Faux Chanel Jacket

Hello!
We had a crazy week this week, there was a terrible storm (which most of you would probably laugh at) and it even snowed in some parts of Israel! Since we're not accustomed to actual real winter here it pretty much meant that the country fell apart. It took people hours to get to work in the morning because the roads were blocked and so on. No matter, at least we had rain!

I made this jacket a few weeks ago as a homage to the Chanel Jacket. Now I know it's much more basic than the Chanel Jacket but I was inspired by it and therefore I'm entitled to say that it is a homage. STOP CRITISIZING ME.

DO I LOOK LIKE MICHELLE OBAMA OR WHAT?

hmm.

I really do feel elegant and respectable when I wear this. It's a little more fancy than what I normally wear, I kind of dress like I a little girl most of the time (evidence here). This tendency is not as prominent in the blog because I tend to dress up for pictures rather than just wear the garments as I would to work on a daily basis (AND I own an obscene amount of sweaters with little animals them). WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY is that this isn't my usual style.

This is what I would have looked like had I taked the photos this past week:

This is what I think that bloggers that take near naked (and when I say near naked I mean short sleeves/skirts with no tights) photos in the snow. I know there's a secret conspiracy where they all use photoshop to insert snow, because there's no freaking way to be naked in the snow. I love my blog, but not that much. (for those of you who Googled the phrase "naked in the snow" and came across my blog 1) I'm sorry to disappoint 2) what were you thinking? seriously.)

Now I'll talk about the jacket, because this is why I have a blog. I still can't believe it, but I drafted the pattern myself! I used my own bodice pattern and it took quite some time because I wanted to make sure I did it right. (since then I've drafted another jacket and it went much quicker, I think I was just being a little too anal). To be honest, I should get off my high horse and face the facts, it's not really a difficult jacket to draft as there is not collar and it's only waist length but here at DS we kid ourselves that what we do is an achievement. Play along or leave.

This fabric was a NIGHTMARE, I don't think you can tell from the pictures, but it's so loosly woven I really think that the employee at the store I bought it from sat a wove the fabric from black and white string. It was silly of my not to take this into account, the only think I did to manage the stretchiness and shapless-ness of the fabric was stay stitch EVERYTHING. The problem was that I didn't think that even after the garment was finished there was the danger of it falling apart. How did that happend do you ask? the side of the jacket got cought on my bag and it pulled out like THREE STRINGS from the jacket. You'd think it's not a big deal but as I said, it's so loosely woven theres a gaping hole in the side of my jacket and I've yet to come up with an idea to fix this. Any ideas?

I interfaced the facings and the hemline because it wouldn't retain it's shape. It's still a little weird at times.. OH WELL.
The pattern has a basic side-bust dart and shoulder darts in the back. I wanted to keep it simple as the fabric is kind of busy. This is why the jacket came out kind of wide at the waist,  a little wide.

This was my first time making sleeve heads as well and I'm so happy with the result, it really does make a difference with the way the sleeves look. In my stupidity I bought bright purple fleece for this because I thought it will always be under fabric so it won't matter. I know I haven't mentioned this yet (hehe) but the fabric was REALLY loosely woven so you can kind of see little specs of purple fleece through the sleeve head. I use Gertie's method for this and it was really easy, it eliminates the need for easing the sleeve and inserts a sleeve head in one go!

 

No, I am not selling watches (boy am I full of jokes today), how awesome is my lining?! I tried wearing the jacket inside out and I looked like a pimp. I've started using poly sating for lining because there's a larger range in colors than lining fabrics, also they're thicker and feel a little more luxurious to me (I know I should be crucified for calling polyester luxurious). Have you ever tried it using poly satin as a lining?

 

AND THERES A WELT POCKET. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!@
I wish I had a handkerchief to put in this pocket because it is too cool not to be used. I used the Coletterie's Tutorial for this as well. It didn't come out as nice as my 60's Dress because the satin was kind of slippery and difficult to handle (and I may have over pressed it) but I'm still happy with it!

Inside-out picture. I know you love them.
I inserted the lining using the bagging method. It took me a while to figure out because I didn't think to look at the tutorial before I drafted the lining and cut out the pieces but I worked it out in the end. I used this excellent tutorial by Grainline.

See the gaping in the back? Maybe a back stay would have helped? Or maybe it the jacket just needs to be slimmer - any suggestions?

 

 

That's it for now!
Have you ever attempted to make a faux Chanel Jacket? I'd love to hear what you have to say about EVERYTHING I wrote today.
PICTURE OVERLOAD.

Black Tie Event T Shirt

Hello there!
How were your New Years celebrations?? I had a great time though there was a lot of regretful feelings the next day at work. I wore my Knight in Shining Armor Shirt, as I believe that one should dress in shiny garments in the new year (hopefully by next year I'll make a sequin dress!), with a black tutu-esque skirt. I felt so fancy! Did you wear a me-made garment?

Now that the holidays are over, it's time to get back to business. I made this shirt for my dad's birthday. He's the opposite of a fancy dresser in the extreme, he won't go to events that require fancy attire - that's how much he's afraid of it. Luckily, his job doesn't require fancy dressing (He's a physicist), he tends to go to talks wearing a funny t shirts and shorts.
My dad has been bugging me to make him something ever since I started sewing but he's always asked for far fetched things like a long wool coat or a leather jacket, so when the word T Shirt came up I finally decided it was time to take the plunge and make him something. In the spirit of funny T Shirts, I though I'd make him something that he could wear to talks that would be a tiny bit fancy if worn under a jacket yet still funny.

Ha!
Yes I know you're all laughing out loud.

Anyway, I figured this is a cheeky way to wear a tie (as my dad hasn't worn a tie since his Bar Mitzva). I use Burdastyle's Pete (it's free!) and it's a pretty good pattern. I didn't make a muslin because I wanted this to be a surprise so I just figured I wing it. There are a few alterations I'd make in the future if I ever make this again - for one, shortening the shoulder width.. any other suggestions as to what I should change? I can see that it doesn't fit perfectly but I can't decide exactly what to do...
Otherwise the pattern was very easy to sew, I think I cut a large, which, again, I can't decide if it was the best size.. The sleeves have the biggest hem in the world which is kind of ridiculous, it's like 2.5 inches, WHY?? They also kind of stick up, I'm wondering if that's improve once I shorten the shoulder length? hmm

I finished the neckline using this excellent tutorial rather than using ribbing for the neckline like the pattern suggested. It was so easy and it looks professional as well! It calls for serging the band to the neckline and then topstitching it.

  

 I  used this terrible white poly fabric for the tie, I don't know when or why I bought this fabric but I have tons of it and I have no idea what to do with it. only 300 yards more to figure out what to do with.

The tie came out a bit crooked, it was absolutely impossible to sew on straight. At some point I got frustrated and just figure I'd stick with what I've got.

My dad wore it to a talk with a jacket and nicer pants than in the photo (which basically means not jeans) and got many compliments! Apparently physicists have a fashion sense as too.

And finally if you didn't think we were weird enough, here's my father attempting to look like a porn star. You may unfollow my blog now.

Have you ever made menswear before?

Also I have a final general thought. I managed to make two blouses this weekend and it got me thinking - does the fact that I can make garments so quickly mean that I'm in a sewing stand-still? That I should be trying to techniques and drafting more complex patterns? I guess one of the reasons I managed to make up the two blouses so quickly is because the patterns were ready so that reduced the time significantly. But still, does sewing only count if you feel like you've learned something from the project? Sometimes I don't feel like plunging into a big project, especially since I only sew on weekends. Can sewers only improve if they try ambitious projects? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Velvety Blouse

Hi everyone!
I had such an exhausting week and weekend. Let me tell you, mini wars are hard on the soul. As you probably know, a cease fire was announced a few days ago, I still don't know what I think about the whole situation, it's confusing as I'm extremely happy it's quiet again and that all my soldier friends weren't sent into the Gaza Strip, but it feels like we didn't accomplish anything. Though I'm sure we accomplished much more than I know when it comes to a military point of view (quite a few Hamas activists were killed) it feels like in six months we'll be showered with rockets again. The only thing I can say confidently is that I'm so glad I don't have to lead a country! So many difficult decisions to make and people that rely on you. I much prefer sewing, mind you.

Speaking of which, since this is sewing blog, I'll proceed to the subject which I'm really supposed to talk about, which is not Israeli politics.
This is another installment of my Fall Look Book. In all honesty this is one of my favorite blouses I've EVER made. I've never seen anything like it (people don't wear much velvet in general, do they?) and I just love the cut out detail and the color and everything about it!

  I used a stretchy hunter green velvet (or maybe it was velveteen? whats the difference anyway?) I got for like 4$ a yard. I was kind of afraid at first of sewing velvet (and at this point was kind of angry with myself for being stingy and not buying Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide - I've heard it's worth it weight in gold!) so I did some research, and all I could find was scary warning about ironing velvet the wrong way and not top stitching velvet and so on. In the end I decide to do a few test runs on fabric scraps and see how it goes.
I checked if I could:
1) iron the fabric with and without steam (check!)
2) top stitch without it looking ugly (semi- check, I decided that it was ok but better if I can avoid it)
3) be serged. (also semi check, I had to play around A LOT with the stitch width and length before finding the best outcome. (small stitch length and small stitch width + keeping the fabric very tout))

sorry for everything being lopsided!

This brings me to the next hurtle in this project - the cut out. I was set on having a heart cut out in this shirt, I loved the way it turned out for me last time I made a heart cut out and I thought that this dainty detail would clash nicely with the green velvet. Since I didn't much like the look of the top stitching (though it wasn't terrible - I did opt for machine hemming the sleeves and hem) before, I decided that topstitching around the heart isn't a great idea. I thought of hand sewing the facing but immediately decided that there must be a better idea to do this (I HATE HAND SEWING). After doing some reaserch on the internet I found this product: Warm Company Steam-A-Seam . This is basically a fusible strip that you can use for hems or any kind of fabric fold that you seek to attach seamlessly (huh! pun!). I decided to try this on my heart cut out. Before I explain the whole process let me give you a spoiler - it worked beautifully!

I cut out the heart from the bodice and used the same heart pattern to cut out a matching facing. I then sewed the facing to the bodice right sides together along the edge of the heart and pushed the facing inside the heart shaped hole. Next I gave the heart a little press and then inserted the Steam A Seam strip between the bodice (wrong side) and the facing (wrong side) little by little (as the strips don't curve) I permanently bonded the facing to the bodice. It was that easy! I love this thing! I can't wait to try and use it on lace and other light fabric because it promises to disappear - we'll see about that! Have you ever used Steam A Seam?

I wore this shirt to work a few weeks ago and I still can't decide if this was a good idea. Why, you ask? well it's kind of.... gapey. (evidence in the photo above, so much boob and armpit showing from very little movement) Also, the heart tends to ride down a little and my bra peeks out occasionally. Now, I know you're probably freaking out about this (as I'm sure you have very strong feelings about what I wear to work) but I have a very low key, casual and um.. revealing work environment. A lot of the people working at the company are my age and some wear tank tops to work and even shorts, so it's not like everyone was staring at me! Anyway, it still made me slightly uncomfortable so I may have to restrict this shirt to going out only.

Finally let's finish with the hem. I have come to the conclusion that this is my favorite style hem, it just gives my butt such a butt lift I'm surprised it's mine when I look in the mirror. Something about the way it hugs it in a curve does wonders! What do you think? Am I imagining the improvement in my rear area?

I wore this shirt to a dinner out with friends and a friend liked it so much I made her a dress (it was basically the same, only longer) with this cranberry velvet. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL! I know I was talking earlier about how I like that the cutout clashed with the green but this silhouette was made to be sewed in cranberry!
Has this ever happened to you? Visioning a project in one color and then realizing that it would have looked perfect with a different fabric? Do tell!

That is it my friends!  Have a great rest of the week!

Copy Cat Mystery Pocket Skirt

I've been a little less creative with my last few projects (evidence here), which is why I have no shame in calling myself a copycat. I LOVE looking at a garment (especially more intricate vintage garments) and figuring out how to recreate them myself. Even though it's not my original idea (though I do try to add my own twist to it and not outright copy it) I feel so proud of myself for going through the whole process of drafting and sewing the garment from start to finish.

My all new copycat garment comes from Suzannah's Adventures in Dressmaking. Suzannah holds a Sewing Circle, where readers send her questions and she answers them (very thoroughly I might add!) while asking other readers for their opinion and input. How cool is that?
Anyway, in Suzannah's last sewing circle (for the full post click here) a reader asked for advice on making the following skirt:

 

To be quite honest, I didn't much like the skirt in the beginning. I have a issue with A line skirts, I feel like the don't do much for my body, but after inspecting the skirt I realized that the fact that it grazes the hip right before it flares out (rather than being much wider than the hips) may be quite flattering.
Most of the talk in the post was about the unique pockets, which upon seeing them immidiatly got me thinking of how to recreate them. I was so excited for the challenge! OK, I admit, this was the reason I made this skirt. I cannot admit defeat, even if it's over a skirt I don't really like in the first place.

Stay tuned for a joined tutorial Suzannah and I will post tomorrow on how to draft and sew this skirt! (link to the tutorial here)

This is my version!
I have a few issues which I will share with you along the showing of the pictures.
I tried to imitate the original outfit, so I wore a chiffon shirt, which I though was a good enough effort. what say you?

What do you think of the pockets? they look the same right? huh? huh? huh?
I love how they turned out! they're not very functional, as putting something in them kind of distorts the whole look. it's not very pleasant, but who care about functionality?

This is kind of a weird shot of the back, but it's the only one I have. I admit there's not much to see, but lets all appreciate my invisible zipper for a second.





OK.
I think I can officially say that I love invisible zippers. they are SO much better than regular zippers. there, I said it. they're better. I feel like regular zippers are so much more work, no? I may have forgotten how to sew a regular zipper. does that make me a terrible sewer?

One of the issues I have with this skirt it that I stupidly decided not to line it (out of pure laziness. I hate myself sometimes) and I think it lacks the sturdiness of the original skirt. I think I'm going to line it, but I have to rip some seams which I am not looking forward too.

Another issue is that because I made this skirt in navy, it kind of reminds me of school girl skirt... I kind of like the idea and don't at the same time. I thought of adding gold buttons above and below the slits of the pockets... what do you guys think?

Don't forget to check in tomorrow in for our tutorial!
update: here's the link to the tutorial 

Cat Blouse

The first look! and more importantly - the look that started it all...

The Cat Blouse!

 Yes! it's made out of quilting fabric with little cats! I admit the pattern isn't very ooh-la-la but I thought I should keep it simple because the fabric is SO CUTE!

I used my bodice to create this pattern, I was inspired by the Colette Sencha Blouse and Gertie's (or Vogue's) Bow Tie Blouse and created a vintage silhouette (which admittedly you can't see in this picture, I basically look like a balloon. I blame it on the Doctor Peppers I've been drinking non stop for two months).

It might be more obvious in this one:

 You can see the definition of the waist better in this picture. (Though sadly I'm wearing a deer-in-the-headlights look. I still can't decide if I like this picture much). I made it a little longer than the blouses I mentioned above and seemed to have over compensated out of pure hysteria because the last few blouses I've made have come out quite short.

Yesterday, I talked about how I had to put a lot of thought into the making of these blouses. When making clothing with the intention of selling them, you really have to think about how long each process will take you, otherwise you will have to charge a FORTUNE for the garment you're making. The issue with this is thinking about time and also thinking about the finishing of the garment at the same time. You don't want to send out a garment that looks like a piece of crap or damages the integrity of the original design because you're trying to save time.

The focal point of this blouse is the buttons in the back. now I know you can't really see them well and I blame that on the busy print, but I assure you they're quite prominent in real life!

One of the examples for thinking about the way I do things is the back button placket, let's take a closer look:

In the original blouse I had an actual separate placket for the buttons that I cut on the bias. I decided to shorten my sewing time by elongating the back pieces to overlap and creating a facing to make the button strip sturdier. In retrospect, I can't really decide which design I like better. This definitely saved me at least half an hour of construction (it might seem silly but these things add up!) but maybe the placket made the button more noticeable? Anyway I felt that this gave the blouse a cleaner finish and made it simpler to construct. What do you guys think? would it have been better to leave a separate placket?

I'd love to hear your thoughts! I love this shirt, I love the fabric, I really think that you can't find this kind of shirt at a store - at least not out of cotton! It's definitely work appropriate and is quite easy to accessories because it has such a simple cut!

What do you think about my hat? A friend made it for me (YES it's the same friend I made a Cinderella Dress for and have mentioned too many times) It turned out a tiny bit small but I have the option of stretching it a bit because it's felted. Thoughts? should I leave it like this?

I'll share more simplifying techniques I used as we go along. What do you guys think of the basic idea? do you think of the easiest way of doing things when you sew or would you rather spend more time on a garment and use a more complicated technique?

Tell me!

Fall Look Book

Hey guys!
I had SUCH a busy summer! I did so much sewing, seriously I was like a one man sweat shop! It all started with my friend wearing a Circle Shirt to work (this is the same friend I made the Cinderella Dress for. I'm not as nice as you think though, she bought me two Collete Patterns in return - more on that later!) One of my friend's cow - workers liked the shirt that I made and offered to buy one from me! How exciting is that? I've never gotten money for something I've made!
It kind of made me realize how much I improved my sewing skills in the last year. I know that non sewers don't really notice the stuff we do, like seam finishing and so on but I felt comfortable making something for someone else and I couldn't say that about myself a year. like I said in the cinderella dress post I think one of the big changes were in making that dress. I usually don't pay much attention to detail, I'm far from a perfectionist, but when I sew for other people I really do feel that I have to make the extra effort for everything to look nice on the inside! (I'm not saying that my garments look like I put them through a shredder it's just not perfect).

Anyway, the next awesome thing that happened was that I wore one of the shirts I made for myself (and have yet to post about it)  to the Princeton Jazz Feast and wandered into a boutique. One thing led to another and the boutique owner asked me where I got my shirt (isn't that the most perfect compliment??) I told her (after doing a little dance) that I made it. She then offered that I make a few shirts and sell them on consigment in her shop.

Holy Sh@#$t!

Can you believe it? I'm like a celebrity!
To be honest, it's not the best deal in the world money wise but who cares?? 

I decided not to think about what people will think, and if they buy it and if the shop owner will
like it and just have fun with it! I came up with a few looks for fall (this was after a lot of thought  and consideration. I had to think of the hours it'll take to make each garment as well) that represent my style. I thought of it as kind of a Project Runway Challenge and tried to have fun with it (it was most stressful at times. believe that) .
This is what I came up with:

What do you guys think? Can you guess which one is the Shirt that started everything??

I'll write separate posts for each shirt and explain more about each one.

what do you think?? huh? huh? huh?
I'm really excited about the looks!
  

Stud Ye Collar

Finally I am back with a creation post!

I made this shirt in my sleevless-blouses-with-collars faze. I'm am sad to say that it lasted too long, which caused me to have a I'm-not-even-a-little-bit-creative-when-I'm-sewing breakdown. Does this ever happen to you? when you feel like all you're doing looks exactly the same? Anyway, after making my Double Collar Blouse and my Crochet Collar Blouse I felt like I was overdoing the idea. I am now staying away from collars and sleeves blouses and have started with a new obssesion, now all my shirts have a distinct vintage sillouete to them, as in, wider at the shoulders and come in at the waist.  It seems that I am incapable of making only one shirt of a kind, I insist on using the same pattern (as I draft them myself) and decide to clothe a whole country with them. why is that?

Also, if I ever write a novel I am using the picture above in the "about" section. Even though I am not by a book case or wearing glasses (which means I will not be taken seriously in the literate world) it has a I-did-not-pose for this quality and you can kind of see my bra through the fabric (more on this later) which is always a plus.

I have taken to like sewing with jersey. I bought this gold-silver fabric and had no idea what I would do with it.  I always have trouble with unique fabric. I feel like the right move is to make a simple garment and let the fabric speak for itself, but why do I sew if I let the fabric do all the speaking? I want some Kessem speeches in my clothes, otherwise I will have to compensate with the use of my verbal attributes which are over used as is (a least according to my mother).
How do you feel about this readers? do you make complicated garments with complicated fabrics or do you like to let your fabric do the work?

I almost wore this shirt to a job interview. THANK GOD I DID NOT. I HAD NO IDEA THIS BLOUSE WAS SO SHEER. I now understand the looks I have been getting from middle aged men while wearing this shirt.

I bought these studs in attempt to be trendy. I had them for quite a while before using them (their first debut was in the Chain of Fools Blouse in which they embellished the pocket.) I have to say, studding is addicting, even though I'm not set on having them on every garment I make I WANT to add them to everything. EVERYTHING. I fixed one of my mom's reusable shopping bags a few days ago and found myself thinking about embellishing them all with studs. My mom will be the most stylish shopper at Whole Foods is all I'm saying.

I attached the collar to the shirt with cotton bias tape, which was half a mistake and half genius. the reason it was a mistake is because the bias tape is MUCH heavier than the fashion fabric so it kind of pulls the fabric down and gapes a little. the genius part of it is that the bias tape offers stabilization to the collar (as I usually don't add stabilizer to jersey) which is nice.
Now that I have my handy dandy Bias Tape Maker I don't think I'll do this again. but just know that this is possible, if not stupid.

The only issue I have with this shirt is that it's too short and I can only wear it with very high waisted bottoms to avoid looking like a pop-over.

and with that I leave you with some questions from this post:
1) do you get into sewing rants and sew the same style garment over and over like I do?
2) How do you feel about interesting fabric? do you focus on it's uniqueness or somehow mold it into your own creation?
3) do you stupidly mix sewing fabrics and feel so ashamed of it you confess to the sewing world in the hope of getting penance?

That is all my friends!

Cinderella Dress

I have never been more excited about a dress in my life! I made this dress for a friend so I did everything right. You know what I mean? This is terrible, but I am not even close to being a perfectionist, so when I make clothes for myself sometime I cut corners, get lazy with seam finishing and so on. I've been doing a lot less of that and I think that this dress was the catapult to my good behavior, because when it comes to making clothes for other people, I do want it to be perfect.

I drafted the pattern myself using a bodice sloper I created for my friend. I have to tell you, I've never put so much thought into anything I've sewed. I created the princess seams and the sleeves with the gathering detail. When I cut the pattern I measured the seam allowance really really carefully (I never measure anything carefully) and thought about everything twice before I made the first cut. I do realize this is how I should be treating every project and that just winging it just shouldn't cut it for me. But I really am lazy. I'm working on my sewing habits, though and my projects after this dress are so much more proffesional than my pre-dress creations.

The back has a low neckline (which I love) and the skirt is a full circle skirt (which was a nightmare to hem. I let it hang for two days and the skirt hem was so off I couldn't believe it was a circle to begin with)
Even though circle skirt take more time and effort than any A line skirt, I think they're SO beautiful and flattering. I love the way the drape and - for a lack of a better word - flop.

I finished the waist tie and hem with little scallops using Gertie's tutorial and I can imagine this was a uch easier way to finish them hem than a narrow hem, even though I did have to sit and cut of the scallops for two hours. I did this while watching The Good Wife so no harm done.
(can you see the belt loops?? how cool are they?? I don't remember where I found the tutorial for this - if anyone recognizes this tecnique let me know! but I just took 6 pieces of thread an sewed a zigzag stitch with my machine over them created a thin braid for the belt loop. cool huh?)

I used a poleyster satin for this. I almost gagged when I bought it (at my friedn's request), I though she'll end up looking like a girl in a beauty pageant. To my surprise - it turned out beautiful! I really feel like a Disney character when I wear it:

Convincing huh??
(after Bambi and I took this picture I started singing and a bird answered me and then two butterflies draped a shawl on my shoulders as it was getting chilly)

 I finished the armholes and neckline with store bought satin bias tape that was EXACTLY the color of the fabric. I couldn't believe my luck!

What do you guys think?
I'd really like to make one for myself, but I have nowhere to wear a satin dress (I go to a pathetic amount of social gathering a year) so maybe I'll make it in a different kind of fabric.
Any suggestions? I'd love your thoughts!

Crochet Collar Blouse

This blouse was a nightmare. The fact that I still call it a blouse even though it's sleeveless (am I right to think that blouses can't be sleeveless? I can never get my head around th shirt/blouse difference) should show you that my bruised ego will not let this one go.

So I'm not saying it's not a nice blouse shirt. I made it a few weeks ago and I've already worn it plenty of times and I've even gotten compliments. But the makings of this shirt was so frustrating it nearly brought me to tears and made me rethink the whole idea of sewing and if I'm even good at it.

I now know I was having a sewing related breadown and that just because I failed at one shirt doesn't really mean I can't sew.

What was so frustraing, you ask? well, first, I was really excited about this collar and about this fabric, it has such a deep plum color and it's so beautiful. I wanted to make a really sweet blouse with the collar being the highlight. and I was hung up on the idea of making tulip sleeves. I can't seem to find my initial inspiration, but it was the cutest little tulip sleeve made from baby blue chiffon with dainty lace trim. I was so inspired and I had figured out quite easily how to draft the sleeves. 

Only, something got messed up along the way, I had to redo the sleeves twice only to have the final product look unappealing and frustrating. Chiffon can be SUCH a difficult fabric and I really don't know what I was thinking when I decided to try this using chiffon. In retrospect I should have used an easier to handle fabric (that was not so hard to cut and hem for instance) just to try out the style. I was so worn out by the end of this ordeal that I didn't even attempt to embelish the shirt in any other way. I just finished off the armholes and threw it in the closet in fustration.

Now, a few weeks later, I can say I'm happy with the shirt - I mean just making the crochet collar is a cool addition to a blouse and a new thing for me, but at the time all I could think of is that I'm unimaginative and that all I can make are sleeveless shapeless tops with collars (see Double Collar Blouse, and I will show you more evidence of this in the following posts where I unearth more of these drab garments) 

Anyway, I made the collar using Sophie's  Detachable Collar Tutorial from the blog Iro Iro.
It was the first thing I made using crochet and it was SO fun. I already told you about my crochet craziness. This is what started it.
I promise you, my next few projects won't have even a trace of yarn.

I tried to get sassy and do the high low hem. Only I didn't really make it a continuoes line but made the front a straight line and the back a long curve. Not sure if I like it or not. Oh well.

Is it strange that I wore a denim skirt? I know they're really out of date but something made we want to wear them with this blouse, especailly since I tend to pair everything else with either high waisted black short or skirts.


What about you, dear readers? do you often get frustrated with sewing projects? do you let it get to you? how do you deal with disappointments related to sewing? 

Also, I'm sorry for the big break I took, we're in the US on vacation and we're just so busy. I can honestly say I was thinking of the blog ( and sewing) constantly, so you were always in my thoughts! I hope I'll be able to post again soon as I'm taking a trip to Maine for a week.