So, here we are with a whole year to fill, full, of sewing. Which, surprisingly, is something I literally do every single day. It is just something I seem to struggle writing about. I don't want to talk about sewing, I just want to sew.
It just seems appropriate to start with the 2 sewing questions that I get asked the most.
#1. Do you NEED a pattern to sew?
      Well, the answer is, no....I don't.
Which leads to the second question....
#2. Then why do you have so many?
      The answer to that question is the key, I like them.  No, I LOVE them.

Ever since I was a little girl I have been swimming in sewing patterns. My Grandmother owned a fabric store called The Honey Bee.  After she closed the fabric store my family just kept everything. They kept, well, EVERYTHING.
To this day I still have almost all of the patterns. I also have many patterns from my other Grandmother's sewing room. I have inherited patterns from several seamstresses and dressmakers over the years and that has resulted in a HUGE collection.
Then comes in my love of them. I have loved reading them, handling them, studying them.
It is like a silent, hands on education that spans over years, generations, wars, stories, and forgotten things no one talks about anymore.
I have found old recipes, hand written notes, and old advertisements shoved into their envelopes.
It is like a trip back in time, and sometimes it only cost $.25 at a garage sale.

Well, that brings us here, to my blog.
We will sew our way through some of my favorite patterns.
I will share my decisions on fabrics, trims, and sewing techniques.
I will address things like missing sewing pieces, hard to read instructions, and blank pattern pieces.

I will also share some of my triumphs and set backs of having a house full of family, a heart full of love, and a creative mind that never sleeps.

Please feel free to share your thoughts, ask me any questions you have, and let others you know who may be interested in my blog know what I am up to.

You can check out my business on Facebook, follow the fun stuff I do and the cool people I meet on YouTube, and of course purchase my creations on Etsy. And please.....show me what YOU sew!



XOXO, CaseyJuly


Today I am sharing with you one of my past projects with a vintage pattern. It was an Advance pattern that came with blank pattern pieces and had no instructions in the envelope.
I took a picture of what it looked like as I was getting started.  I often make my dresses with more modern techniques and finish the inside edges and line my dresses. It just makes them wear better. Often in the 1930's through the late 1950's women worn loads of underthings and were not as worried about the outside dress being made as solid.

 Here is the dress! I was so lucky to get to have it shot by one of my favorite models and a great supporter of The July Studio, Angela Graham.
The dress is shown with a petticoat, which would have been worn underneath for most occasions. It fit well and was pretty easy to make.
I loved the square collar and would have to say that the square points were probably the hardest part of the project.
Tell me, what kinds of collars do YOU like?