Loving the white wrap one. My favorite. Wear the yellow skirt if you love it. You are never over dressed, just everyone else is underdressed. Every day we have alive is a special day so celebrate it with your favorite clothes.
26:01 i like the plain curtain in the background, it’s something you already have (no need to buy paint), and it doesn’t distract from what you’re trying to show… i feel like a painting or a pattern would be too busy and we won’t have the best view of what you’re showing us but that’s just me lol
The pin in the coffee footage made me laugh so hard my dog got off the couch and gave me a dirty look. Thank you for including such delightful details!
The bottom shelf of that bookshelf!!! Girls of the Many Lands ❤️ AND Fairest AND Donita K Paul ❤❤ Something new every video makes me go “ah yes I’m in the right place”
Great job on the tops! I know my first attempt at sewing knits into anything more complicated than a basic tee went horribly. The fit issues you're encountering come from different areas on each blouse. For the white one, the problem is cutting the hem edge straight. If you angle the edge upwards once you get past the center front, it should bring that gaping in without needing to add any darts. If you're feeling up to altering the blouse you just made, its a simple fix of taking the ties off, cutting a wedge off the bottom, and sewing the ties back on. Though its totally reasonable to not want to alter anything and just note it for next time. For the blue blouse, you made the back too long. With close fitted knit garments you actually add what's called "negative ease". Where instead of adding seam allowance, you subtract it. This allows the knit to stretch over the body smoothly instead of bunching up. So in the future, just shorten the back a little bit and it'll look a lot better. Lastly, the gingham blouse being too small. You simply had a low stretch knit. A good rule of thumb is checking the percentage of stretch before choosing the pattern you want to use, as a low percentage knit is gonna behave very differently than a higher one. You can do this by using the metric side of your measuring tape, pinch off 10 cm of unstretched fabric and then stretch it! Measure how far it goes, for every cm it stretches that's 10% stretch. So if it goes to 12 cm, that's 20% stretch. 15 cm? That's 50%. 20 cm? That's 100% stretch! It simplifies the math significantly and makes it easier to make informed decisions on how you want to use the fabric you have. I hope that this clarifies some of your questions about where the fit issues came from. But I totally understand if it's tldr.😅
Thanks for those tips, I'll remember them as I slowly get back into knits! My solution to "this sleeveless shirt/dress doesn't stretch as much as it used to" has historically been to cut up the side seams and add a strip of fabric to each sideseam, it can even make it look like colourblocking if you don't have the original fabric left!
The peasant top is my favorite, but they all are cute. The ballet wrap top looks sophisticated with everything you made. Wear the yellow skirt to the grocery store. 😁
1. I like the curtain, it makes it look like a little stage. 2. You are a trouper to keep doing these great projects whilst the housing is up in the air. 3. I think checks on stretchy fabrics are doomed to be wonky-looking, unless the cut is super loose. 4. I actually really liked the voice overs, especially the part where you paused to dance. :) 5. Your sewing is a huge inspiration. I am never going to achieve the Bernadette Banner level of perfection. Your projects seem much more approachable and like things I could conceivably do (once I dig the sewing machine out of the storage room). 6. Can't wait to see how you set up your future sewing room!
You should go for the sewing machine in the storage room. I had to look far around in my storage when some cleaner had stored the electricity foot pedals for my sewing machines casually in random boxes. We looked for a long time. Having electricity achines without the net link sucks.
You have my full sympathy. My husband and I had a similar situation, and the deal ended up falling through, so now we're house hunting again and it's PAINFUL. May the odds be in your favor.
Omg the coffee pin 😂😂😂 You could draw your sketches on a dry-erase board so you could erase if needed (in case that's part of your dislike of pens). There are also friction-erase pens that work well on paper. I'd make and hang a little sign with the hacks on it to remind you that they exist!
22:04 to make your yellow skirt more casual, pair it with a nice white tshirt (your choice of neckline, would be awesome with a regular-short or 3/4-sleeved one) and a pair of white old-school Keds tennis shoes
Matt's little shoulder pat on his way off camera was sweet. You guys are super cute❤ I always think I can't be more of a fan, then you release another video😂 "MATH! I feel like I had to pronounce that more clearly"😂
I thought I wasn’t going to like the white one, but it turned out to be my favorite. The wraparound style and the circle sleeves look great with all your skirts, and the whole vibe was pretty put together. I think it’s worth doing whatever adjusting you need to do to make it fit the way you like, and make some more of those. You look cute in anything, but I think that one suited you best of the four. imo, of course. Nice job! Good luck with the house!
The white blouse is absolute fire. I personally want one in every color. And I have approximately half a bazillion very oversized solid color tshirts that I am eyeing as potential candidates to alter in a similar way. They won’t be true wrap shirts, but it’ll definitely be a less boring silhouette than just taking in the sides and calling it a day.
You are so good at making stuff I believe you could make your own dress form.. Might I suggest, go to My Bucolic life and specifically, her customized dress form. She shows how she made the one she uses for herself, and today she posted another video on the subject showing how she made two more in her two daughters measurements. I'm amazed at your ability to whip something up out of your head without a pattern.
I made a bootstrap dress form and it's great. If you drape it's great. I prefer to pattern draft rather than drape but I use it for positioning trim and leveling skirts.
Sorry I was distracted writing that comment, she made a dress form and filmed the process, she used a company that takes your measurements and then send you the pieces to sew together. Though she is in Germany so it might be a European company
Personally, I love the curtain backdrop! It adds "texture" to the reveal. I'm a new subscriber but after that "hacks" video I knew I needed to stick around!! Good luck on the move!
I'm in love with the white top and the almost endless possibilities to combine it, it looks great with practically everything! And the pink milkmaids top? So cute, absolutely stunning. The others aren't as much my style, but definitely cute too! And it's always amazing to see someone else pulling off just making stuff without pattern like I usually do too as well, and making it look that great. It motivates me to try more stuff out of my current comfort zone and just see how it works out
Charlie, this was genius! I don’t think you realise that drafting an idea, making the pattern of that idea and sewing it up so that it’s wearable, is not something that most folk can do. I’m in awe of what you come up with! You are very talented! Sending best wishes from Down Under 💞🌹🌺🌼🌻🌸💐😎🇦🇺
I must admit watching your channel has motivated me to not only go through my extensive fabric stash, but make myself two skirts, a dress and a blouse! Thank you! All WITH patterns, mind you, but things to wear! I have not ventured into no-pattern drafting designs yet…I may never get that brave, but at least I’m sewing!
4:50 so I consider myself pretty good at sketching and many many MANY people have told me so over the years (although my sketches of clothes look absolutely NOTHING like the ones that the ones done by professional fashion designers supposedly look like) and something i have found over the years of trial and error is i do the basic outline of what i want in my H5 art pencil, then fill in and darken outline with HB and/or B3/B4 art pencils… in the end i see all the details i am planning but make fewer mistakes doing it in stages
Nice work! I’m impressed with your willingness to take risks. Drafting your own clothes is something I’ve only learned to do in the last couple of years and I’ve been sewing for 30 years. I watch The Closet Historian to learn how to do it.
@auntnessy7340 me too….the Closet Historian also taught me how to draft my basic bodice, skirt & sleeve slopers. Bianca is a good teacher and a prolific sewist. Charlie amazes me how she makes wearable clothes without slopers or any pattern. Very talented! Sending best wishes from Down Under 🌺🌸💐🇦🇺😎
I’m recovering from a major surgery, so I can’t go upstairs to my craft room. You have been a great distraction, and now I want to get my sewing machine out and not be so scared of it.
if the contrast of the pencil is an issue, just get a softer pencil. Most pencils are in the HB to 2B range. 3B-5B will get you a much darker contrast. There is also the option of going over it in pen when you have the finished drawing (or using darker pencil or a charcoal pencil). That said, I never had a problem seeing what you drew- if I had to guess, people are probably watching with an HDR screen (or don't know how to adjust their screens or have no option to do so) which blows out brightness and affects things like contrast and saturation. As a comic colorist, I run into the same issues on anything on the extreme ends of the value/Black to white spectrum. It's not something within your control as a content creator, the way I see most people deal with it requires more editing work which just... sounds like a lot of work for a quick project so I don't blame you for not going that extra mile.
your smile in the final product is SO precious and infectious. i absolutely said out loud "oh SHES SO CUTE" working with stretch and no mannequin is insane and these all turned out really well, especially given that
I always get so intimidated by the thought of starting a new project because I can't handle not doing it perfectly, but watching you be so casual with it encourages me that actually it's fine. I always come away from these videos feeling so inspired to make things. Thank you.
7:45 lol i use a art pencil in B4 or B5 softness for making marks on fabric… sooooo much cheaper than buying them fancy fabric markers/pens/chalk whatevers and the marks come out in the wash lol
Another option for a top pattern is to use one of your dress patterns that you like and use it as a top. I am enjoying watching your sewing journey and look forward to seeing what you make next 🙂
I believe you only had a couple of months to move out. Will you have to obtain”interim” housing in the meantime in order to surrender your current property to the owner?
You've done it again! I'm always amazed at your process and how you get actual wearable garments. That coffee though! I'm not going to spoil the surprise by mentioning... Hilarious
You don't need a mannequin to be able to sew tops easy, you just need a base bodis block. You know theClosetHistorian - she makes her clothes and loads of different woven tops, - which are a bit harder to fit than knits, - without use of a mannequin. She drafts her tops from a pattern that fits her tight and than changes it however she likes And she has tutorials on how to do one for yourself Given that you like making your own patterns, I think it will be very useful for you and very easy to understand The main advantage is that you take your measurements once and then eyeballing the changes, knowing that the original pattern fits you like a glove Highly recommend :)
Oh, and you can fix you white ballerina blouse with this bodis block as well. For very open areas, low v neckline, sweetheart necklines and such there's an adjusting measurement involved. There's a great video on that topic by NuiraMo Draft the perfect neckline with pattern countouring She also explains sleeves and pattern blocks in other videos very thoroughly)
I make mostly skirts, and some dresses. I made one top.... I need to rework it. I haven't yet attempted pants or shorts... I just love dresses & skirts! 😂😂😂
also, I like the idea of a feature wall for final product shots, but you wouldnt want it to distract from the clothes youre modeling. you could do a cute frame out of molding/trim and have it be a contrasting color to a plain white background wall? like a gold or black frame that you can stand in front of for visual interest, but not take over the shot
Same. Funny thing is, I have a MASSIVE amount of shirts and blouses,-- almost all of them, I have inherited. I have lots of fabric set aside for tops (just because the fabric is too. Small for a skirt,) but, still, no shirts get made. . . . Just more skirts.
And I subscribed after binging so many videos that I got recommended this one within an hour. Love how to do things and how naturally creative you are...I kinda relate 😝
Sorry if a bunch of people have already said this, but Frixion pens and markers might be good for drawing upur designs. They're erasable and nice and dark
Those all look really cute and suit your shape well. Little shirts are one of my go-to's when I don't have enough of a fabric to do much else and I'm slowly but surely learning how much ease I want where... One of my top complaints about shirts since my stupid boobs keep growing is when it pulls at the armpits, but I've been solving that with woven fabric by adding armpit gussets, it's just enough room in the right place that everything's happy again. I need to figure out if I can do something to fix my knit shirts that I like but are now uncomfy, other than just chopping the sleeves right off and making the armscyes bigger... I've got this one keyhole neck shirt pattern I made from a homesewn shirt I got from Valiue Village twenty years ago that I've been repeating in various fabrics and experimenting with puffy sleeves and such and have one that I made too small out of too firm a fabric and that's going to have experiments performed on it soon cause I really want to wear it but every time I put it on, I wear it about 5 minutes then start pulling at the armpits and take it off.... That peasant shirt style like your pink one was one of the first I ever tried to make myself loosely based on an existing shirt (which I still have somewhere but the elastic has long since disintegrated so it's not currenty wearable) and I guess it's raglan sleeve style and I maybe got the angle wrong and it pulled in the armpits, so because it was also THE wrong colour for my skin tone, I added a nice wide channel at the neck in black, and that was enough to keep the lilac colour from making me look ill AND add enough vertically to drop the armpits to be comfortable... then a year ago when I remade that shirt and added extra at the neck and it still didn't fit, I had to add armpit gussets and that's where I got the idea that maybe I needed to alter the sleeve angle so they are further down... and I now have a fabric I want to use for that (a nice soft cotton voile that I want on my skin!) I'm going to try some geometry with the sleeves before I put it together. So much of sewing is live and learn, like my armour mentor used to say, it's a process, not a product...
Liking all the tops you have created. There is so many ways to make a dress form and My Bucolic life did show how to make a topper to fit your body but would need a dress form to start as a base and lots of stuffing could use your scraps but it would become very heavy , some foam is an option duck tape is ok but the glue on the tape will stick to pins . What ever you try am sure would be fun to watch try various ones if you have time till you are happy with the end one😀
All cute! For your bonus shirt, if you have enough left, you could insert a bias cut rectangle long-ways from neck to bottom in the center front. Because the back looks just right. I love your curtain backdrop for final looks, but depending on how the house situation works out, you may be able to have a couple of spots for final looks. Hope that's all finished soon. ❤
I'd love to hear more about how you're sewing stretch fabrics with only a sewing machine. "Everyone" says stretchy is difficult, but you're so confident going for it. What is the need-to-know info for someone only used to sewing with woven fabric?
Your joy in the reveal montage is always sooo infectious! I have been scared to use my knits because (1) I haven't sewn with stretch before and (2) I have no idea how long they'll fit properly before being stretched out of shape / my own body changes, so the wrap shirt was especially inspiring since it's adjustable!
THe wrap top with those sleeves was so stunning. Would love to see those sleeves on a supper simple plain top too. THe blue one looked cute. Definitely one you need to give another try
Umm.... excuse me, you are amazing. You've definitely inspired me to pull out my sewing machine and give it another go. Also, living for those facial expressions 12:00 so relatable ❤
I like the simple background. Either the curtain or a simple wall helps make sure you and your projects are the center of attention. But if you want to do an elaborate painting, don’t let us get in your way!
I'd recommend the Uniquely You dress form, especially if you have unusual proportions. It's a foam base that you cover with a fabric, well, cover, which you sew to your exact size and dimensions. The cover smooshes the foam into the size and shape you need, and you can adjust the fabric cover when your body changes. I opted for this one because of a dramatic difference in my waist and hip measurements, and the tiny-ribcage vs large-bust conundrum.
Thanks for the recommendation, I'm the opposite, maybe 4" difference between hip and waist measurements and wide ribcage so large bust measurement but not actually large boobs, and they're wide across my ribcage and not very sticky-outy and everything's weird with narrow shoulders... Cutsom-fitting a princess seam bodice block for myself was a game changer, because commercial patterns are not made for "dad bod with boobs" body shapes any more than they're made for super curvy ones like yours. How does that form work for squishier proportions? My bust measurement always wants to be taken in at the top and let out at the armpits, and for any weight-bearing waistband I need negative ease or I can get a waistband 4" smaller than my hip measurement to slide off my hips without undoing the button... Yay, bodies...
@@bunhelsingslegacy3549 Commercial patterns and the fashion industry manufacture things for what I believe is a mythical average. I don't know anyone, regardless of age, sex, gender, or body type, who can buy something semi-fitted and be able to just wear it. T-shirts don't count because they are, by nature, shapeless - and this isn't a bad thing! I just don't always want to wear a t-shirt. I'm sorry, but I really don't know how the form would work for squishier bodies. I've only used mine for me, and I'm not very squishy. There are videos of people fitting the covers, and reviews of the forms, maybe that would help? Lady Rebecca Fashions is a costumer and sewist on here who has narrow shoulders and often needs to take things in at the shoulder/bust area. Maybe some of her stuff could be helpful? I'm sorry, I usually have the opposite problem and don't have a lot of experience, here!
Another great video Charlie!🥰 I loved all the tops but I think the white one 'Topped' them all for me! Its so pretty and princessy and went with so many things so well! Great job, your skill in drafting up patterns from your head is like a super power! Anyway that lovely yellow satin skirt of yours, you could wear to the grocery store, team it with some converse style hitops and one of your Many shirts and you are good to go! I mean, it's just a suggestion, you don't have to if you don't wanna 🤷♀️😉😁 great tips in there for all us aspiring sewists, keep em coming! And I hope you close on the house very soon🤞🎉
The yellow satin skirt looks like it would go very nicely with a dark blue top, maybe one with some red detailing on the sleeves? 😉 I mean, you said "pretty pretty princess" while wearing a yellow satiny skirt and my brain immediately flashed to the yellow damask satin skirt I keep in my closet for Disneybounding as Snow White with a blue and silver spaghetti strap and a red belt and jacket. 😂😂😂 All the tops you made look super cute, and the floral looks especially good under the pinafores!
I give you credit for making something even when you're not super psyched for it! I thought all of the shirts were great. You could do a green screen at the next place
You really are gifted 💖💖 One day I hope to be half as good as you are making clothes right now I feel like I'm just wasting perfectly good fabric and failing miserably at making anything 🙈 I did make a beautiful little dress for my daughter that turned out to be to small 🤣🤣🤣🤣 but I'm not ready to give up yet
I have never attempted to do pattern making. And even when I make a pattern from a store bought patten it never looks right. I am just now learning more about altering them, so maybe I will get brave in the future. LOL I have also never attempted to sew anything other than cotton fabrics.
Ok so your ability to see the "time" you have and do a thing is literally superhero status to me... I love doing projects and making things then I start them and then it takes me forever to make it 😢
Hahaha thanks! It took a while of sewing before I started to estimate accurately how long stuff would take - one of my early projects I thought would take over a week and ended up only taking a day!
23:18 i love this top… i have a gorgeous mustard-yellow knit fabric i bought at a discount bc it was in the clearance bin at Joanne’s and I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of tank top i wanted to make out of it and you totally inspired me lol however, i dress more conservatively (despite only being 33 years old), so i will make it a solid back and the hem laying at my hips in length but i love the paneling and the neckline so thank you for all that you do. I am so glad you will continue to make videos like these when you move bc i only recently found your channel and I absolutely love watching you… you explain things so well in terms i can understand (bc i am NOT a trained seamstress) and your personality and sense of humor are fabulous lol one thing I’d really love if you could do in the future is a video of tops featuring different versions of the “sweetheart” neckline lol with particular interest in how to finish the neckline in both a traditional & with binding lol love you girl!!!
I am in awe at your bravery in just cutting out stuff. I'm getting better at it, but i still need a pattern. Even if it's one I"ve drafted, I need that paper there. So congratulations, you're an inspiration.
If it's something fitted, I can't even leave seam allowance on my patterns, I have to cut it off and draw my stitch lines or everything's wonky when I put it together. No shame at all in however your sewing process works, it's yours, so optimize it to make it work best for you! Mine involves scribbling all kinds of notes to self with chalk or watercolour pencil on each cut piece along with my stitch lines (up/dpwn/back/front arrows, piece numbering, waistline marks, which is the "good" side of the fabric, etc) and sometimes even colour coding. I've tried the Frixion pens but then I can't iron anything or I lose all my notes...
I spent a good ten minutes laughing hysterically when you dropped the pin in your coffee. Literal tears were flowing down my face. highlight of my day.
OK so I'm a ridiculous person because I don't even sew anything (although I'm a "creative"/"make it up as you go" crocheter of a very beginners' level) but YOU are such an AMAZING person that I'm addicted to your RUclips content (and your creative process makes me feel less alone) and I'm sitting here with tears rolling down my cheeks watching you show your finished products because YOU DESERVE TO WEAR THE SKIRTS YOU LOVE SO MUCH (and which have brought so many enjoyable, useful videos to so many people) and I'm so happy for you to have those tops! Thank you for sharing yourSELF with us :)
I used the bootstraps pattern generator to make my dressform. You input your measurements, and it gives you a pattern! I felt the price was reasonable, and the directions were clear. There are also tons of video tutorials on RUclips.
I think I might have given a higher overall mark. I really enjoy the way you think and how you make patterns. So I think you need bonus marks for style and presentation! Which would raise your overall mark! It is a fun video! I love your style!
I love the white top and the peasant top. I liked the teal one but I believe it would be better a little longer. The bonus one would be cute if done in a different material. Charlie your so talented thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Vouching for the ruffle era I graduated high school in 1977 and was a bridesmaid in 1981. Both dresses, made by my mom, were not off the shoulder but had neck ruffles. The bridesmaid dress was of a peach crepe for the full bodice and skirt. The ruffle was a sheer print.
the "there is most definitely a pin in my coffee" gave me quite the good LOL...and made me think of the floor is lava game...except this time it's the coffee is lava game! i love the crossbody butterfly sleeved top and the milk maid top the best! also, i totally also love that yellow satiny skirt! i'd wear it all the time if i had it! if it were me i'd love a painting or really cool wallpaper for the reveal portions of the videos!
I think your new wall/final product space should be a work in progress, where you figure out different techniques for wall treatments and use them in various ways. Just because I love to see other people work on things, LOL.
Again, love your channel. Thanks for talking a little more in depth on what you measure and how you pattern. I pattern similarly but it is super helpful that you share your process.
Just had to LOL over the pin incident so i thought i‘d let you know how delighted i am to see somebody go about their crafting in a very similar way as i am. (Although i’m not quite as brave in the whole winging-it-thing) I sometimes feel very weird - so thank you!
I so enjoy your videos. Sewing without a pattern. And just going for it. In my old I think I could actually give this a try now that I’m not so concerned about how or what people think. Have you ever heard of Stephanie Canada RUclips channel? And yes, as she says, Canada is her last name. She lives in Florida. My main thought and question is, is she related to you. Her channel consist of sewing patterns from I believe it’s the 50s. But she reviews all decades of patterns. she is very entertaining as well. Your personalities are quite similar. But she is even more outgoing. That’s why I wondered if she related to you
*finds pin in coffee* *laughs and proceeds to keep drinking coffee* one of the many things I find quite relatable to you ngl 😂
Loving the white wrap one. My favorite. Wear the yellow skirt if you love it. You are never over dressed, just everyone else is underdressed. Every day we have alive is a special day so celebrate it with your favorite clothes.
26:01 i like the plain curtain in the background, it’s something you already have (no need to buy paint), and it doesn’t distract from what you’re trying to show… i feel like a painting or a pattern would be too busy and we won’t have the best view of what you’re showing us but that’s just me lol
The pin in the coffee footage made me laugh so hard my dog got off the couch and gave me a dirty look. Thank you for including such delightful details!
That's the sewing equivalent of accidentally mixing up the paint water and whatever you're drinking honestly
I like the blank curtain. It has some texture unlike a wall. I think a mural would distract from the clothes.
The bottom shelf of that bookshelf!!! Girls of the Many Lands ❤️ AND Fairest AND Donita K Paul ❤❤
Something new every video makes me go “ah yes I’m in the right place”
Ooooo we come from the same childhood book land!!
Great job on the tops! I know my first attempt at sewing knits into anything more complicated than a basic tee went horribly. The fit issues you're encountering come from different areas on each blouse.
For the white one, the problem is cutting the hem edge straight. If you angle the edge upwards once you get past the center front, it should bring that gaping in without needing to add any darts. If you're feeling up to altering the blouse you just made, its a simple fix of taking the ties off, cutting a wedge off the bottom, and sewing the ties back on. Though its totally reasonable to not want to alter anything and just note it for next time.
For the blue blouse, you made the back too long. With close fitted knit garments you actually add what's called "negative ease". Where instead of adding seam allowance, you subtract it. This allows the knit to stretch over the body smoothly instead of bunching up. So in the future, just shorten the back a little bit and it'll look a lot better.
Lastly, the gingham blouse being too small. You simply had a low stretch knit. A good rule of thumb is checking the percentage of stretch before choosing the pattern you want to use, as a low percentage knit is gonna behave very differently than a higher one. You can do this by using the metric side of your measuring tape, pinch off 10 cm of unstretched fabric and then stretch it! Measure how far it goes, for every cm it stretches that's 10% stretch. So if it goes to 12 cm, that's 20% stretch. 15 cm? That's 50%. 20 cm? That's 100% stretch! It simplifies the math significantly and makes it easier to make informed decisions on how you want to use the fabric you have.
I hope that this clarifies some of your questions about where the fit issues came from. But I totally understand if it's tldr.😅
Thanks for those tips, I'll remember them as I slowly get back into knits!
My solution to "this sleeveless shirt/dress doesn't stretch as much as it used to" has historically been to cut up the side seams and add a strip of fabric to each sideseam, it can even make it look like colourblocking if you don't have the original fabric left!
The peasant top is my favorite, but they all are cute. The ballet wrap top looks sophisticated with everything you made. Wear the yellow skirt to the grocery store. 😁
Theresa: Exactly! I agree.
1. I like the curtain, it makes it look like a little stage. 2. You are a trouper to keep doing these great projects whilst the housing is up in the air. 3. I think checks on stretchy fabrics are doomed to be wonky-looking, unless the cut is super loose. 4. I actually really liked the voice overs, especially the part where you paused to dance. :) 5. Your sewing is a huge inspiration. I am never going to achieve the Bernadette Banner level of perfection. Your projects seem much more approachable and like things I could conceivably do (once I dig the sewing machine out of the storage room). 6. Can't wait to see how you set up your future sewing room!
You should go for the sewing machine in the storage room. I had to look far around in my storage when some cleaner had stored the electricity foot pedals for my sewing machines casually in random boxes. We looked for a long time. Having electricity achines without the net link sucks.
You have my full sympathy. My husband and I had a similar situation, and the deal ended up falling through, so now we're house hunting again and it's PAINFUL. May the odds be in your favor.
that sounds really frustrating indeed. best of luck to you ! 🤗
Just as an update they have the house now, the videos are usually filmed a while in advance. She has more up to date info on her instagram
Were you guys able to find a new home yet? 😊
Omg the coffee pin 😂😂😂
You could draw your sketches on a dry-erase board so you could erase if needed (in case that's part of your dislike of pens). There are also friction-erase pens that work well on paper.
I'd make and hang a little sign with the hacks on it to remind you that they exist!
Or wet erase pen!
Oo a dry erase board could be fun!
I LOVE the frixion pens specifically, I use those everywhere: paper, fabric, you name it lol
22:04 to make your yellow skirt more casual, pair it with a nice white tshirt (your choice of neckline, would be awesome with a regular-short or 3/4-sleeved one) and a pair of white old-school Keds tennis shoes
Matt's little shoulder pat on his way off camera was sweet. You guys are super cute❤
I always think I can't be more of a fan, then you release another video😂
"MATH! I feel like I had to pronounce that more clearly"😂
Same, on all points!!
I know about the pin in the coffee😂 That's when I take a break or just go to bed.
I thought I wasn’t going to like the white one, but it turned out to be my favorite. The wraparound style and the circle sleeves look great with all your skirts, and the whole vibe was pretty put together. I think it’s worth doing whatever adjusting you need to do to make it fit the way you like, and make some more of those. You look cute in anything, but I think that one suited you best of the four. imo, of course.
Nice job! Good luck with the house!
Agree! I loved the white one!
The white blouse is absolute fire. I personally want one in every color. And I have approximately half a bazillion very oversized solid color tshirts that I am eyeing as potential candidates to alter in a similar way. They won’t be true wrap shirts, but it’ll definitely be a less boring silhouette than just taking in the sides and calling it a day.
You are so good at making stuff I believe you could make your own dress form.. Might I suggest, go to My Bucolic life and specifically, her customized dress form. She shows how she made the one she uses for herself, and today she posted another video on the subject showing how she made two more in her two daughters measurements. I'm amazed at your ability to whip something up out of your head without a pattern.
I made a bootstrap dress form and it's great. If you drape it's great. I prefer to pattern draft rather than drape but I use it for positioning trim and leveling skirts.
Thisiskachi also made a dress form
Sorry I was distracted writing that comment, she made a dress form and filmed the process, she used a company that takes your measurements and then send you the pieces to sew together. Though she is in Germany so it might be a European company
Personally, I love the curtain backdrop! It adds "texture" to the reveal. I'm a new subscriber but after that "hacks" video I knew I needed to stick around!! Good luck on the move!
I'm in love with the white top and the almost endless possibilities to combine it, it looks great with practically everything! And the pink milkmaids top? So cute, absolutely stunning. The others aren't as much my style, but definitely cute too! And it's always amazing to see someone else pulling off just making stuff without pattern like I usually do too as well, and making it look that great. It motivates me to try more stuff out of my current comfort zone and just see how it works out
Now I want red pants and a white top!
Yay, a new video! Boo for not finalizing on the new house. Now onto the rest of your shenanigans. 😊
Charlie, this was genius! I don’t think you realise that drafting an idea, making the pattern of that idea and sewing it up so that it’s wearable, is not something that most folk can do. I’m in awe of what you come up with! You are very talented! Sending best wishes from Down Under 💞🌹🌺🌼🌻🌸💐😎🇦🇺
Hello fellow antipodean!! 🇳🇿❤
Aw you're so kind, thank you!!
I must admit watching your channel has motivated me to not only go through my extensive fabric stash, but make myself two skirts, a dress and a blouse! Thank you! All WITH patterns, mind you, but things to wear! I have not ventured into no-pattern drafting designs yet…I may never get that brave, but at least I’m sewing!
Yay for sewing!!!
4:50 so I consider myself pretty good at sketching and many many MANY people have told me so over the years (although my sketches of clothes look absolutely NOTHING like the ones that the ones done by professional fashion designers supposedly look like) and something i have found over the years of trial and error is i do the basic outline of what i want in my H5 art pencil, then fill in and darken outline with HB and/or B3/B4 art pencils… in the end i see all the details i am planning but make fewer mistakes doing it in stages
Nice work! I’m impressed with your willingness to take risks. Drafting your own clothes is something I’ve only learned to do in the last couple of years and I’ve been sewing for 30 years. I watch The Closet Historian to learn how to do it.
@auntnessy7340 me too….the Closet Historian also taught me how to draft my basic bodice, skirt & sleeve slopers. Bianca is a good teacher and a prolific sewist. Charlie amazes me how she makes wearable clothes without slopers or any pattern. Very talented! Sending best wishes from Down Under 🌺🌸💐🇦🇺😎
I’m recovering from a major surgery, so I can’t go upstairs to my craft room. You have been a great distraction, and now I want to get my sewing machine out and not be so scared of it.
if the contrast of the pencil is an issue, just get a softer pencil. Most pencils are in the HB to 2B range. 3B-5B will get you a much darker contrast. There is also the option of going over it in pen when you have the finished drawing (or using darker pencil or a charcoal pencil). That said, I never had a problem seeing what you drew- if I had to guess, people are probably watching with an HDR screen (or don't know how to adjust their screens or have no option to do so) which blows out brightness and affects things like contrast and saturation. As a comic colorist, I run into the same issues on anything on the extreme ends of the value/Black to white spectrum. It's not something within your control as a content creator, the way I see most people deal with it requires more editing work which just... sounds like a lot of work for a quick project so I don't blame you for not going that extra mile.
Great tips!
your smile in the final product is SO precious and infectious. i absolutely said out loud "oh SHES SO CUTE"
working with stretch and no mannequin is insane and these all turned out really well, especially given that
I always get so intimidated by the thought of starting a new project because I can't handle not doing it perfectly, but watching you be so casual with it encourages me that actually it's fine. I always come away from these videos feeling so inspired to make things. Thank you.
That makes me so happy to hear!
You make me think of a sewing version of Simone Giertz and I'm here for it. I love all of your videos and I wish I had time to sew like you do!
That's such high praise, thank you!!
Exactly what I thought: Simone Giertz or Laura Kampf if they would sew😅❤
Omg yes that's so accurate! The chaos, the creativity, the relatability. 💯
7:45 lol i use a art pencil in B4 or B5 softness for making marks on fabric… sooooo much cheaper than buying them fancy fabric markers/pens/chalk whatevers and the marks come out in the wash lol
Another option for a top pattern is to use one of your dress patterns that you like and use it as a top. I am enjoying watching your sewing journey and look forward to seeing what you make next 🙂
Also how about making some wrap pants like Mia or Thuy sewing? Could you make them with a winter heavier fabric ? Love you channel ❤
Also giggling because you made a mobius strip out of your top and also did the Coffey pin thing
Charlie, it’s amazing how all the shirts came together with the skirts! You are such a wonderful creative person😊
I made a spaghetti straps dress and it took me. And i am not kidding. A WHOLE HOUR to turn ONE strap right side out.
aaaaaaaaah I feel your pain!
Take heart my friend it took 9 months to close on my house but I have been here for 14 years. Well worth it.
I believe you only had a couple of months to move out. Will you have to obtain”interim” housing in the meantime in order to surrender your current property to the owner?
You could use the dresses as blouses I do.
You've done it again! I'm always amazed at your process and how you get actual wearable garments. That coffee though! I'm not going to spoil the surprise by mentioning... Hilarious
The first 45 seconds of this video is my entire philosophy on shirts!!! 😮😂
You don't need a mannequin to be able to sew tops easy, you just need a base bodis block. You know theClosetHistorian - she makes her clothes and loads of different woven tops, - which are a bit harder to fit than knits, - without use of a mannequin. She drafts her tops from a pattern that fits her tight and than changes it however she likes
And she has tutorials on how to do one for yourself
Given that you like making your own patterns, I think it will be very useful for you and very easy to understand
The main advantage is that you take your measurements once and then eyeballing the changes, knowing that the original pattern fits you like a glove
Highly recommend :)
Oh, and you can fix you white ballerina blouse with this bodis block as well. For very open areas, low v neckline, sweetheart necklines and such there's an adjusting measurement involved.
There's a great video on that topic by NuiraMo Draft the perfect neckline with pattern countouring
She also explains sleeves and pattern blocks in other videos very thoroughly)
I make mostly skirts, and some dresses.
I made one top.... I need to rework it.
I haven't yet attempted pants or shorts...
I just love dresses & skirts! 😂😂😂
I really like the curtain, but if you want to paint a mural in the new house, I would watch that 😄
also, I like the idea of a feature wall for final product shots, but you wouldnt want it to distract from the clothes youre modeling. you could do a cute frame out of molding/trim and have it be a contrasting color to a plain white background wall? like a gold or black frame that you can stand in front of for visual interest, but not take over the shot
Oo that's a fun idea!
Same. Funny thing is, I have a MASSIVE amount of shirts and blouses,-- almost all of them, I have inherited. I have lots of fabric set aside for tops (just because the fabric is too. Small for a skirt,) but, still, no shirts get made. . . . Just more skirts.
And I subscribed after binging so many videos that I got recommended this one within an hour. Love how to do things and how naturally creative you are...I kinda relate 😝
I hear you. What is it about making tops that just seems less fun than skirts and dresses? That said, these came out looking great.
Sorry if a bunch of people have already said this, but Frixion pens and markers might be good for drawing upur designs. They're erasable and nice and dark
I was also going to recommend this! They make Frixion markers which work really well on Fabric, I often use them to mark out darts on clothes.
Great tip! I haven't heard of these brand of pens! Thanks for sharing! 👌🙂
I just said this, so hopefully she'll see it!
Those all look really cute and suit your shape well.
Little shirts are one of my go-to's when I don't have enough of a fabric to do much else and I'm slowly but surely learning how much ease I want where... One of my top complaints about shirts since my stupid boobs keep growing is when it pulls at the armpits, but I've been solving that with woven fabric by adding armpit gussets, it's just enough room in the right place that everything's happy again. I need to figure out if I can do something to fix my knit shirts that I like but are now uncomfy, other than just chopping the sleeves right off and making the armscyes bigger...
I've got this one keyhole neck shirt pattern I made from a homesewn shirt I got from Valiue Village twenty years ago that I've been repeating in various fabrics and experimenting with puffy sleeves and such and have one that I made too small out of too firm a fabric and that's going to have experiments performed on it soon cause I really want to wear it but every time I put it on, I wear it about 5 minutes then start pulling at the armpits and take it off....
That peasant shirt style like your pink one was one of the first I ever tried to make myself loosely based on an existing shirt (which I still have somewhere but the elastic has long since disintegrated so it's not currenty wearable) and I guess it's raglan sleeve style and I maybe got the angle wrong and it pulled in the armpits, so because it was also THE wrong colour for my skin tone, I added a nice wide channel at the neck in black, and that was enough to keep the lilac colour from making me look ill AND add enough vertically to drop the armpits to be comfortable... then a year ago when I remade that shirt and added extra at the neck and it still didn't fit, I had to add armpit gussets and that's where I got the idea that maybe I needed to alter the sleeve angle so they are further down... and I now have a fabric I want to use for that (a nice soft cotton voile that I want on my skin!) I'm going to try some geometry with the sleeves before I put it together.
So much of sewing is live and learn, like my armour mentor used to say, it's a process, not a product...
Liking all the tops you have created. There is so many ways to make a dress form and My Bucolic life did show how to make a topper to fit your body but would need a dress form to start as a base and lots of stuffing could use your scraps but it would become very heavy , some foam is an option duck tape is ok but the glue on the tape will stick to pins . What ever you try am sure would be fun to watch try various ones if you have time till you are happy with the end one😀
How about black on dry erase board? More visible for us and easily wipeable/correctable for you. 😊
the milkmaid shirt came out soooo cute!!!!!! def my favourite out of all of them
I love it,you are so funny, it is always a pleasure to watch you implement your ideas.😄matt was so sweet,when he was pedding your shoulder.
All cute! For your bonus shirt, if you have enough left, you could insert a bias cut rectangle long-ways from neck to bottom in the center front. Because the back looks just right.
I love your curtain backdrop for final looks, but depending on how the house situation works out, you may be able to have a couple of spots for final looks.
Hope that's all finished soon. ❤
I'd love to hear more about how you're sewing stretch fabrics with only a sewing machine. "Everyone" says stretchy is difficult, but you're so confident going for it. What is the need-to-know info for someone only used to sewing with woven fabric?
I keep wanting to ask if she’s using a lightning stitch or a zig zag at least so her seams don’t pop later. I’ve been wanting to try Eloflex thread.
A lot of people have been asking, so hopefully I'll be able to make a video about how I handle knits soon!
I took a pair of pants that I didn't finish sewing and I turned it into a shirt that I thought would fit me but no it doesn't fit over my chest😅
Your joy in the reveal montage is always sooo infectious! I have been scared to use my knits because (1) I haven't sewn with stretch before and (2) I have no idea how long they'll fit properly before being stretched out of shape / my own body changes, so the wrap shirt was especially inspiring since it's adjustable!
THe wrap top with those sleeves was so stunning. Would love to see those sleeves on a supper simple plain top too. THe blue one looked cute. Definitely one you need to give another try
Umm.... excuse me, you are amazing. You've definitely inspired me to pull out my sewing machine and give it another go. Also, living for those facial expressions 12:00 so relatable ❤
I like the simple background. Either the curtain or a simple wall helps make sure you and your projects are the center of attention. But if you want to do an elaborate painting, don’t let us get in your way!
I'd recommend the Uniquely You dress form, especially if you have unusual proportions. It's a foam base that you cover with a fabric, well, cover, which you sew to your exact size and dimensions. The cover smooshes the foam into the size and shape you need, and you can adjust the fabric cover when your body changes. I opted for this one because of a dramatic difference in my waist and hip measurements, and the tiny-ribcage vs large-bust conundrum.
Thanks for the recommendation, I'm the opposite, maybe 4" difference between hip and waist measurements and wide ribcage so large bust measurement but not actually large boobs, and they're wide across my ribcage and not very sticky-outy and everything's weird with narrow shoulders... Cutsom-fitting a princess seam bodice block for myself was a game changer, because commercial patterns are not made for "dad bod with boobs" body shapes any more than they're made for super curvy ones like yours.
How does that form work for squishier proportions? My bust measurement always wants to be taken in at the top and let out at the armpits, and for any weight-bearing waistband I need negative ease or I can get a waistband 4" smaller than my hip measurement to slide off my hips without undoing the button... Yay, bodies...
@@bunhelsingslegacy3549 Commercial patterns and the fashion industry manufacture things for what I believe is a mythical average. I don't know anyone, regardless of age, sex, gender, or body type, who can buy something semi-fitted and be able to just wear it. T-shirts don't count because they are, by nature, shapeless - and this isn't a bad thing! I just don't always want to wear a t-shirt.
I'm sorry, but I really don't know how the form would work for squishier bodies. I've only used mine for me, and I'm not very squishy. There are videos of people fitting the covers, and reviews of the forms, maybe that would help?
Lady Rebecca Fashions is a costumer and sewist on here who has narrow shoulders and often needs to take things in at the shoulder/bust area. Maybe some of her stuff could be helpful?
I'm sorry, I usually have the opposite problem and don't have a lot of experience, here!
Another great video Charlie!🥰 I loved all the tops but I think the white one 'Topped' them all for me! Its so pretty and princessy and went with so many things so well! Great job, your skill in drafting up patterns from your head is like a super power! Anyway that lovely yellow satin skirt of yours, you could wear to the grocery store, team it with some converse style hitops and one of your Many shirts and you are good to go! I mean, it's just a suggestion, you don't have to if you don't wanna 🤷♀️😉😁 great tips in there for all us aspiring sewists, keep em coming! And I hope you close on the house very soon🤞🎉
Yeah I really should just wear it somewhere random... I do enjoy being overdressed!
The yellow satin skirt looks like it would go very nicely with a dark blue top, maybe one with some red detailing on the sleeves? 😉 I mean, you said "pretty pretty princess" while wearing a yellow satiny skirt and my brain immediately flashed to the yellow damask satin skirt I keep in my closet for Disneybounding as Snow White with a blue and silver spaghetti strap and a red belt and jacket. 😂😂😂 All the tops you made look super cute, and the floral looks especially good under the pinafores!
I give you credit for making something even when you're not super psyched for it! I thought all of the shirts were great. You could do a green screen at the next place
I’m so proud of how far you’ve come…. And you always make me smile. ❤
You really are gifted 💖💖
One day I hope to be half as good as you are making clothes right now I feel like I'm just wasting perfectly good fabric and failing miserably at making anything 🙈
I did make a beautiful little dress for my daughter that turned out to be to small 🤣🤣🤣🤣 but I'm not ready to give up yet
Aw thank you, but hey, I have failed a whole bunch of times and still do so frequently! I mean... half of these tops were kinda fails! Never give up!!
@@gettheetothestitchery the tops are beautiful 💖💖
Love the blue top, gonna have to try make it sometime
I have never attempted to do pattern making. And even when I make a pattern from a store bought patten it never looks right. I am just now learning more about altering them, so maybe I will get brave in the future. LOL I have also never attempted to sew anything other than cotton fabrics.
You can do it! Get yourself some super cheap thrift store sheets or curtains and don't be afraid of messing up!
OMG! You rocked those tops! The purple dress is AMAZING on you. Good Luck on closing.
All the tops turned out so cute! The blue top with the yellow skirt give me major Snow White vibes and it's so, so cute on you.
I have to say this is quite funny because I remember you saying in your last video that that would be your last video in that house LOL
Ok so your ability to see the "time" you have and do a thing is literally superhero status to me... I love doing projects and making things then I start them and then it takes me forever to make it 😢
Hahaha thanks! It took a while of sewing before I started to estimate accurately how long stuff would take - one of my early projects I thought would take over a week and ended up only taking a day!
@gettheetothestitchery ha ha I do love when that happens!
23:18 i love this top… i have a gorgeous mustard-yellow knit fabric i bought at a discount bc it was in the clearance bin at Joanne’s and I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of tank top i wanted to make out of it and you totally inspired me lol however, i dress more conservatively (despite only being 33 years old), so i will make it a solid back and the hem laying at my hips in length but i love the paneling and the neckline so thank you for all that you do. I am so glad you will continue to make videos like these when you move bc i only recently found your channel and I absolutely love watching you… you explain things so well in terms i can understand (bc i am NOT a trained seamstress) and your personality and sense of humor are fabulous lol one thing I’d really love if you could do in the future is a video of tops featuring different versions of the “sweetheart” neckline lol with particular interest in how to finish the neckline in both a traditional & with binding lol love you girl!!!
I am in awe at your bravery in just cutting out stuff. I'm getting better at it, but i still need a pattern. Even if it's one I"ve drafted, I need that paper there. So congratulations, you're an inspiration.
If it's something fitted, I can't even leave seam allowance on my patterns, I have to cut it off and draw my stitch lines or everything's wonky when I put it together. No shame at all in however your sewing process works, it's yours, so optimize it to make it work best for you! Mine involves scribbling all kinds of notes to self with chalk or watercolour pencil on each cut piece along with my stitch lines (up/dpwn/back/front arrows, piece numbering, waistline marks, which is the "good" side of the fabric, etc) and sometimes even colour coding. I've tried the Frixion pens but then I can't iron anything or I lose all my notes...
That cowl neck dress style is gorgeous! 🤗🖤🖤🖤 I definitely felt the pin in the coffee moment 😅😂🤣
I spent a good ten minutes laughing hysterically when you dropped the pin in your coffee. Literal tears were flowing down my face. highlight of my day.
Me too 😂 I alarmed my husband with my hysteria while quietly drinking my morning coffee.
I would say do a painting on your wall and have some greenery that way you have a permanent backdrop that you can always change when you want to
I hope the closing on your new home happens soon it's generally only supposed to take 30 days so that's weird
OK so I'm a ridiculous person because I don't even sew anything (although I'm a "creative"/"make it up as you go" crocheter of a very beginners' level) but YOU are such an AMAZING person that I'm addicted to your RUclips content (and your creative process makes me feel less alone) and I'm sitting here with tears rolling down my cheeks watching you show your finished products because YOU DESERVE TO WEAR THE SKIRTS YOU LOVE SO MUCH (and which have brought so many enjoyable, useful videos to so many people) and I'm so happy for you to have those tops!
Thank you for sharing yourSELF with us :)
Aw you're so sweet, these kind of comments light up my day! I'm so happy I could be there with you while crafting to make you feel less alone!
I love the princess fitted contrast panels dresses the best. They look so flattering on.
I used the bootstraps pattern generator to make my dressform. You input your measurements, and it gives you a pattern! I felt the price was reasonable, and the directions were clear. There are also tons of video tutorials on RUclips.
Seems like the most sensible approach to me, too. Unless maybe someone has wildly unusual proportions.
I think I might have given a higher overall mark. I really enjoy the way you think and how you make patterns. So I think you need bonus marks for style and presentation! Which would raise your overall mark!
It is a fun video! I love your style!
I love the white top and the peasant top. I liked the teal one but I believe it would be better a little longer. The bonus one would be cute if done in a different material. Charlie your so talented thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Vouching for the ruffle era I graduated high school in 1977 and was a bridesmaid in 1981. Both dresses, made by my mom, were not off the shoulder but had neck ruffles. The bridesmaid dress was of a peach crepe for the full bodice and skirt. The ruffle was a sheer print.
That wrap top is the Bee's Knees. I love it. 🐝🩰
Love your design process
The white wrap top was defiantly my favorite! I'd love a part 2 when you are able to.
I vote for the curtain. When I was young My Mom made me tube tops. Elastic at the top and bottom and that was it.
the "there is most definitely a pin in my coffee" gave me quite the good LOL...and made me think of the floor is lava game...except this time it's the coffee is lava game! i love the crossbody butterfly sleeved top and the milk maid top the best! also, i totally also love that yellow satiny skirt! i'd wear it all the time if i had it! if it were me i'd love a painting or really cool wallpaper for the reveal portions of the videos!
I just love how real your videos are. Thank you for including all the thinking and the pin on in the cup. 😂 So things I do.
Pretty pretty princess. Excellent video. Love the butterfly sleeve on white blouse. Love the curtain and the puppy excitement when you dance around
I think your new wall/final product space should be a work in progress, where you figure out different techniques for wall treatments and use them in various ways. Just because I love to see other people work on things, LOL.
You are as bubbly as my daughter🙂 I learn so much from you, thank you.
Love the white top!
Again, love your channel. Thanks for talking a little more in depth on what you measure and how you pattern. I pattern similarly but it is super helpful that you share your process.
Just had to LOL over the pin incident so i thought i‘d let you know how delighted i am to see somebody go about their crafting in a very similar way as i am. (Although i’m not quite as brave in the whole winging-it-thing) I sometimes feel very weird - so thank you!
isn't it lovely how raglan sleeves always fit well?
I so enjoy your videos. Sewing without a pattern. And just going for it. In my old I think I could actually give this a try now that I’m not so concerned about how or what people think. Have you ever heard of Stephanie Canada RUclips channel? And yes, as she says, Canada is her last name. She lives in Florida. My main thought and question is, is she related to you.
Her channel consist of sewing patterns from I believe it’s the 50s. But she reviews all decades of patterns. she is very entertaining as well. Your personalities are quite similar. But she is even more outgoing. That’s why I wondered if she related to you
Hahhahahaha nope, we aren't related, but I am a big fan of her channel!
All 3+ shirts look cute. And for a first rough draft they came out great. Keep them and use them for making refinements.
Aww you and Matt remind me of me and my boyfriend, so sweet and helpful ☺