Me-Made-May 2013!

I'm in!

"I, Erika, of ErikaMadeIt, sign up as a participant in Me-Made-May '13. I endeavor to wear at least handmade garment each day for the duration of May 2013. Also I pledge to finish and wear two new items, with the fabric from my stash."


I can't even remember how many of these I have participated in but I'm in again. It's always a good challenge and it's great to wear some of the things I've forgotten about. I always come out of the month realizing how far I've come with garment making and how much I've really done. I have plenty of outfits already lined up, and can't wait for Wednesday!

Who else has signed up? Any reservations?
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Jiffy Dress: Simplicity 1609

When the new simplicity books came into the store (I work at Fabricland) and I flipped the page to this new re-released Jiffy dress, I gasped. "OMG we have to make this".  So I whipped up a sample for a summer camp class. When I first saw this pattern, it looked like the dresses from Moonlight Kingdom, but now in this color it's reading as Megan from season 4 of Mad Men. Perfect for the Mad Men challenge! (My second entry!)

The fabric is a cotton, with a bit of spandex in this BRIGHT coral color, I just love it. The collar is in a white cotton pique, with some covered buttons also in white. This pattern is an excellent reprint. It has french darts in the front, and one piece facing. I LOVE one piece facings. It makes such a clean finish. This dress was so easy to put together, It took me a little more than a morning. Good thing too because I have to teach this class to teenagers this summer!

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Cherry Print Vogue

Don't you love it when a pattern and fabric come together perfectly? This is my second version of the vintage reprint Vogue 8728, I love how flattering the gathered bust and how easy it is to put together. The last version I made was too big (even though I followed the finished measurements) so I made this one two sizes smaller. I measured the actual pattern and it was 2 inches bigger than it said it was. This is not the kind of pattern that you would want too much ease!

For this version I used a lightweight rayon with some stretch in a cherry print, from Mood in NYC. I love this Fabric! It's lightweight and silky, but was easy to sew. I used a ballpoint needle in the smallest size I could find, the only difficult part was sewing the skirt to the bodice, it kept wiggling around. 

I made this dress for Easter, and it felt very springy. I even ordered a matching belt from Pat's Custom Buttons and Belts. This dress is the perfect blend of vintage and modern, I could even make a third version! 

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Bow Hazel Dress

Stash-busting success! This is the Marc Jacobs bow print cotton from FabricMart, that has been sitting in my stash for what seems like forever. I chose the Hazel dress from Colette Patterns because I thought that the V-seamed bodice would show off the stripes of bows. The fabric was a little sheer so I lined the whole thing with the perfect color of light pink, that really made the bows POP.

The bodice sat a little too low on me so I added a contrasting block of pink at the top for more coverage. I cut another facing piece and this time attached it upwards, the effect is not exactly fitted, but it does cover the goods. The hardest part about this dress was trying to match up the stripes, which are not even, they kind of subtly zig and zag, so when I went to match up the stripes on the skirt, it was way off. I had enough to cut another skirt side piece, so it matches somewhat now.

The pattern calls for a gathered skirt, but I chose to pleat it instead, I think it's a little bit more flattering on me. The best thing about this pattern is the POCKETS, I love that Colette always adds pockets. I think this dress looks best with a little cropped cardigan, this one I knitted a million years ago, it's a Rowan magazine pattern.

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Giveaway Winner!

The lucky winner is JuanitaTortilla! Here is her comment:

Hi Erika!

I found your blog in good time :)
I've just moved (back) to Central New Jersey this February after 4-odd years in Europe. It's nice to be back, and I was trawling the 'net for a friendly neighbour.

The favorite thing about sewing is simply making things according to my taste and size... We all don't come from the same cookie cutter! Also, I just love to make things with my hands!

Followed you on twitter and will do that on Instagram... Not just for this great giveaway, but because I think you're too cool for school. Can't wait to hear more!

Sincerely,
Juanita

Thanks Juanita! So glad you found my blog, I am indeed too cool for school :) Please email me your contact info and your fabric will be on its way! 

Thank you to everyone for entering my giveaway! 

                                                                   

Winner was chosen by random number generator, the lucky number was 16. ( sorry I can't put the picture up for some reason)

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GIVEAWAY REMINDER

 Today is the last day to enter the fabric giveaway! Enter HERE 

 Good Luck!

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