Marfy Remnant Challenge : Collaboration with @sewtofit

Greetings!

I hope you are all doing well. I am excited about this new project, the Marfy Remnant Challenge. I am collaborating with Andrea @sewtofit on this sewing project. She & I had won the Marfy Pattern 0116 at the Sewing Fashionistas 10 year Anniversary Christmas Party . It was hosted by Rosalind @sewmuchfabric – great times!

I thought it would be fun to use remnant fabrics to create this pattern and see how we would express ourselves. It is a project to help us get through this Covid Event and keep our minds and bodies occupied. We invited our fellow Sewing Fashionistas as well as our sewing community to join us on this journey. As Andrea & I were sharing ideas, this project happen to fall nicely into Andrea’s annual Marfy Challenge as well. Here are the guidelines shared at the Sewing Fashionistas meeting this past Saturday July 25 – thank you for the video Andrea!

Official Start Date: August 1, 2020 – End Date: When you are done. This project is meant to be fun and stress free. You can set your own deadline (or not), however, I will personally try and finish this project by the end of August. Feel free to follow me on Instagram Stories for up-to-date progress and my IG Highlight “Marfy Remnant.”

Andrea & I have different sewing processes but we will be achieving the same goal. We believe that everyone has different styles of sewing so we would like for you to witness the different ways we design, sew, and put it together. Besides following my Instastories, make sure you follow Andrea’s IG & Youtube Channel at SewToFit to see her process. Also, feel free to join her VIP Club to expand your fitting skills. You can learn more about Andrea at www.sewtofit.com. You can also follow this project on the Sewing Fashionista’s Facebook Page.

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Board1: Color Blocking Inspiration, Board2: Color Block & Sewing Techniques

Guidelines for the Marfy Remnant Challenge:

• Have fun, express yourself, stretch your imagination & creativity
• You are the artist. The pattern is the canvas & the fabric is your paint;)
• use remnant fabrics or fabrics in your stash but do not purchase new fabrics. Ex: I am using fabric remnants from my 2019 projects.
• there is no right or wrong to putting this together
• try and incorporate new sewing techniques that you have always wanted to try. Ex: I want to learn how to do basic quilting, wave tucks, & fabric cut-outs as seen on my inspiration board
• Use Sewing Pattern Marfy 0116 or any pattern you would like to use or try out.
• We would love to see your progress, tag us on Instagram @youtiquebridal @sewtofit or use the hashtag #marfyremnantchallenge2020

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Playing around with different Fabric Layouts

This is where my project is currently…

Marfy0116 Front Blouse, Original Projects

This is the front side of Marfy0116. Next, I will now work on the back side before sewing it all together. Following, I will do the lining. Below are videos of the original projects if you would like to see where the remnants originated from.

• 1.Red Lace Blouse & Skirt – shoulder, collar, pocket
• 2.Red Linen Shorts – sleeve
• 3.Faux Leather Cardigan – pocket, placket
• 4.Front Zipper Skirt – Front Center Panel
• 5.Blue Asymmetrical Dress – Bottom Center Panel, piping & the dress lining fabric was used for the Front Side Panel
• 6.Bathing Suit Coverup – Placket, Front Side Bottom

I hope you join Andrea & I on this journey. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Well, thank you for visiting & I hope you get inspired to create something EXTRAordinary out of the ordinary;)

Hugs!

Ann

Andrea with Sew To Fit is an expert in pattern fitting and pattern design.  She has a YouTube Channel you can view by clicking here.  She teaches e-learning classes available with a VIP Club at www.sewtofit.com.

Youtique Inspired : Camryn & Serena Fabric Flowers

Greetings!

Thank you to everyone who sent in photos of their fabric flowers inspired by my tutorials.  I love seeing them and it inspires me to continue creating.  I know it will also inspire others to create.  Here are fabric flowers custom made for my guests and by you.  Enjoy!

Have a wonderful week!

Hugs!

Ann

ps.  Here are the videos to help you create the flowers:

Happy Thanksgiving! : Birdcage Veil & Fabric Flower of Emediong from Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Greetings!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I want to make sure I thank everyone of you who make Youtique Bridal & Lifestyle possible.  Also, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays although all the shops skipped right over it and went straight to Christmas.  This blog is a way to take a snapshot of where I am today & how grateful I am to those who support me.  Thank you to my kind, caring, creative, & inspiring community who…

*visits & read my blog
*DM me with inspiring stories
*628 Instagram Friends
*213 Facebook Friends
*48,577 Youtube Subscribers
*12,564,051 Views on My Youtube

And I can never say thank you enough to those who take their time to share their creative journey with me and tell me you were inspired by my videos.  It makes all the behind the scenes work worthwhile.  So thank you to everyone!

Today I want to also thank  Emediong all the way from Port Harcourt, Nigeria for sharing her birdcage veil & fabric flower with me.  She said she was inspired by my videos so she knew how to make this Texas girl happy & thankful;)  I had asked her a few questions and she kindly took the time to reply.  Well,  I hope you get inspired by Emediong to make something.  Enjoy!

1)Your name & where do you reside? My name is Emediong and I reside in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2)Why did you decide to DIY? I decided to do DIY because I love creating something beautiful with my hands.
3) Who and what event were you creating it for? I was creating it for myself for a marriage ceremony to adorn my hair with.
4) Your social media sites & links: Instagram: @busyhands_creations

(FOR THE FABRIC FLOWER)
5) Pros and cons of the project:
Pros: Very beautiful, versatile
Cons: The challenge of cutting the pattern/template out on organza as the material is very sheer

6) What was your favorite part of the process? My favourite part of the process was seeing the flower coming together as I was sewing. I was smiling as I saw this happening🙂. It made me feel like wow, I am going to make something beautiful and gain knowledge of how to make this flower first future projects.

7) how long did it take you? The cutting out of the template was what took the most time but the sewing and assembly process did not waste time at all. Maybe about 20mins for everything or slightly more.

8) anything else you would like to add? ADDITIONAL NOTES: The tutorial was very detailed and simple enough to understand. There was no way one could have problem replicating the flower.  Also, it was very nice to have the free template made available too, very nice.  Thank you

FOR THE BIRD CAGE:
All answers remain the same minus those below:
5. PROS: The bird cage was very lovely.  CONS: The bridal face net here is different from the one there so it was a bit challenging sewing through.

6. My favourite part was seeing the pattern followed to have a perfectbird cage look because up till then I’ve always just thought of crunching up the face net at the edge to create the look but was excited to learn this technique.

Thank you Emediong!  I hope everyone got inspired by Emediong because I sure did.  May you all have a wonderful creative Thanksgiving Holiday Season!  I believe there is always something to be grateful for whether it be something small or big.   What are you thankful for?  Many blessings to you!

Hugs!

Ann

If you would like to create the Birdcage veil or Fabric flower, feel free to view the tutorials below.

Flower Template:
https://youtiquebridal.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/fabric-flower-pattern.pdf

Thank you for watching!

Bishop Sleeve Blouse : Full Sleeve Alteration

Greetings!

I am finally complete with my Fashion Show Outfit series. The video below shows how I sewed the Bishop Sleeve Blouse with a focus on creating a fuller sleeve. I got to wear the blouse to the Runway Houston Fashion Show and also to a birthday celebration.

Here is the video content:
{0:00} Intro
{0:05} Collaboration with Sew Much Fabric
http://stores.smfabric.com/youtique-bridal-and-lifestyle-for-sew-much-fabric/
{0:32} Toile
{0:50} Taking apart the toile
{0:59} Fuller Sleeve Alteration

{2:25} Fashion Fabrics @sewmuchfabric
http://stores.smfabric.com/youtique-bridal-and-lifestyle-for-sew-much-fabric/
{2:31} Cutting the Fashion Fabrics
{2:47} Roz’s text – add 4Inches to bodice hem
{3:09} Darts
{3:40} Sewing it together
{5:42} Attach Sleeves
{6:30} Sleeve hem
{7:54} Fitting #2
{8:10} Accessories – https://youtu.be/RfXfptI9hcM
{8:20} Finishing Touches: hem & lining
{8:53}Open Back

Here are the outfits I put together with the Bishop Sleeve Blouse.  It includes my #memade red lace skirt, checkered skirt, & A-line skirt.  I love how my wardrobe is slowly becoming all #memade:).  So which outfit do you like the best?  Or which one would you wear the most?

Not only did I get to wear the blouse to the fashion show, but I also wore it to celebrate some very special people.  Happy Birthday Stephanie & Julie!

Here are the rest of the series.

Thank you for visiting & I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs!
Ann

Bathing Suit Coverup – Relax Ann! : Butterick 5746

Reminiscing on when I got to take a quick getaway with my family and wore my #memade eyelet coverup😉.  I got to relax and enjoy the slow pace of life for a weekend.

Personally, I easily get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and try to check off as many things as I possibly can in one day.  I tell myself that when my husband graduates, I’ll relax. When I finish saving for my children’s education, I’ll relax. When dinner is made, I’ll relax. When I finish putting my book together, I’ll relax. The list goes on.

I recently had a health scare that made me self reflect (nothing serious). It was a reminder that I will always have a long list of things to complete, but I have to learn to slow down and be in the moment.  Have you ever had to reevaluate your life’s pace?

I decided to take time in the car rider line to do prayer 🙏 and listen to podcasts, read books, or listen to audio books.  If you have any prayer requests, feel free to send them my way😊. So what helps you to be in the moment and relax?

Btw, I highly recommend Butterick 5746 to get your personal fitting pattern. I made my red lace block pattern out of it. In turn, that block pattern allowed me to make my bathing suit coverup. I will now use the skirt portion of my coverup to make my fashion show skirt.

I will also use the red lace block pattern to create a blouse. The possibilities are endless when you get a good fit on your basic block pattern.

I will be attending Runway Houston on Oct 11 in which I will be collaborating with Rosalind at Sew Much Fabric.  I am excited!  Here is my toile for the outfit.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful weekend and get to relax! 🤗😘

Hugs!

Ann

In case you missed it, below is the video for sewing my Bathing Suit Coverup.

Ruby Red Sailor Short : Wardrobe Planning

My Ruby Red Sailor Short has been a great addition to my wardrobe this summer.  I have plenty of running/exercise shorts but no dressy/casual shorts.  When Roz suggested a sailor-inspired short, I had absolutely no hesitation😁.  I organized an inspiration board via Pinterest to give direction on the design.  However, I fell in love with the Balmain shorts immediately.  I appreciated the details & love the pocket design.

One of my goals is to not buy anymore unnecessary sewing patterns (part of my simplifying journey), but try and work with what I have.  So I drafted my own pattern modifying McCall’s 3892.

It was the same pattern used for my Xmas Party outfit. You can read more about my 70s inspired jumpsuit by visiting clicking: 70’s Xmas Party Outfit.

After studying the sewing lines and the design pieces, I modified the pattern to the style I wanted.  You can watch how I made the pattern below.  I also show the process of how I preshrunk the linen.  You can purchase the Sandra Betzina Fabric Savvy at: https://amzn.to/2XxxIn7

After sewing the Italian Linen Sailor Short, I put a few outfits together.  I think it is time to make a few more shorts because I have been wearing it quite a bit.  You can watch how I sewed the Italian Linen Sailor Short below.

While I was taking apart the toile shorts and laying it out on the beautiful Italian linen, I had time to think about my audience.  You guys are a very thoughtful community! Also, I know my projects can take awhile but yet, you are still following along. You are really patient too! 🤗  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your love & support.  It is very encouraging.  Next editing project in line…my chambray shirt.  What are you sewing for the summer?

Well, I hope you got inspired to create something EXTRAordinary😉.  Have a wonderful week! 😘

Shop Sew Much Fabric: https://stores.smfabric.com/youtique-bridal-and-lifestyle-for-sew-much-fabric/

Hugs!

Ann

Youtique Lifestyle: Wardrobe Planning series is in Collaboration with Sew Much Fabric. This will be an ongoing project throughout 2019. Since I started attending more meetings, events, and wedding shows, I wanted a #memade wardrobe that would take me from the car rider line to a business event. To achieve my goals, I got the help of #stylist & #textile expert Rosalind with Sew Much Fabric. She came to evaluate my closet & sent me the results of my closet evaluation.

You will see a mix of Wardrobe Planning along with Bridal Tutorials, however, there will be a strong focus on Wardobe Planning this year. I hope you join me on this adventure. If you want up-to-date projects, make sure to follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youtiquebri…

Wardrobe Planning Blog post: https://youtiquebridal.wordpress.com/…**********************************************

Shop Beginner Sewing Machines & Supplies: https://youtiquebridal.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/beginner-sewing-machines/

Restyling the First Communion Dress : Tina Scarlatella

Greetings!

I have a DIY project I want to share because it was originally inspired by one of my tutorials, the Lace Trim Veil.  Tina Scarlatella is a returning guest and had initially made her older daughter’s First Communion Veil & Dress back in 2016.  You can visit the original blog post by visiting : Gabby’s First Communion Veil & Dress.  She had restyled Gabby’s dress to pass it on to Isabella.

Below is the beautiful Scarlatella family & Isabella is wearing the new & restyled dress.  Isabella’s First Communion was held at Saint Faustina Catholic Church on May 19, 2019.  Congratulations to Izzy and all the children who received their First Communion!

Scarlatella Family-Isabella’s First Communion

Here is my video tutorial for the First Communion Veil

Of course I had to ask Tina some questions in hopes to inspire you to create as well;)

1.What inspired you to reuse Gabby’s dress?  I thought it would be special to have the girls share the same dress

Isabella – Gabby

2. How did you modify it? I took the skirt part from Gabby’s dress and made Isabella’s dress.  I added a new beaded sash.  I used Gabby’s sash and turn them into shoulder straps for Isabella.  I added some embellishments onto the top of Isabella dress.

3.  How long did it take you to create the new dress? The new dress took me 3 days from start to finish

4. Pros and cons.  Pros: re-use fabric; special
Cons: I wanted to make an ao dai but since I re-used Gabby’s dress, the materials didn’t allow for an ao day design.  (*Ao dai is a traditional Vietnamese Dress)

5. What was your favorite part of the project? Seeing Isabella twirl in her dress. She loved the designed of it.

6. Anything else you would like to share?  I enjoyed pushing myself to create something one-of-a-kind for my girls. It wasn’t perfect but it was perfect for her and her special day.

Thank you Tina for taking the time to answer the questions.  Well, I hope you got inspired to create something EXTRAordinary!  Here is a playlist of more First Communion ides to help spark your imagination.

Read how Tina created Gabby’s First Communion Dress by visiting: Gabby’s First Communion Veil & Dress.

Thank you for visiting!

Ann

Summer Outfit : Wardrobe Planning

I am ready for summer!  I love the button up skirt and the camisole I sewed for this summer weather.  Roz with Sew Much Fabric did a wonderful job choosing the fabric and skirt style.  It is lightweight, feels good against my skin, and the fabric pattern is fun.

Here are some of the different outfits I put together with items in my closet – recognize the black tee I sewed? So which outfit do you like the best? Are you making anything for the summer?

 

Details…

 

Thank goodness for my #Bernina#sewingmachine. With the press of a few buttons, it creates the buttonholes for me.

Most of you probably notice I sew in pockets every chance I get.

Thank you to Roz for the toile fitting. It can be a challenge to fit myself and I am grateful when someone can help – thank you! 🙏🏽

The sewing video will be coming out in the near future.  Since my family members were taking turns getting sick 🤒 and end-of-the-year school events started, I have fallen behind on my videos😬.  I will be working hard on editing so look out for all the new videos coming soon.

Have an EXTRAordinary weekend and I hope you get inspired to create something EXTRAordinary;)

Hugs!

Ann

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Sewing pattern : #mccalls7906

Shop SewMuchFabric
Black/white cotton eyelash check : C2513
Dove White Cotton Shirting : C2558
Charcoal Flower Button : LP674, LP675

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Youtique Lifestyle: Wardrobe Planning series is in Collaboration with Sew Much Fabric. This will be an ongoing project throughout 2019. Since I started attending more meetings, events, and wedding shows, I wanted a #memade wardrobe that would take me from the car rider line to a business event.  To view more projects, visit:

https://youtiquebridal.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/wardrobe-planning-collaboration-with-sewmuchfabric/

To achieve my goals, I got the help of #stylist & #textile expert Rosalind with Sew Much Fabric. She came to evaluate my closet & sent me the results of my closet evaluation.

In 2019, You will see a mix of Wardrobe Planning along with Bridal Tutorials, however, there will be a strong focus on Wardobe Planning this year. I hope you join me on this adventure.

If you want up-to-date projects, make sure to follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youtiquebri…

Wardrobe Planning Blog post: https://youtiquebridal.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/wardrobe-planning-collaboration-with-sewmuchfabric/…

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Shop Beginner Sewing Machines & Supplies: https://youtiquebridal.wordpress.com/…

 

Basic Red Outfit : Wardrobe Planning

Collaboration with Sew Much Fabric

Below is the time lapse of sewing my Basic Red Outfit…thanks for watching! 🙂

Muslin for my Basic Red Outfit

For once, I was grateful for the extreme weather changes in Katy, TX.  In a few short weeks, I got to see small droplets of snow to wearing short sleeve tops.  The weather was perfect to test the versatility of my basic red outfit.  I am impressed! I got to take it from the car rider line into the Lunar New Year.

Wedding Guest

Work

Lunar New Year

Casual

So which occasion outfit do you like the best?
1)Wedding Guest
2)Work
3)New Year
4)Casual

Thanks to Threads for the free pocket pattern: http://www.sewstylish.com/app/uploads/2017/02/SewStylish-magazine-free-pocket-pattern.pdf

Roz did a great job choosing what to sew, the fabric, and the color. Although I was initially hesitant about the bold red, I quickly got comfortable in it and love the versatility.  She thoughtfully chose lace because I am in the Bridal industry but avoided beading and sequins so I can work it into my everyday life. Sew Much Fabric‘s tag line is so fitting…“Fabric Sewn into Fashion.” ❤️

Roz in her element:)

Also, inspired by my accessories vision board, I created my earrings for the wedding event. I had visited several stores and did not find any that felt” right, so I #DIY them (Tutorial coming soon;)

DIY Earrings

Thank you for visiting & Happy New Year of the Pig🐷! 🎊May you all have great health, good fortune, and a prosperous new year.

Love,

Ann

I hope you got inspired to create something EXTRAordinary out of the ordinary;)

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Shop Sew Much Fabric:

https://stores.smfabric.com/youtique-bridal-and-lifestyle-for-sew-much-fabric/

– Scarlet Red lace fabric: PN3264
– beige tricot lining: K7-beige
– Gutterman red thread
– 24” blouse zipper
– 7” skirt zipper

Wardrobe Planning : Collaboration with @SewMuchFabric

Completed Project Links

9/Silk A-Line Skirt & Accessories for Runway Houston Fashion Show Outfit

8/Royal Blue Asymmetrical Dress

7/Bathing Suit Coverup & Little Black Dress

6/Sleeveless Chambray Blouse
6a/How to sew the Concealed Button Placket

5/Sailor Short – Ruby Red Italian Linen
5a/How to Make the Pattern & How to Preshrink Linen

4/Summer Outfit: Button Up Skirt & Camisole
4a/Sewing Buttonholes with my Bernina (coming soon)

3/Floral Easter Dress
3a/Trims & Fraying the Fabric
3c/DIY Headband (coming soon)

2/Classic Black T-shirt
2a/Creating the T-shirt Pattern
2c/Sewing the Neckband & Neckbinding
2d/SMF Blog Post

1/ Red Lace Top & Skirt
1a/Zipper Technique & Hong Kong Finish
1c/DIY Earrings
1d/SMF Blog Post

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Greetings!

I hope you are having a fabulous Monday.  I mentioned earlier in the year that I have many exciting projects & events planned for 2019.  One of which I will be collaborating with @sewmuchfabric to plan my wardrobe.  This will be ongoing throughout the 2019 year.  I am excited!  I decided on this collaboration because I thought it would help others who love sewing & design but also want direction on what to sew for their closet.

If you have been a long time follower, you may remember I started my journey of simplifying back in 2015.  However, this year I am working on simplifying my wardrobe even more.  Since I started attending more meetings, events, and wedding shows, I wanted a #memade wardrobe that would take me from the car rider line to a business event.  To achieve my goals, I got the help of my dear friend, #stylist & #textileexpert Roz @sewmuchfabric. I am excited and nervous about this journey.  It’s hard to trust someone else with choosing your clothes, but it’s Roz!  She is a professional and excellent at what she does that I’m willing to take that leap of faith with her😊. Well, here are the initial steps we took to plan my wardrobe😊.  {*Please note we are all different & unique.  The sewing projects I will implement have been tailored to my needs.  However, the general process can be applied to your #memade closet.}

Step1 Closet Evaluation: Roz visited my closet to see what I had. Did I have the basics? Is it versatile? How did it function? What colors did I wear? Btw, I wear a lot of black, blush, camel, shades of blues, beige, and a splash of burgundy and a few other accent colors – nothing too exciting😬.

Step2 Questionnaire: Roz asked questions to find out my wardrobe needs. How did I spend my time living life? What are my daily/weekly life activities? What are the big events throughout the year? What activities occur every year? What are the special occasions?

Step3 Evaluation Results: A few days later Roz emailed the results. She broke down my life activities into categories. The activities that occurred the most to the least.
-Family
-Work
-Personal
-Life Events
She planned my wardrobe immediate needs for Jan-March 2019 and listed my basic wardrobe needs.

So that is the initial stage. Are you guys ready for this adventure with me? Do you have a curated closet to fit your lifestyle? What colors do you like to wear?

I will continue to do bridal tutorials & other sponsored projects and collaborations, but a big focus in 2019 will be on Youtique Lifestyle wardrobe planning with @sewmuchfabric.

I hope you enjoy the journey and learn something new for your unique wardrobe😊. In the process, may you get inspired to create something EXTRAordinay😉

Roz cutting red lace fabric for my first project.

🤗Hugs!

Ann

SMF Blog Post on Wardrobe Planning
Shop Sew Much Fabric: Fabric Sewn into Fashion
https://stores.smfabric.com/youtique-bridal-and-lifestyle-for-sew-much-fabric/

How to Sew a Welt Pocket (single) : Tuxedo Inspired Dress

 

My Tuxedo Inspired Dress

Inspiration Board – photos via Pinterest

I have been wanting to #sew a tuxedo inspired dress for awhile now.  Because of @Carikim, I was able to bring my imagination to life.  I want to thank Cari for sponsoring this project. If you ever want couture sewing inspiration, I encourage you to visit @carikim Instagram’s page.  My muslin mock ups are usually a mess but I love visiting her IG especially for her pristine and beautiful #muslin work😍.  Thank you Cari for inspiring me and for your support.

This project will have a special focus on the welt pocket I created out of the matte & sheen fabric I sewed the dress with.  I created the welt pocket with a shiny satin fabric contrast to the main body of the dress.  It would also match the lapel and the custom satin buttons.

And here is how I created the single welt pocket.  Have you ever sewn a welt pocket?  Feel free to share your tips and tricks:)

Thank you for visiting & I hope you have an EXTRAordinary day!

Hugs,

Ann