Wrap Dress completed

I finished the dress! I think it turned out well and that it looks good, considering I was trying to use some fabric I wasn't crazy about. I might even like it now...

Wrap Dress

Here is my current project - a wrap dress with draping and a cascade. The pics are the original sketch, the pieces pinned to the dress form, and the ruffle. My goal is to finish this by tomorrow!

My Favorite Sewing Accoutrements

To make sewing better and easier, these are my must-have tools:

I'll start with the most expensive one. I think good pressing is the key to good sewing. I would have never believed that I would one day have a favorite iron, since a male friend of mine in college took pity on me and introduced me to a world of pressed clothing. But here I am with my fancy Rowenta Steam Generator, which is worth every penny. And next to it, I keep my hem gauge.


Who wants to rip seams? I never did. But I finally came to terms with the fact that I do a lot of seam ripping. A lot. I had to embrace it. I have seam rippers all over the studio, in my purse and in my closet (for removing pesky, scratchy labels). Then one day I found the king of seam rippers. The surgical seam ripper. It is scary. I have ruined fabric with this one, and slashed my fingers on more than one occasion, but when I get it right, it is fantastic. You have to hold it at the perfect angle and put it right back in the plastic sleeve before you injure yourself. I tried a few that were similar and had comfy handles, but they weren't as sharp.

The stiletto is great for holding fabric in place as it goes under the iron or presser foot and much more effective than my finger. And it's pink.

Many times I have intended to trim threads but accidentally snipped a hole or stabbed the scissors through the fabric. So I was happy to find these rainbow titanium oxide blunt tipped scissors. I took them on a road trip to use while crocheting and somehow lost them in the car. I found other blunt tipped scissors, but they looked so boring after having the pretty ones. I had to wait until the quilt show came back to town and find the vendor to get another pair.

I don't like crawling and searching for dropped pins, so I keep a telescoping magnet next to my sewing machine.

Pattern weights are so much easier than pinning. I use professional and Dritz brand weights.

I use a flexible ruler for measuring pattern seams. Measure twice, cut once!

Finally, I keep my favorite 1 1/2" pearlized pins on magnetic pin cushions. I have three: one on the cutting table, one at the sewing machine and one at the ironing board. If you accidentally knock them over, it's no problem to pick up.

Hopefully, you can find some of these tools useful. If you have a favorite sewing tool, please leave a comment and let me know what it is!

Favorite Things #5

While watching the Tivo'd version of Oprah's Favorite Things last night, I thought of two more of my favorite things. I'll save one for later, but the other is my George Foreman Grill. I have the G5 model. I bought that one because you can remove the plates for easy cleaning.

I had heard of them previously, but the first testimony to their greatness I heard was when my brother told me how much he loved his "GFG". I didn't get one until several years later, but I am glad I did. I didn't care much for grilled chicken before the GFG. It always seemed dry, tough and bland. Now I love GFG grilled chicken! It only takes 10 minutes for juicy, tender, savory deliciousness! Yum-O!

Sip & Shop

Pleated Wraps

I made this hand-pleated wrap for a design challenge - and won!
The hot pink is silk shantung.

Favorite Things #6

These are two things, but I'm counting them as one for #6. How do I get my updo to stay up without 99 bobby pins and a can of ozone-depleting hairspray? Goody Modern Updo Pin or Spin Pins.
I love having long hair, but more often than not, wear it up. I bought the Updo Pin first on a whim while shopping for face wash cloths. I had it for two days and loved it, but somehow lost it while holding it in my hand and walking to the car. ???
When I went back to buy another one, I saw the Spin Pins and thought if the first one worked so well I'd also give those a shot. They're fantastic! You can take it out and re-do your hair in less than thirty seconds.
If you have ever had the airport security alarm go off because of your bobby pins (Okay, as the day-after bridesmaid who was too tired to remove them all) or are planning a cinematic slow motion let-your-hair-down-and-shake-it move, you will appreciate this.