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Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Seamstress-ing

I really enjoy sewing but don’t get to do much of it these days. My sewing days began back in 3rd grade when I (my mom actually) signed up for sewing in 4-H. I made a skirt that year that I am still proud of although I’m not even sure it still exists. My seams were flawless and precise. I won a blue, honor, and reserve champion, boy did I love sewing! The next year I made another skirt. I did my own thing, not caring for the instructions on my pattern. I got a red. I hated sewing. My mom made me preserveer though and over my 11 years in 4-H I signed up for sewing more often than not. As I grew in the project I discovered it wasn’t that I hated sewing and was being forced to do it, rather that I loved creating and hated being told how to do it.
When I was twelve, I think, I made myself a swim set, shirt, shorts, and a short ruffled skirt. I was working with thick and shifty spandex, no pattern, and loved the end result. My peers liked it, my mom friends were proud and my now mother-in-law had me make her daughter one. Thats the project that made me realize I enjoyed sewing and hoped to someday make money off of it.
So here I am today, taking in wedding dress alterations. I’ve done lots of prom dresses, formals, and everyday clothes alterations. I enjoy it, figuring out the best way to adjust things, making some money in the process, but what I really love is creating, or even recreating, clothes. I wish I had pictures of all the projects I’ve done but I always go into it assuming it’ll be a fail and when I love the final product think ‘oh, I should’ve taken a before picture!’.
Last night I took a long sleeved shirt of mine and turned it into this cute little dress for my Éowyn to wear in our teal themed beach picture next week. I had just finished a wedding dress and had the leftover appliqué pieces that I added to her dress.
Éowyn’s dress

I created  this dress from a sheet with no pattern,
just some sketches and ideas. 

My wedding dress which was strapless but I took it in, added a top,
and created the neckline and back. 
I in no way intend to brag in this post, creating/sewing is just something I love and I’ve been having fun with it so I felt like sharing.
~Haley

7 comments:

  1. Awww... That's a cute dress :) I liked this post a lot! I remember when you made that swim outfit, actually I still have it! And I love and wear your sheet dress that you also gave me too! You definitely have a talent and I'm glad you still use it, I haven't sewed since I was done with 4H.

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    1. Thanks! I love seeing you wear the Agee’s stress, it’s too special for me to have let it sit in a closet forever.
      Well, you’ve moved on to bigger things, like weaving ;)

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  2. You do such fine work! I have no idea how you can do it all with out a pattern. You are an inspiration to me! :) Cutting and snipping with such confidence!
    I particularly enjoyed the bit, in this post, about 4-H, and the picture from that time. It brings back lots of memories. :) Although, 4-H played into my sewing achievments it was my passion for the "old fashioned" that fueled my sewing projects. The thing that got me started sewing was the JoAnn's class. Once I learned how to operate the machine and *follow directions* I started doing my own projects. 4-H definitely made me strive for excellence, though.

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    1. I remember that class, too! Mostly just being frustrating with my seams not lining up 🤦🏽‍♀️
      The sleeves on your wedding dress were actually my first big important “absolutely can’t mess up” project I think 😁
      Also, Riley was just asking if you still had your civil war dresses, she said when she grows more she wants to wear them and would even wear them to church because “they’re so cool and I don’t know why anyone would not!”

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    2. Thank you for putting those sleeves on my wedding dress. They turned really nice, better than the sleeves the seamstress did. I should've trusted you to do the whole job. :)
      I do still have my Civil War dresses. I don't think I can fit in them right now. I guess I need a corsset. :P lol I am glad that Riley thinks they're cool. :)

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  3. I don't have the nerve to do fancy stuff like you have, but love being able to sew. Micah needed white show pants for the fair. I grabbed the only pair of white jeans at a thrift store. They were the right length, but way too big being woman's pants. I was able to fix them in about 5 minutes, and no one could tell. Love the little dress. I almost ended up making a shirt for Titus for pictures, but finally found one with enough pink to match. Lol ~Jessica

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    1. Your sewing skills impress me!! I love the zipper bags you make, zippers are one thing I try to avoid 😝

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