Handworks Crochet and then Some!

I have made both of these patterns before. I love them! The shirt is from BWOF issue 3/08 and the pants from BWOF issue 7/03. This is obviously an evening outfit... but I have made these patterns in more casual fabrics. The pants are especially versatile! I have made them in a plain jersey for yoga pants, a small plaid stretch knit for casual and so on.... I made the pants this time with this textured, stripped knit and I added an extra big flair at the bottom for a dresser look. The top is a stretch metallic fabric. It has the burnt out looking holes in it with a black netting. Awesome fabric! The Bald Man has been waiting a year now for me to make something out of it... he picked it out for me while we were in Miami at Rex's fabrics. You do not want to know the cost per yd of this stuff!!! It took me so long to make something with it because I was afraid to cut it!!! The last top I made with this pattern I used a separating zipper for the front closure. This time I used this ho...

Just sharing a little bit of my awesome thrift store and used book store finds!!! I also got some pretty nice lining fabrics and a nice knit at the thrift store ! I think bargain shopping is so much fun! I like the "hunt" I guess... makes the finding good stuff extra sweet! Check out ALL these patterns I got!! McCall's 5384 is great! It was super easy... went together like a dream... I did take ALOT off the waist though... it was way too big and I felt like I was in a tent before I took the inches off. I will be making this again. Its great with the Burda pants I made a couple of week a ago. I'm rocking my boots with this outfit... I love boots.... and coats.... these 2 things are the ONLY 2 things I like about winter! I have actually made 2 more things this week... and they turned out really great and I want to post them so bad! But they are Christmas presents for 2 people that follow my blog... (Bald Man and my Mom)... so it'll have to wait! ********************...

Kwik Sew 3485 The first time I've ever made a blazer... and it was pretty easy! Not at all what I expected.... so I should be proud, right???? And I would be proud had my dear husband not asked me to make it with yoda Star Wars fabric! I have wanted to make a blazer for awhile... and I really wanted to make one in fleece when I saw Kit's from Project Runway for the men's challenge they did! BUT.... not yoda fleece!!! I mean... just look at it.... And he's so darn happy with it! I guess thats what matters.... and it goes with the yoda hoodie I made him last year and his yoda toboggan! See a pattern here??? From a construction stand point I am really proud of it and want to make him another one in normal fabric! My son has also asked for made of white linen.... to go with his Panama hat! lol!! But really.. I'm just glad at 14 he's asking me to make him anything to wear! Y'all know how teenagers are sometimes! Here's a top I made last year from this Silh...

Here's my new baby... The babylock cover stitch machine!!! It runs quite, sews like a dream... For those of you who follow my blog you know I have the Babylock Evolve which has cover stitch abilities.. but I have to convert it.. and I'm lazy. I sew ALOT of knits!! So with the money I made off of a couple of costumes I bought this! And its love!!!! Adding a new machine means re-organizing my sewing rooms to make it work... so my stash got re organized too... check out how neat it looks now!! Actually we're re organizing alot of the rooms in our house... here's the Bald Man in his new office! LOL!!! You can't even walk in there! Also.. I joined the Sew Craft Blog ! I'm in group three and looking forward to meeting new seamstresses and fiber artists!

This is a cute shrug I'm working on for a lady... she's singing in a wedding and wanted a red velvet jacket/shrug to go over her black dress. I finished the shrug, but it looked so plain. So my little knitting machine whipped up this "trim" of yarn to go around the edges. Gives the jacket that "something" extra! So my mom has got me on the weaving band wagon! I went to her house Thurs day and she showed me how to use it... She now has one of those huge looms to work on... so she didn't mind me borrowing this one. Its really fun! I didn't think I would like it when I first saw her weaving ... I was like "there's no buttons to push! its not electric! it'll take to much time!" But it weaves up fast and easy! The hardest, most time consuming part was warping it... its faster than knitting!! Well, faster than my knitting! Below you can see I'm making a scarf... a U.T. scarf for the Bald Man... yes, the Vols suck this year, but the B...

Take one Cropped denim jacket from Goodwill.... add lace done on the embroidery machine...and Instant cuteness... I embroidered a lace cross and placed it on the pocket as well.. I love adding embroidered lace to clothes!!! Thats my favorite thing the embroidery machine does... LACE! Here's another top from this fab New Look pattern! This shirt is so easy to make.. and so cute!!The main fabric used came from Panama City, Panama,,, the lace from Wal Mart. The skirt was made from a BWOF pattern.. very simple.. but I did add a lining... I made a pair of pants to go with the shirt too... Pants pattern is a BWOF . The fabric used for the pants came from the fabulous Gail K's in ATL . Its a stretch flannel! Super comfy!! The outfit below.... The skirt came from my mom's stash.. it was a circle skirt pattern panel.. and it just doesn't get much easier than that! The top is a simple bias cut pattern from BWOF . Its a bit to tight in the bust area... the fabric is a crinkle...

Here's just a couple of things I worked on last week.... All these little embroidered things will be washed to get the water soluble stabilizer out, joined together, lined and made into a purse... Sounds and looks crazy... yes... but the pic in this book proves it can be done and its beautiful!!! This is really a great book with lots of ideals. Also has a CD of designs for the projects pictured and great instructions! I can't wait to get me "sassy handbag" all put together... While the embroidery machine was busy with the above project... I was busy with the Bald Man's new shirt. Pattern used: The Islander Shirt Pattern... Ofcourse I had to add an embroidered cross to it! I had never made a mens button up shirt before... and honestly its been along time since I've made a womens button up shirt! This pattern had super clear instructions! I really had no problems getting it together The Bald Man is a pretty big man and its hard to find patterns to fit his wide ...

Here it is.... The dress itself wasn't hard to sew to together... the directions were very clear... if I remember correctly! As I said in a previous post.. I still needed more plumes for the bottom... but this worked! And I love it. I seriously felt very "glamorous" in this dress!!! Until about an hour later.. then I was hot and this dress is so heavy!!!! Then it was time to change! I really think I might give the "curtain" dress a try someday!!

Most of our Halloween was celebrated on Saturday night. We were invited to a party at a friends house, Caryn, ... who went ALL out to see everyone was entertained and had a fabulous time. I wish I had got a pic of her and her hubby and some of her decorating (which was the most fabulous I've ever seen!) But with all the party action I guess I'm lucky we got took time to take these pics! Ofcourse I did make sure to get plenty on pics of the Burgundy dress.. aka... the longest UFO! To the left you can see me and The Bald Man... me in the dress!!! yay! I didn't really have much time to make the Bald Man a fab costume... I did make the shiny satin like vest he's wearing. Below... My friend Nancy (a sexy pirate!) and her date..... Above... Cindy (a gypsy) and her date Mark.... Below ... Sonya (a lovely mermaid) and her husband , Chris (King Triton) I have to add, esp. since this is mostly a sewing blog that Chris made his own costume!!! Seriously! He sewed it all himself!...