Buttons & Pins!

Just a quick note!  I've got TONS of German buttons for your Oktoberfest needs up on my etsy site :)

http://fatcats.etsy.com

Bug Life

WOW!  I've been away a long time.  Things are always busy around here and my sewing has just fallen to they wayside right now.  I've made a few little things here & there, but nothing worth reporting.

My cousin Christopher got married a few weeks ago in Chicagoland.  I'm constantly low on funds (I would rather save up & travel) but I felt I needed to keep up with the big city folk, strictly style speaking of course.   No $$ for a fancy new outfit and everything in my closet just seems blah or just too dang vintage & crazy for a wedding.  So I decided to whip something up.   I've been sitting on this bug fabric forever just waiting for the right pattern to come along.

Then I stumbled upon Simplicity 2444 which seemed simple enough.  A classic design that got great reviews.  This was my first time working with pleats AND darts in the same dress without an aunt of friend helping me along.  I made the top portion out of a simple muslin so I could make sure it all fit ok.  All seemed ok, so I just used it as a liner for actual top portion of the dress.  Why is it when the "draft" version fits perfectly, the finished portion never does?  It was WAY to big and weird in the back.  I tried to fix it by adding some badly sewn darts in the upper portion.  Still no luck, so I had a co-worker pin up the straps a little.  This resulting in a higher than anticipated neckline, but it turned out alright.  Still a little big but workable.  I added a belt and that seemed to help.


I think the best part of this process, was using a vintage hem marker.  All you need is a friend, some pins and about 5 minutes.  My friend (who is a skilled tattoo artist / shop owner by trade) enthusiastically volunteered to help.   "You're never to old to learn a new skill" he said.  I think he is right, it turned out perfectly.  Thanks for your help Vinnie!

Let me tell you about my underclothes

Lately I've been into wearing pantelettes (not in a polygamist sort of way, but to keep warm).   Not only do they make me feel secretly cute & young, they make the Wisconsin winters more bearable while wearing a dress!  Not to mention you don't have to worry about being so dam lady like all of the time.  If I find myself sitting cross legged on a bar stool I'm not exactly showing off my business, if you know what I mean.  I wear them high on my waist while i'm at work so they don't peek out.  I'm not sure that it would matter, but I get enough funny looks as it is.

I'm not really a prairie dress sort of girl, but if it feels comfy, is made from natural fabrics, is somewhat flattering and doesn't make me itch, I'm pretty much game for anything.

I use to have a simply lovely prairie dress (circa 1970's) that I wore thin during the summer months.   I stopped wearing it because the boyfriend I had at the time (and his friends) gave me shit for it constantly.  Why the hell did I listen to them?  Further more why the hell were they all so concerned about what I had on my back?  People don't make any sense sometimes.  And that guy was dumb anyway.  Two words:  Parliament cigarettes.  That's all I have to say about him.

Back to the subject at hand.  I've started cranking out my own line of these lovely "unmentionables" so stay tuned.  Just out of muslin, scrap & cheap lace for now.  My goal is to someday get my hands on some Belgium linen for a decent price.  Is it pathetic that I scour the discount section at Restoration Hardware just to find some sheets to rip up and turn into underwear?

here they are with my paw print dress.  Found the pattern online for free.  The top is too tight and needs to be fixed. (I'll have to take the liner out-dam!).  The muslin fit perfectly, but the finished product doesn't let me breathe.

Royal Obsession

With the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton my royal obsession has surfaced yet again.  Here is the first in what will probably be a series of royal fashion blog posts.

We’ll start with Queen Elizabeth:

I think my favorite part about Queen Elizabeth (fashion wise) is that she married in 1947 and became queen in 1953.  As the most photographed woman of that era there are TONS of photos of her wearing FABOULUS gowns.  If it weren’t for her uncle giving up the throne for a twice divorced American, Wallis Simpson (who was one of the most well dressed ladies in history-we’ll get to her later) she would never had been queen.

and my favorite

She served in the World War II as a truck mechanic and is the last surviving head of state in the world to have served in WWII.

The fabric for her wedding gown required ration coupons as the country hadn’t yet recovered from the war.

Her coronation gown

She wears a lot of yellow and bright colors which I just love as there are about 3 people on the planet that can pull off yellow.

Bellatrix Lestrange & Pneumonia

Bellatrix costume for a ten year old.

Finally get to use some of my fun new stitches!

First time using Grommets.  I should have also taken a photo of the giant cut on my finger.

my creepy mannequin has a much bigger waist than my niece.

Over the last few months i've been stuck in an on again-off again battle with my health.  I've gained a ton of weight because of this; or maybe it's the other way around.  Now i'm stuck at home with the Flu & Pneumonia.  I've got a million designs in my head and I really want to get busy sewing.  In the meantime though, I need to get healthy.  I need to get back into shape.  I need to start eating less and exercising more.  I need to breathe deeply and stand up straight again.

Very sick at home.

Stuck at home with the flu & pneumonia... favorite things today

Cat Hat Season! Complete with little bell in one ear.

Email sewgasm@gmail.com for ordering information