![Victoria’s Secret and Anthropologie Hacks….]()
by Lucy | Mar 21, 2015 | Blog, Experimentation, Inspiration
I sew therefore I refuse to pay for ready to wear! So, I’ve been working on a few Anthropologie and Victoria’s Secret hacks. Anthro has some of the best fashion out there. They must, everyone is trying to hack it. Well, I jumped on the bandwagon too, why? The styles are really pretty straightforward and pretty easy to duplicate. Thank you again Anthropologie. 🙂 
This is a perfect example! Let me break it down for you, it’s a yard of fabric, folded in half, with side seams and a v neck. There are several tutorials out there. It’s made out of rayon spandex jersey. Which can be found here for about $6 or $7 a yard.
Anthro seems to have a love affair with peplum tops. Just do a pinterest search. I found this one 
I love it! It’s too early here for tank tops so I’m working on a short sleeve version out of knit. I’ll hopeful finish it today and post the finished product and some hints on how to do it. For a little teaser….hint number one is find a bodice pattern you love and make it fit you perfectly! From there the options are endless!
One of the new trends for 2016 is a high cut bra. The lace shows through the top of your tank. Check it out. They are calling it the new eyelash lace collection. The bonus here is you can make your own tank to display this sexy bra. I found some free patterns at Sew City. They seem to be the Victoria’s Secret of the sewing world. I imagine these can be created for under $10. ENJOY!
by Lucy | Mar 19, 2015 | Blog, Reviews
Starting right now, buy fabric online!
Business owners have it all, you know? They have the goods we want. But, so does everyone else online. Gone are the days of exclusive online purchasing, thank you world-wide (shopping mall) web! I recently tried to purchase some black knit fabric for the warmer months. I cannot believe I live in a city with four major fabric stores, well, two of each, and no one had what I needed! I started shopping online a few months ago because the local retailers did not have the variety I wanted. I am glad I did! Except for the shipping charges, I love the fabric I’ve gotten online. I’ve only shopped at Girl Charlee so far. Their product is far superior to what I have purchased locally. The prices are even better! I love them. The problem is, they sell mostly knit. You know, a girl likes to experiment with other textiles, right? I began the search today for the best quality at the lowest prices, including shipping, online.
- Amazon– an all-inclusive list is at the link 🙂 If you shop at certain vendors and spend 35 dollars, shipping is free. Or you can become a premium member and shipping is free.
- Girl Charlee– Amazing product, mostly in the $6-$8 range. But, they sell bargain bins of flawed fabric for around $2 a yard. The shipping is free with $100 purchase, or $10 for anything less than that.
- Fabric.com– is a great site with prices comparable to Girl Charlee. The shipping is free on this website if you spend $35!! Ding Ding, that’s easy enough right?
- Michael Levine, Inc.– Is endorsed by the amazing Mimi G., for those fanatics of her work. This site is really pretty good, I spent a fair amount of time here filling up my basket. Their fabrics begin around the $6 range and you can spend as much as you want on fabric from there. I’m on the stingy side though, I stay at the bottom end. More fabric for my buck right? Their shipping is not a flat rate, it’s based on the true shipping cost. At $75 your shipping is free though. We love free shipping!!
- Mood Fabrics– Has ah-maz-ing fashion fabrics! I love that site! Their prices start at around $2 and go up from there. Remember, it is fashion fabric, so the prices go way up there! But, I believe there is something for everyone. They also have a rewards program. Points earned for pinning the fabric, sharing it on social networks, and various other things.
- Fashion Fabrics Club– The prices are comparable to everywhere else I’ve looked online. They have the largest selection of Denim I’ve ever seen, two hundred and nine varietieswithlycra! Shipping seems the best I’ve found so far.
- up to $25.00 – $6.95
- $25.01 to $50 – $8.95
- $50.01 to $100 – $11.95
- Seriously, look for part two to this blog. I’ve looked at so much fabric today I believe they are all looking the same to me. I’ve enjoyed this! Part Two coming soon. Besides, I have shopping carts to take care of 🙂
by Lucy | Mar 17, 2015 | Blog, Fitting
Jeans shopping is the worst experience. This pair fits perfect except for_____________. I love this pair but hate the ___________ on them. Usually they don’t fit well because they are made for an average body. What average really means these days is hard to figure out. But, if you’re having problems fitting some areas, this is the answer to all your problems. She has gone way beyond the call of duty and insisted her blog would be complete and all seamstresses everywhere would love her guides.
I’ve found the best way to find the best fitting pair of jeans is to make them yourself. Always remember to read the website discussed above for any problem areas you may have. The more you study the construction of pants the easier the daunting task becomes.
Seriously, once you find a great fitting pants pattern, jeans are really nothing more than great fitting pants with a bunch of topstitching. Go for it! You’ll be glad you did.
by Lucy | Mar 16, 2015 | Blog, Reviews
Look at those! I just want to spend the rest of the month sewing these. Her patterns are amazing and they look so much like off the rack. Each pattern has so many options. The skirt patterns have tops, the top patterns have pants, it’s amazing!
My last purchase was the yellow skirt, Simplicity 1366 is unexpectedly trendy. The skirt alone was the selling point. But, I opened it to realize the envelope also contains a pattern for a cami and a boatneck top. I believe there is nothing classier and more comfortable than a boatneck. This can be a really cute and casual tee for jeans or a silk blouse to accompany the skirt. Anyway, that’s how I plan to spend my afternoon. Any plans for yours?
******UPDATE******
I’ve sewn the boatneck top twice now. I love it! It’s a quick sew and the neckline is very easy to install. The only problem I had is I forgot to add length. So, that’s not really a problem, right? I just added a band at the bottom. I sewed it out of interlock knit so it is really comfy. You’ll be seeing a lot of this top on my blog this season. I made a peplum version as well. I promise to post those pictures!
by Lucy | Mar 15, 2015 | Blog, Experimentation, Lucy's Sewing Lab
I did it! I attacked the denim with scissors. I’ll lead you through the progression of sewing boyfriend jeans. I took a jegging pattern I have used before and used that as a base. I added an inch all the way around, in hopes of creating the ultimate pattern for Boyfriend jeans. I couldn’t wait to sew these pieces of denim together. It was wonderful, watching my creation come to life. I tried them on, they fit well. But…..as I was getting ready to sew the two legs together, I realized they didn’t fit together the way they should. You know, the way they should fit together to make jeans. I had sewn the inseam to the outer seam. UGH! This was not going to work. I didn’t have jeans, I had a huge mess, sewn together with care.
My seam ripper and I have become close today. I took those wonderful jeans, and ripped them apart. So, here I sit, ready for round two with that fabric. Hopefully this time….I’ll have a result that resembles boyfriend jeans?
If you are not as adventurous as I am there are plenty of blogs out about upcycling to create boyfriend jeans. I have yet to finish these jeans, with fall right around the corner, I may just be jumping on the upcycle bandwagon for boyfriend jeans.
Until next time…ENJOY
This is a perfect example! Let me break it down for you, it’s a yard of fabric, folded in half, with side seams and a v neck. There are several tutorials out there. It’s made out of rayon spandex jersey. Which can be found here for about $6 or $7 a yard.
I love it! It’s too early here for tank tops so I’m working on a short sleeve version out of knit. I’ll hopeful finish it today and post the finished product and some hints on how to do it. For a little teaser….hint number one is find a bodice pattern you love and make it fit you perfectly! From there the options are endless!