New Summer Outfits (and one for fall)

I live in Arizona and it is CRAZY hot during the summer. Over 100 degress is just too darn high, so I decided to create some strapless tops and dresses. I used New Look pattern 6468. The same pattern I used to make this Butterfly Dress. I've got these dresses nailed down to about 45 minutes each, when I'm working on them nonstop.

This first one I did was made out of Candy Corn fabric:


A close up of the fabric:


The photographs don't due the justice fabric. I'm planning to wear this on Halloween morning when we're up in Vegas.

This next one is a black strapless dress. The fabric is black cotton with dark black (?) spots spread throughout it in a funky pattern. I wore this dress all day today and it didnt' fall apart so I guess that was a very good thing!




This next one is the same pattern but purple:


I plan to test out this dress tommorrow. Its a looser in the top because I didn't stretch the elastic out on the way on the top, so hopefully it'll hold up.


And a closeup of the fabric:


And finally a green tube top:

(and yes it was used, using the same pattern)



I have one more dress to make using the same pattern (red solid fabric) before moving on to cover jackets and a dress made for work.

Writer's Club T-Shirts

At the school I teach at, I run "writer's club". I wanted to buy T-shirts from NaNoWriMo for them but everytime I check their website they are out of stock, so I decided to make them.



I used iron ons for inkjet printers and it took me FOUR trys to get it peel off without completely destroying the t-shirt. So yes... I have four crappy looking shirts in my closet and don't know what to do with them!

Butterfly Dress

I made this back in October, and I just now got around to posting this. I made this over my fall break when my fiance was out of town. He's always saying how I never wear dresses so I made this for his homecoming.

The dress:


A close up of the fabric and the straps:


An action shot:


Action shot of the back:


Close up of the fabric:


I used a pattern from New Look (6468). I just love the New Look patterns, they're cheap (about $3.95) and SO easy to make. I'm goin gto make a dress similar to this one for Halloween this year (I'll be Vegas for Halloween!)

My First Shirt Reconstructions

So all over the internet I see all these fantastic (and sometimes odd) T-Shirt reconstructions. After the turn of the New Year I did my yearly closet/dresser clean out and instead of taking clothes down to Goodwill this year, I threw them in a pile in my craft room and waited for inspiration to hit. I have about twenty shirts that I want to reconstruct. Today I did three.

First up, is a T-Shirt that my parents brought me back from Canada (they live 3 hours from the border) back in '07:


I turned this into a functional tote bag:


Its a little floppy because I did reinforce it with anything (or add any lining) but once I but in hardback books it has a nice shape. I also used this opportunity to try some fancy stitching at the top:


The next one is a "party shirt" that I picked up in Brussels, Belgium at a street market just outside my hotel when I was there in the fall of 2007:


Generally, I loved this shirt but I live in the desert now so long sleeves are a no-no and I don't party much, so I lopped off the sleeves and cut off the belt.

This one is made to be worn over tank tops. I love wearing tanks but as a teacher they're not appropriate at work, so I've been trying to come up with a cover to wear over them while I'm teaching.

And the back:


The last one is a black shirt that I've had since high school:


I cut it diagnoally across the front and back and did the same to the sleeves. I tried to make the sleeves different lengths but after hemming, they came out to be about the same oddly enough:


Action shot:


And the back:


Overall, I'm pretty pleased with these considering they're my first reconstructions. Now I just have to get up the nerve to wear them!

Turtle PJs to Turtle Robe

To go with the turtle tank and shorts PJs that I made, I made a robe:



Super easy... and its SUPER warm.

PJ, Corsets, and... some others

First up is blue nightgown made from some broadcloth fabric I found at JoAnn's.

Sorry, I forgot to turn the picture 90 degrees.

Next up is a pair of fleece turtle print PJ top and shorts bottom:




A silk top that ties on the side of the neck in a big bow.


And a close up shot:


And a green corset. I've wanted a corset for the LONGEST time. Next time I'll use thicker bias tape and better grommets as these ones keeps nicking the ribbon.


Excuse the close up of my butt:

Poncho... attempt?

Raise your hand if you love your knitting looms! I attempted to make a poncho using the Serenity Loom. I followed the pattern provided with the loom but it created a short, chic like poncho and I was looking for something longer and more roomy.

Here's what the outcome looks like:



And the action shots:





I think its cute and it is comfortable but I've made some notes on where I need to make adjustments as the poncho I was looking to knit was about 3 times this size! Oh well, accidents help you learn.

Buttons = Love

I love Law & Order. Always have, always will. I've always wanted an L&O T-shirt but never felt like spending $20 on one. My first thought was to iron on the logo, but then the other day I was playing with my button collection and had a thought. So I took a good long look at the logo on my computer and assigned each letter/symbol a color. Then I laid on the buttons on the back of a notebook first.

I then transferred the design over to the tank top. I put tacky glue on the back of each button and placed it on tank top. After this was done, I went back and hand-sewed each button into place and washed off the tacky glue.

The result:



And as always... an action shot