Sequin: Found, Studied and Conquered

It's homecoming time once again, the dress has been picked and it is now time for the vest and bow tie to be made. So, my little brother has decided that since his sister can sew he will only wear custom made gear to all important events. (Sigh)

 

Well, at first sight I thought this is beautiful, second thought oh no I have never sewn with sequin and third where do I find this fabric. I start my online search and find some but this fabrics starting price is forty $$$ a yard. I was nervous to buy this particular fabric offline without knowing for sure it is the right color and kind of fabric. Working at Joann Fabrics I know that there are many varieties of sequin fabrics and at this price I can't make the wrong purchase. With time winding down I have got to get started. So I  decided to check around locally and see what options were here for me. My store didn't have any color close to the dress but I was able to get the material for the bow tie to match the shoes. I remembered one of the local stores had been know for there formal fabrics and lace and thought I would give them a chance. Stopped by and I could not believe they had my fabric Yayy....

The store owner informed me it was actually located and ordered for a wedding and the person never returned for the fabric, Great news for me....This picture does not do it justice it matched perfectly. So excited for my find, but now the second thought comes back, I have never  sewed with sequin. I am always up for a challenge but this is a very important garment so I have to do my homework of course. I was able to find some really great tutorials and blogs using and explaining their knowledge of sequin. Also, over the last couple of months I have been taking online classes on craftsy.com and the skills learned well they were definitely helpful during this journey. I am always looking for new and tried and true wisdom to help improve my sewing skills, I believe you never stop learning and it is always good to invest in yourself and your talent.

 

Alright I have done my research and studying and my pattern is picked and it is time to get to work. Homecoming dance is fast approaching

 

I realized once I started cutting out the pattern this fabric was not to be handled like any other fabric. The single sequins are attached indiviually to a piece of knit tulle type material so I would need to not only line this fabric but also back it directly with a lining to help give it stability and a help is not look flimsy.   Because it is not a solid piece of fabric backing it with a lining really came in handy when sewing the actually garment together. I was able to put my marking lines and symbols on the lining.

 

 

 

It's a good thing one of the classes I have recently bought and started on at Craftsy.com was The Classic Tailored Shirt, several of the skills and techniques she used is helping me in the garment construction. She reviewed the classic tailors tack which was definitely my saving grace because there is no way to mark on the fabric for buttons and buttonholes so I used the technique with the bright orange thread to mark the buttons and buttonholes.

 

Well, after getting to know this fabric very well I can say with great Pride I found and conquered my first Sequin Garment...This finished look!!!!

 

 

And a Happy Lil Brother!!!

 

Great Big Brava to Ann GBSB

Great British Sewing Bee Winner



                                                 Congratulations Ann the Beauty of Sewing!!!!

 

My Beginnings: Starting point

I have truly enjoyed this series, it has encouraged me to sew even more and appreciate the art of stitching. I have been sewing on and off since I was in the sixth grade, and not until 2007 did it become such a huge part of my life. As a single mother I wanted more for my family needed extra revenue. I started working a part time job and it still didn't seem to be coming together I was still over extended in my finances because I was still having to pay a babysitter. So I decided to stop working and began to pray for direction concerning being able to take care of the needs of myself and growing children.

 

 

I began listening to a local ministry series titled Breaking Free from Debt. Many topics were discussed and prayer suggestions, the one that stuck out the most for me was asking for direction in prayer for my gifts and talents to be revealed to me in order to bring in extra revenue into my household. One night after praying the pray for several weeks, listening to the series,  writing notes and just rehearsing the information, I was reading a Virtuous Woman's Article focusing on the proverbs 31 scripture, it was as though a light bulb lit up in my head and heart. (You Can Sew) I hadn't sewed or thought about sewing since I was a Junior in high school and actually I lost my mother the summer before going into my Junior year, which that year I was suppose to get  a sewing machine since she saw after I had taken a couple of home economics classes that I was relatively good and enjoyed sewing. But with everything going on in my life at the time I was not as passionate about sewing to me it was something we shared and after losing her it was not as important to me. But finding myself yet again at a crossroad in my life once again it found its way back into my life and heart with even greater purpose. And here I am 8 years later, 1 sewing machine, a serger, blind hemmer, a Cricut, Yudu and 2 Embroidery/Sewing combo machines. It has been a great journey and I still feel it is just the beginning. I continue to encourage and push myself to move further and grow in that same talent that has been truly a Blessing since it was revealed. And like Ann I pray I get as many years to enjoy this Art.

Just a few things I have done!!!

Threads Has Done it Again

Roaming the Magazine rack at my local Joann's and see that Threads has published another must have. The resource of all resource focusing on the topic that all seamstress face from the beginner to the seasoned seamstress dare I say it, "Fitting". Yes they have dedicated an entire issue to this topic!!! Yay Threads!!!!    

 

It covers so much from correct measuring, grading, muslins and it has some many resources from DVD sets, new books and much more.

Sorry for the sideways picture, I am working on fulfilling my goal to stay more consistent with my blogging I posting from my phone and can't rotate pic.♥

Having Fun with a Future BAMA Boy!!

My friends son is an extreme BAMA fan, she asked me to make a surprise for her son when he came home. I put together this little Outfit for the future BAMA ALLStar...

Moving Forward!!!!

February has proven to be a very busy month filled with birthdays, Mardi Gras, food, Fun,pattern sales,  monogramming and Sewing!!!! My twins turned the Big 9 on the seventh and my Daughter has just made 13 on the second yes. Having three birthdays so close makes celebrating a little tricky, with the age difference and the girls out numbering the boys juggling a fair celebration as you can imagine poses many disagreements. But luckily for me if no other time agreeing on where to have a celebratory dinner is quite an easy decision. My family and I Love Seafood so when asking where to go for dinner there is only one place even one agrees on the pot "The Boiling Pot" where the best of the best Seafood Po boys are made. Everyone enjoyed even the none celebrants. After catching a few throws at the Mardi Gras or as we say here in the south the BOOM BOOM, and a little shopping at the mall we finished the day with a good dinner, laughs and time together. Wanted to share some family fun with you, will be back soon to show some of my latest completed sewing projects  and future projects.

Finishing what I Started.....

I have wanted a blog a long time, started it and got stuck. But I am challenging myself to get my blog rolling again. I disputed with myself what would I post about, how often to post and how in the world I would keep it up with the schedule I have. So, here I am again Ready to try once again her I go. Ready to share with the internet world my Love of sewing and crafts. There are so many others with great blogs and showing off all of theit talents, well I decided to see just how I would fit in...So Excited!!!!!