3x the Charm? - Black Gingers

Well, well, well... Look at who can't get enough lol. I have completed my 3rd iteration of the Ginger Jeans pattern from ClosetCaseFiles. First two here and here. I don't see myself getting tired of this pattern. I'm in jeans whenever I don't have to dress up and they're just comfortable. Plus the October project for the ThRed&Needles group on Facebook was jeans. This time around I really attempted to fix some fitting issues that I dealt with on previous versions (mostly version 2) and I think I did a pretty good job.

Autumn Wrap - Vogue 8379

Greetings from ever dramatically-changing weather on the East coast. I swear it was JUST summer two weeks ago and now it's feeling like borderline winter. I guess it is October... but geesh. Can we have a transition period??! lol.

Anyway, I've already started switching the style up. In the ThRed&Needles sewing group on Facebook, the September sew-a-long was wrap dresses. Perfect! because I LOVE me a wrap dress and they look great in every season. Throw on a blazer or a scarf and that makes it all the better. For this dress very autumn-colored dress, I decided to rock some boots.

Needles & Fashion Sew Social Meetup!

I'm back here to share a few photos of the meetup Jenese and I hosted for the Facebook Group she started, Needles and Fashion. Jenese has such a generous heart and her creativity is pretty out of this world! This is the 3rd DMV Area Meetup that she's let me organize. This one was more involved though because the first two were just food and fellowship. This time, though, we found a space and told all of the attendees to bring their sewing machines and fabric to sew something together!

It was technically the DMV Area Meetup, but we had people come as far as Richmond and Philly to participate! We had 10 ladies make their way in addition to me and Jenese with a cameo or two from Jenese's young one. We had breakfast from Panera (bagels, coffee, and pastries) and a Caribbean cuisine lunch/dinner featuring both jerk and curry chicken with rice and peas and a side of salad. 

We were able to giveaway goodie bags with our usual N&F Meetup frame (not pictured :-( ) and also stuff it with copies of information about sewing techniques that I got from another lady in the group, LaToria, that I had the opportunity to meet the day before. I was gifting her a sewing machine for her new full-time business as a sewing teacher and she gave me TONS of information to give to the ladies that would be attending! She also gave me my hearts desire in yardage of black and white waistband interfacing. She really was just the sweetest lady. If you're in the DMV area looking for a personal sewing teacher please let me know and I will get you in touch with her. She teaches a number of ladies in the Facebook Group and they always rave about how awesome she is.

The pattern that Jenese picked to do the sewalong was the Sewaholic Robson Coat. Much of the time spent was putting together ALL of those pdf pages and cutting the pieces out lol. The ladies brought such interesting fabrics to make the coat with! One even had gold bias tape to bind the insides. It was exciting to see everyone's different styles. Unfortunately, no coats came out of the day, but people that brought other projects to work on were able to make good progress or finish what they came to do.

We did our usual 1yd challenge/swap and Jenese gave away a ridiculous amount of fabric yardage to each person that came.  We also had a pattern swap/giveaway with a full variety of different patterns and pattern sizes. Also, I had one of my best friends, Ahlora, make strawberry shortcake and red velvet cupcakes with sewing decorations for the event. They were AWESOME! and if you're in the Baltimore area looking for sweet for your next baby shower/birthday/graduation/etc. don't hesitate to check out her blog or email her directly at sugarlovedesserts@mail.com. (yes MAIL, not Gmail lol)

It was such an honor meeting the different women that we interact with so much on the Facebook Group. We had a good time talking and singing and learning from each other. Maybe that's why we didn't finish any coats?? lool That's probably the perfect reason and it was an awesome time! My only regret is forgetting to take a group picture!! I'm still so mad about it smh but you live and learn. I'm looking forward to planning the next one!

Check out the pics I was able to capture below!

Shirtdress 2 Ways - McCall's 6124

Hello, Lovely People! I have a couple of posts backlogged but I wanted to get this one in by the deadline. There are a few reasons why I chose to make a Shirtdress for August. The first one is that Ruqayyah started a Facebook group and the first sewalong for the group was a Shirtdress. Second, Michelle contacted me about working together for the TMS challenge this month (Two is the Magic Number). She suggested we make the same pattern or different patterns but the same fabric or any other combination. 

First let me say, I was honored because I'm still surprised that people actually read my blog! Plus Michelle is the winner of the Rippin' Ain't Easy sewing competition run by PrettyGirlsSew as well as one of the judges for the 2nd round of The Super Online Sewing Match run by Sew Mama Sew.

I more than happily accepted and suggested we make Shirtdresses out of African Print fabric. We decided on McCall's 6124, picked a day to meet and set off to make our garments! The deal was done!

Shining White - McCall's 6647

Hiiiii friends! I can't believe I've been away for a whole MONTH! So many things have been going on and I definitely haven't been sewing the way I THOUGHT I was going to be lol. I made my last garment on July 25th and hadn't touched my machine until this past weekend. Fortunately the absence will result in a couple more blog posts because I've been on the move!

This post is about the dress I made for my 25th birthday party! I ended not being able to celebrate my birthday ON my birthday because I was participating in wedding festivities so I ended up having a party a couple of weeks later. It had an All-White theme so you KNOW I had to make something special!

Ginger Separates and Dares

Hello, hello, hello!

I haven't been participating in The Monthly Stitch monthly challenges like I'm used to doing but today I'm back to jump in for Indie Pattern Month! Week two of the Indie competition is "Separates": basically sewing at least 2 things that go together. Perfect time for me because 1. I wanted to make a pair of high-waisted shorts and 2. Gillian DARED me to make some shorts or cutoffs... well look at them stars aligning again ;-)

*Disclaimer: This is going to be a very long (but informative ;-)) post!

For this outfit I used Closet Case Files patterns; The Nettie bodysuit and The Ginger Jeans. I told you I wasn't done with these here bodysuits lol I have another fabric washed and on the cutting table too.. but I digress.  For the bodysuit, I cut a size 12 in both the bodysuit and the gingers.

Me-Made-May '15 !

Well May starts tomorrow and this year I want to participate in Me-Made-May'15 being hosted by Zoe over at 'So, Zo...What Do You Know?'. This year I finally have enough garments and UFO's to make some kind of substantial pledge.

Hopefully with this, I determine what I don't wear and why but I will also be forced to MAKE things that I plan to wear. Not just for fancy occasions as I tend to do lol

So Here's my pledge:

'I, Tasha of 'TheTellTaleTasha', sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15. I endeavour to wear one me-made garments (or altered by me) each day for the duration of May 2015'.

I think that will keep me busy enough. I've also been on a pattern/fabric cutting spree trying to get some of my UFO's ready to sew. Right now I have out all my summer UFO's that use black thread since that's what I have in my machine and serger right now lol No need to complicate things right? lol. On the table is 2 cardigans, 4 Netties, a vest, and 2 skirts. 9 more pieces to add to MMMay :-)

I will be daily posting on Instagram and on Flikr and maybe on Pinterest and I will try to do weekly roundups posted every Monday. That'll kick my blog back into gear!

Wish me luck!

Wrap Dress Sewalong - Butterick 6054

Well hello hello! The sun has finally decided to come back and play and here I am along with it! I miss making and sharing. And hopefully I can dedicate more time to both. I didn't even post my pics from NOLA yet lool That was in February.

**Before I start, I just wanted to say, i'll be in LA/Long Beach April 10-15th if anyone wants to hang out in the garment district or just meet-up for some food or something! email me thetelltaletasha@gmail.com

But anyway, the last time I talked about sewing, I mentioned that I went up to NY and got a tour of The McCall Company. Well, while I was there, Meg offered me a choice of some fabric! I picked this really pretty multicolored knit that they had from Jo-Ann fabrics. I picked it because it was the most pratical of the bunch and I could make something out of it that could get a lot of wear (shoutout to my 2015 goals). McCall's had recently announced the wrap dress sewalong and I noticed that the end date was right after Easter so it was like the stars were aligning lol


This wrap dress is Butterick 6054. I cut a straight size 12. I found it on the Wrap Dress Pinterest Board. When I was looking for one to make, I knew that I wanted an ACTUAL wrap dress, and I knew that I didn't want a skirt that flared to much. I loved that it didn't have separate sleeves too. I almost got V8379, but I didn't know how the skirt was going to fall. But after seeing the version that Meg made for her niece, I think I'm going to pick it up soon.

Speaking of fabric, this fabric from JoAnn's is SOOOOO soft! I mean soft, like "wearable pajamas" soft. It is described as a "watercolor pastel knit rayon spandex".  I was nervous when I started sewing with it because I thought it might stretch out a bunch because of it's softness but it didn't! And it pressed REALLY really well. That was another surprise. This pattern had so many dag on pleats in it I had marks and pins all over the place. But once I pressed them down, they weren't going anywhere. The fabric is opaque and the dress is unlined. I still wore a skirt slip under it to church though but I didn't have to. I just want to emphasize one more time how soft the fabric is... SOFT.

UFO game on FLEEK! - Simplicity 1364

Well hellllooooooooo, everybody! It's been a few weeks! I was sick for a couple then my mind went into sewing overdrive lol. I've been sewing and cutting patterns and cutting fabric like it's my job! lol Which is obviously a good thing because that means I have things to share!

So, UPDATE: I did finish all 5 unselfish UFO's before I started working on anything for myself! HOLLA! I don't have pics of the jeans for mom or the curtains for the lovely lady but I have pics of the blanket and the shirt and dress I made for my mother!

the baby LOVED the blanket

See&Sew 5203

First time using my walking foot. I think I did pretty good. The pic is taken from the side so some of them seem like they don't match... they do lol

what a nice narrow hem

Self-drafted. The skirt fabric is heavy so the dress gets weighed down on a hanger. Now she can be twinsies with me!!

The dress and shirt got done in January... sue me lol The important things is they got done. And I have been able to be selfishly productive with a clear conscious lol

The first thing I have to share for 2015 is a UFO that I had from AUGUST when I was supposed to be participating in this blogger hop for the Needles&Fashion group....Yea, never happened smh. Fortunately for me, I got a kick in the butt when sewcialists said the theme for January was dots! I think my shirt looks kind of cow-y but I don't actually think it's cow fabric lol. It looks like dots to me. Albeit wonky dots, but dots nonetheless! Just let me be great lol

Scandal Challenge & TMS November - McCall's 6209

Welcome back! I've squeezed in the mini available corner of my dining room to actually make something! lol Can't wait to be done with all of our house renovations so I can have some space to sew! lol But enough about my #sewingroomwoes. 

Last month, PrettyGirlsSew decided that October would be The Scandal Challenge *shutter clicks* lol. You had to pick one of five categories to make a garment for.  "9-5 on Capital Hill", "Date Night with Jake", "Inaguration After Party", "Lunch date with the Gladiators" or "Stakeout with Huck". 

I chose "9-5 on Capitol Hill". Now that I think about it though, this look for many would be a "Lunch date with the Gladiators". But this is actually something that I'd wear to work on any given day. And I work in DC at a "good gubment job" lol

With coffee in hand and my badge around my neck, I can see Olivia walking into the White House about to go fuss at Cyrus about another person he's threatening to kill lol.

This is McCalls 6209 View A. I thought View A looked the most Olivia-Pope-ish lol

Not quite New Look 6103 - Lace Pencil Skirt

Hey peoples :-) It's been SUPER rainy and gloomy around here these days so I've been holding this skirt hostage until I got some better weather to take pics. Not real hostage though because I wore it the same day I finished it... 3 weeks ago lol I just haven't been able to get the pics.

My aunt's birthday was on the last weekend of September. I had this elaborate plan of making this linen shift dress with a full lining and and and invisible zipper with some other trims and pattern modifications. As life went on, I only had 2 out of 7 days to start and finish the dress so that did NOT happen. What I knew I'd be able to accomplish, though, was a basic pencil skirt.

Or maybe not so basic. This is New Look 6103.
....Kinda.

OOna PalOOza! - Simplicity 1370

It's Oonapalooza!!

Here I go skimming the deadlines again lol

Once I saw that #sewcialists were dedicating the month of July to Oona Balloona I knew I HAD to get on the action. 

I got hip to Oona's blog not too long before she participated in Project Sewn and the competition sealed the deal on my love for her and her creativity!

This skort is inspired by HER!

This is Simplicity 1370.

It is very similar to the Zara skort that all the fashion bloggers have been rocking.

I'm a Golden Princess! - New Look 6480 & Simplicity 1427

What's the number for Disney so they can sign me?

This weekend was my grandmother's 80th birthday BASH so I wanted to wear something special.

TMS April: "Sew Double" - McCall's 6839

Well aren't I just the "Tardy Tasha"?

This is my entry for the TMS APRIL "Sew Double" sewalong.

Yes, you read that right, April lol

It's not that I didn't have it sewn.. I just didn't want to hem it.

And I didn't have anywhere to where it lol

The way I interpreted "Sew Double" was that I was going to take a pattern that I've previously sewn but instead, sew a different view.

I thought the McCalls 6839 would be the best pattern to use because the front is the same on all of the views, it's just the backs that get fancy lol

Let Me See Your Heart - McCall's 6745

" 'Cause with my family we know where home is. So instead of sendin' flowers, we the roses."

This isn't the easiest post I've ever written.

I dedicate this dress to my uncle, Richard Thompson, Sr., who we lost on May 7, 2014.

I lost my sewing mojo for a while after that day but once I started getting it back, I knew that this dress would be for him.

Project Sewn "Floral Frenzy" - Kwik Sew 3807

Project Sewn's challenge theme for week two is "Floral Frenzy"

And it just so happened that I whipped up these pants in like, a night lol

PS "Leading Ladies" & TMS "Sew Stretchy" - Vogue 8825

This is my entry for

Project Sewn's "Leading Ladies" sew-a-long
as well as
The Monthly Stitch's May sew-a-long:"Sew Stretchy"

Sexy Sew-A-Long Challenge Reveal - Kwik Sew 3608

o0o0o0h la la

This is my entry for the Sew Sexy Sew Along.

I'm a day late but I still got my dollar! 

(LOL do you get it?! *slaps knee*)

Wrap Me Up - McCall's 6884

....Or nah.

For the record, I made this like 3 weeks ago... before ya'll try to say i'm late lol
**and i apologize for the incorrect underthings that keep trying to peek out

This is McCall's 6884 Faux Wrap Dress

Miss Bossy Pants!

What a labor of love!

This is the first time that I have ever gotten seriously discouraged with anything that I've made.

(not that I've made a whole closet full of garments lol)

For The Monthly Stitch Sew-a-long, March's theme was "Miss Bossy Patterns"

We had to give the opportunity to the public to choose what we were going to make from a selection of different patterns and fabrics.