LWD Completed also January's Garment AGAM (Pic Heavy)

Completed

These two dresses from the Chanel Spring/Summer 2014 RTW Collection were the inspiration for my design. I was/ am loving both the textiles and and silhouette. So I had to have mine.

So I have finally finished my dress. It only took me a month ( being sarcastic here).  I first had to redraft my knit top sloper. For one I have gotten a bit smaller since I perfected my first one last summer and two I needed a lower hip for this dress. Then I took like two weeks off due to the only thing that can get in the way of me and my sewing... FAMILY.

Once I was back in the studio, cutting out was a lot easier than I expected. I think this is my first time cutting out single layer, I basically treated the fabric as though it was a plaid. What took me a lot longer than I expected was matching and hand sewing the seams. Other than that sewing this dress was quite easy. The main body and skirt portion is made up of a polyester ruffle knit. For the sleeves, neckband and skirt band I used a cotton knit. The skirt band is made up of two layers to help give it support.


Quick Stats:

• Self drafted dress
• 8 pattern pieces (front, back, sleeve, neckband, front skirt band, back skirt band, front skirt, back skirt)
• Sleeves are just below elbow
• Dress is ankle length
• Semi fitted design
• This was my own design inspired by Chanel S/S 2014 Collection

 For the fabric I used both a cotton knit and a polyester ruffle knit I got  here in Riyadh. You can get your own from fabric.com. I had been eyeing this fabric for probably at least a year and I really wanted after seeing MazzyGirl's review. I have at least another meter left I think a simple tee maybe in mines or one of my daughter's near future.

Cut single layer since I need to match the ruffles on the side.

breaking out the good shears

I almost pulled a Jennifer Lawarence , ruining my dress with doritos dust.

I had to pin and hand sew every seam to keep it from slipping under the machine

Matched Side Seams

Cotton Knit Band

Front Plain

Back

LWD

Until next time, happy sewing...

December's AGAM

I'm mostly done with November's garment and it has been for a while but I have not been in the my little studio for a while so I'll just post it with December's garment.

For December I plan to continue my self drafted pattern route and this time its one of my projects from Design-It Yourself Clothes.

The Betsy Jacket

Make A Garment A Month November

For my November garment I'm planning a boat neck / bateau neckline top. It will be very similar to New Look 6808 which I have made up a few times and is one of my favorite patterns but its not mine, my draft and the fit is still not perfect. So I'll be using my own top pattern that has taken me months to draft, fit, adjust, fit again, and adjust some more. The front fits like a glove but the back still needs work, its still a work in progress but its so much better than anything I could get in ready to wear and beats hacking away at a ready made pattern. I don't know what it is but I just love making my own patterns. If I had the training I think being an indie patternmaker/designer  would be my calling. I mean sometimes when I get maybe an hour or so in my little studio to work on a pattern, I can get so caught up in it that 1 hour has turned into 2 hours and I still don't want to leave but I have just made dinner late oops. I heard that if there was something you could do all day without being paid and loved it then that would be your dream career and that is how I feel about sewing and patternmaking.

Anyway so here is my mood board sort of for November.
Until next time, happy sewing...

Make a Garment a Month My Garment for October

So here is my completed October garment for the AGAM sew along. I'm pleased with how my first attempt at this jeans skirt went but for the next one I am going to change some things up. First off is that extra long fly, I did go by the book for adding it but in none of my RTW jeans or skirts do I have a fly that long. Next up are the front pockets, I did draft them correctly and exactly how I wanted them but they are not usable . I forgot to take into account pocket depth, so while I can put something in them there is no guarantee that it will still be in there after a good walk, hey I'm still learning. I was also able to draft a shaped waistband and the fit is so much better.






The top that you can partly see is the muslin for my DIY Clothes basic shirt. I'm still working on it because of some many changes that I needed to make for it. Still even the final top won't be done for a while since I need to go notions shopping to get some much needed buttons.
Now time to start thinking about November's AGAM piece.

Until next time, happy sewing...

A Garment A Month Project for October Is....

Fashion Pictures Courtesy of Pinterest

A denim/ jean style skirt again. I say again because last year I attempted this project and ended up with horrible results that left me scared for a few months. But I can't let one failure keep me from trying again. I just love skirts especially denim ones, they work so well in my line of work ( read: SAHM with a busy and wild bunch). And like jean pants they are easy, comfortable, fashionable and very versatile. Unlike last year I will work entirely from my own pattern or using my patternmaking books to help me instead of ready made patterns, so this will be completely self drafted so I know it will work.

For those of us that prefer ready made patterns here is a bit of denim skirt inspiration:

Vogue 8697

Butterick 5649

McCall's 5431

Independent pattern companies:

Colette Patterns Beignet

Hot Patterns P&S Slouchy Fly Front Skirt

Grainline Studio Moss Skirt

Until next time, happy sewing...