Categotry Archives: sewing

1

MAKING SKINNY PANTS FATTER

by

I had these pants for about a year, and never really wore them because they were so tight! I was told that they looked OK, but they were not comfortable. I don’t know why it took me so long to get around to adding in the side panels, but now they fit me great!

making skinny pants fatter

I actually unstitched the side seams (rather than cutting at the seam) and then added the 2.5″ wide strip of scrap jersey. This left a gap in the waistband, which I covered with this blue elastic I had lying around. Now I don’t ever need to wear a belt with these pants, because they are tight enough in the waistband but as comfortable as sweatpants!

H&M pants before making skinny pants fatter

Not only were the additional fabrics random pieces finally used from my stash, but they made these pants much more wearable. I’ve since given this treatment to other pants for a few friends.

new striped hood new striped hood

In the same vein, I added a new hood to this shirt I always wear. And yet I don’t have a ‘before’ shot… I got it at Forever 21 about 5 years ago. It’s made from French terry and very comfortable, but the original hood was completely useless, and showed a lot of chest. I copied this hood from a thrifted Old Navy shirt. Basically this post is completely debunking the rumor that I never buy clothes.

Stash busting + improving store-bought clothes = win

2

STRIPE SACK DRESS

by

This dress actually started off as a shirt that was cut a little long, and then I decided to add the horizontal band to the bottom. I’d never worn (or was interested in) a sack dress before, but I feel pretty chic and easy when I wear it. Although I feel it works best with these wedge heels, and I very rarely wear anything but flats. So it’s a date-night dress, and I kinda like having something a little special for special times.

stripe sack dress

This dress pattern is designed for striped jersey, and except for the contrast bands, the dress is all one piece. The back, sleeves, and front piece is shaped sort of like a Y, and the only seams are at the center front and at the sides. It’s extremely comfortable to wear, and I always feel elegant with all those stripes running across my body and meeting in a perfect V at the front. Needless to say, this pattern took a few tries to develop and I’m pretty proud of it.

stripe sack dress stripe sack dress

stripe sack dress stripe sack dress

Jason took these pictures at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. We went to see Smoke and Mirrors, which I designed costumes for. The magic show will be running in SM for a few more weeks, and then will move to the Road Theater in January, so check it out!

stripe sack dressWhen I submitted my bio for the playbill I used Dodds as my last name, but my ad is for Julianne Siadek since that was after the wedding. Nice that they were on the same page!

2

CORDUROY RUFFLE SKIRT

by

I have a really strange habit: the night before leaving for a trip, I get the urge to make a new piece of clothing to take with me. And so I usually spend the last few hours at home sewing!

ruffle skirt

These pictures were taken by my husband in the Painted Desert National Park as Jason and I drove to our New Orleans wedding reception.

ruffle skirt

I feel a little guilty about completely ripping off fellow Etsy seller Loni Gaghan‘s design. But that’s what making is all about, right? Anyway I’m not about to spend $60 on something I could make myself (although I would advise anyone else to, because it did take a few hours and seems totally a fair price), I certainly wouldn’t make this skirt for anyone else, and it was in the noble goal of de-cluttering my stash.

All of the materials for this skirt were overflowing from my fabric cabinet. The corduroy (left over from pants I made for Jason last year) was particularly bulky, and I never actually thought I would use it. I bought the coral cotton jersey for a dress I’ve never made, although I still have enough fabric to make that happen. The lining is a poly-satin that was completely consumed in this project.

ruffle skirt ruffle skirt ruffle skirt

I really love the tulip hem, and had been thinking of making a skirt in that style for weeks (and filling up my sewing board on Pinterest with ideas). When I decided on this design, I planned on adding the vintage wooden buttons to the front of the skirt. I didn’t even realize that they have tulips on them! Which makes them even more perfect.

I used a hook and eye on the tab of the waistband, but it is way bulky. I think I’ll switch to just a snap.

ruffle skirt

This skirt isn’t my normal style, but I really like the petticoat can-can dancer feel of it. And I think it will be really nice for winter layering. Also the tan corduroy feels like a neutral, without being bland, and the coral gives it the pop of color I need to feel like myself.

ruffle skirt

Because I do not even wear or have an interest in ruffles, I don’t own a ruffle foot for my machine. I just gathered the jersey stripes manually, and it was fine. I used about 200″ of fabric to make the ruffles. Probably will not feel the need to add ruffles to anything for another 3 years.

I forgot to incorporate pockets, although I’m not sure where I would have put them. Maybe I could still add slash or patch pockets to the back? Opinions on that?

1 2 … 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 … 76 77