Sunday, October 27, 2013

Halloween Prep



My little ones' costumes are coming along and I am so excited! I think they will look great. Can you guess what they will be?

P.S.-Homemade pattern weights rule.

P.S.S.- My sewing machine became jammed and I almost hyperventilated. It reminded me of when Matt first bought be this two ton sewing machine from the seventies at a garage sale and no matter what I did, it jammed. Luckily I was blessed to be able to fix it (my current machine)! Huzzah! ;)

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Friday, October 18, 2013

Work it!


I seriously need a sewing room.

Before I go on, I must address my name change. I did it because I'm not the only one that considered herself "the lazy seamstress." That's okay. "Sarajolie" seems less popular and is a name I've used since I was a kid. I combined my name with the name of a favorite actress, at the time (once someone asked if I was a member of the Jolie family and it totally made my day).

So I have a lot of projects in the works. It is so freaking hard to find the time to work on them, but I am trying! Hopefully I'll have more completed projects to share soon.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Cherry Dress

Yeah! I finished the dress!


My dress making skills are improving...even though there is still room for improvement.


I'm very happy with the results...and if I look weird in the pictures it might have something to do with Matt making fun of me the whole time!


Saturday, August 31, 2013

But I Really Can Sew! (a bit)

My current sewing project is moving at a glacial speed. Hopefully it'll be done before the end of September. In the meantime, here is proof that I can sew, a bit.


I sewed the following last year:


My first real dress! I won't bore you with the details, but I developed my "lazy" method which I don't recommend but it works in a pinch. (Maybe someday I will go into details but not today).





This dress is also a little rough around the edges (I had to dye it) but I absolutely love the color and the lace.

And I also sew blankies!


I completely made up this pattern! I gave it to a really special kid.


I made this one for my youngest baby.


I had to make this one because (1) It reminded me of the book I was reading at the time, "The Snow Child" and (2) all of my Christmas stuff is "Scandinavian" (real Scandinavian people probably wouldn't think so, but again, I was inspired so I ran with it). The pattern came from a book called "Scandinavian Stitches".

Friday, August 2, 2013

The Plan: Butterick 6582


I have so much to write about but I am going to start with this, my newest sewing plan:

 


Butterick 6582. I want to make the dress on the top left.






I am using a fabric similar to the one above.


The whole idea was inspired by this swimsuit. I love it!

My goals:

-make a "proper" muslin
-do a lot of hand sewing!!!


Hand sewing scares me. Not only does it take forever but it also can be fragile and ugly, in my opinion. I'm going to try it though, because I bit the bullet and watched Craftsy's Sew Retro. It was amazing! In it, Gretchen does a lot of vintage touches that make dresses look fabulous. Hand sewing is one of those things. It was like taking a master class. Seriously worth every penny to see start to finish how she makes dresses.

Also, have you seen Professor Pincushion on Youtube? Also a gerat resource that is free. She has a lot of dress patterns that she walks through completely, start to finish.

Finally, I have been renting all the Threads magazines my local library has. They are amazing! Those are my sewing finds this week.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Vintage Ladies




It was time for me to sew something a little less complicated than my last dress (I will not give up but I will set it aside and try again with a knit....that should be a more forgiving fabric!). I used these tutorials (1, 2) to make a sewing machine cover. I like it, in a Granny-Chic way.

Lookin' classy!



Then I couldn't stop and I had to make my little baby's onesies vintage like too.

It was kind of a miracle I found the vintage lady fabric in the first place! I love it! 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

A Wedding Present


 Remember my sewing tragedy? Well, I found a silver lining! I made an apron for my sister from what would've been the dress.


I thought it was all finished but it is a bit too stout on the top for my liking. So I'll take in the sides before I give it to her. Maybe I'll spot it in a thrift store months from now, but hopefully, after I've taken it in, she'll like it. It supposed to be vintage looking.


With the apron I've included a Frenchy Sparkling Rose Lemonade that looked fancy and yummy. Also, a book I wish I had when I first got married. Being a homemaker is sometimes snickered at, but seriously, if you live in a home, why not learn how to make it comfortable?



Happy wedding Jennifer!

Friday, June 14, 2013

Geeking it Out and a Navy Dress


A few weeks ago I told Matt, my husband, that I wanted to be a sewing nerd.

"Well, you've got the nerd part down."


That's not far from the truth...probably because it is the truth!

But I feel like I am becoming a specialized nerd...I'm getting closer to my sewing nerd goals.


So my sister is getting married and her colors are navy blue and silver...but primarily navy blue. Luckily I've been able to score some great deals on dresses for myself and a few of my kids, but I didn't for my little Kate. I love how this dress turned out though, even if it is a little big. And although you may not be able to tell, the zipper is the best zipper I've ever made!



For the first time I did facing and interfacing in a dress. They really make a world of a difference in how a dress looks in the end!

So I must give a few shout outs to some great sewing references:

1. Sunni Standing's free Craftsy zipper class.

2. The book "Dressmaking: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Own Clothes." There are many great sewing books I've come to love, but just to have every step photographed was so cool. It  was so helpful for a very visual person like myself. 

Just like a nerd to recommend a book!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

A Table House




 I know...nothing too fancy but my kids like it! And I like that it is easy to put away. It is another one of those projects I've been meaning to do forever but I've had a hard time getting around to it.


My little sewing "nook". Quite cozy, yes? Well, it works for me. Hopefully, baby willing, I'll be able to sew a bit! But, as the old saying goes, (something like this) "I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."



Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A Sewing Tragedy!





 Let me tell you a sad, sad sewing story.

So I had this pattern in my stash:






and about a year ago I purchased two yards of this designer fabric below, called Soho Confetti. Even with a coupon it was about $12 a yard. That is the most per yard I have ever spent on fabric! I just thought it was so cute.


I decided that I would make the dress on top with the fabric. I somehow got it all to fit in 2 yards, or I thought I did. When I was putting it together, I realized I had to cut 2 sections of the skirt and I had only cut 1! Long story short, I needed 2 more yards of the fabric, which is now out of print.

I racked my brain trying to think of ways to salvage the dress, like finding more of the fabric online somewhere, making the skirt and back out of an entirely different fabric, or making only one cut of the skirt work, but alas, none of those options result in an attractive dress I'd want to wear!!! Waaa!

I think I'll put this pattern back on the shelf. I'd like to someday make something more like the blue with red trim version on the pattern cover. With the fabric, I think I'll make an apron for the next newly wed in the family. We'll see. 

Maybe next time I sew I'll use my college education to actually read the pattern!!!!!!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Refashions


So this morning has been amaz-zaz-zing...
I put on my makeup without having to break up a fight, I ate ice cream and watched TV in the morning, and I sewed! All because my husband watched the kids. Thank you my love!
 

I added a bow and buttons on this baby.


I already refashioned a dress that is the exact same dress as this one, only smaller. I found the second one at a thrift store! This one is ruffled instead of "bowed". I love it!
 



Friday, April 12, 2013

Lace and Scallops


The baby could come any day now, so I made a list of everything I need to do. Then I threw that list out the window and finished a skirt I wanted to make!


So I am becoming slightly less lazy....
I actually did interfacing and lining for this little skirt!

Sadly, my huge pregnant belly will not allow me to wear it. I made it a size larger and three inches longer than the pattern stated so that if I needed to, I could take it in. Or it might just fit me perfectly after the baby is born!

This is the Macaron Skirt from the Collette Sewing Handbook. I love that book! Yes, I have a ways to go but I am getting better at sewing!!! 

I took a page out of Maria von Trapp and Scarlett O'Hara's books when making this skirt. It's made of curtains! Heck ya! I love the lace and the scallops. I've been in need of a good white skirt and I think this might do the trick.
  
I really should be deep cleaning my house or something, but I just want to sew! I won't be able to for awhile after the baby is born, probably, so I have to get it in now!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Welcome!


I have many many interests, but I think sewing is my favorite hobby. I'm not even that good at it. As the blog implies, I like to take short cuts sometimes. I am just starting this blog to showcase my grand sewing adventures!

Above is my latest experiment: a vintage, matroyshka inspired outfit for my little baby.