Silk Ribbon Embroidered Flowers

You know, I'd probably get more done if I could stick to just one hobby :o)

But I can't.  And I never will.  At least my fabric dyeing phase is over (for the most part).  You would not believe the messes I made while dyeing fabric.  Badly.  My husband is a very patient man.

This is a black stretch poplin shirt I made for one of my boys many years ago.  When he outgrew it, I took it back since I like the fabric so much.  It makes an excellent canvas for practice silk ribbon embroidery and I have this notion that I'd like to cover the entire thing in embroideries of all different kinds.  It's good practice, and I think it will look pretty neat.  Especially if I don't try too hard.

I do adore the embroidery machines and I'd like to get one some day.  But for me, it would have to be the type where I can download my own artwork to the machine and then have it stitch it out for me.  And those types of machines are prohibitively expensive (at least for me) right now.  Perhaps in a few years I can justify spending that much money on my hobby :o)

In the meantime, I do so love hand embroidery and always have.  I started with the simple stuff when I was in elementary school and I never really quit, just took long leaves of absence from time to time.  I'm in love with the silk ribbon stuff, partly because you'll never get some machine to embroider like that, and also because I have an abiding respect for all handcrafts -- there are so many arts that I don't want to see disappear or get forgotten.

Remember when everybody and her sister could sew?  And knit? And make lace? And embroider?  And quilt?  Not so any more.  I'm just doing my part to keep those handcrafts alive.  And besides, it's fun.  And and excuse to go fabric shopping.  And yarn shopping.  And silk ribbon shopping.  I see a pattern forming here...

I Love Getting Fabric in the Mail

This is my first fabric order in a really long time.  I haven't done much sewing lately, so I really couldn't justify any fabric purchases.  But now that I'm sewing again...well...I just couldn't resist.  I got all these from Fabric.com, of course.  They're easily my favorite place to go for fabric.

This one is for my husband -- I'm going to make him a long sleeved button down shirt.  It's a silk/linen blend that arrived a little stiff, but should soften up when it's washed.  It's actually much nicer than it looks in the picture.

This is another fabric I was thinking might work for my husband, too, but the checks might be too small for his taste.  The pattern is woven into the fabric, so it's textured, too.  A very cool piece.  If he doesn't like it, I'm going to snatch it for myself.

This one is a stretch lace that I'd like to use to make a cardigan for myself.  I got this is two different gray colors, but they're so similar it's hard to tell.  I also got a piece in a peachy color for Daughter, thinking she might like a pretty cardigan or scarf herself.  No worries.  She does :o)

And the last is two pieces (I got pieces from two different manufacturers to see which was better -- they're both pretty good) of royal blue broadcloth.  Because Youngest Son looks great in blue.  It's definitely his color, and he needs a few button down shirts.







Now I just have to work on my Mini Wardrobe.  I'm making slow progress, but progress all the same.

Can You Name This Jacket?

I almost never buy clothes, but occasionally something grabs my leg and begs to come home with me.  I went to a local second hand store over the weekend and I positively fell in love with a silk and cotton jacket that I simply couldn't resist. The tag said it was from "Anthropologie", but the inside label merely says "Violet".  So does anyone recognize this jacket?  Can you tell me anything about it? 

The fabric is made with a cut-out technique that I just have to try my hand at. I'd love to make a silk vest with these kinds of hand-sewn cutouts. 

Peasant Top Finished!

I spent most of yesterday working on this peasant top and I think I really like it.  The fabric is really lightweight and airy --way more so than I expected.  I haven't worked with a fabric like this before, but it was a real pleasure--except for the part where it was amazingly difficult to keep the pieces from sliding off grain while I was cutting out.

The pattern is See & Sew B5480--I never was very favorably impressed with what they had to offer in the past, but lately they've had a few really nifty designs that are fun to make and turn out very nice.  I'll probably be making their cape again this winter--I made one last year and I loved it, too bad the wool I used wasn't as good a quality as it could have been :-(

The recommended fabrics for this top are georgette and voile. I used a cotton/silk blend voile in a hazelnut color that I picked up on clearance from Fabric.com.  It's a lot more sheer than I first thought (in fact, I somehow had the impression that it was opaque, even -- silliness, I presume, since voiles are supposed to be sheer) but it still makes a lovely peasant top, especially if you intend to wear it over or under something.  In the pic, I'm wearing a knit camisole top from OldNavy, but my ultimate plan is to wear this with the Shining Star Vest from HotPatterns.

The instructions for this pattern are easy, peasy--way great for beginners--and a good introduction to French seams.  One of my biggest gripes with Big4 patterns is that they never seem to give any really good instructions for how or when to finish seam allowances.  Imagine my surprise when the first instruction for this pattern was to sew the front and back together at the side seams using a French seam.  Wowsy.

 I usually march to my own drum, but I pretty much followed the directions on this one with three exceptions. 1) I sewed the sleeve hems before I sewed the sleeve seam, simply because I was using my 6mm hemming foot and it's easier to do that flat, and

2) I stitched 1/8" from the edge of the neckline just to make a little ruffly looking edge that I thought was prettier, and




3) I attached the sleeves to the body of the top using a French seam.  This worked only because of how thin my fabric was--I don't think I would have done it in another fabric.

I did, however, fold about 1 1/2 inches out of the sleeve cap since the sleeves were very full and I was thinking the sleeves might end up wearing me rather than the other way around if I left them as they were.

I wasn't sure I was going to like the neckline on this top--it's a lot wider than anything I have owned up to date, but I think that I am pleased the way this looks on me.  This wasn't as quick a project as I was anticipating, either.  Some of that has to do with the fabric I chose--I had to be very careful with it as it seam allowances tended to fray if over-handled.  My hemmer foot didn't like it much either, most of the hems were taken out at least once or twice and redone.  I used alot of spray starch to get those pesky hems to submit, and in the end I prevailed. ;-)

I doubt I'll make any more of these, though.  One top of this style is probably about all my wardrobe can handle.  I am looking forward to getting started on it's companion vest.  I'm already thinking of other things I can make that will go with it (the vest, I mean, not the peasant top).  Like a merino wool turtleneck, or a fitted button down shirt, or a scoopneck fitted tee...the list is endless  :-)

Progress on the Peasant Top and Shining Star Vest

Well, I've definitely decided on the Shining Star Vest, though mine will definitely be sans ruffles.  I looked at the actual pattern for the first time and it was pretty cool to note that it's got a couple more pattern pieces than I expected--there are separate pattern pieces for the lining because the pattern includes a fashion fabric facing--something that's been missing with the other vest patterns I've sewn.

Suede cloths on the left, linings on the right

I'm going to make it in this tan colored embroidered suede cloth--very rustic and classy at the same time.  Do those two adjectives go together? Not sure. :-) I'm also not sure there's enough of the tan to make the whole vest--I may have to make the back out of the green suede cloth.  That's not my first design choice, but I'm willing to go with it.


I haven't picked a lining yet, but it's going to be one of those in the pic--they're all crinkly, shimmery polyester stuff that will make the perfect lining.  I'm leaning heavily on the spruce, but I haven't made a commitment yet.  The red or the brown actually matches better, but  I used the green to line a pair of wool pants last winter and it handled beautifully and is surprisingly comfortable to wear.

I've got the pattern scotch taped together and cut out in the size 6--I've only got to finish its companion peasant top before I'm ready to begin.  I fully intend to make a muslin of this one first, though.  I usually have to do a bit a fitting adjustments to anything with a princess seam.  I haven't saved this fabric all this time just to mess it up.  :-o

Speaking of the peasant top, I've decided to use the hazelnut cotton/silk voile.  This stuff feels like heaven against your skin, it's so airy and smooth.  It was a little tricky cutting the pattern pieces out--the fabric wanted to really slide around and go off-grain on the table.  I considered starching it to make it a little more easy to handle, but since there's only 3 pattern pieces and they're pretty basic, I just decided to use a bright light (sunlight, actually, yesterday morning) and keep a close eye on the grainline.  It all went swimmingly until the sun went behind a cloud--my artificial lighting wasn't nearly as good--but I got the job done and the pieces are laid out, all ready to sew.

Velvet and Rayon Burnout Top

A fitting first post since this picture is my current profile favorite.  This overshirt is done in a beautiful silk/rayon velvet burnout that was a pleasure to work with, though the darts were tricky because of the uneven surface. The pattern is Kwik Sew 2927.  Kwik Sew patterns are perfect for beginners because of their simple designs and excellent instructions, but as you can see, with the right fabric choice even a simple pattern can make a classy-looking outfit. The charcoal colored cap snap closures are virtually invisible against this fabric and the neck edge is done with a linen bias tape binding--photo tutorial coming soon!

Fabric Closeup-I love the metallic glitter