What have you been up to?

Well not sewing until this weekend.  I meat to update this with stuffs I did in October.  Yeah, I'm a little late on that.

Anyway, here's that stuffs.

The pirate coat was 1 of 4 Halloween costumes I wore this year.  Okay so a little advice if you ever undertake a pirate coat you should know that's it's hard!  I think I have arthritis from sewing on 23457961 buttons.  But it's damn cool lookin'!

Here's the pattern:

Next I made this:

I'm not sure if I did the skirt correctly as it sits a little weird.  And whose brilliant idea was it to have 6457893 pleats on a skirt?!?!?  Whoever that was, I hate you.  I hate you with the burning fire of a thousand suns.  But I sure look skinny don't I?

Here's the pattern:

 

 

I was inspired by Julianne Moore's very similar outfit in The Hours. 

 

As you can see, I still need to add that braiding to my skirt.  I also need to buy some shoes like hers to go with.

 

 

The shoes look like that but they are all the same color as the heel.  Anyone know what the heck these shoes are called?  I know they're popular in the summer.

Anyway, I tried my hand at knit fabrics for the first time this weekend.  I haven't been very happy lately but I find I am excruciatingly happy when I'm sewing.  Thank the PTB for Joann's coupons.  Without them I could never fuel this hobby of mine.

Knits are interesting to work with.  I learned the hard way you have to stretch the fabric while sewing since I have no idea how to work the zig-zag on the Bernina.  I could probably read pattern instructions.  That may help because it said to stretch the fabric.  Sheesh, I can be an arrogant chick sometimes.

Anyway, I made two tops and a jacket.  I promise to update this with them as soon as I take pictures.  Hopefully they won't be unwearable due to the weather.  It's currently raining which is good since it hasn't for some 90 days.  The tops are kind summery but can probably be layered quit effectively.  I also have one more top on hiatus because I forgot to buy the lining and I ran out of coupons.

I'm also working on a secret costume which won't be done until I can track down some notions.  I've bought out all the surrounding Joann's.  You'll see as soon as I'm finished.  I promise.

 

That's all the update I have for now.

Dear Santa...

Please bring me a cutting table so my back and legs don't hurt for days.  I have been a very good girl this year. 

Sincerely,
Pink

The Wendybird...

Peter Pan has got to be my favorite story of all time.  Of.  All.  Time.  If I ever go mad and deiced to spawn I want to start a tradition with my children including Peter Pan.  I love the character Wendy.  I love the fact that she's maternal yet has no desire to grow up.  In that sense I can relate.  For a while I've wanted to make her costume from Disney's Peter Pan because it could be easily recognized out and about on Halloween.  I bought a couple patterns some time ago.  I decided on one that was perfect and it wasn't even a nightgown pattern!

I used Simplicity 4055 and I combined aspects of both dresses to make Wendy's nightgown.

I used a light blue flannel because hello it's supposed to be a nightgown!

The pattern is quite simple.  The only problem I had was the ribbon.  It wouldn't stay in place so close to the girls.  In the end I just sewed it on the front.

I think I did pretty good with this one.  In fact I won third in a costume contest.  Not bad if I do say so myself.  :)

By the seaside, by the beautiful sea!

I easily count Sweeney Todd as one of my favorite movies.  When it came out, I saw it twice in the theater in the span of a week.  Mrs. Lovett (Helene Bonham Carter) quickly became my favorite character and after that I scoured the internet for pictures of her.  I could identify with her tragic character.  Here was a woman so in love with a man that she would do ANYTHING for him.  (I won't spoil for those who haven't seen it.)  Alas, Mr. Todd (Johnny Depp) was so consumed with revenge he could never reciprocate those feelings.

In my scourings I decided I would make Mrs. Lovett's "By the Sea" dress.  Sweeney Todd is clearly Victorian (if you didn't know).  Within a few months I found the perfect red and white striped fabric and bought some nine yards of it.  (Thank the PTB for Joann's coupons!)  I also found a perfect pattern.  Then the fabric and pattern sat in a bag at the bottom of my sewing closet for damn near two years!  No joke.  I was so overwhelmed at the thought of making a dress of that magnitude (something I had never done before) that I put it aside.  Come August 2009 I decided this was it.  I was going to make this costume for Halloween come hell or high water!

The rest they say is history.  Sure it wasn't easy and sure it isn't perfect but I received a helluva lot of compliments on it and despite how modest I may seem I am quite proud of it.  Enjoy!

Here is Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Tood on the boardwalk followed by Toby:

Here's my dress:

So you can see how full the skirt is:

Close up of hair and make-up:

This is the pattern I used McCall's 5414:

Because you demanded it!

I officially welcome you to my new blog (formed from my old blog).

I'm calling it "Sew What?" because I like puns. 

This blog will no longer be limited to only 1920s fashions but everything I make!  I am very excited to share my creations with you and I hope you will enjoy what I make.

Thanks for sticking around!