Via my Vogue Sewing Book

Howdy everybody!...How's everybody doing?...Are you feeling this holiday madness or are you more on the Grinchy side like me?...Either way, I hope you feeling all right.....now I should have some photos of myself since I wore the pants I've been talking about for the second or maybe the third time yesterday (I didn't feel like having my picture taken) but instead this post is about draping principles....I love, love, love sewing so much but I've barely scratched the surface of the art although I've been sewing for almost 4 years....I started with bags and pouches, eventually graduating to sewing garments...I had sewn a couple gowns for myself and pajama pants for my babygirl too...I even made some color-blocked (I wasn't aware of that term when I made them 4 years ago) pajama pants which I refer to as one of my first huge sewing mistakes....Little did I know that they can be fashionably referred to as "harem pants"; but I instantly thought of M.C. Hammer when I finished 'em! hahahahahahahapahahahahaa.....
But mistakes and all I still LOVE SEWING with my whole self and I sew or do something sewing and/or crafty everyday....
now ever since got my Vogue Sewing Book I've looked at it every single day....I read and review the sewing techniques and terms over and over...it helps me so much when I'm sewing because I know exactly what to do when I have any sort of issue when sewing....hardly anything stumps me nowadays when I sew....the solution to any issue immediately pops into my head....Its friggin' cool man!...(super happy sewing face)
okay now one of the cooler sewing principles I've meant to teach myself for at least two years now is draping....Draping is essentially the manipulation of fabric on a dressform without cutting the fabric....the fabric looks like something wearable even before its sewn....When I watch Fashion Star, Project Runway, and other sewing and fashion shows the designers do such awesome stuff with fabric even before the scissors action....I always call myself draping something but the results aren't at all what I have in my mind...But this afternoon I actually draped something I might be able to wear!....It tripped me out too!....you know sometimes stuff just works and sometimes it so does not....
Since I was just messing around I grabbed some sparkly, stretchy fabric out of my stash and started hanging it on Pink Cookie....its almost like it made itself because the fabric has such pretty, flowy style.....If I decide to sew it up I'll have to cut armholes and finish the neckline and hem...its basically a super easy, stylish throw and I kinda like it; a lot....
Have you been teaching yourself any new sewing techniques?...What sewing references do you go to when you're sewing?....I have a few pictures to show off my skills....hehehehehe...talk to you good people soon....
~~MsKRS~~

a shot of the front.....the neckline and front is being held together by only two pins!...

awesome sauce!!!!!

a shot of the back...the picture is kinda funky but the hem is straight across in the back, not uneven like the photo shows....I wonder why photos do that sometimes...hmmmmm

a shot of the side....I kinda like this crazy fabric too....I'll refer to my Vogue girl when I do the armholes....I have a buncha ideas for this little cover...

After I finished the neck and hem lines.....

Arm holes are finished too!...cool learning project...it can only get better from here...well at least I hope so....lol

 

A refashion + a bolero

Howdy folks!...I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good and the food even more so....Mine was just the way I like it; with no invasions of anything or anyone unpleasant....I've been sewing plenty but like I've said before, I just cant take photos of myself every doggone day....I just cant....but I'll show yall stuff when the mood hits; like always and like today!
I've been having a slight headache for a couple days and I've noticed that every time I feel like that I need to sew...(yes, sewing has damn near taken over my life completely)...and you know the sewing bug associated with me always, always bites its hardest at night....in the middle of the night...I started these projects at almost one in the morning!....I've had a refashion for quite some time that I had been wanting to transform....but its been hanging on Pink Cookie for the last week or two, staring at me while I stare at it....I had been playing with the fabric (its 100% polyester with a beautiful print and slinky drape) and trying to learn draping at the same time....I kinda learned something I guess and I got a super cute new dress out of it....I originally got the dress from one of my long time friend's (we've been friends since the 7th grade) store here locally at least a year or two ago....I loved it hanging up but when I got ready to wear it, for some reason I looked hideous.....both shoulders were out with the dress being held up by a pretty purple sash that was threaded through a silver ring....the bow hung down the back, which was also out very low and close, too close IMO to my butt....I don't do all that showing of my goodies....in other words the dress was S E X Y as eva'!...maybe a little too sexy......now while I don't have a problem looking fly there was no way to wear a bra with the dress the way it was and in my book that is a no-no (unless there is a shelf bra sewn in)....and showing bra straps, even if they're clear is even more of a no-no if you ask me....so basically I never got around to wearing it....now that I sew, refashion, and craft my arse off I finally decided to hang the fabric on Pink Cookie and work with it....I came up with a super cute and "so now" uneven hem line and an off the shoulder design that's popular too....and now it definitely leaves some stuff to the imagination; very different from the before dress and I love it....to even think about wearing now though (since its so damned cold around here) I would have to make a fitted dress to wear under it to create layers....that may or may not be my next project....
I also whipped up a jumpsuit a few weeks ago too (blog post coming soon) and its strapless.....to keep Jack Frost from completely freezing my shoulder blades all the way off I decided to make my first bolero to pair with it (I paired it with my new refashion for this post to show how it looks with a garment)....I used Simplicity pattern #2886 View D; I forgot to take a photo of the pattern envelope this go' round though....the other views are pretty, pretty dresses....I lined it with a Red lace and put a beautiful, elephant-adorned button from Britex for closure.....My huny's Mama lives in the cool city of San Francisco and she grabbed some buttons for me....(I love that little lady)....
I tried it on and it fits perfectly....I never do muslins so its always lovely when things fit right from the sewing machine....I hate alterations *raspberries*.....Well let me share the photos now, Judge Judy just came on...;)
~~MsKRS~~

the front...the hem is just so pretty and drapey....(made up a word lol)

the off the shoulder side....

the back....

this is the side with the armhole....it fits well too but I had to do some fixing up to make it comfortable....blahhhh alterations irritate me...

My new bolero baby!!!!!

                            tried to show the elephant button....

Lace lining...

this picture came out weird huh?...