The Marilyn finish!

I finished the Sew Serendipity Marilyn dress!  I am super happy that I was able to do this dress.  It is classic and I learned so much in the process I know my next garment venture will be even more successful.

In the instructions it recommends that you do a muslin fitting first.  I second that 100%.  When I made the first trial run it was okay.  It was good to get used to the terms and how things were going to look. The size I cut was really not the best for me. I also needed to add a little in the bodice and the waistband  since I am small and long in my torso, the bodice was hitting me a bit short.  Sara and I had a google hangout with all kinds of bodice maneuvering and a little measuring to figure out what needed to be done.  Kay recommends looking online for adjustments for alterations for this area if you are large or small busted or a book called Fit for Real People.  I needed an inch here and and inch there.

and this was my second muslin fitting. The bodice is much better in this one.

So I took the plunge and started on the "real" dress!!!!  I used Pellon Shape Flex for all the interfacing.  I think I need to start buying that stuff by the bolt!  SO many uses...so awesome!  I also used my trusty Aurifil thread in a stunning black 50wt.  I was thinking of trying the 40wt but I did not want my stitches to show so 50 was meant to be!

Instead of gathering the skirt, I went with box pleats. I looked at youtube videos and found this one that is super easy to follow by evangesews.com.  I started from the center and the pleats are 2in apart.  Not perfect but this was my first time ever doing these pleats.  I am very pleased with the outcome.

Here is the back view and my EPIC FAIL on the invisible zipper!  I did not sew close enough to the teeth but at that point I was not ripping it all out to do over.  My next dress I will hopefully do a better job. I also have NO IDEA what I am looking at in the tree.

The one thing I really wish I would have done is to add POCKETS!!!  Donna Reed would have had pockets!   If I can make this dress anyone can!  I am really loving it...

especially since it goes with my red shoes!!!!

Linked up on

Finish It Up Friday

Revisiting garment sewing with Sew Serendipity

I am determined to be able to sew garments.  I do not know the secret lingo of the seamstresses, I do not have all the right tools ( at least that is what I tell myself) and I REALLY REALLY hate to measure myself especially when I end up being two different sizes on the pattern packet!  

Then I saw Kay Whitt's pattern The Marilyn Dress! I fell in LOVE!   It had a waist, which I need since I am a complete pear shape. More exciting for me, it looked like something I could sew.  I have met Kay, she is lovely and such a firecracker!  I asked her all about the pattern when I saw her in Portland.  Was is easy?  Like easier than a Very Easy Vogue easy?  She assured me that I could do this dress with no problems.  I brought the pattern home and it sat waiting patiently for me to muster up enough courage to open it up, got cold feet and called Sara she reassured me that I could do this...

Last night I took the plunge...

Even though I have not straightened from the whirlwind of Polaroid blocks

I have not even swept up my "quilter's confetti"

But this dress HAD to be made...so by midday I was to this point

By late afternoon I made it to this point without one adult word ( patting myself on the back). I also  learned about understitching.

I am hoping I can have it completed tomorrow without my little guy as my zipper in the back ( see the cute toes behind me).  I think I need to take the skirt off and cut another longer one just because I do not care for my knees showing.  I am so happy I tried this one. It is building my confidence in garment sewing!!!! WOOT WOOT!  Hopefully more photos tomorrow but not of my sewing room ;o)

I think this is really it!!!!!

The last day of market ( which was Sat for me) was just as exciting as the first. I think I may have slept seven  hours the entire weekend.  I am feeling it now ;o)

This is one of the most exciting things that happened to me while there.

Lovely...just lovely!!!!!!! I could have moved into this booth and not even needed internet, cable or possibly food...ever! But someone would have had to bring me my Bernina and some Aurifil of course ;o)

EEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!! Amy Butler has her hands on the Pineapple Princess quilt and she really liked it.  She is so lovely and wonderful. It was great to meet her.  Thank you Amy for taking the time to look at my quilt!!! It is safely home with me and I need to bind it and take final photos :o)

*this photo is from Sara's blog since in mine my eyes are closed since I may have blacked out a bit*

Sara taking photos of the first dress I am going to make!!!!!

And meeting this firecracker Kay Whitt of Serendipity Studio was so much FUN!  All of that charisma and creativity in a fun loving girl from Texas!!!!  I love this lady!!!!!

You cannot walk anywhere here and not run into a fantastic idea or a fabulous person...it is IMPOSSIBLE!

I was on my way to meet up with Sara and I found my nirvana...LIBERTY fabrics...( can you hear the angels singing)!!!!! I fondled some fabric and promised I would return and the gang there was so nice!!!! I am sure they are used to this reaction to all of that loveliness. 

When we returned, I was invited to sit down in one of the chairs covered in Liberty fabric ( it somehow seemed a bit naughty but I went along with it) and was speaking to the most wonderful lady. She handed me a box...of LIBERTY swatches...TEARS came to my eyes and I think I may have blacked out for a minute or two because I cannot remember much after that. Is Liberty of London  fabrics THAT good...YES! 

Kirstie ( the really nice lady that put up with my moment of weakness) was kind enough to take a photo with me and it is blurry but that is because I am probably still a bit woozy ;o)

This is the box with the fabric! It was in my purse ON the plane for fear of it's safety on the flight home! the new line is called Bloomsbury Gardens . TO LIVE FOR!!!!!

Oliver+s had a very cute booth and I had to get some shots of the really fun projects they had displayed

This is Adam's favorite!

I went back to the Laurie Tigner Design booth ( I was working for her) and who should show up...

Mr. Aurifil! He was out visiting all the booths and saying hello :o)  I am starting to think Alex has a twin ...he is EVERYWHERE!!!! 

Right next to our booth was Like Sew, a great group of guys (geeks which in my book means godlike since html is a four letter word to me) that also host the FreeQuiltPatterns.info site. Great group and it was great to meet them!!!!

Here they are with Laurie shoot some footage of how she LOVES them!!!!! Who does not adore a guy that can confidently wear pink and write code ;o) Oohlala!

Art Gallery...oh BABY!!!!!! Soft and lovely and yummy and the most ENERGETIC and FABULOUS group of people! This is the fabric company you want to go to a PARTY with!!!!!

Pat Bravo's Summerlove is one that will be living in my sewing room as soon as I can get my hands on it!!!!

I had to fly to Kansas City to meet this talented lady even though I only live one hour from her...

Pat Sloan in her really cool dress in front of her new fabric line Eat Your Fruits and Veggies!!! 

Next to Pat Sloan was another person that was on my list to meet ( Amy Lou Who said I had to hug her) Vanessa Christenson of V&Co. I was so happy when I saw her and warned her I was going to give her a hug from Amy and she said okay, then I told her my name was Kim and she looked at my tag and said..."OH! you are THAT Kim!" Not sure if that was good or bad she hugged me again and I was super happy her ninjas did not jump me!!!! Yes, she had her own set of personal ninjas and they were in some of my photos  although I cannot show them( ninjas cannot ever reveal their true identity). 

Amy, I REALLY hugged her but Sara has the photo and I will post it as soon as I get it from her!!!!!

I found someone that was not quilting but KNITTING at market...I thought that was so cool and well, she was doing a great job!

I saw her again at the KCMQG!!!! And she gave me a prize ( see that Robert Kauffman fabric ;o), she gave that to me!!!) !!!! 

I was searching all over for her and she is NOT Sewing Athena ( I googled it every way possible)  but Spinning Athena multi talented and very nice :o) 

So with blistered and bandaged toes...

and a head full of ideas, I sadly said goodbye to Kansas City and all the wonderful people I met there.

Thank you Kansas City, International Quilt Market, designers, bloggers and everyone else! It was fun!!!!