Boobs, and Swimsuits

Here's the deal. I'm a 36G. A friend of mine introduces me to people as "Casey, the one with the huge boobs I was telling you about." While a lot of people would be happy to be so well erm endowed, but it creates a constant challenge to find clothes that fit, bras that don't cost a small fortune (or look like your grandmother's undies) and in summer, swim suits. Let's not talk about things like jogging or playing sports. lol. I've become a fan of Ali over at The Wardrobe, Reimagined , so when she  proposed a (pick your own garment) sew-a-long for June I knew what I wanted to make. Enter the vintage inspired bathing suit. 

I've toyed with the idea of modifying the Alison pattern  from Burda Style because it's adorable and lets not forget free. It will need a lot of modifications. A bathing suit is daunting on it's own I am faced with the additional challenge of making sure it has proper support for my ridiculous chest. I picked up this adorable suit at Figleaves.com a few weeks ago

It really is that cute in person.

I looked it over for a while and decided it's basically a bra with extra fabric over the cups. So logic goes that with the parts of an old bra I should be able to recreate the look with a retro spin. So I've been ripping apart an old bra with similar lines, for he last 45 minutes to salvage "parts". I'll be working a mock up in the morning wish me luck! 

Summer Sewing

I'll admit I'm a nut about dresses when the mercury gets above 85 degrees. They keep you cooler than anything else you might wear and you never have to worry about matching tops and bottoms. Instant outfit! Bam!

Simplicity 2362. Sewed up like a dream in two sewing sessions. I will be making more of this pattern for sure!

 

Another Simplicity pattern by Cynthia Rowley. Honestly the binding/neckline trim bit gave me fits, after a few times picking seams I decided it looked okay, and left it. I love the pattern and have two more dresses made up in just jersey but because of the neck binding, they're around the house wear until fixed grrrr. I am proud of my first invisible zipper (as sorta seen in the pic on the right) with pockets! had to read the directions to figure that one out! lol.

Felt flowers!!! found the tutorial here.

http://icandyhandmade.blogspot.com/2011/03/tutorial-box-fold-felt-flower-tutorial.html  

Someone stop me before I add these to everything. 

I also dug Erik's Regency Tailcoat of Doom out of purgatory. And got the sleeves on. As in set where I want them! It's been sitting for four months  (okay maybe six) and I honestly I've lost direction on it.... it's so franken-patterned I'm not sure what I need to do next but... well it's a step. Maybe the collar... the velvet collar.... I shudder to think of it. 

 Next up Butterick 6582. The fluffy one on the left, I think. With a new petticoat. mmmmmm

Maybe in this? maybe not.

Anyway I'm leaving you with this. This little bugger is growing on me. Don't die of cuteness. 

Near Conniption

I WANT A NEW SEWING MACHINE!! Whine. I'm having tension problems with this knit dress. I have consulted my manual about the proper tension for the stitch I am using, I'm using the right thread and even bought ballpoint needles.... what is wrong with this monster?!  This thing was just serviced like half a dozen garments ago... After 11 years together I feel like a bad seamstress because I've been eyeballing this http://www.amazon.com/SINGER-4423-Heavy-Sewing-Machine/dp/B003VWXZQ0/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1337119907&sr=8-7  because let's face it, I can''t afford a Bernina. Sad day. Then my dream of launching this wretched hunk of metal from my highest window can be fulfilled! Thank you, that is all.

How to Iron Your Sofa

First I must say that I slacked last weekend by running off to Arkansas. The people talk funny and most of them seem kinda slow, but they have more than their fair share of gorgeous camping opportunities. After four(ish) hours of driving and miles and miles of this 

Oh and a few (hundred) of these 

we arrived here:

Anyway back to ironing the sofa...again. I was so excited when I got my foam home that I wrestled it into the cover without ironing it. This was a mistake. I realized at this point that it should probably be washed in super hot water to snug it up.... because I ran out of cushion wrap :( So the next best thing is a super hot iron with steam. can I just say that I tested my irons water spray range and it clears a good 9 feet. Back to business.

looking better!

So. More cushion wrap it'll have to be. I need to put the right front arm on and more piping here and there and she's done. Then I get to make a million throw pillows. I've been looking into this

http://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/09/a-citrasolv-transfer-onto-fabric-a-tutorial.html

so I can make stuff like this

with all the cool graphics like these

Most of which were found here.

http://www.graphicsfairy-diy.com/

Camel Back Sofa

I've been kicking myself for buying this sofa....couldn't figure out what fabric to put on it... whine. bitch. moan. Then I saw this:

Go ahead, wipe the drool off your keyboard.

I decided to be one of the cool kids. One trip to Home Depot and $40 later I had my fabric. Canvas drop cloth (think about all that fabric, roughly 13 yards.... for 40 bucks!) So here she is sans fabric. I forgot to get pictures of before I had all that batting on there but.. well you know. I wish I'd gotten a pic of the roll of dacron too, I swear it was easily 4 feet across. Even smooshed up it hardly fit in the back of my car!

Padded out and ready to go!

I bleached the drop cloth for 4-5 hours. It didn't lighten up much, but after being washed it turned out to be fairly soft an nice smelling :) Also very wrinkled. I thought "Why iron all this fabric when I'll be pulling it really tight?" I found another blogger who seconded this theory of non ironing laziness. I was wrong on this and though I can't say I've ever ironed a couch before, it went really well. No really. 

I still need to make the cushion (just one cushion) and put the back piece on. Oh and the front of the arms. Then I'll make a boat load of pillows for it and...

Stenciled sofa pillows inspired a new pintrest board. http://pinterest.com/rabid_glow/sofa-pillow-ideas/

I love the "grain sack" throw pillows, but I can't stand that you can find these things everywhere, even hobby lobby. So I'm kicking around some other things. I love mattress ticking and old architecture and history and texture..... I'm trying to figure out a good mash of these things. Something that represents my interests without being gaudy or heaven forbid, clashing. Please feel free to pin onto that board!

The last time I mention my sister's garter.

She sent me pretty pictures. It's not fair that someone should be gorgeous and talented!  

Legs, Rambling.

Bought my first pair of respectable scissors today. 8" Gingher shears. Perfection. I ran home as quickly as I could, excited to make something. I had a skirt in mind. Something I should be able to draft easy-peasy. Self faced yoke, pockets, invisible zipper. Simple. ......... Until I tried it on and realized the thing is like 6 inches too big. I can't figure out what I did wrong I measured (both myself and my pieces) twice! I followed my seam allowances, I even held it up to myself (like a good little corner cutter) before attaching the waistband to the skirt. WTF? I figure I have 3 options. 1.) fix it 2.) toss it 3.) put on 30 pounds. sigh. I'd show you pictures (it turned out well otherwise) but it won't stay on my dress form, so I'm going to go bitch and moan and scream outside and get over it.

At least the scissors look pretty. 

Despite my apparent loss of sewing skills other things seem to be going well. I found the arm pieces to the wing back.... they were hiding in the footlocker I painted two weeks back. Moving will do that. I swear this has been the most finicky part of the process, getting them evenly spaced and setting them with out them bending has been pain.

The sofa legs are looking good. 

Before

I usually avoid painting wood but this is a (cheap) reproduction, so I'm not feeling guilty. I liked the solid white, but ended up adding another color paint for some fun. I'm hoping it's not too much...

I get to order fabric next week. Woot!

And lastly I found this by the dumpster. Don't ask. Thinking about cleaning it up, painting it, putting pictures behind it (or fabric!) and adding some old glass pulls to hang coats on. \Maybe after I finish some other things, eh?