Lace Top

 Hello Readers. I needed a simple dressy evening look for a night out on the town. I didn't have a ton of time to spend on it but I wanted something pretty. and comfortable! This lace top was just the thing. 

 Before and after.  

 This top had a beige lining in it originally. It was acetate and that is hot, sweaty, and irritates my skin.  (I need to breathe.) It also looks like my skin a little like I am not wearing anything under the top. I decided to cut the lining out of the top and wear something else under it.

 It was simple to cut out the lining. I slowly worked my way around the top until the lining was cut away.  

I added elastic to make puffed sleeves. It just seemed more dressy and more feminine.

 I threaded the elastic through the hem of the sleeve and tied the ends together. 

The elastic is comfortable but gathers the sleeve and makes a little puffed sleeve.  

Apologies for the bad photo. I wore my new top over a tank top and went out to see a show with my daughter. It was a great evening. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.  

Quick Evening Dress

 Hello Readers. I was going to New York City and needed a nice evening look. I am getting dinner and a show. This dress seemed perfect but why is it so long???

 

Before and after.

 This dress was too long. I gave it a big cut in length, I wanted long but not this long. 

 I can't be dragging my dress own the side walk in New York City. Gross!

 

When my dress was cut it needed a new hem.

  

 I used my serger machine to sew around the bottom. I folded the edge under and sewed it down. Knits like this don't fray but I wanted to look nice and neat. I didn't have a ton of time to get myself packed and organized so a simple cut and hem was perfect for this night out. 

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.  

Travel Wardrobe NYC Edition

 Hello Readers. I wanted to make some new tops to wear around New York City as I explored the city. I made some simple t-shirt style tops using my favorite pattern. I used a pattern I knew I could rely on and put together quickly.  

 

I was in New York City for 3 days so I wanted 3 tops. I bought these fabrics recently and wanted to make some new casual shirts. Traveling got me inspired to sew.  

This shirt was perfect for fall.  

 These mushrooms were so cute! I used this Very Easy Very Vogue 8062 pattern for both of these shirts.  

I wanted to combine the blue and pink spools of thread in one shirt so I used the Chelsea pattern from Fabric Store. com. It is a raglan pattern so I was able to mix the 2 fabrics easily. 

These spools of thread were irresistible at the fabric store. I had to bring them home. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.  

 

 

 

 

Using a Duvet Cover for Clothing

 Hello Readers. I found this duvet cover at Goodwill months ago. I loved the colors and it was 100 % cotton. (Yay for natural fibers!) I didn't need a duvet cover, I just wanted it for sewing clothing. I took it home and now I can show you how I used it and what I made. 

Duvet cover or 2 piece set, you decide.  

Look at the beautiful design. It is light weight cotton and great for the heat of late summer/early fall but the color is perfect for the changing season's vibe and style. 

 

I used this pattern for my top. It is Very Easy Very Vogue 8062. I have made the t-shirt many times but this time I am making the sleeveless top. 

 

I used this pattern for the pants. It is Simplicity 8175. I liked the cropped wide leg on the cover. You can use any pattern you want but make sure you are using fabric that suits the pattern you want. This duvet cover doesn't have any stretch. It wouldn't make nice leggings or a great swim suit. 

 

The back of the pattern will tell you how much fabric to use but also what kind of fabric to use. The woven cotton of this duvet is cotton and a similar weave to linen, which is named in the pattern. I am all set. 

 

There should be plenty of fabric for both my pieces but choosing a cropped pant and a sleeveless top means I won't need quite as much fabric as longer pants and long sleeves. These patterns don't need a lining or double layer which would also take up a lot more fabric. When cutting my pieces with the rotary cutter I was careful to avoid the change in the design. It might look great as a border at the hem of the pants or at the waistband but an area of solid brown that ended up in the crotch would ruin the whole look. Be careful when you cut out fabric with a design, the pattern can look different when it is sewn into a garment. I used only the floral areas of the duvet cover so it would all be the same pattern. You should also watch out for the open end of the duvet cover. It may have buttons, ties, or a zipper to close it up. Make sure all of that doesn't get in the way of your pattern pieces.

 

I cut out and sewed up my pants completely before I made my shirt. I didn't want my pants half finished and then not have enough fabric to finish because I had already cut out my top.

When my pants were fully finished I cut out my top and sewed it together. I could have just cut everything out but if I made a mistake and needed an extra pant leg, I couldn't have been able to cut it out if I was out of fabric. 

When I was finished with everything, I had some extra fabric. I decided to make bias tape with that extra. I didn't do this until I was completely done with my pants and top. I could have used store bought bias tape if I didn't have extra fabric to finish the armholes or neckline.

 

To make your own bias tape you can cut stripes of fabric at a 45 degree angle and then sew them together. Line up the 2 pieces like this and sew diagonally at the corner to connect them. 

 

I cut off the excess fabric where I had sewn the strips together. You can see how they make one continuous strip of fabric. Connect as many pieces as you want or need for your project. 

 

Bias tape is single fold or double fold. You can fold and iron your bias tape based on what you need. It's easy to put together and costs nothing if you use fabric you already have on hand. 

  

My new outfit came together easily and you would never know it came from a duvet cover. This was a great source of fabric and more economical than buying fabric from a fabric store. Take your time and you can make some beautiful garments no matter where you source your fabric. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Maximize Your Closet Space

 Hello Readers. I think everyone would like more closet space. If there is someone that doesn't want more storage or more closet space... I have never met them. Let's make every inch count in the closet. I don't want any wasted space in my house.

I am going to use every inch of my closet. Let me show you how I did it.

 

 I have lived in this house for 23 years, why have I not used this empty wall space. It could be used for hanging or storing something more than these 2 ties. 

 

This closet really isn't that large but it has some shelf space and some hanging space for clothes. but there was no nice and neat way to store bags and purses. It was always a mess. 

 

I know, it looks really bad. I tried to hang some on the end here, but some were still on the shelves. It isn't easy to find things in a messy situation like this.

 

I began by asking my lovely assistant to help me. He has been helping me for about 30 years so he is used to it. I wanted to hang bags above the doorway inside my closet and also down each side of the doorway. It's going to be a rainbow shape around the closet door. He marked out measurements using the ruler on a level so we can hang the hooks evenly spaced apart. My hooks will be about 6-8 inches apart. If you have small bags to hang, or scarves, necklaces, hats or ties, you might want a different configuration. You can use you closet wall space for anything you want to hang, your wardrobe will probably show you what you need to hang. Find the messiest pile and start there. When you hang items up on the wall, it isn't a mess anymore. It's now an easily accessible accessory center. 

 

We drilled small holes in the wall to start. These holes are spaced the way I wanted but it doesn't need to be perfect, it's just the inside of my closet. It's not plastic surgery. These holes are for the anchors and screws to go in. 

 

We hammered in the anchors. These will help the screws stay in the drywall better. The bags I am hanging are not very heavy, they are empty after all, but I do want them to stay securely hung for a long time. 

 

These are the hooks I used. They were simple and a good size but you can use any hooks you want. 

 

 Seriously, you could use anything you want. This is actually meant to hold a hand rail on a stairway. Rummage through your junk drawer and use whatever you have. You could use nails but they can be rough and scratch your bags or you if you hit one by mistake walking into your closet. Be careful and choose something safe for your space. 

 

Now it is time to hang the hook. We drilled the screw into the anchor we hammered into the wall earlier. The anchor will keep the hook in the wall even if I put items on and take them off over the months and years.  

 

Here is a look at the hooks on the right side of the closet door. And of course my handrail holder. It's odd but I think it will work great, it will be able to hold a bag with a wide handle easily. 

 

I started hanging up all the bags I needed or wanted to keep. This was a good opportunity to get rid of a few and donate them. 

 

The bags are nice across the top of the doorway and down each side. They fill in the wall space. The bags are not in my way or blocking anything else and I can see them all easily. It is nice to have them all within reach. I like to change my bag often and this makes it easier to do that. This space would be just as useful holding a hat or tie collection. They would all be easy to see and grab while getting dressed. 

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tank Top Vogue 8062

 Hello Readers. When I tell you that I like this pattern, I actually LOVE this pattern. I have made the t-shirt so many times... but I had never made the sleeveless top/tank top. That seems like an over-site on my part so I decided to try it out. 

This is the greatest pattern ever, IMHO!

I bought just enough of this fabric to make this tank top and not much more. I could not make my usual t-shirt so I decided to try the tank top of the same Vogue pattern. I am glad I did because it's just as great as the t-shirt.  

This pattern calls for neck facing to finish the neckline and I don't like neck facing. It feels kind of weird in the shirt. I decided to make bias tape to finish my neckline and arm holes. I could use store bought or I could take a lot of time, cut lots of narrow strips, and put together my own bias tape. The upside is that the bias tape matches the shirt exactly. 

 

I had fun with this shirt and I even has leftover bias tape for another project in the future. 

 

I know fall is here and we are all enjoying our pumpkin spice lattes but it's actually about 90 degrees Fahrenheit where I live. It won't cool down until the end of September so this sleeveless top is perfect for right now. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.