Hello Life! And toddler clothes pt 1

It's been sooo long since I've blogged. I don't even know if I can remember how to do it right. Life has been happening while I've been away but I've decided to share it with you (whoever you are). I've had a baby, I've grown chickens, I've gardened, I've lived.

Now...about that baby. Three years ago I had a beautiful baby boy. He was a tiny thing, and still is. Forever below his growth curve, although healthy as an ox, finding clothes, particularly pants, that fit him is next to impossible. At 3 years old his length is 2T but his waist is somewhere around 15-18months. Yeah. You do that math...

So I've taken to the sewing machine to make him pants that fit perfectly.

This was just a picture of the fitting before ironing the seams and folds but I'm so happy that I finally have the time to make him good clothes that fit. These are uniform pants for school with side pockets. This evening I'm making another pair of uniform pants with side and back pockets and then some casual cargo long and short pants will follow. I will upload my patterns and tips in future posts and I will try to post weekly. Until then... live and stay crafty

Hiatus

I don't know if my prolonged absence was even missed a little but I am back. I have had quite a topsy turvy few months since I last blogged. As a matter of fact, one major life altering event that took place is I GOT MARRIED!. I also discovered a passion for high waists and vintage ruffled blouses. So... I have not been doing as much sewing as I would have liked, what with everything that has been happening but I acquired patterns so I can do some weekend work.

This weekend I plan to do some fabric shopping and then from there sew sew sew!

Well now you know I didn't die, I was simply on an unannounced sabbatical.

The Comeback

Things have been a little busy and I have not been creating in a while but I'm back and I've got a beautiful dress to show for it. I had a date night with my fiancée coming up and nothing new and interesting to wear so I put my sewing machine to work and came up with this little number. I could write a lot more about it but I'm tired and lazy right now. So enjoy these pics -

Vintage

So I was going to tackle pants but... I got distracted by an upcoming wedding I plan to attend. I had 3 yards of a gorgeous black and white knit that I wasn't sure what I was going to do with then I decided - Why not make a dress for the wedding. I am currently putting the finishing touches, neatening up the stitches and making sure it is worthy of public viewing.
Let me describe what I'm doing so far -
I am making a vertical striped asymmetrical handkerchief halter. There is going to be a solid black slim and sleek waist band connecting the haltered bodice to the handkerchief skirt.

The dress is completed, the wedding is over (for me anyway) and I have a few pictures for you. Enjoy!

So another skirt

Well post flare skirt I decided to go back to basics and make myself a professional skirt using the very basic design. I figured meh... while I wait on a job I might as well hone my tailoring skills. The skirt came out better than I expected which is awesome but now I've got my sisters asking me to sew for them (and you know they won't want to pay the price I'd want to lay out for them). The skirt making was fun but I'm about to venture out into pants then tops then dresses. I'm inviting you to follow me as I try out some pants! I'm a little apprehensive because they aren't as simple as cutting three pieces of fabric or whatever to make a skirt.
Because I didn't actually learn how to do this in class I've turned to books and the internet. Here is one link in particular that has me saying YES I WILL DO THAT!
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/50765/how-to-sew-cuffed-shorts - this is very easy really, well the cuff part anyway. Check back with me in a few days and see how I've progressed.

Genesis

When I started this class I had a million design ideas but no knowledge on how to begin to execute them. So the first thing I learned to create as previously mentioned was a skirt. While every busy making the same boring old basic skirt I was busy creating a flare variation and it HAWT!!!

Here are a few pics of the flare skirt modelled by Can-D.

Pattern Drafting is such a!!!

So who knew the most tedious thing ever wouldn't be making the garment but drafting the pattern! If you have all your tools it makes it a little easier but you gotta remember, if the draft is not right, the garment won't be right.

Speaking of tools - here are some essentials:

1. Fashion Ruler
2. Dressmaker's Square
3. Dressmaker's Chalk
4. Sharp Scissors
5. Measuring Tape
   
6. Needles / Pins
7. Pin cushion
8. Tracing Wheel
9. Drafting Paper and Soft HB2 pencil
   

There are more, that's obviously why I said some essentials. Here are steps to drafting.
Step 1: Record your measurements! You really shouldn't screw up your measurements too much because that would just mean you have to go back and alter your garment and that's just a lot of work.

Measurements you need for a skirt -
1. Waist
2. Hip
3. Waist to Hip (the length between them)
4. Bust point to point (measure distance
from left nipple to right nipple)
5. Skirt Length
That's the easy one. Once you have your measurements you can begin drafting. For the waist be sure to measure the smallest part of your waist, and for the hips the fullest part of your bum.

Drafting
Once you have your measurements you can begin drafting. Here's a little something you need to know - when drafting you absolutely must factor in ease. When we sit our hips spread, our bum expands and if we don't add ease to our skirt then tough luck you'll be very uncomfortable or rip the garment. Remember hips have 1/2" ease and waist has 1/4" ease.

1. Find a quarter of your waist and hip measurements. Using my actual measurements as an example I'll show you how - My waist is 25 1/2 " so quarter measurement would be 6 3/8"; so too my hips are an astonishing 38" so a quarter of that would be 9 1/2". (Sounds like a lot of work? It isn't really - not after you do it the first time).
2. Add the 1/4" ease to this new measurement for the waist and 1/2" to the hip
3. Find half of your bust point to point measurement - mine is 7" normally so 1/2 of that would be 3 1/2". The purpose of this measurement in a skirt - cause I'm sure like me you're wondering what the busts have to do with a skirt - is for the placement of the darts.
4. Now that we have these measurements we can begin drafting - You will need drafting paper, square, fashion ruler, pencil, eraser, measuring tape.

• Draw a block on your drafting paper to half hip measurement plus ease eg. if quarter plus ease - 9 1/2 + 1/2 = 10; then half = 20"; and length of skirt
• Measure waist - hip measurement and square a parallel line to top.
• Bisect box into two down the length and establish which is centre front and which is centre back
  
• Measure from both ends on top bust point to point - e.g. mark 3 1/2" from both ends at top. (Standard measurements - front darts 3 1/2" long, 1/2" wide and back 5 1/2" long and 3/4" wide)
  
• Contour waistline (use fashion ruler) 1/2" above and 1/2" below both front and back of skirt
  
• Contour from hip to waist using fashion ruler

This is the end of your basic skirt draft. Don't worry I won't leave you hanging to figure things out on your own - I'm posting diagrams right now!!!! Just look below