Categotry Archives: sewing

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2012

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I’m not sentimental. And yet. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to review the year past and plan for the year ahead.

Year Past:

burning man wedding

– I got married! It was a wonderful event with great projects, and has created so many wonderful new things. Our marriage, new friendships, better attitudes.

Julianne and Barbara Dodds

– On the opposite end of the spectrum, my grandma died in June. It sucks, and I still think “I should call Grandma,” but I’m not bothered by the fact that I don’t believe in heaven. I have lots of mementos and gifts given over a lifetime, and using her tools in my daily sewing has really helped me deal with it.

– I got fired. From a job that I didn’t really like anymore, but it was still insulting the way it was handled.

– I learned to knit! I’m still very new, but it’s exciting and I can’t wait to learn new stitches and make some really fabulous sweaters. My husband just got me a set of interchangeable needles, and I finally got a library card (for pattern books), so I’m ready to

– I turned 25, and with everything else that’s happened this year (see above) I feel like I’ve grown up.

I’ve posted 43 projects on this site, which has received 22,700 views this year!

Year Ahead:

– I will try to post more of my every-day projects. I’m always making little things, but usually don’t feel like they’re worthy of posting. I will also try to be better about documenting my process and even creating little tiny tutorials.
– I came up with this idea when teaching how to make coiled bowls at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club this month: save a strip of fabric from every single project for one year, and then make a bowl using all the scraps! Bonus points for keeping the fabric in chronological order.

beehive turban WIP

– More knitting! I’m trying to add new skills with every project, and I’m itching to make a Fair Isle cardigan and socks. I like being such a beginner, staring at yarn with wide eyes full of hope and dreams.

– More stash-busting. Because I don’t want to feel overwhelmed or obligated by my sewing. Also, I need my space to work better!

– More home-work. We’ve been cleaning out our apartment, re-organizing, re-thinking the way we use our space. It’s changed a lot in the last year, and I’m looking forward to our home getting even better.

– Baby! Not mine, but two wonderful friends are having a baby in April, and I can’t wait!

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GALACTIC COTTON CANDY DRESS

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This hand-made tie dye looks like a cotton candy nebula, which is exactly what I wanted. The vintage fabric was gifted from a friend of my husband’s family, and there was just barely enough to make this reverse pleated dress. It’s a lightweight cotton, and I love that the colors hide all those unsnipped threads and potential little stains.

Galactic Cotton Candy dress, made by Julianne

The teal rayon was from my grandma’s fabric collection, so the only material purchased for this dress was the pattern ($5.40) and the zipper (~$3). Stash busted!

I started this dress one afternoon, wore it sleeveless and unhemmed to dinner that night, and finished it the next day. It was a great non-traditional Christmas dress, and I can’t wait to wear it for a bike ride!

Galactic Cotton Candy dress, made by Julianne

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About the pattern (Burda #108B). I rarely use patterns, and find it difficult to follow someone else’s instructions. But I managed to make a dress that pretty closely resembles the original. The reason for the teal stripe is that I didn’t have enough of my tie dye, or so I thought, because it turned out that the pattern is huge! Following my measurements, I cut out a size 40/42, adding seam allowances. I had to remove about 8″ from the pleats and side seam (which was more towards the front of my body). I was able to do some shaping through the pleats, which are designed as unflattering straight lines on the pattern. Also, the back gaped horribly at the top. I lowered the sleeve cap and added some width to the back shoulder. Aesthetic changes are fine, but I was surprised at how many changes this pattern required for a comfortable fit.

Galactic Cotton Candy dress, made by Julianne Galactic Cotton Candy dress, made by Julianne

I thought about leaving the dress sleeveless, because it fit so nicely and looked great, but in the end I’m really glad that I added sleeves. And I’m proud that I was able to get such a great fit with the woven sleeves!

The seams are finished on my serger, and I trimmed the pleats with pinking shears. The pattern calls for leaving the folds untrimmed, but there was so much extra fabric in there!

Galactic Cotton Candy dress, made by Julianne Galactic Cotton Candy dress, made by Julianne

Aesthetically, I extended the pleats about 1.5″, so that the fullness was released at my hips rather than natural waist. Obviously there is that teal inset, which was functionally inspired but I totally love now. I lowered the neckline in front and back, replaced the facings with bias tape, tapered those dumb bell sleeves, and added the contrast band to the much shorter hem. Also, of course, pockets!

Galactic Cotton Candy dress Burda #108b Galactic Cotton Candy dress, made by Julianne

The pattern reminded me of Mad Men fashion, mostly Allison’s gorgeous party dress.

I was concerned about covering too much skin and looking frumpy or juvenile, but I also didn’t want to show too much skin or look too Molly Ringwald (not that she’s a skank, but I don’t want to dress like the decade I was born in). Luckily my husband was on hand to help me with design decisions, and it turned out great!

I made these stockings too, from a luxurious silk jersey. I’d cut a dress out of the fabric, but never felt passionate enough to actually sew it together, and so I cannibalized the dress for some new stockings in my favorite color.

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MR. HUSBAND HAS A SHIRT

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Isn’t my husband so cute? We took these pictures at LACMA’s Stanley Kubrick exhibit, which was very cool.

men's button shirt

Jason’s office is creative and casual enough that he wears a tee shirt just about every single day, but I decided that he needed a new button-down shirt anyway. Sometimes a tee shirt doesn’t cut it, but he should still be able to dress a little fancy (by which I mean different, and often in strange patterns).

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men's button shirt men's button shirt

I used Simplicity 5366. The pattern’s measurements classified Jason as large, but I wound up taking the whole shirt in to a medium. I found the cuff placket to be a little confusing (it was my first time!), but otherwise the shirt went together very easily and rather quickly.

It was really satisfying to just cut out a pattern and make a shirt, with no modifications or major design decisions. Almost automatic. This shirt wound up being the wearable muslin for Jason’s wedding shirt, which will eventually be posted…

men's button shirt men's button shirt collar men's button shirt

My beloved Pfaff doesn’t have an automatic buttonhole feature, but I honestly enjoy taking the time to make the buttonholes manually (but still on the machine). Obviously I have much more control, and I was never completely satisfied with that function on my Singer. I hardly ever need buttonholes anyway.

At some point I will make the western-style version of the pattern. I might try Collete’s Negroni some day, but Jason hardly wears this style shirt as it is, so why invest in a collection of patterns?

shirt at LACMA shirt at LACMA

I made his pants too, from a very soft upholstery velvet. Maybe one day I’ll get a post just for those.

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