Kathy's 100 Emerys Interview

Hello My Sewing Bloggy Friends,

 Long time no see! I've had a fabulous summer that I'm still processing but you will hear about it soon. I do apologize for so completely abandoning you but it seems everything has gone well and the FB Stashbusting group is consistently growing which is so fantastic! 

I've been sitting on this fabulous interview with Kathy of The Nerdy Seamstress for the whole summer and I figured it was finally time to share.

How long have you been sewing? 
I started sewing when when I was 9 and stopped some time in high school. I wish I can say I kept all the knowledge, but I had to relearn a lot of basic skills. I started sewing again only late January of last year because clothes never fit me and the style I like were out of my price range. I never looked back.

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Do you have a fabric stash?
Oh my goodness! Which seamstress doesn't have a fabric stash. Right? My stash is huge it's ridiculous! If I'm in a sewing funk, I shop for fabric, which is bad! I realized that it is nice to give some fabric from my stash away.

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What was the first dress you made?
My first dress! lol!  It's completely laughable. It was a pattern from Joann's, I think it was one of those New Look patterns. It was a purple sheath dress, completely my style and color. That dress was all kinds of wrong because of the construction. I didn't transfer notches. I didn't use pins. I didn't alter the pattern what so ever. I'm sure there are countless other things I didn't do. It was basically a horrible because I made it straight out of the envelope. It was different from a RTW dress. After that incident, I stopped sewing. I picked it up again after stumbling upon Adventures in Dressmaking's blog. After that, I was hooked.

Why do you think dresses have such long lasting appeal?
I think dresses are timeless. Dresses that style icons wear are still relevant and gorgeous today.

Why do you personally love dresses?
I love dresses because I'm lazy. I don't have to pick or worry if my outfit looks okay. With one garment, I look dressy without the effort.

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Why did you fall in love with the Emery Dress pattern?I fell in love with the Emery Dress pattern because of the simplicity of bodice and really lends itself to many different styles. What I saw in the pattern is a great bodice slopper. From there, the option is endless.

What made you decide to challenge yourself with "100 Ways of Emery"?When bloggers mix and match patterns, it inspires me to try to think outside the box. I started the 100 ways of Emery because I wanted to challenge myself creatively. I wanted to see how many different patterns and designs I can create with one pattern.

How many have you made so far?
Wow! I don't know! Under 10 so far. Man, I have a long way to go! I took a little break from the dress, and I have a few ideas in mind that I'm really excited about.

Thanks Emily for inviting me to join on the July dresses theme for the stashbusting sew along!

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Thank you Kathy, for participating! I can't wait to see all your different Emery versions!

Dressy Interview with Quirky Peach

Hello Bloggy Friends! 

Oh my! July has been a whirlwind of work and fun and craziness! I'm happily exhausted most of the time. I do have some more dressy interviews for you and I thought it was about time to get another one up. I apologize for my tardiness and hope you enjoy this interview with one of my favorite happy bloggers!

Hi! My name is Sally and I blog over at The Quirky Peach. First of all I would like to say THANK YOU to Emily for letting me ramble a little about dresses and sewing on her blog! I hope you know what you got yourself into ;)

How long have you been sewing? 

About three and a half years. On Christmas of 2010, I got a sewing machine from my mom and dad. I had sewn a bit growing up, but that Christmas was when it all really started.

Do you have a fabric stash?

Yes! I try to keep it to a manageable size, but it's hard! I am a lot better now at only buying fabrics I really love, not just what's on sale, and having a project in mind before purchasing. However, I just about doubled my stash with a crazy thrift find on craigslist - three industrial size garbage bags of fabric for $5 - can't beat that!

What was the first dress you made?

A black and white checked cotton sun dress - Lisette for Simplicity 2209 - still one of my favorites :) Convinced me that sewing my own clothes was an achievable and awesome thing!

What was the most challenging dress you have sewn? Why?

I think it would have to be my vintage 1940's dress. The bound button holes and other vintage details were fun to do, but time consuming. However, I think the most challenging thing about it was knowing I would never wear it once it was finished, except to take pictures for the blog post. I learned a lesson and have never done that again - if I know I'm not going to like something I'm sewing, I usually don't waste time finishing it. I would rather make something I know I will love.

What is your favorite dress to wear? Why?

My favorite dress to wear - AUGH! Such a hard question! I guess it really depends on the mood:

Casual - Ikat Hi Lo Dress - I lived in this dress last summer, and probably will again - it is so soft (rayon challis) and comfortable, and of course has pockets!

Dressy / Cute - Floral Belladone - I just made this one last month and wore it for almost every special occasion - Mother's Day, graduations, church, concerts, dinner, etc! It is so flattering, doesn't wrinkle and has pockets, but the print is my favorite thing about it.

Glamorous - Watercolor Anna Maxi - I feel like a princess every time I put this on!

Any particular style of dress you really like?

I am definitely a fit and flare type gal. Anything with a fitted waist that skims over the hips and I'm sold! Not such a fan of tight fitting dresses, slim/straight skirts, shift dresses or wrap dresses, but they look amazing on other women ;)

Why do you think dresses have such long lasting appeal?

There is so much variety in dress styles, any girl can find a style she loves. They are a great expression of personal style and are easy to wear - no trying to match this top with this bottom!

Why do you personally love dresses?

I love the feeling of a swooshing skirt as you walk. Always makes me feel feminine and put together. And honestly, most dresses I have made and love to wear are in my favorite prints and colors, super comfortable, and have pockets - what more could a girl ask for? ;)

(You can see all my me-made dresses at My Handmade Closet)

How To Create Your Own Color Palette with Crafting A Rainbow

Hello Stashbusters!
Today the lovely Gillian from Crafting A Rainbow is here to talk to us about COLOR!! I'm so excited  she said yes to the interview so let's get right to it!

How did you find your color palette? Did some one show you or was it intuitive? 

I got inspired to explore wardrobe colour palette when Colette had a spring/summer palette challenge a few years ago. That first draft wasn't the most practical (gasp - it contained butter yellow, which would look awful on me!)  but it got me thinking about what colours I like, buy, and want to wear. I kept tweaking my palette until I came up with the wearable, all-season version that I use now! 

I think most people are drawn to colours that look good on them, so my palette colours were definitely in my wardrobe before I made an official palette. One thing my palette did change is that I realised that black is less flattering on me than navy or dark grey. Once I'd figured that out, I made an effort to buy less fabric with black in it, and picked up some grey and navy cardigans at the thrift shop. Back when I first made my palette, colbalt and coral were just coming into fashion, so those were colours that I actively looked for in fabrics.This year I've been trying to find more emerald green to add to the mix. 

What benefits are there for knowing your colors?

I think having a colour palette is SO helpful! 

• If you see good fabric in your palette colours, it's worth stashing. 
• If you see fabric that isn't in your palette, make sure you really love it, or just pass it by!
• Look for shoes, cardigan, tights, necklaces and other accessories that match your palette at thrift shops and sales. Those pieces will get worn a lot if they match your palette, and getting dressed is much easier! (For example, I have the same necklace in hot pink, mint green, and royal blue. Between those three colours, I can match almost every single outfit in my closet!)
• If you knit, crochet, make jewellery or some other wearable art, making something in your palette colours will help it get worn! 
• Come up with interesting outfits! We all get stuck in ruts, putting the same clothes together in the same ways... but with a palette it's easier to pick 2 or 3 colours and try to build an outfit around them!

Does it vary with the seasons or evolve at all?

Last year my Me-Made May challenge was to wear at least one of my palette colours every day. By the end of the month, I decided to add dark purple to my palette because it's a colour I like and feel good in. (That said, I haven't sewn a single thing in dark purple since then, so maybe I should take it back off?)

My palette actually doesn't change very much by season, but I do like to experiment with different colours when they become popular. (Could this be the year I sew something neon?) 

How do you suggest a girl figure out her colors? 

I blogged about how I make colour palettes last summer. Basically, I suggest starting by looking at the things you've already sewn, and using a colour grabber tool in a word processor to pick out the exact shades you like. Like the Colette Wardrobe Architect has suggested, think about neutrals as well. Trust yourself - I bet you already pick colours you like, so all you have to do is pull them together into an inspiring palette! (If the palette you end up with doesn't inspire you, maybe it needs some tweeking! Think again about what colours you really love to wear.) 

How has having a color palette changed or developed your sewing?

I started developing my palette just a few months after I started sewing, so it's hard to say how things have changed... but certainly it's a big part of what I buy and how I sew. I'd say about 90% of my handmade clothes and stash fabric have at least one colour in my palette. Most of what I sew are everyday comfy knits and stretch wovens, and consequently I wear me-mades almost every day. 

More than anything, I think my palette really impacts the fabric I buy. Who doesn't get a bit wide-eyed and greedy during in a fabric sale? My palette really helps me weed out fabrics that wouldn't get worn. Instead, I try to stock on basics that are sure to get used! (For example, I have fabric stashed to make pants in 4 palette colours, and striped, dotted or solid jersey in pretty much all my colors!)

Do you always sew to your color palette? If no, how and why do you use other colors?

I don't think a palette should limit you to ONLY those colours. Rules are meant for breaking, right? As I type this, I'm wearing 3 palette colours (grey, coral, and red), and 1 colours outside my palette (black, which I just told you isn't the best on me!) To me, it's more about feeling like myself. My palette colours make me feel prettier and happier, so naturally those are the clothes I reach for. After all, that's why I put them in the palette in the first place! 

Here are a few more posts I've written about colour palettes: 

Wardrobe Color Palette 

Building A Wardrobe aka. Crafting A Rainbow

Me Made May Color Revelations

If there's any questions, I'd be happy to answer or cheer you on!

Enjoy stashing, sewing and wearing your perfect colors! 

A big thanks to Gillian for taking time out of her blogging break to share her color philosophy! I totally agree with her method of stashing fabrics! How about you?

How To Get New Stash Without Buying More Fabric: An Interview with Melly Sews

I've discovered a secret! A way to get just what I want without buying MORE fabric! Aren't you dying to know... hehehe
I was delighted when Melissa from Melly Sews took some time to answer some questions I threw at her earlier this week.

Dress Here

How long have you been sewing and what kind of fabric stash do you have? 

30+ years (I started when I was 3) and I actually don't have a huge stash - I tend to buy more for specific projects than to hoard.  My entire stash is on display in this post.

If you have a stash how do you keep it under control? Or does it just run wild?

I'm too organized and a clean freak to let my stash get out of hand. I make sure to wash and then make mini fabric bolts out of everything as soon as it gets home.  

Why do you sew and what made you start dyeing your own fabric?

I sew because I'm picky and I typically can't find what I want unless I make it.  

I think of dyeing being something that needs a lot of special equipment and very messy. Is that true? 

You don't need a lot of special equipment - the entirety of my extensive dye collection and supplies fits in the tub I use to dye my fabric in. It can be messy, but I contain that by dyeing with my dye tub in my bathtub.  (You can read all about here process in detail here!)

Do you have a few tips on supplies or techniques for those of us beginning the dyeing adventure? 

Dharma Trading Co is my FAVORITE! I'd say the procion dyes are the easiest place to start. And to use natural fabrics - cotton is the easiest. Synthetics either don't dye or need different dyes/and or messier more complicated processes. Yarn dyeing with Kool-Aid is also a fun, non-toxic place to start if you like to work with wool. 

So what do you guys think? Have you ever dyed fabric before? I know there are a couple of quality pieces in my stash that I'd love to have in a different color! Big thanks to Melissa for taking time out of her busy schedule and sharing her process with us today!
Will you be dyeing fabric this weekend?

Curating A Cohesive Wardrobe Interview with Sharon

Hello Stashbusters,
Today I have a  lovely interview from Sharon who blogs at Petite and Sewing. She's sharing how she builds a cohesive wardrobe and I think you'll agree with me that she always looks well put together. Let's hear her story.

 

How long have you been sewing?

I have been sewing for 37 years, first taught by my darling Mum and her very good friend, my sister and I then went to evening classes at TAFE and then when I moved to Sydney I had lessons with a fantastic sewing and fitting teacher for 8 years.

Why did you start?

I started to sew as my Mum had sewn for me as a child and I was used to having garments fit me. When I got older I continued to sew as any RTW garments, particularly skirts and pants fitted me in the waist, but assumed I had hips!

During my lessons with my sewing teacher, I soon realised that I much preferred the fit I could achieve through sewing my own garments than I could in almost any RTW garment.  It also meant that I could make a top in the colours I liked and the style that suited me.

How do you get such nice looking outfits all the time? 

This is two fold.  I had my colours and style analysed back in 1989 and had them reviewed recently.  Both of these things have helped me choose styles that reflect my taste, classic with a bit of a twist and my Personal Colour Swatch colours have let me have a very cohesive fabric collection.

Do you have a specific style you gravitate towards? How do you decide what to sew?

I do tend to gravitate towards separates, and this also lets me have a small wardrobe with a lot of different outfit combinations.  Again using my Personal Colour Swatch it means that nearly everything I put in my wardrobe coordinates with another piece even though it might have been designed as a top to go with a particular skirt.  

My sewing decisions at the moment are based on what holes I need to fill in my wardrobe as all of a sudden my garments have started to fail through too much wear!  Another thing I do is Sew with a Plan (SWAP).  I have been doing this for a couple of years now and there is a very active group at Artisan Square where you sew 11 garments  that work together – e.g. 6 tops, 3 bottoms and a layer piece or a dress and this is the combination I sewed last year.

To read more about the individual pieces see here.

When you decide to sew a garment what factors do you consider? 

First up is the pattern. Can I use one of my TNT patterns to get the fit and look I want? How much work do I need to put into a pattern to get the fit I want? 

Then the fabric, what is the look I am after and how does it wear?

Once the fabric is chosen then it is working out how to handle it during construction, pinked seams, serged/overlocked or French seams and if I want to add any additional structure.

I try and have all my notions for any project together before I start, putting them all together in a zip lock bag!

Do you shop for fabric with a plan for use, or buy whatever speaks to you?

The majority of my fabric has spoken to me and I usually have a very good idea what it will be, however some pieces that have been in the stash for quite some time, do have a change of direction, like this navy top. 

Planned dress changed to top.

Even though my fabric speaks to me, unless it works with my Personal Colour Swatch it does not come home with me.

Here is a blog post from 2011 after I had completed my first Me-Made month hosted by So Zo, that explains how I purchase my fabrics.

 Wow! Thanks for sharing your process with us Sharon. I've learned several new things and will have to check out SWAP now that I understand what it is. Now it's back to you stash busters, can you pinpoint your style? How would you define your clothes?

Seasonal Sewing With Heather: A Stashbusting Interview

Today I have a lovely interview from Heather of Handmade by Heather B. Today she's sharing a bit about her sewing process and how the seasons effect it. Enjoy!

Summer of Dresses
I Dream In Blue

What's the cycle of weather like where you live? Can you wear the same things year round or do you have to make specific things for certain seasons? 

Here in southern Pennsylvania we do get all 4 seasons, though Fall and Spring seem to be about 2 weeks. Curse you global warming!  I'm also part reptile so my body temp tries to match the current outside temperature. In the winter I need lots of layers and in the summer I need light clothing that breaths. I also need hamsters to feed on. ;)

Does it effect what you sew? 

Yes indeed. In effort to keep warm I'm almost a 100% pants wearer in the cold months.  I might sew one dress for a fancy occasion during that time.  The rest of my sewing is tops that go with pants, blazers, leggings and if I'm feeling crazy some actual pants. Then I remember that my backside does not fit into pants and I make a hasty retreat back to knit tops.

In the summer my sewing is just one dress after another with a pair of shorts thrown in so local people stop asking why I'm so "fancy."

Do you sew for summer in summer, winter in winter, etc. or do you plan ahead so you can wear your creations in season?

At the beginning of the season I stick with clothing that works with the current season.  As winter/summer drags on and I get tired of being perpetually cold/hot then I usually start sewing for Spring/Fall.  An illicit dress project in late winter or jacket project in late summer feels so good that it must be bad for you.  Guess who has 3 summer dresses planned this month. This Girl!

Bellatrix Blazer

Are there any things you have made specifically because of the climate where you live?

Most of the clothing I make works well for my climate except maybe those light jackets that you only need for 2 weeks.  However wool jackets get a lot of use and I have no guilt about the 5 colors of wool coating in my stash.  

How has stash busting hindered or helped?

Last year my stash was a little winter heavy in the woven area, but I filled it in with a lot of pretty cotton prints.  So now the stash is just about perfect.  I've found it pretty easy to sew up patterns with fabric that I already have. My brain does still jump to "buy something NEW!' but then I take a look around and usually find something that will work.  Thinking of my future adult child taking all my fabric to the dump helps too.  No Son, I thought I taught you better than that!!!!

What time of year do you get the most sewing done?

Well it's too cold outside in the winter, too hot in the summer and I have pollen allergies in the Spring.  So I'm outside for those 2 weeks of Fall and sew the rest of the time. ;)  Only a slight exaggeration. 

Does sewing help you stay sane in the winter?

Some people doubt that I was ever sane to begin with, but the answer is Yes. Actually I'm a fan of winter cause the cold temps keep me from feeling bad about keeping my kid inside so I can sew. I can sneak in some more sewing and he gets some home made cookies.  It's win/win! 

Summer of Dresses

Simplicity 2444

Thanks so much Heather for sharing your story! I hear ya with the allergies! How about all the rest of you stash busters? Does the climate effect your sewing?

February StashBusting Interview Tips On Sewing For Others

Hello Stashbusters! Do I have a treat for you! The lovely Katie from Kadiddlehopper is my guest poster for this month. Her monthly lists and the amount of sewing she gets done are a true inspiration. Without more ado, I'll let her share her tips on sewing for others this month! Happy Valentines day!

I'm so excited to be able to share some stashbusting tips here with Emily! I was thrilled when she and Cindy of Cation Designs continued their Stashbusting Sewalong into this year. Last year it was so helpful to have the support of the other stashbusters, and this year has been even better! So anyway, on the the interview!

Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you been sewing? What do you like to sew?

Hey y'all! I'm Katie and I blog at Kadiddlehopper. My mother taught me to sew so long ago that the memory is lost in the sands of time. As long as I can remember, I've had a needle and thread in hand. I also took some Home Ec. classes in Junior High, but I generally just ended up helping the other students in my class. When I was an unruly teen, my sewing took a back burner to general rabble rousing and it wasn't until I was pregnant with my second child that I remembered that I knew how to sew. My prescient hubby had gifted me with a sewing machine several years earlier. I fired that baby up and got to work! Before I knew what had happened, I was sewing my own wardrobe, as well as most of what my children wear. I've occasionally dabbled in Home Dec and bag sewing. I even have pieces of a quilt in a closet somewhere, but my one true love is sewing garments. 

Clockwise from top left - Emma's winter SWAP, outfit #1, Ottobre baby gift, Simplicity 4711, Emma's winter SWAP, outfit #2, BFF Baby dress, New Look baby dress

Why do you enjoy sewing for others?

Mostly, I really love sewing just for the sake of it, so when I get the chance to do some sewing for someone who appreciates it, I jump at the chance. I'm mostly a selfish seamstress, but I do get a lot of satisfaction of seeing my creations on my loved ones and friends. I also really enjoy sewing children's clothing. There are fewer fit issues and the projects use smaller pieces of fabric - perfect for Stashbusting!

Clockwise from top left: Ottobre dress, Kitschy Coo Mini Penny, Ottobre coat, Kitschy Coo hoodie and Ottobre jeggings, LouBee Hosh Pants

How does sewing for others affect your Stashbusting?

Well, it definitely gives me more variety for my stashbusting efforts! Fabrics that I know I would never use for myself often find purpose in clothing for my family and loved ones. As mentioned, kids clothing also uses up those smaller scraps that we all seem unable to part with. I especially love it when a wee bit of fabric that I held on to for some reason becomes the focal point for a new creative endeavor.

Clockwise from top left: Ottobre jeans, Swim trunks for 2, LouBee Bimaa, Double the PJs, Ottobre outfit, Sporty Pocket shorts, Winter Wonderland tour, Ottobre raglan tees

Any tips or tricks for making sure your handmade item is loved/worn/appreciated?

I think this is the trickiest part of sewing for others. I find that the more involved I can get the recipient into the process, the more likely it is to be appreciated. When sewing for my own family, I will ask for help in choosing the pattern or fabric. Sometimes I'll ask my kids to come into the sewing room to choose fabric for themselves or ask them to draw me a picture of what they want. When you are sewing a gift, this is a little trickier, especially if you want the gift to be a surprise. In that case, I think the better you know the person you are sewing for, the more likely you are to make them something that they will love. Consider the colors they like and their lifestyle. Do they love bright colors or prefer subdued tones? Do they like their clothing to be trendy and of-the-moment or do they have a more classic style? The closer you are to the person, the more likely you are to be able to answer those kinds of questions, and the more successful you will be.

Clockwise from top left: Burda pants, Bow tie, Kwik Sew pullover, Kwik Sew bike shorts, Vogue shirt

What have you sewn that you and the receiver loves the most?

Ooo, that's a tricky one! I've been sewing pretty constantly for quite a while, so I've made a lot of things! I think if I had to choose just one thing I think it would be Myra's Princess Merida costume. I made it for her for Christmas 2012, and it is still the favorite of all her dress up dresses. She wears it all the time. In fact, she's wearing it as I type this.

The fact that my most-loved piece is a simple knit costume dress reminds me that our projects don't have to be fancy, couture ballgowns or super detailed and difficult for them to be loved. They just have to come from the heart and speak in some way to those we're sewing for.

I'm so glad I got to share a bit of my sewing and Stashbusting journey with you today. I hope your needles will always be sharp and your seams always straight. Happy Stashbusting, y'all!!