dysmorphic

I don't really understand the shape of my body. and it's ruining my sewing.

I make things. and they're too big. I'm SO afraid of them being too tight too sausagy too ugly that i make the next size up. And they look like garbage.

My Ginger jeans are a case in pont - but maybe that's in the ease (says Heather). My latest two wraps, the Jasper sweater and Jenna cardigan (muslin), were both too big. Jasper looks like poop. I've photographed it a few times, and every time i think "ew"-- that's why you havent seen it. It's made out of this crazy soft double cloth though, and I wear it anyway. It gets compliments because the neck is cool. But it's too big. The size 7 has a bigger cup size than the others, so I went for that. Mistake.

i think my mom is thin (for her age!) and she's definitely fit and active. she's wearing my coat here and it's loose in the bust and tight in the waist - opposite of how it fits me. there's too much mixed up data!

Jenna is the same deal. I made a 38 because i was afraid of looking like a fat girl in a too small vintage sweater. It's just baggy enough to look super ugly. I also used some garbage knit and had some issues with my walking foot, which didn't help. I need to make the 36. Or maybe smaller. But I'm always afraid.

shapely legs, ooh

Because some days I feel like a svelte dancer athlete, lithe and wonderful and flying, and other days I feel like a fat mom in unflattering yuckies, unaware of how old and ugly she is. How does the person who is both of those things dress????

frumpy hike mom

I cut out this gorgeous Georgina dress in the size I thought I needed. Halfway through I found out the pattern hadn't included seam allowances. It fits PERFECTLY. that tells you something, doesn't it? I was making a size or two smaller than I thought I needed. And it's just right.

size 38? or nah?

I've complained about this before, but when I am sane, I know that I am/my body is just regular. Not big, small, flabby, or superfit. A little busty... But medium in most ways. In just about any store I wear a Medium. If the store is faking their sizes, I wear a Small (i know they're faking because I am only small if large is obese.) If it's a store for teens and I wear a large, i know that i'd better make careful style choices ;)

So here's my promise to myself. When I am making, I will make a size down. Something about the measurements of my body and the measurements in a pattern mean that I need to size down. I will trust that I am perfect and also getting better, and I deserve super fly sexy edgy clothes to wear.

also my nostrils are super asymmetrical. just try to unsee it! 

Most of the time, I know it. This is my promise to remember in those tricky times.

do you have a secret to getting your fitting realistic? please tell!!!!

xxo

bex

WIP: Southport dress

It's interesting how your writing reveals you, isn't it?

I'm making the southport dress, my first make from Kelli of True Bias patterns & blog. She uses a lot of "scant" seam allowances. I like em too! It's funny to see them in a clothing pattern though. 

So far everything is lovely. Way more detail than I was expecting from such a simple silhouette, but they're great details, like a real button placket, well-placed notches, and bar tacks!!!! Bar tacks!!! To hold perennially floppy side seam pockets in place. 

She's also doing a sew along- so I bet there's even more to enjoy on her site. I find sew alongs sooooo boring and then eminently useful- like a reference book I'd  never sit down to read but pore over and over when it's time to brush up.

update: I took finished pictures at the restaurant patio yesterday, all sven clogs and southport dress, but blogger dropped em :( boo. summary: the dress is great! i used wax print a friend imported from uganda, so it's perfect for summer (wax print is SOOO easy to sew and breathes like heaven).

It also looks great with a bomber jacket (Bay Area afternoon winds)! The neckline gapes a bit and the skirt is a bit wider than i need, so I'll size down in front bodice and skirt next time (this time made a straight size 10). it's short! but hot short. so when i make the other 35 of these i'll be wearing this summer, i'll play with variously longer skirts - 2-3" longer, midi and maxi.

Thanks for a super one, Kelli! 

me made may

How ya been, pals? Gramming it up for #MMM15? Not me. I mean, I make 80-90% of my clothes, but i'm a teacher and a mom and an exerciser without a remote for my camera (phone). I don't have a glamorous life or wardrobe, even if i love art and have really cool hair and friends. So i'll spare you the daily mirror pics this year!

BUT i am thinking of my wardrome mariekon style and wardrobe architect-y...It's that I've got the sewing skills now to do whatever i need, mostly...so what do i really need?

Here's what I've worn so far:

1. Friday, May Day -
   Ginger jeans, (ooh #conemills denim)
   dotted Briar top with lace pocket - luscious fabric, lovely pocket, not a flattering hem on me but i think i fixed it*

   

   there she is! Ms McCalls 6606 with flower plackets

   gray chambray Mccalls 6606
2. Saturday - day of death by poison oak
   ghost of my gingham darling ranges - edited to irretrievable strangeness ( i took out the gathering in the back? the bodice is so short? the boobs are so bulleted?), but  just as light as air, ahhh.
3. Sunday
   RTW! head to toe! oh except that same McCalls button up:

   

   hi again!

   but then i worked out in my Steeplechase leggings, XYT top, and threw on a Jasper sweater afterwards to lounge by our beautiful Lake.
4. Monday May the fo(u)rth
   Ginger jeans (hiiii i love jeans)
   Space V neck
   Jasper sweater (it's sooo soft and delicious and i have so few options for full length sleeves and I'm trying to hide the horror that is leftover after a week of poison oak did i mention the poison oak?) 

So it appears, from all of these surprise unblogged items, that I have some blogging to do!

the back hem curve is nice. 

Other things to do?

• rivet them jeans!
• make a high waisted, cropped pair with side zips!
• more button down. the McCalls is pretty cute (made pre-Archer release, so), though a little more negative curve in the front hem would be nicer than the flat edge. 
• always, always, undies for Katey the hair genius. 

are you tricking out your me made may? or how did you finally master the daily selfie?

xo

bex

note to self always use Lou box top! it's perfect. also PS Mostly my unders are grace panties, which are cute but take a surprising amount of fabric cause they're cut on the bias, rosy ladyshorts, my absolute favorite and go-to girlfriend gift - they're fast and comfy and cute and work well for lace, jersey, whatever, and fehr trade lacey thongs, which are LOVELY but take an hour to cut and 4 different kinds of lace before you even sew a stitch. they are hot and flattering, though. I have decided i will drop bra making for now (buying notion is annoying). maybe in the summmer...? meh. 

watch your trails, bay areans! i'm smiling here because it's not oozing. 

Spring list

Dress for the wedding (check)

Crop zip jeans

Hoodie (check)

Flannel laurel dress (check)

Rishi pants (fail sadface)

Unders  for the bride (garter counts, yah?)

Open back zig zag dress 

Homesteader

My boy told me he didn't have any underwear (it was laundry day, or close).

We counted- he doesn't have two weeks worth. We don't have laundry facilities at home (have to go down to the creek), so it was time to get more.

That dear dear boy asked me "why don't you make some?"

So I did. 

They're soo cute. 

From the scraps basket, win! 

I used this pattern and tutorial, which is in another language. http://diariodenaii.blogspot.com/2013/06/tutorial-boxer-patron.html?m=1

So he also got some euro shorts WINK.

I'm going to have to make bumper stickers that say "honk if Rebecca made your underwear"

Want one?

Scrap busting gifts: Trio of hats

My coach at school has been so good for me this year.

She's about to have a lil baby.

She already has a 3 year old. 

So I made her some hats. 

They're reversible with a matchy side for family photos, and have elastic chin straps for wind/babies.

The big one is for my boy. 

Oliver and S free bucket hat pattern in sizes XS (baby), M (3 yo), L (6yo). All fabric from my scrap megabox, which does not ever quit!

pretty pretty pjs

they're for wearing in a cabin at the river with your friends.

at home and feeling put together for a day with a book and coffee

Or for "read all day" at school, when you're told to wear pajamas. (I swapped in sweatpants for the shorts, for obvious reasons.)

the fabric is super soft chambray 

the top took ages

the "piping", bias tape I made from a failed floral dress and which makes the most beautiful color transitions, took For. Ever.

they're super lovely.

thanks for another beaut, heather!

also, on pricing- when another canadian designer released her PJ pants for $18 i gagged. This is a much more involved pattern with a lower price tag. I appreciate it.

for next time:

this version is a straight size 8. its snug around the hips (???) and sizing up would probably work well for comfort level. the jeans were a 10 that i took in 3 times and these are an 8 that's a bit snug. different needs for different items, i guess?

also, order of operations- sew the piping on everything first. pocket, lapels, collar, sleeve ends, leg ends. i think that would keep the seam allowances /piping /biastape reveal even throughout. i wobbled a bit as i had cut my bias tape a skosh too narrrow and couldn't remember exactly the SA to use. no one will notice, but it would have been simpler to do all the "piping" first.

the shorts/pants pockets are nice...lets see how they hold a phone. i love my butt pocket on most jams because i know it won't accidentally dump into the dishwater.