Category: Uncategorized

 

In general, I will be focusing on making one dress per month, however, in that we will need to mail the dresses off by mid April for them to be received in time, I need to step things up a bit. Therefore, I am beginning Dress 3. That being said, please do feel welcome to make any of the dresses, skip a dress, or um..keep up lol. I know some of you have fallen deeply in love with making Dress 1, the Pillowcase dress, so just keep sewing them! That you would consider making a dress to donate, is awesome to me. And PLEASE do, keep sending your images to me. I will include the ones I have gotten already at the end so scroll away =-)

Now about Dress 3… Dress 3 is really an excuse to show how to read, and resize (grade) patterns. You do not need to have the same pattern I am using. You can use a pattern you already have, buy one, or just skip this Dress altogether. But one of the things I am most asked about is sizing patterns.

Commercial patterns do not always (ok hardly ever) use the standard clothing sizes you see in retail stores. Clothing sizes vary by designer, from store to store, and from year to year, and so as not to make yourself crazy trying to remember which pattern/designer/year fits you, I will show a few tips on how to make any pattern (ish) fit you or whoever you are sewing for.

If you plan to follow along with me, next Monday have a commercially made pattern, and measuring tape handy. I will be sizing my pattern down to a size 6, but the same principles apply to sizing up.

For now enjoy these images (You Guys are AWESOME!) See you Monday!

 

Per request, I am posting these videos from the NCT Dance Concert. Enjoy!

 

Thanks Guys! we have soooo many dresses right now It’s awesome. And now for dress 2! Hopefully you have been following along here on my blog ( I don’t always share this via facebook…) and have gotten your supplies ready and have your printed pattern prepped and ready!

Here’s my finished dress, and here’s how I did it…

  

I tried really hard to stick close to the pattern as is, but as you can see, you can make so many variations to make this your very own unique creation just like you have been with the pillow case dresses. I may even add a pocket or two, who knows? Have fun, and do send me pictures of your dresses, I am loving seeing your finished projects. I think I will post some of your images here so everyone can enjoy them as much as I am. Until then, get to sewing! 

 

Happy Valentines Day! We wish you love peace and joy! And just to extend that love a bit more, we here at LaShunda Smith Photography are GIFTING our existing POL Customers one 8×10 Image from your most recent Portrait Session YAY!

Sooooo shoot me an email with the title/link to your latest Portrait Session (ie. Smith Christmas 2012), the number of the image you would like gifted to you, and your current address. That’s it! Check your mail boxes.

OH! THIS GIFTING WILL END FEBRUARY 28, 2013. I MUST RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL BY FEBRUARY 28, 2013 @ 12am AND IS LIMITED TO ONE IMAGE PER FAMILY. ENJOY! XOXOXOX

 

First, THANK YOU for sewing with me! I am having SEW much fun! Ok now back to our regularly scheduled sew-a-long.

The pattern for our second dress can be found Here at Elysium Patterns and is a .PDF download. In order to see and use this pattern you will need to have Adobe Reader ( which most computers already have installed but if you do not, you can find it free at Adobe.com) and a printer handy.

Once you have downloaded the plans, go ahead and print them. These plans are already scaled correctly so there is no need to change anything, simply print them as is, and read over the directions. Read the plans through fully, and gather all your provisions.

 

On a grey blah day, we ventured out to capture the love story of this young stylish couple. We had no idea what a treat we were in for. Seriously, who goes to an ice cream shop and doesn’t eat ice cream!? Firstly though, let me say congratulations to N&M! We wish you joy today and in those to come!

Our adventure began with us playing “Is this them?” as we looked for two passengers in each car that passed us, and still they managed to sneak up on us. We knew then that we’d have a blast with them!

 

 

And they were up to every task and visual whim that came to mind! Don’t they look gorgeous?!

   

So very glad we caught a smidge of sunset

May all your days together be filled with laughter

 

FAQ’s

Do I have to make all the dresses? 

Not at all! I am just thrilled you would consider making even one with me! I only ask that you donate it =-D

How much fabric / what type of fabric, do I need for the dresses?

Each dress takes about 1 to 2 yards of fabric. I am using 100% cotton because it is lightweight, holds it shape well, and is readily available.

What is the time line for the dresses?

My goal is to make one dress a month-ish, but every Monday, I will be posting or putting up tips and extras that are associated with that months dress. For instance, For January’s dress, we made our own bias tape the first week, and now this week we are making the dress…

Can I just buy a dress?

Yes you can purchase a dress and donate it to :

Lira School Dress Project   
1701 Lytle Trail
Abilene, TX 79602

Can I just make my own dress from a pattern I already have / Can I just purchase a pattern?

Absolutely, this project is something I am personally committed to doing. Even though I am super busy, I decided to take one day a week (Mondays) and do something that is personally fulfilling to me, and decided to share. Sew…. come on! Sew along!

Now that that is out of the way! Here is the video. As the video is not in real time, I suggest you watch it in it’s entirety the first time through so that you can become familiar with the process, and then pause it at each step as you are sewing along with me! Till next Monday!

Oh and if you have any questions or comments, please fell free to post them here, and I will be sure to respond.

 

I am “sew” glad you chose to join me on this sewing tour, and I do apologize for being late with this post. I had to figure out some logistics, but we should be all set from here forward, and the posts will be made on Mondays. Now that being said, lets get started.

I told you we would explore finishing options with this dress as it is the simplest of the 5 we will make. I use to think of this step last, and was often frustrated with the results. I found that just a bit of pre-planning goes a long way. that being said…

If you follow the link for THIS PATTERN, you will see two options. A double folded sewn seam edge and a serge edge. Notice on the charts that a different seam allowance is noted for the cutting length at size 6 (the one we are making).

Other finishing options include French Seams, Zigzag Edges, and the one I will do, Bias Tape/Trim Binding.

Now you can purchase your own or make your own with a fashion fabric, as I chose to do. Here is my quick tutorial on a simple method for making Continuous Bias Binding. Please note, that if you choose to do what I did, you will need to make about 5 yards (15ft/182in).

I will leave you with this for today. Next Monday we will start and finish the dress. Have a beautiful!

 

Ok so I have been talking it up and feeling you out for long enough ( you know who you are), and now the time is finally here! My dress making sew-along!

I will be making 5 little girl dresses for the Lira School Dress Project who

“is hoping to take 66 dresses to Kindergarten girls in Africa. The trip is in JUNE 2013 so the deadline to receive donated dresses is 1 MAY 2013.”  Sew Like My Mom

I am so excited it is something I always wanted to do, craft to donate. I even considered making my own foundation as it were but ultimately put it on the back burner. So when I ran across this post last year, I knew I had to sew along!

As I stated before, my goal is to make 5 dresses, and to entice you to join me I will be making tutorials available and varying patterns, and techniques.

Dress 1 : The Pillowcase dress provided by Sew Like My Mom

Here I will be going over basic sewing techniques and finishing options

Dress 2 : The Good Deeds Dress provided by Elysium Patterns

Here I will be showing how to use a downloaded/printed pattern

Dress 3 : The Simplicity 7112 Dress

Here I will be going over reading a commercially made pattern AND pattern grading

Dress 4 : The Smocked Dress

Here I will be going over a basic smocking technique for the top of the dress

Dress 5 : The HoneySmith Dress (LOL!)

Here I will be reviewing techniques from the previous dresses to design my own.

So now that you know, come on let’s sew! LOL, I couldn’t resist. Seriously though, If you are interested in doing this project with me, and even just making one dress to donate, let me know. I will be posting starting on Monday, January 29, 2013, and will be posting my progress every Monday till all is done, and I have 5 dresses ready to ship out to the Lira School Dress Project.

Maybe you want to make and donate your own dress. Here is the address where you can send your finished product/s:

Lira School Dress Project
1701 Lytle Trail
Abilene, TX 79602

 

You know how “they” say be careful what you wish for?  January had us saying goodbye to my Tashi’s pups (aka the ankle-biters) with the exception of our Tui who we agreed would remain with us. But oh how I wanted to keep another pup. He was so sweet and teeny. I tried my hardest to convince the family they didn’t really want to take him but they did. Wasn’t he too adorable?!

Alas circumstances happened and they were no longer able to care for him, sooooooo back he came, but instead of this little sweet cutie he was a giant fur ball. He is still gentle and sweet though. The boy of the QuatroPods, Benjamin.

Now I know you were expecting images of him, and it is only fair that you do, and I promise to get you at least one sometime soon, when I get around to it. lol!

And this concludes my year of highlights. I hope you are as encouraged to make moments that matter this year as I am, AND to bring your camera’s along for the ride too!

Have a beautiful!