August Sewing

Yep, I really did sew this month annnnnnddddddddd learned some new things. 

You would think since I have been sewing for quite some time and can make a corset that I would be really good at clothing....alas, not yet. Especially when it comes to fitting myself and altering patterns.

I took the first step (or 2 or 3) and now I am hungry for more. 

Pic time.....

Made two little dresses for Africa. 

I followed the directions on Nancy's Notions

First step.....

maxi skirt made out of preruffled fabric with a yoga waistband....thank you pinterest

Steps 2 and 3.......

Made a full bust adjustment

Added a dart where there wasn't and took a little width out of the upper chest

As you can see, it took me a little bit of trial and error.

Practice, practice, practice

The one on top (smaller) is the before, the bottom is the after

The before showed WAY too much belly for me to pose...lol

The after is a comfy fit, the side seams hang straight and the side length matched and everything........AWESOME!!!

A few tweaks:
          the bust dart needs to be lowered about a .5". I may leave it as is....
          the dart "legs" need to be shortened about 1.5"....need
          Things get a little wide when you do a FBA, so I will tweak on the "good" fabric

I just may have a plaid linen Eva Dress before the week is out!! EEEE

Also, Polly's quilt camp is this week and I think I am going to try my hand at a disappearing hourglass.

Love the color choices of Lynn of Alamosa Quilter

 Now to get my hand on a solid layer cake or cut a bunch of 10" background squares..........

First Muslin: Claire Cami Dress

WWweeeelllllllllll, I knew I needed to do a full bust adjustment (FBA), but I need to make it really full. LOL  For all you sewistas that are experienced with this kinda thing.....feel free to leave me TONS of advice. This is my very first attempt at regrading and cutting and slashing to bring a pattern up to the right size. This one says 44" bust, but I am only at 46" and this feels more than two inches too tight. LOL

 First, the dress pattern. Sew Serendipity's Claire Cami Dress

Now, the muslin:

As you can see, this sucker rides up pretty high and is pretty tight

FBA plus some width is definitely needed. 

Sooooo not loving the sweetheart neckline.That's gotta go bye-bye, just sayin.......

Yep, from this angle it looks like I need to add 3-4 inches to get the front to hang properly.

More added to the front than the back.

Arm holes have gaping which may settle once the top fits properly, but they may need to be re-cut because they actually fit pretty good and I don't want them to get all ginormous after alteration group number one.

 The back isn't too bad. Because the front is VERY undersized, it pulls the back forward. The upper back fits really well, the lower back could use another inch of ease since this will be a pull over. 

At least that is the direction I'm leaning toward.

I like where the waist band is located on my back, I don't want to lower it if I can avoid it.

This means I may have to dart in more than one place in the front. 

One at the side bust and one at the side waist that it can be eaten up in the seam allowance so I can keep the side seams the same length.

Making the waist a little wider is a piece of cake for this kind of dress. LOL Although, there is enough built in ease, that I may not have to add much, if any to the skirt part.

Like I said at the beginning, any and all input is more than welcomed cuz I am one apprehensive little sewista!

Off to read through my fitting books and blog land.  Wish me luck!!

 The adjustments that need to be made. I need and fba and a total of 4" added in the width.
Getting rid of sweetheart neckline, it's just too dang high to work as a sweetheart.
Now, who's coming to my house to help me do this?? I'll cook!! Seriously! ;-)

What's on my sewing table

Okay, it's really my dining-room table with a big ol' cutting mat on top of it. LOL
I am sewing for myself....me....I.....yo.....Ik....mich...moi


I used an old, torn, bed sheet as my muslin. I hate wasting fabric so this feels better than something I have to ''waste."  I know it isn't really waste when you are trying to get your fitting skills from non-existent to proficient, but still, ya know?

The Claire Cami Dress: traced, pinned and ready for the scissors.

See, it really does take up the whole table.

Yes, I have two fitting books out and I emptied two pincushions because I am pinner extraordinaire!


What's on your table? Hope it's something fun!