reader's closet - design - Threads
reader's closet
Flying Leopard Coat
3 commentsLeopard coat with dragonfly facings. Lining "Chaneled" to fashion fabric. Hand painted leather buttons and self-fringe as trim.
view details
couture costumes
Welcome, each year I create costumes for my two daughter's, Matilda and Penelope. They come up with concepts, then I interpret the ideas...somethimes I get it right, in their eyes and sometimes...
view details
Custom couture: using unexpected fabric
10 commentsI choose to make the jacket out of Home Dec. upholstery and the skirt out of matching worsted wool. Both garments are fully lined. The Jacket is Claire Shaeffer's Vogue 8333 and the skirt is Vogue...
view details
Upcycled Silk Necktie Skirt
5 commentsI worked on this skirt off and on for a l-o-n-g time! After disassembling the neckties I hand basted and ruffled them while on a 24 hour road trip. I put the ties away to work on some other project...
view details
The Great Wave
1 commentThis is my recreation of "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," famous woodblock print by Hiroshige. Using Zwade (a fusible synthetic suede) made the fine, white foam detail on the wave easier, as it...
view details
Wedding dress
4 commentsMy daugher, Kelly, only asked me to do one thing for her wedding but it was the big one: make her dress. Of course, this was not to follow a standard pattern either, as mine was in 1972 when I made...
view details
My Modernised Jumper Dress
Vintage design challenge competition. I decided to use the option 3 Jumper Dress to inspire to create my project. I tried my best to adjust it in different ways.-Collar-Loops for the buttons...
view details
Downton Abbey Lady Mary Jacket
6 commentsTODAY (3/22) IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE FOR MY JACKET! The Downton Abbey inspired "Stop the Presses" jacket is my entry in a vintage inspired sewing contest on the BurdaStyle website. Over 120...
view details
2010 Mondo inspired Christmas dress
I was inspired by Mondo's evening dress in the Project Runway final, 2010. I modified an old OOP McCall's dress pattern -- darts became seams, squarer shape to accomodate my actual measuremennts...
view details
Bring the Owls Inside book
These two projects are from "Bring the Owls Inside" by Jayne Davis and Jodie Davis from the Be Crafty series published by Sellers Publishing (available September 2012). The 128 page book includes 155...
view details
Bow Tie Easter Basket
I recently made an Easter basket that was too girlie for a boy so I had to come up with something that a boy might be ok with. This is what I made. I still think it won't appeal to too many boys...
view details
Lights,Glamour,Action gala in Pgh for the Oscars
My daughters best friend won tickets to the Pgh. Galas LIGHTS,GLAMOUR,ACTION for OSCAR nite. Holly is 6" and size 22-24, hard to buy evening wear for in such short notice. So to the sketchboard we...
view details
Gorgeous Winter White Coat with Embroidery and Long Red Velveteen Gloves
13 commentsThis is a winter white boiled coat that I made from a commercial pattern that I altered. It is lined with a red kasha lining with bamboo batting in the centre to add extra warmth. The collar and...
view details
Gold lame' fashion bodysuit.
This bodysuit is a full gold lame' bodysuit with a back zipper, long puffy sleeves, and a fashionable collar, and it zips up in the back! The fabric content is 100% polyester and the texture of the...
view details
~Pete and Repeat~
What an old cliche..."pete and repeat"! But repeat is what I wanted to do once I realized I had purchased a great fitting skirt at a resale shop that evidently was dry rotted fabric. Sorry, not very...
view details
Pacifer Pouch
1 commentThis is a zippered pacifier pouch that I made recently. It is very small, only 2 1/2" cubed. It is completely lined with no exposed seams on the inside, so no fraying. This tutorial is available...
view details
Boxy Cosmetic Bag
2 commentsThis is a boxy cosmetic bag I made recently. It is made with 2 coordinating fat quarters for the outside and a 3rd for the lining. It is trimmed in piping. It measures 6"x5"x5". It has no exposed...
view details
Easter Basket
This is a pieced fabric Easter basket that I recently made. It has 3 fabrics from The Pampered Pooch collection by Chloe's Closet. I used a lining fabric from Daisy Kingdom. It is trimmed with...
view details
Sweater to Cardigan Tutorial
I had a sweater that I thought kinda plain, that I cut and sewed using bias tape, to create a new piece, a cardigan sweater. You can see my original post...
view details
Cathedral veil
This is the classic bridal veil. Cathedral in length and untrimmed, it adds a beautiful finish to your bridal look.
view details
The Stripe in the Jacket - Mc Call 6294
7 commentsStripe Challenge Garment and Palmer/Pletsche contest entry. I wanted to share a few photos of my stripe challenge garment. Enjoy! Cennetta
view details
Hot Pink Dress
2 commentsThis is an eight grade dance dress for a client who wanted her daughter's dress to be modern but conservative. She wanted a short ballerina dress that was a sweetheart bustier but would cover...
view details
Zooey Deschanel Red Valentine's Dress
3 commentsI put together two different patterns and added pockets to make a replica of the dress Zooey Deschanel wears in her television show New Girl. She dresses in such a cute fun way which is similar to...
view details
Ruby Corset
I created this corset from recycled fabric from an old design school piece.
view details
The VIOLET COUTURE design show in Pittsburgh, Pa for GWENS GIRLS at the Frick Mansion
1 commentDesign show "VIOLET COUTURE" in Pittsburgh, Pa. The theme was from work to dinner/cocktails. My design was to create a dress you can wear to the office and still look professional and add a skirt...
view details
Pretty & Pink Bag
1 commentThis bag is a total upscycle other than the hand dyed wools used to make the flowers and stem appliques. The pink body is a felted wool sweater, orginally from the GAP, but picked up at the local...
view details
my sewing projects
the first photo is a sundress i just finished. This project was a joy to make. I shortened the pattern to suite my style. This dress has a pleated breast area and a zippered back. Its a wonderful...
view details
Sham's Tablecloth Skirt
3 commentsThis is now becoming the famed Tablecloth skirt from the blog of Shams, of "Communing with Fabric." She has generously shared the design and even has a gallery of skirts made with this pattern of...
view details
Project in Progress
5 commentsApril 28th is the big day. My dear friend Meme (we've known each other since nursery. We fought over who was Kristen French's best friend, me or her. I won) is getting married and as I have said...
view details
Hand Embroidery Tutorial
1 commentI am sharing this specific technique of hand embroidery,its called Zardosi/Zardozi work, The tool is like crochet hook which is called Aar. I made a purse after completing this Embroidery on a thin...
view details
Felted Houndstooth Bag
2 commentsThis bag is made from wool coating that I felted myself by machine washing in hottest water and drying on high heat in the dryer. The pattern is my own original design. I used hand dyed wools to make...
view details
They Don't Call It The Infiite Dress For Nuthin"
2 commentsI made this very versatile dress from the famous Infiite Dress pattern from the 70"s. The pattern is for sale!
view details
White China Coat
4 commentsPhoto #1 I started with white silk duponi, cut into 4" strips 6 of the strips were app 3 yards long, the two in the center back are only half of that. I used a fusible...
view details
Stash Blouse
4 commentsI'm calling this my "Stash Blouse" because it was made from materials, and supplies that were in my sewing stash. The back and center front were cut from a super soft doe skin ultra-suede I had left...
view details
Fine Art Paintings
1 commentPainting inspires me as a Designer - I see things differently because I paint. It's therapy for the soul - and inspiration for the Seamstress/Designer.
view details
A Hair Bow for My Daughter.
I made this hair bow for my daughter to complement her uniform for school.
view details
Multi Color Tapestry Tote Bag
2 commentsThis sturdy bag is made with a colorful upholstery weight tapestry fabric. It is lined in a coordinating dark rust fabric, has divided pockets on each side of the interior and the faux suede...
view details
S4356 - Faux Leather/Shearling Coat
7 commentsTwo years ago, I started thinking about making a faux leather/shearling coat. Well last weekend I finally made it. It was a breeze, and I love results. It's fashionable and...
view details


















