Tie me up, tie me down...The Tie Front Strapless Dress

Howdy folks and how's it going?...I'm all right; been checking out a day's worth of football and taking in all the excitement...I took off earlier to have a game brewski or two with my fellow fans but I cut the festivities short this afternoon and headed back home....and whadaya know?...I decided to crank out a blog post!....TBH, the only reason I took off this afternoon in the first place is because this go 'round I was responsible for the beers and ice...You simply CANNOT back peddle if you volunteered to bring the game brews....so I showed up and had a good time....
Now Christine Haynes' patterns steals the show again this time with her simple, strapless dress dubbed "The Tie Front Strapless Dress" of course featured in her Chic and Simple Sewing book...I used a Zebra printed knit fabric I've of course been hoarding since early this Spring....Yall, this dress is beyond comfortable and darlin'....I mean beyond forreal....I put my own spin on on it, as I always do with any pattern; this time to give the front a sort of gored look (the pattern suggested cutting the same two pieces to make the dress)....and I also put the tie on the side instead of the middle....the knit fabric I used is one of those soft ones, and the dress can definitely be worn for other purposes such as a swim suit cover up or a gown....the beauty of this little garment is that it can be used as those and still be worn in public!!!...I whipped it up last night because I wanted to sew but I was on the "instant gratification" thing so I picked something simple....As said before, Ms. Haynes is all about simple yet stylish....she used a silky fabric in her book so I knew a knit would suffice and also hang just fine...and it did....
Well I have get ready for the other world (the one that doesnt involve sewing) so I'll talk to you good folks later...Check me out though in my piccies and what are you sneaking in for the last warm days and National Sewing Month?...Share links with me!
~~MsKRS~~

Sew-y, Inky MsKRS

Didnt take much fabric the way I cut it...

MsKRS Stitches

"Selfie" annoyance, National Sewing Month, and ink

Well howdy everybody!..I was sitting here watching Judge Mathis and I thought about it being National Sewing Month once again...I am just too excited that sewing is recognized for a month!...Gives us sewing folks another reason to whip stuff up....Since I've been blogging about my sewing stuff I do try to write more during the month of September; but that doesn't mean that thought manifests hehehe wishful thinking but I am off to a good start amIrigggghhhhttt?
Its not at all looking anything like Fall around here (temperatures are still in the 100s to high 90s) so I don't have any projects for that season to show...Buuuuutttttt I am going to make a brightly colored blazer for my first project of the season change to keep my spirits up....I love sunshine and sorry (not sorry) that I do not at all look forward to days without any....Bright sewing projects more than lift my spirits though, and I'll be all right.....
Now remember when I said I was going to get some sewing-related ink?...well I did a week or so ago (its still healing AND itching); although I took three of thee sh*ttiest pictures of it to show it to yall (I refused to take any more than that because they got worse and worse IMO).....anybody that knows me personally knows that I simply cannot stand "selfies"! (that's probably why they didn't come out right cause I don't like taking 'em no way)....I won't go all into why but I just don't care for endlessly taking pictures of myself....My Babygirl is of the "selfie generation" and she would crack up so loud at me poking fun of her and countless other "selfie" addicts....She has since calmed down on the "selfies" though; maybe she's becoming a bit more mature....you know, having to work and handle business the time gets away from you IDK but every now and then she snaps one or two, or seven! LOLOLOL!...
Just thought I'd mention that my tattoo artist guy is just so awesome; its like he read my mind...I love the way the old school Singer machines look and of course I have a replica on my arm (without telling him)....I told him the items; like the collage you know, and he drew it up...He sent a picture of it before I got it and I was so HAPPY!...I cannot believe that he drew an old school sewing machine without even knowing I loved them....I like when folks just "get it" you know?.....and I LOVE ARTISTS of any kind and he is one of the reasons why....People that are super awesome at what they do, I can definitely dig it....From the folks that sew to the folks that tattoo, paint, garden, hell even make duct tape art I love ya!...and THANK YOU!...You make the world much, much more interesting and sweet....now let me share these horrendous pictures; I might get my Sweetest to take a few better pictures and add them to this post if he has time.....I probably should....
~~MsKRS~~

"Easy" never is, well patterns that is and some other stuff.....

First of all Good Evening everybody! I'm still around and been sewing away too....but I just have so not felt like taking any pictures!....sometimes I just get that way....Even my pictures for this post are kinda forced because I was so damned hungry when I took them....not complaining; just saying....right after I took 'em though I went to have some eats and fast! (Mexican food)....

How has everyone been?....Good, good I hope....

Now this post is about a McCall's pattern again, and I must say again (if I haven't said it before) that the patterns labeled as "Easy" NEVER are....I learned that so early in the game and that sew fact just proves itself over and over....I don't know if its the pattern instructions that aren't clear or if its the pieces themselves...all I know is that the "easy" patterns require quite a bit more skills than they imply....

So about a month ago I decided to whip up McCall's 6955 View A....OMGosssshhh...the process of making this dress was crazy...First of all this dress was originally a UFO; so I should further explain why I just finished this dress a week ago after having it cut out and partially sewn for a month or so....I didn't know it needed more than the usual amount of fabric I always buy which is 2 1/2 yards....now if I know what I'm making ahead of time I grab more if I need to but I really didn't realize this dress was going to take almost 6 1/2 yards!...I went to Hancock's three times for this dress and I still had to go to my stash for the hem band (its a dark navy wash stretch denim I'd been hoarding)...resorted to my stash for part of the lining too....I made a Navy blue sash to match (I didn't wear it with the dress today)the yard of fabric I grabbed after work one day thinking it would be enough to finish the dress; ummm no....only after I went ahead and started sewing it up did I understand why it needed so much fabric....its essentially a circle skirt with a lined bodice attached with a hem band....okay, pattern yardage forgiven and I LOVE the flounce....the back of the dress is super cute too; kinda drawn in....I used a super cool vintage zipper for the back too...this dress ended up being pretty awesome for all the trouble and I really do dig the lil' floral lovely....Sewing is like that sometimes...

Another little milestone in my sewing life is that I bought my first Burda Style magazine...I've never sewn with a Burda pattern before (they look quite daunting) and of course I grabbed the new Fall Sew Stylish....Burda mag has 20 full sized patterns enclosed and Sew Stylish is introducing ideas for sewing with Fall knits...Well let me share my piccies now because I'm rambling like I always tend to do and I really wanna read my mags hehehehehe!..

P.S. I just got a new sewing related tattoo (remember I said I was going to?) a week ago but I'll save that for the next post...and National Sewing Month starts tomorrow...what's on the machine y'all? 

~~MsKRS~~

the beginning...right before I did the most dreaded part of sewing IMO..cutting the damned pattern pieces out and reading the unclear instructions for little to no avail...blahhhhh

my vintage Talon zipper I used for this dress....I got this on one of my thrifting trips....I love em so much I don't even like using 'em but when I do the outcome is always good!...yayyy me amiright?!?! (SMILE) 

side view; you can kinda see my new ink but I didn't take a close up (shrugs shoulders) I will though...

Back shot....back of the dress totally cute huh?....My favorite part of the dress; and the shoulder straps (I added a lil' MsKRS flair to 'em)....

See all the fabric?....geez....but provides for plenty of flounce to the ounce though! LOL! gotta love it....

they say Summer is going away soon we know not just yet...and its still 100 + degrees 'round these parts; thus my Pumpkin-colored mani/pedi...Us ladies in this little corner of the world can rock sundresses for at least another month or so....California Sun!!!!! 

Sewing girl information.....

I just love the vintage stuff; a lot.....

Good evening all!...I've been in the streets as my elders would say since I got off work yesterday and I can say I'm tired now....Its my birthday weekend (my actual birthday is Monday) so I decided to go visiting my friends...it was one of my friend's birthday today I went over there and spent the day with her....Now as you all know I LOVE VINTAGE and anything "old school" and sewing and patterns don't hardly ever disappoint....I'm showcasing Simplicity's remake of one of their Jiffy patterns; #1609 View C....I made this dress quite some time ago and had only worn it once to my Sweetest's Aunt's wedding....I decided to wear it today because I just felt vintage-y.....and I've been watching Mad Men since I got Netflix a few weeks ago so I fell right back in total love with that era's fashion.....I also found some Jellies (shoes) that I wore as a child as well as my daughter...as soon as I saw 'em I knew I had to have em...so all the way old school is what I was today....
I loved sewing this dress...it has 4 darts on the front and shoulder darts too...the reason its called a Jiffy pattern is because it only has two main pattern pieces....but the details are just awesome....I whipped it up out of some super cool Pique I found at Hancock's of course...they also had Pink but I opted for the Blue.....I could hardly photograph the details well enough while wearing the dress but I wrote a blog post about it when I finished a while back and those photos were better at showing the awesome little details I love so much about this dress...I have a matching sash but I didn't wear it today..its beyond comfortable and I'll definitely be getting a few more wears out of it before the Summer ends.....let me know if you want to read about it and I'll post the link....Do you have a favorite style to sew?...If you do, what is it?....I'll talk to you good people soon!
~~MsKRS~~

A Singer and a simple tote

Good evening everybody!...I do hope all is well....I'm just sitting here kinda just relaxing in my sewing room and drinking some lemon water that I probably put too many lemons in....I need another bottle of water to get all the goodness out of the lemons because they are definitely still lemony!...this little post will only have a couple of pictures as it is to only introduce my new bestie and show off a purse I whipped up in an hour last night before I went to bed last night...
Now my new bestie is a guy and his name is Greyson...Here he is...

Now is he not thee cutest?...I got him earlier in the week and tried him out last night to make a bag....Here's my new bag.....

Darling huh?...LOL just kidding but I made this to check out my new machine...I should make a tute for this one; its just so easy and I feel I should share....its patternless; I just winged it with my OG bag making skills and came up with this..It really is a 1-hour bag...I put my stuff in it as soon as I finished it!...while doing that I noticed I need a new wallet...I may whip myself up a new one this weekend....my new machine sews so tough and strong; that's why I assumed it was a guy! lol....my other machine softly sews; I actually sewed my finger when I first started sewing and it didn't even bleed...Now if I do that with my new machine I may have to pay for an emergency room visit!!

Yep, its THAT BRAWNY.....

I didn't really need a new machine but I was once again a "victim" (I love online shopping btw) of online shopping...I'm always, always, always looking at sewing stuff and fabric online and I know I should've been asleep at the time I placed the order...but alas, I have it now and I LOVE IT!....I have to buy a few more feet; my other one has all the feet but this one only has 3 or 4....ordering those this weekend....I hope they're not too expensive...I missed making bags for a moment and forgot how much I love making 'em....I don't make as many as I used to...Well I'll say see you later for now, but I'll chat soon!

~~MsKRS~~

Knits and Old School Simplicity

Good evening everybody!...I guess I can share that this is my birthday month and I'm excited this go' round...it may be due to the scales of life ain't always tipped too far in the wrong way all the time lately.....now don't get me wrong; sh*t happens like all the time and always will...but nowadays its usually not the end of the world hahahaha!...I noticed that when I'm happier I blog a little more....I like that....
Anyway, I decided a little while ago to write a quick blog post to share my latest creation out of my stash of knits....Its been overly HOT like it always is around this time (110 degrees just today and its still burning up outside) so tight, stuffy clothes are NOT on the menu these days...knits are always soft and breathable and my subconscious must have been guiding me on my latest fabric shopping sprees...I have quite a few knits in my stash right now and I'm about to sew 'em all up....the sewing bug was biting the other day so I reached for my old school maxi dress pattern (it debuted in 1993) and whipped it up; with some modifications....I've made this style before but I did different sleeves with a printed knit...I blogged about it recently...I needed something speedy and nice and Simplicity's 8479 View 4 is just awesome....Its essentially only two pieces but I always cut the back in two pieces...I just like the distinction from the front and back; it looks much better to me....it boasts the "1-Hour dress" label and they're on the money...its super fast to whip up....I got another story to tell but I'll wait 'til this weekend to share again....
Pictures now; I gotta get my gear ready for tomorrow....talk to you good folks soon...but before I go; I have a question....why is so many people not all that excited about sewing with knit fabric?...I ask because I've never had an apprehension....I guess when you dont know to be scared you're not huh?...how you yall feel about sewing with knits?....like it or nahhh?...why or why not?....
~~MsKRS~~

MsKRS

My mini skirt days are back with the Summer heat and my top.....

Side view....

the first time I modified the pattern.....(a few weeks ago I believe)

McCall's even rings on holidays!

Howdy folks and how is everyone doing on this fine day?....I'm all right, not at all hungover from the Red, White, and Blue pitcher of Sangria my friend and I happily sipped on yesterday for the festivities....We didn't really celebrate, we hardly ever do because its hard to forget the real but any excuse to have fun with friends and/or family is good enough for me!....I take full advantage every chance I get....My friend and I both were off work from our paid gigs so we had a simple dinner and some spirits.....and of course some awesome conversations about whatever came across our minds.....
I finally got to wear my Red, White, and Blue handkerchief printed dress I originally whipped up for this same holiday last year....My Sweetest pissed me off last year so I didn't get dressed and didn't go anywhere either so there it sat until this year....I loved it so much though when I finished it, even when I saw the printed denim at my store (Hancock's Fabrics) I knew a couple yards were definitely coming home with me....I also knew it would be a dress of some kind....I ended up making McCall's M6741 View A.....I must have had some sewing fairies in my sewing room with me that day because I made this dress pretty damned good....I did re-hem it and fixed the arm holes up a bit before I wore it yesterday....I kinda wanted them a little cleaner.....the rolled hem wasn't working for me after all....it really made me feel festive and vintage and I LOVED it....my Sweetest called me an "old lady that's pretty" which he tends to do because I love vintage looking clothing and sew and wear it every chance I get....and my "clogs" as he called them were actually pretty to him too although he talked about how ugly they were when he first saw them! LOL!....I swear he reminds me of why its important to be YOURSELF always because listening to him will having me looking really mediocre; all the time!!!!!......Vintage MsKRS is ME and I am HER....and for the most part he gets it....
I loved making this dress and I believe I blogged about it when I whipped it up last year too...if you want the link to that post just let me know; I don't feel like finding it right now....(lazy? why yes, yes I am)...Okay pictures now yall....
I'll talk to you good folks soon!....I have a new sewing machine on its way which means projects galore....I'll have a buncha stuff to show yall!...Did anybody make anything especially for the holiday?....Let me see it if you did!
~~MsKRS~~

a dress with pockets?....of course! 

I used a shiny, Red material that sparkles for the bottom of the dress....made the colors POP just right....

Old school Simplicity, a re-fashion, and MsKRS

Good afternoon everybody!...I hope all is well on this Father's Day....My Daddy has since passed on so I've since stop planning to do anything....When I had my Daddy I would get him a Father's Day tie cake from Baskin Robbins every year....Now my Daddy had adult onset diabetes which meant that he wasn't really supposed to have cake; let alone a whole one but he looked for that cake anyway...One year I took a little too long to deliver it and he called me and said "Hey! Now where's my cake?"....I had to tell him that I was on my way with it as we spoke!...I loved my Daddy and I'll always be a Daddy's girl no matter how long I live....However, my Sweetest still has his Dad and his Grandpa so that's what this afternoon was about this go 'round...
We all met each other at Sal's (a Mexican food restaurant) and chowed down on some good food and caught up with everybody...We are now full of salsa, chips, and the fixins' we parted ways until next time.....
I had to make something cute to wear; so when I got up this morning I went straight to my sewing room and to my fabric stash....I was thinking about what something I could whip up easily and my Pinterest account came to mind....I had pinned an outfit with an extra long tank with extreme side slits which the girl paired with some booty shorts...Since I wouldn't be caught dead in "booty shorts" I refashioned some cropped jeans into some shorts that were a little above the knee...After I cut them off I shredded them a little more with a razor blade which will probably show better when the come out of the wash next time....They were were already distressed; which is a style that has rolled back around lately....made my refashion right on time...I didn't have a lot of time to whip something up so I used my Simplicity 8479; which is a 1 hour pattern (its probably out of print by now; it was introduced in '93...I'm sure you can find another similar pattern nowadays though with no problem)....I made View 4 but I altered it a bit...For instance; instead of cutting the back piece on the fold; I cut two pieces and sewed them together...it looks better like that IMO and it makes the front easily identifiable from the back....I used a rolled hem on the neck and armholes and serged the inside to clean up the seams....and of course added the super long side slits to make the top stand out....and it really does whip up in an hour or less; its super fast even though I added an extra piece....Have you folks sewn anything up that you noticed from Pinterest?...Who has a Pinterest account I can follow?....Share it with me!.....Yep, I'm rambling again so let me share the flicks before I think of something else to tell you LOL!....
Talk to you good people soon!
~~MsKRS~~

a shot of the back.....

Side view.....

MsKRS; I've copped a buncha knits lately so this outfit has a good chance of reappearing in a different shade or print....

Ayyyyyyeeeeeee!

the "look down" pose us bloggers just have to include! LOL

Just trying to show how cool my shorts are (wink-wink)

Its safe to say I LOVE McCall's callers

Good afternoon everybody!...I'm super hungry so this post will be short and sweet; I'm trying to go get something to eat....I believe I want breakfast food right now but I'm not sure....I kinda want a buffet too; I feel really greedy today....I just finished McCall's M6751 View D again; this time in a Orange knit fabric I had in my stash....I'm sure I bought it from Hancock's Fabrics though...that's where the majority of my fabric comes from....My skirt is a knit fabric too; and self-drafted....I just started cutting the fabric one day and this skirt is the result..it has some sparkly stuff on it too but its hard to see in the pictures.....the skirt only has two side seams and an elastic waist; I didnt finish the hem because I knew it would just curl up anyway in the wash.....and my cool Chucks with my girl Cheetara on 'em though!....(She's one of my alter egos ever since I was a little girl).....I love, love, love these shoes; I got em from Journey last year sometime....
Okay its time to go get some chow now, and here are the piccies.....
I'll talk to you good people later and please share with me if you've sewn some good stuff lately....I love looking at other folks creations....
~~MsKRS~~

MsKRS and another McCall's caller

Well good evening everybody!  How's it going and stuff?...I'm doing all right; and feeling good because I'm sewing....that's how I know I'm feeling like myself is when I cant help but sew.....Within the last month I've copped at least 12-15 new patterns...some from my recent thrifting trips and some from Hancock's....I took my time sifting through the patterns this go' round; maybe because I had the stores to myself...some trips were on my lunch break...what did I eat for lunch you ask?...some gummy worms and a water! hahahahaahaha!.....I always try to make a good dinner though when I do myself like that for lunch....but I really grabbed some good ones; and was even able to find some Fashion Star ones that I thought were discontinued....I recently cleaned my sewing room too and purged two big bags of scraps I had been hoarding for waaaaaayyyyy too long and threw away other unnecessary stuff I had thrown in there....my sewing space can breath again! Whew!....
This evening I decided to make myself a new a top...I need one for tomorrow; a few of my besties are having a cookout...My friend got a new place and invited everyone over this weekend for fun and festivities!...I bought some printed pants a few weeks ago from Ross but I didn't get a shirt; matter of fact I didn't even look...and I didn't have one I wanted to pair with the pants in my closet....I could have actually sewn the pants I bought with no problem buuuuuut they were only like $11 dollars and I hadn't seen that particular chevron printed fabric...soooooo I grabbed 'em up......McCall's M6751 View D to the rescue for the top dilemma though....I went to my stash and grabbed a yard of some aqua-colored stretch lace from Hancock's the other day and it turned out perfect for the project....it sewed up quick too; it only had two pattern pieces with no facings or anything...I serged the inside seams to clean 'em up....that serger boy I tell ya'; I love that thing and my Auntie is thee BEST for sending it to me....the lace fabric will come in handy too being as though its supposed to be 100+ degrees tomorrow here, Lawd....
Well I'll share the pictures now and stop my rambling....y'all know how I can go on with my sewing stuff (wink-wink)...talk to you good people soon!
~~MsKRS~~

the before...those are my new Mundial pinking shears...they're pretty cool! 

Front view...I left the basting stitches in...smh...I gotta get those out and re-press...damn.....

Side View....

a back shot...its one of those hi-low numbers....whatcha' think?....(try to ignore the basting stitches when you consider....;)

basting stitches removed and re-pressed....looks MUCH better....I swear my mind moves too fast when I sew sometimes...I already have the next project on my table.  ;)

MsKRS and the Midi Dress

OMGGGGGGG I'm soooo sorry for the too long hiatus from my modest little blog....I've since been forced to deal with one of the necessary evils of life; I finally snagged a gig....It has seriously, dangerously, seriously, and horribly cut into my sewing time....there is always a flip side though....I've been thrifting a lot lately and coming up with some super cute things....I copped quite a few old school patterns on those trips too....I'm ready for sewing whenever I get to go in my sewing room....I don't feel like its lonely though (my sewing room) because I still have to do some kinda sewing....Mending is whats been on the board....my serger is just the bee's knees for that kinda stuff....I've been ordering good stuff from Wawak too; although I now feel that I need an "L" ruler and some #9 needles....if you sew you NEED to get familiar with those folks; Wawak that is.....they have thee best customer service and anything you may need to sew whether its for home sewing or on the industrial level...they are AWESOME.....My childhood friend Keith even dropped me off a purty little sewing box filled with notions but that's another post...I'll save it....now this post is about my floral midi dress...yall remember when I posted about it?....here is the link if yall wanna read about it:

http://mskrspinkstitches.blogspot.com/2014/04/april-showers-brings-mskrs-pretty.html
 (I dont know why its not highlighted but I guess you can just copy and paste it in your browsers)

this post is just showing me wearing it....my Sweetest took a set of the worst piccies this go' round so I only have a few...but the few I have will do....I definitely should have participated in the MeMadeMay'14 thingy this year but time just got away from me....I literally wear my creations every day so I guess I didn't need a month to show em off; just keep doing what I do to let folks see....of course I was going to Target and a couple other places...I even went to the library and copped a couple of sewing books....also had a bill I didn't know I had and didn't know why either....I paid it anyway; I don't want ANY restrictions from a place full of books!!!!!....well here they are and I'll talk to you good folks soon I promise.....

MsKRS.....

I'm dipped when they see me.....(wink-wink)

yep, sometimes, just sometimes I wear flats.....;)

my trademark wrist o' bangles.....