Beaded Moneta Dress

I love the scooped neckline in the back!

Last week I finished my first Colette Moneta Dress! I was so excited when the Moneta pattern came out, because it is exactly the kind of easy dress I like to wear. I'm always inspired/distracted by the new patterns that come out, so somehow actually making a Moneta got lost in the shuffle for a few years. It's a good thing I finally tried it out, because it's an easy pattern and a very wearable dress.

Gotta love a dress with pockets!

I love how this dress is casual and business casual at the same time. I've already worn it 3 times! Now I need to make it in a bunch of colors and fabrics!  :)

I made version 3 of the dress in a straight size S. Overall, the fit is pretty good. I have some pulling under my bicep, I don't know if there is too much fabric there or what, but it doesn't really bother me. The fabric is a lightweight sweater knit, I bought on sale at Hancock Fabrics. It's difficult to see, but I sewed little glass seed beads following the pattern on the bodice. They shimmer a little in the sun, which is really pretty! I feel like Queen Elizabeth with my beaded dress, haha! I didn't do a ton of beading, because it's kind of tedious, so it would be like if Queen Elizabeth had some really lazy seamstresses. Ha!  :)

Pattern: Colette Patterns' Moneta Dress

Fabric: Lightweight sweater knit from Hancock Fabrics & glass seed beads

Did I like the pattern? Yes - sweet & simple!

I'm having a hard time deciding what to sew next - I have too many ideas. I started cutting fabric (really cute fabric) for another Mesa dress, so I'll have to finish that up. I also just bought the Grainline Studios Archer pattern and I have some fabric that will be perfect for a test run. Most importantly, Josh and I are going to Mexico in a month, so I want to make some cute things to wear with the fabric Josh bought me in Oaxaca last year (I used some of it for a Wren Dress). I'll just have to get to work and do them all!!!

Reversible Osaka Skirt

I finally finished my Seamwork Magazine Osaka skirt! I'm pretty happy with how the skirt turned out, despite making some big mistakes that make the pink side almost unwearable (I'll get to that later). The teal side with the kittens is so cute that it doesn't even matter! This skirt will be great with tights during the early fall months!

An antique Czech glass button

This skirt may have been my longest WIP ever. I started in April and only finished it a few days ago, oh my gosh how did 4 months go by that fast? I put the skirt aside when Josh and I moved, and I finally started working on it again recently. When I did, I kept making silly mistakes and having to redo parts. The biggest mistake I made was that the pink fabric I used was slightly stretchy and the other fabric had no stretch. So when I tried sewing them together, the pink side got crazy stretched out and now it doesn't lay flat. The pattern calls for non-stretch fabric, so it was totally my mistake. Oops! I also cut all of the pink pattern pieces on the wrong side, so that side of the skirt didn't match up with the teal side. Luckily the pink fabric is reversible, so I just took it apart and sewed it back together the mirror-opposite of how it was. Ugh! All that matters is that I finished it - yay! I really like the pattern and it fits really well. I haven't added the snaps yet, that would probably help with the pulling that you can see in the pictures. My favorite thing about this skirt is the Cotton + Steel kitty fabric. It's just sooo cute!

The back of the pink side turned out slightly wonky!

Pattern: Seamwork Magazine Osaka Skirt

Fabric: Pink jacquard from Mood, Fabrics Teal Cotton & Steel print from a store in Virginia, and black boucle from Mood Fabrics

Did I like the pattern? The pattern was great, my countless mistakes were unfortunate  :)

Jasper Sweater for Mom

Wow! I have severely neglected this blog over the past couple months! Yikes! At the end of April, Josh and I moved back to the Midwest from Virginia. We lived with my parents for a few weeks before moving into a new apartment in June. I'm super slow at unpacking, so we are still getting settled into our new home.

Back in May, I finished a Jasper sweater for my Mom's Mother's Day gift. I've wanted to make a Jasper for my Mom ever since I first saw the pattern - she loves buttons. This was my first time using a pattern from Paprika Patterns and I definitely want to make this one again (for myself)!

My first welt pockets

Inside pocket lining fabric  :)

I used a sweatshirt fleece and a cotton jersey knit from Girl Charlee Fabrics. The sweatshirt fleece was a dream to work with - it was so soft! Also, since it doesn't have stretch, it moves through the machine really easily. I used a vintage button on the epaulet. I was cursing myself a little for picking out striped fabric, when I had to try matching the stripes along the curve of the cowl neck and the princess seams, but I got through it. Paprika Patterns has a great tutorial for matching stripes on their blog. Mine didn't turn out perfectly but they are close enough  :)

Pattern: Paprika Patterns' Jasper Sweater

Fabric: Sweatshirt fleece and cotton jersey from Girl Charlee Fabrics

Did I like the pattern? Very much!

Next On My Sewing Table

I still need to finish my Seamwork Osaka skirt. I accidentally cut some of the pieces backwards, but luckily some of my fabric is reversible - so I think I can fix the problem without recutting! We shall see! I also really want to make the new Seamwork Weston shorts - they are so cute!

High-waisted Ginger Jeans

It's been awhile since my last post. Josh just accepted a new job, so we are moving back to Iowa. It's really exciting, but it also means that I need to find a new job too. So I've been spending most of the last month looking for jobs and apartments (not fun). I did however, manage to finish my Ginger jeans this week. Yes, you heard that right - I made jeans!!! Woo-hoo!!! I also started cutting fabric for a Seamwork Osaka skirt  :)

Just like everyone else, I was really terrified by the idea of making my own jeans it just seamed like it would be so time consuming and difficult. I had to try it though, after seeing soooo many cute Ginger jeans online. And you know what? Making jeans isn't that bad at all - it's actually pretty fun! I already want to make another pair  :) Technically these are my practice pair. I used denim that I found in my stash. They turned out really wearable - just a few fitting errors that I need to correct for my next pair. They are super comfy and really durable - I already wore them on a long bike ride/hiking adventure  :)

Red topstitching and black denim pockets!

I've always wanted a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans, so I made view B of the pattern. Using the guides on the pattern, I cut a size 8/10 in the waist and graded down to a size 12 in the hips. I started out (as the pattern recommends) by basting my fabric together to test the fit. They were tight at my upper hips (near the top of the pockets) and loose at my outer upper thighs. For the upper hips I decreased my seam allowance to 1/4", and at the upper thighs I moved my seam inward about 1 1/2". Pretty easy changes. My big mistake here, was that I didn't take the time to baste my waistband on and check the fit. I just assumed that it would fit if I got the rest of the pieces to fit. Welllllll, I found out later (after topstitching) that I had a bunch of extra fabric at my lower back. So now the waistband gapes at the back. Oops! I must have had gaping in my back yoke that I didn't notice. The pattern says how to fix that, so I'll just fix it on my next pair  :)

Oopsie! Lesson learned - make sure your waistband isn't gaping before you topstitch it!

So after I figured out my fit (for the most part), I followed the rest of the Sewalong for the Gingers. The Sewalong is amazing, it gives step-by-step photo instructions for every single step of the process. It really makes it so someone like me who has no idea how to insert a fly front or assemble a pocket stay, can make jeans easily! Even with the instructions - I did make a few mistakes. 

• I tried and tried to use nice thick (30m) topstitching thread for my topstitching, but I could never get it to work. I tried different tension settings and needles, and I kept getting loops at the bottom. The only thing I didn't try was changing my bobbin tension (by tightening or loosening the screw on my bobbin case). I didn't want to do that, because I would have to change it back for all the regular seams. Moral of the story, I did the rest of my topstitching with regular thread and it looks fine. So if you're having trouble with topstitching, just use some regular thread in a fun color  :)

• Use a thinner woven fabric for your pocket lining. I used flannel thinking it would be comfy, but it makes the whole pocket area bulge out weirdly. It's not too noticeable, but it would definitely look nicer with just a thin cotton.  

• I added one of my fly front bar tacks too high. Make sure you put them where it shows in the pattern. 

Long story short, this is a wonderful pattern and sewing jeans isn't scary - it's fun! For my next pair of Gingers, I want to do version B again in corduroy! I have a bunch more in-progress photos on my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craft_rambler/

Pattern: Closet Case Files' Ginger Jeans

Size: 8/10 at the waist graded to a 12 at the hips

Fabric: Denim I bought at Jo-Ann's years ago

Did I like the pattern? Yes! This pattern and the sewalong are amazing.

Yay jeans!!!!!

Another Mesa Dress (+ I finished my necklace!)

It's no secret... I love, love, LOVE the Seamwork Mesa pattern. This is the 5th time I've sewn it, but only the 3rd time I've made it for myself  :)   I just love how modern and simple the shape is, and how super easy and fast it is to put together. I end up wearing at least one of my Mesas every week. Want to check out my other Mesas? Mesa #1, Mesa #2, Mesas #3&4.  

I bought this fabric back in December, knowing that it would eventually become a mesa dress. The pattern on this sweater knit is pretty wild, but it works great with simplicity of the Mesa pattern. I cut a straight size S and increased the length by a few inches.

Pattern: Seamwork Magazine's Mesa Dress

Size: Small (lengthened a few inches)

Fabric: Light sweater knit from Fabric.com

Did I like the pattern? Oooh yeah, this is one of my go-to patterns!

I finished my necklace! Yay!!!

My jeweler's saw, aluminum, and brass

In other exciting news, I made a necklace! I've been wanting a minimalist statement necklace but I haven't wanted to spend the money on one. Awhile back, I dug-out my extra metal and jewelry-making supplies from college, and started cutting. Originally I wanted the lower triangle to be larger, but I changed my mind and made them both the same size. The necklace is made of aluminum, brass, and gold. 

I cut the two triangles with my jeweler's saw, drilled holes in them, sanded them, screwed them together with a teeny-tiny nut and bolt, and attached my chain with some wire. I bought the chain online.

Next on my sewing table:

I'm working on my first pair of jeans! I started cutting and topstitching some Closet Case Files Ginger Jeans  :)  I'm a little intimidated about making jeans, but also really excited!

Oaxacan Wren Dress

Josh bought me some really beautiful fabric when he was in Oaxaca, Mexico last October (I'm a lucky girl)! Most of the fabric is perfect for summer dresses and tops, but I knew this fabric would be beautiful for the Colette Wren pattern. I love how the border print looks on the full skirt  :)  It's hard to see in these pictures, but the fabric has a nubby texture to it - which I love!

This is my second Wren. For my practice version, I shortened the Wren into a blouse. The fit was pretty good, but I didn't like the drag lines I was getting in the arms. To fix that, I raised the bottom of my armholes up an inch and removed about an inch of fullness from the arms. I still have some drag lines, but they look much better  :)  I have a long torso, so I also made the bodice an inch longer. The only other things I did differently than the instructions, were reinforcing the wrap front pieces with 1/4" elastic, and I gathered my skirt like you would with a normal woven fabric (I don't like stretching elastic while I sew it).  I'm really happy with how it fits now! 

I matched my side seams! 

Aside from the lovely fabric from Oaxaca, I used a black textured knit from my stash. You might recognize it from these other 3 projects I used it in... Myrtle Dress, Mesa Dress #1, and Mesa Dress #2. I bought the fabric for my Myrtle dress and somehow keep squeaking out more and more dresses out of the original yardage. The remnants are getting smaller and smaller, I had to work some magic just to get the few pieces cut out for this dress. I'm going to be so sad when it's all gone!

This fabric looks so cool when I twirl!!!

Pattern: Colette Pattern's Wren Dress

Size: Small (with a few alterations)

Fabric: Textured knit fabric from Mexico and remnant black textured knit from Jo-Ann's

Did I like the pattern? Love it!

Next on my sewing table:

I started cutting another Mesa Dress! I've made 4 already but I wear mine every week to work  :)  They are so comfy and chic. After I get that sewn together, I'm starting on my Ginger jeans. I got my denim in the mail last week. I'm sooooo excited to try making jeans for the first time!!!