From my studio last week: May 17, 2011

May 17, 2011 by Anne Weaver 3 Comments

Even with the end of semester hitting, I was able to get one project completed last week. Woot! A new top for me. Woot! Woot!

It another Shruggy Shirt. I tried making some modifications to the pattern to make the shruggy part come down further on the shoulder. But what I wasn’t taking into account was that the tension on the contrast band would counteract any extra length. I had to put tension on the contrast band to help keep it from buckling on the curve (which it still did), and this tension just ended up pulling the shruggy part further up on my shoulder. Lesson learned. I’ll go back to my original pattern.

I also kind of boogered up the fit through the torso. The knit fabric had such a loose stretch that it didn’t want to hug to my body. Instead of reshaping the sides to fit closer, I ended up just adding a contrast band to the bottom a la The Slouchy Shirt.

And this project wasn’t one that I made. But it did come from my studio. It’s a pillow that my daughter made for one of her friends. She conceived of the idea and created it herself, though she did have some help cutting out the rectangles and fusing the shapes down to the front. All of the stitching is her own, even around the tight curves of the heart. She used a fabric marker to write the girl’s name across the front. I love it!

With school out of the way, I plan on becoming The Crazy Sewing Lady this week. If only I could make all that pesky laundry magically disappear…

Next Pattern:

Comments

heather feather says
May 17, 2011 at 8:17 am
Oh now that is cute! And the excitement,woot!!! I love when we craft things for our selfs we are proud of. I am jr-refashionista and its so fun! I love your creations. they are inspiring!
Reply
Debbie says
May 18, 2011 at 5:01 am
So cute. You are so good at self fabric trim. If you’re ever in OH, stop in and teach me. My neckines always end up huge at the top edge or puckery at the seam.
Reply
kristen says
May 18, 2011 at 8:36 am
Do you have a tutorial for your shruggy shirts? If so I would love it, where can I find it?
Reply

Have you read?

Learn All About Sewing Velvet Fabric

I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

Next Pattern:

Comments

Have you read?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply