Nordic Leggings

For probably the first time ever, having scrawny legs is a plus!  When I was taking these photos I thought, "Oh no! The horizontal lines on these leggings make my legs look big."  But when I looked at the images I realized that when you've got skinny legs, horizontal lines aren't really a big deal.  In fact, they probably help!

I got this fabric from the bargain bin at my local fabric store.  I love it.  It's super warm and because of the awesome pattern I used, matching up the strips was beyond easy!

McCall's 6173

I really love this pattern.  It's beyond easy and takes less than an hour to cut and make. The seams are on the inner leg so you don't have to worry about matching on the outside.  You might remember it from the first Winter leggings I made HERE and the batch of other leggings I made HERE.

I made a matching pair of this Nordic version for my niece but sent them off to her before I remembered to take any pics.

Are you a leggings kind of gal?  What are you making to get ready for the cooler temps?  Leave a comment below~

Fall Jacket

You may have noticed that I haven't been doing much crafting lately.  That's because now that the weather has gotten cooler, my sewing spidey senses have started tingling again and I've been spending most of my free time at my machine getting ready for what's to come next month.

All of my fall jackets are actually coats, and I made them several years ago.  You can check them out HERE.  So, I figured that it was about time to update my options.  I really wanted a shorter jacket but not something cropped and I wanted something double breasted.

I briefly thought about piecing my own pattern together from several vintage patterns I liked, but then I found Vogue 8884 and realized that it would meet most of my wish list.

V8884 - I made view A

I used a navy linen that I picked up from the bargain bin and some faux leather buttons from my stash.

I lined the sleeves and the back and then I ran out of lining and I was too lazy to piece another section for the front so I just used some tiny bias tape to finish the edge of the facing instead.

I love this pink polka dot interior against the navy shell.

It's a tiny bit big on me but once we get over our little mini heat wave here (it's only 4 degrees in the morning but by afternoon it's close to 20!), I'll start wearing sweaters and this should be a perfect fit.

I made one really big glaring mistake on this jacket that I could actually fix quite easily but probably won't.  I have too many other things on the sewing table waiting to be sewn up so I'll probably just leave it.  Can you tell what the mistake is?  I'll tell you on Twitter later today~

Have you started your fall wardrobe yet?  Any patterns to recommend?  Leave a comment below~

Olsen Twins Wedding Dress

Have you see the wedding gown that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen designed for their friend Molly Fishkin?

The internet was all atwitter about it last week because these ladies are all such arbiters of amazing style (I've never heard of Molly Fishkin before but I think she's a Hollywood stylist).

Now, every bride is of course beautiful, but I have to say, I was expecting something...more.  I mean, just look at Mary-Kate (I think that's which one it is.  They aren't identical twins but I still have a hard time telling them apart.).  She looks absolutely stunning.

This gown though seems rather plain and medieval looking to me.

What would you do if your friend insisted on designing your wedding gown?  Could you say no?  What if you don't like it?

Would you ever say no to the Olsen Twins style advice?  What would you do?  Leave a comment below~

Pretty Pillowcase Dress

You may have noticed that I haven't had a whole lot to post in the past week or so.  Someone finally turned on the switch and spring has arrived full force, so I've been spending most of my time outside cleaning up the yard and creating a beautiful space in my garden.  I can't wait to show it to you once it's all done.

But that means there hasn't been all that much sewing and crafting going on.  Luckily, when spring hit a couple of months ago and there was still snow on the ground I did create a few things that I haven't shown you yet.

Like this cute little sundress for my niece.

I just used up a remnant I had and this pattern from 1981:

I'm pretty sure I just used view D and lengthened it to use up as much of the fabric as I had.

I get to see my niece next month so then I'll find out if this will be a dress or a tunic.  I think it's a little long for a top.

I added some pretty vintage lace on the bottom hem to give it an extra girly touch.

And I just used bias tape around the armholes to get a nice clean finish.

I love the versatility of this style.  It can last a little girl for years even as she grows.

Do you recognize this fabric?  It was a remnant from this dress I made a few years ago~

Concert Outfit

On Tuesday I told you about the phone call I received from my friend.  She needed someone to accompany her to a concert that night because she had won free tickets.

I couldn't turn her down because I knew how desperately she wanted to go, but I also knew I really had nothing to wear.  Just before she had called I had tried on some pants from last summer and they seem to have somehow shrunk while in storage.  In fact, all of my pants have shrunk!  I have no idea what's going on.  (Actually, I know exactly what's going on and joined a gym this week.)

So again, as luck would have it, I just happened to have a pair of new leggings to try out from SammyDress. Even though they're leggings I have to admit, I was pretty nervous they wouldn't fit either because they're one size fits all.

Black Leggings

Luckily they fit just fine.  I'm actually not anywhere near cool enough to pull of leather look leggings but these ones have fabric inserts so I thought I might be able to get away with it.

Last month I tried out a neat short wig so this month I thought I'd try one that would give me the hair I've wanted for my whole entire life but could never grow myself.

Full Wig

I think I need to shape the bangs just a bit and maybe sew in a comb or two on the inside so I know it will stay in place, but other than that, I think it looks kind of cute.

I love playing with wigs and hair pieces.  They're such a fast an easy way to change up your look with no commitment. (Ah! Commitment!  The scariest thing in the world to me.)

Check out Sammydress.com for more fun and inexpensive fashion items and hairpieces.

*This post is sponsored by Sammydress.com however no compensation was received other than the products shown and all opinions are my own.

Raspberry Refashion

Right now I'm all about using whatever fabric and notions I already have on hand to try to thin out my massive stock of STUFF.  Part of this movement includes refashioning a few things I have instead of throwing it all in the donate bag.

Like this cute little peasant dress.

Ahhh the sun!  I vaguely remember
what that feels like~

I made it a few years ago for my now non-existent Etsy shop.  It never sold and I've never worn it.

So I made it into an adorable sundress for my niece!

She hates it when she has to tie things around her tummy area so the belt isn't attached and it still looks cute enough without it.

I was going to try the rouleau method of making straps but it just wasn't working for me so I went into my stash and found some pretty seam binding and finished the top edge off with a scrap of crocheted lace.

Even if she only wears it once, she'll still have gotten more use out of it than I did.

Have you started making summer fashions yet?  It's still cold and rainy/snowy (yes, SNOW!!!) here but I'm hopefully that someday the sun will come out again and I can leave the house without a sweater on.  Leave a comment below so that I can live vicariously through you~

Convertible Top - FREE pattern

Considering we just had another snow storm here last weekend, it's a little early for this type of top, but at least I'll be ready when (if) summer finally arrives in Canada.

This top couldn't be any easier to make.  And I love that you can wear it so many different ways!

To get started, first create your pattern.  These measurements are for a small/medium.  If you want to make a large, just make the width of your rectangle a few inches wider.  A good guide to go by is that the width of the rectangle times 2 should be around 10" longer than your bust measurement.

Just make a rectangle with one side slightly longer and then join the top with a gentle angle.  Make sure to mark 5-6.5" from the top on that longer side.  You'll need to remember that when sewing.

Steps:
1) When cutting out your fabric, place the shorter side on the fold.  And while you're at it, cut out a long thin rectangle about 2" wide and 32-40" long.  If you don't have enough fabric you can always use something contrasting, a ribbon or other trim, or just put some elastic in the middle like I did.

A nice soft flowy rayon works best for this top

but you could try a thin well woven T-knit too~

2) With right sides together, sew the long edge of your big rectangle together, stopping at that 6.5" mark.

See how it's still open at the top?

3) Finish your seam edges with a serger or zigzag, iron flat, and then finish the top and bottom edges as well.

4) You need to sew down the seam at the top where we left it open.  Just fold under your seam edge to meet the fold, press and pin, then stitch it down in a long V shape.

5) At the top (the end with the opening that you just sewed down), fold over the finished edge about 3/4" and stitch close to the raw edge to make a casing.

6) Set that piece aside and make a drawstring from your long skinny rectangles.  Hopefully you've cut 2.  Just sew them together at one of the short ends and then, with right sides together, fold the long piece in half lengthwise and stitch.

7) Trim away about half of the seam allowance (you kept it wider for sewing for stability but now we can trim it down).  Using a safety pin or turning tool, turn the whole long thin piece right side out and press.

8) Using a safety pin to work the drawstring through the casing.

9) Try on your new top just to make sure of the length, mark it, and then hem it.  And NOW you're done!

So easy!  You can wear it over your shoulder, tie around your neck or put the tie in the front or the back. You can add elastic on the bottom edge or make it a little longer and add a peplum.  You can make it a lot longer and turn it into a dress.  So many options!

How will you wear yours?  Leave a comment below~

Get the Short Hair Trend...Without Cutting Your Hair!

I've been putting off going to the hair salon for way too long.  I'm just worried that when I walk in there, instead of saying "Just a trim please.", like I should, that I'll probably sit down and yell out "CHOP IT ALL OFF!  GIVE ME A PIXIE!!"  Which I will regret within about 2 days~

So I found a better solution!

Inclined Bob
(Tutorial for this necklace here)

The lovely folks at SammyDress sent me a wig!  I have loads and loads of clip-in extensions, falls, ponytails, etc, but I've never tried a full wig before.

I love it for those days when I just don't feel like doing my hair at all.  Plus it's perfect for the other days when all I want to do is cut it all off.  I'm not a short hair girl.  I look better in long hair.  I know that, and yet every few years I want to try something different, and usually live to regret it and spend the next two years desperately trying to grow it all out again.

The more I play with it the more ways I find to wear it.  If you want to try a full wig but you're nervous about the hairline, just throw a headband or bandanna on until you get comfortable styling it.  This wig is so much more voluminous than my own hair so I can add braids without them falling out right away too.

They even sent me the cute little off the shoulder top that I'm wearing.  It's one size fits all so I didn't really think it would fit but it's perfect.  And it's great for when I want something just slightly more smart than a T-shirt.  It comes in black and light blue as well.

Hey!  Is she wearing my hair?

Check out SammyDress for all kinds of hair and fashion options for the right price.

Have you ever worn a wig or extensions?  Leave a comment below.

*This post is sponsored by SammyDress.com.  No compensation was received other than the products shown and all opinions are my own.

You Can Be a Designer!

Have you heard of SheInside?  They're a fun and affordable online retailer.

They've got clothing for all shapes and styles.

I've fallen in love with these dresses for work:

I love their T-Shirts for more casual days.

And who doesn't want more cute accessories?

But the thing I found most fascinating about SheInside is that they have a Designer program!
That's right...you can submit your own original fashion designs and they just might get made and sold on the SheInside site!  And not only do you get to tell all of your friends that you're selling your designs internationally, if the sales are over $30 you'll get 15% of the order value!  Isn't that great?!?!

Once you submit your designs, if it gets chosen, it then gets made into a sample and buyers (the public) get to vote for their favourite.  If you get enough votes, your design gets put into production!

Here are some of the designs that are currently up for voting:

You can go HERE to see some of the designs that have already made it, and HERE to see which designs are currently in Pre-Sale.

I know how talented all of you are out there and I'm sure there must be someone out there who has all sorts of ideas to submit.

Check it all out and let me know which designs you like.  Just leave a comment below~

*I have not received any compensation or product for this post and all opinions are my own.