa! So, all morning long, ideas percolated in the brain. I still needed to cut out the baby's dress (yeah, I know Christmas eve is 4 days away!). So, plan B has commenced. I have cut up a stretch velvet black dress I used to wear, it still looked new. That is my bodice for the two. I am putting the baby's together now. I think I will like this better and no lining for the bodice being stretch velvet. I will cut bias facings or shaped facings and be done with it. Now her sleeves are little cap sleeves that are lined, that's ok. Makes getting the sleeves in easy, using a knit. I need to make sure the waist area is interfaced with strips though, because the taffeta is kinda heavy. More later!

I did not get on my camera a photo of my dress, but my friend at the dinner did, so when she emails them to me, I will post it unless I wear it again before that. I am up to my knees in green taffeta for the Christmas dresses. Plus I have 2 special order aprons to make and a baby onesie/blanket set to make before Christmas. I think I am up to about 21 followers. I wonder how many more I can get by 12/31!

Edited: blogger put my photos in reverse order, so the photos and comments are backwards. I would fix it but the kids are fighting and I need to break it up! The finished dress front The closer look at the bodice Back view The correction on back neck facing; I don't know what happened but after inserting the zipper, the tops did not match. At this last moment, the only solution was to fold it down more, trim the facing and I topstitched the back neck only ending at the shoulder seams. I have long hair that will cover the topstitching, the thread color matched perfectly and I pressed the seams in. I could have fixed it better, but the hook/eye were in and ripping this was painful as the colors matched too well. All in all, a great pattern, the bodice fit me out of the envelope so that is unusual. I like the flared skirt, but would have liked a bit more volume. I also would have liked it longer than knee length, so if I make it again, I will add to the hem area. Summerset reco...

No photo on the dress, but it is getting closer. I still have hems to do and zipper to insert, I am currently handstitching the inside midriff facing down to the seam allowance. Some things to note: 1. Sophia Double Knit from Fabric.com is wonderful. Even handstitching a knit is going easy so I plan on hand stitching the hem/sleeve hem. 2. I had added to center front on the skirt but had to redo the stitching attaching the skirt to the midriff in that section to "ease" in the difference. 3. I gave up on the neck facing and steam a seamed it down inside along the seam allowance and the shoulder seam areas. 4. I opted for 16" zipper stopping at the lower edge of the midriff. I had basted in a 22" for fit, it was too bulky along the curve of my backside and stuck out. Now that I remember, I rarely had RTW dresses with that long of a zipper as I usually bought petite dresses. I plan on getting the midriff finished, zipper in tonight and hems tomorrow. Summerse...

The younger you are the less you may morn at the passing, but maybe not. Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sen...

For such short notice, I feel like it went ok. I sold four of these crayon rollups in various prints, these are the two I have left and are in my etsy shop. Sold a variety of things, now I have a better feel for what people are looking for. I may try some other locales in the area. Now, back to S2473 tomorrow...

How to Sew an Extra Layer in Your Garments For Added Warmth - CraftStylish Posted using ShareThis

Here is the close to assembled S2473 in the Sophia Double Knit from Fabric.com in Wine. I love this stuff. It is all conventional sewing machine as my serger is acting up and it sews so easily. Cutting was another issue, though as it was a bit slippery and hard to tell right and wrong sides. I have used the "bow" design element, put it off center a bit more than I wanted, because direct center would have sat on my tummy. This way it falls in the side where it goes down a bit, but is it too much off centered? It is only basted in and could be moved. I also built in some center ease for my tummy, so it drapes a bit on the dummy. The top looks like it will fit fine. I went with a back zip even though I opened the neck a bit more. The facings will not stay down, though. Should I top stitch or just tack down? Would topstitching make it look too homemade? Any feedback or answers would be greatly appreciated.

Ok, Thanksgiving is well over, I have about made all I am going to for the craft sale booth, so I decided to cut out and work on S2473. I decided to use the sophia double knit, has rayon, so it is soft, has some "give", but not too stretchy. I am undecided about the sleeves, cap or 3/4, I went with the flared skirt and will use the tie ends that simulate a belt. I plan on using this next Sunday for the KC Christmas social/dinner. I am lowering the neckline in front somewhat. Now, with the princess seams, do I need to seam finish? What would be best since princess seams are so clipped? Also, with 25% stretch, should I put a back zip like the pattern calls for or a side zip? I need opinions! Also, for some eye candy, this is on its way to me: I am thinking of using some eggplant matte jersey for this one. That may be next on the agenda.