Jenny's Angels

See the various phases of work in progress as well as the completed item(s).

Bra Making!

My newest venture is bra making! I have a client who has undergone a double mastectomy. While she has had reconstructive surgery, it hasn't gone well.

Conventional bras aren't working for her. They don't fit well due to the surgeries she's undergone and are very painful for her to wear. She came to me asking for help.

I've never done this before, so....step one:

 Step 3 - drafting a pattern using a fairly comfortable bra as a fitting guide

 In order to fit her comfortably, the band on one side will have to be cut about 1" lower. Underwire will be added - maybe just on one side....that will be determined during fitting.

Because she is still in pain from the surgery, the fabric used should be lightweight and soft, so I'll experiment with that. Rather than add pads to even out the cup size - I may use a special fabric sewn into the bra itself to keep it lightweight for her.

Above all, it should be PRETTY!

 This is just the proto-type fabric.....Pink lace!

 Assembley Begins!

  The upper cup is pinned to the lower cup

Next, The cups are stitched into the band and the band is stitched together center front.

 The prototype fit - so now I will sow the finishing photos for the "real" thing.

Here,  I just attached the bottom elastic.

Ready for Straps

 The back closures

Good Morning!

One of the little models who helped with the "Auntie Darling" designs is Heartlei. I wanted to make a little dress to thank her for posing for me! Here is the progress on the dress!

1.  I chose the sleeveless version so that she could wear it around Easter!

 4. Working on th contrast collar

 6.  Pleating the skirt before attaching it to the bodice

 8.  All finished!

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I copied a pair of men's shorts, making a pattern for a client. Her husband loved these shorts and couldn't find them any longer! Here is the job in progress!

1. Starting to take the shorts apart so I can make a pattern from the pieces.

3. Pattern Tissue

6. Cutting out the fabric

 8. The FIRST finished welt pocket with flap. Only 7 more to go! Sigh. 

 11. Attaching the front of the shorts to the back

 15. First Pair is FINISHED!

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I need new kitchen towels. After pricing them - and having a hard time finding the color(s) I wanted, I went online and found a vintage table cloth! For a cost of $2.50 each, I am making my own!

1.)   The tablecloth as I get ready to measure out the towels and cut.

 4.) Using a serger, I finish the cut edge for a smooth finish in preparation for hemming.

7.) Stitching all the hems into place.

9.) The finished result! An hour and a half in time well spent! Better yet, watched a movie while I sewed! 

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 1.)     Joan's Apron - using a vintage pattern

from the 50's....

5.)    Cutting self-bias strips to finish the inside edging on the straps and neckline.

6.) Pinning the boas tape in place so I can sew it in by hand.

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 I had a busy week last week!

Everything is on it's way to "Generations by Bruhn Photography" so that Shawna can work her magic!

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I am making formal gowns for the Debutante Ball to be held in May, 2013. I'll begin by making a "muslin" for the most intricate of the gowns.

 A "muslin" draft can be pretty! I'll perfect the fit and it will be a dress she can wear later, too.

Check out the progress for this project on it's own page...

"Ball Gowns"

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These fabrics are about to become little dresses that will be paired with the white pinafores.

Starting construction....

Sleeves set in place and ready to insert elastic.

Looking a little more like a dress!

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 Going to make a Christening gown from embroidered organza. The skirt will be almost a yard long and it will go over a lace embellished slip.

Working on the bodice first. It takes a LOT of pinning because the fabric is so thin and slippery. I decided to add a band of lace on the bodice to hide some of the stitching. In order to control the raveling and give a finished edge on this delicate fabric, I am using French seams. It's like making the garment TWICE!

The Bonnet...

Jenny's Angels does a LOT of custom sewing. These items might include pillows, draperies or custom clothing for our Alterations Clients. 

You can watch our progress as we work on these projects!

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Step 2 - measurements:

The result:

All cut out and ready to sew.

I had to adjust the pattern and cut the band put in a single layer rather than double fold so I could adjust the right side band. I also had to adjust the lower right cup. That came to me during the night - that the cup would also have to be adjusted!

 After stitching upper and lower cups together using a narrow, zig-zag stitch, it's trimmed close to the stitching

 The result

The result

 FINISHED RESULT!

2.  Cutting out the fabric

3.  Overcasting the raw edges, getting ready to sew 

5.  The collar is finished and ready to attach to the bodice

7.  Adding a zipper 

Not too bad for a day's work! Of course, Shawna's photos (Generations by Bruhn Photography)

will be MUCH better than mine!

See the finished result as Heartlei models it on her own page here on the website!

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2. All in pieces, marked and ready to transfer to the pattern tissue.
 

4. Blocked to Scale 

 5. All those pants pieces are now transfered onto the tissue.

 7. Attaching pocket flap

9. Starting the side pocket

10. Side pocket is complete 

12. Ready to attach the flap to the side leg pocket 

13. Ready to attach the waistband

 14. Waistband is attached!

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2.)  I cut off the selvage edges to try and center the pattern more evenly.

3.) Cut the fabric into strips and then, into the pre-finished lengths!

5.) I pressed the hem allowance into place.

6.) Pin the mitered corners into place. Using this technique makes the inside look as nice as the outside!

8.) Checking the topstitching to ensure it's nice and straight! 

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 2.)    Attaching ruffled pink eyelet to the apron strap.

3.)    The same ruffled eyelet is all around the sides and the bottom of the apron.

4.)    Starting to come together.

  ALL FINISHED!

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 In the process of quilting a dresser scarf for a client.

 Bed Pillow to match the dresser scarf.

Small bed pillow in tweed, welt is from the toile used for the scarf and round bed pillow.

Working on the topstitching/quilting!

Sewing in my label. Almost finished!

All finished.

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 Start with a little "pile" of fabric! Wonder what it will be!

Working with the white .....

So many pins! Getting ready to do some handwork.

Can you tell what it is  yet?

A little Pinafore for the Auntie Darling line.

Actually 1 of 3 made today. Will work on the little dresses tomorrow!

Interfacing for collar and back of bodice. I'd forgotten to cut it out when I cut out the dresses. I am working on all three at once - saves time overall!

Sewing in the label before attaching the facings.

Next, will pin the facings and hems in place, ready for the handstitching.

See the finished product in "Designs by Auntie Darling".

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The skirt is 34" long. 

Don't ask me HOW I did it, but I attached the skirt to the bodice, trimmed the seam, hand-stitched the lining in place on the bodice and THEN, top-stitched. THEN.....I realized that the skirt was inside out. Sigh.

The slip is finished....

 I'll be naming this one "Shawna" and now, will send it to her to be photographed!