Vintage Polka Dot Top Refresh

I found this super cute bow tie blouse at Goodwill a few weeks ago. The only problem with it was that the sleeves simply wouldn't go over my arms. So, I removed them. This was a really simple project. There isn't a lot to talk about on this one. On to the pictures!

This is the blouse before I removed the sleeves. Even though this blouse was serged in the seams, making it harder to removed them, the seam was sewn in with a daisy chain stitch, which when pulled just the right way, comes off in one simple tug. Think of the stitching on the tops of dog and cat food bags. That made the removal of the sleeves a little easier.

I'm pretty sure this blouse is genuine vintage, but I haven't done much research on the tag. From what I've found, Styled By Terry Chicago, and most of their bow blouses date to the 70s. I'll have to keep looking to see what I can find.

My favorite part of this tag is probably the union tag for the Ladies' Garment Workers Union. How cool is that? The top is still just a bit snug on my trying-to-lose-the-baby-weight-mommy body, but I really do like how it turned out!

So there you have it. A little update to a vintage thrift store find. Nothing special, but now I can wear and enjoy it!

Until next time!

Simplicity 1692 - Blue Cherry Blossoms

Whew! Two posts in a few days. Being able to get several pieces photographed over the weekend, gave me a surplus of material to put up here for you! As you can see, I changed my blog design again... cause I'm cray cray like that. ;) Mostly, because I'm a creative soul and need to redecorate every so often to make me feel good. So what do you think of the new colors/header/redesign? Hopefully you like it and find it easy to look at/read from.

Now, on to the stuff you are really here to see. I recently completed a second version of #Simplicity1692. You can see my first one here. This time I'm sewing View D, without the little ric-rac bow... I'm still thinking about going back and adding that, but I'm on the fence. What do you think? To Bow or Not To Bow? 

I used a nice quilting cotton (because I lurve them so much!) in this pretty light blue and navy cherry blossom pattern. I also used a navy ric-rac to trim it out. *Sewists note... always check your trim for content and watch the temperature of your iron. I pressed this cotton shirt on the cotton setting, without realizing my ric-rac was some kind of synthetic. It got all melty on me. I may replace it, but honestly, you have to get REAL close to notice. And if you're that close to me, you better be buying me dinner first. ;)

The construction was super straight-forward. The sleeves are cut in, so no setting them into the shirt. You literally just sew in the darts/tucks, front and back, put in the facing for the neckline and buttons on the shoulders and then sew front to back and turn and hem the sleeves and bottom. I love the button detail on the shoulders and I wish I had gotten a better picture of that part. I honestly didn't even think about it when I was taking photos. (That's what happens when you're trying to get as much done as possible during the baby's nap.) It is a really cute feature of the blouse. 

I paired this with a navy pair of high-waist shorts. I believe they are Voodoo Vixen brand. All in all this blouse is very comfortable and easy to wear. Because I made it of cotton, it's pretty cool and breezy on these hot summer days.

This blouse has a great fit. Especially through the back and shoulders, which is a recently discovered problem area for me. I'll be posting more about that in the near future.

I really have no complaints about this top. As I said before, construction was a breeze and it went together very quickly. The fit is great, and flattering thanks to the front and back darts/tucks. This project cost less than $5 to complete. The pattern I bought on sale in a 5 for $5 Simplicity sale at Joann's and the fabric is from their Quilter's Showcase and it runs $4.49 a yard not on sale. I'm pretty sure I got this on sale. If not I used a 50% off coupon, so either way, I didn't pay more that $2.50/yd and I bought two yards. The buttons and ric-rac were in my stash, so they didn't cost anything to use.

This was #vintagepledge number 7 for me.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time!

 

Two Peasant Tops... and a Partridge in a Pear Tree??

My title has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas... just saying. When I typed Two Peasant Tops, that's what followed in my head. I know, I know, I've got problems. 

But that's not why you're here... is it? Hopefully you're here to see what I've been sewing! I got a chance today during little girl's long afternoon nap to snap some photos of some finished projects (five to be exact, look for the rest coming soon) and I'm excited to post them for you!

A couple of weeks ago, while binge watching Miss Fisher on Netflix, I whipped up two peasant tops. 

I used #Simplicity8741 and slightly modified the lengths due to being just a bit short on fabric. Oops.

I made a black one, and a white one. Nothing fancy at all. Just a couple more basic separates to add to my closet.

Enough of my rambling, on to the good stuff!

I've been quiet for the past couple of weeks because I've been moving into my NEW sewing room! YES!! A room just for me. With a door. That I can use to lock small children out!! This is the best thing ever. Trust me!

Just a really simple bright white cotton peasant top. I'm wearing it here with my Unique Vintage Catch of The Day bottoms, a great pair of high-waist sailor style shorts. Perfect for summer, and totally worth the $15!

This top is slightly different than the white one, it has elastic along the bottom. I had to cut this length much shorter on this one, as I was really short on fabric. So this one is more of a crop top, but I have worn it tucked in to a circle skirt, with a belt, so it's pretty versatile.

 

I'm still trying to get comfortable wearing it as a crop top, but with the high-waist shorts it's really quite flattering even with my mommy tummy. These high-waist shorts hide so much!

Well there you have it! These were pretty quick to put together, I sewed them both in one evening, about 3 hours start to finish. They are made of simple quilting cotton, probably broadcloth, I bought on sale. The pattern is one I've had for some time, graded up only slightly because I prefer a more snug fit than peasant tops usually run. 

If you're looking for an easy project to finish quickly, these are definitely the way to go!

I'm still on the fence about whether or not I should put these on my #vintagepledge list. They are not specifically vintage but they are vintage inspired and that is how I will wear them. The jury is still out on that part. What do you think? Should they qualify?

Until next time!

Purple Flowers (Circle Skirt #2)

The second of the trio of circle skirts completed two weeks ago from #Simplicity1200. This one is much more muted and office worthy as compared to my cupcake skirt. This is the softest cotton fabric and it has a fabulous drape. I made a matching bias for the hem and there is a side lapped zipper. 

I found this coral colored cardigan at a local thrift store several weeks ago, with the tags still on! It just happened to be the perfect shade to match the flowers in the skirt. I love it when things just work out! The cardigan is light and works well for spring and summer in the office.

There really isn't much more to say about the construction that I didn't already discuss in the last post, but I think this is my favorite of the skirts so far. 

This is #vintagepledge number 8 so far this year! I'm thinking I can easily double, maybe even triple, my original pledge of five this year! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Cupcakes with Sprinkles

I had a hugely productive weekend. I sewed up a trio of three quarter circle skirts assembly line style and decided Monday morning before work, that I needed a top to match one of them to wear. So I whipped up a precious polka dotted peasant top. I introduce to you, cupcakes with sprinkles!

I was working on a skirt for another project, to be revealed later and I decided that if I was going to do one, I should probably go ahead and do a couple of others I've been planning. I used #Simplicity1200.

This was my first attempt at side lapped zippers and I'm so pleased with how they turned out.

I also used self made bias for two of the skirt hems. Time consuming, but so worth it.

I had a lot of firsts this weekend!

I took a poll of my friends and they said I should wear the cupcakes on Monday to work. Well, I got up Monday morning, and started looking through my closet for a top to match the skirt and just couldn't find anything that I liked. Like you do. I got the idea in my head that I needed a peasant top to go with it. I started rummaging through my fabric for something that would work. I came across some white cotton with yellow polka dots that I bought a while back and it was exactly what I wanted. So I sat down at 7:15am on Monday morning, and by 8:30 I had a brand new peasant top made from #Simplicity8741!

The finished outfit was just what I wanted it to be. Completely over the top and so kitschy cute. I even topped it all off with Cupcake Confetti Lucite earrings and an adorable Confetti Lucite Heart and Bow brooch. Both made by me.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled with how all of these pieces turned out. I highly recommend that if you have several of the same pattern to make, do it assembly line style. It was so quick and easy to whip out three skirts. In the course of one weekend, I added three perfect summer skirts to my wardrobe. Next I think I'll do the same process with some more peasant tops!

Thanks for following along. This is #vintagepledge makes 5 & 6!! I've just surpassed my goal of five with this outfit!

I'll be posting the floral print skirt next!

PS: I'm working on getting better pictures for you all, instead of using my cellphone all the time. I have a great point and click digital camera and tripod, unfortunately it's not remote capable, so I have to use the timer. It's next to impossible to get good pics on my own with two children running around. They're 5 and 1 so there's no way they can help either. I'm trying to find a space in my house that isn't a mess, or too dark, so for now you get the back side of my bedroom door. Hopefully it will improve with time, hopefully.

Until next time!

I've been busy...

I haven't put up a post in about two weeks, and for that dear readers, I'm sorry. I have been working on a couple of sewing and crafting projects but nothing is completed yet. Such is the life of a single mommy to two.

I have been working behind the scenes on this blog though! I have wonderful news.

is officially a thing! That's right folks, the blog now has a name and a home all it's own right here on the world wide web. I'm now working on overhauling the graphics and design here and you'll probably see it change a little bit at a time, because... well time. 

I'm so excited that everything I'm currently doing online and through social media is now linked with this common name. So now back to your regularly scheduled programming. I hope to have a new sewing post up by the end of this week... maybe. :)

Until next time,

Me-Made-May 2015

I participated in So Zo What Do You Know?'s Me-Made-May this year! I however made a huge boo-boo in my pledge... 

It would seem that this is the actual pledge I made in the comments on Zo's blog.

I, Kacy Burchfield from www.shessewbettie.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15. I endeavor to wear two me-made garments each week for the duration of May 2015.

I, however, completely forgot and thought I had only pledged one garment per week, as my Me-Made wardrobe is still quite small. I didn't realize this mistake until I was putting this post together and really wanted to slap myself in the forehead with a big 'DOH'.

So without further ado, my "One-Garment-Per-Week-Because-I-Forgot-What-I-Promised" Me-Made-May Roundup!

Week 1 - Started off on May 1st with this Simplicity 1590 blouse! (There are actually two 'me-mades' in this picture. Can you guess what the other one is? I personally think she's the cutest make of all!)

Week 2 - Cherries and Gingham McCall's 6503 dress

Week 3 - Red and Navy floral New Look 6457 dress. This dress had hung unfinished in my sewing room since October of last year... The only things that I needed do to finished it was the straps, the zipper and the hem. I don't know why I put it off, but I'm glad I finally finished it. It is now one of my favorites. (I posted a sneak peek of this dress... but haven't done a follow up post. I'll be sure to get that done soon, since I finally finished the dress!)

Week 4 - My attempt at making my Flirty Flamingo Playsuit into work-appropriate attire! Also confetti lucite brooches made by me!

Week 5 - I finished off Me-Made-May 2015 with my Lovely Leopard Simplicity 1692 blouse! Paired with a simple black pencil skirt this was a winner! (Please excuse the ridiculously dirty mirror... the little girl from the first picture loves to put her hands and face all over it. #momlife)

I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to participate in Me-Made-May! What a great time, and I've enjoyed seeing all of the sewing projects popping up in my Instagram feed every day. I hope that by next year, I'll have enough makes to make a bigger pledge and wear more of my projects!

Thanks for following along!