Refashioned: Drop-waist Lace

Time is precious right now. There is hardly enough to go around! My many projects– recovering a chair, painting an old bike, figuring out new curtains, making bread weekly, blogging…ever– have all been tossed to the wind. No time. This lovely little refashion, however, was so quick and easy that I found enough time to make it happen. Like most of my refashions, this vintage dress started out at an estate sale with a 50 cent tag attached.

Though it was pretty to start with, the waist was a bit too low for my taste; so I seam-ripped the skirt off and reattached it a bit higher. Then I added another panel of white lining under the second tier of lace to make it decent. So easy! Perhaps what I love most about this one is its versatility. Today at church, I wore the dress with a chambray tank over it, a leather belt, and cowboy boots. It would also be adorable with a cardigan and topped of with a cloche for an ultra Twenties look. Anyhow, I am looking forward to trying out options!

Good.

It is Easter once more, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to sing my Savior’s praises today! He is so good. When there is nothing good in me, He is good. When we were dead in our sin, He chose to display his goodness and love by dying on a cross to save us. He is good. We can trust in His promises, because He is good. Need I say it again? Yes, He’s good.

P.S. This is my Easter dress that I made, a copycat of this dress, using this great princess seam tutorial.

1920’s Inspiration

It seems like 1920’s fever has been going around. The Great Gatsby and Downton Abbey have gotten into everybody’s heads, I guess. I’ve never loved the drop-waist trend that was so popular, but for some reason (I must have gotten the fever, too) I am dead-set on making a 20’s dress. I’m planning on this being my Halloween costume, though I would love for it to be something I will wear again. So, I come to you, my lovely readers, with a question… What should it look like? I am aiming for elegant, not flapper. Based on that fact and these photos, what aspects should I incorporate? Tiers, lace, vertical ruffles, deep v-neck, side bow, sleeves, sheer fabric…. And what color?

Quick DIY: Bunting!

What sewing room, or bedroom, or living room doesn’t need a little perk? This is pretty much the cutest “little perk” I’ve ever seen– scrap bunting! You can personalize this within only the limits of your own scraps… burlap, polka dots, pink, lace, vintage novelty, anything you have in your sewing closet (do you see my pink flowery pinata fabric?). On top of its cuteness, this bunting happens to be super easy and super cheap to make. All you need is a few fabric scraps, some bias tape, and a bit of lace trim, and about an hour. Simply, cut your triangles in whatever size and quantity you like with pinking shears. Next, fold your bias tape in half and stick the lace trim (I used a ruffled eyelet) in between. Stitch the lace trim into the bias tape for a few inches; then begin adding your triangles under the trim but still inside the folded tape. Continue to stitch along the top of the bias tape until all your lovely little triangles are attached and finish by sewing the last few inches of lace trim into the bias tape. This project would make a great gift or party decoration (I’m using this one for a Shirley Temple birthday party), or of course an adorable addition to your room, hung daintily over your window.

Lace and Wine

That is- the color “wine.” Making this dress was my first experience with a vintage pattern. With double darts, a faux button-up front, and the fit-and-flare style, this pattern is one of my favorites, even among the ones I have drafted. I am amazed how well it fits! What could be better than a dress that fits perfectly? Fabric for $1 a yard, of course! And wine-colored rayon challis at that, which is the color I have been loving for this fall and winter (please don’t call it maroon… that takes away from the whole elegance of the look) and my favorite material of all time. To top it off, I used a lace collar from a garage sale, which I have been saving for the perfect project. This ought to be just the dress for casual occasions throughout fall and winter. A cardigan will layer nicely over it, or tights under it, and boots beneath it! Also, for anyone wondering, my new (vintage) sewing machine stitched up this dress like a dream.

Pleated and Collared Dress

Here is my lovely lace and blue creation! I made this dress fully out of fabric I already had (the lace was my granny’s). So the total cost was about 3 dollars, the cost of the invisible zipper. This was my first peter pan collar to draft. It was far easier than my last collar, because I actually drafted it correctly. The rest of the pattern is a modification of my polka-dotted dress, which has been perhaps my favorite pattern. The skirt is a pleated half-circle. I guess this dress reminds me of that light blue, white-sleeved dress that Maria wears, because every time I put it on I feel like I came straight out of The Sound of Music. It will be a suitable dress for church, weddings, and the like. This may well be he best-fitting dress I have ever made. Now if that doesn’t convince you to draft your own patterns, I don’t know what does!

Oh, and the lucky winner of the lace infinity scarf is…. lucyducy! Please give me your email address in a comment, which I will not publish/approve, that way I can send you the scarf!

Lace Infinity Scarf Giveaway!

I just got my 100th follower! I’m coming up on my two year blogging anniversary and have run into so many great bloggers on here. Thanks so much to all of you for reading and commenting on my blog! I always love signing in and seeing that little box in the right corner turn orange, because someone commented or newly followed my blog. Now, what you all are waiting for……. I’m giving away this lace infinity scarf that I made! To enter, just comment on this post; then I will randomly select a winner. Entries are open through May 12, and the winner will be announced shortly after. Thank you all for reading about my gastronome-iness and my closet!

Lace and blue

Here’s a little sneak peek at my newest endeavor. I hope to finish it over the next few days. Can you guess what it is?

Lace Trim Top

I’ve been hankering to do this project for some time since I saw a similar idea on this blog a while back. In some ways, it is moderately simple, but it must be done very diligently. It was super fun, though. You first have to piece together lace strips. I’ve read that some people use lace fabric cut into strips, but I just used several different lace trims. I used some neat lace that my granny passed down to us and some other lace that a sweet lady gave us recently. I spent a ton of time organizing the lace the way I wanted it. When it was finally perfect, I sewed the strips together (wide enough to fit the front and back of the shirt) with a zigzag stitch. Then, I just cut my pattern out of the fabric and sewed the side and shoulder seams. I finished all the raw edges by serging and barely turning under. I was imagining this to turn out great, but it’s far better than I imagined. I think it’ll be a perfect top to dress up or down. It’s cute with denim shorts, or, at least I think this would be darling, with a long black or coral skirt, which I need to make =D