Sewing STYLE for Women this holiday

So Excited to have Emily from My Crafty Little Self here to join us on the blog today with a STYLE feature!!!! 

AND she made the Jenny in STRETCH poplin! 

Do you have a favourite colour to wear around the holidays ? 

Don;t forget to leave a comment on this post, we would love to hear from you!

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Every year, Christmas sewing for myself always winds up at the very bottom of my to-do list. As I'm feverishly finishing a quilt binding for a gift late into the night on Christmas Eve or still sewing buttons on Christmas outfits for my family 30 minutes before the party starts, I realize once again...it's not going to happen.  

But not this year!  I made sewing a new Christmas dress for myself a priority and I'm so glad I did.  This red stretch poplin and the Jenny dress pattern have been sitting in my stash for too long and it was time to use them both. This piece of fabric has moved with us to 3 different US states.  Either our family needs to stop moving so much, or I need to sew with woven fabrics more often!   I added a cropped blazer for style and function--it was 20 degrees Farenheit outside when these pictures were taken.  

The Jenny dress adds a level of customization that I've rarely seen in any sewing pattern. Once your general size is determined, you choose a cup size for your bodice and a waistband height and length based on your torso measurements.  The dimensions for a range of skirt lengths is given, from shirt length to maxi length.  

The finished result is a precise, flattering fit in the bodice and the perfect piece for layering.  This dress will be worn on its own in the summer heat and will be in my rotation year-round.  

I've been reading a book about my great-grandmother's family and was pleased to find out I come from a long line of tailors and seamstresses.  Struggling to make it as farmers in southeastern Idaho, they were as resourceful as could be with fabric.  Coats were taken apart the following year and sewn inside out to make them "new" again, any scraps were immediately pieced into a quilt, and hem facings were often used to leave as much growing room in garments as possible.  

In the spirit of resourcefulness, I used a hem facing (a technique also used in the Judy's Fancy Pants pattern) since I had just enough fabric to keep this dress maxi length but still wanted the wide hem specified in the pattern directions.  

I am headed to a Christmas concert tonight in my new dress and will wear it again on Sunday to sing in the church choir.  What a good reminder that the seamstress in the family deserves a new Christmas outfit every year too.  Happy holidays to everyone!  

Just for ME January! Week 4 : Knock it Off!

Today we have a fun treat for you! Karly from Paisley Roots blog is here to show a knock it off look she made for the challenge! She is an amazing seamstress and I am just loving the look, and all the pics - no matter how awkward she thinks she is! Haha.

Before we get to Karly's awesome post (and be sure to leave a comment if you love it/feel inspired/wish you were that tall)  I want to announce the winner of comfy&cozy week!

Kimberley made herself a Dana nigh shirt! and how pretty and comfy doesn't this look!

And now, without further delay, here is Karly guest posting for our FINAL Just for ME January week! Knock it off means to take inspiration from a photo or look you have seen and to make it your own! Here is a LINK to the etsy shop.

Hey! I'm Karly from Paisley Roots. When I was asked to guest post for this week I was really excited! Mostly cause I just love all the people over at Scientific Seamstress (cause they're amazing), but I also love knocking stuff off.
So for starters, here's my inspiration pic:

(Photo from Style Sidebar. Click on photo to go to direct post.)

I love the colors together and although I really don't like WEARING dresses and skirts, I love the look of high-waisted skirts. My husband wishes I would wear them more, but hey, he's not the one that is usually chasing the kids or getting looked at like a giant about to crush people cause she lost her balance in high-heels. 

I know my outfit isn't a right off knock-off. I had this blue with black polkadot chiffon in my stash and it was the perfect amount for my skirt and I love the polkadots. I used the Jenny pattern and this tutorial from the hilarious and amazing Crystal to make it.
I had thought of making the shirt long sleeved but our winter weather has really REALLY changed. So when we usually have 4 feet of snow outside we are now having 50 degree weather instead. It just made more sense to make it short sleeved. I used a shirt I had in my closet as a pattern for it and that was short sleeved too, so that MAY have also been a factor in that decision.....

If you couldn't tell from my pics I'm really not an awesome model either. So I got this great idea that I should use our empty Coca-cola bottles as a prop to try and distract from my awkwardness. 

Did it work?? Oh, did I mention that that's filled with Pepsi....

 Here's another shot of my amazing modeling abilities.

Thank you Scientific Seamstress for having me today!

Now you can head over to Scientific Seamstress Lab Group page and add a photo of your knock-offs in the album for your chance to win!

Have you loved this month of Just for you sewing? We 'd love to hear your thoughts on it! If you would like to see this event again please feel free to let us know and leave ideas for changes or themes you would like to see :)