Studio Dress: Patchwork Started!

I've started the t-shirt knit raw edge patchwork on the skirt section of the Studio Dress.

I love what is happening!  

I'm contemplating your suggestions. 

 Thanks!  Let's see if they show up in the final dress! 

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Studio Dress Progress

I'm trying to focus all the creative energy in my studio!  The struggle is real.

I cut and fused the Studio Dress today.  It's basically a long hooded sweatshirt.  It could possibly be the best piece of clothing ever invented.  I could hardly believe how easily I cut my pink hoodie.  A few years ago I would have stuttered and stammered.  I'll contribute my courage to the neighborhood thrift store's abundance of clothes.  Mess something up, there are 10 to replace it.  A bit of a No Brainer, if you will.

It looks wide & it probably is; but, I'd rather cut it narrow after I've patched it than be too narrow going on the longarm.

I've left both sides open so the Dress can lay flat.  I'll probably trim that wide sleeve to a more moderate width before seaming it closed.

To avoid bulk with fleece I butt the edges and cover with fusible interfacing strips.  I do this when I combine large thrifted fleece blankets for batting.  It's quick and keeps all the pieces in place well.  The front and back will be patched so no one will see the fused strips.

I pieced the yardage for the Patchwork Coat.  I may have overdone the piecing.  Before anything gets cut, I'll lay out the pattern pieces to check.  Next I will need to come up with something to do with the quilted scraps.  Maybe some kind of organic shapes stitched to a background with embroidery stitches or bias tape.  ???   Oh!  that sounds fun!

I'm unsure why but I love the popular overprinted designs and fabrics with writing or implied words.

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Debra's Projects: Studio Dress

After my blog post yesterday I scurried right over to my clean work table & decided right then and there to clutter it up again!  Ha! Ha!  What good is a clean table in a studio?  Who works like that?

The pink hoodie presented some problems.  I like problem solving.  It's good for my brain.  Because I am working with thrifted clothes (think: "one of a kind"), I like to plan & plan again before I cut anything.  I'm also interested in Zero Waste.  I don't want any unnecessary scraps or hard to rework for something else leftovers.

My plan:
1. Cut the hoodie as wide as possible
2. Cut the sleeve and some of the body off another sweatshirt
3. Sew them together
4. Add a front & back panel for length

BUT, obviously I don't want the pink hoodie, the gray sweatshirt and the black sweat pants (cut for the panels) to be sewn together & left like they are.  Oh no, I want to cover them with the t-shirt pieces.
And, the gray sweatshirt is a bit nubby inside so I plan to line the whole Studio Dress as I am now calling it.
And and, I want to use the longarm for the freestyle patching.

Here's the uncut mock up of the Studio Dress.  The sleeves are too long and the width may be too wide.  I can adjust after I patch them.  I can also add pink cuff ribbing using the bottom band of the hoodie. 

This is a leftover piece from memorial pillows I stitched.  It's very soft and supple with an appropriate amount of stability.  The patches are overlapped and stitched from jersey knits.  I would patch the hoodie like this sample.

My solution:
1. Piece lining from some jersey knits.  Load on longarm.
2. Sew the sweatshirt knits together but leave the side seams open.  The piece should open and lay flat on the jersey lining.
3. Pin the hood out of the way.
4. Freestyle piece patches all over the surface.  I won't be able to patch on the hoodie with the longarm.  If I decide to patch it, I'll use my domestic machine.
5. At the neckline, I can topstitch around the placket and neckline with my domestic machine.  Then trim the jersey away.  It won't ravel and if the edge needs to be neater, I can add some ribbon or trim.

I do like my reconstructed clothes to be neat and well planned.  I have a formal clothing construction background so messy sewing (even reclaimed) makes me very uneasy.  I like freestyle patches but I want my garment seams finished appropriately.  😎😎   (If you are wondering, yes, I finished all the seams on my patchwork robe.)

Just as I wrote my notes with the steps for my Studio Dress, I looked up & there was a nice big patched piece of yardage staring at me.  Ahem!  Squirrel!  Shiny Things!   I took it down from the shelf.

If I stitch another yard of 60" wide patched fabric, I will have enough for another Studio Dress or a Patchwork Coat.  This yardage is sewn to a coarse lining so I pulled some jersey clothes for a slinky lining.  I'll piece them into yardage and then quilt this yardage to the lining in the opposite direction (but more widely spaced).

Look at this Lusciousness!  

I love working with these knits.  The colors and patterns are just fabulous.  I don't have anything like them in my quilting cottons.  I think that is contributing to my boredom with my current cotton stash.

I also like the prices.  As evidenced by the tag, I bought this full length skirt for $1.67; that's a lot of fabric for the price.  And, on a much bigger scale, it's reusable and saved from a landfill or a return trip to India.   And, really, how cheerful will it be to open my coat to see all this luscious color?

That, Friends, is how one project quickly morphed into two projects! 

I'm secretly happy Houston had a little cold spell.  It has motivated me to execute some ideas I've had stored in my "someday" file. 

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What motivates you to execute an idea?

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Last Six Weeks of 2019: Personal Projects

With the conclusion of the very successful Angel Tree project I feel like I can spend some time working on personal projects.  I won't be starting the Houston Furniture Bank quilts until January.  Once I emptied the shelves where the Angel Tree quilts were stored, I was able to move the Houston Furniture Bank quilts into that space.  There's even one totally empty shelf! 

Currently I have 10 twin sized quilt tops with backing ready to quilt.  I have 15 tops ready to be enlarged to twin size.  Pam, my friend who jumped on board to help with Angel Tree, has been sewing improvisational borders to the quilt tops on hand.  She's having a grand time & I'm happy for her spirited help!   I also have 6- 9 patch kits cut and ready to sew.  I'm lining up scraps and cutting strips & rectangles for more kits. 

These 10 tops are ready for quilting in Jan 2020.  I have all the thrifted fleece batting ready to use too.

These 15 tops need a little enlarging to twin size so Pam and I will sew borders on them.  They should be ready to quilt in February 2020. 

While prioritizing projects I am determining which fabrics to keep for my personal projects & which ones I can let go for service projects or upcoming workshop supplies. 

I'm sorting through fabrics like a determined woman!  I would like to get the bags and boxes on the floor between the shelving units on to the shelves.  Or, sewn and gone.  

I bundle and pile fabrics.  I've been doing it for years and I don't see an end to the habit.  So in my culling, I've come across lots of groups of fabrics I know work together well.  My focus has been to decide if I "really" want to keep them for myself or sew them for someone else.  Currently I have 5 quilts on my bed (so comfy & warm!) and I have 3 on my guest bed.  So, I'm well stocked for queen sized quilts. 

I'll admit; many times just sewing the quilt is enough satisfaction for me.  Then I am able to give them away.  But during the decision-making process, it can be hard to let go.

One group I have been saving are the florals.  Last night I had a huge moment of clarity.

I had pulled the yardage I thought would be good for the back of a queen sized quilt & laid it over the longarm frame.   I was doing a lot of puttering between my studio and my storage room.  Maybe about an hour later I sat down and glanced back towards the longarm.  

In an instant I had the reactionary thought:  I'm over those florals.  They really do nothing for me any more.  It's the kind of thought I tend to ignore and plow forward any way.  Not this time.

They are beautiful and blah, blah, blah.  So I'll use them for some twin sized quilts and be happy stitching them but give them away.

Once I decided I would pass these fabric forward (and they were at the top of my "coveted fabrics"), I then went looking for the next stack on the coveted fabric list.  Immediately I knew there was No Way I could let these lovelies out of my tight grasp.    Both of these fabrics are Alexander Henry prints and I have enough with them combined for the backing of a queen sized quilt.  They are so alive and vibrant!  I love them! 

I took a few nanoseconds to pull together some fabrics for the scrappy top side of the quilt.  These will be a pleasure start to finish.   These feel like me.  It's taken me almost 5 years to come back to myself.  I can see some dramatic changes and I like my choices more and more.

 So I can set these aside knowing I've made the right decision to keep them.  Aside from some of my own blouses and dresses I've saved for a memory-ish quilt, this is probably all I want out of my overflowing stash.  The rest is up for grabs for quilts for others.  I'm giving myself 10 years to sew everything down to the last remnant. 

Some pieces will go to patchwork clothes.  I foresee many more refashioned and reclaimed clothes in the next year.  I'm planning to develop my clothes with more personality and style.   In some ways it is easier for me to start from scratch than use thrifted clothes but like my fabric stash, I do have a ton of thrifted clothes I bought with the idea of refashioning for sale.  My habitual pattern is to buy something and then wait to sew it.  Not sure what's up with that habit but it seems to be recurring.  😎 😎

Following the success of my patchwork robe and refashioned jacket, the current cold spell and my desire to work on personal projects with fabrics and ideas I want, I'm thinking of ways to refashion this pink Ralph Lauren hoodie.  

It's my favorite shade of Pink!  and although it fit at one time, a trip through the dryer and too many drives through Dairy Queen has changed its status to : Too Small.  It does, however, have this fabulous hood and button closure.

My current Refashion Method is to let the manufacturers carry the heavy load on involved or complicated clothing features.  As a disclaimer, I can sew them but I don't have the desire any more.  I spent my time in the trenches and if I can use what's easily available, I'm taking the scenic route. 

My general idea is to cut off the hood and front opening as a yoke to insert into the body of another garment.  I'm still debating what shape that other garment will have-I want something I can slip on & wear in my studio while working.  I like the back of my neck covered and I may want this to extend to my knees.  I can't decide between a long pull-on hoodie or a tabard/apron.  I have a stack of large thrifted sweatshirts (I bought for jacket bases last year . . . ) I can use as the base and I can line it with a favorite piece of rayon or cotton. 

A bunch of my pink tshirts with issues.  As a group they will work and I love the idea of sewing new clothes from old clothes, especially ones I have loved. 

A long blog post, I know.  I usually like to keep my posts centered around one topic; but, ya know, occasionally it's OK to veer off track, especially when there are so many important decisions to be made!  😎😎

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I know you have an opinion to share.  

How do you decide what to do with coveted fabrics or clothes?

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Commercial Patchwork Jacket: Finished!

One of the features of my embroidery machine I love is the ability to stitch buttonholes.  I stitched these 5 buttonholes in 4 minutes.  It takes a few minutes to set up the pattern and hoop the fabric but overall, it beats using a domestic sewing machine by a mile or two.

This is the mock-up of the embroidery on the computer screen.  Once I place the jacket in the right place in the frame, then the machine stitches correctly placed buttonholes.

Marking the placement is probably the most nerve wracking part of machine embroidery!

It turned out the double buttons were a little too clunky.  I used the mixed buttons that had been scattered around the denim patches.  I added an interior button too. I really like the knit sleeves.  I've been wearing this little knit neck scarf the past few days so I tied it on.  Another great option!  Now my jacket is ready to go grocery shopping!  😎😎  I think it's going to be a great knockabout jacket.

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Commercial Patchwork Jacket: Removing Elements

Last night I removed the scattered buttons and the little pieces of soutache trim.  That trim took a long time  to take off thanks to the zigzag stitches used to attach it.  I'm always leary about marks left underneath but I lucked out.  Last year I was removing darts from a fitted blouse and discovered the dart points had tiny holes marking the ends.   That was an unpleasant surprise! 

I decided 5 large buttons would be the right amount for the front closure.  There were also 5 leftover buttons from the skull embroidered jacket and luckily, 5 smaller decorative buttons from the group I removed last night.  I'm thinking I should buy a lottery ticket today!  😎😎 I'll combine them for a little personality!  I'll hit the denim with a little starch and hot iron to remove the wrinkles left from the buttons.

I agree the blue knit shawl from my mom is the best of the shawl/scarf options.  It's chunky like the jacket too.  My next favorite is probably the soft blue shawl Barbara knit.  It can tuck inside the jacket neck opening.   I also like the brighter colors too.   This may turn out to be a very useful jacket!  I have a closet of jackets and coats but it's always nice to have options!  

In other news, the 53 Angel Tree quilts are finished, tagged and labeled for the Christmas season.  I was so tickled when my friend Pam came over and we were able to match quilts for the children.  We had requests from  aged 1 - 18.  I had a larger quilt I had finished a few years ago that was waiting for its special person.  The 18 year old boy will get it.  We had a set of sisters and they will get the mermaid and the ballerina quilts. The 2 brothers got the 2 race car quilts.  And on and on. 

I'm leaving shortly to meet one of MDUMC's ministers to discuss a small blessing service for the quilts.  We want to make sure they go out to their children with the most love possible.  

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Commercial Patchwork Jacket: Fashion Ideas!

I'm just happily sewing on my skull ensemble when Bam! the weather changes!  Fall fell into winter.

I had a meeting Monday evening and was looking through my casual jackets for one big enough to cover a bulky sweater.  None really rang my chimes.  I remembered I had a patchwork jacket purchased for my Poshmark store last winter.  I remembered it being too big for me but I thought it might fit over a sweater.  I was right.   It's designed by Sharon Anthony & I actually have 2 of her jackets intended for Poshmark.  She might be a great designer but neither of the jackets button closed.  I may be a little picky but I like jackets I can close against the weather.  I don't know what's up with open front jackets that look wintry.

A few of these patches are dress weight which I don't think is a good idea to mix with upholstery weight; but, I'm going with it.  

The colors aren't exactly ones I would choose if I were sewing from scratch or if I had purchased this for myself; but, I can work with the jacket.  Normally I don't wear gold, tan or rust.  I'm your typical blue or pink gal.  So when something like this jacket presents itself, I analyze it to see how I can make it work for my coloring.

The front is full enough I can overlap it and easily add buttons.  Actually those hideous brown buttons from the skull jacket will work fine.  All those scattered buttons and that little squiggly trim have to go far away.   I'll be removing them.   The big tan section is kinda obnoxious too.  I looked through my dwindling selection of pre-made embroidery rejects and found a butterfly block that might look good in that section. 

I don't want to spend a lot of time on this jacket.  I just want something to throw on if I am dashing out the door and I have on a few layers already (which seems to be my style lately).
I pulled out some of my favorite scarves and shawls to see how they might change the look of this jacket more favorably for my color preferences.  I snapped pictures for you to see! 

I pinned on the little butterfly block.  It's over towards the side so I have room to add the buttonholes.

One of my long scarves from my knitting friend, Barbara.  She's blessed me with many wonderful pieces through the years; including the one I am wearing in my profile picture at the top of my website. 

I picked this handwoven scarf up from Goodwill a few weeks ago for $1.99.   Really lovely colors.

My mother knit this shawl for me about 10 years ago.  It's so good on so many color levels.   I like it a lot with this jacket especially since I will probably be wearing denim with the jacket.

For a softer more classic look I can wear this shawl Barbara knit for me.  Again playing up the blues around my face. 

I love this cape!  I bought it about 5 years ago at a craft show from a woman who was totally surprised and then thrilled I wanted to buy it.   I don't undo the buckle but instead put it on over my head.  It's just a fun piece. 

This is a crocheted shawl I picked up last winter at the thrift store.  I'm sure I spent less than $5 for it.   I can handle a light green near my face but not a dark forest green. 

My mom knit this turquoise cowl scarf for me.  It's so cozy and easy to wear.  I like how it plays off the gold section and the rust sleeves.

I find wool pashmini shawls all the time for about $5.  This one is especially lovely and I think works well with the rust in the jacket.  Let's a little light turquoise/teal in too which always looks good on me. 

A darker wool pashmini shawl.  It's very striking and I would wear this or the one above to church in a heartbeat. 

Going through these pictures, I'm unsure about the butterfly block.  If I am complaining about a wintry jacket that doesn't close, then putting a spring butterfly block on it seems silly.  The white background is a bit stark too.  Might have to nix nay that idea. 

What do you think?  

Do you have a favorite?

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Jacket to Skirt Conversion Tweaked

I reserve the right to change my mind!  Latest progress on the jacket.  I've decided to leave it as a jacket.  After removing the super hideous buttons and the dorky patch pockets the jacket gained 1000 appeal points to me!

This may be finished.  I'll work on the skirt and then decide.  I had visions of some vintage flowers appliqued to the yoke but I really like what I have now without them.  I'll see. 

I love the little orange ruffle sticking out from the binding.  It's a satin ribbon that's been twisted and stitched.  I bought it on a reel. 

The buttons just tickle me!  

I added the black & white check ribbon to the yoke seam line.

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Your ideas are always welcome.

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Jacket to Dress Conversion Progress

Friday I was able to get some steps completed and prepare a list of ideas.  I definitely like the direction this project is taking so far.

I'm reserving the large floral print for a quilted shawl/poncho.  I always need something over my shoulders so this might be a new wardrobe addition-a shawl to match my ensembles.

I sewed a little flip and stitch onto a cotton muslin for the skirt "cumberband" look to give the black and white check a little length. The black and white check weight matches the jacket weight well but the cottons by themselves would have been a little too light so the muslin lining is perfect.  It also finished all the seams.  I'll repeat the idea to lengthen the jacket/bodice sleeves.

I mocked up the bodice with some trims and the buttons.  I'll repeat the trims on the sleeves too.  I might put some beads on the trims.

On the bottom of the skirt I pulled one of my skull embroideries I had already stitched.  It was in a frame for one of my shows but was knocked off the shelf and the frame broke.  So I think I'll just keep it for myself.  I've had these floral embroideries awhile.  One is a shirt and it has some smaller embroideries I'll try on the bodice yokes.

I want to put the orange crocheted trim around the bottom of the skirt and add some more jelly roll strips sewn vertically.  Lastly, I have 2 napkins I think will work for pockets on the skirt.

The issue is the spot to cut the jacket for a bodice.  I removed the pockets which was an ordeal.  The bar tacks were long and strong.  It's always a gamble there isn't fading underneath and in this case, there wasn't any.  

I'm envisioning a long silhouette with a little tie in the back to pull in the waistline.  So it would be a dropped waistline.  I could also cut near the waist which would work well & allow for the border at the bottom of the skirt. 

This is really turning into a fun project!  I'm trying to keep it simple.  I love the jelly rolls.  I can certainly understand how sewers and quilters could get hooked using them. 

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It's great fun to hear your ideas!

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Debra's Project: Jacket to Dress Conversion

A few years ago I bought this thrifted jacket with the idea of embroidering the daylights out of it.  One embroidered design in and it got tossed in the UFO pile.  I've pulled it out several times and I always end up putting it back.  I'd donate it were it not for the complicated embroidery on the back.

This season I've decided to sew more ensembles I can layer. I remembered this jacket and pulled it out again.  Unfortunately, it doesn't really fit me comfortably as a jacket like it did when I bought it. Sigh.  It does, however, have some features I like for embellishing or embroidery:
1. Open & easily accessible yokes
2. Solid attractive color
3. Straight body without darts
4. Seam below the yoke perfect for enhancing
5. Gathers & ruffled neckline are a nice touch

It's disadvantages are
1.  Super hideous buttons
2.  ¾ length sleeves   (while I normally like this length for summer, during winter I prefer a long sleeve)
3.  Length is too short
4.  Pockets are a joke!

I do think with some additional work and the courage to cut this jacket, I can sew it into a nice long dress.

I pulled some resources. ha!  The skull embroidery has some complementary pieces I can sprinkle around the front of the jacket or on the added skirt part.

Can you see a fun lively personality starting to develop for this cute little jacket? 

If it were your jacket, what would you do to change it?

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