Diamond Dress

Hi everyone! I finally have a new sewing project to share with you. I have been busy with work and although I have been sewing I haven't found time to blog until now. This is the Diamond Dress from Shwin Designs. It was part of the newest Pattern Anthology bundle. 

Marigold Dress

Meet my newest dress - the Marigold! The first item to cross off my fall sewing plans list. I am part of the Blank Slate Patterns facebook group and there was a sew along for the Marigold over these past couple of weeks. It was the perfect motivation to finally sew this dress. 

Fall Sewing Plans

Although it is still summer for a little more than a week (I'm a firm believer in not rushing the seasons!) I am ready to start thinking about fall sewing.

Fall is my favorite time of the year - cooler temperatures, changing colors, boots, fun scarves, soups, and pumpkin flavored everything.

I have never made a sewing plan for myself, but I am really trying to focus on creating a wardrobe of quality, well fitting pieces that I will actually wear. I am also on a budget for fabric, so I'm hoping to sew mostly from my stash.

First up, a long sleeve Marigold Dress. I've made the peplum top  already, so I'm excited to make the dress. There is a sew along happening in the Blank Slate Pattern facebook group right now, so I'm hoping to use that as motivation to sew my dress.

This will be the fabric for my Marigold. 

Next, a Gabriola Skirt from Sewaholic Patterns. This pattern was on my pattern wishlist and I received it for my birthday back in July! I have the pattern printed, taped together and traced. Now I just need to find the perfect fabric. I had the perfect lighter weight wool for it, unfortunately it was not enough yardage.

Last, a button down plaid shirt. I have no button down shirts in my wardrobe, so this will be the perfect excuse for making one! I want to make it out of flannel, so this will be one exception for buying fabric because I don't have flannel in my stash. I don't have a pattern yet either, but I have been admiring the Archer for awhile. There is also a pattern I tested recently that I'm hoping will be out soon - it would be perfect.

I really like these from fabric.com. Joann's is also having a sale this week, so I might go a see what is available there. Any suggestions on where to buy flannel fabric?

I'm not limiting myself to only sewing three items, but this gives me a plan and will hopefully keep me motivated to sew. I have a full time job now, so it has been hard to find time to sew.

What is on your fall sewing list? Are you excited for fall?

~Elizabeth

Upcycled Skirts

Hello! Today I have an upcycled project to share with you! Back in May 2014, I found these two dresses at a garage sale for $10 total. I thought it was a great price and I had an idea of turning them into skirts for myself. It was funny because the person I bought these dresses from told me "I know these dresses are just your style!"

Not quite, but I knew I could make them my style. Fast forward to August 2015 when I was trying to organize my fabric stash and I came across these dresses that I've had for over a year. I decided it was finally time to do something with them!

Moto Jacket Pattern Tour

Hello! Back in June, I had the the opportunity to test a new pattern from Jennuine Design! I signed up to test, forgot about it and then found out I was picked to help test the Moto Jacket. I was so excited for the challenge! 

Marigold Peplum

This may be my new favorite top! I've been wanting to make the Marigold for at least a year now and I finally got around to it, with the perfect fabric. The Marigold Pattern is from Blank Slate Patterns and it offers so many options. I wanted to make the dress, but I was short on fabric, so I went with the peplum. The pattern also comes with a skirt option, long sleeves, and high-low peplum.

Exciting News

Hello! I hope July is treating you well. Graduation has come and gone (2 months ago already!) and I spent most of June studying for my licensure exam to become a nurse. Talk about stressful! It still felt like I was in school as I was studying almost everyday. I spent those lovely days of June at the library or the local coffee shop surrounded by nursing books and answering practice question after practice question.

Felicity Dress

Today, I have my newest sewing project to show you! This is the Felicity Dress by Jennifer Lauren Vintage and I made it to wear to my nursing pinning ceremony and graduation. It is a new pattern released in February and as soon as I saw it on Jennifer's blog, I knew it was what I wanted to make for graduation.

Wedding Duress // A Book Review

“Tori is ecstatic to become Mrs. Milo Wentworth in a few days, but she has a lot to do before she sashays down the aisle. Favors need to be sewn, vows need to be written – and a mystifying murder needs to be solved. When Beatrice, a fellow member of the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle, learns that her former nanny took a fatal fall in her new employers’ home, she suspects the death was not an accident. Now Tori’s spending her last days as a single woman untangling rumors and stitching together motives to find a killer. But can she nab a murderer and make it to the church on time?” - from back cover

One of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Lynn Casey has recently written her newest book in the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries. Wedding Duress is book number ten and it is the one I have been eagerly awaiting for quite awhile now! I have been a fan of this series and all the ladies of the Sweet Briar Sewing Circle ever since I read book number one. 

Now, Tori Sinclair, librarian of Sweet Briar and Milo Wentworth are finally getting married. Tori needs to finish planning her wedding and finalize last minute details when an unfortunate murder happens. Miss Gracie, a new nanny in town from England is a friend of Beatrice, a member of the sewing circle. 

All of the characters are simply delightful! I love how Elizabeth Lynn Casey has shown us more of Beatrice in this book. She is a quiet and shy young woman, but I enjoyed hearing more from her and getting to know her better. 

I was beyond excited when Charles, a character who was introduced in the previous book made a return for Tori's wedding. He is a very fun character and adds to the excitement. He has a lot of energy and I hope he makes many more appearances in Sweet Briar! 

Although the book focused on Tori's wedding it kept me in suspense until the very end and I could hardly put it down. The characters had me laughing out loud and I was surprised when the culprit of the murder was finally revealed. All of the characters are very real and I feel as though I can relate to them. I was even upset at one specific character for the way she was acting towards her fellow sewing circle members. 

If you are looking for a great read, definitely check out the Southern Circle Sewing Mysteries! Elizabeth Lynn Casey already has plans for books 11 and 12, so this series will keep you busy for quite awhile. If you decide to read these, let me know what you think! 

~Elizabeth

Every End is a New Beginning

I am a college graduate!!!!!!!!!!

Last week, I graduated college with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I'm now a college grad!! It's still hard to believe and almost doesn't seem real. I'm so excited for whatever life brings me next. I have lots of plans for sewing this summer as well as studying for and passing my state board exam. 

I will be back with my latest sewing projects soon! 

~Elizabeth

Me Made May 2015 // My Pledge

Me-Made-May is almost here! I participated in this challenge for the first time last May and I really enjoyed it because it challenged me to wear the clothes I make more often. I am looking forward to participating again this year.

My pledge is as follows: 

 'I, Elizabeth of The College Seamstress, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15. I endeavor to wear only me-made garments each day for the duration of May 2015. I will also be cleaning out my closet during the month of May in order to re-evaluate my wardrobe. '

Last year, my pledge was to wear only handmade clothes and I accomplished that task. I still wear my handmade clothes on a daily basis with 95% of my outfit being handmade. However, I usually wear my favorites and there are certain handmade items in my closet that have been deprived of seeing the light of day. :)

I have been wanting to clean out my closet for a long time, so hopefully this challenge will give me the encouragement to do that! I will update you on how that goes because I always find it extremely difficult to get rid of things I made (even if I never wear them). Hopefully, cleaning out my closet will help me discover holes in my wardrobe to guide my future sewing projects.

Are you participating in Me-Made-May? You can read more and sign up here.

~Elizabeth

A Sally Dress for Easter

Hello! I hope your week is off to a great start! Mine next couple of weeks will be filled with presentations, other projects, exams, and graduation! It's all so exciting and keeping me busy! Over spring break, I made this Sally Dress for Miss V to wear on Easter.

Lulu Dress

Happy First Day of Spring!! I was home on spring break last week and was able to do some sewing. My little sister is growing and getting taller, so some new dresses were needed. The first one I made was a Lulu dress. I made a size 3T and it was a perfect fit for Miss V.

Pattern Wishlist

School is keeping me from sewing, so I thought I would share some of my favorite patterns currently on my wishlist!

The Anna Dress from By Hand London 

I loved this dress when I first started seeing it in the sewing blogosphere. There are so many great versions, but I especially love this one. I think it looks great with a gathered skirt. This is potentially a dress I could make for my graduation, but I'm still trying to decide. 

Archer Button Up Shirt from Grainline Studio

I do not have a single button up shirt in my closet. What more excuse do I need than that? I have been eyeing this pattern ever since I first saw it. I think it would be a great pattern to learn new skills with as I have never sewn a button placket. It would be lovely in a chambray. I am in awe of the five Archers that Kelly of Cut Cut Sew made recently. 

The Gabriola Skirt from Sewaholic Patterns

I have long admired many of the Sewaholic Patterns, but I have never sewn or bought any. I love this maxi skirt - it would be perfect for spring and summer time. My favorite thing about this skirt is that it is an a-line shape rather than a tube like most maxi skirts. 

The Cressida Skirt from Jennifer Lauren Vintage

This skirt has buttons and pockets! I can't decide if I like the single or double breasted button placket better. I think this would be lovely in denim or linen.

The Carolyn Pajamas from Closet Case Patterns

These pajamas are so cute, and I could definitely use a new pair. I really like the piping on this version. 

The Felicity Dress from Jennifer Lauren Vintage

This pattern was just released a few days ago and I absolutely love it! There is a gathered skirt or circle skirt option. It has pockets too! This is another potential pattern to make for my pinning ceremony and graduation.

Those are just a few of my favorite patterns recently. What patterns have you been sewing lately?

Do you have any suggestions of what pattern I should use for a graduation dress? The Anna Dress and Felicity Dress are my top two picks right now, but I'm open to other suggestions as well!

Have a lovely day!

  ~Elizabeth

Wednesday Thoughts

Happy Wednesday! I am very tired tonight and decided to procrastinate take a break from school work and post some pictures of my sister wearing her new dress. :)

She loves her new dress and I think she looks so cute wearing it! The arms are a little tight because the pineapple fabric isn't very stretchy, but it fits and she doesn't seem to mind. I'm using the pineapple fabric for my 12 year old sister as well and I think I will cut the larger size for the sleeves so she has enough room.

Go To Signature Dress

Hello! I finally have a sewing project to show you. This is the Signature Dress from Go To Patterns. It's a size 3 for my littlest sister, Miss V. I let her pick the fabric, but she hasn't seen it yet, so I hope she likes it!