Project: Emily wants something specific to wear to a wedding.

My sister in law was in preparation to attend a wedding a while back. While I was over chillaxin with her on my lunch break one day (a regular happening), we sat together a sifted through various websites looking for dresses. I think I remember it was in the J. Crew wedding dress (you know, for the brides) section that she decided she wanted to wear a skirt. A layered, possibly tulle or chiffon, skirt with a kangaroo pocket. Somehow, I’m not sure of the details it was decided that it would be made! I had never sewn with chiffon before mind you, so I’m not sure WHAT I was thinking. But, off to the fabric store we went. and and picked her materials, and I headed home and got to work.

The ribbon and tulle pictured here didn’t actually make it into the finished product. But, as is the case with most projects that you are trying for the first time without a pattern, you learn, things get left behind, because sometimes, less is more. And that was the case here.

Here is has a layer, or 2 maybe, of tulle underneath the chiffon. It looked too boxy, so we ripped it out.

Here was the final and finished outfit she wore to the wedding. Skirt included:

She looked gorgeous. And I felt pretty amazing. Something about her wearing this to such a big event really made me feel great, very confidence boosting. I felt honored that she trusted me with such an important task.

The icing on the cake:

At the end of this project, my poor rickety, cheap-o sewing machine (I won’t even name it, I’m too embarassed)  really started to act up. Thread jams every hour, on the hour, the bobbin thread would sew way too tight while the other was loose. It was just straight WACK! I knew my machine was special. And I had planned to invest in a new one. Well, Emily had a sewing machine from when her and I took a few Fashion design courses together YEARS ago and offered to let me use her machine for a bit until I do eventually find one that I am ready to take the plunge into (I’d really like to get something nice). Well, this beauty is the machine Emily sent me home with:

It is an Elna model #2110, and it works like a dream.

I LOVE this thing. I am so grateful to Emily for being so generous and letting me use it. This baby is a huge part of the reason I have been so happy and sewing as much as I have lately. My old machine slowed me down and stressed me out. I haven’t had the problem once with this one. THANK YOU, Emmie! But, you can have it back whenever you want of course.