Mojo/Sewjo is back!

Thank-goodness my sewing slump has passed...I was beginning to think that this beastly hot and humid summer had finally defeated me! But this past week, just as shirt orders for clients were starting to come in, I took some time to design and draft the pattern for a new dress for Julianna, age 4.  It's made from cotton coordinates from Fabric.com, and a "deconstructed then reconstructed" wire-stem silk flower from the dollar store :) If anyone is interested in how I use these silk flowers on clothing and how to make them totally washable, how to assemble them, etc...let me know in the comments section, and I'll do a quick tutorial for you :)

After I make a couple of new outfits for Julianna's little sister, it's back to shirt sewing full-time!  I have some ideas for new shirt design details, and in the upcoming weeks I'll also be showing you some ways to make a regular shirt pattern into a slim-cut version.

But first, I really MUST clean my sewing studio...I have been so lazy this summer!  I swear, if I haven't touched it within 24  months (that sounds so much better than 2 years, doesn't it?)...anyway...fabric not touched within 24 months? Out it goes!  As one of my Facebook friends asked recently, Do you ever feel that it will take nothing less than a bulldozer when it comes to clearing your sewing spaces?  Or am I the only fabric hoarder collector out here ?

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Mojo/Sewjo is back!

Thank-goodness my sewing slump has passed...I was beginning to think that this beastly hot and humid summer had finally defeated me! But this past week, just as shirt orders for clients were starting to come in, I took some time to design and draft the pattern for a new dress for Julianna, age 4.  It's made from cotton coordinates from Fabric.com, and a "deconstructed then reconstructed" wire-stem silk flower from the dollar store :) If anyone is interested in how I use these silk flowers on clothing and how to make them totally washable, how to assemble them, etc...let me know in the comments section, and I'll do a quick tutorial for you :)

After I make a couple of new outfits for Julianna's little sister, it's back to shirt sewing full-time!  I have some ideas for new shirt design details, and in the upcoming weeks I'll also be showing you some ways to make a regular shirt pattern into a slim-cut version.

But first, I really MUST clean my sewing studio...I have been so lazy this summer!  I swear, if I haven't touched it within 24  months (that sounds so much better than 2 years, doesn't it?)...anyway...fabric not touched within 24 months? Out it goes!  As one of my Facebook friends asked recently, Do you ever feel that it will take nothing less than a bulldozer when it comes to clearing your sewing spaces?  Or am I the only fabric hoarder collector out here ?

Read More

Sometimes I need Ruffles...

I love my profession as a ShirtMaker...I truly do. But sometimes I just need to take a break to sew something whimsical.   This dress is one of my original designs...drafted by hand. It is a simple design, so the drafting was fast, fun, and easy...and the sewing was a delight.  Especially since it is for a little girl who is as sweet as can be!

I made these dresses for 4-year old Julianna, who like her little sister Brooklyn are like "adopted grand-daughters" to me :)    Recently when I gave her some shorts and tops I had made for her, she politely asked, "Mrs. Pam, will you please make me some more pretty dresses?"   That little voice went straight to my heart, and the result is the dress you see above, and the one below...

The bright and happy little dress was made with a pattern from the summer 2011 issue of Ottobre Design. I "tweaked" the design a little bit to suit my mood at the moment I was cutting it out...adding a pocket and making the skirt fuller by adding a piece of coordinating fabric.

Next, between sewing shirts for my clients, and filling orders for interfacing...I need to make some new "pretties" for Julianna's little sister, and something nice for their mommy too! And just maybe I'll have a little time left to sew for myself...

Sewing Notes:  Both dresses are made from lightweight 100% cotton fabrics. Bodice facings are interfaced with "ProSheer Elegance" Fusible Interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply.

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Sometimes I need Ruffles...

I love my profession as a ShirtMaker...I truly do. But sometimes I just need to take a break to sew something whimsical.   This dress is one of my original designs...drafted by hand. It is a simple design, so the drafting was fast, fun, and easy...and the sewing was a delight.  Especially since it is for a little girl who is as sweet as can be!

I made these dresses for 4-year old Julianna, who like her little sister Brooklyn are like "adopted grand-daughters" to me :)    Recently when I gave her some shorts and tops I had made for her, she politely asked, "Mrs. Pam, will you please make me some more pretty dresses?"   That little voice went straight to my heart, and the result is the dress you see above, and the one below...

The bright and happy little dress was made with a pattern from the summer 2011 issue of Ottobre Design. I "tweaked" the design a little bit to suit my mood at the moment I was cutting it out...adding a pocket and making the skirt fuller by adding a piece of coordinating fabric.

Next, between sewing shirts for my clients, and filling orders for interfacing...I need to make some new "pretties" for Julianna's little sister, and something nice for their mommy too! And just maybe I'll have a little time left to sew for myself...

Sewing Notes:  Both dresses are made from lightweight 100% cotton fabrics. Bodice facings are interfaced with "ProSheer Elegance" Fusible Interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply.

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Some sewing going on...

 

Sometimes, when I am in the midst of meticulous sewing of custom shirts for my clients...I need a break. So I steal a bit of time from my schedule to whip up some cute clothes for the 2 little girls in my life, Julianna and Brooklyn. This set features slightly re-designed versions of Ottobre Patterns from Issue 3/2009...for Brooklyn, age 21 months.  Cotton/lycra knit was used for the cropped leggings, and Kaffe Fasset cotton fabric was used for the Tunic.

I really like the color combinations...but now wonder if it might be too "sophisticated" for a toddler. 

What do you think?

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Some sewing going on...

 

Sometimes, when I am in the midst of meticulous sewing of custom shirts for my clients...I need a break. So I steal a bit of time from my schedule to whip up some cute clothes for the 2 little girls in my life, Julianna and Brooklyn. This set features slightly re-designed versions of Ottobre Patterns from Issue 3/2009...for Brooklyn, age 21 months.  Cotton/lycra knit was used for the cropped leggings, and Kaffe Fasset cotton fabric was used for the Tunic.

I really like the color combinations...but now wonder if it might be too "sophisticated" for a toddler. 

What do you think?

Read More

A fun Dress for a Lovely Little Girl...

It was so much much fun to sew this dress for my "adopted grand-daughter" Julianna, age 4.  

I modified an Ottobre Design pattern from the 01/09 issue to make this style. 

And if spring ever arrives here near Buffalo NY, she'll be able to wear it without a top and leggings !

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A fun Dress for a Lovely Little Girl...

It was so much much fun to sew this dress for my "adopted grand-daughter" Julianna, age 4.  

I modified an Ottobre Design pattern from the 01/09 issue to make this style. 

And if spring ever arrives here near Buffalo NY, she'll be able to wear it without a top and leggings !

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Happy Sewing....

Recovering from surgery while waiting for pathology reports is very stressful. So I decided a simple "happy" sewing project was just the thing to brighten my mood.  These bright fabrics from my stash made me smile the entire time I was working with them!

I hope that my 4-year old little friend Julianna and her mommy like this very "happy" set.  The peasant top is from a pattern by an Etsy Seller, Whimsy Couture. I highly recommend her patterns.  The pants are a basic style from Ottobre Design, that I modified by changing the pant leg width and adding ruffle embellishment.

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