Dress progress and CURVES

I have been going to CURVES for almost two years now. I have lost some weight, yet not a lot. I have realized though that I have definitely lost some inches and have gone to a smaller size in most pants and shorts. I haven't really put a lot of emphasis on losing weight; the focus has been to lower my cholesterol to avoid having to go on medication and really to tone up. I have been successful with both goals....still have a ways to go.


With the loss of inches from waist, tummy and bottom I am slowly realizing that I can go down a size with most patterns for this area as well. Completing a very easy and simple dress pattern has driven this realization home today. I had to fit and refit this dress this evening through these areas.

The dress will be finished tomorrow or else!!!!! I had to take up the back area considerably. I have always been narrower in the back area than the front. I have gotten narrower from shoulder blades down to back hip area. I still have those hip fluffs in the back but not as much as before. I also took deeper side seams from underarm to waist and then from hip to bottom. I normally try on the garment several times during fitting and then baste adjustments. I then try on again and sometimes I have to re-baste taking deeper seams. I find it can be difficult trying to fit the back area looking at a handheld mirror and trying to stand straight. I sometimes use my dress form-Alma Marie-but with changes in my size, I need to readjust her.

I ended up removing the front in-seam pockets. I don't like the pocket pattern for this dress. It kept pulling the front area and just caused the front seams to looked pulled. Thus that took considerable time removing stitches then resewing the seam closed. I also took a deeper shoulder seam from midpoint of shoulder seam toward arm.

I can say that after all these changes, the dress fits well. All that is left to do, is sew bias strip to arm holes and then pin seam binding to hem and stitch the hem.

Another invisible zipper technique

Els commented on my previous post and in searching through some bookmarks, I found her tutorial on how she inserts an invisible zipper. Dawn commented that she does the same thing.

Invisible zipper

I can't seem to get the time to sew as I would like. I did insert the invisible zipper last night. I wanted to show you an easier way of completing the seam below the zipper. By using this method, I no longer have the little bulge or a not so nice seam after zipper stop.

Here is a photo of the zipper inserted and here.

Normally after you have sewn in the invisible zipper, you then move the zipper ends out of your way and begin to stitch the remaining seam. I always find this a bulky operation and can get a bulge at the seam beginning right after the zipper.

I now turn the seam around and stitch from the opposite end of the seam up to the end of the zipper seam. Less bulk and you line it up better. I have not yet sewn this with this dress but have used it for several months now. I wanted to show you photos of this step. This may be of help to someone. You may already know this or you may even have a better method. If you do please share with all of us.

My contest fabric!

I forgot that I had not posted that the fabric from Burda/News came this week. I still find it neat that I won something.

I am not sure what type fabric this is. I believe it is a cotton fabric, rather thin. It was in a Mood Fabric bag. It is not a piece of fabric that I would probably purchase myself. I was also surprised how design is on this fabric. I took some pictures and did a collage view so you could see where the flower design ends and then there is a lot of white from design end to selvage.

I am not sure what I will make from this. I will make something though. I am thinking some sort of top.

Well on its way

I made great progress this evening on my dress. I had to buy thread to match this green fabric. All the green threads I had were way off from this shade. DH wanted to go to several places today so while out I went to JoAnn's and purchased the thread. I needed a longer zipper as well so purchased a white one but really wanted a green invisible zipper.

I was going to post a slide view of my dress progress, but I am not real pleased with the way the embedding process works for slide show using Picasa 2. So I am going to just post photos. You can go to Flickr as well to see them.

One thing I wish I had done differently was to cut out the longer view of the dress. Usually when I cut the shorter version of patterns when I do not make petite adjustments, the length is a little long. Not with this dress! The length it is now is the length I want. I think I will add seam binding or cut a hem facing and use 1/4 seam allowance to attach then turn up 3/8 to hem.

So far the sewing has gone smooth, even attaching the inseam pockets. This was a new technique for me but I am pleased with the results. I thought about lining the dress but decided I am lazy. I may rethink this tomorrow.

The last photo is a close up of the fabric. I cut the center front and the center back pieces with stripes/dots on the horizontal. The side front and side backs stripes/dots are running vertically. I did not want to try to match up those horizontal stripes when cutting out the side pieces.

Dress is cut out!

My intentions were good all week to work a little on my green/white dress. I have only been able to start on those good intentions tonight. DH is on the mend and decided to visit an old friend and his brother so he left this morning with intentions to be home around 8:00 PM. This gave me a great opportunity to spend some quality time in my sewing room.

I completed all the ususal pattern adjustments. I then laid out the pattern on the fabric and was able to get it all cut out before DH got home.

I am truly greatful that he is improving daily and hopefully should return to work perhaps middle of next week or the following. His being home has cut into some of my free time at home. Free time is uninterupted sewing time. So this 2 1/2 hours this evening was sheer bliss. I actually came home at lunch time and that was a nice quiet pleasure also.

Patterns for Sale!

Patterns for sale. Take a look, if interested let me know.

Next up-Simplicity 3744

I started the pattern adjusting for Simplicity 3744. I am so tickled that this dress comes in B, C, and D cups. NO FBA! Adjustments needed are the forward shoulder, swayback and adjusting the underarm for the sleeveless view.


This is the Black White pattern that got a lot of attention on Simplicity website causing the pattern to be sold out quickly. I will do a b/w version. But this one is going to be green/white. Many people have noted that this pattern has a 60's feel. The fabric I am using is a polyester that I believe may have been from that era. Even if not, I think it will be perfect.


The fabric was sent to me by my sewing buddy, Carolyn-Diary of a Sewing Fanatic. I remember her post on this fabric and I made a comment to the effect that I loved it. She asked how much yardage I wanted and within the next week I had three yards! Well it has aged enough in my stash now to become this dress.

Carolyn, when you read this, I hope you will recognize the fabric!

Here are photos of the pattern and fabric.

Eyelet skirt complete

The skirt is finally complete. There were so many stops and starts with this one. I am glad it is completed and hopefully will wear later this week. I have to decide what top to wear with it. I have three in mind. This is good so I can change the look of the skirt with each top.

I can tell you I am ready to move on to the next project.
Hem using seam binding.



Close up with silk underlining.

Completed skirt.

Tip for hemming full skirts

Click on the title of this posting and it will take you to Pins and Needles Blog. Then scroll down to April 4 to read and see a nice tutorial by Summerset (don't you love her name) on hemming full skirts. She used this on her Easter Dress.

As I commented on her blog at that time I used bias binding on neckline and armscye but had not thought about using it for hems on fulls skirts. I used it on the hem of my eyelet skirt. I will share more information on skirt with photos to be posted later today.

Skirt progress

This evening after dinner I took time to go into the sewing room to work on the skirt. I attached the elastic to the skirt and then turned and stitched down the elastic by stitching in the ditch of each top panel piece.

The hem is to be 5/8 inch. I am going to use Summerset's technique of stitching bias binding to the hem and then turning that up to stitch the hem.

Then I need to decide what is my next project. I have three dresses in mind to make, all being a woven fabric. I also want to try the New Look faux wrap dress pattern that I keep seeing others reviewing on PR. There are about 20+ reviews for this pattern and most contain very helpful information for sewing up this pattern.