The one that started it all

So, I finally got around to photographing Pendrell #1 for you. It's really a darling little top. I do love this pattern a lot!

I picked up this darling little embroidered white fabric on the sale rack at Jo-Ann's for super cheap. I figured that my first Pendrell would be more of a working muslin but it turned out amazing! It's so comfy that I wore in an all day car ride to Maine back at the end of June. I enjoy wearing it with my Beinget or belted with jeans. It is also great for me since I can wear those multi-strand necklaces. I love the way they look but it's hard for me to wear them since one strand is always hanging awkwardly in my cleavage.

I also got a new bike this weekend. Yay! They actually had a couple of cute retro looking bikes at Walmart but they were only one speed and that wasn't going to happen since I live at the top of a hill. So I got a nice pale blue 21 speed. It's pretty awesome. And it's a girl bike so I can wear skirts on it! Woot! I always enjoy looking cute.

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Summer Essentials Sew-Along in Review

Since the SESA is supposed to be over around August(ish) and I'm going full steam on my Renaissance dress (with a few mini project detours for other people), I thought I'd go ahead and consider it closed for me. I had a lot of fun doing this. I had a really great revelation with respect to sewing practical pieces for my life (with Self-Stitched September in mind!) and I feel like I've gotten tons of stuff done! Plus, I worked in a lab the last three summers and was in serious need of cute summer clothes!!!!

So here's what I've accomplished:

Sweet and Sassy Skirts: 2, 6, 7 and the UFO pirate beignet (Am on the search for the perfect buttons!)
Calm Diggers & Co.: 8
The Sundress: 9
Tees, Tunics & Blouses: 1, 4, 8 and the yet un-photographed Pendrell #1 (EDIT: see here!)
Accessorize Me: 3, 5

The goal was to create 5 pieces and I did 10 so that was great even though I didn't exactly follow my summer sewing plan all that well.

Sew Weekly: Nautical

I was quite excited to find out that this week's Sew Weekly challenge was nautical. Not only was nautical my summer sewing theme, but I had the perfect UFO to whip up! I've been pretty busy and haven't gotten to do Sew Weeklies lately. And after this week, I'll be furiously working on the Renaissance dress and probably won't be doing any more for a while. :(

Anyways, here it is!

Fabric: same as the rest of the Sailor Playsuit
Pattern: Wearing History's 1940s Sailor Playsuit skirt
Year: 1940s
Notions: button
Time to complete: 4 hours
First worn: July 2011
Wear again? Yes! I really love this skirt! I was not planning on loving this part of the playsuit, but it really is a nice 40s shape! And I can totally see it non-nautical in a different color palette.

No bound button holes! I gave in and did machine button holes. H

I also finished another hat last week!

Fabric: 1 yd quilting cotton ($5/yd)
Pattern: Wearing History's Sporty Toppers view IV
Year: 1930s
Notions: 6 buttons ($3), millinery crinoline ($6)
Time to complete: 3 hours
First worn: July 2011
Wear again? Probably. It's really more floppy than I wanted, so I'll definitely look for more stiff crinoline next time. It also ended up a smidge tight around my head, so I'll make the head hole a bit bigger next time. Also, the print on the fabric is not terribly period, but it will be a good sun hat for this summer. I'll probably have another go next summer. And since my hair is so short, it likes to poke awkwardly through the holes in the top.

Outfit:
shirt: Walmart ($5!)
skirt: me made
hat: me made
jewelry: vintage from my great-grandmother

SESA: Pendrell goes 30s

I finally got to try out Casey's tutorial for a scalloped collar on the Pendrell blouse. And it looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself!

Fabric: ~2 yds of quilting cotton reproduction 1840-1860s print ($1.99 /yd)
Pattern: Sewaholic Pendrell view c with 30s style scallop collar (Casey's tutorial based on a picture from this book)
Year: contemporary + 30s inspiration
Notions: button (from stash)
Time to complete: 5 hours
First worn: July 2011
Wear again? Yup, I want to make a self fabric belt but I'm looking for the perfect belt buckle on esty

Total Cost: ~ $4

This tutorial wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I'd never done scallops before! I think the key is to be as accurate as possible while sewing and to press and fidget and press again with your scallops so they look pretty.

Shorts: Banana Republic
Top: me made!
Hat: Forever 21 (seriously, the have good, cheap retro style hats! I have three from there!)

I still have not gotten tired of this pattern! I really want to do a 40s style with poofy sleeves, a peter pan collar and a pelpum! So be on the look out for more Pendrells!

A Pendrell a day keeps the doctor away

..... Or maybe that was something else. Anyways, yesterday I whipped up Pendrell #2! Seriously, I love this pattern. I was worried that it wouldn't be flattering on me since I'm used to more fitted garments, but it looks great!

Fabric: ~2 yds of something shiney and slippery ($1.99 /yd)
Pattern: Sewaholic Pendrell view b
Year: contemporary
Notions: none! (best part about this pattern!)
Time to complete: 4 hours
First worn: July 2011
Wear again? Yes! I expect this blouse (like Pendrell #1) will get lots of use!

Total Cost: ~ $4

I really do love this blouse! It's so easy and has lots of options. And there are no zippers, no buttons, no snaps! I'd suggest this pattern for beginners or pros who want a quick flattering project. I did do an FBA, which is normal for me. Also, for those curvy gals like me, don't forget that the waist needs to go over your chest! I cut out a waist size that was to my bust measurement without any ease. I can feel where the waist hits my bust as I pull it on, but it doesn't get worn there and I do not need more fabric about the waist.

So far, I've worn Pendrell #1 belted every time, but I think I'm going to try leaving Pendrell #2 unbelted for today and see if I like it. This is a really comfortable pattern. Pendrell #1 got worn in the car on the way to Maine! And I've already got plans for #3 using Casey's Scalloped Collar tutorial.

And I'll get around to photographing Pendrell #1 sometime....

SESA: My idea of perfection

When you close your eyes and think of the perfect day, what do you see? A tropical island and a fruity drink? A house that cleans itself? Twenty-four uninterrupted hours of blissful sewing? When I close my eyes, I see this:

Not only is today the first really great day for weather we've had since arriving in Maine, it's also the first relaxing, nonbusy day we've had. And when the weather is nice at grandma's, we hop on down to the pond and a ride on grandpa's boat. And it was heavenly.

I just love being on the water-lake, ocean or pond. There is just this amazing smell of the wind over water. I'm not much for swimming but I do adore being on a boat.

There are heaps of lovely year round homes and summer campsites on the pond. My grandparents live just up the hill and have a bit of land on the pond where they dock the boat.

Seriously, if the weather was like this year round, I'd pick up and move here in a heart beat. But, you know, I don't do well with cold so.....

My grandparents' little beach! It still needs more cleaning out but there's enough for wading!

And here is what I wore on our little boat outing. Not nautical, but still super cute! This was a project I started last week right before I left to bring with me! I hemmed it as my parents arrived to pick me up and sewed on the hook and eyes this morning! I just love circle skirts!

Fabric: 3 1/2 yds black with embroidered cherries from stash ($6/yd)
Pattern: Elegant Musing's circle skirt tutorial
Year: from 1954 booklet
Notions: zipper ($2)
Time to complete: 1 day + 48 hours to hang
First worn:June 2011
Wear again? Yes! I love circle skirts and the cherries are just too cute! The pattern is super simple and I love it. :D
Total Cost: $23

Outfit:
top: New York and Company
shoes: ??? I've had them forever
skirt: me-made
necklace: Charming Charlies

Today is my last day with assured internet as we are leaving for a state park tomorrow. Be sure to check the facebook page for more frequent updates!

Closing the Gaps: Red Beignet

Yay! I finished my first Closing the Gaps project, a red Beignet. The pattern was very easy to work with and would have been completed very quickly had I not decided to do 12 bound button holes. They look good anyways.

Fabric: corduroy ($7) red lining ($4.50) blue gingham facings (left overs from The Perfect Summer Dress)
Pattern: Colette Patterns Beignet
Year: contemporary
Notions: buttons ($2)
Time to complete: 3 days-would have been much faster without the bound button holes!
First worn:June 2011
Wear again? I've already worn it twice! The first time I wore it with the same top but a self fabric belt. I think this is going to be a great wardrobe staple!
Total Cost: $13.50

Outfit:
Top: New York and Company
Skirt: me made
Belt: Cassie Stephens Beltmaker
Shoes: Payless
Hair flower: Belle Blossoms

Happy Birthday Blog!

So today is my 1 year blog anniversary! I can't believe I've been doing this for a year already! It's crazy! It just so happens that I've finished some fun projects to share with you today!

First up, the long awaited Wearing History Sailor Playsuit! Yay! I've finished the shorts and top with the skirt still on the to do list.

Please excuse the wrinkles!

Fabric: Something blue, a bit stretchy and wrinklier than I thought it'd be. full cut for entire project ($50) though it looks like I'm going to have tons extra (so ~$27 for this part)
Pattern: Wearing History 1940s Sailor Girl Playsuit Pattern
Year: based off 1940s pattern
Notions: zipper ($2.50), buttons ($5), trim ($2), bias binding (from stash)
Time to complete: The shorts I whipped up in 1 day. Not sure on the top as I had to wait for trim to arrive.
First worn:June 2011
Wear again? Yups. I'm terribly excited about the shorts in particular! They fit great. Just a couple of tweaks and they'll be perfect. I'm sure I'll wear the shirt too but likely not as much since it's too short for modern waisted bottoms. Guess I'll have to make more high waisted ones. ;)
Total Cost: $36.50
I opted for bound button holes on the shorts. They are not perfect but it's definite an improving skill, especially since there are quite a few more on the skirt! My machine makes crap button holes so these are the hole of choice.

I choose to finish the sleeves in bias binding tape, which is quickly becoming my favorite finishing for this seam. I only had red left in my stash, so that's what I used. It doesn't show anyhow.

This trim was a bit of a pain to get straight, but I'm pretty pleased with the results of the collar. The shorts pocket is a bit wonky, but c'est la vie.

Next go around with this pattern, I'll make the waist a bit smaller on the shorts. The front fits well, but there's a bit of gaping in the back. Like the Smooth Sailing pattern by Wearing History, there is a lot of ease in the shorts. I ended up making the shorts less curvy in the hip area and I was already two sizes smaller than the measurements given on the pattern would indicate I should use. So, if you are waffling between pattern packets due to your hips, you can probably go with the smaller one. I also raised the crotch by 2 inches. I really love how these came out and I'm planning on drafting them into pants. For pants, I'll probably narrow the legs a bit more.

The top fits ok. Next time I think I'll do a bit of a FBA. I really wanted to say with the blousey feel original to the pattern but I'd like a bit more ease in the chest. The neck hole is quite small. My head fits but there's no hope for my hair and I get make up all over it. :( I also added extra ease to the hip area, and I probably didn't need to. The sleeves fit great!

The blouse directions were pretty good. This pattern includes original pictures, which helps. The short directions are a bit slim if you've never sewn shorts or pants before. The Smooth Sailing pattern has more detailed directions. Having made those before, I was good to go, but I'd not suggest the shorts directions for a beginner.

Next is my first completed embroidery project!

It's a head band. The sewing part is pretty low. It's just a tube of fabric that gets tied around the head but the embroidery was time consuming! It took me about 4 days of at least 5 hours a day to finish. Hopefully I'll get speedier.

See, all of that blasted satin stitching took forever! But it looks good. :) I think this is going to be a great summer staple, even if the long ties look a bit funny with short hair.

Anyways, these three pieces are going to be part of the Summer Essentials Sew Along. Woot! The goal set for us is 5-ish pieces, so I think I'll be good. ;)