Wardrobe Wednesday: Laurel

I shared with you the muslin I made for Laurel.  I also shared the double-fold bias tape I made.  I couldn't leave out the finished Laurel made from a light weight denim.

This post is mostly detail shots, since Colette patterns are about the details.

This is the sleeve hem.  I would do this a little differently if I was to do it again, but for a first try it came out okay.

The should seam could have been a little smoother.  I don't mind those little puckers though.

The collar finish came out almost as good as the sleeve finish.

The bottom hem came out pretty nicely considering I think it was the first time I used the blind hem on my machine.  Usually when I do a blind hem I do it by hand.  I'm not kidding.

The finished dress doesn't have a bunch of shape on my dress form.  This is the back.  I did not include back darts and there is no back seam.  This dress is a pull-over.  Just a small variation from the pattern as written.  I figure if I need shape I can add a belt.

Here it is, all finished.  Simple but well-made.  I will have to think about this one before I make another.  I like the simplicity of the pattern but I question how much wear I will get out of it.  Maybe I should shorten to a shirt length, or shorten more and change the lower half.  I'm still thinking about the options and Laurel does give you a great jumping off point.

Colette Pattern: Laurel

It isn't often (something like once or twice a year) that I decide to sew clothing.  I started sewing as a garment sewer and have since moved on to primarily quilts.  I try to sew every day.  I don't think I could wear that many clothes but I can use or gift that many quilts.  I decided it was time to make a simple tunic.

I poked around the internet once I made that decision and found all these great sewers had made one (some as long as a year or more ago) and I knew it would be the best way to break my garment sewing fast.

• Ginger Makes created a spectacular sleeveless Laurel.
• Noodle-head is so much braver than I am.  She included the back darts and the zipper.
• Very Shannon's version is perfect!
• Idle Fancy has another sleeveless version that pairs beautifully with a cardigan.

I've had this pattern from Colette for a while.  I finally broke it out.  Laurel is a great pattern if you want to try your hand at garment sewing but aren't comfortable with some of the details (like facings) that often entails.  All the edges have bias tape finishes except for the bottom hem.  This dress has so many great things you can do with it.  Colette even has a free booklet of extras that show you just a few of the ways you can change this to make it your own.

Step one was to trace the pattern onto my super graph paper.  (You can find similar paper at some of the office supply stores.  This pad is from Staples but we've had it in the house for years and years.  You can also get a more durable product for making pattern copies or modifications to existing patterns from Pellon Tru-Grid.)

Step two was to make a muslin.  Did I mention it's been a while since I did any garment sewing?  I'm certain my size has changed in the last year or so.  My pants have told me so.  I'm not entirely sure how I feel about those front darts.  They seem low to me.  (I suppose I shouldn't complain about that.)  This muslin (a test or fitting garment) is made out of the last of the 120" wide unbleached muslin (cotton fabric of plain weave) I purchased years ago.  I'm sure I purchased it to back quilts (I don't do that any more, I like a sturdier product for quilt backings) and to make fitting garments.

The sewing on this is really super simple.  I decided to leave out the back darts and make the back one piece.  I didn't want to have to deal with a zipper.  This is where I tested the fit to make sure I could get it on over my head.  I can sew a zipper.  I've just come to associate a zipper in a dress with fancy.  I don't want a fancy dress.  I just want something comfortable to wear around.

Sleeves attached and another test fit.  This is where I left the muslin.  I decided it fit well enough and I was comfortable with the fit and technique to cut some fabric and get stitching.  The biggest change will be going from a regular straight stitch (easier to rip when making a muslin) to the over-lock machine for the real thing.  Oh, and the bias binding for the sleeves and the collar.  more about that on Tuesday.  I feel the hem might be too short, but I think I'll have to finish the real one to get a better idea about that.  I can easily add a band to the bottom if I have to.  So far I think it is going great!

Fashion Formula Skirt Number Three

I found some more batiks that I thought would work up into a skirt.

This time, I had to get a little creative on the tier lengths due to the amount of fabric I had available.  I considered making five tiers, but decided I didn't really want another tier.  I cut the fabric based on what I had available, which was two 1/4-yard cuts of the top three fabrics and less than a yard of the blue/black on the bottom row.  That is the only tier I have that needs to have three strips cut width of fabric, so it worked out just fine.

The finished length is 28".  This is a good length for summer, I think.

Fashion Formula Skirt Number Two

Here is another skirt I made using the pattern from Serendipity Studio.  It's call Fashion Formula Skirts.

After making the first one, I couldn't stop.  I had to make another.  Fabric selection slowed me down a little, but only a little.

I had planned on taking more construction pictures of this skirt than I did the first one, but before I knew it, it was done.  No pictures.

Here is sneak peek at the inside.  See how pretty the serger makes all those seams?  I think I'm in love with that Evolution.

The Pfaff does a good job with those pretty top stitches, too.  While I was trying to squeeze another skirt out of my copious stash of batik fabrics, I think I figured out how to make this skirt entirely from 10" squares.  I will have to give that one a try at some point.

Fashion Formula Skirt Number One

I know, the title implies there will be more than one of these skirts.  The answer is yes.

I picked up this great pattern from Serendipity Studio.  It's call Fashion Formula Skirts.  I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for a tiered skirt.  They are comfortable, easy to make and fun to wear.  They let you showcase one fabric or a stack.

On Saturday I went to Bear's Paw Fabrics and did some shopping in their discount isle.  I can't pass up a batik, particularly when I need to make a skirt like this.  I picked up five different fabrics to make at least one skirt.  I should have gotten more fabric, but I can always go back.

The Fashion Formula Skirts booklet is a quick formula for a skirt that anyone can do with some simple math and the right tools.  Cutting is quick.  The skirt made up quickly on my serger, with details stitched with my sewing machine.

I probably spent more time making sure I knew which fabric I wanted in which teir than I did with the cutting.  Here are my four tiers cut and ready to be seamed.

I seamed each tier together and used my serger to finish the edges.  I also used the serger to do the gathering and construction.  I use the sewing machine to do all the top stitching.  Each seam is top stitched down with coordinating thread.

I love this skirt and will make many more.  (Don't mind that pile of free-motion quilting practice under the skirt.)  Sorry about the wrinkles.  I'd been wearing it and had to put it onto the dress form to take the picture.

Someone commented on  my dress form over on Google+.  This is Rita.  She is a "Uniquely You" dress form.  You can find her on Amazon.com, though I bought this one years and years ago at a Jo-Ann Fabrics.  Funny, I never realized I named the dress form but have never named a sewing machine.  Things to ponder.

Recycling Makes Me Feel Good!

I've been playing around with turning thrift store shirts into t-shirt dresses.  I've got all the pictures taken for a tutorial, but I don't have the time to write the tutorial.

Let's just agree that I will tell you how to turn two t-shirts into one t-shirt dress that will make you feel good about saving money and the environment.

Polka Dot Madness

I've been drawn to polka dots lately, I'm not sure why.  So, when I pulled from my stash to try out a new pattern, I grabbed this cute green and pink fabric and a coordinating floral print.

The palette.

Loads of pinning and cutting later, I had all the bits of a dress, time to get with the stitching.

I used two fabrics for a couple reasons.  One, who wants a plain dress, and two, isn't it just more fun this way?

The pattern didn't call for a fully lined bodice, but I wanted one anyway.

Here it is before the zip, hem and bodice lining.  This is the best lighting of the day, so I'm glad I snapped this before I was done.

Zips aren't my strong suit.  I'll keep trying, though.  Hopefully I'll get better as I go along.

The lining is stitched and pressed to the inside.  The lining is pinned down for hand-finishing.

Here it is all finished.  Sure, it would look better with someone wearing it. 

I'm also not chasing a dog around so I can get that picture for you and my brand new spring dress dirty in the process.