Summer Wardrobe Plans

Hey everybody! I'm getting ready to send out the patterns to the giveaway winners but I got distracted by seeing summer sewing plans on other blogs. Typical ADD kicking in for me. lol The weather here in Maryland has been increasingly summer-like and I'm realizing that my wardrobe is not well suited for the weather. I need to make a plan for things I need to carry me through the next 3 months or so.

Here's what I'm starting with in my wardrobe already:
Lots of tops and tanks
4 cotton cardigans
3 cotton shorts that don't fit well
1 cotton blend capri pants that are a little snug
2 bathing suits that don't fit
Lots of skirts
Lots of dresses
2 bras that fit perfectly
1 pair of sandals
1 pair of flats
1 pair of sneakers that need replaced
2 pairs of dress shoes

So, considering the above I already see the plan I need to make. I will be attempting to make some bottoms as I love shorts and capris in summer. It gets pretty hot here, especially in late June through July. Less is more, for sure, during that time of year. Also, the pool at my mother in-law's is open and I haven't gone swimming yet because my suit doesn't fit! That's just a crime! I need to make a bathing suit right NOW! I also need some shoes. After I broke my foot last August I haven't been able to wear shoes with flexible soles unless I can put carbon fiber plates under the insoles. I need to figure out what exactly I want and go from there with figuring out what I can find that in to work for my feet. I also need to buy a couple more bras. I finally found one that fits me like it was custom made for me: the Panache Tango II Plunge. I figure buying one a month until I have enough would be good considering my budget.

My tentative sewing plans:

For the shorts and capris I will probably use Simplicity 3435 from the early 1960s. If I use the pattern I will be using views 1 and 3. I have some stretch cotton twill in navy and olive. The navy I have enough for the capris and maybe shorts. The olive I have enough for shorts. I'd like to get some khaki stretch poplin for the bottoms as well. The pair of capris I have are the perfect length for me. I'll be using them with the pattern to make sure the ones I make hit me where I like on my legs.

I have some olive print ITY that is perfect for bathing suits in my stash. Have you seen the AMAZING Bombshell Bathing Suit pattern by Closet Case Files? The blue version is so 1950s glam! My jaw hit the floor when I saw it. It's exactly what I've been wanting to make for myself! I bought it right then and there. I also placed an order with Sew Sassy for lining, elastic and poly laminate foam to make my own cups for support (I just can't find any big enough for my girls). Closet Case Files is also hosting a sewalong. I'll be participating.

If the olive suit turns out well I plan to make a leopard one and maybe a gold or copper lamé one.

So, that's what I think I'll be sewing for summer. Right now on the table I have my Gatsby inspired robe to finish. It just needs the sleeves hemmed and a closure added. I want to do the lingerie I planned to go with it (vintage styled knickers and a bralette or cami) but the satin I bought is a nightmare to sew and I'm not sure I'm up for dealing with it right now. Luckily I have a lacy slip that will match the robe already.

Other plans for the summer include hopefully going to the beach for a weekend with all the kiddos (step-kids, too) and I want to teach my almost 9 year old daughter to sew. I want to start with hand stitches with her then get her a very basic machine to learn on after she gets the hand stuff down. I also want to try to fix my serger. I think one of my loopers is bent. I got the serger for free so I don't want to spend anything taking it to a shop. I figure I like to tinker and figure out how things work so I'll try to fix it. It's already not working right so what do I have to lose? lol  My job is going well. In mid-July I will be switching from day shift to night shift. I've never worked nights before, so it should be interesting. Hopefully I can adapt to it ok.

Do you have any sewing or crafty plans for summer? Or maybe winter if you are in the other hemisphere? Leave me a comment and let me know what you plan to make.

100 Facebook Fans Giveaway Winners!

First, thank you everyone who entered! I appreciate your interest and support so much! I opted to draw based on who was interested in what pattern, in order to make sure everyone had a chance to get what they wanted most. If a person who won the first was interested in both they were immediately removed from the second pattern's list of potential winners. All entries were assigned a number based on the order they were received. Without any further delay let's get to announcing the winners.

The following people were interested in the first pattern (their entry number is in parenthesis) :

Alethia (1, 5)
Kimberly (2, 3, 4)
Ruth (6)
Allison (7)
Rochelle (8)
Jacqueline (9)

And the number drawn was:

 

Congratulations Rochelle New!! 

The following people were interested in the second pattern:

 

Alethia (1, 5)
Kimberly (2, 3, 4)
Beccie (6)
Ruth (7)
Allison (8)
Angela (9, 10, 11)
Pamela (12, 13, 14)

Jacqueline (15)


And the number drawn was:

 

Congratulations  Kimberly Olson!!

Winners, you have 48 hours to contact me by facebook message through the Sew Damned Creative page. If a winner does not contact me in that time I will select a new winner for the unclaimed pattern on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.

Thank you everyone for your participation and congrats again to the winners! Stay tuned to my blog and my facebook page because I plan to host another giveaway (to be announced soon).

CLOSED: 100 Facebook Fans Giveaway!

If you follow my Facebook page you'll know that I said from the very beginning that once I reached the 100 likes milestone that I would host a vintage pattern giveaway. In the wee hours of this morning my page reached, and surpassed, the 100 likes mark! I'm so excited! To celebrate that I want to offer two readers a vintage dress pattern in thanks for their interest and support.

The first pattern is a 1940's Simplicity pattern, numbered 2741, for a scooped neck shirtwaist dress in either evening/ankle length or tea length with short or 3/4 sleeves and detachable cuffs/collar. It is size 14, bust 32 inches, and is partially cut (very neatly). The envelope is in sad shape, but the pattern is in great condition. No instructions are included (sorry, they are just missing and were when I purchased the pattern) but it is a simple dress to put together from what I can tell.

Pattern 1

The second pattern in this giveaway is another Simplicity pattern, but this one is from 1958, numbered 2538. It is the perfect Marilyn Monroe halter style dress! It is a size 16, bust is 36 inches, and has skirt length variations and an optional cummerbund. The pattern is partially cut and in great shape. The envelope has some tears but is still intact.

Pattern 2

Official giveaway rules:

1. Giveaway is open internationally.
2. Must like Sew Damn Creative on Facebook and leave a comment on this post letting me know you have done so.
3. For an extra entry, tweet this post and comment with a link to your tweet.
4. For an extra entry, pin this post on Pinterest and comment with a link to your pin.
5. You can combine your links and like comments into one, but I must have the links for extra entries to give you credit.
6. Giveaway will be closed on Friday, June 7, 2013 at Midnight EST. 
7. Winners will be announced by no later than Sunday, June 9, 2013. Announcement will be done via blog post and on the Facebook page.

Life at 35

It's been around a month since my last post and that was NOT how I had planned things. My husband had to have emergency eye surgery for a detached retina and helping him, along with picking up the slack while he healed, literally took up almost all of my free time for the past 4 weeks. He has been doing everything just like he is supposed to, and it has helped him recover as quickly as possible. I'm so immensely proud of him! I also home school the girls. Oh, and I started my job this week, so free time was certainly at a premium.

Yesterday was my 35th birthday. Normally for my birthday I host a Tiki Party. With everything that's been going on (Hubby's eye and me starting my job) I decided not to do that this year. Instead I opted for going out with Hubby and close friends for dinner and drinks at National Harbor. I made that decision 2 weeks ago. A week ago I decided I would make myself a dress for the occasion. I scoured my stash and found some rayon challis yardage that I had bought probably 15+ years ago for a dress that never got made, some white cotton broadcloth, and McCall's M6277. I also found a zipper that was right for the pattern and I already had thread that matched the rayon perfectly. What?! I can make a nearly free dress?! Yeah, I was all over that!

Here's what I ended up with:

I love it! It is so incredibly comfortable! It's lined (except those awesome flutter sleeves) with the cotton. It's a good thing, too! Normally the end of May is around the mid 80's (Fahrenheit) but yesterday might have hit 60 degrees! And it was in the LOW 50's by the time we got to National Harbor. I had to buy a jacket after work yesterday! I got this one on clearance for $19.98 at Target. An XL fit me almost perfectly. Just need to shorten the sleeves a smidgeon.

It was gloomy and cloudy and threatening rain all day and well into the night. What a yuck day, but I still made sure I had a wonderful time in spite of Mother Nature. We had dinner at McCormick & Schmick's (it was delicious and I completely overstuffed myself) and then went to Harrington's Pub & Kitchen for drinks and music. It was a great time and I had simply the best company!

I consider myself a strong intermediate seamstress and decided to follow instructions to the letter on this pattern (I almost never do that). The pattern for the dress is rated as Easy. I'd say that is mostly true. Key word is "mostly," though. The lining instructions are a little wonky, and as I'm not extensively experienced in lining, I got a bit confused. I had to unpick the lining at the start of the process but I was able to figure it out. I think the instructions need better pictures of the armhole attachment of the lining for it to be a truly easy/novice friendly pattern. I also had an issue with the neckline (View C's V-neck) completely stretching out of shape in the rayon. There was nothing noted in the pattern instructions about stay-stitching the neckline for that view and it really should be corrected to add that. Otherwise you end up with what I got... a very strangely gaping neckline if you use rayon challis as suggested on the pattern. I ended up purchasing some gold-tone and purple enameled clip earrings and using them as dress clips to convert the neckline from V to a sweetheart style. Worked great as a fix.

I had to make some adjustments, of course. It's a princess seamed dress so it was super easy to do. I had to narrow the back and shoulders a little. I had to add more to the bust. I cut it at an 18 for the shoulders and bust and tapered to a 20 for the waist and hips. I had to alter the hip curve a bit. It was high on the pattern compared to where my hips curve most. Otherwise the waist and hip were perfect. I liked it having some ease and ended up not inserting the zipper because I could slide it over my head without any problem. The belt/sash cinches it just fine. I also shortened it just about an inch or so. It's a great, comfy, spring and summer dress. I'm so glad I made it! The simply best part of the dress is those sleeves. They flow when I walk and swish when I turn. AMAZING! I will probably make a version without the flutter sleeves as a basic, though, with the zipper and a little more fitted. I'll make sure I stay-stitch that V neckline, though.

I sometimes get asked "Do you feel any older?" on my birthday. You know, I literally felt AWESOME. I really believe I improve with age. I'm proud to be 35. I've earned every fine line and gray hair I'm developing. I've had an amazing life and it just keeps getting better.