Summer recap

First things first: We have a home. There will be a legit sewing corner, and soon. wellllll maybe in two weeks.

Secondy- I sewed a lot this summer. I even taught sewing (Sorry, Cation, that I never followed up. You are awesome- let's do it next summer)!

I am going to catalog the things in photograph form, and one day maybe I'll write more about them.

Improv outfit: 1/2 yard mini skirt from a bargain lot and navy ponte number that ROOLZ.

my Moss muslin i loved it so - except it had no stretch because it was upholstery fabric. 

I may try again and just size up. i love the wood and the yoke and ah! 

(removed for modesty: tiger running shorts and matching tigress sports bra)

i wear this tiny pocket tank constantly. i added darts in the back (borrowed from the Laurel). 

this is the face which captures the 4 month process on this Hummingbird skirt. It's great now, but i measured myself like a pro and the thing was 6 inches too big everywhere. anyway, i'll make more now that i know the secret. 

where's the zipper? it's ACTUALLY invisible. progress! 

mustache hat! reverses to match everything blue and linen. 

get the pattern! it's free! 

plus lots of flashback skinny ts and some improvised crazy kid pants OHH and i finally made a Zephyr dress for the lil girl in my (summer) house. cute enough dude!

sneaky tiny pocket before the darts. seriously, EVERY DAY with this one. 

panties too. unfortunately, you can see them below.

Lace pocket? yessir. I also made the maxi. so slinky. 

oh snap! stripes! also ponte. focus on the ponte top. :)

School starts next week - watch for a teacher wardrobe update soon!

xoxoxoxoxo
R

funnel neck renfrew "hoodie" of LOVE

I've had this great green funnel neck zip up since summer 2008. I wore it to the inauguration, and i wear it constantly cause it's dope! 

i looked forever for a pattern for anything like it. no such luck.

THEN I GOT PONTE FEVER. and found this on Fabric.com. WHUT. (no link, it's sold out. sorry luvs)

it's so dope! then i deployed my mad skillz of improvisation and cutting and made this puppy.

I used the old Renfrew as a basis, with long sleeves and cowl neck. Took in the cowl 5 or so inches at the top and maybe some height too, then lined it with an even smoother and lovely rayon ponte. just so that snuggly neck is soft as possible.

 throw in a copied kangaroo pocket, and it's on! (my expert pattern matching makes it invisible, but trust me)

 whooppee!

New favorite happening of the summer- SHORTS! Living in the Bay Area, I have had the same two pairs of shorts in my closet for maybe 10 years. They come out for maybe an annual camping trip or east coast visit each year, so replacing them hasn't been a high priority. But now! now I wear shorts once a week at least! It's The Best. Summertime!!!!

shazaam, ya'll. what are you wearing?

some stuff happened. like, a lot of stuff.

the bf and i parted ways.

hello, suitors. 

a friend got marrried on the other side of the country.

"a trip to the skyyyyy"

i moved house.

Kali watches over me now.

school finished.

the boy came to my last day of school, as a student

i started preparing for a new job.

he also came to my last day as a student teacher.

...all during Me Made May. More like MAYHEM! a similar thing happened last year...maybe May is a tough time for a sewing challenge? Well, maybe not. I kept wearing my me mades, but I sure wasn't consistent about charting them.

i gave away my Moss skirt muslin, though i loved it so.

AND I kept sewing! mostly underpants. whatever. I am happily nestled into a space with other MAKERS who think that sewing is a really cool skill and a viable way to spend time, so that's pretty sweet. :)

Finally, I got my Cake pattern in the mail. I'm in Anna's house and am looking forward to participating in the sewalong for good wear-to work and play clothes. no promises, fingers crossed, caveat caveat caveat.

i made these tees! we wore them in May! see? 

whooppee!!

happy summer, cuties.
xoxo bex

Wear Everyday: M 6711

look, it exists! McCalls 6711 turns out to be (i think) the craziest envelope of patterns- blazer, pants, top, dress with cool yoke feature? every now and again i may venture back into big 4 territory. for $1.99, it's tough to resist.

STABILIZE your v neck first!

so here's the thing- i've basically been trying to recreate this old navy (wha? lol) dress ever since I realized it is too tight across the shoulders and a little shorter than i should have bought.  maybe you should size up, you might say? that would make sense...but the M was dumpsville!

so i made this.

i like it!

it's more adult than the inspiration, which i like - let's face it, it's a little embarrassing being twee when you're surrounded by tweens.

This number is super comfy, super easy to rock. it also has all of this potential in contrast yokes and stuff!

twirling? maybe.

just take it in like 3" on each side and shorten the bodice an inch or so, if you prefer a less burlap sack look. (i did, and there's still PLENTY of ease).

pattern matching not in the slightest. with so many gathers how can you tell what will happen? 

 ps you'll never find this fabric cause it's rayon challis and i bought it  from girl charlee, which makes no sense cause girl charlee is all knits all the time. woo! 

okey dokey folksies. what sports dresses did you rock this weekend? and where do you score your fab'lus challis?

xo
bex

i love MMM and me my made wardrobe!

DUDE.

What good timing to be minimizing my clothing consumption, and marveling at the magic I can make in my home with my two little hands.

Quick Recap!

Day 1: Teaching- New Look 6130 eyelet (what anglaise, brits?) peplum top with a new belt...and gap mom jeans then: Anise coat! (San Francisco, you are too cool.)


Day 2: RTW all day long. thank goodness I was realistic about my pledge!

Day 3: unblogged feather print rayon dress I wear constantly. also unphotographed. does it exist? did it happen? yes.

Day 4: Finished Vogue 1247 skirt in salvaged polka dots at 9am for 10am conference. will need to unpick/ press/restitch, dang. with that j crew tee i REALLY need to duplicate.

polka dots, we have been apart too long.  reunited! 

BUT! totally successful for professional conference, apartment interview, afternoon bbq and late night adventures. Rachel Comey for Vogue, you rock. PS this make is also unblogged...busy partying. WHY LIE?

Day 5: i can't really remember...t shirt and jeans, i think, for studying all day....then SNAKESKIN leggings for a jog around the beautiful lake. Some guys asked me to be in their music video, so I feel pretty confident about those leggings. ;)

Day 6: Back to teaching! i wore my fave maxi and a gap sweater tee, then snakeskin leggins for the yogas.

little one rocked her bex-made jams, too.

Day 7: Laurel knit top, some kinda pants.

car selfie!

Day 8: RTW slumpy sweater, tank top, jeans. pencil skirt for evening action. Handed this bex-made number off to Natalie, with love!

like me, it's a Ginger. hahah

Day 9: most popular feather print rayon dress! I PROMISE TO BLOG IT THIS WEEKEND.

Day 10: Today. Colorblocked tiny pocket tee with RTW jean skirt, j.crew cardi. made in china. :( looking down, i realize that this pattern needs a major alteration before I make it again- the darts point about 3 inches higher than they should...how did i not notice that before??

hey look, microscopes. 

YAY. More to Come. Stash murdering weekend, baby.

PS can i borrow your Macaron? I'm going to a wedding and want to do a blue/lace fancy number. holla.
xo
bex

MMM '13 is most lively on INSTAGRAM!

I'm posting daily photos here: http://instagram.com/rebeccaw0w/

The me made month is off to a good start! I'm wearing a RTW slinky tee for most of the day, but i taught in my me-made blue peplum. with a blue belt, so WIN for styling. And two compliments, so BOOM!

FO: LACEY LAUREL

shades of grandma's upholstery....

and a velvet ribbon I've been lovingly hiding for >10 years

it's my pullover lacey laurel!

I lowered the dart! good job, lady. Then cut the front in a 6 ish, and the back in a 0. I meant to leave out the center seam but forgot.

action shots to come...i expect i'll be rocking this number a bunch in the big ME MADE month of MAY!

simple banded hem and collar because the velvet was hecka hard, and has zero give...I didn't want to stretch and mangle the neckline fighting with ribbon.

woooooooo.

xo

Voila la BellaDarling (Darlingdone?)

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted!! Guess what I made?  It's a challis thing. hahaha i love challis.



I mish mashed the bust flattering Darling Ranges bodice and the pockets and coolio flair of the Belladone.

you could totally see my bra if my arm weren't there. wah wah.

It was a massive pain, the skirt is off center, and the dress is, well, kind of dumpy in the rear. :(

hi low hem? why not. 

that is Olive the Benefit dog. love her. 

but it is verrry comfortable....

where is my waist? ?? ? can you find it? 

and it is eaassssy to play in!  i even dressed it up tonight with some heel-ish sandals and lipstick for a glass of wine with my new favorite sewing neighbor Meg!

So i think it's a win, but, as she and I discussed, different fabrics do yield very different results. So my lightweight, but my crisper poplin-like Belladone looks like a distant cousin to this super drapey rayon challis version.

That is the way it goes, chickens.

catch! 

NOW FOR SOME BUSINESS. It's almost
 !!!!

soooooo

I, Rebecca G of the superstardom at superstarbecca, pledge to wear me made goodies 4 times a week. I want to make it 5, or everyday, but seeing more seasoned sewists pledge so sensibly makes me think I might  be served to listen to their wisdom. Four days a week! I hope to wear more than unders, but me-made unders will do in a pinch.

Yippee! No flakeys like last year- I had just gotten a crazy sewing bug, and then had to abandon ship almost immediately when "life" and a career change intervened. I'm looking forward to success this year!

xoxox
bex

kids clothing week: airplanes!

i shoulda used my new machine for this shirt. the applique and the neckline are pretty horrible.

eek!!

BUT! Little man helped me design the plane, the colors, and the number of placement of the engines. He could tell you what kind of planes these "are", I forgot. :(

Purple fabric is organic ribbed cotton from fabric.com, with contrast bits and bobs from the East Bay Center for Creative Reuse. The grey is not so nice, but it came pre-hemmed! pattern essentials are from Rae's flashback skinny tee.

what's your secret for pretty applique? do you always interface? tell me more!

dance it out, little man.