IKEA sheets part 2...

You may remember this post where I expertly crafted old IKEA sheets into a lovely skirt.

Well, I've done it again.  In a pretty blue this time.

This skirt is a little longer than its predecessor, but I don't mind.  I think this fabric looks better a little longer.  (Or maybe I'm just wearing it lower?)

Anyway, I used the same pattern and I'm very happy with my two "new" skirts. 

Thanks IKEA!

IKEA sheets...

Have some old IKEA sheets?  No you don't.  You have this fashionable skirt!

So I'm sure you figured out that I had some old IKEA sheets which make pretty decent fabric albeit a little thin.  Well, I decided to make a skirt. 

With some minor alterations to Simplicity 2207 (because I have like no skirt patterns here):

I ended up with a pretty decent skirt if I do say so myself.  It's the perfect length for wearing just about anywhere.  I'm really happy with it.

Edit: Extra happy because this style of skirt is really trendy in Japan right now and it's unlikely I could find one to fit me.

Happy sewing times in Tokyo...

Yesterday, my new partner in costuming crime and I headed to Tokyo's fabric town.  It was the first time for me, but she had been there before.  This is like Disneyland for people who sew.  I was immediately attracted to the ¥100/m wall (that's $1 a yard for my American friends).  Fortunately, my pocketbook allowed me to walk out of there with only 4 new fabrics.

I have three dresses and one top planned with these in mind.  Total cost ¥1365 (or about $13.87).  Unbelievable!  I'll be back.

Today, I got started on Halloween costume #2.  You can see #1 here.

I'm not telling you what it is just yet but I made the tunic for it today.

Getting started:

Fitting:

Almost finished:

I just need to hand sew the facing down and hem it.  Wait until you see the whole costume.  It's pretty marvelous.

I used Butterick 4237:

Sometimes I've had bad luck with Butterick being too big but this fit just perfectly!

Next, I started a dress:

This is me testing it out.  I need to hem the neck and sleeves as well as hem the dress but I ran out of daylight and the pain (from being old) was telling me to give it up for the night.

I used McCall's 6556:

October makes me want to sew.  Also, having a sewing buddy in Tokyo makes me want to sew.

I might do one more costume just for fun.

Back in the saddle again...

One day my mom said she had sent me a surprise package.  I couldn't even guess what it could be.  Some of favorite foods?  Clothes?  Turns out it was my sewing machine which was even better than anything I could have guessed.  Since she sent it (I can't remember when), I've been using it primarily for mending jobs as none of my patterns are here.  When I went back to visit my family at Christmas, I made sure to buy some fabric and pack some patterns so I could sew some actual clothes.

Here's my sewing space:

It's in my bedroom because I didn't want it in the main room.  You know because I have so many parties.  (Sarcasm)

We're on the tail end of a three-day weekend and since the forecast promised rain, I promised to be holed up inside sewing.  Weather forecasts never quite go according to plan in Japan and by noon the rain was full blown snow.  Well, after taking about a hundred pictures and going for a short walk up to the store snapping even more pictures, I finally settled down to sew.

I used this pattern, McCall's 6400:

(I prefer not to talk about the first time I made this pattern and I used the incorrect size.)

This is the fabric:

And I'm sorry but this is the best of like 50 pictures:

I don't have a wide mirror, not even in my bathroom, so this is the best I can do.  Also, I'm pretty inept at taking pictures one handed but I was trying to show off the dolman sleeve.  Sorry if it hurts your eyes!

All in all, I like this pattern.  In the picture the neck is supposed to sit like normal but it kept falling off my shoulder. So much for work clothes!

Anyway, I can't wait to check out the fabric stores here.  Thanks to my mom, I'm back sewing again!

Inspired!

I was inspired by this blog to do some sewing.

I bought this really cute shirt in Japan.  I think it was part of a set.  Unfortunately, upon additional attempts to wear it I found that it was made for someone with little to no boobage.  (I thought I had little!)

Today I turned it into one of those Japanese overshirts that I love so much.

Next, I bought this shirt from YesStyle.com.  Unfortunately, it came with a tiny hole due to some machine error I'm sure.  Well, since it was an overseas purchase bought on clearance, it wasn't worth the cost to send it back.  I pulled up the fabric to add an additional pleat.  (The shirt came with about three pleats in the side.)  You'd never know!

Anyway, I'm glad I got that done this morning.  It makes me wish I wasn't so broke so I could sew something!

New blog!

I don't know if any of you vintage junkies would be into this but here it is!

*J-Style*

Tell your friends.