Finished Projects - March and April

1. Cinderella dress (3/2): purchased fabric and zipper; stash pattern, buttons and thread
2. Daisy dress for Briella (3/19): leftover fabric from making my mother a scrub top and stash thread; purchased pattern and zipper
3. French terry lounge pants (3/20) and hoodie (3/24): purchased pants pattern, fabric, thread and zipper; stash hoodie pattern and fabric to line the hood
4. Gold cropped vest for Symposium (3/29): stash everything
5. Commissioned yellow and white polka dotted cotton skirt (4/19): purchased everything
6. Two mending projects for my mom
7. Draped black top (4/16): purchased fabric; stash fabric, thread and elastic
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Projects in the Pipeline - February 2016

Since I posted about all the things I finished in January, I figured the next step would be to let you all know what I've been working on in February!

1. 1955 Butterick retro reprint Star Wars BB-8 dress:

 2. Civil War (my deadline is like TWO MONTHS AWAY), part of my 2016makenine

3. Everything else is in these piles: two tshirts for myself using leftovers from other projects; a BurdaStyle wrap cardigan (on my 2016makenine); a commissioned sarong for a friend; a flannel nightgown for my little cousin; a kilt from an old pair of jeans for my dad (!); a 1970s denim skirt; two scrub tops for my mom; a button up shirt for my brother (also 2016makenine); a 1950s dress for my little cousin; some gifts for a couple of my favorite female wrestlers; and a 1950s dress for me out of Cinderella fabric.  The BB-8 dress is also in that pile.



Current Deadlines:
1. Green scrub top for mom by March 1st
2. A dress for myself by Easter March 27th: What says Easter more -- Star Wars or Cinderella? :)
3. I'd like to also make my cousin's dress by Easter
4. Civil War by April 8th

Finished Projects - January 2016

I'm planning on posting monthly updates of my completed projects, that way I can keep better track of what I'm sewing and when instead of having to go back and figure it out later. 

1. Daisy scrub top for my mother - January 1st.  She bought the fabric a while back, I used the same pattern I always do for her scrub tops and some of the overwhelming amount of navy thread I have in my stash.
2. Grey and navy Tshirt for myself - January 2nd. Stash pattern and thread, purchased fabric.
3. Grey and black Tshirt for myself - January 2nd. Stash pattern and thread, purchased fabric.
4. Green Tshirt for my little cousin (aka mini-me) - January 9th. Stash pattern and thread, purchased fabric (remnant).
5. Purple Tshirt for mini-me - January 9th. Stash everything, used left over fabric and thread from the purple Tshirt I made myself last year. 
6. Cream leggings for mini-me - January 24th. Stash everything, used left over fabric and thread from making myself a tshirt, and the pattern was a free downloadable I found online.  It's for 18 months to 12 years, so I traced off the appropriate size for Briella.  Figured I might need the other sizes later!
7. Blue jeans for myself - January 9th. This was a sewing goal for 2016 as well as one of my 2016makenine patterns.  Purchased fabric and pattern (BurdaStyle download), used thread from my stash.
8. Purple leggings for mini-me - January 24th. Stash everything, used left over fabric and thread from the purple Tshirt I made myself last year. And the same downloadable pattern I used for the cream leggings.
9. Pajama pants for Corbin (my cousin's oldest) - January 24th. Stash everything.
10. Pajama pants for Alex (my cousin's middle son) - January 24th. Stash everything.
11. Workout top - January 17th.  Stash everything (I think).  I used leftover fabric from my workout pants, and the tshirt pattern I'm obsessed with.  I just shortened the sleeves to elbow length.  It's pretty cute, if I do say so myself. :)
12. Paris 1930s vest - January 20th.  Purchased and stash fabric, purchased snap tape because I didn't feel like messing with buttons.  Stash thread and pattern that was purchased forever ago.
13. Gold skirt - January 19th.  Last year, I cut out a pencil skirt out of this crazy gold fabric, satin with fabric flowers all over, that I bought a remnant of.  The colors of the steampunk group I belong to, the Airship Archon, are gold and black so I tend to gravitate towards anything I find that would be appropriate. As I started putting it together, I realized that it wouldn't work as a pencil skirt because I couldn't dart it.  So I just sewed all the seams, zigzagged some elastic to the top and hemmed it with some hem tape.  I figured that I'd just have to wear it with a corset to over the waistband. Maybe a black satin apron that I have so I can wear my airship uniform corset because the golds are (of course) different.
14. 1856 Walking Cage Crinoline - January 30th.  I'm finally making progress on my mid nineteenth century dreams!! Also I have an awesome father, he helped me out by cutting the steel boning and crimping the edges together for me. I've had almost everything for so long that you could probably consider it stash...Part of my 2016makenine

In progress

Almost finished, over my chemise, drawers and corset!

Everything's on my dress form (and taking up space!) so I can work on it properly.

Fall/Winter Sewing Update -- Trying to Prioritize

The current priority is making three wise men costumes for the church musical.  I honestly wanted to say no when I was asked, but then I thought "God gave me this talent, I should use it FOR Him." So I'm making them.  The worship pastor seems thrilled and keeps bragging to the choir about me making the costumes so I guess I'm doing alright with them so far. lol

Current status: Both collars are at the hand-sewing portion for the trimmings as well as the Velcro closures (might machine that actually).  Both belts are cut out.  One tunic and one coat are cut out, not for the same wise man of course.  Two tunics will be cotton, those will wait til Thanksgiving because I need to iron the fabric first and I don't have the ability to iron several yards of fabric at my place, my ironing board is too small.  In total I need to make: two collars, two belts, three tunics, two coats, one cape, a crown, a fez, and a turban.

After that, finishing my winter coat is probably the next priority.  It just needs the buttons and buttonholes.  I'm actually wearing it unfinished, I figured I can either belt it or just wear it open. 

After that, Christmas projects are probably the next priority.  I need to redo our family stockings for my mom (I've got them cut out and pinned, just need to sew and then do the felt cuffs).  Then I've got the bath wrap for my dad (which is cut out), pajamas for my nephew, and then pajama pants and a nightgown for my cousin's kids. 

After that, it's finishing other in progress / cut out projects, which might get worked on if I need a break from the wise men.  I've got two jumpers for my cousin that just need the shoulder buttons.  Brown leggings cut out for me.  Lining the top section of my new workout leggings, they're done but the fabric is rather more see thru than is acceptable so that needs fixed.  1930s Paris vest, I finished the skirt but the vest is still mostly cut out.  I bought more fabric so I can finish it since I ran short.  I also have my mid 19th century chemise and drawers cut out but those aren't a major priority.

Actually, the undergarments might need to be a priority, my deadline to finish that outfit (undergarments, hoop crinoline, and dress) is early April, which is only a little more than four months away...

Rest of my to do list (roughly) in order of importance:

1. Sweater fleeced hooded cardigan: Fabric is prewashed and pattern purchased, haven't started yet. I obviously need this for the winter so it needs to get done sooner rather than later.
2. T-shirts:  I bought myself more knit the other day -- black and grey striped, cream, purple/pink (there was a remnant left, took that to make mini-me a matching tshirt), and grey and navy striped. And a green knit remnant for mini-me.  I just want more actually wearable tshirts.  Then I could get rid of some of the lower cut ones and older ones that I have now.
3. Jeans from a Burda download pattern: fabric prewashed and pattern printed but not put together. Obviously having another pair of jeans that (hopefully) fit is a priority.


Recently finished projects:

1. Penguin hooded jumper and two tshirts for my little cousin.

2. T-shirt for myself. And I love love LOVE that pattern.  The neck is high enough, the sleeves are long enough and the shirt length is practically perfect.  Which is why I bought more fabric for more t-shirts. :)
3. Workout leggings (kind of since they still need work to be wearable in public)
4. 1930s Paris print skirt.

Other projects in pretty much no order of importance:

1. I'm thinking a coordinating workout top, out of left overs plus a remnant I picked up.
2. Cinderella dress
3. 1930s dress
4. Simplicity knit dress
5. Another scrub top for my mom.
6. Slips -- I need these by spring/summer at the latest
7. Wrap sweater from a Burda download pattern
8. Bought a 1970s reprint Simplicity skirt pattern that I think would be perfect for the denim skirt I was wanting to make.

Fall Winter Sewing Plans

Vacation sewing is done, and I'm all packed! I head to my parents' after work today and then Mom and I are on the road again in the morning.

I actually finished my sewing last Friday, and then made my mom a new scrub top:

Mama's new scrub top.  The Force is strong in my family.

Then I was bored so I turned my attention to fall and winter sewing plans.  This was prompted by someone I follow on Instagram: sewhotmommi.  Last week she posted a picture of patterns and fabric that she is planning to sew for the fall and winter.  I loved the idea! Here's what I came up with:

From left to right, top to bottom we have:

1. Civil War undergarments.  I've decided that I need a complete mid 19th century outfit by Symposium next year, so I have until April.  Up first are finishing the hoop, and making a chemise and drawers and then petticoat.

2. Cinderella dress! I found Cinderella only print cotton at Joanns recently and couldn't resist it.  She's my favorite! I'm thinking the same 1950s pattern I used for my yellow Easter dress a couple years ago, but with sleeves (of course) and probably a white or other solid colored collar.

3. Leggings.  Because I always need leggings. I actually finished a pair of bright blue ones I started last year!

4. Work out clothes.  I fell in love with one of McCalls new patterns, that has a hoodie and awesome pieced workout leggings so I picked up some microfleece from the remnant bin to try out the hoodie pattern.  It's currently in progress, and will be finished post-vacation.  I have some brown knit that will either be these leggings or just the plain leggings from #3

5. Another scrub top for my mom.

6. Winter coat! This is the next project I plan to tackle post vacation because I need it the most.

7. 1930s skirt out of a black Paris print cotton I picked up several months ago.

8. 1930s vest to go with the Star Wars 1930s skirt I already have.  If I like it, I may make more vests.

9. 1930s dress.  When I took this picture I wasn't sure what fabric to use, but now I'm thinking it might be the Tardis print lurking in my stash...

10. Tshirts! This is another priority.  I need some more good layering tshirts, especially since I have decided to stay covered to my elbows.  Elbow length tshirts are one of my favorites and I've decided just to learn to make them myself.

11. I couldn't resist this knit dress pattern from Simplicity, no fabric for it yet.

12. Christmas gift for my dad -- a bath wrap for after he showers.  I just happened to find a pattern for one in my stash.  Who knows how long it's been there! lol

13. and 14. Sewing for my little cousin! Her mom (my first cousin) picked out some patterns she liked and I hit up the remnant bins for some fabric.  Oh the joys of sewing for a toddler! :)  I've finished the hooded fleece dress from the first pattern, and the tshirt from the second, the jumper from the second just needs the buttons on the shoulders.

15, 16, and 17 are all jumper patterns I've made before that I may tackle again.

18. I would like slips to wear with a few dresses but they're expensive! So I'm going to try making my own.

Not pictured: I just downloaded two BurdaStyle patterns during their 50% off sale on the first day of fall: a wrap sweater and denim trousers.  I've been wanting a wrap sweater for a while, and I really need to learn to make jeans because it's IMPOSSIBLE to find ones that fit me.  But I've had no luck patternwise because I want high waisted not skinny jeans.  These look like a good bet.  Plus, they're 1970s, which is in this season.

I obviously need to pick up some more fabric (I should make a list just in case we end up in any fabric stores during vacation...) but I have a good start, just from my stash!

Vacation Sewing!

1960s wrap dress out of Pepsi fabric DONE

Swimsuit using a recent McCalls pattern - DONE

Hooded knit dress - in progress

Hooded sweater for my mom - DONE

Two shrugs from TanitIsis' free pattern, one black, one white - pretty much DONE (although I should probably put closures on them)

I've been a little busy :D

Update on my Year End To Do List

Update on my Year End To Do List:

 1. Finish the elephant baby quilt - DONE

Finished baby quilt! And my friend LOVED it! :)

 
2. Finish the Teslacon stuff - yeah, didn't really finish any of this...
3. Finish a pair of purple leggings I started last winter - These aren't done either...but I did buy some knit for the waistband so I can hopefully finish them soon!
4. Grey and black plaid jumper -- DONE

Finished plaid jumper

Which I'm actually wearing today. It's actually a little shorter than I usually like (I almost always wear my skirts a little past my knee, or at least to the middle of my knee) but since I'm pretty sure I'll always wear it with tights (it's heavy flannel) I think it'll be okay.

5. Star Wars print 1930s style skirt -- DONE

Fabric and pattern

Finished skirt! totally love this pattern by the way, so I'm sure I'll be using it again

6. Knit tunic using my funky dress pattern from McCalls -- Cut out but haven't put together yet
7. Black 1950s dress with snowflake overskirt -- in progress, hopefully I can make a big post on this later with all the details :)
8. Black specialty mesh petticoat for said dress -- Haven't started yet
9. Fix my mom's Christmas scrub top and make her a new one -- DONE

Mom's new Christmas scrub top.  The other one was enlarged with gores of red and white dotted cotton on the sides.

10. 1940s hooded blouse and trousers from Eva Dress -- I don't think this will happen
11. Nightgown for grandma (if I have enough of the fabric that she wants me to use) -- or this
12. and start a cosplay for Ohayocon -- or this
13. Christmas pajamas that I somehow started for myself -- I just need to add cuffs to the sleeves of the top (they're too short) and this will be done

I bought the penguin flannel for new pajama pants and decided to make a matching top using left over fabric from enlarging my mom's scrub top.

Partially constructed pajama top.

So that's what I've been up to!  Sorry for the sporadic blog posts, my goal is to be WAY better with this next year. I hope. Fingers crossed.

What HAS Miss WIlde Been Up To?

It's been FOREVER since I've posted, which was kinda expected gearing up to Teslacon but I figured a little update would be nice. So here's a whole bunch of pictures of what I've been up to over the last...almost two months.

First up, some vacation photos!!

What I wore: Star Trek circle wrap skirt. My new funky sixties esque Zodiac dress. Blue linen dress (I ran through the rainy fields of Shiloh wearing this actually). Disney Villainesses skirt. Travel sunset-dress. Train skirt. Striped circle skirt.

Star Trek skirt with new petticoat taken prevacation

Funky sixties esque dress in action above the Mississippi River in Memphis

Travel sunset-dress in action above the clouds at Point Park up on Lookout Mountain. They called it the Battle above the Clouds for a reason.

And at our hotel in Chattanooga which was an old TRAIN STATION

Train skirt in action on the rails...

And on the train.

Finished striped circle skirt taken pre vacation

Circle skirt at a shopping area in Gatlinburg

I also bought some sewing things while on vacation, a pattern and a Civil War quilt pattern book.

How could I resist buying a Civil War era pattern AT a Civil War Battlefield?!?! (Chickamauga btw)

And since our train station was built in the early 1900s and since we were staying on a train car, I decided to take my Edwardian undergarments for photos.

Okay, now for a little of what I've been up to lately:

I made my mom a new scrub top:

And I've been working on a baby quilt for a friend / coworker:

And I had a bad day a while back so I worked on my charm quilt. I have like 70-80 charm squares so far. I need 400-500 for a quilt. This might take a while.

There's also been a little Teslacon prep:

My polonaise got a red stain on it, and despite our best efforts, it refused to be removed. So I had to cut it off. I'm currently in the process of sewing about three more yards of braid on.

I originally wanted to complete three new outfits for Teslacon: Victorian swimsuit (which is done), Rococopunk and a blue and green sari ensemble. With all the other things going on, that's not going to happen. So my goal is to finish the rococopunk for Teslacon and move the sari outfit back for SES in the spring.

And, of course, when I start to think about what to pack, I add to my to do list...As of now, here's what I'd like to do: rococopunk (which needs a LOT of work), finish the Harley Quinn improvements, make a fichu for my lower cut dresses, fix my time machine purse, make a garrison hat for my main airship uniform, finishing sewing the braid onto my polonaise, and make a black bustle apron.  If all that gets done, the dream projects are a red petticoat, gold purse cover and spats to match my polonaise, some black bloomers / knee breeches (these might be done as part of the rococopunk) and a fancy pencil skirt.

All that, and I'm stuck at work. And out of town this weekend. Sigh.