This dress is what I would wear if I was in the glee-universe.  I got the fabric from a garage sale for $2.  I used McCalls M5094 view D.  I've made this pattern before here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=308237.  That version was a bit loose and the straps kept on falling down, so this time I went down a few sizes, and I'm happy to say that this fixed the strap issue!

Here's the photos!

I bought a $3 plain black bikini top from Walmart that I was hoping to stencil/paint a small design on.  Is there any specific things I should know about painting spandex?  The bikini top itself won't be stretching much when I wear it, so removing stretch by painting shouldn't be too much of an issue.  Do I have to use fabric paint?  Or would acrylic paint suffice?

Thanks!!!

I saw this fabric at Ikea and thought it was adorable. Brought it home and started working with it, and the birds started to freak me out a tad. Oh well, I still love the dress

It's based on the Coffee Date Dress by elainemay (http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/coffee-date-dress). I made one previously and liked the shape. This version just improved upon some minor things that went wrong last time.

Since I prefer princess seams over darts, I converted the darts to princess seams using the tutorial (http://www.burdastyle.com/techniques/change-darts-to-princess-seams)on burdastyle. I didn't convert the back darts to princess seams, but next time I might. I lowered the front neckline by 1.5 inches and widened the strap placement by about 1 inch.

Also lowered the back neckline by 1.5 inches and widened the backpieces by 1.5 inches so I had enough to go around my body. I took in each back dart by about 0.5 inch to make it more fitted.  I absolutely LOVE invisible zippers!!!  I don't know what I was intimidated by before

I want to make this dress: http://m-sewing.com/patterns-catalog/women/dresses/wedding-dress-5529.html, but I cannot figure out how to print the pattern!  Has anyone here printed a pattern from the site before?  I followed the instructions, but they aren't clear enough.  My pdf program does not have a tiled printing setting, so I downloaded the Autodesk program.  From here I cannot figure out how to make sure the scaling is correct (plus the program confuses me too!) 

Any help/tips are greatly appreciated!

Two new projects finished!  A few more in the wings, just need to do finishing work on them before posting 


I used McCalls M5094 View C. I made a few tweaks, such as adding the contrasting band at the hem and tweaking the bodice so there is an overlap in the middle. The original had too much of a plunging neckline for my tastes It's fully lined, although the skirt lining was an afterthought so pretty shoddily done, if I do say so myself. I'm still toying with the idea of ripping out the zipper and putting in a longer one so I can step in/out. I can imagine being sweaty and sticky in the summer and how much more difficult it would be :p

 
Dress #2 is my take on the Coffee-Date Dress by elainemay (http://selfishseamstress.wordpress.com/). It's a free pattern (http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/coffee-date-dress-multisize-sample)!  The dress bodice I made from a white cotton poplin remnant from my halloween costume a few years back. The black band is scrap from a skirt I made.  The blue is twill from a failed ambition to sew scrubs. Since the pattern doesn't come with seam allowances added, I cut out a few sizes bigger than my own and that seemed to fit. I'd change a few things for next time though. The bodice needs to be widened, the straps lengthened, and I need to learn how to make non-pointy darts.  As you can see, I had to add extra fabric at the back to make it wide enough.  My dart placement is probably waaay off (I extended them way above the nipple line because I hate the illusion of perky nipples). Overall I think it turned out well. The bodice is fully lined, which is different from the pattern (the pattern only calls for facings).

I just got back from Las Vegas, and it was SO nice to be able to wear skirts about!  It's far too cold to do that at home

First skirt is blue silk.  I saw it, and couldn't resist it for $4 .  I resized it WAY down from a 12, and kept the original zipper in, cause theres no way I could re-do that nicer than it was originally.


Next skirt was from my collection of clothes that I got at a 'stuff as much clothes into a bag for $15' sale.  I shared a bag with a friend, and each item ended up being around $1.  Again, cut it way shorter and resized it.  I installed my first nice looking invisible zipper in this skirt!!!  I really like the look of invisible zippers, so from now on I will try to use them more!

I started off by wanting to make the burdastyle Marie skirt.  However, once I sewed in all the pleats it ballooned like none other, so I ripped it apart and started over again.  This was my first time working with a patterned fabric that was noticible when it didn't line up. So the back is a bit funny looking due to this.  I'll probably still wear it, since I don't tend to see my backside anyhow :p

I'm looking for some new presser feet for my ancient Janome machine.  A rolled hem foot and an invisible zipper foot would be nice! 
Anyone know where I could find these at a decent price?  Anywhere in the Lower Mainland is fine.

Thanks!

I noticed that dresses in this style are pretty 'in' (although I've never been anywhere near fashionable, as I sit here and type in my grungy sweats :p), anyhow I didn't really see any in my price range, or of half-decent quality.  Plus the construction looked relatively straight forward.  So I took an old too short tank top that I haven't worn in years, and some stretchy knit fabric from the $2 bin at Walmart (*tear* no more fabric section at my walmart anymore) and sewed this:

front:

back:

mini-tute, using my measurments:


Hopefully this will ease me into sewing stretchy fabrics, because my machine and I are still intimidated by them!

It's finally sunny outside, and I finally decide to recon a sweater I bought back in the winter.  It's 100% merino wool, so it's nice and soft and warm!
I used MrsBowles' tutorial (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=224654.0) for this.  I think it turned out okay; not too happy with the hem but I think I'll fix that later when I get another desperate need to sew :p

Closeup

whole thing:

Original: