costuming and portraiture

here is some costuming work that i did recently:

for more work, see my costuming set.

and a portraiture series:

i was interested in documenting people who sew or alter their own clothes. i photographed them wearing something they had sewn in the setting that they sew in. for more portraiture work (not part of the series), click here.

button down shirt to mini dress

i took one of j's large, oversized shirts and made it into a mini dress. now that i look at it in the photos, it looks more like i'm wearing a large shirt than a dress. oh well. anyway, to make it, i cut a lot out of the body of the shirt on either side and reattached the sleeves, making them into puff sleeves (gathered before i resewed them on). the final product looks really simple, but i did try variations that i didn't like (elastic at the waist---made it look puffy and unflattering; a back panel to run a belt through along the back---didn't gather smoothly enough) to try to get it more fitted looking (but not too fitted). in the end, i just took in the sides even more and added 2 darts in the back. i plan to wear it with leggings and boots (as pictured) or over jeans, and i like it b/c it's cozy and comfy. i'm always on the lookout for mini dresses, long tops/tunics that i can wear over yoga clothes or just to wear out.

Dragonfly Diaper Changing Pad

I have been wanted to try sewing baby stuff as gifts and decided that a changing pad would be a simple easy first project. The changing pad is a layer of patterned cotton (to make it pretty), PUL (for waterproofing), and minky (something soft for the baby to lay on). There is a strap to keep the pad folded in the bag.

crochet hook case

I've been wanting to make a roll for my knitting needles for some time. So I dug through fabric scraps and pulled out a piece of grass green twill with embroidered flowers I got from a co-worker's de-stashing. It wasn't big enough for knitting needles but just right for crochet hooks. I was surprised how hard it was figuring how to put everything together in the right order. A lot of the design was driven by the fabric choice. I used basically all of the green twill. I had plenty of the lining fabric, so instead of sewing the two pieces together (and therefore losing some of the twill to the seam allowance), I used the lining fabric to create a border. My thread also didn't match that great, and I liked the solid green on the outside, so I had to figure out how to construct it so that the dividers between compartments were sewn only into the lining. The little tab is actually not very functional. I need to get some elastic or ribbon to tie it together... but it was a little leftover piece of the twill that happened to have a flower on it and I didn't want it to go to waste. I thought I might put a snap under it but then I'd always have to roll it up the same way which is sort of silly. There are some seams that could've been done better but overall I'm pleased with the result of my first non-flat, non-hemming sewing project :).

original hem

Okay, so this isn't very creative or anything but it was a revelation for me so I thought I'd share... I scored some jeans on sale but as usual the short lengths are too short and the regular lengths are too long so my only option is to ignore lengths and count on hemming. The first pair I did like a regular hem - snip it off and fold under twice and sew. It worked okay since the jeans didn't have a lot of built-in wear - the wash was a fairly even dark blue. The other two pairs had pre-worn hems, so I looked up original hems on google and followed these instructions. It actually seemed to work, and was shockingly a lot less hassle than regular hems. You don't notice too much from farther than 2 feet away, and since they're at my ankles I'm assuming most people won't notice. I just hope they don't hang weird or flip up...

my first quilt finished

First, apologies for the long absense from itb!! I don't normally post so many pictures, but I'm proud of this one. I finished my first quilt yesterday. I learned heaps on this project. I learned about using a walking foot, how to make a quilt sandwich and that hand sewing bias takes ages but the result is worth it!

The quilt sandwich:

Details:

The overall result:

Needle holder

Needle holder
Originally uploaded by sukogirl

With a little hand holding, I finally managed to get my sewing machine up and running. It wasn't as difficult and intimidating as it looked. After practicing on some dish rags, I decided that my first project would be to make a hanging needle holder to organize my knitting and crochet needles. I didn't follow any particular pattern, just winged it. I backed the top fabric with canvas to give it a little support. I even played around with some of the "fancy" stitches.

owls apron

I grew up in the same town as my Aunt Joyce. It was a very small town - Divernon, Illinois. My aunt had a very big house and it was full of owls. For as long as I remember, she collected them. When I was a teenager, I went to visit and their new carpet had arrived. It was teal. A very big house with very teal carpet and she loved it. When I saw the owls on a whim fabric from Robert Kaufman, I knew it was perfect for her! I've been sitting on it, trying to decide what to make. I realized that my favorite pattern so far was the Emmeline Apron from Montessori by Hand. I didn't have enough for a full apron of owls, so I mixed and matched with some cocoa fabric that I had. I decided to make a little "patch" on the bottom with a couple of owls. This was a new technique for me.

The apron is reversible. I made the reverse side in red because I really liked the contrast with the teal straps. I'm fairly happy with how it turned out and I have heaps of fun with this pattern. I highly recommend it! I've already made more straps and bias in preparation of making more!

halter top

I got a pattern a couple of weeks ago for a halter top from Amy Butler. I've been searching for very cheap fabric to practice with because it involves some skills that I hadn't tried before. This week, I found some $2/m silver and black cotton voile. It turned out ok but I've learned a huge secret of the sewing world! Hidden zippers aren't really hidden, so always make sure you match your fabric, although it's very possible that I installed it wrong. That seems more likely! Also I'd like to alter the pattern next time as its a bit too broad across the chest and high on my back. I'm 34 but still want dress like a skank. ha!

you spin me

These are prototypes for a gift that I would like to make for some friends of mine. They are DJ's and are due in roughly 9 weeks or so. I'm hoping to make them "my first records" for their little tike. I'd like to use batting instead of stuffing so I can get the grooves more even. I'd also like to find a better way to do the hole in the center. They are a bit lopsided, but I figure the baby won't mind. I'd love any suggestions for improving on the idea!

balls and owls

Today I made a ball. I realize this seems insanely simple, but it's my second go. I finally managed to figure out how to make the end look sealed up nice and neat!! This is using random scraps that I had left over from other projects, so the colours don't match as well as I would like. I'd like to make more of them and pay special attention to colour. I'd also like to try cubes. I saw similar ones on etsy today which searching for some fabric that I ordered. I was jealous of how neat theirs looked, so I gave it a second try tonight.

This is Whippet. He was born out of this tutorial. He's another one of my "make it quickly" experiments. I have little patience for long projects. I prefer to finish something on the day I started it. Whippet is my new sewing helper. Craig said it was wrong to stick pins in him. He makes a crappy owl, but a great pincushion!

I've been doing lots of tutorials lately, but it helps inspire me to come up with ideas of my own while learning new techniques and stitches.

lucy and the cookies

This is Lucy. She's a bouncy crazy little puppy. Because she's a brand new doggie, she's exploring everything. After being freshly hatched from my own design (borrowing the idea of the legs from Lumpy), she wandered all over the house and found these homemade felt fortune cookies. What a great Sunday!

another tshirt dress and outdoor self-portrait experiments

i decided to make another tshirt dress by combining three tshirts. the first was one that a friend gave me but that i haven't worn in a long time---i left it intact since it fit well, and i modified the other two into a an asymmetrical drapey skirt, similar to the one i made last week but longer. the dress was inspired by the same book that i used last week, t-shirt makeovers by sistahs of harlem. i originally attached the skirt to another shirt but wasn't paying attention to the measurements and found the skirt wasn't wide enough---also, the shirt was a little too short-waisted, i thought it looked better with the longer top. after a lot of seam ripping, i came up with this...


Originally uploaded by cignoh

i haven't been that happy with the results that i'm getting photographing myself inside, so i decided to try shooting outside. i have a bunch of clothing projects that i made but didn't document since 2006 so i plan to experiment with taking photographs of myself wearing them. i even bought some reflectors today and was using them in the above photo, but i'm not sure if it's obvious since i'm so frontally lit (or maybe i put the reflector in the wrong place)...

below is a photo that i took earlier this week without using reflectors. it's a ruffled tshirt that i made, again from the same book. like i said, i really like the book... i thought the sunlight was too bright on the left side, and the shadow side a little too dark, so that's why i got the diffusor/reflectors, but when i went to take a photo in the same spot today, there was a car in the way, so i'll try again another day...

Originally uploaded by cignoh

seam tutorial

In couple of the comments on a skirt post, I was asked how to do a french seam. I actually tried to make a tutorial on it but it didn't turn out how I liked. Today, I was reading Sew,Mama,Sew and found this awesome tutorial for all types of seams and when to use each. To make this post a little more exciting. I've uploaded a picture of today's project. This is my first stuffed animal. I made it from a pattern from Melly & Me. This was a practice version with cheap fabric to learn about how things would work. I didn't like the felt eyes that were recommended so I've left her blind until I get some animal eye buttons. I've named her lumpy and she's wonderful, despite all of her faults.

sewing weapons 101

I like to sew. I also like hammers. I feel manly swinging them around. So when I realized that I could combine sewing and hammers by adding snaps, I was completely sold. I was convinced that snaps were so much easier than buttons. No more ruined fabric from failed buttonholes!! Today, I did not ruin my fabric. I sewed perfectly and didn't even have to rip out any threads. Today though, I did manage to ruin my sewing table!!! A few good taps is all it takes to put in a snap. Coincidentally, a few good taps is also all it takes to push the snap, snap setting tool and hammer through the top of an Ikea Corras rolling cart. Sewing can be dangerous. I'm not really equipped to face the dangers that come with it - burns from irons, cuts from fabric tools and the dreaded needle smacking your fingers when you hold the fiddly fabric. Scary stuff. I've included photos of the weapons ...errrrr.... tools that I use when I sew. =)

tshirt dress

Originally uploaded by cignoh

i went shopping yesterday and was looking for spring/summery dresses, but didn't buy anything. instead, today i decided to make a tshirt dress out of an old braveland tshirt from my husband, some brown jersey material that i had for the skirt, and a strip of wool plaid from a skirt that i made before. the dress has a tie-neck collar that is kind of hard to see in the photo, and the skirt has extra fabric on the side for draping. i got the idea from a book called 't-shirt makeovers' by sistahs of harlem, carmia marshall and carmen webber (i love this book, btw) and followed the basic form but made some modifications---the instructions called for a mesh material for the belt, which i didn't have, so i substituted the wool plaid. also, the right hip was a little bumpy (also can't see in the photo, but on purpose) so i reshaped the lines around that part, and the arms/bust area didn't fit that well so i sewed a darts on either side. as a result, the shirt no longer says 'braveland' but 'd' 'upside down U' 'raveland'. i like it.

travel wallet 2

I couldn't make just one today! This one proved to go much more smoothly until I got the final topstitching. I used completely different types of material on this one to see how it worked with heavier fabric and more interfacing.

travel wallet

I tried to make this travel wallet for my mother-in-law for mum's day. Here is how this project went. I cut all of the pieces out. In the process of cutting some pieces, I accidentally knicked others. Cut again... Sew for a bit, realize I haven't cut enough for the pockets... Cut again, knick base fabric while cutting... Start over. This went on for two days until I finally surrendered to the fabric store. I bought an Olfa fabric cutter, a straight edge and a cutting mat. I'm totally a cutting queen now! I only use scissors on curves and twists. In this project, I learned quite a few things: 1. Having a template without directions does not necessarily make things easier 2. I can't sew as well the original creator of this pattern 3. Scissors are great, rolling cutters are better. 4. It's a snap to add snaps. I do wish I added more padding or interfacing to make the cover thicker, but not bad for my first go!

first dress

Two posts in one day! I'm sewing like a madwoman. This doesn't even include my handbag project. Today was a public holiday, and I expected to fritter it away shopping and spending copious amounts of money. Unfortunately the stores were closed. I found this pattern from tiny happy and thought to myself, "how hard can this be." I grabbed some fabric, ignored the measurements and went to work. After heaps of cutting and sewing, I realized that my bra size is just slightly larger than your average 3 year old. What that meant is that I had no hope of that wrap dress working unless I went through a serious breast reduction. That seemed a bit extreme for my little B cup. I had a think and I went nuts. I turned it backwards ala the ever trendy hospital gown and whipped out this number. The back has a really sassy low cut. I need to get a better photo of it. Not too bad for my first dress. It looks nothing like what I planned for when I started, but I'm happy with it. I've got a few ideas for next time including having it right way around.

happy pants

Today, I decided to surprise Craig by making him a pair of fisherman pants. As you can see, I decided to keep them for myself. We call them happy pants in our family, and Craig often wears them as pajamas. We found a pattern on the net last month. He tried to make himself a pair, but the pattern turned out to be a bit rubbish. I tried again today with some left over cotton voile from my skirt project. I got it in the clearance bin of the fabric store. I cannibalized the black belt from his project which I think is the best part. I made a few mistakes but they are definitely passible for bedtime wear!! Another easy, quick project! Total time: 2 hrs