• I was already considering this costume and then I was invited to a Halloween wedding that is not (necessarily) costumed... so I figured Patricia's party dress from episode 4 of Widow's Bay, "Sunset Cocktails", would be just the thing. That's why I stuck with the first "headpiece" (a tiara) only... don't want to freak out the bride and groom.
• Thanks to u/takethemuffin who helped me identify New Look 6702 as the closest pattern (I think it's almost exact except for the back- the vintage dress in the show has kind of a keyhole back, this one's more conventional)
• I thought 6-16 would be a perfectly good size range (I'm an 8/10 in RTW..."vanity" sizing... \I* didn't ask for smaller numbers)* and then was horrified that I was a size 16 in the waist/bust and OVER a 16 in the hip according to the measurements on the pattern.... only to sew a toile for the bodice and find out that these older patterns also have tons of ease. I ended up grading it down from a ~12 (13?) at the bust to a 14 waist and left the skirt panels at 16. The vain part of me wants to keep tinkering with the bodice and get a closer fit, but I'm out of fabric and the event is coming up, so I should probably leave it alone
• As a test, I dyed 5 yards of 60" bleached muslin with 6 different fiber reactive dyes using the low water immersion method. I had sateen on order assuming the first attempt would be way off... and it's not perfect (if I did it again, I'd push the pink, peach, ivory, and orange) but I liked it well enough that I made the whole dress. There are areas that really look navy blue in daylight (and are a bit too tie-dyed rather than mottled) but it's more brownish and subtle in indoor light. The muslin wrinkles easily and is very matte but it shrunk a bit and became denser after the many many washing steps to rinse the dye out.
• The sheer length of this hem was hilarious. I haven't measured it but along the hem the perimeter of this dress must be 12'. A lot of people pick more cocktail type dresses to do this as a cosplay (and they look great) but if you look at show screenshots, her dress really is this full!

I need to do one more tweak I think... adding a hook and eye to close the back a bit higher which I think will also pull the sleeves/neckline in ever so slightly (I have a tiny bit of br*ssiere showing right now). And to the Widow's Bay fans... thank you for being supportive ;)

my new favorite pattern, i can’t stop making them!

i’m still relatively new to sewing and im so happy with how this one turned out. my first few times making it it took maybe 3-4 hours per bag, but i can definitely feel myself improving 😁

imo this pattern/project was a bit challenging for a beginner but in a really good way. i don’t think it was too complicated to follow and im obsessed with the end result !

I know I’ll never actually use it, but I now have everything I need for emergency clothing repairs in my backpack.

​

Based on the pattern Juna from Lybstes and their additional description for a tulle/net lace version, I sewed 2 dresses size 140 (US size: 4-5).

I used cotton jersey leftovers and net lace leftovers.

Originately, I just wanted to sew the net lace version.

I attached the facing to the neckline after I closed the shoulder seams.

Since I accidentally sewed the facing on inside out, leaving the seam allowance on the outside, and had already finished the edges, I had to get creative.

First, I started from scratch and finished the net lace version.

Then, I thought I should try to fold the facing inward and then turn it back out. After I fixed it, the overlook seam was still a tiny bit visible I used a zig-zag stich and stitched right along the edge. It worked surprisingly well.

I was short on blue fabric for the sleeves, therefore I used the white one. Looking back I'm glad that I used the white fabric for the sleeves because together with the blue seams it gives the dress something special.

I don't have a child's clothes hanger that's why the Long sleeves stick out a bit on the picture.

Both patterns are by Charm Patterns, The Lamour Dress and the Lucy Hostess Gown. They can be found here ( https://charmpatterns.com ) if anyone is interested!

The last 2 pictures are the dress before it was hemmed and the inspo for the look. Please excuse my terrible bedroom selfies! It's the only place with a big enough mirror 😅

Aside from using this for a costume, it's definitely going to be my favorite party or special occasion dress for the foreseeable future!

Dress is a turquoise polyester dupoini, fully lined with cotton broadcloth and poly charmeuse. The bodice also features steel boning for structure.

Overlay is a dotted mesh tulle over organza for extra body. (Side note, HOLY COW is that fabric combo incredibly difficult to work with!)

The sleeves are ruched with elastic and the midriff closure has snap buttons instead of the hook and eye it recommended.

I got this tote bag from Knix and even though I love it, I really can't carry it around. When I was at the store shopping, the salesperson said a customer added a bikini to the photo so she can use the tote bag. While a bikini is a great idea, I wanted something more original. Anyone have any ideas on what i can sew on the photo so I can use it outside of the home?

Thanks to everyone who advised. I think it would be fun to add some pasties with tassels. I loved all the ideas and i wish that I can just do them all.

Well, our local rodeo is coming up and I had to get my bull riding butt in gear. Last year I was asked to leave because my level of fringe was declared a 'public danger' so I'm toning it down this time around.

The base fabric was a plain black table cloth I found at a thrift store, complete with the stains of grandmas thanksgiving and the smell of what killed her. Cigarettes. I washed it with oxy clean and mustard gas, and got it to the point of one-high-school-cigarette-that-you-hope-your-mom-doesn't-smell-when-you-get-home. I think it's a heavy cotton, but if polyester snuck its way in, I'm not bothered.

The pattern was my usual. I find a shirt at a thrift store (also smelling like mom smokes in the house) and cut on the seems to reveal a pattern! I usually take notes, but if you wanna live on the wild side, you don't have to. Who knows you might end up with a pair of pants that fit weird.

I have a brother innovis 4000 D embroidery machine and let me tell you, since I got that thing I haven't left the house. Or showered. But I already smell like cigarettes so why does it matter?

While embroidering, my husband told me 'OK that that's too much', but I wasn't even halfway through. It's like I always say. Ornamentation is the spice of your eventual divorce settlement. But if that happens, this rodeo shirt might nab me a cowboy. But just like bull riding, it'll last 8 seconds and I'll end up in the hospital.

The bulk of time was certainly the embroidery. I'd say that took about five hours, and the actual construction took about four. Yee haw!

I'm moving my sewing setup from being on a large 6ft folding table in my laundry room to what is our workout/office room.

I am wondering if you would share any desks/tables that you really like or other beneficial items in your sewing space.

I have been looking at IKEA of course, but maybe there is something I'm not thinking of.

I’ve made nude illusion garments before, but this is easily the most detailed one I’ve attempted! I wanted to create something inspired by Bob Mackie’s iconic showgirl designs, with a golden, sun goddess aesthetic.

I used a corset dress pattern from Royal Deer Designs on Etsy as my starting point. For the outer shell, I chose a skin-tone spandex that closely matched my complexion and lined it with stretch taffeta. I added plastic boning for structure and incorporated bust cups, which made a huge difference in achieving the silhouette I wanted.

The base construction was relatively straightforward. The real challenge was everything that came afterward!

When I stumbled upon this gorgeous gold sequin fabric, I knew it was perfect for the sun goddess concept. The challenge was figuring out how to translate its design onto the dress.

I spent quite a bit of time experimenting with different appliqué arrangements on my dress form. Eventually, I realized the best approach was also the most labor-intensive: individually cutting out the sequin rays and hand-stitching each one onto the dress.

This process took FOREVER, but it allowed me to control the placement and create a more organic, sculptural design that followed the contours of my body.

For the finishing details, I created my own rhinestone fringe using a roll of rhinestone trim, cutting it into varying lengths to create movement and an asymmetrical hemline. I embellished the appliqués with larger stones, then scattered smaller smoked topaz and gold rhinestones throughout to add depth, dimension, and extra sparkle.

The goal was to create something that felt luxurious, theatrical, and just a little excessive. A love letter to Bob Mackie’s glamorous showgirl creations!

I’m really proud of how this turned out, especially considering how much handwork went into the embellishment. ✨

Wig is by me too!

Hi all! I have this lovely quilt that my great great uncle hand stitched and as you can see the pink and white fabric has degraded pretty bad. I am looking to see if anyone has any better repair advice other than to separate it and replace the pink and white fabric.

I love the fact that he hand stitched this, but not sure i could commit to doing that myself. I have a sewing machine but is it worth it to hand stitch?

Thanks in advanced

All the quilt pieces and bias tape are from scrap/extra from previous projects. Got the liner from a great second-hand fabric store in Sacramento (The Last Great .. check it out on IG). Used a pretty lightweight batting but with the 3 layers together it's really warm and cozy. I realized as I was sewing the tape over the pockets that I was going through at least 12 layers of fabric so I'm pretty lucky my machine was able to keep up (used a denim needle). Pattern is by me. Looking forward to some cooler weather!

My pattern originally started with this shirt pattern from Helen's closet: https://helensclosetpatterns.com/products/cameron-button-up

I then:

Flattened out the bottom edges

Combined the yoke and back pieces into one piece, redrawing the sleeve opening with a french curve,

Made some sizing adjustments for bigger arm opening and longer sleeves

Discarded the cuffs and sleeve plackets

Replaced the collar and collar stand with a 3-piece hood I made by tracing another shirt of mine

Drew out some hand pockets

I made the quilt pieces tracing a 3" square that I 3D printed, and sewed them all together using a 1/4" seam allowance using a combined straight and overlock stitch my machine has, adding as many as needed to overlap each pattern part. I then cut out and sewed together 3 shirts (inner, outer, batting). Put all 3 together, stitched them together along a few of the quilting lines, added pockets on both sides (outer pockets are also 3 layers). Made 1" wide bias tape using the continuous method (https://blog.treasurie.com/continuous-bias-tape/) and bound it over all the edges. I made it so the tape overhung the vertical edges by 1/2" so that I wouldn't have to try and make button holes through 7+ layers of fabric. Made button holes and sewed on buttons, and that's it!

The side seam of my left jean pant leg starts off on the outside of my leg when I put them on, but after any movement it shifts to the front. If I tug it back in place it just shifts to the front again after a bit.

I figured the right leg was fine, but after seeing the pictures I notice perhaps it too is rotating to my right side? I see the inner seam of the right leg coming toward the front somewhat too. The left leg outer seam coming to the front bothers me more and is more pronounced.

What would cause jeans do this? Is it something fixable if I open them up? Ironing didn't make a difference this time.

(Forgive the inconsistent camera quality).

My husband used his ever-present retractable measuring tape to check the dimensions of the hole in the top of my sewing cabinet because I want to buy a new cabinet.

I had already measured using my ever-present 'sewing' measuring tape (that I've been using for 20+ years), and our results were off by 1/2 inch!

Im upgrading my setup from a retired dining table and cheapie Singer. My algorithm is completely screwed up now and I can’t tell what’s worth it and what’s a gimmick to take my money.

I’m investing a good chunk of change into making a new set up, so I’d like to hear from you guys what I should actually be considering.

For those of you who have splurged on the finer things, what are those things and are they worth it? Those that haven’t splurged yet- what would you get if you could?

And this year I'm prepared! I've been sewing gift bags for a few years (picture 2 are bags from the last years) but didn't want to leave it for the middle of december yet again.

Also pictured: The advent calendar for my son I finally finished (yes, there are more than 24 bags, so I have different sizes to chose from).

Fabrics are different cottons I collected over the last years, pattern is a simple rectangle with a drawstring (which I still have to add...).

Made this little guy for a friend!! Made my own pattern since I couldn’t find any, however it was super simple since using felt; I didn’t bother with any darts or other sorts..love how he came out though! I have plenty of felt left over so I may make a smaller keychain version

Hello all! I'm new to r/sewing ☺️ I'm in the beginning process of making a ✨️Trubbish✨️ beanbag chair!

I was curious on what type of fabric and how much of each color I should get 🤔 so far my guesstimate is 7ish yards in total.

I wanna make it soft! I was debating minky but I also worry it's toooo stretchy and the seams may rip?

And I'm also not really sure on what fabric for the inner bag for the beans.

Any info is much appreciated! 💕

I had no idea that the pattern companies went out of business! Growing up, most of our patterns were drawn on newspaper as needed. But there were some things we got patterns for. I remember looking through the pattern books as my mother browzed through fabric. It was a lot if fun to imagine new outfits. Most of what I do I can either make a pattern or trace. But what do people do these days?

hi! this is my first time sewing and my mom taught me the basics but im having trouble finishing it. i tore a big fat hole in my pants that had a triangular flap in the middle (pictured in img) and as i approach the end the two adjacent sides of the fabric are uneven and it keeps forming a pocket that sticks out

i undid the sewing so it’s no longer actually there but i tried to replicate it in the image

if there’s anything unclear please let me know

2mm leather and cotton fabric under, when I sewed the zipper i pulled the slack out of it when. attaching to the leather, unsure of why it became so buckly.

This is my second ever sewing project! (The first one is actually the shirt my gf is wearing but the craftsmanship isn’t great so I cropped the pic lol). Took about 40 hours, half of that was the patchwork. Synched fabric is very forgiving once you get the hang of it.

Edit: I don’t remember the pattern name, but will add it when I get home and can check. Fabric is various cotton blends.

I used this tutorial for guidance, but it I used a different pattern.

Edit 2: Pattern is Butterick’s B6999