Frantastic Creations

03/22/2026

What does a preliminary test sew look like? Well, this. Looking at the neckline, the skirt length, the ease in the armhole, the overall silhouette. I am not unhappy. What you don’t see is that there is too much fabric in the back and judicious darts will have to be created for a better fit.
I like the basque waist, the neckline, and I am trying to decide whether or not I like the placement of the princess seams.

03/16/2026

03/16/2026

This is the not so sexy, tedious part of dressmaking… pattern drafting!
I created a bodice block made to my exact measurements and projected it onto paper. Then I cut it out of spare fabric, just to make sure I liked the fit.
The next step is to make changes to the paper pattern. I am looking at princess seams and a bateau neckline. Perfect to give shape and structure, but also quite forgiving to the mom waistline. Let’s see how it will go!

03/11/2026

Started today on a project that has been noodling around in my brain… channeling my inner Scarlett O’Hara to see if I can turn a rather lovely sheer curtain into a formal dress.
Today, I cut a prototype for the circle skirt, and played with embellishments. My favorite right now is a highly structured quilted bodice with bust and waist darts that will mimic princess seams.

11/10/2025

Just finished this crib quilt for a bonus grandbaby! My first time designing and and digitizing appliqués. Not too shabby!

10/28/2025

The fabric definitely calls for a full skirt with minimum seams. I am not crazy about an elastic waist band, so I will probably use some sort of pleat or I may cut it on the bias and try for a full circle skirt.

10/28/2025

I have decided to document the process of creating a dress from scratch. My inspiration? A sheer curtain that gives off the perfect garden vibe that I want.
First step, figuring out the color of the lining which will shine through the fabric. I picked up some of the colors from the graphic and tried them, white, gold, dusty blue, red, and lemon yellow. I think I will opt for the lemon yellow as it appears to me to be the most luminous of them all.

02/16/2024

Taking a break from garment making to branch out into accessories. Check out these cute little vinyl catch-all bags and the iPad cover up cycled from leftover fabric and an old pair of jeans!

01/17/2024

What do you do when you are snowed in and you just unboxed a new serger?
Why, make sweet matching Valentine shirts for the grandkids and a cute patchwork bag for me!!!

12/12/2023

When your line dance class has a Christmas party, and you have an embroidery machine….