by Sherri Sylvester | Aug 29, 2014
I have literally been living in this dress this summer! When I wrote a tutorial on adding a drop shirt-tail hemline to the Staple Dress pattern earlier this year, I mentioned I had made a wearable muslin, and is it ever wearable. I picked up this rayon at my local Fabricland in the spring for about $6/metre, if I remember right. It’s very soft and drapes beautifully – making it perfect for the Staple Dress – and also a real pain to sew!
I seem to like prints with an obvious graphic repeat, and then I get home and have to sort out how to match up the side seams and keep everything straight at the same time. I’ve had a LOT of practice over the last few years! This fabric was one of the worst I have sewn with. It was a dream on the machine – but cutting the pieces was a nightmare. I had to straighten the lines in the fabric by holding my quilting ruler in a straight line and incrementally moving the fabric until it lay straight. Then I had to hold my breath while I placed the pattern on top and cut it out. Thankfully it all worked out well in the end.
I’ve already mentioned that the floaty nature of the fabric was hard to work with, but I would still highly recommend that a slightly thicker rayon is the ideal fabric for this style of dress. It really needs to drape well or it will look very boxy. A good quality rayon would also be much easier to lay out, and wouldn’t cause the trouble I put up with for this particular low quality (but gorgeous!) fabric. I’ve seen many complaints about the Staple Dress pattern on countless blogs. Most of these mention using (non-draping) quilting cotton to sew their garment. I wonder if it is a coincidence? I do have to say, though, in quilting cotton’s defense – that the Art Gallery fabrics are great for this pattern. They still do not drape as much as the rayon, but they drape enough to make a great dress. And think of all of the amazing collections you can choose from!
We took these photos in old Quebec City while we were on vacation. I wish I could go back – it was an amazing trip, and had so many great places to take photos! I got a little photo-bombed by my girls in this shot. It was the day that we also photographed the Add-a-Bow tutorial and the Flutter Sleeve Tunic. I love that all of us were wearing handmade, and that our vacation shots are going to preserve them forever. I’m sure, though, that one day we will look back at our vacation photos and my kids will wonder why I ever “let them” wear these outfits in public!
Our Material Girls Sewcial is tonight, and funny enough, I’m going to wear this dress. Which reminded me that I should post these photos before we run out of summer. It would be a little crazy to post a summer dress in the middle of winter, I think. I’ve got a collection of at least 4 photographed summer projects + the end of school teacher gifts I didn’t blog about yet. I should really get on that! Or, maybe I should wait until next May to post those… hmm…
Reader Feedback: Have you sewn a Staple Dress? How did yours turn out?
by Sherri Sylvester | Aug 25, 2014
Today I’m letting my geeky side out for a day or so! I signed up a few months ago to be a contestant in Crafting Con – a contest dedicated to fiber-related crafting & sewing all things geeky. Each month has a new theme and today is the last week of August’s Avengers themed posts. I’m competing for the glory of making the “best” every-day wearable clothing based on one or more of the Avengers. Specifically, something your kid could wear to the grocery store, and not look too out of place. (I may have gone a tad overboard on this part!)
Since my husband loves these comics, and I have enjoyed watching all of the Super Hero movies that have been released lately, I knew this was the month for me. My entry is posted over at Mae & K and I’d love for you to check it out! If you want to see they competition, you can go here and see what I’m up against. I’m fortunate to be the last entry for August, so I’ll only have to wait until next week to find out who is declared the winner!
There is so much more information over on the official site, but I thought I’d post a few more photos here, since it was “super” difficult (hee, hee) to decide which to post over there. You can also click over for a ton more photos and to read about about the construction and materials I used and why I chose certain details. If you want, you still have a few days to place an entry in to win a gift certificate to the Fat Quarter shop, or you can enter the giveaway to get some handmade Avengers t-shirts.
I spent way too much so much time last week making these outfits and the entire time I was met with pleas to wear clothing or use their bags – which of course, couldn’t be met because they had to stay clean for the photo shoot. But I’m so glad they were excited about it! It was so much fun and I really think I have the most fun sewing when I let my creative side go crazy and make a costume for the kids, or even clothing based on different characters like these. One of my most favorite projects each year are the Halloween costumes (last year’s here) I make for the girls, even if it is usually super last-minute and I stay up until all hours for a few days in a row to make it happen!
The other thing I liked about this project, and I write more about it in my official entry post, is that I could use this as an opportunity to make my girls something that isn’t “supposed” to be girly. I loved playing around with how best to make something more feminine, but still based on a male super hero. I live in a world surrounded by talk of pink and princesses and I really want my girls to climb trees, build things with power tools (in a few years!) and not be afraid of crawly things outside. It’s my way of pushing back the pink, even one outfit at a time! I know I’ll never get rid of it, and I do want them to be feminine and pretty – goodness, I would never take away their twirly dresses. (Besides, they are way to much fun to sew!) I’m thankful that they enjoy a variety of activities and we’ll keep offering them non-pink options, hoping they’ll take us up on it every once in a while!
What is your experience with all things girly? How do you deal with the barrage of princess gear?
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 14, 2014
I had a whole bunch of extra pictures from the Bunting Tee tutorial that I couldn’t pass up – so I decided to save them for today, lucky you! I truly hope you feel loved and have a happy day today. Don’t forget that all of the chocolate will be on sale tomorrow! Happy Valentine’s Day from our house to yours.
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 7, 2014
A couple of weeks ago I received an amazing gift. My mother-in-law was going through some of her storage space and came across her mother’s sewing things. Since she would not be using them, she asked me if I wanted to have them. I could not have been quicker to say ‘YES’ – I was (and am still) so excited to have been given this amazing vintage sewing stash.
This thread shelf was made by my husband’s grandfather for his wife – and it’s likely to have been commissioned specifically. Because of it’s shelf system, I can store it flat on the wall, and it holds multiple heights/styles of thread. And, speaking of thread, it came fully stocked!
I love wooden spools – I think these will be stored in a(nother) glass jar on my shelf so I can look at how pretty they are. And, maybe only to be used if I am desperate at 1 in the morning for a particular colour. (Did you see the cat spool? My favorite!)
Again with the thread… but did you see those prices? The winner is… pink at 30 cents a spool! (Can anyone enlighten me as to what Boilfast means?!)
The pricing on this vintage stuff is the best part. I think if I ever use these I will have to save the packaging as long as is usefully possible. I’m not so good at throwing things away anyhow! Check out the elastic – it’s washable – super handy if you want to wear your pants more than once!
I will enjoy using the Zephyr Lightning slide fastener one day. To be honest, again it’s a question of disturbing the packaging – but it seems a waste to just let it sit because I can’t open it… What would you do?
These buttons are my favorite. I wonder what they were destined to be used for? Did she have a plan when she bought them, or were they an impulse buy? It would be so fun to know! I love this buckle too, and the neat and tidy buttons, all together – not like mine with multiples all floating around in the jar. The dressmakers tracing paper is a perfect example of vintage design and the graphic designer in me may have to frame this one, too bad the cover is torn.
I think my favorite things in the stash are the ribbons and rickrack. I really love trims, but don’t generally keep them around (or remember to use them!) These will be a great addition to my growing stash. My favorite? The baby rick rack. I promise I will have enough patience to sew it on one day!
Now, you may (or may not) be wondering what I have used as a background for these photos. I am pleased to say that I now have an antique pattern cutting board that is 2 yards by 1 yard. Amazing for photo shoots, and maybe I will use it for cutting out and altering patterns, if I can bear to put holes in it. I don’t think she’d mind, it’s got some already. I also love my new ruler and vintage measuring tape. Oh, so much fun! And, there’s the oh-so-soft yellow dot fabric I also acquired, soon destined to be a summer dress for my youngest.
Aside from my obvious infatuation/love of vintage things, I do have more appreciation for these items than that. I am grateful that my mother-in-law and I have a really good relationship and that she chose to give me her mother’s stash. She takes wonderful care of my daughters and of course, my in-laws both raised my husband, who (of course!) turned out amazing!
I am also thankful to have a connection to my husband’s grandparents, who I never met. Having their things in my sewing space makes me feel more connected to the art of sewing. In a (possibly strange) way – it reminds me of a time when every woman knew how to sew, and it was more a way of life. Not so much a hobby, as it is mostly seen now. Back then life was busy, but time was consumed differently – not spent so much on commuting or buying a “faster” way to make dinner. We were more connected to the people directly around us, instead of always knowing what our 700 friends are doing.
I’m not against social media in any way! Of course if I was, you would not be here – and that in itself is amazing to me. I appreciate you more than you know. So, now that this has turned into a blog post about the state of life instead of my new vintage sewing gear…. to lighten it up – check out the smile on this girl… think happy thoughts… (Like vacations on the beach!) Until next time…
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 25, 2013
Merry Christmas to you and yours today! Hope you have a wonderful day. (And maybe sneak in some sewing?!)
by Sherri Sylvester | Oct 14, 2013
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving today! Made by Me Monday has been replaced with a reflective post, seeing as how I have a lot to be thankful for. Most of all, I am thankful for my family, and thought I would post a few photos of things we have been doing since the last family post. I’ll be posting a fall-related pattern altering tutorial tomorrow. And, I’m excited to be in the Skipper Top pattern tour on Wednesday. Be sure to follow Abby along the tour this week! (and not to leave out the “Made by Me” part of this post, you can check out links to Made by Me things through a few captions.)
Another fall has slowly been happening here in Southern Ontario. This year has been warm, so it has crept up and coloured the trees quietly, some orange, some yellow and some are still green. I’m sure the green ones are wanting to pretend (like I am) that winter isn’t on it’s way!
I look super-fun here – ha! I think I was trying not to fall off, it spins like a merry-go-round! (Chevron dress here)
Our “last day before school starts” day trip included a super-fun park. We put the kids from bed right into the car and gave them clue cards for the destinations along the way. My (super-gracious) husband stayed up to draw the cards after I told him my “brilliant” late-night idea! I am thankful that he goes along with so many of my last minute plans.
Old doors make great photo backgrounds! (Shirt here)
We took advantage of a windy afternoon to fly a kite together. Mary Poppins is a favorite movie in our house, so there was much singing on the way there… “Let’s go fly a kite, up to the highest height….”.
With fall comes apple picking, and we are fortunate to have an abundance of farms in our area. We visited one with Grandma on a sunny Saturday a few weeks ago, and then got to go back this past weekend with cousins who are visiting for Thanksgiving.
This particular apple farm has expanded to include tons of kid-friendly activities. Pony rides, giant slides and a nature walk with rope swings, just to name a few!
The Turkey Tees I made last year for the kids still fit. If you live in the US or have some time this morning before a dinner tonight you can still make one for your kiddos!
Thanks for hanging out today, I hope you all have a wonderful week and I hope I’ll see you again tomorrow!
