Blogging: What Next?

No I am not quitting my blog.

This blog has been up for a few months, I've posted a few times about my makes, but now I am at a loss of what else I can and should talk about.  My mind is going in so many different directions what to do. I need help, but know not where to begin.  I need ideas. I would like this blog to be informative, with a hope that it will be able to assist newbie sewers/sewists navigate this world.

Some Ideas that I have are:

Facebook groups
buying used items online
Pattern Hauls
Machine reviews
Fabric Buys

Although this blog is primarily a sewing blog, I can post about other topics.

If anyone has any tips, websites, or knowledge on how to make my blog better, please comment and let me know.

Until Next Time

Wedding Gifts and Individualism

A few months ago, I found out that a family member was getting married.  Once I found out, I knew that I wanted to make them a gift that was from the heart.  As they both are believers of Christ, I wanted to make something that had a biblical theme to it.  

Cue Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond Embroidery Machine...

Since I didn't have time to make a quilt, and get it bound, etc.  I figured I would make a framed embroidery that embodied the married couple. I started with digitizing my design using EmbroideryWorks Everyday.  I sewed the test version on muslin with some tester embroidery thread that I had laying around. Once I did my first test, I was able to see what I needed to tweak before I did the final sew out. During my testing, I found out that the font that I purchased was mapped wrong.  The 4 key was mapped to 3.  I emailed the company and they sent me the corrected font.  I was unsure of how it would come out I hope that the new married couple will place this in a place of honor. In order to transport the gift easier, I brought the pieces with me and got it framed it at Michaels.

 First Test Stitch

Second Test Stitch

Beginning of Final Stitch Out

Final Product Fully Stitched and Framed 

So as I messed up my original outfit for the wedding, I needed something that gave me ensemble a little pop but was easy to make. So I figured I'd make some crochet roses and then connect them together to make a flower corsage. Luckily I had yarn in the wedding colors of sky blue and grey.  It was fun and easy to make thanks to YouTube.  Once I put it on, I realized that I should have put a second pin clasp on the top flower to keep it from flopping over. Cant wait to make the next one.

Me wearing my flower

Close up of corsage

The UFO That Almost Was

A few weeks ago, I received an email from the Fabulous Fit Company inviting me to enter their dress design contest.  This also coincided with the McCall's Shirt dress Sew Along. I decided that I was going to challenge myself to make a shirt dress. I also wanted to use what I had already in my stash. 

After searching through all of my patterns, to see what I wanted to make, I decided on M6885, a popover type shirt dress with back ties and a curved hem. In order to get the look that I wanted, I had to combine views C and D.  Using the blog posts from McCall's to help with the placket and collar construction made it easier to understand because the instructions that were included weren't the most clear.  I made the dress all the way up to the buttonholes when disaster struck.  As I was putting Fray-Check on my buttonholes to seal them, the container burst open and spilled Fray Check all over the placket.  So while I was able to take pictures for my contests, I was unable to wear it.  On the bright side, I learned some new techniques for the next time that I make anything with a collar. I will never use Fray Check in the squeeze bottle again.  My review of the pattern is below.

Pattern Description: Shirt dress with multiple hem lengths. I made view D with the sleeves from View C.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? It came out looking like the picture, with the exception of the collar, which did not come out as well.

Were the instructions easy to follow? All of the instructions were easy with the exception of the placket and the collar. For those two parts I used the tutorials from the McCall's Shirt dress sew along blog posts.

Fabric Used: Cotton and Steel Poplin purchased from Craftsy.com.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I used a combo of pattern views. I used the bodice from D, but used the skirt and sleeves from view C.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would sew it again, but not immediately.

Conclusion: If I hadn't spilled Fray Check on it, I would have probably finished the dress and worn it.

The final product before the disaster.