Sewing

[tifa]

you did a wonderful job!

i havea project myself. i bought an odd little skirt. it fastens by wrapping over and buttoning at the top. i can't describe it well. but the fabric is beautiful, it is alike the miu miu f/w minidresses with the shiny brocade material. so i knew i had to buy it even though the shape wasn't ideal and change it

 

[Madde:)]

^ Thanks
Here is the dress with the bow:

(Other pictures on page 35.)

 

[tifa]

looks just like it, wow

 

[Madde:)]

^Thank you very much

 

[gius]

looks even more lovely with the bow it makes a good accent! i think it's not bad to copy as long as you do it for learning

 

[Lucia-]

Madde, very nice job! I love it with the bow!

 

[Madde:)]

Thanks Gius and Lucia

 

[Khoipond89]

I made this yesterday...and I was a little suprised it worked since everyone tells me I can't sew real leather on my machine, with my needle...but the part I had to hand sew the the squaring of the bottoms...I LOVE the leather, it's almost half distressed, half patent...so weird in real life...and I got half of the *lack of a better word* Cow for $25 on clearance..I need to get back there...

thanks for letting me share!

 

[RetroGirl]

Cute dress Madde, It looks just like the original. Did you modify a commercial pattern or draft one?

 

[Amy Louise]

Hi, Khoi:
Great job--although I'm a vegetarian (on principle since I love animals) and feel sorry for the cow.

I've recently surprised myself by getting into sewing purses--a direction which I never expected to veer toward.

Not sure how you stitched your square bottom that forced you to sew it by hand. Did you try sewing an angle from your bottom seam to your side seam to form the expandable bottom shape? If not, you might have missed the chance to stitch it on the machine.

I'm trying to stitch several layers of different-colored faux-suede fabric to create a little purse as a holiday gift for a pre-teen. I'm having a helluva time sewing all the layers, even on my serger. I stitched down a ribbon on the bottom and had to turn my sewing machine wheel by hand. It was a killer--almost impossible to get the needle to go through the layers. I used a size 100 needle thinking I needed something really strong that wouldn't break. My friend, a pro seamstress, told me to try a denim needle, so I'm going to buy one today. Perhaps a denim needle would also help you out? Not sure if they sell leather needles for home machines--maybe they're available for commercial machines only.
Best,
Amy

 

[Khoipond89]

Hi Amy,

well, I flipped it out and sewed the corners....but there was four layers of leather and the needle wouldn't even come through...it's kinda hard to explain..

 

[Dkammern]

Khoipond89 that is amazing!!! i loooove it!!!

 

[IheartNY]

I made this dress a few days ago. The fabric isn't as thin as maybe it should have been for the dress to look it's best. But it's quite alright if you ask me. The shoulder straps look a bit out of place in the picture, but I don't think they do irl.

edit: edited to say that it has hidden pockets. which is something I love on dresses at the moment.

That dress looks gorgeous!

 

[IheartNY]

For anyone interested in making their own Dress Form.

Found this link http://sewnews.com/resources/library/0806form/index.html via Lovesewing.com

 

[novella1]

Loving this thread! Madde...that dress is gorgeous. You're very talented.

I'm going to get my mother's old machine this weekend, it's a Bernina 1130...electronic, but I can't remember it ever breaking down. First thing I want to make is some leggings/pants in heather grey soft cotton with long ribbing cuffs that come almost to the knee...just for wearing around the house. There are some similar Love from Ya Ya ones that inspired me.

 

[SwanDiamondRose]

boho chick i really love the grey pinafore you made. not sure if that is the right word for it. but it is really lovely!

 

[Amy Louise]

Hi Amy,

well, I flipped it out and sewed the corners....but there was four layers of leather and the needle wouldn't even come through...it's kinda hard to explain..

Hi, Khoi: Trying to imagine, but not sure. So I'll sketch out what I mean just in case this can help with your next prototype handbag. If you do it this way, you'll only be sewing 2 layers of fabric in the corner--but only if you can sew it wrong side out and then turn it to the right side. Not sure you can do that with leather unless it's soft and pliable.

Hope this little sketch makes sense!

v Open purse top edge--where you'll put in zipper or whatever...
I--------I > Purse Top edge (fabric is sewn right sides together).
I (WS) I }this would be the regular side seams sewn all the way to the
I I } bottom
I\------/I > Stitch the bottom across to close seam. Then take a few stitches, at bottom corner areas, in the direction of these slashes to create a shaped bottom hem that allows expansion. Snip exess fabric of triangle now created. Turn purse right side out.

You now only sewed 2 layers of leather, but you achieved an expandable bottom.


Best,
Amy

 

[Tess]

great job madde!! Love the dress you made!!
Khoi -nice purse! Love the color

 

[Amy Louise]

Rats! That didn't print correctly when I put in my comment. I'll try again using dots to hold spaces this time so you can see the mini schematic:

vvvvvvvv...Open purse top edge--where you'll put in zipper or whatever...
I--------I...> Purse Top edge (fabric is sewn right sides together).
I..(WS)..I ..}this would be the regular side seams sewn all the way to the
I...........I...} bottom
I\------/I.>.Stitch the bottom across to close seam.

Then take a few stitches, at bottom corner areas, in the direction of these slashes to create a shaped bottom hem that allows expansion. Snip exess fabric of triangle now created. Turn purse right side out.

Hope this time it prints up in a way you can tell what I'm trying to describe.
Amy

 

[SwanDiamondRose]

i've been falling behind posting in this thread. and haven't been making a lot of bags lately. sometimes i think about the fabric too much! so now i am going with whatever my little heart desires!

here's the fabric for the next Petite Louche- deep dusty rose corduroy and roses on black. and that is my friend Wolfy overseeing things