I'm on the Map! A Map for Sewers

I saw this at both Finished Threads and My Happy Sewing Place and I thought it was such a fantastic idea! Originally started by Vicki at Another Sewing Scientist, the idea is to have a map of sewing blogs across the world. You can discover new blogs somewhere far away or find someone in your neighborhood! Meet-ups and what not are also another great possibility. Check it out!

Here's all you have to do...
Open this link to get to Map the Sewintists
Click on the red Edit button on the left
Click on the blue pin on the upper left of the map (though I would only do this after you've gotten to your area of the world on the map--I accidentially dropped my blue pin near Iceland...lol)
Click on your location to drop the pin
A box will open that will allow you to add your name or blog URL in rich text 
And voila!

Finished: Cozy Knit Slippers

I'm feeling a little stuck on my knitting. I have yarn and ideas of things to make in my head, but some patterns scare me off and sometimes I'm not so sure how I feel about the finished product. Lately I've been unraveling my projects after I finish them because I decide I don't like them, but that's for another post.

I bought this thick, green yard to make cable slippers to wear around the house in the winter, but then I got so intimidated by the patterns for, essentially, socks, that I tabled the project for a few months.

After feeling iffy about my latest sweater and also discovering easy, free patterns on Ravelry, I decided to tackle the slippers again. And it turns out the pattern I liked best wasn't cable knit socks, but little elfish shoes instead.

Well, not quite as elfish as I imagined when I was making them since the toe isn't pointed. But pretty close. I just love the cuffs!

The pattern was ridiculously simple once I learned to read DROPS design patterns. For some reason I couldn't comprehend what they meant and every other line in the pattern I had to stop to ask for help.

Luckily I figured it out and now I have a warm pair of slippers!

Pushing Daisies Sew Along Schedule

My goodness, I have been so overwhelmed with everything these past two weeks! I've had an ungodly amount of work to do, my mother has been in town, I've been trying to finish up start Valentine's Day presents for my boyfriend (which was a failure - Valentine's Day has been postponed), and in the midst of everything, Sew Grateful has been going on and in addition to discovering many new, amazing blogs, I had actually had people join my sew along! (And today's the last day to join my giveaway if you're interested!)

So... having never done one of these before, I'm going to create a schedule that will probably be altered a few times. I made a lot of categories because I'm assuming that will be helpful, but let me know if you want to see less. Or more! If you notice something that's missing, let me know so I can add it!

Just a note: I tend not to make muslins because I like to wing everything (and not spend time and money), but I certainly encourage the making of muslins for those who want everything to be perfect.


I'm all about saving money at this point in my life so I'm going to be using patterns from my stash. For the top I'm adapting Vogue 9810 version C and for the bottom I'm using Butterick B5708. Alice at Heteronormative Lovefest recommended the 1202 Cambie dress, which is just darling, and it seems like an excellent option.


As I mentioned in the original post, I'm not so sure I want another bright red dress so mine will probably be a different color. I haven't checked prices yet, but in my head I'm assuming white lace is the cheapest so I'm probably going to get that and dye it.

The dates are approximate! I will do my best to get the posts up that week so if you don't see them that day, I'm sure they will appear shortly.

Sewing With Lace
Selecting Fabric
Cutting Fabric
Piecing Together the Bodice and Gathering the Skirt
Mistakes, Mistakes
French Seams
Sleeves!
Facing Like A Boss
Update: Assembling Shoulders and the Dress
The Post in Which I Stop Caring
Show and Tell

So hopefully we'll have a new dress by the end of March, just in time for spring!

I'm trying to figure out how to make badges now so you can have post them on your blogs!

Also, if you make any Pushing Daisies dress, not just the red one I'm focusing on, please send it in because I would LOVE to see it and feature it with everything else!

Sew Grateful: Pushing Daisies Sew Along

Today in the Sew Grateful week is the day to provide resources, tutorials, patterns, etc. I was actually hoping to provide a pattern for you guys of my 1920s dress (and if you're interested in testing the pattern - let me know!), but I got a little burned out designing and creating the dress that just won't ever be good enough! Next week I'll finish it, maybe. Probably not.

I'm happy to link you guys to my sewing page on Pinterest (click here!) where I do have free patterns and tutorials and links to tips and tricks on everything from working with lace to maintaining your machine.

But I want to offer something more for Sew Grateful, and it's for an entirely selfish reason.

Have you ever seen Pushing Daisies? It's one of my favorite shows, and if you've seen it, I'm sure it's one of your favorite shows. It was killed by the writer's strike of '08, so there's only 2 seasons to re-watch over and over again.

Why should you care?

Because I want to host a sew along! I don't know if I have enough followers to do that and I usually have a difficult time remembering to take pictures and explain my process, but I'm putting this up anyway and we'll see how it goes. Perhaps it will just be me by my lonesome, but I'll have a kick-ass dress at the end of it so who cares?

This is Chuck:

Chuck wears pretty dresses.

And pretty under things as well.

I think my favorite part of Chuck's outfits are that she's wearing them to blend in, not stand out.

Okay, hopefully now you understand just part of my obsession with this show. Of all the dresses, I've been coveting the red lace dress for the longest, and I think that's the dress I'm going to focus on for this sew along. (Perhaps the lingerie will be next?)

Looking through my patterns, I think a combination of Vogue 9810 version C and the skirt from Butterick B5708 will be the closest fit.

I haven't yet made the Vogue pattern, so I'm not sure if there will be any fitting issues. Obviously, we'll have to make some alterations, most noticeably shortening the sleeves, though that shouldn't be difficult. I've made the Butterick pattern previously and it's very easy to work with. The gathered skirt sans petticoat would be perfect for this dress.

So what do you think? Are you in? I'm happy to make this my first sew along if others are interested, though I'll probably make it purple or navy instead of red. I've also secretly thinking about buying white lace and dying it in tea for a cool vintage/sepia effect!

Edit: A tentative schedule can be found here!

Sew Grateful: Reflection

Without the sewing and blogging community, I don't think I'd be sewing like I am today so I owe everything to you guys.

Yes, I was interested in sewing on my own. And yes, I took a sewing class to refresh the one semester costume class I took in college, but can a few hours really teach me everything I need to know to make a garment? Not really. In a city where I couldn't turn to anyone to ask questions (unless I wanted to pay them), I would have been lost and I probably would have given up.

Via

Every pattern I've gotten has been because someone linked to an amazing deal or a free pattern. Every instruction or tip I've gotten has because there's such a large online presence that no matter what question I may have (and I always have questions), someone has asked it before and someone has always given a very detailed response.

Furthermore, I just love posting inspiration pictures or fabric I randomly decided to buy and get your feedback and ideas on what it should become.

Additionally, I'm incredibly grateful that I'm able to meet up with sewing bloggers. Whether it's with Rachel from Layer, Stitch, Repeat to create a skirt together or with Marina from Frabjous Fashion Couture and others from the NYC sewing meet-up group to admire lace at the Met (with a personalized tour no less) or costumes from Katherine Hepburn's films, these are experiences I wouldn't have without the internet and the sewing community online.

I can't wait to see what (and who!) this year brings me.

Also, if you're ever in NYC and want to do something sewing related, I'm usually up for it. If you're in Astoria and want to be my new sewing or knitting buddy, I'm definitely game.

Sew Grateful: Vintage Pattern Giveaway

I mentioned that I would be hosting a giveaway for Sew Grateful week, and now I've gone and missed the day to post! Oh well, I'm sure it's fine to post a day late, and I should hopefully have another post later because today is the day for reflections.

I'm giving away Simplicity 7580, an adorable dress or dress and shorts combo from 1968. It's a size 12, bust 34. The envelope is a little busted, but the pattern itself is in great condition. It's been cut, but all the pieces and the instructions are there. I haven't made it up, but it looks very simple and darling.

To enter:
Leave a comment letting me know that you want it. Simple as that!

For an additional entry, you can follow my blog and leave a comment saying that you do, but that's not necessary.

I'll ship anywhere. Contest ends February 14th at 11:59pm EST.

Mad Men Challenge 2: I'm In!

It's time once again for Julia Bobbin's Mad Men challenge! Technically, it's only her second year hosting, but hopefully it becomes a tradition.

Last year, I participated, and I made this dress inspired by Betty Draper, and it turned out... okay. It was the second thing I had ever made and I didn't use a pattern, so it fit a little strangely. Also it fit strangely because I used an invisible zipper, and I hadn't quite mastered them yet. I suppose I should go back and re-do it so I can actually wear it out, but I'm sure that will come in time.

This year, I feel like there are so many options, and I'm not quite sure what to make. Off the top of my head, these are the outfits that might be fun to make:

LOVE this jacket.

Hmm, so many great choices! I'm going to have to go through my stash and my patterns to see what the best options for me would be. Of course, I think rewatching the series for inspiration might also be a good use of my time! ;-)

Are you making anything for the challenge?