From K - Liberty Dress & Metal Frame Clutch

My goal for September's A Lovely Year Finishes of was to make a second Staple Dress. I have been crushing hard on April Rhodes' dress patterns and when I came across this Liberty print, I just knew it was meant to be.

Just before heading down to Sewing Summit, I polished off this dress and tossed it into my suitcase, ready-to-wear. My first take on this dress is in steady rotation and this second one is quickly becoming a wardrobe favourite.

I'm noticing a trend that each time I finish a Staple dress, I take photos of it while visiting the U.S... the first one was in Seattle, the second in Salt Lake City.... Maybe I'll have to plan a few more dresses so I have more reasons to visits my friends to the south.

At sewing summit I took a class with the lovely Elena, where she showed us how to make a metal frame clutch using frames and directions from Upstyle. I was surprised by how quickly this little purse together and how working with glue and metal frames was far from intimidating.

I used a beautiful soft linen for the exterior and I love the subtlety of the French script. While I wanted the outside of the clutch to be all class, I knew I wanted something fun for the lining so I went for a bright blue scroll print from Joann's.

For a seemingly small clutch, it has plenty of space for a wallet, phone, passport, lipstick and car keys. I ordered five more frames upon my arrival home so you can be sure that there will be more of these in my future!

Linking up my September finish over to Fiber of All Sorts. Pop on over to see some of the other fabulous finishes!

From A - On a Roll

When I started sewing, I wanted to make clothes. I loved the self-sufficiency that came from taking a length of fabric and turning it into something wearable. Over the last couple of years, I got away from making clothing as I threw myself head first into making quilts. With the chaos of the move and the lack of quilting mats/rulers/furniture, I've been hankering to make clothing and have the recently acquired pattern collection to prove it.

Despite recent temptations, it seemed wise to kick things off with a gander through the WIP pile. I started my version of Rae's Washi  Dress last Fall but made almost no progress after cutting it out and hand tacking the bust darts. I started working on it again while at Kelsey's in July but didn't get the sleeves bound or the bottom hemmed until last weekend.

When Kelsey suggested that we make Washi's together, I picked a fabric from my stash (for what might have been the first time ever). The fabric is an old Amy Butler print that I bought years and years ago to make some sort of 50s style New Look dress pattern. Since I don't have many occasions to wear a full circle skirt, making a Washi was a much better choice.

I went with a size medium and it was pretty close to a perfect fit. The only alteration I made (if you can even call it that) was to follow the Mr.'s advice to show a little more leg when it came time to hem. I will definitely wear this with a belt as the combination of empire waist and intense floral quilting cotton was a little too maternity inspired for my taste pre-belt.

After much debate, I opted for the "U" neck cutout which I really like. It helps pull the floral away from the face a little more which keeps things from looking like I was attacked by a flesh-eating tropical dandelion.

I really like the bound armholes that Rae included with the pattern and have caught myself trying to show them off to people more than a few times. Nothing says: "pleased to meet you, I'm new to the neighbourhood" quite like flashing your armpits to almost strangers.

As usual, my art director lent a critical eye to the photo shoot.

I think he approves. I'm just tickled pink that there is one less empty hanger in my closet.

From A - WIP-a-licious

Has it really been almost a month since my last post?!? I'm glad that Kelsey has been holding down the fort. We have finally made it to California and after a whirlwind weekend back in Toronto and almost a week of living in a hotel we are finally in our new place and trying to settle in (as settled in as you can be when your only furniture is a mattress on the floor and a computer chair/desk).

The general lack of order in my life is also reflected in the growing mound of WIPs that have taken up residence in the corner of the living room that would ordinarily be home to a couch or end table.

I got my Smitten Quilt back from the long armer and am happy with how it turned out. All this needs now is some binding and a label. This is going to get finished as soon as I find a quilt shop that is willing to give me 10 minutes with their cutting mat and 6" x 24" ruler as mine are on a truck somewhere between Toronto and California.

Most of the blocks for my Meadow Quilt were made on our road trip. Just need to get them sewn together and figure out the whole boarder/backing situation.

When I visited Kelsey in Calgary last Fall, she had the crazy idea that we should both make Washi dresses while I was there. Although I managed to cut the fabric for my Washi, I never really made any more progress with it. I worked on it again on the road trip and now it just needs to be hemmed before it can find a more permanent home in my closet.

During my most recent visit, I was to blame for deciding that we should both make Staple dresses when I was in Calgary last month. True to form, Kelsey finished hers and mine is still somewhere between started and wearable.

Here's hoping I'll have some finishes to show you soon! I should probably clear up that pile of WIPs before the couch actually arrives.

From K - Staple Dress in Seattle

When Amanda was visiting two weeks ago we took the opportunity to hit up a couple of local quilt shops. While we were out and about, I found some amazing super light weight cotton and decided it would be perfect for my first attempt at a Staple Dress.

After a couple hours of sewing with pattern in hand, I wound up a little gem of a dress. A week later the hubs and I ventured down to Seattle where we crossed paths with Amanda and her Mr. again (for the third weekend in a row - WHA?!).

The weather was stunning and I was thrilled to sport my new dress for the first time. Amanda helped me decide on the hem length and I think she had the right idea. I can see this piece transitioning into fall easily with dark tights and heals.

I'm also so happy that I made the pocket version of this dress. April's detail into making these pockets really impressed me. They lay to the front of the dress people, the front! This may not mean much to you if you haven't sewn many dresses, but my washi pockets often lay to the back and it's terribly frustrating. That in itself will guarantee more staple dresses in my future.

Amanda's hubby graciously took these pics for me down on Pier 57. We all sauntered back down to the waterfront one evening at dusk to ride the Seattle Great Wheel and the views were spectacular.

Between shopping and quilt shop stops, we also managed to hit up the classics like Pike Market and the Seattle Aquarium! It was a fantastic way to end our three weekend extravaganza.

I'm going to miss seeing that cousin of mine each weekend but lucky we get to catch up again in Sepetmeber, when Sewing Summit rolls around! Anyone else coming to SS2013?

Linking up to Needle and a Thread Thursday over at My Quilt Infatuation; as well as Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF over at Bedtime Quilting. Come join in on all these linky parties to see some of the other great projects!

From K - Wonderful Washi Dress Finish

More than half a year ago Amanda came to visit me in Calgary, and even before her plane landed I had already plotted out a giant 'sewing hit list' because lets be honest, makings lists is totally my style. Item número uno on said list? A Washi dress!

I fell hard for Rae's Washi Dress pattern the first time I spotted it, and wanted desperately to give it a try. My problem was definitely fear though, because the last time I tailored a clothing item was more than a decade ago. While this pattern isn't tremendously tailored, the fitted bodice provided a few challenges for me.

While I may be blessed with a very long torso (I'm 5' 11.5") and a narrow rib cage, my stature often makes tweaking bodice pattern pieces a neccessity. Long story short, the bodice of this dress required a total overhaul to fit me, but thankfully that is where Amanda stepped in *cue the trumpets!*

With quite a bit more experience and a whole lot less fear than myself, Amanda took the necessary steps to adjust the pattern to size. That cousin of mine has got some mad skill!

While she was here I completed the dress entirely, minus about an hour of finishing work. Why it took me nearly 8 months to complete those last few tasks is baffling. A few weeks ago I pulled out this UFO, polished it off, and suddenly I had a new outfit for Stampede!

I am absolutely in love with this finish and so thankful that Amanda was there to help me along the way. Over all I really enjoyed the process and I think Rae did a great job writing the pattern. The neckline has a very polished finish and I can definitely see myself making a few more of these. I just hope I don't drag out the finish again for no apparent reason!

This crosses off 1 of 15 projects that I want to finish in the next 15 weeks (see I told you that I like lists!). Wish me luck... or at least a little sanity, ha! I'm linking this finish up to Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts.