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Finally Wearing the Family Jewels
Jenny and Ethel: the great-great aunts who shaped and absolutely ruled my mother's family. To do justice to their stories will be another post, but for now I'll say that this amber necklace was...
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Vogue 1573 DKNY Dress in Black Lace
Looking back in time, I believe I remember buying this pattern, probably about 1998, from a bin of discounted Vogues at Winmill Fabrics at the edge of Boston's Chinatown. I have never been anything...
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Blouse with Embellished Collar: Because Separates
There's a downside to everything, even such a nice thing as loving to wear and make dresses. It's hard to make separates, even when I know I need, want and will wear them. Making a blouse like this is...
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Burda 6990: Raglan Funnel Neck Top
Thank me for the headless photos: this color palette looks horrible on me! But not on my lovely mother, for whom this top will be a Christmas present. It's funny: the older I get, the more I do...
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Double Knit Sheath Dress...With Pockets
The spirit is finally moving me to post this dress, which has been complete for two or three months now. I'm wearing the dress as I write this post, but the photos are from a much brighter day earlier...
View ArticleResolution
I am writing from an addled, tired place, having spent the last five (or is it six?) days in an alternate universe, otherwise known as Lindy Focus. Five days and nights of swing dancing, right in my...
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Sewing Bloggers Unite at Lindy Focus!
How cute is Mary of Young, Broke and Fabulous? Yep, super cute is right. And her New Year's Eve dress? It's the Tia Dress from Sew Chic Patterns. Mary's red and black combination suits her bright...
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The Not New Year's Eve Dress Nearly Done
Is it chilly where you are today? Or perhaps extremely cold, much too cold to get fixed up to model a short sleeved party dress?It's not just the cold--my dress also still lacks a hem and it may do so...
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Kwik Sew 3388 Men's Fleece Vest
The sewing I had in mind for today was Simplicity 3833, the vintage reissue shift pattern that is the subject of Rosie Wednesday's Shift Dress Sew Along.I don't believe I have ever officially...
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Simplicity 3833 Muslin in Progress
Off I go on the Simplicity 3833 sew along.The fabric still has a chemical smell, but I'm moving forward with my muslin. When it's complete, I'll hang the garment (tunic or dress, to be determined) out...
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Muslin Complete: Simplicity 3833
Hearing that my muslin-in-progress photos were helpful for a couple of folks who are thinking of trying this dress was so gratifying! And, as you will see, Lauren of Rosie Wednesday's comment that I...
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At Last, My Simplicity 3833 Has Come Along
A few things changed in my thinking since the last time we spoke about Simplicity 3833.I was agonizing about whether I should use a highly prized piece of lime green wool doubleknit for this dress, or...
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Tutorial: Try On Fabric Using Free Online Photo Editor Pixlr.com
What image editing program do you use? For years, I sniffed at the notion of using anything but Adobe Photoshop. As a marketing director, I knew just enough Photoshop to complete rudimentary photo...
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Polar Vortex Sweater + Costume Glasses
What does this arch look mean? Why, I need some more warm clothes, of course. I've gotten quite weary of my old standbys over the past few weeks of chill, and they no doubt of me.But first...what do...
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Style Icon: Again with the Helena Bonham Carter
The new season of Project Sewn starts later today with the first challenge: style icon.The world doesn't lack for vintage and modern celebrities with admirable personal style, but very few of them are...
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Emerald Green Simplicity 1882 in Action!
The last time this dress appeared, it was hanging over a lampshade in a half-finished state. I was inspired to hem it up for Swing Into Spring, a swing dancing weekend workshop in Columbia, SC.Now that...
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Riding the Bandwagon in the Kitschy Coo Lady Skater Dress
For many, many months I successfully resisted the urge to follow the crowd in making the Kitschy Coo Lady Skater dress, even though every member of the crowd had a very nice, flattering, simple but...
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Not Quite Vintage: Burda Petite Fashion Blouse from 1996
Though I don't know when Burda stopped putting out its Petite Fashion magazine, I have happy memories of sewing from this publication back in the mid-nineties. Sadly, over the course of several moves,...
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McCall's 6503 Butterfly Print Dress
Really, sometimes I think I should just stick with making this dress, McCall's 6503. First version, using the 6503 bodice with the ruffled turnback collar and waistband, with a 3/4 circle skirt:Love...
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Souvenir T-Shirt Lady Skater Dress
Oh, to love jeans as much as most people do! Life would be easier. Sometimes I like them okay (usually when I'm on the thinner side of my varying body composition), but honestly, even then they aren't...
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