MMM13 Week 3 Round Up

We had some cool days this last week in Northern California, which only reminds me that I need to make more tops to go with jeans. All of my skimpy summer dresses left me shivering. What a gal won’t do to wear her Me Made! I ended the week in Santa Rosa with three of my daughters and my two lovely granddaughters. We had a scrumptious Vietnamese dinner, followed by fro-yo at Yogurt Time. We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa and enjoyed the Olympic size pool and hot tub. For fun and laughs we practiced our synchronized swimming routine, which we made up on the spot. I don’t think we’ll win the gold, but it sure was funny!

#Ladies out on the town

Dessert!

Watch our silly routine on youtube. Synchronized Swimming

Week Two MMM13 Round Up

Here’s week two of outfits worn throughout the week for Me Made May 13. Sunday finishes off the runway with a Mother’s Day brunch. My youngest joined us and helped to take the pictures. I was so pleased that she came in the Laurel!

This Week’s Round Up

I have successfully completed the first week of Me Made May 13 and it’s been a blast! The Flickr group of over 360 participants is so much fun to follow. There are so many creative sewists out there! Yeah! I appreciate all of the comments and favs for my outfits and I enjoy commenting on many of the creations made by others. What a talented group!

After the terrible “accident” in Bangladesh, I  am even more determined to make my own clothes and check very carefully the labels on things that I purchase. I do not want to support the garment industries that take advantage of poorer countries. It’s awful. It’s terrible. I’m even more determined to shop locally and support entrepreneurs who make their own crafts and garments and sell in their own boutiques, and other small businesses or on sites like Etsy.

Here’s what I wore for the first week of May!

60′s Flower Power!

60′s Flower Power!

60′s Flower Power!

New skirt for MMM 13

Theme Friday WATER

Polka dot tie top

Polka dot tie top

Top and skirt combo dress

I love yellow!

refashioned from a thrifted Muumuu

I belong to the yellow door club!

Me Made May 13… I’m in!

It’s time for Me Made May 13! Thank you Zoey for coming up with this great social event.

‘I, Barbara aka zibergirl), sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’13. I will endeavor to wear something hand made, refashioned, or upcycled by me each day for the duration of May 2013′

Last year I made a heck of a lot of garments, so there’s a lot to choose from, but I have to stick to season appropriate looks.

During 2012, I made one piece of clothing every week for the entire year. I was a Challenge Contributor along with many other sewers on the  Sew Weekly. Together we shared our experiences and supported each other’s struggles and accomplishments with our sewing adventures. It was amazing! I’m so proud of myself for sticking with it and not missing even one challenge. I consider myself an expert. Ask me if I can make that… and I’ll say yes!

What should I wear tomorrow?

Here is a gallery of all the items I made during the year 2012.

Kool Kazz Queen’s Apron

Shirt for Alex

“Green With Envy” Dress

Guest at Downton Abby Refasion Dress

Mix and Match Crop Pants

Mother Goose Apron

Lacy Collar Blouse and Skirt

A Jumper for Leah

1940′s Upcycle Dress

School Daze Plaid Dress

Polka Dot Dress 1950

Mod Dots Skirt

1920′s Dress

All the Glitters…Blouse

Catalina Keeper Dress

Bicycling Top and Shorts

Pinkytoast Apron

Diamond Jubilee Dress

The Gambler Animal Print Dress

Southern Bell Skirt and Jacket

Happy Valentines Day Skirt/Top

Muumuu with embroidery

Put a Bird on It Tee Shirt

I Remember Mama Dress

Striped Romper

TV Star Elizabeth Montgomery

The Olympics Undergarments

No Service Blouse

Flower Power Maxi Dress

1950 Buttercup Dress

Down Under Top

1960′s Dress

Circle Skirt made from tablecloth

Pink! top

Art/Music Dress

Madmen 1960′s Dress

Frilly Collar Dress

Christmas Coat

All that Glitters Blouse

Purple Corduroy Dress

Made for Regina lace top/Skirt

Skirt upcycle

March Madness Blouse/Skirt

Feels like Fall Sweater/Skirt

It’s all about the Belt and Dress

Vintage Fabric Shirt

1940′s Stop! Dress

Who’s that Admirer? Dress

Gold Upcycled Dress

Western Look 1940′s Dress

Tangerine Tango Dress

1940′s Movie “Marty” Dress

New Years Sparkle Top

Happy New Year 2013 Top

American Shirt Dress Restyled

I scored two of these dresses by American Shirt Dress Company recently at the local senior thrift store. These were made in the 80′s with a 50′s inspiration. I like the fabric, the button up bodice, the full skirt, and the covered belt, but I was never crazy about the big shirt sleeve. Soooo…I thought I would style it more to my liking and make it sleeveless. I used NEWLOOK 6968 bodice pattern  to recut the armhole. I also had do an adjustment to the shoulder seam because the dress had thick shoulder pads and so the original seam went straight across instead of sloping down. This time I made sure to try it on at every step of the way!

I cut bias tape from the former sleeves and used a bias maker to make the folded bias tape. I sewed it to the inside and then folded it over to the front to make a neat finish around the armholes.

To my delight, it turned out perfectly! Soon I’ll tackle the other one.

I’m busy getting ready for Me Made May 13. I did a lot of ironing this weekend and organizing my closet. I moved my winter clothes and fancier outfits to storage and made room for spring and summer looks. It’s going to be fun making everyday of May, “Me Made”. Have you signed up yet? There is a flickr group where we all can share, “Me Made May 13″. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s home sewn looks.

This is my 300 post! Thanks for reading!

Mexican Ethnic Dress

Once a upon a time, about six to seven years ago, I received this precious native Mexican (or somewhere south of there) dress as a gift from a dear friend who lives in Puerto Vallarta. It is totally hand-embroidered and has a very unique fabric manipulation.  The colored threads are  woven  between the weave of the clothe to form that great geometric pattern that you see on the bodice. There’s probably a name for that technique, however I don’t know what it is.

This dress hung in my closet and never so the light of day. I loved it, wanted to wear it, but felt that it was too traditional and a bit frumpy. So I decided to remake it into something I would wear. I have been very busy lately, studying every book I can get from the library on pattern making. My plan was to make sure I had the perfect fit before I cut  into it. I watched several tutorials online, took all of those measurements on the Burda site, and did all the math calculations and geometric drawings. It was quite a learning experience. In the end, I ended up using the bodice pattern from NEWLOOK 6968. I moved the side dart a smidgen, but used the same armhole. I also left the back as one piece and put in a side zipper.

Bodice Muslin

The bodice cut from the dress

I have this habit of not trying things on enough as I move through construction. After putting in the zip, and then trying it on, I was dismayed to find that the bodice sides needed to be taken in, and that the waist was too low. I also had to adjust the skirt to fit the bodice. I unpicked everything, and took out the zipper. (When will I ever learn?)

Finally, a pleasing fit! I tried on several belts and found this one to be the best look. I absolutely love it! All the handwork is so beautiful. It must have taken days and days to do all of that hand embroidery and fabric detail. I’m proud to wear it and display this unique handicraft.

Summer Sheer Dress

Summer Sheer dress by Simplicity SewSimple 2004

Something easy and breezy for the hot days ahead is what I decided to make this weekend. My usual process is to rummage through my pattern boxes and pull 5 or 6 different looks and then look through my fabrics, decide on a match and then jump right in. This time I chose  Simplicity SewSimple #2004. Although it’s a very easy pattern,  I added extra details to make it last longer and fit better.

The fabric is a sheer floral that I purchased at the local senior center thrift. It’s a very delicate rayon, I think. Having sewn with vintage fabric from the thrift before, and then having my seams rip open with the the slightest movement of my body, I have learned that sheers should not be used for very close-fitting, structured garments. Thus, this simple shift with a bodice and gathering on the front and back,  is a better choice.

To give the bodice pieces more body and stability, I cut two fronts and two backs (instead of just one of each), and interfaced  the inside of the bodice front and back. I used the other two as facings. This gave my neck edge a finished look; as I was able to sew the lining to the to the neck and then turn it to the inside.

The front and back of the dress are both cut on the fold and gathered at the center top edge. I sewed the back to the back bodice, and the front to the front bodice. Then, I serged both seams for a clean and reinforced edge. I did French seams on the side seams, serged the hem then turned it under twice, for a tiny top-stitched edge. Finally, I made one-inch bias tape from the left-over fabric to go around the armhole. That was the trickiest part. Sewing it right sides together, then folding it over so the raw edge meets the seam, and then folding it over one more time is a surgical operation. Trying to keep it folded over and sewing evenly around, is difficult with the sheer fabric. I did have to unpick a few wide places, but it turned out great in the end. Slow and steady is the rule when you do that type of sewing.

I also find lovely vintage full slips and half slips at the thrift, which I know I’ll be able to use with one of my sewing projects. This time a pretty pink slip that I shortened a little by serging a folded piece right above the lace around the hem, made the perfect undergarment.

Besides the fabric and slip, the shoes and belt are also found treasures. I love upcycling! It’s so much fun!