Sewing Bee #5: Resources

Things have been so busy lately with the wedding project but it is beginning to wind down now. I’ll be delivering most of the dresses this week and my life should get back somewhat to normal.

Today’s post will be short, but I didn’t want to let another week go by without a Sewing Bee post.

One of my favorite things to do is look at sewing patterns online. There are so many! And there are so many new lovely feminine ones that have just been released. Many of them are very easy to make modest. Below are several pattern websites that I enjoy.

Simplicity Patterns

Simplicity patterns may be my favorite. They are easy to make and the instructions are easy to understand and follow. Their pattern sizes/body measurements are usually spot-on and very little adjusting is needed.

McCall’s Patterns

Butterick Patterns

One thing that I love about Butterick patterns is that they offer so many great vintage/retro  patterns.  The only drawback to their patterns is that they run a little small. I usually have to add a size or two to make them fit right, regardless of what size my measurements say I am.

Vogue Patterns

Also Vogue has an entire section devoted to vintage pattern reprints: Vintage Vogue

Sense and Sensibility Patterns

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Here are a few ideas for posts for our sewing bee:

• Tutorials: these can be for anything from how to put in a zipper to how to make your own pattern. These can be for clothing and accessories, for things for your home (curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, throw pillows) or how to fix and repair things.
• Resources: websites and companies where you have purchased patterns, supplies and materials. Give us a review of different ones.
• Book Reviews: There are scores of sewing books out there and it is always nice to read a review about one from a lady who has used it.
• Favorite Patterns
• Also, if you know of a great tutorial online, share the link here
• In short, anything you’d like to share!

Guidelines for sharing in the Sewing Bee:

• Join by using the link widget below. Submit your link and it will show up in the list at the bottom.
• Grab a button from the sidebar to the right and place it in your Sewing Bee post. (If for some reason you are unable to get the button, please place a link back to this) This is so others can join in the fun too!
• If you do not have a blog but would like to share something for the Sewing Bee, write it, email it to me (withallofthyheart@gmail.com) and I’ll post it as a guest post. (Be sure and send a photo of yourself too!)
• As a courtesy to others, please make sure all of the posts submitted here are God-honoring. Keep it classy ladies ;)

Submit your link below:

Busy little bee..

Sometime soon my life is going to slow back down enough for me to here more.
I have missed writing as much as I normally do and regretted not being able to host the Sewing Bee the last two weeks. I'm coming down to the last few days of the dress project--hurray!
In other news, my Etsy shop had its first international order last week. I'll be shipping a dress to Edinburgh today. It maybe my one and only international shipment though. It is a lot of trouble with the customs forms, etc., and trying to figure up shipping costs.
Anyway, I'll be back as soon as I can--with lots of new posts. While I'm sitting at the sewing machine all day I've been coming up with lots of new ideas for posts. Stay tuned!

Til later,
Rebecca

Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles everywhere!

Here’s a quick update on my latest sewing project:

Five of these froufy things are what have been keeping me busy and unable to blog much. I am pleased with how they are turning and thankfully, so is the bride! There will be one more ruffle added at the bottom, and 3/4 length sleeves and sashes are still to come.

Paul Newman on Marriage

Please note: I do not support Hollywood’s way of life or their view on marriage and relationships, nor do I condone Paul Newman’s lifestyle. However, there’s some good food for thought and wisdom in the  following letter he wrote to second wife, Joanne Woodward, on their wedding day. They were married for 50 years, until his death parted them.

“ Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the Art of Marriage, the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon; it should continue through all the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have the wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding rooms for things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner."

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Due to my extreme busyness with the wedding project, there will be no Sewing Bee Link up this week. I have kept last week’s link up open though, if you have something you would like to share. Click on the “Sewing Bee” tab at the top of the page and it will take you to the latest post.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sewing Bee #4: Busy Busy Busy

Well, what happened yesterday? There was no Sewing Bee post! The truth is that I have been too busy actually sewing to write a post about sewing. (Imagine that!)

I am working on a five bridesmaids’ dress order for a wedding in one month, so I’ve been very busy and haven’t really had slow or quiet moment since we moved home. I’m having to combine/create a pattern for the look the bride wants, and it has been challenging, but very fun and I’m excited about the results.

Here is the dress the bride loved, but wanted to make it modest without having to buy jackets or shrug. I knew that making the bodice and adding sleeves would be very simple, but the skirt would be another story. I have done flounces/ruffles like that before, but never that large or to that scale. On the right is the sketch I made based on what she told me she wanted.

The dresses are made from black satin, with pink sashes for four of the girls, and an ivory sash for the Matron of Honor.

I ended up combining and modifying two patterns: Simplicity 2648 and Burda 7370.

I used the bodice from the Simplicity pattern—making the neck square instead of round or sweetheart—and I’m using the skirt from the Burda pattern, view A. I’m having to lengthen the skirt and increase the number of flounces to seven instead of three. I’ll also be adding a 3/4 length sleeve from a pattern I already have.

Here are some photos of the practice skirt :

And here is one of the dress linings, all ready for the first fitting. I couldn’t wait to see how the ruffles would look so I pinned one on for a sneak peak. I can’t wait til they are finished!

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Here are a few ideas for posts for our sewing bee:

• Tutorials: these can be for anything from how to put in a zipper to how to make your own pattern. These can be for clothing and accessories, for things for your home (curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, throw pillows) or how to fix and repair things.
• Resources: websites and companies where you have purchased patterns, supplies and materials. Give us a review of different ones.
• Book Reviews: There are scores of sewing books out there and it is always nice to read a review about one from a lady who has used it.
• Favorite Patterns
• Also, if you know of a great tutorial online, share the link here
• In short, anything you’d like to share!

Guidelines for sharing in the Sewing Bee:

• Join by using the link widget below. Submit your link and it will show up in the list at the bottom.
• Grab a button from the sidebar to the right and place it in your Sewing Bee post. (If for some reason you are unable to get the button, please place a link back to this) This is so others can join in the fun too!
• If you do not have a blog but would like to share something for the Sewing Bee, write it, email it to me (withallofthyheart@gmail.com) and I’ll post it as a guest post. (Be sure and send a photo of yourself too!)
• As a courtesy to others, please make sure all of the posts submitted here are God-honoring. Keep it classy ladies ;)

Submit your Link Below: