Handworks Crochet and then Some!

Busy times lately!! And I've made a promise to spend less time on the Internet to myself! So I took myself off facebook, myspace and many other time wasting venues I had going... Ofcourse I love to blog, its like my journal , so no cutting back or stopping it. Recent projects... From BWOF 7/03 I made this pair of pants and a navy pair. The bustier is from Burda, made for New Years. The jacket was from a Mc Calls pattern and I cropped it. The pants had a waist band that I left off. They fit much better without it. By the way I'm dressed I guess you can tell we were going out on the town! I have several other things I've made lately that I will probably wear this weekend... along with the Bald Man's new shirt I made this week! On the crochet front... I took this picture Monday... now its done!!!! I can't believe I crocheted a whole sweater!!! And just in time because its turned off super cold here. I'll be wearing it this weekend too... Look at lil' pac... ...

Here's my dress!!! and here's my review on patternreview.com I don't post to many reviews on PR but I thought since I changed some things on this dress someone might get so helpful ideals from it. Pattern description : From the magazine:A simple, slim jersey dress in dark boardroom blue will become a fashion focal-point thanks to witty sleeve flounces. Pattern sizing: I made a 38, added an extra inch to the bust and took an inch off the waist Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes. Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't look at them... What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?Nothing to dislike at all! Fabric Used: A poly/knit I bought in Panama City, Panama.The lace I used in the sleeve panel is a stretch lace from Jo ann's Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added darts at the waist back to give more shape to the dress.I used a different fabric for the sleeve ...

BWOF 106 from issue 1/09. A nice basic top with cute details of a panel and and sleeve flounce. I made the usual size 38 and took it in an inch at the waist and added an inch at the bust. It still pulls a tiny bit I can see in this pic at the bust... but it doesn't feel like its pulling at all while I'm wearing it. The fabric I used is a cheap knit so I consider this a wearable muslin. I have the dress version of this pattern all cut out and ready to sew with some awesome fabric I bought down in Panama. Hopefully to be done by Sunday so I have a new dress for church! I love patterns with small details like this one. If there are to many details on a top it usually looks like to much on me. Now... something that I was very amused by Monday night.... The Bald Man said he would take me yarn shopping. Even though I am still working on my hat/scarf combo (should be done soon!) I wanted to start a cute little jacket also... I like having 2 projects going at once! Anyways... I needed...

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...

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...

The last few days I've gotten some pretty good things in the mail and from my mom... ************************************************************************************* First we have on the left... The Art of Fashion Draping... which honestly, just flipping through it looks scary!! I mean scary like way over my head!! In the center: Easy Needle Felting is awesome!!! Lots of great techniques for hats and purses... embellishing! Clear and easy instructions... with lots of pictures! Love this book! Denim by Design is also awesome! Its giving me great ideals for purses, boleros (yes!!) some really awesome belts and more. It includes patterns too!! On the right is some vintage books on sewing jeans... theres some pretty great info in these if your into sewing jeans!!! Some shortcuts... very neat pocket ideals... copying RTW jeans, fitting... I consider these a really good find for me!

First let me say I'm wearing BWOF top 105 7-07 that I made it Saturday morning. Easy top... cute... casual.... On to the hooping! Yesterday Sonja (on the left) invited me and Rach (in the middle) over for some hoola hoop making! You see we are taking a Hooping workshop next weekend... Have you seen how people are hoola hooping these days??? Check out my favorite hooper Awesome! We made our hoops from some kind of plastic pipe.. male to male connector... I don't know... Sonja got all the stuff . I just brought the champagne and Chocolate Cheesecake... which is very important to have when making a hoola hoop!! The we decorated in with different tapes! I sent Bald Man out to get us more tapes and he found some awesome cheetah and zebra print tapes!! Our hoops are so pretty!!! Now after we learn to do this good (which Sonja, ex-hippy that she is can already hoop good!) I'm going to have to make us outfits to match our hoops... It will be SO cute!!! And if we don't get goo...

Sweet Sonja brought this over to me yesterday... It was her moms and it needed a home! They gave it to me!!! Thanks to Sonja and Sonja's mom!!!! A seamstress can never have to many dress forms! This will come in so handy when I'm working on two projects!! Here is BWOF top 126 from issue 7-01. Made from some awesome fabric I got from Gorgeous Fabrics. Around the ties I did a rolled edge using metallic lime green thread. I feel Sexy, Sexy in this! **********************************PETS********************************************* I had the most wonderfully mean, black Manx cat for 3 yrs named Rain... one day he got out the back door and we never saw him again... Its taken me awhile before I've really wanted another cat. But I miss having a kitty around the house... So my n' my son went to the animal shelter Saturday and found this beautiful black kitty.. 8 months old. She had been there for about 3 months... Now she's here!! Her name is Prada! Below is my chi...

Here are the vintage patterns I have found/ordered for the retro jumpsuit I want to make... Aren't they all so cute???? I love'em!!!! I have been working on The Bald Man another shirt... its the same style as the last one. Here's the embroidery on the back shoulder of the shirt. I also but a design on the front shoulder... Its looking good! I am so glad I can make the Bald Man some nice , unique clothes... he's such a big guy its really hard for him to find nice shirts! For me I'm working on BWOF top 126 from issue 7-01... its a very darling top that has little ties up the front instead of buttons. I made it last year... so its not a challenge but I'm doing it "up" a bit! Its almost done! I also have BWOF Bustier 129 from issue 5-03. I have also made it before... but it came out much to small in the bust. Its so hot though I have to try it again... with the bust larger!!! Much!!!!! It also ties up the front for closures. Also have out to make BWOF 105...

I admit it! I love jumpsuits from the 60's and 70's.... so when I saw Pattern review was having a Vintage pattern sewing contest I started looking for jumpsuit patterns!!! I have an excuse to make one now. The search is on! This pattern to the right is Simplicity 9674 There are so many cute ones I can't decide which one to buy.... plus I've never sewn from a vintage pattern before so it will be a challenge for me too! This will be fun!!! Hers is BWOF Top 111 from issue Nov. 07. Sorry the pic is kinda blurry to the right... its the Bald Mans fault! I made up this little shrug to go with it. Love the print of this fabric! I got it in ATL at the sewing expo. And here is the other BWOF top I worked on last week. From issue 11/99 Top 134. I LOVE this top and plan to make it again soon. I have alot of nice stretch lace fabrics and this top and shawl/cape are perfect for them. There were darts in the back but I added them in the front also. Love it!!!

Today I got a job... I mean I have 'jobs' I sew and make costumes for other bellydancers.... I also bellydance at Mirage on some weekends. Lately I've not wanted to dance much down there though... its kinda boring ... after a year I'm pretty burned out.. It takes up my weekend nights! When I want to go out with the Bald Man!!! Anyways! Seeing as how I paid for, went to school for and took those crazy tests for my Esthetics's License, I thought maybe I should put it to use when I heard of a new salon opening up just minutes from my house. So I'll be putting my license to use at Gentleman's Top Cuts... 2 days a week. We'll see how it goes... ************************************************************************************ Also today I finished up BWOF Top 111 from Nov. 07. It was totally easy! Its flattering and a good fit. I love the pleat/darts in the front! They're very 'shaping' I almost have BWOF Top 134 from Nov. 99 finished... just g...

This is BWOF dress from 5/03 (I can't remember the pattern # now!) It was meant to be lose and kinda shapeless... I cut it down alot in the waist. I used a longer zipper and just made it so it unzips off. Its made from stretch denim so its very comfortable! I made the lace with my embroidery machine... using Dakota's new lace cd. For the straps I made long belt carriers. As I've said before I don't make dresses often, because I don't wear them often. I wore this last night to the hockey game and was amazed at how comfortable I felt in it.... maybe it was the casual feel of the denim that made me feel so 'at home' in this dress.... And the fact that I knew if the wind blew this dress couldn't blow up! That's something I always worry about when I wear a dress!! And! I felt like it looked really good because even before we walked in the coliseum a nice lady told me how cute I looked! So in conclusion: I will make and wear denim dresses out of the denim...

Please forgive my appearance in this picture... I have had a devil of a cold since Tuesday.. and I'm looking a little zonked out on cold medicine here! Anyways, this is BWOF tunic 111 from 3/08. This sewed up quick! I made it from a sheer stretch knit.. a bit to sheer, its needs a tank or atleast a cuter bra under it... I added the little peep hole cleavage slit because my Bald Man doesn't like tops on me that aren't "fitted"... but I knew he would like this non-fitting top if I added cleavage... just a little! Its the little things I do that make the Bald Man say "sure baby, if you want more fabric, get it!" Here are more copied "jeans" from an old pair of XOXO jeans I've had for years that were very close to falling apart! I made these from a kind of bushed woven thats really soft.. I have no ideal what the fabric is but its nice. Even though I've not used denim they are in the 'jeans' style of things... I made the lace embro...