tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60736765227281919342024-03-19T01:48:24.892-07:00Confessions of a SeamstressElizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-19547351281414786662022-12-19T12:59:00.003-08:002022-12-19T12:59:57.968-08:00A Thimble in Time AdventureWhat do you do when you are a writer who loves historical costumes? You write a novel about a time-travelling seamstress, of course! Lilibet Lynn is a 21st century tween learning how to fit in--both in the present and the past, thanks to the help of a magical thimble. A key to her survival in medieval times proves to be her skill with needle and thread...or at least, her patience with Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-21627155894711718742021-10-23T09:20:00.003-07:002021-10-23T09:20:49.902-07:00Geraline K James and Shalini Arguilera Geraline K James and Shalini Arguilera, I am trying to get in contact with you regarding cosplay commissions from several years ago to wrap up accounts. If you see this message, could you please PM me? I need to get a long over due refund to you. (If you know either of this people, please pass the message along! I'd really love to make things right.)Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-33004730593196871822020-05-07T13:19:00.002-07:002020-05-07T13:32:08.507-07:00Confessions: Fabric Shopping during Covid19
I survived for two months on what I could order online, but I finally got to the point where I couldn't hold off any longer. I had to go to JoAnn's. There are just some things you cannot get online for one reason or another.
The whole trip was kind of insane and I thought I'd share my experience in case anyone else was thinking about going. Here's what you should know.
In my area, about halfElizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-32928696610333729242020-03-19T15:36:00.000-07:002020-03-19T16:13:44.109-07:00No Pattern Baby Dress
Confession: I was really really close to abandoning this blog. Not because I've stopped sewing, but because I now have a mini-seamstress-to-be (I hope!) in the house, and I barely have time to sew, much less photograph and write about it!
However, I have been having a TON of fun making clothes for her and I've been delighted by how easy and low stress baby sewing is. I'd really love Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-89910003095108731032018-04-05T08:41:00.000-07:002018-04-05T08:41:06.068-07:00What's Stitching in 2018Well, it has been a long time since I updated this blog. Welcome back! If you follow my personal blog or my sewing instagram, you'll be aware that in February I had surgery for endometriosis. Recovery has been ongoing. In addition, I've had to be on different meds that have really affected my ability to function creatively.
However my love of fabric and fashion continues unabated! I've been Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-58421772917315369032017-12-19T08:49:00.002-08:002017-12-19T08:49:40.314-08:00I Heart EmbroideryI am addicted to embroidery. Embroidered fabric, embroidered clothes, embroidered home furnishings, embroidered towels...extra threads on fabric make my heart sing! I got my first embroidery machine almost four years ago, and it didn't take me long to figure out that I could manage a little embroidered towel business, even when my health was unpredictable. I love offering a wide range of Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-17598273570098117602017-12-08T12:17:00.002-08:002017-12-08T12:17:28.061-08:00My DIY Master Bedroom Makeover (For under $75!)Because it isn't strictly sewing (or even very much about sewing, although there is a quilt), I posted about my recent bedroom redecorating project over on my personal blog. If you're interested in such things, you may enjoy checking it out!
More photos and notes at elenatintil.blogspot.com. Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-86418557901862298192017-12-01T08:48:00.001-08:002017-12-01T14:27:37.435-08:00Green Corset - Part 3
Here we are! The final photos of the finished corset (which I like to call the 'Slytherin Green Corset'). It was quite an adventure stitching this creation, but I'm very happy with how it turned out!
(Missed parts 1 and 2? Start reading here)
It's quite difficult to sew creations like this and then send them off. I took a bajillion photos of this one.
Here you can see the Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-28345709328885801282017-11-29T10:42:00.004-08:002017-12-01T08:48:56.354-08:00Green Corset - Part 2
Corset-making is an intense process, but it is so cool to see the finished piece come together. Part 1 covered the initial construction and busk insertion. Part 2 will chronicle the rest of the process.
Having completed two fittings and established the proper fittings of the corset, I now needed to cover the inside seams. I made bias tape out of black satin and stitched them down.
Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-52256827380765161732017-11-27T11:10:00.000-08:002017-11-29T10:43:22.185-08:00Green Corset - Part 1
Corset-making is an art of its own. One can be a fabulous costumer, and yet know nothing about crafting corsets. I am still very much a novice in this area, but I did complete a project for a friend this past year that I am pretty proud of.
This corset is loosely Victorian in design, although I'll admit to giving it plenty of modern flare in order to make finishing the project on timeElizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-21536217550919716212017-11-02T09:32:00.003-07:002017-11-02T09:32:43.262-07:00Eowyn Coat
Several years ago I was given a length of textured brown fabric that struck me as being perfect for a replica of Eowyn's brown coat from "The Two Towers." I got a coat zipper and a bit of cheap brown fur and whipped the coat together. It was a little tricky to piece out all the necessary pattern sections, but I managed to pull it off! And, if I recall correctly, this was my first time working Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-2724110217142711652017-10-03T08:51:00.002-07:002017-10-03T08:51:59.855-07:00Sewing Photography Tips
If you are a seamstress who wants to boost your profile on social media, you need good content--and you also need pretty content. Today we are going to talk about how to take good photos that do your sewing talents justice. And don't worry, we're going to do it the economical way!
First, my personal background. I started photographing my sewing projects almost ten years ago. While I am still Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-1464249650475125222017-09-11T10:54:00.001-07:002017-09-11T12:49:40.881-07:00Why I Sew (and why I don't)
I wish that I could show you the actual video above, because it explains so much about my obsession with sewing. However I don't have access to it right now, so I'm going to explain to the best of my memory. Up there is a screenshot of me shortly before my third birthday. I am taping thread onto fabric. "What are you doing?" my mom asks. "I'm sewing," I say. "Like Wendy in Peter Pan."
Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-58674002604701263652017-08-01T13:40:00.002-07:002017-08-01T13:40:42.504-07:00My NEW Belle Gold Gown DesignYesterday, one of my friends sent me the link to a really excellent article discussing Belle's Gold Gown from the new Disney "Beauty and the Beast." I felt that it had a fantastic rundown of why so many people were unsatisfied with the dress that Emma Watson wore, especially in comparison to the general approval (corset aside) of Lily James' Cinderella dress.
I found myself inspired by this blogElizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-20973311217069279942017-06-16T13:04:00.002-07:002017-08-01T13:49:51.902-07:00My thoughts on the Costumes of the 2017 "Beauty and the Beast"
First of all, to not be redundant, let's see what the internet is already saying about these costumes! In my research I was not able to access the multiple video interviews on the topic, due to my deafness and lack of subtitles on said videos. So they will unfortunately not be a part of my discussion here. However, I did find the following interesting articles:
- Fashionista's wonderfulElizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-3194297018135531812017-05-29T05:00:00.000-07:002017-05-29T05:00:07.723-07:00Tudor England Era Corset
I have been obsessed with the clothing of the Tudor era ever since I was a young girl. In fact, at one point in time, I hand-sewed a self-drafted gown of blue velvet, at which time I was perhaps 12 or 13. (Yeah, I was very geeky.) And the very first costume I ever made with a pattern was this (laughably inaccurate) Purple Tudor Gown.
In those days, it was difficult to find reference Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-2881532428354538242017-05-23T08:52:00.002-07:002017-05-23T09:40:26.201-07:00The Downton Experience - Part 3
The time has come, my friends, to celebrate the final post of the Downton Abbey costumes that I was able to see in person. If you are behind, you can check out post #2 here!
As before, all photos were taken by my husband, Nathan Hajek, and the clothing details were sourced from the pamphlet handed out by the Exhibition.
My favorite Downton dresses usually involve velvet or Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-6884251500346584622017-05-09T11:32:00.000-07:002017-05-23T09:43:31.616-07:00Emma Swan's Wedding DressSorry it took me so long to get my reaction up. Okay, two days isn't really that long, but gauging by the spike in visits I've had over the past 24 hours, I have a feeling some people are hoping for my reaction to this big OUAT costume!
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If for some reason you haven't caught up with "Once Upon a Time," you ought to skip this post as it will definitely spoil some big Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-31282420863173084312017-05-05T09:34:00.003-07:002017-05-05T09:34:39.945-07:00Refashioning is less of a modern fad than you'd think"Refashion" and "Upcycle" are trending words these days. The ranks of Instagram and the blogosphere are swelling with people who give thrift store finds new lives by radically remaking them into trendy (or timeless), well-fitting outfits.
But did you know that, rather than being a new fad, this mindset was actually the norm for the large part of history? In the past, a garment would be remade Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-83472217160542373012017-04-28T09:02:00.003-07:002017-05-23T09:41:53.392-07:00The Downton Experience Part 2
This is a multi-part series on my trip to the Dressing Downton Exhibit at the Mall of America in January. You can check out the first post here!
All costume facts are sourced from the pamphlet provided by the exhibit.
This burgundy day dress is made of Moroccan silk and worn by Lady Mary in Season 6 (1925).
I really love the details of the pleats in this skirt. I don't believe we Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-9104905761736589072017-04-15T10:42:00.003-07:002017-04-15T10:42:50.705-07:00The Case of the Missing CostumesI had a scare the other week wherein I thought I had lost my very favorite costumes. As you can imagine, this is a seamstress's worst nightmare, and I really thought that I was facing the worst.
I'd decided that I wanted to embellish one of my old costumes further, so I decided to dig through my stash and pull it out. To my surprise, this costume (which I had always kept readily at hand) was Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-67889393033340576002017-03-18T07:00:00.000-07:002017-05-23T09:42:14.695-07:00The Downton Experience - Part 1
Downton Abbey will always have a dear place in my heart, partially because it was the décor inspiration for my wedding, and partially because it was a major piece of getting this blog going. But even without these elements, I still would have been psyched to hear that the Downton Experience was coming to the Mall of American in Minnesota. (Sorry, folks, it's gone now.)
Actually, I totally Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-12993914195124371082017-03-08T09:16:00.003-08:002017-03-08T09:16:30.522-08:00Ode to an Iron
The Oreck iron above was my faithful companion for fifteen years. Given to me back when I was a young teen with grand sewing ambitions, I loved the cordless feature, the auto-shut-off safety, and the expansive heating plate of the iron.
I also loved that it lasted for 15 years.
Last week, after undergoing a cleaning, the Iron finally gave up the ghost. We rushed it to our local Oreck store, Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-9261267222136089292017-03-01T08:31:00.001-08:002017-05-23T09:42:27.431-07:00How to Make Jedi Robes from Curtains - Part 3
Time to sew the sleeves and hood to the body of your Jedi Robes! (Missed Parts 1 and 2? Part 1, Part 2)
(I made Jedi Robes because my family is super into Star Wars, but you could also use this pattern to make basic wizard robes.)
Reminder - This tutorial is aimed towards making robes for a child, but you could definitely apply the method for a teen or adult as well, you'd justElizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073676522728191934.post-89468113107065015462017-02-07T11:11:00.005-08:002017-05-23T09:42:40.927-07:00How to Make Jedi Robes from Curtains - Part 2
Time to sew the Jedi Robes together! (Haven't cut yours out yet? Learn how over at Part 1)
(I made Jedi Robes because my family is super into Star Wars, but you could also use this pattern to make basic wizard robes.)
Reminder - This tutorial is aimed towards making robes for a child, but you could definitely apply the method for a teen or adult as well, you'd just need bigger curtains (Elizabeth Amy Hajekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01190748325255565418noreply@blogger.com0