Angela's April Wardrobe Challenge

Have you been keeping up? I'm hoping to do some serging for the April Challenge.

 Love my overlocks. I have 4 home plus 2 industrial Artisans right now. The Juki's are my baby's, I got a lovely BabyLock in 2008 when I placed 2nd in PFF, and I have a New Home that I loaned out and it got trashed :(. I'm going to take it in and see if its repairable when I have extra cash. It would be nice to have one I can let kids try out for lessons.

By the way did you know that VHS shelves from defunct video stores are the perfect size for most commercial patterns?

Visit my examiner.com page for more info about the contest.

Dress Alteration

I'm always doing something. It is difficult to get it all posted here. I am making an effort :), but my pictures are a bit lazy.

I re did the waist and hem decoration on a First Communion dress for a friend's daughter. I am reminded of how much I dislike alterations. I would rather make it from scratch than alter. But it turned out good anyway.

Before:

 After:

 Had to pick the waistline apart, redo the zipper and do the hemming detail. Not difficult, I enjoy sewing when I'm doing, but I procrastinated on this because I just do that with alterations.

Its supposed to be 66'F today! Yippee!

My inspiration for the 1/2 Scale Challenge

 I have entered the 1/2 scale challenge for the 2014 American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan.

All images from Alabama Chanin and Natalie Chanin books

I fought it. I really did. But the truth is I find Natalie Chanin very inspirational right now. I was machine sewing letters on T shirts in 2012 and she has catapulted me forward with her embroidery and strained my brain with the thought of hand sewing EVERYTHING. 

After listening to Joi's class that comes with this American Sewing Expo contest, I threw together this board. I even tried to sketch. I'm not yet convinced that I can learn to sketch, but it has helped a lot to arrange my thoughts. I usually just think about it and it morphs while I'm doing. Now its solidifying in a different way. I don't think I'll do the whole thing by hand, but I'm considering doing beading (yikes!). 

I will be using upcycled denim and T shirts. I took Natalie's Online Sewing Class and will be using what I have learned there and in her books. 

Recycled denim backpack and Playing with my embroidery machine

I've been thinking about making a denim backpack, this is one style.

 I have another one in my head too, unfortunately I don't sketch.

I've also been playing with my embroidery machine. I would like to make interesting labels. I need to learn a little bit more about how to customize it. I can't wait till my kids are old enough to help me figure it out!

 

 I'll try to keep posting my progress.

Angela Wolf's March 2014 Wardrobe Challenge

I kinda dropped the ball on the February Challenge. I got busy with trees and couldn't keep up! I still have a shirred refashion that I plan on doing, we'll see if I can get it on here. If you read lots of blogs be sure to thank constant writers! Its hard to stop and take pics and write down while you are doing.

The March Challenge is sewing Designer Jeans!

promotional photo by http://fashionsewingwithangelawolf.com/

Same as last month, use Pinterest for inspiration, Flickr to share your hard work. Lots of great prizes.

Sew with Angela in her online class, Sewing Designer Jeans. 

Please share and comment at my Detroit Sewing Examiner page!

Trees, trees, Trees!

The youth theatre is doing "Into the Woods, Jr.". They have 4 shows with two casts. Everyone who tries out gets a part. That means about 50 children will get to be singing trees. I got to sew the trees!

Here is the inspiration:

 

I was able to modify an angel pattern to be A-line and put 1/4 circle panels in the side seams, the boys costumes have legs.

 The treetops cut and with ties.

 They have horsehair braid in the hems.

 43 Trees, only a few could share because they were full length.

Treetops painted.

Getting decorated.

 And I also made a dress for Cinderella last minute.

 The play is this weekend! I'll get final tree pics asap.

 Looking good!!

Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine

Lots of people tell me they want to sew, but they don't know how to use their machine. I can relate! It took me forever to learn that it mattered which way the bobbin went in on the machine. But once I figured that out I was off and sewing. I recommend this video class.




Claudia Miller goes over threading, bobbin winding and insertion, and many other little details to get you sewing.  And best of all the class is free! Its free to register there, too. But you do have to set up a free account. There are many other free classes in other crafty topics, but I haven't looked at them. 

Once you "buy" the free class it is yours to watch as often as you need. Plus, you can ask questions and get help as you go along. You can have your machine next to the computer and go through it with her, pausing if you need to.

If you are looking for a sewing book to get you going successfully, I recommend  The New Complete Guide to Sewing: Step-by-Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Accessories Updated Edition with All-New Projects and Simplicity Patterns (Reader's Digest). Take a look at the used books for a better price.

Sewing is such an enjoyable hobby for me, I want everyone to be successful!