enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

what’s next.

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When we were little, my brother's favorite question was, "Can I take something apart?" Usually my parents would find a broken electronic for him to go at with screwdrivers. He loved seeing the inter-workings and all the different pieces.

This is exactly what I feel like asking my closet. I'm mentally breaking my favorite dresses and tops into pieces and figuring out how to remake them with new fabric. I have looked at a lot of online patterns (thank you for links) and still have not found designs that really feel like me. Creating something out of shapes and silhouettes I already own seems like a good place to start learning more about pattern making.

I'll let you know how it goes. Could be disasterous so I am starting very simple.

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23 responses to “what’s next.”

  1. Panamomma Avatar
    Panamomma

    I have done a bit of this. One of my girlfriends gave me this book for Christmas http://www.amazon.com/Design—Yourself-Clothes-Patternmaking-Simplified/dp/0307451399/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297172772&sr=8-1 It is like taking a sewing class. So far I haven’t been able to set up my machine since Christmas but I have read the book cover to cover several times. Good luck.

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  2. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    I LOVE whatever that is – the pattern and colours are perfect! Good luck with your pattern-making process. I’m excited to see how you make out!

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  3. Joanne Avatar
    Joanne

    I love your fearlessness Elise! You will tackle anything and that is an awesome trait! Can’t wait to see what you come up with.

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  4. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    I’m excited to see where you go with this. I always love what you’re wearing – wish you’d show us more of your style! So I think that if you were to dream big – about making your own clothes down the road – i dunno! It would be very exciting…

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  5. Natanya Avatar
    Natanya

    I love this pattern Elise! So fresh and such a good link from winter to spring 🙂

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  6. Leah Buckley Avatar
    Leah Buckley

    I JUST found a blog this morning where she is doing pretty much the same thing : http://makeitalready.com/ Maybe it will be useful for you! (Also, I love that dress you’re deconstructing.)

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  7. em Avatar
    em

    Let us know how you get on.
    In my newbie sewing mind, anything is possible. Right now I think I could make me a whole new wardrobe. 😉
    If you manage it I shall hold you responsible for chaining me to my sewing machine….

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  8. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    thats the dream! I am really hoping to put together a few unique tops, dresses and clutches for sale in late spring…

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  9. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    dude, GREAT link.

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  10. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Awesome link. I will be buying that book for sure. Thank you.

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  11. jeny Avatar
    jeny

    It’s the best way to learn I think. I take all kinds of things apart to figure out how to make them myself. I would rather do that then read a pattern, but I am still determined to figure that out one day. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

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  12. Kara H Avatar
    Kara H

    Have you seen Burda Style? I don’t know how good they are. I remember trying to sew something when I wanted to sew my own clothes, hahaha. Check it out. http://www.burdastyle.com/

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  13. Charisse Avatar
    Charisse

    Man oh man, where do you get your energy?? Haha! Excited to see what you come up with! 🙂

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  14. KissMyTulle Avatar
    KissMyTulle

    If you want to recreate clothes that you already own then this book: http://www.amazon.com/Patternmaking-Perfect-Fit-Technique-Re-create/dp/0823026663/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297212007&sr=8-2 is an ABSOLUTE must.
    P.S. Sorry for the long link – in a hurry and can’t wait for tinyURL.

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  15. Barb Avatar
    Barb

    My mom always made her own patterns (she was an expert seamstress as is my mother-in-law, who makes her living still at 77)…it was if she got a picture in her head of what she wanted it to look like and out came the brown paper that she’d draw pattern on and sometime later there would be a beautifully finished garment. I’m still amazed thinking back on it. I can’t wait to see what you create.
    Peace & Love,
    ~Barb~

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  16. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Yes, I need brown paper for sure. Really hoping I can make it work.

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  17. Dani Avatar
    Dani

    Girl, you are making me want to break out MY sewing machine again to do the same! Maybe once I’m finished unpacking. 🙂

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  18. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    That’s amazing!! Woo hoo!!

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  19. Michelle Clement Avatar
    Michelle Clement

    Oh, fun!! 🙂 that’s the best way to start playing around with shapes & patterns, especially with items from your closet that fit – it save a lot of sizing/altering time! Can’t wait to see what you make!

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  20. Miss Cupcake Avatar
    Miss Cupcake

    I received a sewing machine for Christmas in 2009. It took me 8 months and an online sewing workshop to take it out of the box. I ended up making pj pants for our relatives for Christmas and now I’m making baby quilts for my friends who are having babies (10 right now!). I highly recommend trying to get in on the Home Ec workshop by the Freckled Nest. I don’t know if you can still try to access it but I found the lessons INVALUABLE.

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  21. Grace Avatar
    Grace

    Love all your sewing projects! I’ve been toying with the idea of making baby quilts for friends & you’ve inspired me to do it! Btw – I LOVE that squared notebook in this photo… I love stationery and am always on the hunt for the perfect notebook! Where did you buy it from please? Doesn’t look like moleskine dimensions (well, at least the selection we get here in Hong Kong)…

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  22. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Hi there. The notebook is actually a moleskin soft cover kraft. They are the bigger ones and come in packs of three. Good luck finding it!

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  23. Keira Avatar
    Keira

    One way to recreate clothes that you already own is to create a base pattern using masking tape. You basically overlay each seam to seam section with the tape creating a solid tape section then trim off whatever goes outside the section, peel off the tape in one solid piece stick to an appropriate sized piece of paper then repeat for each section of the garment and you should have a pattern that’s only missing the seam allowance. Sorry if it’s not the best description, I know I’ve seen a video tutorial before but I can’t seem to find it.

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