The Sewing Journal

Pantone Colors for Spring Coloring

2009-08-23T15:08:00.008-04:00

I have been matching the Pantone colors with my best colors. I have light red hair, brown eyes and light-to-medium skin color. In the American Color Me Beautiful system, I am a spring; however, in the European version I am a warm/soft. My color varies slightly based on how recently I have dyed my hair, so I wear the softer colors as the color washes out.

I am not a color expert, but I thought the information might be useful to others with my coloring. I tried to match the colors to the Color Me Beautiful books, but I was not able to match some of the colors exactly, but it is close enough that I think the information will be helpful for those of you who order fabric online.

Whites to Beige
11-0601 soft white
11-0606 cream
13-0000 stone
15-1305 taupe
12-0807 shell
11-0104 buttermilk
Brown
15-1309 natural beige
18-1326 rose brown
17-1045 cocoa
19-0815 chocolate
16-1432 oatmeal
19-1034 bronze
16-1326 camel
17-1134 golden brown
19-1020 coffee brown
19-1430 mahogany
18-1449 rust
Gray
17-0000 pewter
19-0405 charcoal
Yellow
11-0616 primrose
13-0850 daffodil
15-0751 mustard
12-0736 light gold
Green
16-0435 lime
17-0610 sage
18-0312 moss
17-0613 gray-green
15-6316 verbena
16-5907 jade
18-6011 spruce
18-0420 olive
18-6024 evergreen
14-0223 yellow-green
150531 light moss
Blue-Green
16-5825 emerald-turquoise
17-5029 turquoise
19-4922 teal
12-4705 mint
16-4529 aqua
Blue
16-3919 sky blue
18-3930 light periwinkle
18-3918 charcoal blue
19-4044 sapphire
19-4118 light navy
Purple
16-3728 purple
18-3211 soft-violet
19-2312 eggplant
Red/Orange
15-2216 blush pink
19-1540 claret
19-1663 geranium
16-1532 coral
18-1661 true red
18-1550 bittersweet
17-1564 orange-red
16-1350 tangerine
16-1441 terracotta
14-1139 amber
14-1316 apricot
16-1539 salmon pink
18-1442 tomato red
16-1329 salmon
16-1454 pumpkin
12-0811 light peach
14-1220 peach

Disappointed

2009-07-10T17:31:00.009-04:00

Edited July 13, 2009

I wanted to let everyone know that I heard from Ann at Gorgeous Fabrics about my post. She generously resolved this issue, and explained the cost of the swatches to me. In case anyone else has misunderstood, the cost of the swatch covers the shipping. I also wanted to make clear that I love the knit prints that I received.

Although the knits were too sheer for the dresses I wanted to make, they are a great weight for chemo hats, so I think it will be put to that purpose. The cardigan Sewingsue suggested Simplicity 2603 is a great idea if anyone else has sheer knit.

I received my fabric orders from Gorgeous Fabrics and Fabric.com today. I am very disappointed with some of the fabrics I received from Gorgeous Fabrics. They did not live up to the descriptions given on the web site.

This is the description given of the fabric shown on the left.

Oh. My. Goodness! Can I tell you how much I adore this gorgeous jersey? It's lightweight, but not see-through, and it is perfect for tops, dresses or loungewear (mmm, jammies)! It will work up beautifully into a dress with New Look 6823. Or make a great top using Onion Empire Top. You'll look like a goddess!

Not see-through? Dress-weight? I would not even wear this for a nightgown. I can see the color of my skin through this fabric.

This is the description of the fabric on the right.

I love this jersey! It's a fantastic shade that will work perfectly for fall! It will work up beautifully into a dress with New Look 6823. Or make a great wardrobe with Vogue 8462. Perfect!

I would not make this fabric into a dress, but a wardrobe! No way you would see me in see-through pants.

I am telling you this because Gorgeous Fabrics does not accept returns. I know that many of you have had great experiences with Gorgeous Fabrics, but I will not order from them again unless I get a swatch. The descriptions are not accurate.

On the other hand, the fabric I received from Fabric.com was exactly as described, half the price, has free shipping and returns.

Does anyone have any ideas on what to do with this sheer fabric? Both are knit and I have 4 yards of each.

Window Shopping

2009-07-08T15:34:00.004-04:00

I went to a high-end mall last night. The anchor stores are Nordstoms and Neiman Marcus. First I have to say I love trying on clothes at expensive stores. I wear clothes two sizes smaller than at the chain stores. Great for the ego! I have the same fit issues no matter what the cost, but it would bother me more to spend $200 for a dress and still have to remake it. Sorry there are no pictures...cameras were not welcomed.

I am never going to follow trends again. I haven't felt good in my clothes since the 1960's. Now that the retro styles are back, suddenly I look good in clothes again, in spite of the fact that I weight 100 pounds more than I did in the 60's. I feel like I wasted half my life in ugly clothes. Never again!

I went to the mall to look at construction and fabric used. I felt a silk/wool for the first time. It will be great for Florida winters. I also saw a beautiful silk jersey print on a DVF wrap dress. The front edge of the wrap dress was finished with self-fabric binding. I was surprised how many of the sundresses were lined with batiste.....and all the sundresses were lined. All the unlined jackets had Hong Kong finishes, and the lined jackets had piping in the seam between the facing and lining. Seams were pressed open and serge finished on dresses and blouses. Invisible zippers were used on everything. They basicly just used good construction techniques with really great fabric.

I was amazed at the difference good fabric made in the way a garment looks on the body. Things that I thought I couldn't wear looked great because of the drape of the fabric. I have been very frugal with my clothing for years, but it was not a good plan. I am definitely going to change my fabric buying habits.

Here are some of the changes I am planning to make as a result of this experience.
1. Buy only good fabric. The expense is worth it.
2. Make more things with princess seams.
3. Make a-line and straight skirts.
4. Make things with a fitted waistline.
5. Make a gathered skirt out of voile and move the gathers to the center, sides almost flat.
6. Make things out of a mid-weight linen fabric. It drapes but has enough body to keep things hidden I don't want to show.
7. Marry a rich man so that I have the money to buy all that expensive fabric.

I Broke My Fabric Fast

2009-07-06T00:51:00.005-04:00

I haven't bought any fabric all year, except for lining and a gift. This has been fine for working out muslins and making things out of wovens, but the knits in my stash were terrible. I have been looking locally, but I haven't found anything that I liked in colors that look good on me. Today I finally got to the point that I couldn't stand it any longer and I went totally crazy.

It all started with this beautiful poly knit from Gorgeous Fabrics. I think I fell in love with the print because of the colors, they fit well into my fall wardrobe direction and I will be able to wear it year-round here in Florida. I ended up ordering 5 different knits, 17 yards total all in colors that I know will look good on me. Thank you Gorgeous Fabrics for the Pantone colors. Then I went over to Fa bric.com and ordered 7.5 yards of rayon blend knits. Although I love Fabric.com's free shipping, colors are a real guessing game without swatches, so I hope what I ordered will work. If not, I am sure I can find someone I know that will look good in the colors.

I am so excited. I now have 7 new fabrics that will really help move my wardrobe into current trends.

Comments

2009-07-06T00:41:00.003-04:00

Several of you have left comments lately that have vanished after I clicked to approve them. I apologize. I am not sure what went wrong, but I have reset the comment moderation, so hopefully, your comments will show up immediately. If that doesn't correct the problem, I will have to get help.

Free Jumpsuit Patterns

2009-06-23T17:22:00.012-04:00

Edited July 9, 2009
The patterns have a new home. I will be giving away more patterns as I clean out my collection. Check the "give away" category for new offers.

Edited July 6, 8009
There was no interest as of June 30th, so if you want these patterns, leave me a comment. First come first served. If there are no takers by July 15, 2009, I will donate them to the thrift shop.

Jumpsuits are back in style, but I won't be wearing them, so I have free patterns if you can use them. If anyone can use these, please leave a comment, and I will have one of those random selectors pick a number on June 30, 2009.

Uncut patterns size range 16-22.

These patterns have been cut to a size 22-24, and are probably altered for my long waist, short legs and big bottom.

Building A Fabric Stash 2

2009-06-23T15:29:00.007-04:00

The fabric that we buy should reflect our personal style and our lifestyle needs. If we are stashing fabric, we are buying for the future, so we need to think ahead. A college student should buy for work, a newlywed should think about children, a middle-age person should think about retirement. I have not found that my style has changed that much as I have gotten older, I have just had to add a tailored garment to the mix and avoid extremes of any quirky style, but the fabrics I loved when I was young still find their way into my wardrobe.

Too often we stash for where we are now, but we are all getting older, and typically, wider. Buy a little more fabric than you need right now if you are young. There is a good chance you are going to gain a few pounds as you age. You are also likely to want a little more coverage as you get older, so buy enough for sleeves, and enough length for a longer skirt. As I mentioned in my last post, most women want better fabrics as they get older, so in your 30's start buying only the best fabric, and use up what you bought when you were younger.

Women's Wardrobe by Kim Johnson Gross and Jeff Stone discusses how fabric gives personality to a garment. The authors give the example of a plain white cotton t-shirt vs a silk tee covered with sequins. The authors have broken down fabrics into categories that I think will be useful to someone just learning about fabrics. Although their list is open to discussion, it got me thinking.

I highly recommend this book for its slightly different twist to thinking about one's wardrobe.

Day
Wool
Synthetic blends
Denim
Cotton
Silk
Linen
Knits
Corduroy
Flannel
Gabardine
Matte jersey
Seersucker
Leather
Suede
Tweed
Night
Satin
Silk
Sequins
Beading
Chiffon
Taffeta
Brocade
Moire
Organza
Lace
Lame
Velvet
Casual
Cotton knits
Denim
Fleece
Stretch fabrics
Synthetics
Tweed
Cotton flannel
Corduroy
Business
Worsted wool
Tropical wool
Wool crepe
Fine cotton
Silk
Synthetic blends
Travel
Synthetics
Microfibers
Wool
Classic
Wool
Cotton
Linen
Silk
Cashmere
Velvet
Progressive
Synthetic blends
Metallics
Vinyl
Seasonless
Rayon
Viscose
Lycra
Wool Gauze
Cotton
Tropical Wool
Silk
Cotton
Denim
Microfibers
Synthetics blended with natural fibers
Winter
Wool and wool blends
silk
Heavy knits
Flannel
Cashmere
Velvet
Corduroy
Fleece
Fur
Leather
Mohair
Tweeds
Chenille
Suede
Summer
Rayon
Cotton
Linen
Tropical wools
Light knits
Seersucker
Cotton pique
Ramie
Terry cloth
Super Masculine
Broadcloth
Chino
Corduroy
Flannel
Gabardine
Wool tweeds
Super Feminine
Angora
Brocade
Chenille
Chiffon
Crinkled silk or cotton
Damsk
Eyelet
Organza
Silk
Satin
Velvet
Sequins
Lame
Voile
Lace
Sexy
Sheer Fabrics
Lace
Satin
Silk Jersey
Clingy Knits
Angora
Breathable
Natural Fiber Fabrics
Fleece
Wicking Fabrics
Non-Breathable
Nylon
Mylar
Quick Dry
Synthetics

Building A Fabric Stash

2009-06-22T14:26:00.005-04:00

There has been a discussion recently at Stitcher's Guild on fabric collecting. I have made some mistakes that I shared there, but thought it would be a good topic for the blog.

When I was teaching, I spent summers working at fabric stores. In 30 years, I built up a huge stash of fabric. I am very grateful for that fabric now that my income is limited, but I did not spend my money wisely, and I do not want you to make the same mistakes. So here are my tips.

If you are going to buy fabric for later use, buy only the best fabric in your favorite neutral colors. As you get older, you will want better fabrics. Neutrals will always work, no matter what the trends.

Limit the number of prints that you purchase. I have found prints go in and out of style. The big graphic prints that are popular now may look very dated a few years from now.

If you move around a lot, remember the regional differences in fabrics. I have wool that I will never use here in Florida, but it moved with me the farther south I moved. Fabric has always been used to pad fragile items when moving, so it always moves with me.

Do not buy more than you can store in the available space. I ended up renting a storage shed for my fabric at one point in my life. That is too much fabric!

Establish a system of organization from your first piece of fabric. If you put it on your computer, make sure to update regularly and back it up.

The fabrics that I wouldn't wear now get used for muslins, but I do wish now I hadn't bought so much, or had been more selective in what I purchased.

Not Again!

2009-06-15T22:25:00.003-04:00

I have been playing with muslins and they just are not working out. Too big. I tried on the jacket and skirt that I was planning to build my wardrobe around, and they are too big. I am going to have to dig out some smaller clothes and see what I can wear now.

I learned something about measurements. Even if you are not loosing weight, if you start exercising, you have to take frequent measurements, because the measurements do change much faster than one might anticipate.

Color Trends

2009-05-25T10:53:00.005-04:00

I discovered a new site today that I think will really help those of us who sew plan ahead. It is Fashion Trendsetter.

Every season I go to the mall and try to determine what colors and styles are the must haves for that season. This site shows the popular colors months in advance. Having this information in advance will really help me plan for the coming season, as I usually start my sewing several months before clothes appear in the stores. They list the Pantone colors so I won't have to try to figure out the colors that are not always accurately reflected on my computer screen. I was really surprised that the colors for fall are very soft.

In their review of upcoming styles for Fall 2009 they say clothes are going to be oversized with leggings and big shoulders. Maybe I shouldn't get rid of those 1980's patterns!

Change of Plans

2009-05-24T13:18:00.008-04:00

I have had a terrible time getting motivated with the mini wardrobe sew along. After looking at the fabric again last night, I realized that I don't like the fabrics, or even the skirt that was the center of the wardrobe. The dressy fabrics also do not fit my current lifestyle. Even though they were just meant to be muslins, they did not inspire me to sew. I decided to dump the entire plan and start over.

I found out that the Stitcher's Guild was having a wardrobe sew along, so I am going to try to complete a mini wardrobe by their guidelines. It involves making an accessory, an area where I have a huge gap in my wardrobe, so if I complete it, I will have all that I need to look put together.

I checked out my closet and found in the dark corner a denim jacket I love, but have rarely worn, because I have nothing the wear with it, and the way I am loosing weight, I will never get to wear it if I don't make something right away.

I went through my stash and found these fabrics that will set it off.

I haven't decided exactly what I am going to do with it, but I am looking forward to sewing this wardrobe, and I think it will get a lot of use. The three fabrics on the left are knits that will be made into shirts. The fabrics on the right are a tan twill and a plaid seersucker. They will probably be skirts, as I wear mostly skirts during the summer.

Birthday Dress

2009-05-24T01:07:00.007-04:00

I went to Hancock Fabrics today to get some patterns as McCall's patterns are on sale for 88 cents this weekend. Apparently many other people had the same idea, as every pattern that I wanted was sold out in the size that I needed. I wanted to get a dress pattern for a friend that is turning 5 years old next week. I had already purchased some teal silk dupioni to make a dress for her, but when I went through my patterns I found that I no longer had any children's patterns. I had planned to make a "princess" dress, but her mother reminded me that she does not like to be the center of attention, so the plan has been changed to make this dress.

I will be lengthening the dress, underlining the entire garment to give it body, adding a wider hem, and hopefully add a little sparkle if time allows. I did pre-wash the silk in the washing machine to make it a little softer and reduce the shine of the fabric. Hopefully, I will get started on this tomorrow afternoon.

Lingerie Elastic

2009-05-14T19:35:00.005-04:00

I ordered 85 yards of lingerie elastic for $17.00 through an ebay store DIY Lace and Trims. I highly recommend this store. The quality of the elastic is great and the shipping was fast. It looks like my granny panties are going to be replaced with fancy pants.

Mini Wardrobe

2009-05-12T00:42:00.007-04:00

Pattern review is having a mini wardrobe contest this month. There is a sew along for those of us who do not wish to participate in the contest, but need to sew a coordinated wardrobe. It is supposed to consist of 4 pieces that can be worn together and one item from our closet. I still haven't decided on all the pieces, but I have selected patterns and fabrics. I do not want to buy any fabric, so all the fabric is from my stash. I am hoping to make some wearable muslins from the fabric. Since I haven't sewn for myself in over 5 years, and my body has changed in those years, I will need to do a lot of experimenting. I chose a 6 gore turquoise skirt with a navy blue stripe from my closet. I will be making navy linen pants and jacket.

The available fabrics from my stash in addition to the navy linen are a hot pink polyester bengaline, a polyester silky print with navy, turquoise, hot pink and lime green, and a cotton sateen with a floral print with navy, pink, turquoise and about every other color in the rainbow. I have five yards of the bengaline and sateen, and three of the poly print. I could really use some help deciding what to do with the fabric. What do you think? Click on the photo for a larger image.

Pattern Drafting Tools

2009-05-07T15:42:00.002-04:00

Three years ago, when my aussie, George, was a puppy, my plastic pattern drafting tools were a tasty snack. I hesitated to replace them, as they are quite expensive. Over the weekend I found the large set of Fairgate rulers on sale at Sew True. They arrived today, only 4 business days after ordering. Finally, a puppy-proof set of drafting tools. I can't wait to get to work!

Free Patterns for Chemo Hats and Scarves

2009-05-01T21:59:00.005-04:00

If you are interested in sewing for others in need, I urge you to join Carewear or Headhuggers. They have many ideas for sewing for those in need. My sewing project for this year is to make chemo hats. I did not want to spend money on patterns, so I looked online for downloadable patterns. Here is a list of what I found:

Reversible Fleece Cap

Fast and Easy Chemo Cap

Polar Fleece Beanie

Snood

Bandanna with Tails

Reversible Chemo Hat

Creative Kindness Easy Hat

Creative Kindness Easy Hat Variations

Creative Kindness Beret

Quick and Easy Beanie

Adult Chemo Hat

Vintage Scarves

2009-04-29T15:01:00.015-04:00

My mother loved scarves and hats. I wanted to do something special with the scarves that she left behind after her death. A group on Pattern Review is making chemo hats and I thought this would be a good way to use her scarves.

In the 1970's head scarves were all the rage. Among her scarves I found some that would be great to use as patterns for chemo hats. I will try to post full instructions for making the scarves soon. Click on the pictures to make them larger.

This scarf was made by my mother to match an outfit, but it could easily be made from a large ready made scarf.

€

This scarf would be great for a child. The scarf is a large bandanna folded in half, the bottom fringed and pony beads are tied on to the fringe.

This scarf will require a pattern. McCall's pattern 4116 view G is very similar.

This scarf was store bought and much to my amazement has a piece of lightweight foam to hold it on the head. I was able to find 1/4" foam at this site, if you would like to try this method.

This scarf is a double layer, is large enough to cover the entire head and is very easy to tie. This scarf is made from a polyester silky and is very slippery. I would suggest making it in cotton to keep it on the head more securely.

You Can Sew

2009-04-08T13:19:00.005-04:00

I saw this video at Internet Archive. It is a Singer advertisement shown at movie theaters prior to WW II. The "can-do" attitude really struck me. Apparently no one had a problem with the assumption that teen-age girls could make ballgowns at that time in history. Today, I encounter so many people who say, "Oh, I couldn't make that." They are not even willing to try. The girls in the video also saw sewing as a way to save money. During my recent gown shopping trip with my friend, the girls were more than willing to spend hundreds for poorly made gowns made from fabric that would be miserable to wear.

I long for the days when there was a store in every neighborhood where young girls could go learn to sew and whip up a ballgown to wear to the big dance.

My Lifestyle Wardrobe

2009-03-27T17:41:00.007-04:00

I need to replace my wardrobe, everything is either worn out or doesn't fit properly. The research that I have been doing indicates that one should first look at their activities or lifestyle to determine what clothes they need.

I first started with the things that I do (I decided to keep this list to 10 things.)
1. sleep (I need clothes for this since I don't sleep in the buff)
2. hanging out at home
3. gardening
4. visiting my dad at the nursing home
5. doctor appointments for myself and my father
6. doing things with friends
7. shopping
8. parties
9. concerts
10. church

Then I added the type of clothes that I wear to those activities.
1a. sleep-pajamas, nightgowns, bathrobe
2b. hanging out-casual
3b. gardening-casual, aprons, hats
4b. nursing home-dressy casual
5b. doctor's- dressy casual
6b. friends-dressy casual, dressy
7b. shopping-casual, dressy casual
8b. parties-dressy casual, dressy, semi-formal
9b. concerts-dressy casual, dressy
10b. church-dressy casual, dressy

The next step was to determine how often I participated in those activities and determine how many outfits I would need for each category if I did laundry once a week and wanted some variety in selections.

1c. sleep, daily

5 pajamas
2 nightgowns
1 bathrobe

2c. hang out, daily

7 casual pants
7 casual tops

3c. gardening, 6 days/week, cannot overlap with other casual clothes

6 casual pants, must be made from a cool fabric
6 casual tops, must be made from a cool fabric

4c. nursing home, 7 days a week, must be washable

4 dressy casual pants
3 dressy casual skirts
7 dressy casual tops

5c. doctor's appointments, once a week

1 dressy casual pants
1 dressy casual skirt
1 dressy casual top
1 dressy casual dress
1 dressy casual jacket

6c. friends, once a week

1 dressy casual pant
1 dressy casual skirt
1 dressy casual top
1 dressy casual dress
1 dressy casual jacket

7c. shopping, 2 days a week

2 casual pant
2 casual tops
1 dressy casual pant
1 dressy casual pant
1 dressy casual skirt
1 jacket

8c. parties, once a month

1 semi-formal dress
1 dressy pant
1 dressy skirt
1 dressy top
1 dressy dress
1 dressy casual pant
1 dressy casual skirt
1 dressy casual top
1 dressy casual dress
1 dressy jacket
1 dressy casual jacket

9c. concerts

1 dressy casual dress
1 dressy dress

10c, church, three times a week

2 dressy dresses
2 suits
2 dressy tops
2 dressy casual skirts
1 dressy casual pant
2 dressy casual tops
3 dressy casual dresses
3 dressy casual jackets

Now I know why I do so much laundry for one person.
What makes something casual vs. dressy casual? The fabric.
If I coordinate everything what do I need? I have no idea. I have never had a coordinated wardrobe, so I guess my list will just cover the basics as I see them.

Summary

By clothing category:
Pajamas

pajamas-5

Nightgowns

nightgowns-2

Bathrobe

bathrobe-1

Pants

casual pants-7
cool casual pants-6
dressy casual pants-4
dressy pant-1

Tops

casual tops-7
cool casual tops-6
dressy casual tops-7
dressy tops-2

Skirts

dressy casual skirts-3
dressy skirt-1

Dresses

dressy casual dress-3
dressy dresses-2
semi-formal dress-1

Jackets

dressy casual jackets-3
dressy jacket-1

Suits

suits, with both skirt and pants-2

By lifestyle category:

Semi-formal

1 dress

Dressy

1 jacket
2 dresses
1 skirt
2 shirts
1 pant

Dressy Casual

2 suits, with both skirt and pants
3 jackets
3 dresses
3 skirts
7 tops
4 pants

Casual

7 pants
6 cool pants
7 tops
6 cool tops

Nightwear

5 pajamas
2 nightgowns
1 bathrobe

That is a lot of sewing! I guess I went over the 11 garments recommended by SWAP. I am going to start with a SWAP, so hopefully I can learn about a coordinated wardrobe. Next I have to decide on my colors.

S.W.A.P.

2009-03-26T23:49:00.010-04:00

Today I learned a new sewing concept, S.W.A.P., Sewing With A Plan. The objective of the plan is to sew a wardrobe that is appropriate for your lifestyle, so you will have the clothes you need.

The plan recommends evaluating one's lifesyle, then sewing 11 garments out of 2 basic colors and 1 complementary color.
2 pairs of pants
2 skirts, one solid, one print
6 tops, matching and coordinating
1 jacket

Here are some links about this concept:

Sewing with a Plan, Planning the wardrobe

Sewing with a Plan Update

Casual Wardrobe Planning

Stitches Article

Sewliz's Template

Jemima Bean's Tutorial on Storyboards

Another suggestion that I read was to organize fabric into containers with coordinated outfits, and sew one container at a time so that one would have something to wear when the container is empty, instead of a bunch of mismatched clothes.

After reading about SWAP I remembered my mother's wardrobe. After retiring, my parents bought a travel trailer and traveled around the country for years. My mother's entire wardrobe had to fit in 2 feet of closet space. Everything was red, white or blue so that she could mix and match everything she wore. My mother made everything she wore. I guess she was ahead of her time.

Pretty Spring Separates

2009-03-25T01:33:00.005-04:00

Here are some great separates for you to enjoy from the web sites of Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, and Saks.

Pretty Spring Tops

2009-03-25T01:01:00.007-04:00

These are my favorite blouses and tops that I found looking for ideas at Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, and Saks.

Dreaming of Weddings

2009-03-21T11:52:00.010-04:00

I went shopping with a 19 year old friend to get get ideas for wedding dresses. We don't have a date yet, not even a groom, but we know that it will take a long time to get this dress made, and we wanted to start thinking about it. She wants a silk gown with lace, but she tried on prom gowns at the mall to get ideas. Here are some of the highlights.

The white gown is shirred at the waist and created a very flattering shape on her figure, but I don't know if I want to use $100 a yard lace in this manner.

The blue gown had the best neckline, but I have never done any draping, and I would have to learn before making the gown.

The green gown was the one that made her feel pretty. She carried herself differently when wearing it, and had a beautiful smile. Hummm. I wonder what this would look like in silk satin and lace?

Pretty Spring Dresses

2009-03-17T00:44:00.005-04:00

I have been searching the internet for ideas for spring sewing. Here are some dresses that I found at Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, and Saks that I like.

To My Teacher

2009-03-10T11:48:00.001-04:00

I have always been meticulous about keeping my sewing room neat and organized, but something has happened over the last 10 years while taking care of my parents. I attempted to do some sewing yesterday for the first time in years, and when I stepped into the room I couldn’t even see my sewing machine. The room is filled with boxes. After my mother died, I put all the boxes of her sewing things in my sewing room, and haven’t touched them since. The time has now come to go through those boxes and eliminate duplicates and things that I will never use.

This is going to be a difficult task. My mother taught me to sew when I was 9 years old. My first project was a purple moomoo, and my mother went on to teach me how to make everything from underwear to tailored suits. She saved scraps of everything she made, and stored all her notions in containers that were uniquely my mom. Each box contains a memory of my mother, but they are the best of memories.

Thank you, Mom.