tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88185983988308351862024-02-20T22:55:25.827-08:00Rose Hawke StudiosThe continuing adventures of one frazzled mama looking to find balance between work, passion and motherhood. Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818598398830835186.post-21747572737970175792017-04-04T20:58:00.000-07:002017-04-04T20:58:03.869-07:00Welcome To Rose Hawke...A journey in self-reflection<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvZvyKUiNxgUDUZ0xluqaSyUrFaK2v1vLmbVW8EIQy8W8f1Eyls5z1mKWlXJmahoAZxuh8RNKjW_p5Uus90ExdULjBZDXKTzQhyvlbdbJPCT6FCLl9nLqbYV3FnBJN9PqaWDnsX6AFrU/s1600/STSTA-YavannaReynolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvZvyKUiNxgUDUZ0xluqaSyUrFaK2v1vLmbVW8EIQy8W8f1Eyls5z1mKWlXJmahoAZxuh8RNKjW_p5Uus90ExdULjBZDXKTzQhyvlbdbJPCT6FCLl9nLqbYV3FnBJN9PqaWDnsX6AFrU/s400/STSTA-YavannaReynolds.jpg" width="266" /></a>Greetings all!<br />
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Let me reintroduce myself:<br />
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My name is Yavanna Reynolds. I'm mother, designer, and teacher living in the San Francisco Bay Area. There are many things in my life I am passionate about, so it is hard to just limit it to a few. I'm a big believer in the ideas of "Go Big or Go Home" and "Life is Short, Eat Dessert First." The only constant I find is impermanence...in other words, nothing lasts forever, so enjoy your every day to your fullest.<br />
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I'm also a firm believe in self-destiny. You have the power to do whatever you set your mind to doing. Can you tell that I hate hearing things like "You can't do that!" "That's impossible!" I'd like to believe anything is possible with determination and opportunity.<br />
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I've redesigned this site and created this blog space both as a fluid forum to discuss the next stage of my development as a creative professional and to share some of the things I am passionate about. These things can have quite a span, as I have a lot of interests. Mostly, I'll be discussing sewing, DIY, and homesteading. In addition I might also discuss running marathons (I'm a certified RRCA Running Coach!), parenting and education (certified Positive Discipline Parenting Coach and experienced Preschool Teacher) as well as open ended art projects for yourself and your family. Occasionally I'll blather on about baking, some book I'm reading, my feelings about the world, and my own family...Little pieces of my passion and the things that I hold dear.<br />
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I look forward to sharing this adventure with you all. Thank you and Welcome to Rose Hawke Design Studio.Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818598398830835186.post-24354549639683837552013-04-26T16:22:00.000-07:002013-04-26T16:22:27.414-07:00Stabilized Whipped Frosting--Improved! Now in flavors!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm never happy just leaving a recipe alone. </div>
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Why do what's expected, when you can modify it for improvement?<a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Chocolate-Pudding-Cupcakes-with-Strawberry-Centers/"> My first thought when I saw this recipe for a chocolate cupcake topped with pudding and filled with a strawberry was that it could be much better with a couple of improvements :)</a></div>
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Mostly, the only change I did to her recipe, (or I should say assembly guide, as she just uses box cake and pudding, and doesn't make a single thing from scratch) is to replace the chocolate cake mix with brownie mix (with modifications to make it even more chocolate rich, and more cake like) and to replace basic pudding with this wonderful frosting, which I will now share with you all.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">STABILIZED WHIPPED CREAM with PUDDING </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="background-color: white;">Use this recipe to make stabilized whipped cream in your favorite pudding flavors.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="background-color: white;">Makes an excellent frosting replacement as it uses far less sugar!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">INGREDIENTS:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">1/2 tsp unflavored gelatin powder</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">2 tbsp ice cold water</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">2 cups of heavy whipping cream (one pint)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">2 tbsp confectioner's (powdered) sugar</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 box of your favorite pudding mix (I used jello chocolate pudding. It should be standard pudding, not a cook and serve type, not a sugar-free type)</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">INSTUCTIONS:</span></div>
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<li>Sprinkle gelatin powder over ice cold water to "soften." Do this first as you get ready prep the rest of the ingredients</li>
<li>Scald 2 tbsp of the cream. I used my toaster oven set at 200F to do this, but you can also scald it on a stove top. Be sure to remove any skin. Pour the scalded cream over the gelatin and whisk until fully dissolved</li>
<li>Refridgerate mix for 10-15 minutes. The gelatin mixture should now have the consistency of egg whites. If you over chill, do not worry, the next steps will still work. Using a whisk whip until smooth, or as smooth as you can make it.</li>
<li>Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, take 1 cup of the cream and all of the sugar and whisk until soft peaks form. Add in the gelatin mix, and whisk until fully blended.</li>
<li>Add half of the pudding mix to the gelatin/cream mix. Whisk until blended, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining pudding mix and the last of the cream and whisk until fully blended, another 10-20 seconds. It'll be fairly stiff and hard to work with, but delicious and very stable.</li>
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When using this in cupcakes, you don't need to refridgerate this first before using it and transporting the cake. Just a bit of refrigeration will make the frosting fairly stiff. It takes a bit of work to push it through a pretty frosting top, but it isn't impossible to work with, even when cold. With so much less sugar than frosting, I don't mind feeding this to my daughter. I think I'll use some version of this for her next birthday cake.</div>
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This whipped cream frosting will stay fresh in the fridge for up to one week. </div>
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And yes, I did make the cupcakes with the strawberries inside :</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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<br />Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818598398830835186.post-11836650273067217572013-03-13T13:01:00.002-07:002013-03-13T13:01:52.977-07:00How to copy a basic shirt! A written descriptions (photos to follow later)Recently, I did a tutorial at our LYS, <a href="http://www.averbforkeepingwarm.com/">AVFKW</a> for our March Seam Allowance meeting. Here are the notes from that meeting on how to copy a basic T-shirt. I feel these tips could be modified to work with any kind of garment. I hope you enjoy! I will add images later for a more step by step guide. Sorry for all the uninterrupted text!<br />
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<a href="http://projectrosebud.blogspot.com/2012/07/project-1-part-1-green-dress-and.html">I also recommend looking at my July post about making my fancy party dress</a>. It has a lot of great images and descriptions for doing a more hands on pattern modification.<br />
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<b>**AVFKW how to draft a pattern from an existing garment TUTORIAL** </b><br />
<b>By Yavanna Reynolds.</b><br />
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<b>**Intro: Pattern drafting basics**</b><br />
Essentially, all pattern drafting is about understanding shapes. Its Geometry for the body. Knowing how to manipulate these shapes to fit your body is a major part of any pattern drafting or manipulation.<br />
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There are various methods used for creating new patterns. Some of the more common are:<br />
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--Draping (using a dressform)<br />
--Measuring (taking a series of measurements and drafting by hand)<br />
--Tracing/copying an existing shape.<br />
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The technique I will cover is a combination of those last two, and is handy for understanding not only how to make your own custom garments from other garments, but also for understanding how to alter patterns etc for a better fit.<br />
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<b>**SOME USEFUL TOOLS:**</b><br />
1) Paper:<br />
Really, the only requirement for paper is that it is big enough for you to draw out your largest pattern pieces. I use butcher paper, because that's what I can get easily. Tracing paper also works, but is a bit more flimsy (but works great for tracing off your final pattern and adding seam allowances). I've seen patterns also done on newspaper. Some suggested medical exam paper too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ids-la.com/Roll-of-Alpha-Numeric-Dotted-Marking-Paper-48-400ft_p_302.html">The best paper is alphanumeric dot paper</a>. Its designed for pattern drafting. Unfortunately, most local sources really mark up the price, and buying it online can be expensive in shipping, because you end up with monster rolls of the stuff. If you have a good, inexpensive source, use it! I grabbed a ton when I was still in design school, but used it all a year or so ago! Sigh.<br />
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2) Pens or Pencils for drafting: I recommend fine point felt pens (.5mm or smaller!) or mechanical pencils with a fine tip. The size of the tip affects the final pattern, in that it can add a fraction of an inch of unwanted space along the pattern piece, which can really add up once you put seam allowances and go to sew it up. Do not use sharpies! I used sharpies for the demo just because they are easy to see.<br />
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3) Rulers:<br />
I recommend everyone have at least a flexible clear ruler (try Blick or another store selling drafting supplies) and a proper french curve at the very least. It also wouldn't hurt to have an L-square ruler for making your large center lines. A hip curve for making skirts later, and for bottom hems. You might also want one of those rulers that takes a curve and holds it for you, very useful for sleeves! <br />
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<a href="http://www.ids-la.com/cthru.html">International Design Supplies out of LA has a lot of these supplies, including the french curve, at reasonable prices</a><br />
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4)Tracing tools:<br />
A tracing wheel, tailor chalk, anything you can use to mark the delicate curves you might have a hard time replicating with a ruler in recreating/copying your pattern.<br />
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<b>**COPYING YOUR PATTERN: Basic T-Shirt**</b><br />
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<u>STEP 1:</u> Draw your vertical and horizontal guide lines. Make sure these lines lines extend beyond the overall length and width of the garment to be copied. The vertical line should be centered and the horizontal line near the top of the vertical line, perfectly perpendicular.<br />
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<u>STEP 2: </u>Center your garment. To prepare your garment for proper centering, iron the garment flat, making sure to get the hems well pressed and that the garment isn't torqued at all. After pressing it flat, fold the shirt in half, pressing in a center crease to help you center the garment later.<br />
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Place the garment with the center crease line up perfectly to the vertical line, and the HPS (high point shoulder, lined up neatly to the horizontal line. You may want to pin or tape your garment in place so it doesn't move during the following steps.<br />
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<u>STEP 3:</u> Begin marking the pattern. Place marks for the locations of the sleeves, waist, hip. Use a tracing wheel or tailors chalk to mark any curves that might be hard to replicate with a ruler.<br />
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<u>STEP 4:</u> Draw in the pattern outline (on the half). Using your rulers and the marks from the previous step, begin drawing out the pattern's basic outline. Square off anyplace that needs to connect to another seam, such as the shoulder and sides, as well as the center hem, side hems, center neck. They should be squared off 1/2".<br />
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If your shirt has sleeves. Use a series of measurements to recreate the sleeve. You will need the length of the sleeve from shoulder to end of sleeve, the length of the under seam, and the width at the hem. You will also need to measure the armhole along the seam using your flexible ruler. On a spare piece of paper, draw out your sleeve (I will add images later for this step).<br />
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<u>STEP 5:</u> Finishing. You should now have a complete block. Compare it to the original garment to make Trace off your block pattern on another piece to preserve your block. On your new tracing, add your seam allowances. These seam widths will vary depending on the hemming technique you are using, or the type of machine you are using, but in general you want 1/2" seams except at the neck, where it maybe as small as 1/4 if you are using a facing. Bottom hems are often 1".<br />
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<b>**IDEAS FOR MODIFYING YOUR PATTERN:**</b><br />
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There are lots of ways for you to make more personalize fit modifications. Some include:<br />
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* Adding or removing darts/gathering.<br />
* Adding style lines for patchwork or color blocking. <br />
* Turning the garment into a wrap top, adding panels or<br />
pockets.<br />
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<b>**OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:**</b><br />
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When buying fabrics to use for recreating a knit garment, make sure to find a fabric with similar characteristics. By that I mean make sure that it is a similar fiber content, that it has similar stretch, etc.<br />
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One way to test stretch: Take 2" of your garment between your fingers along the hem. Stretch along the length of a ruler and note how much it stretches. When looking at fabrics in the store, fold the fabric once and do the same test with 2" of the fabric. It doesn't need to match exactly, but it should be close.<br />
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Also, make test garments out of an inexpensive fabric to test your fit. Make sure you don't want to make any changes before cutting into your final fashion fabric. To get a good set of blocks to fit your body, it may take some trial and error.<br />
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<br />Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818598398830835186.post-28118343550024128372012-07-03T16:40:00.001-07:002012-07-03T16:40:03.064-07:00Project 1, Part 1--The green dress, and a morning scene of domesticity<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Rosebud helps Mama dry fabric laundry on the line. A perfect scene of domesticity<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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My first planned project of the new sewing year will be a party dress to attend a friends wedding later in the month. I haven't had a new dress in ages...not since my body changed to grow the baby....who is now turning 2 on Saturday. So as a special treat, I bought some really extra special fabrics (shown to the right) in summery greens and pinks and yellows. Some Liberty print, some Henry Alexander printy goodness, and some loverly Amy Butler. A very fine dress indeed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bodice pattern begins...</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STEP 1: </span>Design the dress.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: magenta;"> </span>I decided on a simple dress comprised of a princess seamed bodice and tiered skirt. The solid green fabric shown above will be the bodice, and the three tiers of the skirt are in order from right to left, each one a high quality cotton that are fun to feel and see. The airy Liberty print of the first tier has alot of open space with small scaled flowers. The scale of the flowers increase dramatically with the second tier, a Henry Alexander print called "Larkspur in Bloom." The Amy Butler print in a deep plum with even larger flowers and a dark, solid background will help "ground" the skirt. and provide a fine balance to the garment. I'll be binding all the skirt seams using bias binding made from yardage of the bodice fabric. So far, the materials cost has been around $130, including all notions.<br />
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<b style="background-color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">STEP 2: </span>Drafting the pattern.</b> Since I wanted the bodice to fit below my waist to my high hip, I knew I needed my trusty torso block from design school (a combo sloper made from a bodice and skirt block in combination). now, of course, my body has changed quite a bit from before I had the baby. While I may be a smaller size, my shape has changed as things shifted around. I now have more belly although I have a smaller waist, and I have less bust, but a rounder, higher butt (thank you running for weight loss!). I made these blocks for my body 5 years ago, but they'd be a good enough start. In a later issue, I might go into more detail on how to convert a torso block into a princess seamed bodice, but for now, I'm just going to go over my process.<br />
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<b style="background-color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">STEP 3: </span>Test fit! Test fit! Test fit!</b> Arguably the most important step. Make sure your pattern fits before you go cutting into your fashion fabric. In my case I used a inexpensive cotton muslin that I seriously buy by the roll because it is cheaper to do so and I go though so much when I'm sewing like a fiend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7GTIm5Iwp2neI5FYFia4w1rovjQnoCFAOGOceYHcAVdka2ZGIPoWu9-L7F-TqLUFnf5xaWPLemIm7Ckmkpe9g-StWBFXcdP-zXdc2ua3tN2A5SRlaPGOUKvE9wpmA8jVKBDmeAN3t44/s1600/DSC02126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7GTIm5Iwp2neI5FYFia4w1rovjQnoCFAOGOceYHcAVdka2ZGIPoWu9-L7F-TqLUFnf5xaWPLemIm7Ckmkpe9g-StWBFXcdP-zXdc2ua3tN2A5SRlaPGOUKvE9wpmA8jVKBDmeAN3t44/s320/DSC02126.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Cut out your pattern in the muslin adding in all proper seam allowances (1/4" for neck and armhole, 1/2 inches for side seam, 1" for center back). Sew it together with a quick, loose stitch and then get someone else to pin the back closed for you. I actually manged to get it on me a second time by pinning it half way down my back, leaving the bottom open, and then pinning the last bit myself once I wiggled into it. Then stand in front of a mirror and pin out the excess. Make sure you are wearing any underwear you might be wearing (i.e. a bra...I forgot to do that the first time). The goal isn't to pin out all excess fabric, you do want some ease or you won't be able to sit or bend at the waist. If you notice any place where the fabric seams to pucker because its too tight, slice the pattern to relieve the tightness and measure the distance of the gap in the mirror. You may need to add a dart or gusset in that place to adjust the fit. I ended up removing inches from the bust and waist, removing fullness from the front side hip, and adding fullness back into my back hip with a gusset<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKDo0RUbcP88iLXCEwOxIySur5L3nQV4Nl0QGtY2uY8eIIWchtyXQd5wGeBDsJ11EJSTOUP2RHbyVOAXUqWZojvz8hFshOLC1pJxtnYnfNR5TUc5k6yn8yl5pnBx04YA1nZCP44ygAmg/s1600/DSC02127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKDo0RUbcP88iLXCEwOxIySur5L3nQV4Nl0QGtY2uY8eIIWchtyXQd5wGeBDsJ11EJSTOUP2RHbyVOAXUqWZojvz8hFshOLC1pJxtnYnfNR5TUc5k6yn8yl5pnBx04YA1nZCP44ygAmg/s320/DSC02127.JPG" width="320" /></a><b style="background-color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">STEP 4: </span>Adjust the pattern.</b><br />
Once finished adjusting the pattern in the mirror, I marked all of the pinnings along their edges so that I could see how much fabric needed to be removed or added. I then transferred these markings to a traced off version of the pattern. You want to use a tracing, otherwise if you make a mistake, you will have ruined your only pattern and would need to start over. NEVER make these changes on your master pattern.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcaXInUU_2TOKYLR_he-Id26n6sHf-H7i0dNAzz-WcF3G8PRUU_QRxYul6OPYg_ADNY_NNbbTjzfFo4iARRP3hs6VAyQBMV3puJz_TlwJi6mv5Gui7hA54lL9TGcRX4j4P6gMr-wX5Mk/s1600/DSC02128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcaXInUU_2TOKYLR_he-Id26n6sHf-H7i0dNAzz-WcF3G8PRUU_QRxYul6OPYg_ADNY_NNbbTjzfFo4iARRP3hs6VAyQBMV3puJz_TlwJi6mv5Gui7hA54lL9TGcRX4j4P6gMr-wX5Mk/s320/DSC02128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is a tracing of half of the front bodice (it is a mirrored piece. I marked where my pinings were, a small extra fullness at the top of the princess seam, and another one just above the waist. The first bit is easy to remove, just mark where you are making the change and cut it off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1RAFQLNBQoj__yslEs0rhIP734Gj1FkynJaCvEtRwX9dadGjtU9ogvA7QFEl9bGklnxh9x0RuSoMtVMuw9oq0OSot8j-jmz2gSz9BDo1-oNbV3c83wH3oRvSFYWPXCGjfWbgDxtuijk/s1600/DSC02130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1RAFQLNBQoj__yslEs0rhIP734Gj1FkynJaCvEtRwX9dadGjtU9ogvA7QFEl9bGklnxh9x0RuSoMtVMuw9oq0OSot8j-jmz2gSz9BDo1-oNbV3c83wH3oRvSFYWPXCGjfWbgDxtuijk/s320/DSC02130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Adjusting the waist is a bit more difficult. I needed to make a line from the bottom perpendicular to the tracing of the dart. I then adjusted the dart position to square it off. Its highlighted in blue. To adjust the distribution of the fullness, I then sliced the pattern along the edge of the dart at the waist area and the long line from the bottom to the dart....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmws_3O7THBmaU6VlaMmQJNUvE3je3ANuvZ1B7iwCd9E6yl0fHH3992IkzBwpYoLbDP8CkRz_hMipgpH1tSRnN_c7IwLlOb1PDqjMVMxJhtMT6yBKkFvpo-7Fr0eRd9VQg25spX3iQPNA/s1600/DSC02131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmws_3O7THBmaU6VlaMmQJNUvE3je3ANuvZ1B7iwCd9E6yl0fHH3992IkzBwpYoLbDP8CkRz_hMipgpH1tSRnN_c7IwLlOb1PDqjMVMxJhtMT6yBKkFvpo-7Fr0eRd9VQg25spX3iQPNA/s320/DSC02131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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...and then shifted the pattern. From there I had to measure the original pattern length along that bottom edge and cut off the excess. I ended up with a normal looking pattern piece. I then test fit the second bodice and, success! A dress pattern that fits beautifully.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_PehlSGW14rxaPCUihb3Pd3ufmhDQV6Fa2snuoo2oVqh1XWAVQNeYxGjyWTQFeokXhAeheG5oIdAagQ46PJRPS-fjtKFGfnO1aOdTaiXL3-NJKqWxMwbuWVkK0xef9wvokKBLFwZvrY/s1600/DSC02144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_PehlSGW14rxaPCUihb3Pd3ufmhDQV6Fa2snuoo2oVqh1XWAVQNeYxGjyWTQFeokXhAeheG5oIdAagQ46PJRPS-fjtKFGfnO1aOdTaiXL3-NJKqWxMwbuWVkK0xef9wvokKBLFwZvrY/s320/DSC02144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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In my next installment I'll go over my sewing techniques, including making bias binding out of self fabric etc and hopefully have some serious project updates with very finished looking photos. My goal is to have this done before Saturday this week (my daughter's birthday) but I'm also designing socks for my<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/tribute-series"> HUNGER GAMES TRIBUTE SERIES</a>. So we'll see...sigh.</div>Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818598398830835186.post-76668546310301389052012-07-03T15:42:00.000-07:002012-07-03T16:43:51.626-07:00Outline--Sew Crazy--Plotting a year of Mayhem<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYB_6AS1OibOhcaWm69pZSS0zPIPah9DRSNt-GppvoWgJsjDWQ7Y0WCKmbnb0GFfiXoN7ut2_y1jqzt0c0ff5VgDJmu_UGvtkgsI10Fo9C_ttSG0iO1oCXcMmUieUdd4EcE6K9arkmkI/s1600/DSC02126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYB_6AS1OibOhcaWm69pZSS0zPIPah9DRSNt-GppvoWgJsjDWQ7Y0WCKmbnb0GFfiXoN7ut2_y1jqzt0c0ff5VgDJmu_UGvtkgsI10Fo9C_ttSG0iO1oCXcMmUieUdd4EcE6K9arkmkI/s320/DSC02126.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; color: #351c75;">A picture of me modifying a muslin mock up of<br />a bodice to a dress I'm working on currently</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">So, before I get crazy with all my sewing, I thought I should actually focus on what my plans are for the coming year. Below I've sketched out a rough timeline of what kind of projects I might be working on throughout the year. This is, of course, a loose guide that will most likely be modified and doesn't include any spur of the moment "must-sew/knit-now" items that may pop up due to necessity. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-size: x-large;"><a name='more'></a><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My Seam Allowance Calendar</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">June/July/August:</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b> Summer Dresses for Mama and Baby, Stretchy pants for under dresses, Birthday Prep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">September/October: </span>Sweaterly Knitting (shawls, ponchos, socks/stockings and tights). Practical dresses or skirts and simple blouses to wear with cardis. <b style="background-color: white;"> </b><span style="background-color: white;">Halloween costumes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">November/December:</span></b></span><span style="background-color: white;">Hoodies and other cut and sew sweaters </span><span style="background-color: white;">including pajamas and sweats. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Slippers. Gifts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">January/February:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> blouses for the whole family. Cut and sew warm weather easy knits (ie. T-Shirts and yoga pants)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">March/April: </span><span style="background-color: white;">Spring/Easter dresses. Slacks and Jumpers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">May/June:</span><span style="background-color: white;">Activewear. Swim attire/Cycling running gear. Birthday prep.</span></div>
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Again, this is just a loose schedule of proposed projects, subject to change based on my own schedule/availability, and needs. Dotted within all of these major undertakings will be a number of smaller projects of sewing an knitting that don't really fit here. I hope to also occasionally post tutorials on some of the techniques I'll be showing off on my projects as I progress throughout the year.<br />
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Thank you for reading!<br />
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<br />Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818598398830835186.post-32635202109162174092012-06-21T13:08:00.003-07:002012-06-21T14:09:50.669-07:00PRELUDE--Princess Snow White and the Purple Pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJFoFYYuSq2OawKD_JPeYQDgXtxq987XpGp6fjTGHXFX-NCu8NpoqjEWoFvvtnS3gv00RlmYGzDstbn_2zl8KWcP_60LMrXfLo88AIGDrVn3InANO7f0fjMLjWCOnc788i5_eDLjqwo0/s1600/DSC02092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGcT8iQt7er4nnm-KkZ2Lh2NBr65Dnl1lXb2P0bEFkQhj43IL3CusFKfQ_8F_aHjgIzp5r0e_4HoE2Wvq_TUr6JcF72nmW34SY3cQLjOZUzeGPd9fvKIhoX6bexlpk9xrtkp-1kQ_S1Q/s1600/DSC02094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGcT8iQt7er4nnm-KkZ2Lh2NBr65Dnl1lXb2P0bEFkQhj43IL3CusFKfQ_8F_aHjgIzp5r0e_4HoE2Wvq_TUr6JcF72nmW34SY3cQLjOZUzeGPd9fvKIhoX6bexlpk9xrtkp-1kQ_S1Q/s200/DSC02094.JPG" width="150" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJFoFYYuSq2OawKD_JPeYQDgXtxq987XpGp6fjTGHXFX-NCu8NpoqjEWoFvvtnS3gv00RlmYGzDstbn_2zl8KWcP_60LMrXfLo88AIGDrVn3InANO7f0fjMLjWCOnc788i5_eDLjqwo0/s200/DSC02092.JPG" style="background-color: white;" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">On JULY 7th,</span> My Rosebud is turning 2.</span> <span style="color: #351c75;">She's a silly minxy, and I love her to pieces. My desire to focus as much of my energy as possible to being the best mama I can be was what inspired me to plan </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Project Rosebud</span><span style="color: #351c75;">. Hopefully, over the the next year, I can make her lots of lovely clothes, yummy food, and just spend lots of quality time with her. Hopefully in developing this side of my personality, I can help also find balance in other areas of my life. Who knows, maybe this will be the push in the right direction I need to feel like my life is moving forward in a positive way. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the supplies cost less than half the cost of an "official" dress</td></tr>
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So before my official Seam Allowance Challenge for the year starts up in July, I thought it would be good to dust of the sewing machine and my rulers and drafting tools and make up a couple of "simple" projects. With Rosebud's birthday coming up, and Halloween only a few months away, I thought it would be good to get a head start on the holiday and kill two birds with one stone. Rosebud loves Princess Snow White. Snow White and Pooh's Heffalump Adventure are the only two movies she's allowed to watch, and she earns her viewings with successful potty usage (we're on a merit based system here).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKDFfMgkufTuUGvUNNw-PH-3yraLfACogInXp9EGO_VTwX42_ND2TnSgyhgOZAMuPqjzYHiydblidHdzhyphenhyphenS9z7VgWf0LV-J0aWd4MQszZFpyspWGxxQIpbYP0575FoLkseMig3CdzuKA/s1600/IMAG1265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKDFfMgkufTuUGvUNNw-PH-3yraLfACogInXp9EGO_VTwX42_ND2TnSgyhgOZAMuPqjzYHiydblidHdzhyphenhyphenS9z7VgWf0LV-J0aWd4MQszZFpyspWGxxQIpbYP0575FoLkseMig3CdzuKA/s320/IMAG1265.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc7_C_OGOYP7SY4H7B1oJlAY9b-fWasR-Fqhau1I53xZ6VzTCRxfpBOoIEPpS-WjJNvZlKB0f8J2LRW_emkyquxsM7JujlcVafb3BiE5CmiMWhb2PW6uyn5GvPCO-9Xa7tet1gweu_38/s1600/IMAG1272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc7_C_OGOYP7SY4H7B1oJlAY9b-fWasR-Fqhau1I53xZ6VzTCRxfpBOoIEPpS-WjJNvZlKB0f8J2LRW_emkyquxsM7JujlcVafb3BiE5CmiMWhb2PW6uyn5GvPCO-9Xa7tet1gweu_38/s320/IMAG1272.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxECQV8Y-4LCTg7LS9vuReO8VeQKaDYUS0GN-kEDFu5jqOLfobeEZ6bV4zuZvYtMZAP7JnPikh5zZZbhJxPI7oH0dB2sXPE7VEXouQvPC0ktkOf_Gqfh50SzV21bvHW-K4nI9iQE6SGw/s1600/IMAG1264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxECQV8Y-4LCTg7LS9vuReO8VeQKaDYUS0GN-kEDFu5jqOLfobeEZ6bV4zuZvYtMZAP7JnPikh5zZZbhJxPI7oH0dB2sXPE7VEXouQvPC0ktkOf_Gqfh50SzV21bvHW-K4nI9iQE6SGw/s320/IMAG1264.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="background-color: white; clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Crazy lady that I am, I decide I'm going to make my daughter the best little Princess Snow White dress ever! I just can't bring myself to buy those "official" Disney dresses from Target. Not only are they overpriced, but they are poorly constructed too. :P Yuck! No, thank you! But it isn't enough that I want to make the dress....I also have to design the pattern so I can custom make it to my daughter's "unique frame." I studied the movie, documented the colors and what I thought the fabrics should be, and then went to the fabric store and got the necessary supplies. In the time it took for her to watch the movie (about 1hr 20 min) I had drafted a pattern and cut out most of the pieces. The supplies cost less than half of the "official" costume. </span></span><br />
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Well after a week of sewing, here it is, Princess Rosebud's Princess Snow White dress! Its super stretchy, machine washable, and completely clean sewn...no rough edges or unfinished seams, you could wear this dress inside out if you wanted!<br />
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She loves her dress and didn't want to take it off. Currently its residing in her closet, waiting for me to make the cape. She has never worn a full length dress before and was mystified by how her feet disappeared beneath the hem. She kept saying "where's my feet? They've disappeared" in her super cute little voice.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">This morning,</span> I decided to sew up a "quick" little project. Charlotte desperately needs pants that fit. She's outgrown her 4T pants, and its hard to find 5T in the store. Not to mention, they don't fit well anyway. If I'm going to be making most of her clothes going forward. I want to have a basic stretch pant block for her. Well that "simple" project turned into a 4 hour struggle with fabric and pattern. I had forgotten how complex pants can be, how tricky stretch fabrics are to sew, and how unreliable my cheapass machine is to sew on. Do I need a new machine...ah, yes. Can I afford one....ah, well, no. So it was a "make it work" kind of morning, if you know what I mean! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LaSbJRpPfZZazxymWBysn3x-5Qb962bcMC0pkAkwaY4Uv9cfMTY8LdeBGXquWd-7VnJqLrqABr58nXcX8C8doP4rY6UfnqRK5_JA3ClDkIfkHnPA3IQ2cc5xbymjeZAlWtxIm_nggf8/s1600/DSC02100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #cfe2f3; clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LaSbJRpPfZZazxymWBysn3x-5Qb962bcMC0pkAkwaY4Uv9cfMTY8LdeBGXquWd-7VnJqLrqABr58nXcX8C8doP4rY6UfnqRK5_JA3ClDkIfkHnPA3IQ2cc5xbymjeZAlWtxIm_nggf8/s320/DSC02100.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sewing the elastic into the cuff of the infamous purple pants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aX44qxelti1pZRJsEYN14DsYQyLbbut684raBbFillqcnad5DU0B0mwp61x5OltUr9ESQUFPZzEv-HlFG4Wb7ONrs505s86ZXgjg7D8OyDZfpEzPbI6ZRxsQqjBpXst_zkEH5h_jEsY/s1600/DSC02102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aX44qxelti1pZRJsEYN14DsYQyLbbut684raBbFillqcnad5DU0B0mwp61x5OltUr9ESQUFPZzEv-HlFG4Wb7ONrs505s86ZXgjg7D8OyDZfpEzPbI6ZRxsQqjBpXst_zkEH5h_jEsY/s320/DSC02102.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pants stretched out to maximum length</td></tr>
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First off, I have a hard time remembering how to draft pants from basic measurements. So I went to my old design school textbooks...useless for children's basic stretch pants (or children's patterns in general). So I grabbed a pair of her basic store pants and "studied" them to make a bigger block pattern.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PXaHLsIBhrcD2d_ERRcaj1PwDDfhITdK-6cX0VoyWWZfxTGSnuHVudyJthwCrX4fa337Auc709Wh4G_HkaprAGuabV94qXUBt5QEWR6mbCUnr5PK6fYNOklxs2O6G8czccocQj_bhh4/s1600/DSC02103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PXaHLsIBhrcD2d_ERRcaj1PwDDfhITdK-6cX0VoyWWZfxTGSnuHVudyJthwCrX4fa337Auc709Wh4G_HkaprAGuabV94qXUBt5QEWR6mbCUnr5PK6fYNOklxs2O6G8czccocQj_bhh4/s320/DSC02103.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pants scrunched up and fashionable</td></tr>
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Ready to cut and sew, I go to the fabric only to rediscover the basic truth in old sayings like "measure twice, cut once." I thought that 1/2 yrd would be enough fabric on a directional fabric. I needed another 1/4 yard for my leggy daughter. But it was "make it work" day here, so I modified the pattern to have a cuff and be more of a cropped style. Then I decided to get fancy and give it full genie style legs...well they aren't perfect, but by golly they fit!<br />
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This I think is enough sewing for this week/month. Next project...summer dresses for mama and baby.<br />
<br /></div>Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818598398830835186.post-34090852121118560922012-06-11T17:25:00.001-07:002012-06-21T14:42:36.598-07:00BEFORE THE CHALLENGE: STEP 1: The Manifesto<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Project Charlotte Rosebud is a personal challenge to myself, Mother of Rosebud, to make all of my Charlotte's new clothes going forward for the next year, starting in July of 2012. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are a few guidelines for my challenge. My Husband has a set of 5 simple rules for being a good kid that he uses with our daughter (no lying, no cheating, no stealing, no fighting, and no breaking things). Let's see if I can come up with something equally simple that I can actually stick to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1--I shall not purchase any new clothes that I can make myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2--I will research how to make something before I determine that it is something I can't make.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3--I will "re-purpose" where possible. Recycle other clothing, cut and add fabric panels or patches, to "save" clothes currently in use. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4--I will search my stash for usable materials before going to the store and buying more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5--I will try to purchase locally anything not available in my stash, or through recycling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think that is as good a start as any. </span>Yavanna Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059156336805377898noreply@blogger.com0