I’m in the process of doing some blog-moving/editing/tweaking so if I accidentally disappear or suddenly become a huge garish mess, please don’t judge me. I have almost no idea what I’m doing.
*fingers crossed*
Rambly housekeeping
Hello! I’m a bit loopy so I apologize if I ramble or don’t make sense. I went home to California for the week and just flew back on a red eye last night. I got in around 8am, slept until 1pm (whoops), and spent the day being the laziest bum ever. Getting up at 8am to go to work tomorrow is going to be interesting.
A couple of things:
1) Being reunited with my laptop is awesome. *strokestroke*
2) Some of you sent me photos of projects to be entered in the Copycat Challenge. Those should all be up now! It’s so awesome seeing what everyone has come up with. Keep them coming! (If you don’t see yours up, shoot us an email and we’ll post it asap.)
3) I’ve got some fun photos to share! I intentionally only brought my 50mm lens home so it would force me to practice using it properly and it’s gotten a lot easier! Seester and I had some fun photo sessions that I’ll share once I get the 600 photos we took (yikes!) organized and edited.
4) Home was fun! I’m a little sad to be back. We managed to squeeze a lot in a week and even had time to spend multiple days lounging in bed in pjs watching hours and hours of Torchwood. (Have you seen it?? I’m a little bit obsessed. Ok, a lot. In my defense: John Barrowman.)
And now I have to go be a productive person and get ready for the week. Or.. go to bed and deal with it in the morning. :]
Another favoritest dress
dress: self-made, based on this dress // shoes: Chelsea Crew // glasses: Bon Look
As I mentioned earlier, I finally got around to re-making my favorite dress last week and now I basically a) want to wear it all the time, and b) want to make six more of them as backups.
I made it basically the exact same way as the first time around, except that I lengthened it by a few inches. I guess sometime in the last year I stopped hating the idea of longer skirts. I’m not sure what that means and I’m not sure I like it.
Two cool things:
1) That awesome vintage 50mm lens I bought last year that was made before autofocus? I used it to take some of these shots. And they (ok, some of them) came out in focus! I’m way more excited about this than I should be. In my defense, I’d been using my kit lens exclusively because it’s just easier but the pictures turn out pretty flat and boring. I’ve been meaning to play around with the 50mm for a while so I’m glad the pictures turned out when I actually did. I’m just going to pretend that the triple digits of failed out-of-focus photos didn’t happen.
2) This is going to sound stupid but normally I hate photographing the left side of my face. Today I actually like how it looked so I went with it.
Two more things:
3) I hacked off 5 inches of my hair the other day. It’s freaking me out a bit seeing that typed out (the sheer idea of having short hair freaks me out, not a clue why) but realistically my hair was getting to Arwen status so 5 inches didn’t actually make that much of a difference.
4) It’s getting to that time where my roots are becoming ridiculous. Please ignore.
I hope everyone’s week is going well! I’m off to try to cram nine days worth of clothes and sewing projects into two carry-ons. Check-in baggage fees be damned!
Patterns for Copycatting
I definitely don’t claim to be any sort of expert at manipulating patterns or mixing them together, but I did want to share some tips and tricks I’ve picked up, as well as some of my favorite patterns to mash together. If anyone else has suggestions or tutorials to add, please leave a comment and share with the class!
*Just a note, this is not a comprehensive list of my favorite patterns, just the ones that I tend to gravitate toward when I’m doing specifically copycat projects!
Patterns:
1. Megan Nielsen: Darling Ranges – This pattern will always have a soft spot in my heart because it was the first indie pattern I bought, and I love how Megan designs not only clothes, but patterns. As someone who had only ever sewn historical/fantasy garments, sewing something that I could wear out in public was entirely new to me, and this pattern was the perfect first project for a not-quite-newbie. I’ve made several of these already but every time I see a cute button-up dress I think of making it using this pattern and only minor adjustments.
2. Burda 7739 – This is probably my favorite pattern. It’s so simple, the fit is perfect on me, and it’s SO versatile. It’s basically the perfect high waisted tank dress that comes with adorable sleeves and a pre-drafted collar. I also love the skirt that comes with it, since it comes with pockets and is the perfect amount of flowy and gathered without being excessive.
3. Colette Laurel – I just bought this pattern but so far I love it. It’s your (very) basic shift dress with endless options for variations. I haven’t quite finished my first one but I already love it. I lengthened the sleeves and added pleats in the front to give it more shape. I do recommend doing a muslin because I had to take mine in on the sides, as well as lower the armpit area by an inch or two. Quick note: Someone left a comment asking me to do a quick sketch of how I drafted the pieces for my Porter dress copycat. I had a whole thing sketched out before I realized that Laurel would be the perfect pattern base for copying that dress! Sadly, I made that dress two weeks before I actually bought my copy of Laurel, but it would’ve been perfect. From there, just cut a line down the front for the buttons and I used this method (except instead of a zipper, I added buttons).
4. McCall’s 6647 – I haven’t actually used this one yet so I’m not totally sure why I’m including it on this list, except that it has a great back cut-out that I’m highly optimistic will be a good foundation pattern for all of the back cut-out dresses I keep pinning. I’ll come back and update this once I’ve actually tried it.
5. Burda 7309 – I need to make myself a note on a giant neon post-it and attach it to this pattern. I basically use this pattern as an add-on to Burda 7739 if I want something to have a longer bodice. That’s all. The sleeves are oddly shaped and I have been far too fearful of looking like a potato sack to attempt the included skirt. I keep meaning to try the collar but haven’t gotten around to it. But anyway, I only ever use the bodice on this one and it works perfectly with 7739’s sleeves and skirt (or even Simplicity 1873’s skirt!).
6. McCall’s 6646 – I’ve only used this one once and I sort of hacked it to bits to make my pleats, but as a sweetheart neckline, the shape of the dress is lovely. If you search “sweetheart” in the dress section of Modcloth, you could pretty much make anything listed with this pattern so I had to include it.
7. Simplicity 1873: This is my second favorite pattern, although probably my most used one. Everything about it fits absolutely perfectly and I love it to bits, but the skirt is an absolute nightmare of pleats that seem to go every which way while you’re pinning, but then when you’re done it all makes sense and you have a lovely pleated skirt that looks fancier than just regular pleats. I highly recommend this one. The pictures on the pattern sleeve make it look like a special occasion dress but I’ve made all kinds of dresses (and even a skirt!) with it and it’s worked great with all kinds of fabrics.
not pictured:
Colette: Sorbetto – I had to include this pattern because it’s a free download and so customizable. The armholes are teeny on me so I always end up having to alter that a bit but there are so many different things you can do to this pattern. Add a collar, slice down the front and add buttons, add long sleeves, add puffed sleeves, do some color-blocking, take out the pleat, gather the pleat instead of pleating, etc. Run with it.
Burdastyle 02/2011 #101 – This is another one of my favorites because sometimes you just want a nice side zip and some cute cap sleeves. The fit of this one is a little off on me (I end up taking the darts in a little more and taking the sides in a bit as well, and then lengthening the bodice by 1-2″) but I love that it’s so basic and just screaming to be played with. I made one with an attached collar and I definitely want to play around in using different kinds of fabrics.
Tutorials:
Gertie’s peter pan collar drafting: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 – I don’t usually like watching video tutorials (although I will readily admit that they are usually far more helpful for learning purposes) but I sat through all three videos and it was 100% worth it. Gertie is amazing and this is how I’ve done all my self-drafted peter pan collars (well, minus the fancy tracing paper and the French curve, which I keep meaning to buy).
Megan Nielsen’s FBA – Ok, I admit I still haven’t sat down and tried to figure this out. But this tutorial made it almost make sense just by skimming, so I’m going to post it here.
Megan Nielsen’s SBA – And for the smaller-busted ladies.
How to make a bow – I think most of us probably know how bows work, but this is my favorite method for getting the juiciest, neatest (and hugest) bows.
Peplum top out of a dress pattern – Because peplum tops are awesome and I really hope the trend lasts.
Slash opening – I feel like this is just helpful to know. She uses it to illustrate how to add a zipper but I’ve used it for buttons as well.
Patterns I’m using:
Jess dress – I actually found a Burdastyle wrap dress pattern structured very similar to this one, which I snapped up immediately a few months ago. There are definitely areas where it needs to be tweaked but I think it’ll work great. I’ll have to reshape the sleeves a bit, widen the shoulders, add a strip along the neckline and down the sides of the wrap skirt, widen the wrapped bit, and flare the skirt a bit more. I’m also debating making the back all one piece instead of two like the pattern is. It sounds like a lot, and it’ll take a bit of trial and error, but I think it’ll work great.
Dear Creatures: Isabel – I’m using Burda 7309 for the bodice on this one, and then I’ll have to play around with the cutouts. I currently have two ideas. I’m either going to draft a collar as a flat piece (treating it as though it were just part of the bodice piece), or to draft it as a collar and then sew it down so it doesn’t flap. Definitely going to have to play around with this one. For the skirt, I’ll just do regular pleats from two rectangles.
Clara dress – This one’s going to be fun. I’m going to use the Darling Ranges pattern and possibly mix it with Colette’s Laurel for the back. I’ll have to extend the bodice pieces of the Darling Ranges pattern and probably do an elastic waist. The original dress has princess seams but I think I’m going to just go with darts.
Finicky
***I added a Copycat Challenge page to the header linky area! Prizes are listed and I’ll be adding entrants photos/blog links there as we get them so email us your photos whenever you’re ready!***
If anyone follows my Sewing Inspiration board on Pinterest, I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are projects by the buttload on my to-do list. There are some that I pinned just because I liked one detail of it, some that I may want to copy someday, and some that Ineedtomakeimmediatelylikerightnow. So when Erin and I were discussing organizing another Copycat Challenge, I had a minor moment of panic when I realized I had to pick only a few projects to do for the challenge. I ended up just choosing the three that I had most recently bought fabric for, and was most excited to dive into.
Except then two weeks went by and all I’ve done is cut out a bodice for one, tape/cut a pattern for another, and purchase a pattern that *may* work for the back of the third. Motivation? Hello? Where did you go?
And suddenly there are all these other projects screaming out to me!
As much as I love flouncy skirts, sometimes I feel a little ridiculous at work. This is cute and more subtle!
Ignoring previous flouncy skirt comment, Boyfriend and I were watching New Girl and I saw this dress again and now I need it. I may have ordered a black bow applique from eBay.
I pinned this dress ages ago and found the most perfect linen rayon blend in a gorgeous minty blue and it’s been just sitting on my shelf ever since.
I think I pinned this dress around the time I discovered Pinterest. Last week I finally finished my remake of Favorite Dress That Shrank, and was debating making another one in a different color. I had found the perfect heavy knit fabric at the fabric store in red and I realized yesterday when going through my old pins that I could totally re-make the same tank dress and just add a white collar to it!
I have no explanation for this but I think I need a jumper. I blame Katie from Skunkboy for being so damn adorable. It just seems like the perfect summer dress!
The moral of the story is that I need to stop online shopping and start sewing.
PS Like my new social media icons? I got bored of the old ones so I drew new ones. I think they’re fun.
Cabley snugs
I’ve been spending a lot of time lately de-stressing with knitting and a George R. R. Martin audiobook. It’s been pretty awesome.
I love learning new stitches. It’s such a lovely feeling going from crumpling a pattern page in confused frustration to being able to toss it aside because you’ve memorized the chart.
Stay cool, guys.
Datura #5
top: self-made // shorts: Roxy (thrifted) // shoes: Minnetonka
I’ve made five Daturas in the last two weeks. FIVE. Definitely did not intend for that to happen. Definitely still have two or three in my head that I want to make. Whoops.
I think this one is my favorite though.
When I first saw the pattern, I knew I’d end up buying it because of the peter pan collar. The cut-outs seemed cool but not really me, and I actually didn’t even bother cutting out that pattern piece. Except then I saw other people’s cut-out Daturas and suddenly I needed one. And then three more. Somehow of the five I’ve made, only one of them actually has the peter pan collar.
Anyways, this pattern is awesome. And slightly complicated but SO quick once you get the hang of the shouldery inside-out thing. Which is totally genius and makes the entire garment so neat and tidy. I wanted to experiment with a bit of a racerback on this one and I really like how it turned out. Easy peasy, too.
Andd now I’m off to molest the Laurel pattern I bought today.. tehe. In my defense, I’m testing it out to see if it’ll work for my Clara dress copycat!
And yes, I will be posting the other Daturas when I have time to take photos on a day when it isn’t 1092382 degrees. hee.
PS I’m SO excited that so many of you are interested in participating in the Copycat Challenge. I have some fun posts planned, and I’ll be posting my progress on my copycat projects soon, so look out for that!
Copycat Challenge!!
So as you all possibly may have gleaned from the endless copycat posts, I absolutely love designing garments from things I have seen. Usually on a tv show or in a movie and immediately want to recreate it. Maybe I never grew out of playing dress-up. Who knows?
Anyway, the lovely Erin from I Heart Fabric and I will be hosting a Copycat Challenge starting next week and lasting throughout the summer, or winter depending on where you are in the world. If you haven’t already checked out the submissions from Erin’s latest Copycat Challenge, you should! People made some gorgeous stuff over there.
The rules are pretty simple.
- Choose a garment as your inspiration. Make sure you reference it and acknowledge where you found it. Pick several if you want!
- Make it the way you want with your own touch and style.
- Blog about it! Tell us what pattern(s) you used, what inspired you about the item you chose, how you styled it, whatever you want!
- If you don’t have a blog and want to participate, send us an email and we’ll add it to the submissions post for you.
Of course, to make it extra exciting, there will be a prizes drawn at the end. We will explain how we will choose the winners in an upcoming post and hopefully have a few categories. Each finished garment will count for an extra entry and be judged seperately so don’t limit yourself!
Start thinking of what you’d like to make, look around for fabric, and think of patterns you would like to use. Erin and I will be posting on our individual processes, as well as tips we find helpful as we go along.
We will run this challenge from today until the 30th September 2013 so that’s almost three months to create some unique, fun and creative stuff!
Please contact us if you’d like to participate! Or post a comment below.
These are the projects I’ve chosen. I can’t decide if I’m being overly ambitious or if I’ll finish these in a week and then twiddle my thumbs for the rest of the summer.
- I absolutely adore everything Jess wears on New Girl, but this dress is basically the most adorable thing ever.
- If I’m hosting a copycat challenge, a Dear Creatures dress for my inspiration is basically obligatory.
- Still on the fence about Clara. Still obsessed with her wardrobe. This outfit is from the 50th anniversary episode, which hasn’t actually aired yet (November 23 wheeee!), but luckily it’s available here to be closely examined.
For more inspiration please see my Pinterest board.
- Victora Beckham Slim fitting white and black dress from my Pinterest board.
- Long sleeve DVF shirt with bow again from my Pinterest board. This top looks very similar to a Vogue top I have been wanting to make!
- I found this Alannah Hill ‘The Secret Of Secrets Coat’ on pinterest which I really want to use as inspiration. Also, the BurdaStyle handbook has a really cute jacket which I have been dying to make!
For more inspiration on Erin’s outfits please see her Pinterest Board.
Pocketses and ribbony trim
dress: self-made // shoes: Chelsea Crew // hair bow: F21
It’s a fairly torturous feeling when all you want to do in the world is curl up in front of your sewing machine and sew for hours but you can’t because of adulthood and responsibilities and silly things like that. Even worse when you have all the fabric and patterns and notions you need sitting at home twiddling their thumbs and gathering dust. It got so bad that I ended up scheduling a sewing date for myself in my calendar.
And oh my, it was glorious. I was actually surprised how quickly this one came together considering I didn’t actually have a pattern to work off of. To be fair, the construction is pretty basic, but it’s always scary cutting into nice fabric when you don’t quite know what you’re doing.
Yes yes, I know. Muslins and all that. I did cut out a muslin for the front piece but then I decided I hadn’t waited three weeks to sit in front of the machine to sew together a muslin. I live dangerously?
Anyway, luckily everything worked out! I’m in love with this dress. Everything I’ve made lately has been fitted and waist-flattering but sometimes a girl needs to be able to wear a dress out to dinner and then gorge herself, and flowy garments come in handy in those situations. I did use an elongated version of the sleeves from Burda 7739 to draft the 3/4 length sleeves but the rest of it was hand-drafted. I tried using Colette’s Sorbetto pattern for the top, but I ended up having to make so many alterations to the muslin that I wouldn’t recommend it unless you literally have zero concept of what a front piece of a tank top ought to look like.
If you haven’t seen the lovely inspiration for this dress, it’s the Porter dress by Dear Creatures. To be honest, I wasn’t totally in love with it when I first saw it. The collar was cute, and I loved the ribbon trim and the giant pockets, but the flowy-ness and waistless-ness of the dress seemed like it would hang awkwardly on me. But then I saw a bunch of photos online of other people wearing it and they all looked absolutely adorable so it went on my to-do list. When I went about making my own version, I ended up taking it in a bit more than I had intended to, but it ended up working out. I love how it’s still flowy without losing its shape. I also suspect that that’s at least partly due to my using a slightly thicker fabric than the original dress appears to be made of.
I used 1/4″ ivory satin ribbon for the trim, handsewn, and 1/2″ diameter buttons. They’re currently nonfunctional since I can easily get in and out of the dress without unbuttoning it and because of lazy. The pockets are sewn on at a slight angle and I keep thinking they’re uneven in the photos but on the dress they’re matched up so I think it’s just the way I’m standing.
I’m slightly bummed that it’s suddenly 90+ degrees every day because it’s waaay too hot for this dress. Boo.
Hermiting
It kind of sucks when your brain is filled to the brim with creative ideas but you suddenly find yourself as busy as ten bees five days a week.
Sometimes you just need to sneak off and shut yourself in your room like a hermit and sew.
In other news, I wish WIPs weren’t so damn awkward while they’re WIPs. I legitimately can’t tell if I’ve already effed this one up or if it just needs a few pieces attached to make it look more normal.
I’m cranky. :]
Peneloping 