Before and After: Skirt to Dress Remodel

This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Africa. As I was planning my wardrobe for the trip I wanted a simple dress that could be dressed up or down and that preferably didn't wrinkle too much. It was a couple weeks before our departure when I found this 3x gray knit skirt at a thrift store. I decided to buy it and make my own dress. I kind of have this habit of sewing things up to the last minute until I leave on a big trip. I'm pretty sure I get it from my mom ;)

Before: 

After:

I've seen alot of t-shirt remodels on Pinterest so I just went for this. I didn't use a pattern but I used some of my t-shirts as templates. I had just enough fabric and the bodice had to have a seam in the front. I am really happy with how it turned out! Rarely does something I just throw together turn out so nice! I have a couple of belts that work well with this dress and the solid color makes it easy to wear scarves or cardigans with in the winter :) Also as you can see it travels very well without noticeable wrinkling! Mission accomplished.

Camera Strap

I had fun making an camera strap out of owl fabric for my friend's birthday and I decided to make one for myself also! I loosely followed this pattern.

 

Scott's Jacket

A very long time ago I offered to make my brother a coat. It took me FOREVER to find the right fabric, make the pattern, and find time to sew. Right before I left for school last year I finally finished it! I'm happy with how it turned out, there is just this one part that isn't even (it seems like there always is...). The pockets can be accessed from the side or the top. The jacket is fully lined.

Fashion Show Spotlight: Alayna's Dress

 The dress I envisioned to wear to my fashion show graduation from the Fashion Design: Pattern Making program at LCC was very different from what I ended up wearing. But I ended up being very happy with how my dress turned out. My dress was the last on my list to make, and I was working on it up until the last minute! I had found the fabric at this amazing fabric store in California when I was visiting my grandparents. I stressed about which colors looked good on me and finally settled on a dark teal color. It must have been a good choice as I received many compliments on my dress at the fashion show!

Even my (now) sister-in-law helped out by covering the above buttons for the back of my belt.

vintage-esque photo shoot several weeks after the fashion show.

Since I was sewing my dress at the last minute I gave up on the idea that the designer's dress should be the most complicated and instead I opted for something simple and classy. It ended up looking really nice and it is a dress that will fit a variety of occasions!

This is the link to my blog post about my fashion show graduation.

My pattern making teacher and I after the fashion show!

Sister-of-the-Groom Dress

my fabric pinned on the mannequin

My brother got married on September 7th 2012. It was a beautiful day, a touching ceremony, and a super fun reception! It was the first time anyone really close to me got married and it was a very special day! When we first heard that my brother was getting married my mom and I decided to make our own dresses to wear to the wedding.

I was worried that finding the fabric would be difficult. I decided to pick the fabric before I picked the style. I went shopping at Joann Fabrics. They have a small selection of dress fabrics and I wanted something that didn't wrinkle and that complemented the urban cowgirl wedding theme. This hardly ever happens, but I found the perfect fabric and I could actually afford it! It was the only fabric in the entire store that fit all my criteria. It is a brown flowered chiffon that doesn't wrinkle and has a wonderful flow to it.

The hardest part of the whole process was getting the pattern to fit perfectly which required many test dresses. Usually I am sewing up to the moment I need to wear something, but I am pleased to say that I finished my dress a whole 3 DAYS before we left and 5 days before I had to wear it. That is partly due to planning and partly due to the fact that my dad said we couldn't watch anymore Downton Abbey (amazing show!) until I finished my dress! :)

I really like the dress! It is super comfortable and makes me feel pretty! The only minor thing with it is that it is a little tight around the arms when I reach forward, but that seems to be a problem with everything I sew and I'm not quite sure how to fix it...

Tanya (my sister!) and me, isn't she beautiful?

Vests for Much Ado

This last spring I helped with the costumes for Homesource's Advanced Shakespeare's production of Much Ado About Nothing. In the past I have performed with this acting group, but this year I wasn't able to. I very much enjoyed, however, getting the opportunity to help with the costumes. I sewed two custom vests for two of the actors and did other various alterations and mending.

The fabric is the same but we used different buttons for the two characters.

 

This is the character, Benedict's vest ^

 I really enjoyed helping backstage, especially since one of my best friends was the leading actress!

This is the character, Claudio's vest ^

Spring Sewing Inspiration

Over spring break I am sewing a jacket for my brother, and dreaming about what I'm going to sew next for me! These are some of the things I would love to make!

Bags: 
SLR Camera Purse
Grandview Bag
241 Tote
The Weekender

Dresses:
Upcycled Ruffle Dress
Beach Towel Dress

Kimono Sundress

Skirts:
Anthropoloqie Ruffled Skirt
Pleated Wrap Skirt
Taking Notes Skirt

Tops:
Upcycled Summer Vest