I Made Underwear.

I've been wanting to make my own underwear for ages, but was waiting until a few t-shirts of mine were ready to be upcycled. That stretchy, well-worn cotton makes for some incredibly comfy undies, and they cost basically nothing to make. I did a color-block thing here, but next I'd like to make something flowery and pretty, maybe with some elastic lace around the edges.

All in all, they took me an hour, and were incredibly satisfying. I have something wearable, functional, and cute, that provides almost instant gratification, unlike making dresses, pants, blouses, etc. Ideally, I'd like to see my panty drawer full of handmade-by-me undies.

new curtains.

New curtains for the studio, made of vintage sheets. In the late afternoon light, my studio looks like the inside of a rose.

gathered smock top.

So I feel really silly for even posting these pictures because, honestly, they suck. Especially if I stop to compare them with all the fabulous "DIY" and sewing pictures by other bloggers out there. But oh well. There is no sun to be had this week and I became really impatient waiting for perfect picture-taking conditions.

This is a simple, smock-style top, basically two long rectangles sewn together at center front and center back, leaving a 'V' for the head, and then stitched up the sides with enough space left to fit the arms through. I gathered the waistline with elastic and did the same with the sleeves. I also tea-dyed it, as I didn't really like this fabric's blindingly white background. I like the way it turned out. It looks great with jeans, cinched with a belt at the waist, or with boots and a little cardigan for cold weather.

On another sewing note, I printed this free pattern from the Colette blog. It's been all over the internet for a long time now, and I want to finally try my hand at making it. I'm thinking of lengthening it into a dress...because I really need to make another dress. Right.

lately, in pictures.

tea towel tote bag

I found this enormous, Pennsylvania-Dutch inspired tea towel at the thrift store, and had to have it. It's made out of really strong linen. It's been sitting on my shelf of found fabrics for a few weeks now, waiting for the proper idea to form. Finally a realized that it would make a perfect tote bag, which I really needed anyhow.

Sometimes, the way I limit my work to what I can find, either in the garbage or at thrift stores and flea markets, kind of bums me out. The temptation to just go to the fabric store and get everything new is so strong...especially when I'm looking at some of the beautiful sewing books out there, and every project calls for such-and-such yards of such-and-such type fabric. But I'm reminded of how much creativity resides within me, within all of us, if we just make do with what we already have. The compliments come pouring in, and I realize I've got to be doing something right.

in cuffs.

An attempt to use-up all those fabric scraps littering my studio floor.

big hoop, little hoop.

After making Anakin Skywalker die for the trillionth time, we embroidered together.

a new dress.

I can't stop making dresses. It's pretty funny because I won't be able to wear this summery concoction for at least another three or four months.