Josephine Sews

My last project frustrated me so I wanted something that was easy and required no modifications.  I found it in Simplicity 1318.  On PatternReview  there are so many beautiful makes of this one. I started this some weeks ago during the week and forgot about it because I have not been back to my sewing room.  I was getting ready to cut out a skirt or a dress or a shirt (hadn't made a final decision yet) and had to go in my sewing room for something and saw this UFO by my sewing machine. There is a skirt that I want to make to go with this kimono jacket and did not want to post until I got both of them made but I was not able to start the skirt in time.  I wanted one final post before the new year. How I Did It I used a fabric from my stash (ya).  Although it is more of a spring/summer fabric I wanted to use what I had.  I believe it is some kind of rayon/cotton blend. The only adjustment I made was to shorten the length 3 inches.  ...

A woman at my church started a group for girls ages 5 to 18 called "Girls Rock" (Girls Rely On Christ the King).  Her goal is to help train these young ladies in different areas of life.  One of the components she wanted to teach was cooking and that is where I came in.  She wanted these young ladies to bake Christmas cookies to give out to church members and since I love to bake she asked for my assistance (as well as others) for the piece. You know when cooking you must have an apron and a chefs hat (in my world).  We didn't have time to make the hats or aprons (I have made them before) so she bought the aprons and I stitched out the logo on them. How I Did It I would love to take credit for the design but I can't - the creator of the group came up with the design.  Here are some of the logos she played with. I had to take her samples and try and digitize them so I could stitch them out on the aprons - 12 of them.  I loved the font with t...

I really really really need a dress form that is a duplicate of my body.  I have a dress form but it is not a duplicate of me.  What's funny is I had one and refused to believe it was my shape and never used it and eventually threw it away.  It cost me all of about $25 bucks.  With a friends help we made a duck tape dress form of me. I really needed that dress form for this dress.  After 3 muslin's I still could not get the fit correct and I am not sure why.  I had put it away a couple of times and came back to it thinking whatever I kept doing wrong would resolve itself but it never did.  I couldn't or wouldn't move on to another pattern. It had nothing to do with the pattern and everything to do with me.  The pattern is Simplicity 8014.  I really loved the shirt tail hem but view A or B would have been a better choice for my shape. How I Did It I made my adjustments - my normal add to the waist and hips and had taken 1" away fro...