My Nettie Bodysuits

I never knew what I was missing! Bodysuits are the best thing ever invented! I can't stop making them!

I had my eye on the Nettie pattern for a while, but I just hate printing patterns at home. I finally bought it because I figured how many pages can one bodysuit pattern be. The pattern was completely worth it. I think Closet Case Files might be magical, she comes out with patterns that are really special, but at the same time easy for almost all home sewers to sew up really nicely. Even notoriously hard to sew things like swimsuits! And on top of that, her patterns are flattering on all body types and seem to fit everyone without much alteration! How does she do it?!? I am definitely going to download the Bombshell Swimsuit pattern next. I had my eye on it too for a long time, since I now know how amazing her patterns are, I will order it without a doubt.

This body suit is so comfortable and the cut is so flattering. I made it out of fabric I got almost 8 years ago on my very first trip to New York. I could never really decide what to make with it, but I knew it would eventually come to me.....8 years later. I chose the higher necklines, and I was going to leave out the crotch snaps, because I was getting too excited to finish it. Luckily I tried it on before putting the leg bands on, well really I attempted to get into it is more like it! I realized I couldn't fit my hips through the higher version of the neckline! So I had to go back and add in the crotch snaps. I was glad I did because I think its my favourite one so far. I love how versatile these bodysuits are!

Bodysuits aren't really as much of a hassle as people think, as long as they have the crotch snaps! Otherwise they are awful! I have this winter shorts romper and it drives me crazy! I basically have to get completely undressed to go to the bathroom!

I made a second version in this really stretchy knit. This one is super comfy as well! The only thing with this one is its a tiny bit see through. But I wear this one to sleep in mainly so thats alright!

I sewed most of the grey bodysuit on the serger, excluding the neck band and leg bands. I planned to do the same on the blue one, but for some reason my serger was hating the fabric. So I opted for a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine. For the finishing bands, I sewed them on using a slight zigzag stitch, then pressed them down and topstitched them using a double needle. Then I trimmed off the excess seam allowance really close to the stitching using appliqué scissors. This worked out really well and gave it a nice clean finish.

I thought of using smaller snaps, but I worried they wouldn't make it through all the layers. 

I have so many more fabrics in mind for this pattern! I am thinking for my next version I will do it out of a black stretch velvet, in the dress view with a mini turtle neck.

. . . 

I finally got the ironing set up of my dreams! I don't know why I hesitated for so long because it was definitely worth it! It's a Reliable professional steam iron paired with a vacuum board. The only problem is my cat has discovered the heated board and has claimed it! He's just a warm blob that won't move no matter what I do! It reminds me of this one year we got the fireplace fixed and me and Prince just lived in front if it, too warm to move, for about a month before it broke again. We were very upset but really, if it hadn't of broken, we would still probably be there 2 years later now!

Bow Ties!

I've been working on a little project for Christmas! Bow ties! I recently got the opportunity to put some of my designs in a retail store. I didn't have much time before the holiday shopping started so I thought bow ties would be the best choice. I already had a bow tie pattern worked up, and all I had to do was modernize it a bit by slimming it down. I made them out of all kinds of fabrics, mostly silk scarps I had laying around. I was really pleased with how nice the velvet ones turned out! My personal favourite are the bug ones! The bumble bees were perfectly spaced to fit on the bow ties.

 

I made boxes with single bow ties and also ones with a set of matching men's and child's bow ties. Both bow ties are fake, but I tried as much as possible to make them look like real ones. I find the most telling part of the bow tie is the centre knot. With fake bow ties the knot is usually just a strip of fabric wrapped around once or twice. On a real bow tie the knot is real and so I tried to make my knot look real. Although mine are still tied with just a strip of fabric, I tried to twist it and tuck it to look like a real knot.

I really wanted the packaging to be nice, so it would be gift giving ready! Finding a box the right size for a bow tie is surprisingly tough! I searched for way too long. I was even willing to buy large quantities but still nothing! Either the box was square and too deep, or too big or closed wrong. Or it was a jelwery box that was about the right size but only one inch deep. As a last ditch effort I went to Dollorama in town and I found these! All I had left to do was print on them and fill them with paper shreds! 

This project really made me realize how much work goes into any retail product. For just this one thing, it was so much work! I first had to make and perfect the product, source all the findings and fabrics, then find the right box and filling, and make a logo and brand it, and so much more! It was a good learning project and I will be much more prepared if I create a fashion collection in the future.

On a completely unrelated note, I've been crazy sewing bodysuits since I finally downloaded the Nettie pattern from Closet Case Files! I know I'm way behind the times but wow its such a great pattern! I made one Friday night and haven't taken it off since! I will share some pictures next week hopefully! Thanks for reading!