A bag for Easter

I made a bag to go with my Easter dress.  An easy, quick make with a pattern from Sew Sweetness'  Accordion Bag. 

Just a couple Several quick points about this bag -

1. It's super easy to sew.  I had the thought that it would a great pattern for teaching someone to sew.
2. I would call it a medium sized bag (although sizing can be subjective). Personally I like my bags a little deeper, so next time I make this I will adjust my pattern.
3. All fabrics were from my stash and I don't remember where most of them came from.  A good many were just pieces I couldn't seem to let go of.
4. Instructions for the braided piecing was found at Studio Kat Designs. Also pretty easy to do.
5. I added some additional pockets inside.  Next time I may add a zipper pocket on the back exterior.
6. The bag bling came from Emmaline Bags.



 

 

 

with dress and goofy expression

Happy Sewing, Suzanne

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date

Sang the Mad Hatter. I've been feeling sorta like that lately, but that's probably beside the point.  Which is my Easter dress.  I love Easter, it's just full of new beginnings and possibilities.  Which is why you need a new dress for the holiday! or maybe that's just me.

Anyway, this dress is made from a Lutterloh pattern.  If you are not familiar with the Lutterloh system, you basically take two measurements, bust and hips, and enlarge the model using a special tape measure.  Lots more information can be found at Come Sew Lutterloh With Me and www.dressmaking.co.nz.

I have made this pattern before so I knew that it fit pretty well.  Except I have gained some weight since the pattern was drafted, so I just added an extra wide seam allowance at the sides to give me a little extra room to play with. I think it worked pretty well.

See what you think -

eyes closed



eyes squinty

trying to twirl

OK, so the dress is not so twirly, otherwise it's pretty great.  Several things I forgot to mention -

1. I made this longer so was going to add a kick pleat to the back, but must have been in a brain fog when I cut it out.  So a godet was added for some walking room.
2. Although I love the look of the boat necklines, I don't think they are for me.  Trying to keep this one in place all day while wearing was a pain!
3. The print fabric came from best online fabrics again.  The navy has been in the stash so long, I'm really not sure where it came from.

Happy Sewing, Suzanne


Ribbon Skirts

I got some more sewing done, got some help with the pictures, and then didn't have time to post.  Go figure. This is the Ribbon Skirt by J Sterns Designs, I went ahead and purchased this pattern when I bought the Fit the Tee class and pattern from PatternReview.com.

This pattern is super easy and quick to sew.  I made this one in a knit that has floating around my stash for a few years.  I think I got it from Best Online Fabrics.

There are no instructions with the pattern, but there are several instructive blog posts here.

The only alteration I made was to add some length.  I'm 5'10" and I like for my skirts to come just below my knees (the knees need some coverage!).  I added 2' above the hip line, the pattern is drafted to sit at your low waist, but it was going to crawl up to my natural waist so might as well add some length there and let it be.  And I added 3" below the hip line at the shorten/lengthen point drafted into the pattern.  A total of 5".  Everything else sewed up as is.

This is version 1 completed back at the first of March.

 



 

This is version 2, completed several weeks later with the exact same alterations as before.  This fabric also came from Best Online Fabrics.

 

I really like this skirt, and have plans to sew up at least 2 more. I am currently searching the stash for stripes.  I have also received several unsolicited compliments on both of them! Win all around!!

 

And because my photographer threatened to quit on me if I didn't include some of the outtakes, have some fun at my expense ;)

 

Happy Dance

Trying to twirl

 

 

Happy Sewing, Suzanne