sewing for women – Preciously Paired

Easy 3-Step Kimono Tutorial with Lace Trim

posted in diy, sewing, sewing for women, tutorial, women's fashion by Hanna on May 22, 2015

5 MORE WEEKS! As excited as I am for this baby to come, and to gain back some comfort, I’ve been enjoying the quiet moments. With the hubby at school for most of the day and it just being me and Addie at home, life is rather simple and peaceful (most days anyway). We’re not your hustle and bustle kind of family. We really enjoy being at home and our down-time together. Really I’m just trying to soak it all in before our lives get thrown into the chaotic whirlwind of having a new baby. You guys I’m not going to lie, I honestly feel completely unprepared and a bit anxious about life with a new baby and a toddler all while my husband is in graduate school. For those of you who know me I may seem completely at ease, but inside I’m freaking out a little bit. However, with all that being said, there is just something so miraculous and wonderful about holding your baby for the first time and watching them grow that makes it all so worth it… even on the very worst days.

But back to the present, this increasingly warm weather and growing belly of mine has made getting dressed some days a challenge (that is the days I actually get dressed). At this stage in pregnancy, comfort also plays a huge role in what I wear. And my new favorite thing besides yoga pants and maxi dresses, are kimonos. They are the perfect layering piece for those warm summer days and oh so comfortable! Not only are they comfortable, but they are extremely easy to make… seriously, like 3 steps easy!

My original inspiration for this lace trim kimono came from a lace trim kimono from Novae Clothing. And, as with a lot of clothing I see, my first thought was, “Hey, I could make that!”. So, here is what you’ll need:

Materials:

1 3/4 – 2 yards of chiffon, silk, or any type of lightweight fabric (I got mine from Joann’s)
3 yards of lace trim
coordinating thread
measuring tape
sewing machine

1. Fold your fabric in half hot dog style with right sides together. Before you cut out the kimono you’ll need to get a few quick measurements.

Sleeve length: hold arms straight out and measure from one end of sleeve to the other (my measurement was 38″)
Width of armhole: my measurement was 14″ in diameter
Length of sleeve from body of kimono: I measured about 5-6″ from the end of each sleeve
Length of kimono: measure from top of shoulder to desired length (I simply used the entire length of the fabric and didn’t cut any off of the bottom)

Once you have your measurements it is time to make some cuts. First cut out the shape of the sleeves, then cut the front opening. When cutting the front opening, make sure you are only cutting your top piece of fabric. DO NOT CUT ALONG THE FOLDED EDGE.

2. Pin side seams together and sew from the end of sleeve to the bottom hem on each side. I used my serger here to prevent fraying, but if you don’t have a serger you can zigzag stitch the edges or use some Fray Check.

3. Now, hem around all openings including the armholes, bottom hem, and front opening. I used a simple rolled hem by folding the edges over twice. At this point you can leave it as is or add some lace trim to the bottom of the kimono and sleeves. Simply measure around the bottom of sleeves and the bottom of the kimono to know how long to cut your lace, then pin the lace around the openings and sew on using a straight stitch.

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend! Happy sewing!

Please feel free to email or post a comment with any questions.

XOXO,

Sara

Easy T-Shirt Maxi Dress Tutorial

posted in diy, fall, sewing, sewing for women, tutorial, women's fashion by Sara on April 21, 2015

31 weeks! I can officially count down the number of weeks before this baby is due on two hands! I feel extremely blessed that me and baby are both healthy, but man has the discomfort set in! With my body expanding and with the weather getting warmer and warmer, I figured I needed to add a few more comfort pieces to my wardrobe (that aren’t classified as pajamas) to get me through the rest of this pregnancy. First on my list: a light-weight, flowy maxi dress. It might as well be classified as pajamas because it is so comfortable– I could live in this dress! This dress is especially great because it is extremely easy to make, and will work perfectly when I’m not pregnant as well! Full tutorial below:

Supplies:

2.5 yards of stretchy knit material (I purchased mine from Girl Charlee Fabrics)
coordinating thread
double needle for your sewing machine

1. Cut your fabric. I used a maxi dress that I already had as my pattern, but you can use a t-shirt as well and simply extend the length. You’ll need a DRESS FRONT, DRESS BACK, and two SLEEVES, be sure to cut on the folded edge as illustrated above. I like to use a neckband to finish off the neckline, but you are welcome to use your preferred neckline method. Neckbands work best when using a serger, but a stretch stitch on a regular sewing machine would work too. To cut a NECKBAND, measure the circumference of the neckline and cut a 1 1/2″ strip that is about 3 inches smaller.

2. With front sides together, sewing the shoulder seams together. I used my serger to do this, but a straight stitch on your sewing machine will work great too.

3. Open your dress, with the right sides up, and match the top point of the sleeve with the shoulder seam. With right sides together, pin the edge of the sleeve to the arm hole then sewing together. Repeat for the second sleeve.

4. Fold right sides together and match up the sides of your dress. Sew from the bottom edge of the sleeve to the bottom edge of the dress.

5. Hem the sleeves and bottom of the dress to your desired length using a double needle which allows for some stretch. You could also use a stretch stitch here.

6. To add the neckband, first sew the ends of the neckband together with right sides facing one another to create a circle. Next fold the band in half, so that the right side is facing out. Pin the neckband to the outside of the neckline, stretching the neckband to fit. Remember that your neckband is suppose to be smaller that your actual neckline. This will allow the neckband to lay flat once you’ve sewn it on. Serge the neckband to the opening, pulling the neckband flat as you go. Fold the serged edge of the neckband to the inside of the dress and iron flat. For a more detailed tutorial with step-by-step pictures click over to our DIY Slouchy Tee tutorial.

It is really so easy and comfortable, I plan on making a few more to get me through the rest of this pregnancy and post-pregnancy too.

Happy sewing!!

XOXO,

Sara

Mint + Polka Dot Pleated Skirt Refashion

posted in diy, fall, sewing, sewing for women, thrifted, women's fashion by Sara on September 15, 2014

With all the sewing I did leading up to opening our shop and with the orders I have done since, I haven’t had any time to sew for myself. As much as I love sewing lovely things for others to enjoy, I also truly enjoy making lovely things to keep for myself.

Having recently quit my day job we seem to be getting by just fine, but our budget is tight… which is tough for a girl who ~~likes~~ loves clothes. I’ve been fighting every impulse in my body not to go out and buy some of the latest fall trends! But a tight budget does not hold me back from adding new pieces to my wardrobe. My solution: sew them myself.

This pretty little pleated skirt I refashioned from a dress I found at Goodwill for just $9! As I got halfway through ripping the dress apart I realized I forgot to take a “before” picture, but trust me when I say it was hideous. It was straight out of the 80’s with giant shoulder pads, lace trim, puff sleeves, and a very unflattering silhouette. Really, the only good thing about it was the fabric.

The dress had a very full skirt so that is the part I used. After separating the skirt from the bodice I pinned pleats in the fabric. Now if you want to get specific with this part you can but I just eyeballed the pleats to fit my waist. I then attached the skirt to my waistband, added the zipper, and then hemmed the bottom. One tip I will give about making a great skirt: use interfacing in the waistband! I’ve made plenty of skirts now to know you do not want to go without it, especially if you carry a little bit of weight in you mid-section like I do. Adding interfacing to the backside of you waistband with give it a cleaner look and sturdier feel. No wrinkling and bending.

I simply adore how it turned out! Don’t you?

In other news, since quitting my day job I’ve absolutely loved being home full-time with my 2 year old, but WOW has it been an adjustment! I forgot how completely tiring and (I’ll be honest) a little lonely it can be. I’ve come to really realize how important good friendships are; and being relatively new to my area, close friends are still quite few. My husband is quite honestly my best friend, but would I be wrong in saying that sometimes a girl just needs another girl? No! We women and mothers thrive on the support and friendship of other women. When I was first married I might not have agreed, but now I find it absolutely vital. However, sometimes it is hard for me to reach out to other women for help because it seems like a sign of weakness; or maybe they might actually find out that I’m not super woman like they appear to be. Sometimes I feel I may be rejected. Sometimes it just feels easier to stay at home and tell myself I can do it without them.

Am I the only one with these fears when it comes to making new friends?

Unfortunately this has been my attitude this week. There is something about being close to “that-time-of-the-month” that makes me a depressive recluse. Time to bust out of my shell and make some friends, ones that go beyond acquaintances. Any advice or tips?

Linked to: http://www.shoppingmycloset.com/switch-style-wednesday-13/, http://stylelixir.com/2014/09/face-serums-review.html; http://www.delineateyourdwelling.com/2014/09/link-it-or-lump-it-party-56.html; http://dcinstyle.com/stripes-denim-linkup/; http://elizabethjoandesigns.com/2014/09/designs-time-28/; http://www.mabeyshemadeit.com/tell-tuesday-42/

Gingham and Color Blocking

posted in sewing, sewing for women, shop, tutorial, women's fashion by Sara on July 29, 2014

I have a confession to make… I’ve missed you guys! My mind has been everywhere but the blog the last couple of weeks and it feels nice to be sitting down again to share with you some of the greatest and latest news. For those of you who have been following along, you may remember me saying that I quit my day job last month to pursue my dream of dressmaking. For the past couple of months I’ve spent hours sewing and agonizing over making my first design something that could be loved by all– complete with pockets, an exposed zipper, and four different color options.

I first came up with the idea to make the Color Block Party Skirt several years ago when I decided to take up sewing again. I found a gathered skirt tutorial for beginners that I wanted to try, but I couldn’t choose between two different colors of fabric so I decided to use both. I’ve since made many upgrades to the original color block skirt to create a classic, quality product. It has become one of my favorite skirts to wear, as the sturdy waistband accentuates the smallest part of me and hides all my problem areas. It is comfortable, breathable, and I now wonder how I ever went without pockets in a skirt before– they’re genius and absolutely necessary!

With only two more weeks before the grand opening of our shop, I’m both excited and anxious. I put my heart and soul into each and every skirt I make and will never get enough of seeing the excitement of customers’ faces when they try one on. None of this would be possible without the help and support from my loving husband, family and friends. So mark your calendars, because on August 11th you will finally have the chance to own your very own, custom made, Color Block Party Skirt!

Also, some of you may have noticed that we’ve recently partnered up with several other bloggers as hosts for the “Your Designs This Time” linky party, which we will co-host every Monday on the blog from now on. We’ve already met some wonderful people and seen so many inspiring ideas! If you didn’t get a chance to see this week’s linky party I recommend hopping on over to join in the fun!

Linked to: http://www.mabeyshemadeit.com/tell-tuesday-34/, http://stylelixir.com/2014/07/style-sessions-fashion-link-up-the-sequin-polka-dot-dress.html, http://dcinstyle.com/printed-shorts-monday-bloom-linkup/, http://www.walkinginmemphisinhighheels.com/2014/08/trend-spin-linkup-full-skirts.html

How to Lengthen A Dress/Skirt

posted in diy, sewing for women, women's fashion by Hanna on July 16, 2014

I don’t know about you, but I am seeing SO many cute dresses out there on the market! When I was in Oregon a few months back visiting Sara we found this super cute, summery dress at Old Navy. I just fell in love with it, especially the shift style of the dress. They are my favorite kind of dress since I don’t have much of a defined waist. The only problem with this dress was that is was a little too short for my liking. Standing up was an OK length, but if I tried to walk or sit down it just wasn’t working for me.

Sara and I got this great idea to just sew an extender piece to the lining of the dress and have it hang down underneath the top part of it. So I bought the dress and we went home with a plan to make it my “perfect” summer dress.

Here is the before picture.

Most dresses and skirts have sewed in lining or slips in them so this is the perfect opportunity to sew on an extending piece of fabric without bothering the hem of the actual dress/skirt. Plus color blocking is so in right now! Just ask Sara and her Color Block Party Skirts that are coming soon to the shop!

So if you have a dress/skirt that needs to be a tad longer here is a simply “how-to” on making that happen.

1. First you’ll need to find some fabric that will go well with your dress/skirt. I used a navy linen fabric that Sara had on hand that worked perfect with the dress!

2. Next measure the width of the lining of the dress and how much longer you want your dress. Take the width and add 1/2 inch for seam allowance and double the length you want the extender to be plus add 1/2 to that for seam allowance. Then cut out two pieces at those measurements. So for my dress, the lining was 22.5 inches wide and I wanted it to extend 5 inches in length. Therefore my 2 pieces were 23 x 10.5 inches.

3. With right sides together, sew/serge the two sides of your pieces together. Afterwards you should have a tube of fabric

4. Fold that tube of fabric in half with the seams inside and iron.

5. Lastly, sew/serge your extender piece to the lining of your dress and iron that seam.

Linked To:

http://lifeinvelvet.com/2014/07/thursday-style-link-party-29/

http://staceyembracingchange.com/2014/07/17/creative-inspirations-linky-party-93/

http://placeofmytaste.com/2014/07/work-wednesday-58.html

The Creative Exchange #10

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/2014/07/18/link-party-diy-inspired-10.html

http://www.delineateyourdwelling.com/2014/07/link-it-or-lump-it-party-number-47-plus.html

Category: sewing for women

Easy 3-Step Kimono Tutorial with Lace Trim

Easy T-Shirt Maxi Dress Tutorial

Mint + Polka Dot Pleated Skirt Refashion

Gingham and Color Blocking

How to Lengthen A Dress/Skirt