Sometimes it's hard to be a (busty short-waisted petite but a bit hefty) woman

I rather enjoy sewing. I mean, there are moments I hate. Hemming anything, ever, is frankly on my list of despicable chores to be avoided at all costs- I rationalize paying for others to hem my suits when necessary because if something costs nigh on 200 dollars on sale, I can spend the extra few dollars to make sure the hems are done tidily. I really enjoy piecing quilt tops and wall hangings. In fact, I'm signed up for a quilting retreat with my mother and aunt in September, which should be a blast and a half. The three of us in a cabin may in fact make the world implode with crafter goodness and hilarity. I'm not much of a quilter, but I suppose part of going on a quilting retreat is to learn something- and boy do I have a lot to learn about hand quilting. Because I really suck at it. Really.

Besides hating hemming, and loving piecing quilts, I love the idea of sewing clothing for myself. But as the title states- I am simply not proportioned the way patterns are. I haven't been a B-cup since I was 11. I'm petite, but my arms aren't really that short and my legs are just a bit long for a petite (though still seriously shorter than normal people's). I can't draft my own sewing patterns, and I have not yet figured out how to do alterations other than shortening the dreaded hems... so I've been at a bit of a standstill on growing my sewing skills. But when I went to G Street to look at fabrics this evening (it's a sale, I can't help myself), I cruised the pattern books and found the neatest thing! Simplicity is now making patterns in association with Threads (a sewing magazine) that are supposed to be very step-by-step... and they are sized with different pattern pieces for B, C, and D cups. This means I may be able to make a shirt that fits my bust, without needing to do major alterations or go up 4 sizes from my waist size! So I immediately bought two patterns and fabric for both. I'll probably try a muslin first, to determine what size I really need to make and which cup measurement, but in general I'm delighted at the prospects. The fabric is nifty, too!

The first project is a nice button-down shirt with a yoke, crisp collar, and deep v-neck styling. It also has long cuffs, which I adore for under a suit. I found a great slightly stetchy cotton fabric- crisp white with subtle black stripes, and the neatest pearly black buttons to match. Since I need shirts very badly with my new all-suit-every-day job, I am hopeful that this will fit and I can make a whole bunch of them in easy care fabrics, so I can avoid doing laundry and going to the dry cleaner so darn much. I plan to make the view that is second from the left, with a nice yoke (skipping the lace, most likely), and the long sleeves with deep cuffs.


My second project is... a dress! Dresses are even harder for me to fit to my body than shirts, since my measurements are hourglass-ish but not as balanced as the pattern companies seem to expect. This dress actually has the bust measurement separate (B, C, or D!), so I'm excited to try it out. I think it looks a little bit 60s mod, but I'm making the more contemporary view (the one on the far left) with below-the-elbow sleeves and an at-knee length. The nice gentleman at G Street helped me select a navy linen blend which is washable (KEY!) and shouldn't wrinkle much. They had some stunning linens as well, but I hate ironing finished garments almost as much as I hate hemming unfinished ones. Pure linen is therefore rarely a good choice for me.


I realized that I have transitioned my entire life over to my new Lady B bag from Lexie Barnes but never posted to this site about it! I love it wholeheartedly. It's roomy and full of pockets and not too bulky to carry on the metro. The straps stay on my shoulders, which is highly unusual. My shoulders are quite narrow or sloped or something, purses are forever falling off. The first day I used it I was peeved to the extreme because there was no place for my keys. I couldn't believe such a nice bag wouldn't have a key fob, or a little exterior pocket for them. But it does in fact have a little zippered pocket near the top of the bag, on the exterior side with the big pocket- so I had no need to complain. The bag is just about perfect. And did I mention I can use it to metro to work??






I am in love.