Zaynab's Eid Adha Wintermint Princess Frock Completed

Zaynab’s Eid Adha Wintermint Princess Frock was a success. The colors were great, the fitting was good and the Thread’s seam-and-bound finishing technique I picked up was a hit. It is an awesome dress.

I combined leftover fabrics: sea-green denim for the pinafore, pink-striped cotton (binding strips & ruffles) and cream broadcloth for the underskirt to produce this wonderful frock. I combined my Neapolitan Feliz dress pattern with McCall's M6389.

Instead of finishing the princess seams with regular seams, I used the seam-and-bound finishing technique shown in an old Thread’s Technique book. It’s an easy, strong finish for bulky fabrics plus it can add alittle spice to regular seams.

The bound-and-stitched seam

And all of us who sew knows what happens to an terrific dress: It seems to never get worn to the intended event.
Well, it’s probably just happens to me but oh well.
Zaynab was supposed to wear this dress to Eid Adha back in the Fall but I was too exhausted & sick to go to the Eid so the dress had to wait.
Then my friend recently got married and I was invited to her walima (wedding reception or wedding banquet). I had the pleasure of seeing another one of my dresses on display in all it’s beauty for a client. I got Miss Little-Bit all dolled up just so she could show her evil side in a store three blocks from the party. Unfortunately, we gave her every opportunity to improve her behavior and we could not reward her bad behavior with the benefits of the party (there was cake, ice cream plus her classmates), so Miss Little-Bit and her dress was sent to her aunt’s house.
So I’m posting the after party pics for friends and family.

     

I got more completed projects on the way, so stay tuned.

Mini Jubah

It's time to stitch myself some new threads.
Again. 
And I have not forgotten about my daughter and husband.
My plan is to make a mini jubah outfit for myself. A mini jubah is a garment worn by Malaysian Muslim women. They are usually knee length and come in an array of colors, fabrics and styles.

    
                                           

Formal or Work
(photo from Kakchik's Wardrobe)

Casual (photo from Into Cheqta's Closet) 

My casual mini jubah is inspired from a maternity blouse with an empire waist and ruffles. I have sketch out some basic ideas. Empire waisted tunics and dresses are my best friends. They are comfortable and suitable for hijab because the waist falls under the breast which is covered by the hijab then the skirt conceals the hips. Some people say that the empire waist makes women look like they are pregnant but that's because the lady choose an empire waisted garment that had too much gathering in the front. An empire-waisted garment with alot of gathering in front is cool for maternity wear whereas pleats look much better for the front for non-pregnant ladies. 

I also wanted to try out this great little DIY back in the 70's book: The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book by Sharon Rosenberg & Joan Wiener. I found it at a local bookstore for $3 and it's simple & sweet to follow. The author is very laid back in explaining her projects. Terms like groovy, cat and funky are used. So insha'allah, you get this book, please read it before starting any project. 

My friend gave the fabric years ago and I have now figured out what to do with it. 

I love me some ruffles, so I'm adding some to my tunic. 

Here is a very long strip (about 80" inches) of black fabric that I have prepared for ruffling. I used my serger to narrow hem the raw edges. What I like about the narrow hemming is that it gives the strip more texture and body. Ruffles are a good way to use up your fabric scraps and a simple method to personalize almost anything.

Insha'allah more updates soon. 

DIY Izar Completed

Shareef's izar is complete and he was very pleased with it. Insha'allah I'll be even more pleased when he decides to wear it out so I can see it in action and get some feedback on it. I think I'll try my next tailored izar project from scratch and even do a tutorial on this so sisters can make their husbands izars from old worn pants and left over material. It's great way of re-using what you got in your sewing scratches and giving those worn garments more use. This project was fun too, I discovered that pants are very versatile garments and how much fun it was to do your thing.

"Kurayami nara kocchi no mon da"

(The darkness is my advantage.)

I often like to play a movie while Im sewing. Some may found this funny, but it helps break the mundaneness of sewing and naturally helps you take a break. I still be listening to the movie without watching it. I find an excellent samurai/yakuza movie series call: Zatoichi.

The main character, Ichi-san, is a blind swordsman and masseur with a good, kind nature. He wonders the land in search of work and helping people along the way. Often for some reason, Ichi-san winds up in some situation that ends with alot of dead henchmen and their bosses regretting that they never crossed his path. Insha'allah you like samurai movies: this badboy would be great.

Anyhow, I do have a Japanese clothing project coming up soon and this movie have some great, realistic costumes. I'm positive that my husband would not be too comfortable in a hakama, he sticks to his pants and izars. Me, on the other hand, would like a kimono & a michiyuki.

Back to the izar, after I cut the legs & crotch off the pants, I simply pinned the skirt material in place then when I got the look I wanted, stitched it in place. I added a flap over the front and it fastens down with heavy duty snaps covered in the same fabric as the skirt.

I stitched faux pockets over the real pockets to balance the back with the front. He can still use the real back pockets too.

Hubby's New DIY Izar

Today I started a DIY Tailored Izar for my husband. I got the inspiration from the utilikilt. The utilikilt/kilt was great for design but too short for my husband's Islamic dress code needs.

Yes, Muslim men do have a dress code in Islam, they have to cover themselves from their navel to their ankles. One of the dress codes for Muslim men is that their garments must not drag the ground or end above the knee. Also they cannot wear silk or gold.

I wanted an izar that looked tailored yet simple make & could be made with old garments. An izar, from my understanding, is basically a simple length of cloth that is pleated and tied around the midsection. Islamically, the izar was worn by men and women however today it's more of a men's garment. The izar can be a simple tube skirt with elastic or drawstring waistband to a tailored garment with pockets and studs. The skies's the limit on this garment.

Im still working on the izar and will be more than happy to update this as soon as Im finished, insha'allah

****Islamic correction as of October 30, 2013: The original ruling on the Muslim men's dress code is from their navels to their knees. ****