Sew Misunderstood: Fatshion for Wayward Girls

Finished Project: The King of Rock N Roll Dress

2012-01-25T03:35:00.000-08:00

The most expensive pattern purchase I have made was this Advance Pattern. I won't tell you how much. It makes me sick LOL. I love it so hardcore that I dream about it. The Elvis Fabric was meant for this dress. And since I spent my ass on it, you are going to see more of this pattern in different variations This is dress number two from the pattern. It's the view B option- with collar. Dude, you know an Elvis tribute dress needs a huge fecking collar! I LOVE wearing this dress. It looks great, feels like a dream, it's light, it's twirly...all that good shit.

Soy una fantasma, I am always this white, no really I am

Don't you hate static?

The material is cotton. Do I ever * not* use cotton????- well I have...but never liked it.

I actually wore this on New Year's Eve at the band gig.

The pattern is a Raglan Sleeve. My first of this type.I started with my kimono sleeve sloper, and drew in the sleeve-yoke pieces, following the original 50's pattern. It's not a straight grade-up, but a design change in my sloper. I found that this is the best way to go about these complicated patterns.

Oh yeah, I made a test. It turned out all floppy on my upper bust. My booboids are about 5-6 inches larger than my upper chest. If I add booboid room, then the chest gaps. I had to do a smaller chest adjustment. I slashed thru the waist darts up to the neckline, and then spread them apart. As I spread them, the necline overlapped on itself. The effect was narrowing the upper chest and not changing the full bust. The excess fabric from the change was all transferred into the waist dart. I figured this out on my own using Jedi mind tricks.

Looking at this picture you can almost tell that my chest is sized different than my bust. The color blocking just works magic to even it out. Guay, no?
The collar and front sleeve-yoke is done in matching green. It gives the illusion of a bolero, no? I like it!

Me and Elvis are ready to rock!
Oh, and Happy 34th Birthday to MOI tomorrow!
I made a dress for mi cumpleaños! I will show you next time

Finished Project: Devil in the Red Dress

2012-01-24T03:39:00.000-08:00

Sassy Time!

Thanks to all my gal pals for giving me the pep talk in my last blog entry, because it got me to take pictures!
Love you all!

If you watched the video I posted, this is the exact dress I planned from the Butterick retro Pattern:

Mine is done from my personal plus size kimono sleeve sloper. So I have side bust darts for fitting. I also have shorter sleeves, which Butterick does not have. I traced the basic shape of the Butterick neck onto my sloper, and used the Butterick collar exactly as drafted. I am very pleased with it and will be making more of these. I think I would like to do a print with it. I would like a print with a solid collar on the inside and some solid trim.

People tell me I look good in red....not sure...but I definitely got comments at work. Mostly about how "bright" the red was. Hey if you can't handle the heat- get out of the kitchen! Hot Tamale!

Side zip is not seen here, but it's there =-)

See all the extra room Kimono sleeves have? For me, I think this is the best I can get the fit without loosing ease. Those folds are ease that I can't get away with taking out- without serious movement restriction.

The material is cotton stretch- Sateen. I really love the weight and feel of it. I think I might buy some in Navy Blue to do a dress with.

Happy Sewing!

January is Not One of My Best Months

2012-01-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that I have been missing? It's all January's fault. It comes around every year and sucks the life out of me. Sure, it's the month of my birthday.....but getting older doesn't help matters. Truth is, regardless of what state my life is in, January is always an emotional mess.

I have had some "obstacles" (aka assholes) to overcome in the last 2 months. I am trying to not let that get me down. The sweet La Dama has been helping me (from Vintage Passions Like Mine- blog).

It seems to me that "truth" and "reality" are two ships passing in the night.

I have been very busy into my music projects. I did a solo show at the beginning of the month. I could post some videos of that....

I started a new rock band, in addition to Backseat Betties, learning some new songs for that. And I am going to be guest guitartist/vocalist with another local band in March and April. Still have new songs to learn for that venture.

But I do have 4 new dresses to post this month. Just be patient with me...I will come around again...just like Springtime.

I have a vintage repro butterick dress, and 3 dresses that were made from the same vintage 40s ADVANCE pattern. All of them are quite unique and distinctly "psycho sue." Which would you like to see first?

Treasures from mi Abuelita - Part One

2011-12-26T19:00:00.000-08:00

Mi Abuelita died years ago. I miss her so much. I talk about her a lot because she is still a part of my life. When I went home for Thanksgiving this year. I was given a box of her costume jewels. I am so proud to be able to wear these! As I looked through them I had many memories of her wearing them. I also think that she MADE a lot of them. If she likes something like a button on an old dress, she would glue it to an earring back...or fasten a necklace. I found out that we were so much alike in more ways than I ever knew!

My favorite is this necklace. It's a single necklace, just like I have seen 50s TV moms wear. I adore it!
You can see Martini looking at me back there. He is my shadow.

This is just a small sample of what is in that box. I have another box that I will show you next time.

The pink and yellow box is something she made. It is a pin and earrings made from steak bones that she glued and painted! How awesome! The rose pins and earrings she also made.

The sweater clip has the image of the Virgin Mary in blue.

Las perlas son muy bonitas

She has a bunch of these beaded rope necklaces. All colors!

I found out how Mema saved EVERYTHING when I inherited her sewing machine and table. I use the zips and buttons she collected all the time. She also saved her broken jewelry in this cute pink sewing box.

There are so many pretty, shiny things in here. Some I will make into hair barrettes, and flowers, and the rest I think I will glue onto a wooden keepsake box. It will be super cool!

I think some pieces are vintage. They look old for sure and the stones look glass.

I have lots of work to do. Mi Abuelita no estuvo aguejeros en las orejas. I hate clip ons! I have to alter all of these with posts. I glue them on.

Last week I had a bad week, and was feeling really dissapointed and alone. When I went to bed, I had a dream with my Mema in it. I was talking to her and she knew how sad I was. She took my hand and wove her fingers in between mine. She said "I will be your partner, Susie" She then told me to get out her jewelry box. She was glad that I had it; she told me that that our link was the jewelry, and whenever I wore her jewelry she would be close to me. I would not be alone.

Thanks Mema, I love you!

Hope you had fun looking!

STAY GLAM!

In Progress!

2011-12-22T16:53:00.001-08:00

Workin on the 1940s evening dress! Here is the dress so far. I just had to finish out the year with a formal dress! It's a gold taffeta xoxoxoxo

Project Gossip! Tell me what you think about my next dresses! (Fabric and Pattern Show and Tell)

2011-12-19T03:20:00.000-08:00

Leave me your comments!
Do you guys remember having Show and Tell in school. I liked that!

Finished Project: The Day of the Dead Los Novios" Dress- Mid 50s Inspired

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Alexander Henry Fabric, of course! It's called Los Novios, which means "the couples" in Spanish. Que Bonita! Me encantan las cosas de el dia del los muertos!

It literally has every color in the rainbow. I can wear ANYTHING with it. This is a 50's ish Advance Pattern.

As you can see, the back plunges quite low. Que Sexi, no?
I have decided that I am going to get sewing scissors tattooed next to the pin cushion...

I almost did a hot pink pocket. But I liked the black better. The are effing huge pockets. The design is pretty.

I needed to twirl around! YAY!

I made this flower. The center piece is a 50s rhinestone brooch that belonged to mi Abuelita. Te gusta?
It's another beautiful neckline, too! I call it a portrait type.

I like it without the belt better. Maybe I should just stop wearing that damn belt....

Material: cotton 6 yards

Pattern: 50 Advance size 40, graded up to a 52

Design Details: fitted, sleavless bodice with a drop shoulder, portrait neckline, and plunging back neckline: full skirt with two front pockets

Construction Time: 10 hours including a test bodice and pattern drafting

Closure: none needed fits over the head, but I put in a side zip anyway.

STAY GLAM!

Finished Project: Halloween Pinup Dress- Late 50s Inspired

2011-12-05T03:21:00.000-08:00

I forget which on-line fabric store I first spotted this print. It's another discontinued Alexander Henry Print. GOD I LOVE THAT COMPANY.
This is the same pattern as the other double collar dress I posted. I wore this for a Halloween Ball in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. I had a cute little feather hat with a veil. This dress is PURE awesome, and I will be wearing it to band shows for sure. Like MINISTRY says: Every Day is Halloween!


sin cinturon

Funny story about that hair bow. It came off of it's clip. I was gluing it onto another clip. Like a complete dumbass, After I glued it, I held it up to my hair...with glue not solid yet. Si! I actually glued the bow to mi cabello! Que tonta! I had to pull my hair out!

con cinturon

Do you like it better with belt or without belt?

Now that I see both, I think I might like no belt better...

The original pattern has cuff sleeves. I made scallop sleeves instead. It was part of my master plan to nail down making those tricky bastards. I like the look!

Oh yea....Have you ever bought buttons, then ran out, went back to buy more and they were out at the store! Ay Dios Mio! I improvise! Buy a set of buttons that are complimentary, and then alternate button types! Then tell people it's part of your design! LOL SUCKAS!

I hope you like it! I do!

Sewing Instruction Video! Tips and Tricks I used for the most recent dress!

2011-12-02T12:51:00.000-08:00

Finished Project: Last Chica Verde Dress! Late 50's Inspired

2011-12-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

I won this fabric from J and O fabrics retro contest! Well, I bought it with the gift card I won. I had my eye on it for some time. Cute, no? All those glamour girls! The color is lime green for the background.

The pattern I used is like this one:

I am too lazy to take a picture of the actual pattern, but you get the idea. It's a scoop neck with scallops. The sleeves are also scalloped. I am having scalloped potatoes for dinner RIGHT now. Is that weird...who knows...but it IS yummy irony.

Dress Details:
Material: Cotton, about 7 yards
Closure: Side zip
Fit: fitted bodice and full skirt with scallop neck and sleeve, kimono sleeve
Sewing Time: about 20 hours of work including pattern drafts, and tests

taaaadaaaaa! SMUG FACTORY, no?

of course you can do an interview....

I make these photo ladies LOOK good

I was contemplating doing a quick video on my you tube channel with tips for doing these scallops. I wore this for Thanksgiving and my mum was going LOCA for mi vestido nuevo. She thought it was so hard to sew. Well, it maybe was a pain in the ass, but I actually enjoyed it! haha!

This is also, for you extra good notice-ers out there, a kimono sleeve (aka not a set in sleeve) pattern. This was no small task for me to do! I have big ham-hock arms. I say that lovingly. No, really I do. They just don't fit in RTW clothes so well. So I had to make 1 or 2 tests before I got the size right. Worth it right> Now I made a kimono sleeve sloper that I can expand my designs with!

I have at LEAST two more vestidos to show this month! Stay tuned!

Note: I want to give kisses to all my amiguitos who regularly comment here on blogger, and my subscribers on you tube! You guys and how great you all are: you are the reasons why I continue to post here every month! I love all the stories of inspiration, and frustration, and humor that you all send me! I am just another sewing nerd without the love of my readers, so......te amo!

Ask the Psycho! Sewing Questions! "What is the best project for a noob?"

2011-11-15T06:03:00.000-08:00

Today I have a question from a reader named Chelsea:
"I'm a complete sewing noob. What are some good patterns for someone to start with? Any rookie mistakes to avoid?"

A newbie sewer outfit made by me a few years ago. I made the top and skirt with no pattern. It's actually quite a MESS. LOL But it made me confident enough to work into using patterns.

When I started, I didn't use patterns. I was just making it up as I went. I didn't even follow any rules; like for instance grains and such. Well some parts of my beginning were good (like digging into sewing and learning as much as I could), but then other aspects were bad (not following grain lines makes wonky dresses/skirts).

So my advice would be to try out something that will sharpen your skills just simply using the machine. I am talking about sewing yourself a little purse! Or an apron! If you jump right into garments, chances are that you are going to be very frustrated and dissapointed, and end up quitting! Because 99 percent of us cannot fit patterns directly out of the envelop, the odds are against ye!

Once you pick up one of those little bag patterns and make yourself something cute and sassy to carry; you will then be ready to try a garment! Making a bag will get you confident with:
straight line sewing, curve sewing, top stitching, zipper insertion (depending on design), using interfacing, making straps, making gathers (depending on design)....all these will be good new skills for making a skirt.

What I would suggest is an A LINE skirt. I would avoid pencil skirts because they are very fitted and you can get in over your head with that one. A nice twirly skirt that will flow around "ja-booty" will be an easy fit.

Simplicity has a line called "Sew Simple" that has a lot of good choices: this one in particular avoids a zipper and uses elastic for the waist
http://www.simplicity.com/p-6403-sew-simple-misses-skirt.aspx
This would be a very good candidate for a first project!

In my next talk...I will share some of the most made newbie sewist mistakes, and talk about how to avoid them!
TA TA FOR NOW!

Finished Project: THE 50s SKELANIMALS DRESS!

2011-11-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

When I found out that I could buy Skelanimals fabric, I was so excited! I love the Skelanimals that you can buy at Hot Topic.

So this is the first ever Skelanimals 50s inspired dress....I think. LOL

The pattern for the neckline is copied from a late 50s McCalls pattern. I added red piping to make it pop.

I also made a red belt. I used a buckle from a pair of my shoes that had fallen apart.

The skirt is cut on the bais.

I also cut sleeves on the bias.

I drafted a seam pocket on the one side. I made it a bit too low, but it will still come in handy!

The sleeves have small red rick tack to add a second touch of color.

From far away it looks like all dots, but close up you can see the Skelanimals!

I think it looks very Lucy!

I wore it to my acoustic gig last night

It matches my vintage looking hollow body guitar!

Finished Project: The Bone Dress

2011-11-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hello! Long time; no see! This dress was not supposed to turn out so cute. It was a test for the neckline and sleeves. The scallop edge neck came from a late 50s pattern. The pattern also has kimono sleeves- MY NEMESIS!! They never fit right on me. So when I up sized the pattern, I made a sample out of this cotton skeleton fabric I had in my stash. It is like a waxy cotton, almost like it supposed to be for a table cloth....not really the best for draping. That's why it lays weird on my butt.
Still there are some issues with the fit, so I am going to be back at the drafting table! Enjoy!

not too bad for a test!

green bottom trim and matching on the inside of the scallop edges

see the weird bubble but drape

the earrings are from mi abuelita, they were clip ons, but I glued posts on

A Weekend of Rockin Out in DIY MOnster Dresses!

2011-10-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad ,bad sewer. I have a muslin in the works, but not really getting anywhere.It's early 60s inspired. I have been wearing my hair bumpit. I am in the moods for some 60s.

I had to learn over 20 songs in the last 3 weeks for all my music projects. I have some video of the band to show you, but no clothes, UNLESS you like to watch me rock out in CLASSIC MONSTER Fabric.

I decided that I wanted to wear monsters for both shows. So in this video I have on my Walmart Vampire T shirt Recon- Flapper dress thingie. PLus I think this might be the best recorded version of my playing this guitar solo.

Psycho Sue is Wearing Hearses while standing next to a Hearse!

2011-10-17T04:23:00.000-07:00

This hearse was at an event I went to two weeks ago..A DEMOLITION DERBY at the local Speedway!
Anyhoo, the cast from Monster Mad House was there and brought their hearse! It's no secret that I have always wanted a vintage hearse. Yea Yea, it's probably haunted but I would LOVE to freak out the neighbors and delight the children!

I JUST happened to be wearing my DIY hearse print dress AND a hearse necklace! What luck! POSING TIME!

Pretty hot in a Morticia kind of way! Ojala!

And the coolest event of the night was A HEARSE JUMPING COMPETITION! We think it's a caddy...

At the end of the night they had torn the roof off. Dammit. A perfectly good hearse! Grrrrr.

Guapo

sin gafas de sol, EL MEJOR!

Here you can see my hearse necklace. I bought it from Etsy, don't remember the seller. Loves it.

Hair is a roller set done using hot sticks. They come up with a tight curl and if only comb them with your dedos (fingers) you can make the curls last longer.

amores. I have vampire teeths.

my hearse is upside down. See how I embarrass my husband in public?

Once I start there is no stopping me!

The MOnster Madhouse Monsters pumped up the crowd. That Frankenstein guy was HILAROUS. He lead the crowd in singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" And he touched childrens heads. LOL

The makeup on the green guy is quite intricate

These are the cars lined up

The pink car was a BREAST CANCER CAR It had a big white bra on it! The man-driver was also wearing a hot pink bra over his clothes. Silly men!

Well Mamacitas, that's all for now! I have a show next weekend, so I shall have some pics from that to post! I finished a muy caliente HALLOWEEN dress, you will SEE!

Ask the Psycho! Sewing Advice and General Dumb Things I say!

2011-10-14T04:29:00.000-07:00

I get questions now and then I then I get all proud of how awesome my advice is (har har) so I thought: Hey! Why not a post series?! Feel free to submit questions to mlcloset(at)yahoo(dot)com!
Today's questions come from a reader who is a new sewer:

"Why is this "sloper" different than if I bought a plus size pattern, say from like Cindy Crawford on Butterick? "

Dear Reader:

About fitting patterns from Butterick..... They have very detailed directions that help you to fit the pattern as close as possible. The point is to fit it very close to the body so You have like a 2D model of yourself. When you sew from it, you can add more room in the areas where you need it, like in the hips and waist, so when you sit down the skirt or dress doesn't ride up. The shell comes with two patterns. One is the fitting shell, and the other is like an instruction that teaches you how to add ease to your fitting shell so you can now make a perfect dress.

But the main point is to be able to use it to compare the vintage and modern patterns to it; by doing so you can see where the pattern you are working on is too small/big.

Don't feel discouraged because it typically takes 2-3 tries to get fit right. I have gotten much better.

A typical pattern is not going to help you determine fit because they are drafted with EASE. The fitting shell is not. Ease varies based on a garment design and or fabric(stretchy or non stretchy). However, if you have found a pattern that fits you perfect, you can use it for your sloper. These shells are drafted with darts on the waist in the front and back, and on the bust, and on the shoulders, and front and back hips! All these darts are there for you to get a beautiful fit and shape. Most MODERN garments do NOT have all these darts.Well, basically because modern garments are not really fitted as nice as a custom made dress by you is going to be! So yes, these shaping darts are going to make a difference between a TENT and a gorgeous dress =-)

Does that help?

Another question:

"Help! My shirt came out way too big! What size do I make?"

To figure out what size to make, you should read the "finished bust size" It is probably printed on the pattern. Pick the size that is the closest to your own bust size. Allow 1-3" of wiggle room. Always go by the "finished" size, not the "body measurements" They can be misleading because they don't tell you how much ease there is. If your top is made of knit remember that it is going to stretch ALOT and you are going to need a smaller size to get a tight fit. (If that's what you are going for). Also look at finished waist and hip size and compare to your measurements.

You might end up with needing to make a size 22 Bust and a size 24 hip! Don't panic this is typical. We are not all one size! So what you do is carefully trace the size 22 bust size out on your paper pattern (making a copy of your pattern is recommended in case things go FUBAR and you have to start over), and then take a ruler and merge the size 22 Bust to the size 24 hip starting from the bust area to the hip area. Patterns mark these areas with a line so you know where they are. You might want to hold it up to your body and make sure your hips are where they have the line marked first. One important thing, if you modify the front, DON'T FORGET THE BACK! I lay my back pattern piece over top the modified front piece. Then I mark on the back the corresponding points where I just changed the front. So when I redraw the back it will MATCH the front.

What you have effectively done is customized for your size!

Just a Quicky!

2011-10-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

I am Modeling a shower car made by Retro Revival! I may or may not be wearing anything...can you tell?
click here!

These shower caps are the most well-made I have ever seen. They are gonna last for YEARS. Nice designs too! Check em out, buy one for your 'do.

Finished Project: Have You Seen This Dress Somewhere Before?

2011-10-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

Yep, the material is the same as my last project. I can safely say that I have two one of a kind dresses for a total of $40 handmade! I only have a few scraps of this left. The first dress is 40s era. This second dress is 50s era. If you watched my last video on my youtube channel, this is the pattern that I showed you how I adapted the collar. This Advance Pattern has a beautiful double collar. It's just the cutest. Well...it's at least a CUTE pain in my ass to sew. LOL

The skirt portion is my sloper. The amount of material I had left from the last dress was not enough to make a full skirt. So I used the fitted skirt sloper. It shows off my curves.

The little calf leather box purse I found at a local vintage shop. I love it!

Round booty doin it's duty!

Ok so this pattern originally has these cute upturned contrast cuffs. I made them and hated them. They just do NOT look good on me. I love how cute they are, but because my upper arms are bigger, the cuff just pulls the eyes away from all the other attractive things I have going on. So I omitted them. One thing about sewing/garment making is EDITING. NEVER feel obligated to make a pattern EXACTLY like it is designed. Edit it so it fits your body and best shows off your..um...ASS...sets. LOL

Bodice has 4 buttons to close it and I liked BIG buttons. I did something different and I used organza as an interfacing. Not really impressed. Not enough starch for that big collar. I made another version already and used light iron on facings with better results.

I find that my hair is quite unruly and I get Medusa head about 5 minutes after I take the hot rollers out. Who cares. I am a hot mess and I make it work!
I don't know what it is, but for some reason this dress "gives me 30s" instead of 50s. Maybe it's the pattern. But I can totally see this being a 30s dress.

Things I am greatful for when sewing....

2011-10-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am greatful for finding that set of 4 buttons (las butones) that I didn't even know I had....... because *big surprise* I have miscalculated again and I am short on buttons! Por Supuesto!

Finished Project Chica Verde Series 2!

2011-09-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

This pattern was given (actually a copy of it) to me by Andrea at New Vintage Wardrobe. I liked Andrea the very first time we conversed on a forum. I no longer partake in said forum because its pretty douchebaggy and it's a long story....BUT I do follow Andrea and we chat =-) She sent me this copy, what a honey!

This is a 40s pattern with princess seams and a button close on the front along the princess seam. Now let me tell you how much trouble that gave me!!! AYE!

This is Simplicity 2247! No duh! I have a vid showing how I took Simplicity 2247 and made in one piece instead of having a separate bodice. Well all I had to do to get this dress/pattern to fit me, is copy the front button parts from Andrea's pattern! DONE! I also studied the pieces and learned how to make the extra panel on the inside of the dress that the buttons are sewed onto. And I copied the neckline directly.

The single pocket is cute. This is the original pattern pocket. I just omitted the ribbon tie they used. The original only has like 4 buttons to hold the dress shut, and the ribbon. With DDs? Um....NO! I put 12 buttons on! I think I want at least 3 more on the bottom too. I ran out.

I look like una mujer veija

mi cara.

please let me indulge. it's a sickness.

the schnoze is particularly handsome

purple hair and pearls

ok now es ridiculo, let's just do one more...

ok. terminado ahora. Tengo hambre. I tried to eat my pearls. Pearls hurt. Nor are they tasty.

Ok back to the dress. Hope you like the material. I have another dress half made with the same fabrics! LOL The buttons are pretty neato.

The neckline was tricky. See..No facing! All turned and stitched. Lots of hand sewing securing these down. I also did my own thang when i came to turning that first button facing over. The original pattern was a little dumb LOL So I added more material to the flap because it felt more secure to me.

New Plus Size Sewing Tutorial! Mini Video Lesson on Adapting Vintage Patterns to Plus size!

2011-09-26T03:46:00.000-07:00

Hello! I put this together rather quickly this weekend. It has a major gaff but I pretty much don't care because *I* think it adds personality, and demonstrates my psycho-ness quite nicely LOL.

This is a small sample of my process used to take vintage patterns and re-make them in my size. No...I don't grade up. No....I don't copy and then cut and slash. It's easier than that....

I have my sloper (a basic bodice and skirt pattern that is fitted to by body like a glove) and is serves as the foundation for every vintage pattern I make. You can buy one (called a fitting shell) at Butterick. If you search "fitting shell" on the Butterick website it comes up in the results. You have to follow the (very well written and illustrated) directions to get the perfect fit. It takes some work, but MAMACITA it is the bees knees when you HAVE ONE!

For each pattern, I use my wittle eyes to analyze the pattern style lines and how they differ from my sloper.

Then, I modify my SLOPER, not the vintage pattern, so it has the same style lines as the vintage look. EASY. AND IT FITS EVERY TIME.

This pattern is a 38 Bust and my sloper is a 53, so that's why it appears so tiny against my pattern, just use your eyes to trace around the pattern and you will see that it is the same basic shape.

ENJOY!!!!

I make art for Big Girls

2011-09-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

The tattoo shop in Leesburg VA where I get my work done - Inksanity Tattoo Company

has an art show regularly. Customers submit art to sell! They have themes for each show. October's show is "CARNIVAL"
It takes place October 15 at 8pm, if you are local to the area.

I have interpreted this in my own way and made this piece.

It's paper on wood construction. The ladies are all BIG BEAUTIFUL carnival side show "FAT LADIES"

What inspired me about these ladies is the amount of pride they have for their bodies. Their bodies earned them a living. And you can see pride in their eyes.

Yes, sure they were being exploited and marketed for being "freaks." Blah blah but I don't think they saw it that way. It was their way of earning a living. I read a quote from one such lady who said (paraphrased) "why would I want to loose weight? This is how I earn my living!"

And we bitch about the lack of clothing options fat girls have now! NONE BACK THEN! These ladies were all seamstresses! By necessity!

Even more adoration.

I find it beautiful. Maybe it will sell, if it does not....it can come home with me! Proud Fatties!

Bring on the carnival! For more art samples click here!

I have a new garment in the works right now. It's about 70 percent finished, but after this one I plan on doing some SERIOUS halloween/dia de los muertos TRIBUTE dresses!

Silly 30s hair!

2011-09-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

You must excuse me. I am the first born daughter of a hairdresser ( a damn good one at that). I was brought to the shop while Mom worked. By the age of 10 I could set a doll's hair for a perm in about 40 minutes...

All my dollies are now bald. It's not my fault.... they had weak hair!
So it's just natural that I fell in love with the art of beautiful hairstyles crafted by hand. Every day I like to try something a little different. I don't like to be bored with hair. I move through different decades and try all the looks. If it's a challenge, I like it even more.
Who ever invented finger waves is a god. To me, they are the ultimate master of hair...the master of the domain; if I may.
They make me weak in the knees.

I am a TOTAL hair whore. I drool over a good hair style. Sometimes I miss 10 minutes of a movie because I am watching THE HAIR.

This is my take on 30s fingerwaves. I set them using gel and finger waves done by hand. Since my hair is kind of too long for 30s I put it up in large pincurls at the neck base. I saw a Barbara Stanwick movie with this style. Yeah it's a bit messy, but it looks "real." It always bugs me that perfect hollywood hair is so prevalent. Real women had fly aways, and frizz, and uneven rolls and all that stuff. I am also a freak that finds beauty in imperfection so I prefer a little mess.

every once and a while I wish I was a hairdresser in the 30s/40s.

Mind you, I can't cut...just style...

I think I would have kicked ass.

Finished Project: La Chica Fresa! The first dress in my "Chica Verde" Series!

2011-09-13T03:53:00.000-07:00

What the Hell is The Chica Verde Series? I have planned a series of handmade dresses all featuring the color green! In all shades! Yo soy chica verde!

This one is called Chica Fresa because it is covered in Strawberries. Yes. it is fall. Who cares. I am berrylicious yo!

Things I learned on the muslin: 1. UNDERSTITCH THE COLLAR. 2. IGNORE THE DIRECTIONS.

And I also added the green band on the bottom and left the length longer. I feel so Donna Reed in this. Cobwebs beware!

Another thing to note. If you drive with the windows down, the giant collar blows up on either side of your face; encompasses you like a face-eating plant, and impairs driving significantly!

My booboid garden of las fresas!

Ps... I love Spanish! I am teaching myself. I actually got hit on at the gas station in Spanish last week. I understood him, answered back too. That was a bad idea. Apparently white girls speaking spanish is "hot." So to sum up:

-las fresas (strawberries) are totally wearable past the age of 10

- Vintage hotness + white girl Spanish + Gas station = uber sexy

- I love green

- I am loca.

LOVES TO ALL!

Finished Project: What every Good Goth 50s Girl Wears!

2011-09-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

Muhahaha! This is actually a wearable muslin! All the fabric was sitting in my sewing room!

The pattern (another borrowed from Raven) is not dated but it feels like early 50s to moi. Well if I was an honest gal I would tell you that is actually my sloper with the 50s pattern's collar tacked on...but shhshshsh we won't talk about that little secret.

Waiting for my limo to take me to the gig...where ARE all my limos? Oh yeah they got repossessed...

What a pity...I shall instead dazzle you with the stunning back collar. Tray Sexy.

Of course it's just a "quilting cotton." Pooh and shame on those that look down upon quilting cottons as clothing!

Girly Skulls in Grey!

Rockstar Shots!

I wore Glitter Eyelashes and they kept me thinking that lights were following moi around all night LOL


can you see the lashes?

I have already made another of this pattern, I will be posting it soon my loves.

ROCK ON!

My new 40s doll and other happy old junk! I hit the pattern mother load!

2011-09-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

I call her Dollie. She is a late 40s Effanbee doll with human hair wig. She is dressed in a lacy sparkly ball gown. She has real bobbies in her hair too! I met her a while ago at an antique store. I wanted her then but she was pricey I think $200. I smiled at her and posed her nicely in the chair. I never forgot about her. When I passed the store I always looked in the window for her. She sat by the window. I told myself if she was there next time I walked in then I would adopt her. Here she is!

She has sleepy eyes with real lashes. Her head is majorly cracked in two places. She was $125 .But you can't see.

Mai Tai wanted pics too. I said "Smile Girls!"

She is a my little Cerdito!

Quite rare to have her shoes and socks!

She made my fire alarm go off for 30 seconds this morning at 5am. I know it was her!

Not sure how old this is. I have my Mema's collection of vintage saints paintings. I saw this and instinctively wanted it for Mema. So I bought it for us both. It has a German name on the back in pencil.


Patterns 40 bust and up!Loads of collar variations!

There were at least 3 boxes of patterns, some $4, some $5 and some $10 and up. I snagged plus sizes.

I have never seen a double collar like the one on the left.

Purses! The white one is calf skin. The blingy one is italian.

I also have an addition to adopting pictures of people I don't know. This couple I love! Look at THAT STYLE! The print is from Philadelphia. Cant tell if it is a wedding. Def 40s. THE SHOES! MEEEOW! I saw this about to fall off the top of a door frame! RESCUE! I also picked out loads of small shots two for a buck. They are in my shadow box. My husband thinks I am nuts. But I love old photos.

I don't get to go junk shopping too much. But every time it's FUN! And my man loves it too. He picked up car parts!

STAY GLAM!

SAVE THE ANTIQUES!!

2011-09-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Peeps!

I am not dead yet! I have two dresses made to show you from a 50s pattern (borrowed from Raven) and I went antiques rummaging and have goodies to share, and some hair pictures too! I am working on a massive post =-)

In the mean time. What do you think about those "antique places" that are just old shit made into new shit???

I watched "PICKER SISTERS" and wept. But never realized how bad the scene had gotten until this weekend...

Me...I HATE IT!

Interior designers! It's all their fault!

I want to see actual antiques! Not painted over, fake shabby sheik wanna be SHIT!
WHY? OH WHY?!

I went to 5 stores this weekend and two of them were just DUMB interior decorator bullshit. I have seen enough Shabby Shit and smelled enough candles for the rest of the year!

BRING BACK ANTIQUES!

Finished Project: The USO Dress! (and a possible SNAFU)

2011-08-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

Of course, the hat is inspired by Joan Crawford!

I was totally caught off guard and inspired by this cotton print from Jo Anne Fabrics! There was not enough to make an entire dress so I came up with a plan.

I wanted this to look a bit utilitarian, inspired by the USO girls of the 1940s. I know mostly they wore suits in movies, but I was picturing what a girl wore when she was serving them food.

daaarlinks bring the car around so we can go to the movies

I took my 40s pinafore dress and made it without ruffles, and drafted sleeves for it. That's it! It really is my 40s pinafore dress! The contrasting blue shoulder princess seams are designed to make the print look like an apron....utilitarian-esque.

I love it! I wore it to the County Fair!


here are me and my girls chillin at the county fair! aren't we sexy!


hey soldier

i see your crazy vintage pattern and raise you one "milkmaid hairstyle"

The print is very "Americana" complete with little 40s marching girls and USO girls, and soldiers. There's only one thing that is bothering moi that my astute husband pointed out AFTER I made the dress.....

WHAT THE HELL IS UION ME? Please don't tell me that they printed a MISprint all over and its is supposed to be "Join Me"!!!!!! SNAFU!!!!

Oh who cares... it kicks 40s ass!

I am feeling in a green mood...my next projects all have greens in them. I am working on a gorgeous humongous 50s collared dress next! The muslin in looking good!

The Vintage Chubby Goes Swimming in August!

2011-08-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

I am re-posting this from The Problem is the Clothes, Not the Body because it contains the CUTEST Vintage chubby EVAR!

How sweet she is!

BEAUTY - IN A BIG WAY!

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Also, I must point out this blog about how unjust FATTIES are treated in Horror films written by the awesome J. Astro!

Handmade Clothes are My Skin

2011-08-16T04:28:00.000-07:00

I tried. What? I tried wearing RTW clothes this weekend. I have not worn RTW clothes (on the left side of my closet) since winter!!

And yes, my closet is segragated...RTW on the left side and Handmade on the right.

Everyday I wear clothes that I made personally and it feels great. I have so many intresets and moods and images that I am in love with....and they are all there on the right side of my closet!

Monsters!!!

SKULLS!

Dames!!!!

UBER GIRLIE PRINTS!

THE ROCKABILLY!

THE GOTHIC!

THE QUIRKY!

Every DAY I am able to express my feeling dujor! And babies, I JUST CANNOT GO BACK to all RTW clothes. I tell you- IT does NOT feel right! It feels like I crawled into someone else's skin! Which is ok for a Rob Zombie movie; but not ok for moi!

How has sewing made you feel about wearing off the rack clothes? Or maybe if you do not sew; you can realate to wearing mostly vintage or non-mainstream clothing designs, perhaps??

Finished Project: The First 1940s Pinafore Frock I Ever Made!

2011-08-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

I bought a pattern from the adorable Inky Wine, a friend of mine. It,alas, is a size "tiny" with a 32 Bust Size.
I am in love with pinafore dresses of the 1940s. They just rock my socks. I KNEW this cute Holly Hobby Fabric would make a great pinafore dress. I bought the fabric for like $3 a yard on line somewhere....don't remember where.

SEWING DETAILS AND OTHER SAGA RELATED WORDS:
I waited about a year before I felt confident enough to tackle how I would sew one of these. I had two choices:
1. grade up directly form the pattern
2. draft my own using my sloper and the original pattern as a guide.

I went for number two!
The basic things that I needed to do were
1. draft a shoulder-princess seam bodice, and add a fold over for the buttons and a square neckline
2. change my basic half-circle-skirt sloper into a back-button type.
For the bodice, I did some internets digging on how to draft a shoulder princess seam from a bodice sloper. I gotta say it went well! I made a muslin and I liked it.
For the skirt, I just added about 3 inches to the center back seam to be folded over and then button holes sewn in.
I LOVE LOVE self facing garments, and I learned about them from some of the vintage patterns I worked with before. Makes my life wonderful =-D

sewing machine necklace by a Craftster artist PinkDaisy at Robotic Love Etsy

Ok I made this sound too easy......I will pat myself on the back because it was about 20 hours of WORK!

RUFFLES. (see they make me want Ruffles potato chips the whole time I sew them) The ruffles on my muslin were the same size as the original, WAY TO BIG. More clowny than cutesy. I cut them down by about 3/4 of an inch. Much Better. I took the original ruffle pattern, copied it, cut it into thirds, and then spread the pieces out to match the notches on my BIG GIRL pattern, and taped them down. That was easy. Sewing them was not. I wanted the narrow hem on them to look real CLASSY. My sewing machine was a being a bitch. The top stitching looked "assy." I think the material was too thick and the narrow hem was too narrow for the machine's tastes. So I cut out a new ruffle and hand sewed the narrow hem. That sucked. Later I thought: You idiot; you should have tried the straight stitch 1/4 seam foot because it probably would have held the material better. Stupid machine. LOL

I omitted the pocket at my husband's suggestion. He says with the contrast belt that there is enough rose going on; and when I pinned on fake pockets, I agreed. Husbands with a an eye for clothing are to die for, am I right?

I also omitted the ties at the waist. When I put them on (yea I made them) and tied them I didn't like what it did to the lines on the back of the dress. Because I leave the tie off, the back gapes open at the belt now. I am going to add a hook and eye or a snap or something there. I think I want a few more buttons on the trunk though. I will pick some more up and sew them in.

The purple is fading quite nice. This is a dry pincurl set. I always look like a total spaz head. LOL

Vintage Chubbies! I will Find YOU! Funny edition!

2011-08-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

I found her on the internets today. And I loves her.

Cute and Crazy...just like moi!

Dear Fabric Stores

2011-08-02T09:53:00.001-07:00

When I buy from you, I do not want stained material. Shame on you! Go to your room! Love, Psycho Sue.

Finished Project: The 50's Peach Dress!

2011-07-31T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is the finished dress I made from the complicated 50s dress pattern in my previous posts. I wore this to a wedding yesterday. It was 105 degrees outside, so I was very glad not to be wearing black!

It's not my standard skirt block, It's the one that comes with the pattern, just upsized for my hips. I like the flow. The hem is hand sewn with the nylon horsebraid to make that hem lay full.

I also made the matching belt.


I am crazy about the green and peach color combo.

haha no zips. I hate zips. They poke me.

The length is tea length.

The button is from Mema's sewing cabinet. My Mema would have loved this dress. She liked pastels.

And of course, I am now a full 1940s reject with platinum and purple hair!

Complete with full bang wave and spit curl.

I have had to completely adjust my makeups. I am wearing pale lavender eye shade and coral lippy. It goes better with the pale hair.

And I hade to got a tad lighter on the brow pencil.

Cute, no?

Two Reasons to be HONKED OFF at a Certain Fabric Chain!!!

2011-07-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

And by honked off- I mean ANGRY. ENOJADO (in espanol).

pic randomly selected from internets

Reason 1:

I bought fabric on sale three weeks ago via the internets from FABRIC CHAIN.. 6 yards total. I went to wash it yesterday, and guess what.....the bastards gave me 5 continuous yards then 1 yard by itself! THE HORROR! I made my dress ok, but I was worried about not having enough. I rearranged my cutting so the 4 full skirt pieces took up the 5 yards, and the bodices cut out on the singe yard.
What a dirty trick right??!! I paid for, what I thought, was 6 continuous yards!

pic also result of random google search

Reason 2.
They be messin wit my Mama! My Mama went in yesterday to buy fabric for a quilt. She went up to the counter and they told her they won't sell her the fabric! Then they accused her of taking expensive fabric and winding it around a cheap fabric bolt to rip off FABRIC CHAIN! WHAT???!! Mom just picked up a bolt of cute teddy Bear fabric and it was marked $6 like all the other fabrics next to it. AND she had a coupon for 50 percent off. So she was already going to save money on it. She didn't know that it was Boyd's Bears and it was designer,and should have been 3x more expensive! How in the world....how do people unwind and rewind fabric in the store??? They told my Mama that it happens alot. So they just thought she was crook! It was embarrassing and hurtful to Mama and she was quite put off by FABRIC CHAIN and promptly told them that she can't wait until Walmart brings back their fabric!

Can you guess who this douche bag FABRIC CHAIN is?

The Pattern Hack!

2011-07-26T18:03:00.001-07:00

Today I drafted my basic bodice sloper into a basic princess seam bodice. I found instructions by googling. Basically, you cut out both darts, and then rotate your bust dart down from a slash in the armhole, then add your seam allowances. The muslin fit well and I am pleased. Next I will attempt to change this into a shoulder princess seam. I need a shoulder princess seam to make a pinafore dress!

Do You Watch Project Runway??? New Season starts in ONE week! My fav picks:

2011-07-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

I only started watching about 2 seasons ago. I do love this show!! I am aware that for some watchers, the older seasons were better. I still enjoy ANY show on TV that feature sewing.... and drama....! Not Picky here!

I took a look at the next cast and i just adore BECKY ROSS

Look how cute SHE is!

AND....SHE MADE THIS!!

HOLY SMACKERS!!!

Also I love these designs by contestant Fallene Wells

I am looking forward to an interesting season!!!

How about you all? Any favorites for the new cast?

Wearable Muslin: The Adorable Complicated 50s Dress!

2011-07-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

In my previous post, I bitched a tad about the fit on this dress. I still am working out how I can add 3.5 inches to the sleeves on this crazy pattern.

The pattern I am borrowing from the lovely Raven (a collector and seamstress). It's a 50 bust! I set it on top of my sloper and just saw I just needed to add a bit to the side seams to make this fit! I also had to drop the waist an inch. I did a small amount of slash and spread on the sleeves, but really cant get enough width because of the design.


number 2 there is the front and back yoke and sleeves in one piece

Here is a wearable muslin on the bodice. The skirt portion is from another dress I made. I just cut it off that dress and sewed it to this bodice.

It's windy, the dress actually lays nicer than this. I wore it to work!

Everything on the bodice fits quite well except the arms. Too tight. To fix this in the muslin I created slits in the sleeves to allow for my arms to move. I want to fix this a better way before I make the dress officially.


This is my ghetto arm fix.

You can see exactly where it hangs up on my bicep

here is the original pattern, I cut it to make short sleeves

this is my modified sleeve pattern, the neck is untouched. I did slash and spread on the sleeve bottoms to add width, but it's not enough...


This is actually the 3.5 inches I need in my sleeves for comfort.

I typically modify all my sleeves using this method. It works perfect every time. I need a 21 or 22 inch measurement for upper arm. Most patterns come with about 19 inches. You can imagine that you can't do that here because that would spread the entire yoke. I just need room in the bicep area.

So the last pic gave me an idea. If you can tell, I just cut right through the shoulder dart and spread. I think I can just go back and draw the dart back in with the same center and end points, and that will make my neck stay the same. The dart will be bigger and take up all the extra fabric I added to the shoulder, and leave it in the sleeves.

What do you think?

UPDATE; YAY I JUST TRIED THE ABOVE METHOD AND IT WORKED!

Calling All Pattern Fitting Gurus!

2011-07-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

Yo Mama! I need your helpz! See the pattern above where the yoke is the same pattern piece as the sleeve??? I am having an issue with a similar construction! Mine doesn't have a collar, and the yoke is square on front and back. Also my front neckline is V shaped. But the construction is the same.....
Imagine, if you will, the front yoke, sleeve, and the back yoke are ALL ONE PIECE! The shoulder center has a dart the forms what would normally be the shoulder seam. The dart releases at the apex of the sleeve cap.

I just made a test fit of a early 50s pattern with this design, and while it fits well everywhere else, the sleeves are WAY TOO TIGHT! I dealt with this by adding slits up the sleeves, so I can wear the muslin.

But I need to fix this!

I already slashed and spread all along the sleeve as much as I could. I got about 2.5 inches with this method. The problem here is the usual slash and spread down the sleeve center is not possible because the yoke is attached! Spreading the sleeve causes the neckline to decrease. Oy vey!!!
What should I do? Ideas?
1. Can I cut straight up the center of the sleeve through the shoulder dart, then spread to add my sleeve width? I would then have a bigger shoulder dart? I am afraid doing this will drop the yoke too much.

2. Can I just drop the arm scythe? It's high right now. Maybe get more room that way, but possibly not in the right places....hmmmm

Vintage Chubbies!!! The 60s Edition!

2011-07-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

What a DOLLFACE!!! While surfing blogger today, one of my fav bloggers, The Hair Hall of Fame had this chubby beauty posted!

HOLY HAIR! YESSSSSSSSS!!! I am am totally diggin the round specs. <3

Step Right Up:See the Universal Horror Dress in ACTION!

2011-07-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

See the frightening guitar riffs as they Terrify the Audience!

Watch as the faces melt off the rockstars in horror!

Run before the beasts catch up to you!

Scream as the mob of the undead converge upon you!
(that dude in the jeans and black shirt in front of the stage kissed me)

STEP RIGHT UP LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
MONSTERS AND MAYHEM!

Ya know, a typical Saturday night for moi...

Finished Project: The FRANKENHOOKER SHIRT for my husband!

2011-07-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hello! I have made my husband a few shirts from this simple Simplicity men's shirt pattern. This one is UBER HOT! Just like my hubby!

The shirt is a medium weight cotton. The under collar and the inside facing is an older Alexander Henry print with skulls and roses.

I added studs to the front shirt pocket for some bling. Studs for moi stud!

The best part! THE FRANKENHHOOKER is a back patch (screen printed) I bought on the internet a few years ago.

It's a crazy B movie about a girl injured in a freak accident and her boyfriend patches her back together using parts of dead hookers! WIN! I LOVE B MOVIES.

The last awesome detail is the under collar, if popped up, it reveals the skull print.

Isn't it THE HOTTEST??

STAY GLAM!

ps- I am working on the most amazing pattern, resizing it up! I have two shows (one is a battle of the bands, wish me luck!) this weekend, and then 2 weeks off to sew it up! Maybe more instruction videos..

Update on the Lost 50s Shirtwaist Dress!

2011-07-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

IT HAS ARRIVED IN CALIFORNIA AT MY SWAP PARTNER"S HOUSE!!!

She told me that she loves it very much and it's a tad big in the waist and she is going to take it in herself.

WHEW.

HOW TO MAKE WEDDING HAIR !

2011-07-02T20:42:00.001-07:00

Wedding hair is easy. Hot rollers for 15 minutes and then pile it all on top like Betty Grable, pin with bobby pins, like 100 of them, and spray that bitch. Avoid wind, babies, and open flames! Glue on lashes, PARTY ON!

40s Hair

2011-07-02T11:11:00.001-07:00

Have a glam 4th of July Babies! I did ultra glam hair and falsies today!

I Can't Help it: When they send me coupons I must BUY!

2011-06-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

Just IMAGINE the awesome Elvis dress that I will be making from this! $7 a yard at J and O Fabrics, and I got 10 percent off! AND I look hot in green!

Finished Project: The Zombie Lagoon Tiki Dress

2011-06-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

I am really starting to perfect my sailor collar dress!

The fabric is from J and O Fabrics (on the internet) I won a gift card on their facebook page and made this dress!

Added a wooden button detail at the collar V, and those are blue hearts stitched around the sleeve hems.

I am proud of how I hid the center seams in the pattern.

The shape is from a Rago boned girdle and a longline bullet bra. Very 50s.

All Hail the Sailor Collar Hotness

It's very windy today and 89 degrees, not good pincurl weather =-)

Hope you like it! I think next I will make something for my husband. I have some horror movie shirts planned for him <3

STAY GLAM!

I do not like this pattern: they were on crack when they drafted it

2011-06-28T03:53:00.000-07:00

M6085 view D is stupid!
(the other dress is ok, I made one last year and like it)

I spent about a total of 6 hours making the dress in pink on the envelope. Don't really like it.

Why?

1. The neckline is STUPID low. I even raised it an inch and its showing my bra. DRAFT FAIL

2. The sleeves are "turn and stitch" With this shape of armhole this is almost impossible without clipping all the way around. This is frustrating. Bias tape or your own facings are recommended by MOI.

3. This is the weirdest collar I have EVER done. You sew the TWO facings onto the collar first, then flip it right side out, and then sew one collar FACING to the neck. the directions are a bit lacking here in pictorials, so it took me about 15 minutes of head scratching before I figured out what they wanted you to do.

What did I like? Their weird collar method (which I did not interface and I wish I did) did make a nice neckline.

Wearability?

The dress I made is now a "beach coverup" because I just don't dig it on my curvy body. It's boxy and hides my shape. So I just pinked all the allowances, including the armhole and the bottom hem. I will post a picture of it for you to see.

Anyone else make this dress in PLUS SIZE?

New Sewing Video! How to alter your pattern for more hip room!

2011-06-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

This is a McCalls pattern I am working with; just making a quick little dress with some fabric a friend gave me. It's almost done. I wanted to document how to quickly add to your hip area on a dress or skirt. This is how I do it! Enjoy!

New Sewing Video: How to sew sleeves in 14 minutes!

2011-06-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

In this video I sew a sleeve on my cute zombie-lagoon tiki dress, with sailor collar (unveiled soon!)
It's a basic short sleeve without darts, and a typical amount of sleeve cap ease that needs to be worked in.
When I do sleeves, I have a regimen that I follow, and I pretty much found this is what works for me. I am pretty detailed about what and where I pin first in the video, I am sure it's just moi who sews sleeves like this, but hey it works!

Sleeves were the most EVIL thing EVAR for me to learn to sew. I wish I had a video like this to help moi when I started out! They are just a pain in the ass and even the one I sewed in the video I went back and made a small fix to!
But there are some tips and things in this video to help out beginning sewers with sleeves. I do plan on showing how I adjust my sleeve pattern for my big sexah arms in another video, so stay tuned!

*Yes I went blonde =-D It's a ash blonde on top and a reddish color underneath.

STAY GLAM!

I am so mad I could poo in my pants!!! where is my handmade dress??!!

2011-06-21T03:39:00.000-07:00

Remember my post about this awesome 50s shirtwaist dress I made for a swap?

THE POSTAL SERVICE LOST IT!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAGHGHGHG!

I am waiting one more week to see if it miraculously shows up, because I have seen in swaps where it shows up 2-3 weeks late.

I have tracking on it, and it says its in "transit" yeah right.

I mailed it in Centreville,VA it was trucked to Merrifield a literal distance of 15 miles,and then POOF!

GONE!
AAAGH!

I can't afford to make a whole new dress so I feel bad for her and will make something from my scraps after the grace period is over.

$50 of fabric and 3 weeks down the expressway!

Has this ever happened to yinz?

UPDATE: I filed an "investigation" with USPS and they give the results in 2 business days. Fingers Crossed.

psssst: check out the pictures my husband took of these HOT VINTAGE CARS! I love em!

I have come to this conclusion (that might piss you off)

2011-06-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

...that fat girls should NOT go shopping with skinny girls for the following reasons:

(please do not take this as insulting or putting down skinny women in any way. I am upset with retailers/designers/clothing lines for making it so we have to shop in separate stores and create the awkward scenarios I experience in the below content. I love people every shape and size and color. This is not about you: It's about the system)

1. The stores do NOT sell your size! So looking at clothes is just annoying and a constant reminder that you will never be able to shop at that store. EVAR. Face it Mama. Just walk away.You NEVER would have even gone in there if it weren't for your friend and you know it.

2. Sales girls who ask you "are you finding everything ok?" WTF, NO LOOK AT ME! NO! I AM NOT WHERE IS MY SIZE!!!

(breath, breath, ok ok)

3. There is never anything as awesome as this:

4. You watch them pay $80 for a pair of shorts that is made with 1/3 of a yard of material. *face palm*

5. There is never any couch or chair to wait on while they are in the dressing room. So you are just standing in a sea of disappointment while your feet hurt.

Thank You. That is all

STAY GLAM!

Tennis Ball Dress?

2011-06-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else having Project Runway Challenge flashbacks here?

I mean, I give props where props is due, but this literal use of tennis balls just is not doin it for moi. I like the use of their color and the corset is to die for.

The entire design is cool, and I like the hat, actually with the balls, but the other balls can be left off and this still kick ass.

The shoes are cool.
I don't know.....I am kinda "meh" about the balls because they look uncomfortable and just "forced onto the dress"....What say you???

Psycho Sue Reveals Her Seedy Past: and an Inspiring Poem by Sarah

2011-06-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

-Marilyn Monroe

As well as being a musician, artist, and seamstress, I am a person who fights for equality, kindness, understanding, and acceptance.

Close to my heart is the fight for people to accept their bodies for what they are, so they can find inner peace and live a happier life. As readers and friends, you can see that I have confidence, sex appeal, and I enjoy showing off who and what I am by making myself the most amazing dresses and performing on stage.
Why?
-Because I have struggled with bullies in the past and have overcome it.
-Because I have starved my body to extremes, made my self throw up in public alleyways behind restaurants, exercised so much that I have permanently damaged parts of my body, told myself that I was ugly and no one could ever love me
-Because I felt like the lowest of the low, no matter what I wore
-Because i have seen other little girls who should be happy and glowing; sink into a depression and shrink back from the world who labels them as rejects.
I grew up in a world BEFORE Glee, or Mike and Molly, or public excoriation of bullies. If there was support of this type back when I was a teen, maybe I would not have taken 20 years to accept myself!
Imagine where i could have been by now....

This is a poem written by my Friend Sarah at Not Blue At All.

It's written from the point of view of a person who has had enough of being put down, degraded for their body weight. This person has decided to live a healthy life, but to stop trying to conform to the pressure that is put on EVERYONE to be the idea weight and activity level. This person is fighting the hatred.
Draw strength from these words, my readers, and make your own rules and happiness!
-Love, Psycho Sue

To live today is to live in a world that wants to diminish us.
To be pressed upon, constantly, to be less than, to live in distrust.
They do it with pharmaceuticals, they do it with supplements and powders and promises.
They do it with bars and shakes and crisps and keep us as your hostages.
Fat free, caffeine free, sugar free, nutrient free fantasies of tasteful humanity.
They poke and they prod us with lies and disgust.
They bind and staple and nip and tuck.
They rob our youth of hopes and dreams and possibilities.
They rob our middle age of self assurance and deny our capabilities.
Longing becomes the norm. Hate becomes reborn.
They control us with guilt. Stitching our flesh into your demoralizing quilt.
“Shame on You…” for being so fat?
“Shame on You…” for being healthy, too?
“How dare you not do as we tell you to do!”
We are not to be diminished, contorted, controlled or prescribed.
We are done with your idiosyncratic lies!
I will not be weighed like so much meat.
My flesh has value and won’t accept defeat.
You cannot separate my fat from me.
You won’t get the best of me!**
I’m no more and no less human than you.
Yet you insist, “But I’m better than you!”
The fuck you are and the hell with your lot.
It’s my guts, my glory, my intestines without knots!
Keep your scalpels and calipers and body fat ratio machines.
Wanna know where you can stick your oversold thin fantasy?
Nothing tastes as good as a free mind feels.
But you’ll never know when you’re stuck on their hamster wheels!
I smile a thoughtful smile, wider than my hips.
I love with my whole self, not a smaller version of what you sell as “health.”
I won’t sit or back away quietly.
I’m far too busy fighting for equality!
So yell if you must, from your trucks, cars and bikes.
I’ll keep on keepin’ on, stepping up to bullhorns and mics!
We are fat! We are free! We have pride and can be healthy!
Stop with the judgment. End all the shame!
Our bodies and minds are not playing that game!

-Sarah, Notblueatall.com

The 40s Pinup Dress, Version 2!

2011-06-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

It's the dress that's sooooo nice: that I made it TWICE!!!

My own pattern! I used the 50s V neck bodice I drafted, and the sloper pencil skirt I drafted!

CAUTION!!! HOT BADONKADONK!!

I had enough pinup fabric for the bodice and trim, and just barely enough green fabric for the skirt

The skirt is double darted in back , and single darted in front. The bodice is self faced on the neck and arms.

The belt is handmade and I used a buckle from my Mema's sewing stash

In review:

DRESS ONE

DRESS TWO

Which dress is your favorite babies?????

What I would have looked like in 1942

2011-06-13T03:48:00.000-07:00

Hell yea I would have worn spiders! Mae West did!

Hell Yea I would have had tattoos!

Hell yea I would have been fat!

Hell yea my hair would have been BITCHIN'

1942 is my Bitch! HAHAHA!

STAY GLAM!

Finished Project: A 1951 McCalls Shirtwaist dress made for Wednesday Addams!

2011-06-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is a dress NOT for moi...oh the horror! HAHA I made this dress in a swap with a lady on Craftster.

She wanted a Wednesday Addams dress, and I wanted a painting of the goth/horror/vintage variety.

Here is the pattern I used:

I used quilting cotton. I took it in here, let it out there in order to get close to her size.

The waist has two gathers in lieu of a singe dart. Mirrored in the front and back.

Here is the signature pointy Wednesday collar. Most people think it was a peter pan, nuh uh....it's pointed.

Interesting to note about this pattern; the front button facing is drafted directly onto the skirt and top. It is literally just folded over and sewn down onto the dress with right sides facing, then just turn the facing to the inside. It was quick, no extra pattern pieces to cut out and sew. I finished with an overlock stitch.

I like this method of facing. See, not everything modern is better!

Here is my Kick Ass Painting I recieved:

It's my woman, Bette Davis! Done in half Day of the Dead!

She really nailed the Bette Davis Eyes!

GLITTER!

Creativity ROCKS!

Psycho Sue Sings Lady Ga Ga While Wearing Her Pinup Girl Dress!!

2011-06-07T03:44:00.000-07:00

So I really identify with the message in this song that says BE YOURSELF.

I was born different. I don't want to be anything but myself, and *I* am not for everyone. One thing I have learned in life is that it actually OFFENDS some people when you are BOLD.

I walk into a room, and all my personality radiates, I am warm, I am original, and I am BOLD. Immediately you either love me or loathe me. It's quite a spectacle to watch people make up their minds about moi. LOL

Maybe because they don't have your strength, maybe because they feel that you are a let down to society by not keeping with the accepted rules. What ever their reasons, they look down on you.
This song, to moi, is a big fuck you to those people.

I"M ON THE RIGHT TRACK BABY I WAS BORN THIS WAY

FAT--TATTOO'D--WEIRD DRESSING---GOTH--PUNK--RETRO

all of these are labels, and I WAS BORN THIS WAY

Enjoy the video of moi singing Lady Ga Ga's Born this Way in my acoustic group with my best friend Ashley

The post wherein I do my impression of a copy machine.....

2011-06-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you get internetz loves.

I got me some last month when an amazing woman named Raven sent me all of these BEAUTIFUL PLUS SIZE VINTAGE PATTERNS!

<3 <3 <3

She has been collecting them for years, and most are over a 40 Bust!

She keeps them nice in little green pouches.

My job is to copy them for myself, create SEW-MISUNDERSTOOD CLOTHING, and post some tutorial videos of how I up-size these! then send them back home to their lovely owner =-D

Such an awesome trade..NAH NAH NAH NAH BE THE PATTERN.... BE THE PATTERN!

This 50s house dress pattern makes me bit my lippy in excitement.

A gown in 44 Bust!

So MADMEN, heh.

I kinda barf when people say I am "Madmen" like. hahaha

Here is the first one I copied, then ran out of damn tracing papers LOL

That pic on the right is with lace inserted in the seam allowance, how cool!

I will be making videos of these gorgeous patterns.

It should take a while to make copies, and plan videos and such. In between copies I need to make clothes, because it alleviates the "robot tracing mode" boredom.

Finished Project: The 40s pinup dress

2011-06-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

This is the fabric I bought with my gift card to J and O Fabrics. It's so tropical and I thought that the old Burda pattern I have would be perfect for a sunny day!

It's bright...it's summery. it's MOI!

I completed it in about 8 hours today, that's got to be my record. I have about a yard left and I think I might be able to make a second dress...maybe!

Oh, if you look in the side bar, this is the same pattern as THE SPIDER DRESS. Looks different huh?!

STAY GLAM!

Fabric Sale Alert!

2011-06-01T04:36:00.000-07:00

Joann Fabrics has their apparel spring fabrics 50% off this week!

I bought this cotton print for $3.49 a yard! That means a dress for $20!

I have been looking for a nice green tropical print, and I think this fits the order!

I am not much of a synmthetic fabric fan; but how cute is this Rayon Challis?

I love flamingos!!!

Vintage Chubbys! I Will Find You! Bride Edition!

2011-05-26T03:41:00.000-07:00

So the hottest bloggers at Misfits Vintage and Helga Von Trollop and Vintage Vixen are all dressed up as brides this week!

Inspiration!

While searching for vintage chubbies a while ago I found this picture of Dutch War Brides! No white dresses for them! Non the less! The chubby cuteness is in full swing!

How cute are the couple with the fur coat on the left??? Swooony lovey swoony!

And there is our chubby on the right mugging for the camera like a TRUE DIVA! What a CATCH!

I so want the hair!

If you stare at the pic long enough you spot more chubby, gorgeous ladies!

******Sewing Project Update*****
I am doing a swap for a painting! I am making a dress for her and she is making a painting for moi! The dress is a 50's shirtwaist, done up like a Wednesday Addams dress! It's quite a vexing pattern! Argh! I think I might have learned a cool pattern design trick from it though! It has built in facing!
When it's done I can post some pics of it. Maybe I can get the lovely recipient to model!

STAY GLAM!

New Tattoo! Psycho Sue Original Design! Sewing meets body acceptance meets old school tattoo!

2011-05-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

swallows carry a tape measure and needle and thread

It's done! It's all my design, drawn and inked by my friend Sherry at her shop!

The tape measure represents my belief and understanding I have gained from the Fat Acceptance/Fatshion Movement from bloggers like Not Blue at All, The Rotund, Lips, Hips, and Fatshion Tips, Fuck Yeah Chubby Girls about being BEAUTIFUL at any size. Any way you measure yourself with this tape measure, it reads a positive word about yourself. I thought of this concept in the car on my way home from work one day. I wanted to make an art project out of it; but then thought, "hey you can get this inked!"


ouch! i made my outfit though!


half way!

linework done

I have wanted the old school swallows for a long time. I thought they would be cool ;mixing my love of vintage tattoo with sewing. Swallows represent a lot of things, for me they mean being free or liberated. They were perfect to pair with sewing because being able to create my own garments has essentially liberated me. I am free to create my own fashion identity because of sewing. I can walk into any room and be the only one there that has this dress on. To me that is very awesome, and very much a part of who I am!


swallows get color

it's on my right calf on the outside

I wanted a needle and thread in one of the swallows mouths. Cute! It reminded me of the scene in Cinderella where the swallows make her a dress for the Ball. The best part is that my artist Sherry knows me so well that all I did was describe this in an email. I told her all the elements I wanted. And she put them all together like this!

STAY GLAM!

Finished Project: The Route 66 Dress

2011-05-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

I was at Joanne Fabrics last week and spotted this cute Route 66 Fabric by Alexander Henry.

I bought some green bottomweight linen and made the Route 66 Dress


A car on my booboids

It's my standard pattern that is identical to the Monster Dress I made. This time I made bottom hem ruffles and a big BOW!

A bird, a plane, NO it's SUPER PSYCHO!

I think I look hot in green!

For the ruffles I used my narrow hemmer foot and my ruffler foot. It was pretty easy once you got the tension and stitch width correct for the ruffler. I am sure it's not double fold hemmed in some spots because that narrow hem foot is a bastard, but if it starts to fray...hey I got a new bottle of fray check. LOL

Bows are easy to make! I can make a tutorial video for them...they are all over the internet though. I think bows are the cutest and old school cute and flirty!

STAY GLAM!!

Finished Project: "She's got the Jack" Dress

2011-05-18T03:46:00.000-07:00

If you watched the sewing video for Simplicity 2247, You saw that I used some Robert Kauffman fabric to try out the bodice. I only had a yard of this cute little playing card print, but now It's become a HOT-ASS DRESS!

My 10th wedding anniversay was last Thursday, so we hopped on the DC metro and went to the National Art Museum. AWESOME! These two pictures with my Jackalope friend are in the sculpture garden!

I am in love with the pockets!

My Man wore the red dice shirt I made him. together we were very "Vegas." Poker and Dice LOL

A lady asked us if we had ever been on TV (one of the guards at the museum) Weird question, right?

Ok, so what the hell is this dress? HA! That's a trick question! The top is Simplicity 2247, the pockets are my own design, and the skirt is MY SUSPENDER SKIRT!

I murdered it! Chopped it up and put it on this bodice! Muhahahah! I like it better in this form actually!

Pretty flowers...and a Psycho awwwww

You like my pug purse? LOL

And here's what 10 years of marriage to a Psycho does! LOL Don't we look like we are in Rome or something?

Ok here's some painting porn....

Don't know who painted this, it was in the French room I think....WOW! It's Veronica's Veil and it looks like a REAL Jesus head

And here are the Vermeer's ( conincedently I was just given pearl earrings for the anniversary ha!)

I love how Dutch painters use light sparingly

A commissioned portrait by Dali....we took this one illegally LOL it's part of a traveling exhibit (along with all the Monet's Picasso, and Renoirs grrrrrrr) so you can't photograph it.

Ok now you know I am an art junkie.

But what Psycho isn't I say!

STAY GLAM!!!

Making a 40s Dress from a Modern Pattern; Part 3 Converting to a Button Front

2011-05-17T05:07:00.000-07:00

Theis

This video will show you how I took Simplicity 2247 and changed it to be a BUTTON FRONT dress.

I used another Simplicity pattern (3700) with an actual button front to make the alterations to my dress. You can use any old button front pattern to do this. All the second pattern is used for is to trace onto the existing pattern the extra room needed for the button front to overlap. Once the new overlap- piece is added, and the dress is buttoned up, the center fronts of your dress will line up exactly as they are on the original pattern, keeping the V neckline. TAHDAH!

It's pretty simple!

Feel free to ask questions!!

Summary of steps:

1. Locate a secondary button front pattern piece for tracing

2. Locate the center front of your pattern

3. Line up the two pattern pieces Center front markers

4. Draw in the extra material (for me it was about 1.25") needed for the button overlap onto your pattern

5. Use the secondary pattern to mark button holes down your center front marker (my buttons are spaced 3.25" inches apart)

6. Make a facing to finish the new edges of the front by tracing your pattern edge and extending it out about 4 inches. Include your existing neck facing too!

Psycho Sue Defends Tattoos!

2011-05-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have long been a warrior in the war of SELF EXPRESSION, INDIVIDUALISM, SELF ACCEPTANCE. Whenever I see a person who is being put down because of their body, be it tattoos, piercings, or weight, I ALWAYS get very passionate about defending them.

The blog Sewing on the Edge had a great series of posts that I commented on today, and the blog author,Barbara, has been supportive of my opinions and has paid tribute to me HERE
Check her out. She is a sweetie.

She originally posted about an article where the author dictates their own opinion on what Senior Citizens should wear. Which, of course, is RIDICULOUS.She doesn't allow them to wear bathing suits!!!

My tattoos are LIVING, BREATHING works of art. They are on living flesh, and a part of moi. I have designed them because of what they represent and mean to me. And they are for ME.

For instance, this one reminds me every day that inside every single one of us is a skeleton. No matter what shape we have or face we have, we all are striped down to the same skeleton. It's what is on the outside that makes us all unique, but what is on the inside makes us all family. The highest of person looks like the lowest of person without flesh. And we are all flesh.

That's my first Les Paul guitar on my arm. The exact one. A musician and their instrument have a special bond. I chose to have her "named Violet" with me forever, because she is part of my story. And yes , she gives my soul wings to soar on the notes of my own music.

I often have people tell ME that I will be sorry when I am old because they will look "stupid." It may be stupid for them, but for me it's my life story written like a book, and I could never reject my own life. No matter how imperfect I am or how my story ends. It's MY story, And it's beautiful because it's LIFE.

When are people going to realize that YOU don't exist to please them? I don't give a rats ass about how they feel about it!

Celebrate life however YOU feel fit, and however gives you the most joy. And shit on the rest.

If you see a woman with Disney tattoos (for example - not picking on Disney here) it may look stupid to you,and you might think it's a poor choice that she has to live with. But do you know...that she and her mother watched Disney movies together when she was a child, and she lost her mother to breast cancer when she was 12. Now Disney movies are a part of her good memories she has about her mom, and they comfort her. You can't possibly KNOW that. But that woman does. And you judged her for it!

To me they tell a story that I am writing on my arm. This FRIDAY, I am getting a new design. This one is an idea I came up with a month ago, and planned to make an art project, then I thought, hey.....this is so important to me, I should get this inked.

It's a surprise....

Hint: It's about self acceptance....and sewing..... STAY TUNED!

Finished Project:: The Sailor Hottie Dress

2011-05-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

FUCK YEAH FAT GIRL SAILOR DRESS!!!!
Ever since the fucking dawn of time I have wanted a sailor dress!!!!!! MINE!!! MINE!!!!

Made with my pattern. It's the same bodice as the comic dress except with a new v-neck and the simple skirt pattern I always use for my dresses.

It's my first sailor collar, not PERFECT, but pretty damn good.

Dress Material: linen with embroidered silver anchors from Jo Ann Fabrics

Collar Material: White polylinen from Jo Ann Fabrics

Collar Trim: Wrights red rick rack

Bow: made from red quilting cotton

Belt: made from red quilting cotton

Sleeve Trim: Wrights DF bias tape in red

Sexy booty and hot rack: 33 years in the making

I am so excited about this sailor dress. I WILL be making more!!

STAY GLAM!

Part Two How to make a vintage 40s dress from a modern pattern

2011-05-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

Here is how you take an empire waist princess seam dress (bodice + skirt) and remove the waist seam to get a total of 4 pattern pieces. Hey, you have one less seam to sew!

How cool are my rat rod pinup girl posters in my sewing room? LOL

I also share my SECRET material that makes the best cutting/work surface in the sewing room!

For an overview of why this pattern alteration is done: see my previous post

STAY GLAM!

Finished Project: The 50s Housewife Dress

2011-05-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

Psycho Sue loves Polka Dots! Why? Because she learned her Grandma liked them. Enough Said. I know my dead Mema sews with me. I sew on her sewing table and use her old buttons and zippers. She loved to sew and I miss her. Anyhoo. Here's the 50s Housewife Dress!

It's my pattern except for the neckline. I copied that from a 1950s Advance sewing pattern

A very tricky insert goes into the square neck. First you put the facing in the neckline and hand stitch it down, Then you put the insert in and hand stitch it down too. I did a row of topstitch instead. I think I spent 4 hours on this damn insert LOL

A lady in the fabric store made a big fuss over me and told me she liked my style, then asked if I was going any place special. "Nope, I dress like this every day!" Heeeehehehehe

My hair is rolled in a rat in the back with 2 rolls on top.

I kind of like this with a black belt better than the red belt.KA-RA-TAY!!!

STAY GLAM!

I'm Back and Starting a new Project! How to Change a modern pattern to look like a Vintage dress!

2011-05-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

So yeah, it wasn't strep it was some dumb virus Thanks to those that worried about moi. It's good to know that I am loved <3 <3. But it took a week to go away, and once it was gone I went sewing crazy.I have 3 completed dresses to show everyone YAAAAY!

So, the new project. I am taking Simplicity 2247, the "Newspaper Dress" and modifying the pattern too look like...

ADORABLE 40s Princess seam dresses! I have been in love with the ones in 40s Sears catalogs FOREVER. So now is the time to do it! AND show you how!
More examples of what I am after:

There are 3 things that need to be done to 2247 to get this 40s look.

1. You have to make the bodice and dress ONE piece with no waist seam. This is a merge done on paper.

2. Have to make it a button down front instead of a zipper back. This takes some work...

3. Make any neckline or collar you want. I haven't picked one yet. I might just leave it as a V neck to start.

Here is the first video; where I explain how this is going to be done! Enjoy!

This Guitar Solo brought to by the letter "S"

2011-05-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hey babies. I have strep. Yay. And while I had strep I wailed out this guitar solo. Pretty Hot.

Lesson One:"Glamour shall not be repressed by GERMS, Hell No!"

I am wearing my Vampire dress (see sidebar for photo). It was a dark stage so you have to just watch my shadow and listen to the RAWK.

I do have a dress completed; and pics are coming up soon. I am wearing it to work today with a GIANT head bow. Take that germs!

Found at a Yard Sale

2011-04-30T08:08:00.001-07:00

On my way home from the Dr, there was a church yard sale. I spotted this teal sewing chair for a ten spot. I popped on 7$ and they accepted! Looks homemade! The inside is that fake wall paneling from the 70s! Sturdy!

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Finished Project Simplicity 2247: THE NEWSPAPER DRESS

2011-04-28T03:54:00.000-07:00

Whew, the video series where I made the muslin for this dress is at my you tube channel. I bought the fabric at J and O Fabrics online. Excuse the wrinkles, I wore it to work today!

I completely adore this pattern on me. It's an empire waist, princess seam, and totally HAWT. The shoes are by Crown Vintage. I really have to recommend them, they fit like a dream.

Oh yea. I bleached my hair. It's blonde on top and auburn on the bottom. I did a pin curl set that has relaxed to nice waves in the humidity.

I finished the hem with red lace hem tape by Wright's Notions. The sleeves are red cotton. They are shorter than the pattern designed. They do have 3 very cute pleats: ON on front, one at the shoulder seam, and one at the back. I love it!

I raised the neckline an inch from the original. I finished with a facing, But instead of turning all the way to the inside, I pressed it with some of the facing showing and then top stitched down. This creates a "faux piping" on the neckline and adds a pop of color.

The print has a nautical theme; adds for boat parts, and yacht clubs and such. It's super cute! and it's in my colors!

STAY GLAM!!!

It's wednesday, and we need more shiney things!

2011-04-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

source

Liza, Liza Taylor (a vintage chubby here perhaps), and Betty Ford

Drink in the Glamor!

Dust that glitter back into your hair today!

I am wearing the Simpllicty2247 finished dress to work today with a pretty pin curl hair set. I will be posting pictures for you all to gawk later!

An AMAZING Tip for Everyone!

2011-04-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

The most fabulous Ilona Smithkin tells us why PERFECTION is FALSE. This goes for:
-your body
-your face
-your job
-your sewing projects
-your craft projects
-your car
-your house
-your life.

Imperfection is beautiful and as DIY'rs know; it makes us all SPECIAL.

BE IMPERFECT

Plus Size Sewing with Psycho Sue- Part 6: Sewing a bodice to a skirt tutorial and finished muslin!

2011-04-25T03:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the video where I show you how to sew the bodice onto the skirt! The bodice and skirt are completed, and all that is left to be done is the two sewn together. I show you how I line up the seams.

THE LAST VIDEO! It's the finished muslin for Simplicity 2247. I show you how it all fits on moi. I have already completed a new dress with the finished pattern and I will be posting that (and you can see my new 'do) in a few days.

If anyone is planning on sewing this dress and blogging about it ( and I helped you in any small way) please let me know about and I will share with my readers!

STAY GLAM

Plus Size Sewing With Psycho Sue: Princess Dress Part 5

2011-04-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Part 5 is about the skirt portion! Skirts are pretty low maintenance. Straight seams. A monkey could sew em.

Video 15 is short. I show you what this "muslin" material looks like and a few pattern pieces are laid out on it. I cut out my skirt pieces on this.

In Video 16 demonstrate how to put together the back skirt. I sew the two side backs onto the center back, and sew the two center backs together to create the center back seam. I don't use zippers in test muslins, so no zipper drama here! You can laugh as my material gets stuck on the pressure foot LOL

In Video 17 I demonstrate how to sew the front skirt pieces together. It's easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Fun fact: On patterns double notches indicate back pieces and single notches indicate front pieces. BEFORE I knew, that; my life sucked! You'll be a hit at your next party with that tidbit!

In part 6 we will sew this whole mess together and do a little dance, make a little love, and get down tonight!

Plus Size Sewing With Psycho Sue: Princess Dress Part 4

2011-04-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

Yay! We are finally sewing! Today it's all about the bodice; sewing and fitting!

In video 11 I show you how I lay out the pattern pieces onto some fabric. Short and Sweet.

In video 12 I show you the way I sew a princess seam bodice. I sew the side front panel to the front panel. I teach you a trick to get the fit just right! And yes, I said "Fizzors" LOL I talk weird; and at 3:50 you can tell I live next to an airport.

In video 13 I have the back and front bodice all put together, so now I show you the quick way to sew together the shoulders and side seams. I talk a little about machine basting stitches. I ponder the old question: "to pin or not to pin."

In video 14 I try on my adorable muslin, and am quite happy with it! I want to also give a shout out to The Snug Bug here, because she posts pictures where she is not afraid to show herself in states of vulnerability. GREATLY inspired me here.

Just because today is Wednesday!

2011-04-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

via Bearly on Earth

She is adorbs!

Plus Size Sewing With Psycho Sue: Princess Dress Part 3

2011-04-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Rockon! Rockoff! DANCE! It's time to finish the pattern alterations! Still working with Simplicity 2247 and loving it. Right here is where you will learn VALUABLE Plus Size sewing. How to increase hip size!

In video 7: I finish the alterations on the SIDE FRONT skirt portion It's about time, eh? A Fat girl has lots of alterations...

So in video 8 I alter the SIDE BACK and show you how to make the curves on the side seams match for the side back AND front.

Ok , now I have added 4 inches to the hips! I hope someone is watching these because this turned out to be a butt-ton of work!

In video 9 I show you how to take in the upper bust area on this pattern if you have baggyness there. I did not have to do a Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) because the cup sizes in this pattern were good enough for me. But since I do have 4.5" difference between upper and full bust, I get these fabric bags that are really annoying because they detract from my lady humps. I accomplish this by merging a size 28 bust to a size 24 bust in the upper area ONLY.

In Video 10, the last alterations are made to the Back bodice. All I have to do here is fix it so the back shoulder will line up with the front shoulder. It's a merge from a size 28 to size 24 in the sleeve/shoulder area only.

So Part 4 of this series will focus on sewing the muslin of bodice! Up Next!

PS- Sarah said nice things about me, and the new video series and song! Holla! Wonderful bloggers will always get recognition from moi!

Help me Go Viral with the Message of Self Acceptance!

2011-04-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

The hardest lesson you learn in life is to love yourself for who you are; size shape, face, body, tall, short....etc
My mission with my song, "I am Beautiful, Because I am Me" is to make women aware that they are someone special and that super models are not the only ones to be worshiped, loved, and admired.

I now have my song up on Youtube. Some people told me that the blogger format was not easy to share. Please spread the word by sharing and posting on Facebook, your blog, anywhere!

To share this video by posting in your blog, copy and paste this HTML code to embed it. You must click the "EDIT HTML" tab in the post editor FIRST for it to work. Then paste it in.

<object width="400" height="255"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3xMosB1ST-E?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3xMosB1ST-E?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="255"></embed></object>

If you are just looking for a link this works:
http://youtu.be/3xMosB1ST-E

If you do this, let me know so I can thank you!

STAY GLAM and BE YOURSELF!

Plus Size Sewing with Psycho Sue : Princess Dress Part 2

2011-04-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies! Great feedback on the videos so here I have the next installment. I created a youtube channel for my videos now so maybe yinz can see better!

Video 4: How does this shit go together? There are so many pieces! I explain how the pieces go together using the pattern pieces. This is basic princess seam construction.

Video 5: How do I know if this thing fits me? Lets Tissue Fit! I show you how to tissue fit a pattern so you can spot areas where you want to make pattern alterations. I mention that you should fit with shapewear *only do this if you wear shape wear daily. If you don't ever wear it, of course, don't use it when you pattern fit. I wanted to point out to measure and fit in what you normally wear =-)

Video 6: How do I get Booty Room? Alterations on the side front panel. This alteration gives me 4 inches of extra butt room in this pattern.

Video 7: Big booty and a small waist? Merging smaller waist to larger hip on a pattern. This is the technique I use to add to the Hips ONLY and keep the waist the same size. You will need a french curve or some curved object to trace. I also add 2 inches to the bottom hem.

New Plus Size Sewing Tutorials with Psycho Sue! A Princess Seam Dress!

2011-04-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

Let me be your plus size/fatty sewing guru! LET'S GO BABIES!!!

I am going to be posting a series of videos while I am making a "test fit" of this pattern. I will be discussing all of the fat girl sewing alterations that I am making in depth. Each video will be short and to the point. Bear with me because it's my first time =-D I have been watching tutorials for years and finally decided that I had something to add to the collection. I just wanted to really TALK instead of write because 1) it's easier to SHOW you (2) it's more entertaining to listen to me stutter LOL. If you don't want instruction on a particular step, just skip to the next video. I thought that this way would be easier instead of watching a 20 minute video. Please feel free to ask questions, I will do my best to explain.

In this first video I talk about the pattern, and give a brief intro to the series.

In the 2nd video, I show you the pattern pieces as they are packaged and talk about this pattern's AMAZING FIT feature

In the 3rd video I talk about choosing your size, and how to pick a cup size based on your measurements.So sorry that it looks blurry here. It's actually perfect before I upload to blogger, it gets compressed after the upload and now looks shitty. But the info is still useful.

Stay tuned for the next videos in the series, where I show you how to tissue fit, and alter for BIG BOOTY! And in another first, I actually wear PANTS *facepalm*

STAY GLAM!

UPDATE: I AM SETTING UP A YOUTUBE ACCOUNT WITH THE VIDEOS SO THEY CAN BE ACCESSED AND VIEWED BETTER!

An original song I wrote about BEING YOURSELF! LISTEN!

2011-04-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Before you watch, I should warn you that I do swear in my song!

Dear Women of the World,

This is a song I wrote for you. If you feel like you just don't measure up, like you are not beautiful because you feel that you are fat, or skinny, old, deformed, unloved, unwanted, a freak, or whatever else some jackass told you to put you down; this song is for you. With love from Psycho Sue.

Stay true to yourself and your beauty will be everlasting and nothing can take it away. Be You.

Feel free to share this song with others on your blog or facebook, I want them all to hear it!

Outfit is my DIY dress, of course!

This song is the sole property of Suzanne Weber, If you steal it and call it your own she will hunt you down with her big fat lawyer and sue your ass into the poor house. Thank you!

Any persons either real or fictitious represented in this song are not coincidental.

I'm not some goddamn supermodel

My sashay is more of a waddle

I may not have a Vogue kind of body

But that don't mean that I am nobody

On the cover of a magazine, oh baby I may never be

I am beautiful because I am me

I've got beauty brains and personality

And I will challenge any man, who fucks up my best plans

Because I am beautiful, because I am me.

I got a lot of junk in my trunk

My attitude is sassy and punk

I get my clothes in Pennys and Kmart

I'm a frickin contradiction of art

On the cover of a magazine, oh baby I may never be

I am beautiful because I am me

I've got beauty brains and personality

And I will challenge any man, who fucks up my best plans

Because I am beautiful, because I am me.

I am beautiful, because I am me

Because I am me

A Talk with Fatshionista, Rockstar Seamstress, Moi!

2011-04-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Head on over to NotBlueAtAll to hear a podcast interview with moi by the very lovely Sarah. We got along like we were old friends and I just jibber jabber about sewing, my love of classic horror, PUGS, music, my band, being a DEATH FATTY ROCKSTAR (oh yea i am claiming that i coined that), my weird love affair with shapewear, advice on plus size t shirt reconstructions, and more!
FUN! If you have any questions, feel free to ask below babies!

EDIT:
Karen asked for photos of the t shirt recons!

The Radio Dress in Action: Death Fatties Rock n Roll!

2011-04-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me if they were cell phones on my dress. WTF? No. It's called a RAY-DEE-OH.

Girls Rockin out!


singing and representin the DIY Death Fatty Rockstar


Best pockets on a rockstar. period.

whippin the hair around and i also kicked off the shoes by this point.

more hair whippin and general bad-assery.

Click here for our website and mp3 samples
I am singing "you Oughtta Know" "Straight Up" and "What I like about you"

Finished Project: The Ikea Dress!

2011-04-13T14:36:00.000-07:00


sorry for lack of modeling mojo- it was 9am and i had a gig the night previous lol

This dress was another "sewing journey." Haha. It started out life as another Simplicity dress like the two I have sewn before (one in the purple sugar skulls and the other in the multi color tiny polka dots). But once I put it on, it was just all WRONG. I don't know what happened. Maybe it's because I fitted the pattern for cotton and this fabric is rayon. Rayon drapes differently, duh Suzanne.

So I completely cut the top off the dress! Vrrooom! Gone! And then I used my sloper bodice to make a new top half and then sewed them together. I opted out of using the front waist darts to keep it loose. That Rayon can be clingy and it makes me too hot. Cotton breathes alot more. I made a second bodice in white lining and fully lined the bodice.
I opted for black bias tape to finish the hem. This crap really unravels! I kinda liked how it contrasted and looks cute in my eyes.

Why Ikea? I wore it first to Ikea on a Saturday with this black spring jacket. Hubby says that they are going to think I bought the dress at Ikea because the colors kinda fit in with their products LOL

I bought the plain jacket at Lane Bryant and then modified it with Alexander Henry fabric, and studded it in the back, Oh yea it also needed red buttons. The hat and purse is DSW shoe whorehouse. HA! The little scissor and comb necklace is from Hot Topic.

STAY GLAMOROUS!!!

Either you "GET IT" Or you are just one of the Shit Heads!

2011-04-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

You see this?

Do you "GET IT"?

Or are you thinking "FAT, UNATTRACTIVE,OBESE"

Are you one of the shit heads who think that women with curves and belly fat don't belong on a stage and are "UNMARKETABLE"

Or can you see that is PSYCHO SUE

a woman with talent, heart, emotions that she pours out her soul into the strings of her Les Paul Goddess for you to enjoy?

These dudes "GET IT"

They can see that a woman is not her weight. She is her soul.

I run into these shitheads, they are everywhere. You know what. FUCK EM. They tell me that I have no sex appeal and refuse to market me, or they will only market me with a sexy, skinny girl on stage next to me so it can distract from my body!

I wear my creations, and I make my own music and either you get it or YOU DONT.

Am I right Girls?

PS- I guess the bloggers who just removed themselves as followers; DON'T GET IT!!!

So, What is that Gorgeous Little Fat Girl Planning next?

2011-04-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

This fabric

with

this pattern

Done in view A, but with short sleeves.

I will do a good review of this pattern for the Fatshionista

The contrast fabric around the bodice will be in red to match the red highlights in the cotton print

and the buttons I have been hoarding will be the bling:

I have a gig this Friday night (whooo we are debuting our original song and a new Aerosmith Medley), which puts me in the "spent rockstar" mode on Saturday morning, but I still have plans to start the muslin for this pattern this weekend. You want to see muslin pictures, or just the finished hotness???

What the Hell?

2011-04-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Click here if you dare

Are the 70s coming back? What the hell is that vest? This is the new release?

You can't say that this is "on trend"!!!

Separately these pieces might be ok, but THIS GETUP?!!

Hey I love Bea Arthur, I just don't wanna copy her wardrobe.

Curvy, Sexy AMAZING MAE WEST

2011-04-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

"It's not the men in your life that counts, it's the life in your men" Mae West

I was watching her awesomeness in "I'm No Angel" and noticed she has the most amazing curves and

THIS DRESS!

(hyperventilating- wait a second...talk amung yourselves......)

OK. Holy SMOKES! Spider webs. And you can't see here but she has a big glitter spider on the gown to match. Boy does this baby sparkle. She was a goth beauty before there was GOTH!

And there is one big black web-puff on the right shoulder. The coat was pinned to her gown in the movie.

*SIGH*

I want to make this so bad. My dress I made today was a big FLOP. Bad fit. Watching Mae today cheered me up a bit.

A New Iron for moi! Wait, I care about irons?

2011-03-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

Today I ordered the Singer expert finish steam iron from Amazon!

Sorry, you can't have one, I got the last one LOL

My little dollar store iron, I think a Hamilton Beach or something like that, is pooping on my clothes. Mr Psycho decided to iron his spring shirts last night. His beautiful "little baby chick" yellow shirt has 2 big iron poo stains. He came out of my sewing room all pissy and quit ironing, then told me my iron was shit. Well, He's right ya know.

So this is what I did about it!

I looked extensively at the Rowentas. I decided against them because I was seeing so many complaints of bad quality, even with the German (not china) made ones. I decided 100 skins was not worth getting a lemon. The singer Expert Finish had just gone thru a redesign, thus the anti-drip mechanism. The reviews were decent, and it was less money than a Rowenta.

What irons do you use?

Anybody have this one?

Do you use tap water or bottled water in them?

I hate iron poo. hate it. Right now I am working on a delicate white rayon and if that Hamilton Dork iron poos on it I will throw it out the window!

WINNING!!!! I can haz NEW fabrics!

2011-03-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

Hey smooochies! I actually AM a winner! I won a $50 gift card on Facebook to J and O fabrics!

YAY! I have shopped there a few times (on line, it's in New Jersey) and they have a super cute selection of cotton prints. I bought the Monster fabric and the hearses fabric from there. Good service too.

So what did I buy with my MAJOR AWARD?

6 yards of Zombie Lagoon tiki print

I have been DYING (hehehehe) to make a tiki dress for summer. Zombies and retro---HELLO PSYCHO!

While I was ordering I decided to pick up 6 yards of this also

HOT MAMMAS! From the 40s!

I am going to be TIKI-FREEKIN -LICIOUS this summer!

The "Gimme My Radio" Dress is Finished!

2011-03-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

RADIO RADIO! GIMME GIMME!

if you have no idea WTF I am screaming click this link

were you whistling at moi?

Mahboootie!

This dress is a cotton print of adorable vintage radios! Bought the fabric at Hancocks last year along with the Blondie Dress fabric.

I used the early 60s pattern from my last post with the blue polka dot dress and white collar.

I made some modifications:

A new collar!

New Pockets!

Better fit around the "assets"!


I'm picking up good vibrations ( you're welcome)

place vacuum tubes in here

The pocket shape was inspired by a 40s Sears Catalouge dress that used the shape of the princess seams to create an angled pocket. I made them and decided that I liked them the opposite direction than I had intended, The rising slope going up from my center front to my side seams created this slimming effect and as my fashionable hubby points out: it mimics the collar line.

I moved the bust dart down an inch and extended into the princess seam and it took away the b00bie bubbles I was experiencing on the PD dress. The result is quite flattering!

I actually made THREE collars for this dress. Oy vey the indicision! The post I made last showed a round collar like the original with scalloped egdes. Opps, I LIED! That collar ended up on the sewing room floor. Maybe some day it will end up in the deleted scenes on my fashion dvd box set *giggle*. I decided that it distracted from the adorable radios and tried a peter pan style instead. I liked it but I botched the top stitching on it. So I made a third collar and opted out of the top stitching and I adore the look!

My hair is done exactly like my mommas hair in her senior class photo. It's a teased late 60s updo with a twist in the back. I usually do my hair 40s or 50s but I have been experimenting with the 60s lately and I am digging it.

The radios are so cute. My husband and I picked the light blue and green radio to match the collar and pockets with. He is so helpful in the color picking department!

I used this cleaver little stitch (in green) on my machine to match the radio "waves" all along the front and back princess seams as top stitching. Snug Bug should be proud of moi!

I can't resist a pose next to my late 40s RADIO! (begin headbanging to the Donnas song)

The people at Hot Topic loved it at the mall today. Well most of the mall thought I was a freak walking around with my Greaser husband, and if they didn't then I was doing this all wrong! Washington DC peeps are all in a fashion coma my loves, how sadface for them.

SNEAK PEEK!

2011-03-22T15:45:00.001-07:00

WHAT DOES THIS GORGEOUS COLLAR GET SEWN TO? STAY TUNED!

What do you think of my me-made 1940s suspender skirt?

2011-03-18T04:32:00.000-07:00


can you spot my pug sidekick?

My verdict is that it's cute, but I have big'ins so I am not sure about how they look with this. I also made the waistband too tight. I made it from a cotton/silk blend that is very soft.

I am not feelin these shoes with them in hindsight.

A positive? This is the nicest a skirt has EVER fit my bum. NO ripples. Because the waist is set above my natural one and basically eliminated the horrible sway back aka "the capital city of Mahbootie"

ARGH excuse the effen missing button.

The suspender straps are sewn on and the buttons are for decoration only.

If I did this again, I would cross them in back, but I now know that to do this you cannot sew the suspender on perpendicular to the waistband; you must let it come off at an angle to the waistband. I think a pin and sew test would work.I made them 2 inches wide to keep proportion with my big'ins. I think I at least got that right. The waist band itself is also 2 inches wide and double interfaced to stop rolling.

Side zip. If I did this again I would put in at center back. Because the side zip lays wrong on my curves.

Inspired by The Snug Bug, I used the new wave stitch on the bottom hem. Two rows of them created a rik rak like effect.

The buttons are cute, kinda Celtic.

I actually don't own any blouses that look the way I like with this skirt. I want something like this:

or skip the bust gathers and do this one:

from http://wearinghistory.blogspot.com/

What the verdict babies? Is this "Psycho Sue"???

Stay Glam!

Early 60s cute collar dress is finished!

2011-03-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

I bought this pattern from http://www.lanetzliving.net/ some time last year. I like this site and it's a great resource to buy vintage patterns. I have been buying the 80s ones that are styled like 40s patterns. But only in the 80s you can get them in 50 Bust. That's where I found this cute pattern.

Construction was easy. I used my sloper bodice to fit the bust, which was a 50. I basically copied my sloper bust dart onto this pattern.

I actually think I could angle the bust dart a little lower. I get some tenting on the side front panel bust area. But nothing major. I am going to make second dress with this next. I think the princess seaming is cute. I never found a pattern like this that is princess WITH A BUST DART. I thought the idea of princess basically takes the bust dart and pivots it to the princess seam, so I am not sure what is up with having both at the same time?


the hair is a pincurl dry set from last night

I really like the fit in the hips. It has a fit and flare to it. The dress is cotton and the collar is poly-linen. The collar is also interfaced on the underside. Those slits were HARD to get right.

The sleeves are finished with facing. The collar is finished with a bias strip cut from the polylinen and hand sewn down. The hem is a blind hem done by hand.


inside sleeve


inside collar


topstitching on princess seams

It gives me a Jackie O vibe, what do you think?

Looking for some Cotton Prints?

2011-03-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

Fabric.com is having a sale today for "National Quilting Day" Cotton prints on sale for $3.95 and $4.95!

It's a steal with cotton being priced so high!

This Miller print is on SALE!

I think this woul make an adorable sping dress (but NOT on sale)

print by Michael Miller

The Fat Girl Gazette: 15. Caftan

2011-03-14T04:40:00.000-07:00

The Fat Girl Gazette: 15. Caftan
Just say NO to Caftans!

Sew Misunderstood: Fatshion for Wayward Girls

Finished Project: The King of Rock N Roll Dress

Finished Project: Devil in the Red Dress

January is Not One of My Best Months

Treasures from mi Abuelita - Part One

In Progress!

Project Gossip! Tell me what you think about my next dresses! (Fabric and Pattern Show and Tell)

Finished Project: The Day of the Dead Los Novios" Dress- Mid 50s Inspired

Finished Project: Halloween Pinup Dress- Late 50s Inspired

Sewing Instruction Video! Tips and Tricks I used for the most recent dress!

Finished Project: Last Chica Verde Dress! Late 50's Inspired

Ask the Psycho! Sewing Questions! "What is the best project for a noob?"

Finished Project: THE 50s SKELANIMALS DRESS!

Finished Project: The Bone Dress

A Weekend of Rockin Out in DIY MOnster Dresses!

Psycho Sue is Wearing Hearses while standing next to a Hearse!

Ask the Psycho! Sewing Advice and General Dumb Things I say!

Just a Quicky!

Finished Project: Have You Seen This Dress Somewhere Before?

Things I am greatful for when sewing....

Finished Project Chica Verde Series 2!

New Plus Size Sewing Tutorial! Mini Video Lesson on Adapting Vintage Patterns to Plus size!

I make art for Big Girls

Silly 30s hair!

Finished Project: La Chica Fresa! The first dress in my "Chica Verde" Series!

Finished Project: What every Good Goth 50s Girl Wears!

My new 40s doll and other happy old junk! I hit the pattern mother load!

SAVE THE ANTIQUES!!

Finished Project: The USO Dress! (and a possible SNAFU)

The Vintage Chubby Goes Swimming in August!

BEAUTY - IN A BIG WAY!

Handmade Clothes are My Skin

Finished Project: The First 1940s Pinafore Frock I Ever Made!

Vintage Chubbies! I will Find YOU! Funny edition!

Dear Fabric Stores

Finished Project: The 50's Peach Dress!

Two Reasons to be HONKED OFF at a *Certain* Fabric Chain!!!

The Pattern Hack!

Do You Watch Project Runway??? New Season starts in ONE week! My fav picks:

Wearable Muslin: The Adorable Complicated 50s Dress!

Calling All Pattern Fitting Gurus!

Vintage Chubbies!!! The 60s Edition!

Step Right Up:See the Universal Horror Dress in ACTION!

Finished Project: The FRANKENHOOKER SHIRT for my husband!

Update on the Lost 50s Shirtwaist Dress!

HOW TO MAKE WEDDING HAIR !

40s Hair

I Can't Help it: When they send me coupons I must BUY!

Finished Project: The Zombie Lagoon Tiki Dress

I do not like this pattern: they were on crack when they drafted it

New Sewing Video! How to alter your pattern for more hip room!

New Sewing Video: How to sew sleeves in 14 minutes!

I am so mad I could poo in my pants!!! where is my handmade dress??!!

I have come to this conclusion (that might piss you off)

Tennis Ball Dress?

Psycho Sue Reveals Her Seedy Past: and an Inspiring Poem by Sarah

The 40s Pinup Dress, Version 2!

What I would have looked like in 1942

Finished Project: A 1951 McCalls Shirtwaist dress made for Wednesday Addams!

Psycho Sue Sings Lady Ga Ga While Wearing Her Pinup Girl Dress!!

The post wherein I do my impression of a copy machine.....

Finished Project: The 40s pinup dress

Fabric Sale Alert!

Vintage Chubbys! I Will Find You! Bride Edition!

New Tattoo! Psycho Sue Original Design! Sewing meets body acceptance meets old school tattoo!

Finished Project: The Route 66 Dress

Finished Project: "She's got the Jack" Dress

Making a 40s Dress from a Modern Pattern; Part 3 Converting to a Button Front

Psycho Sue Defends Tattoos!

Finished Project:: The Sailor Hottie Dress

Part Two How to make a vintage 40s dress from a modern pattern

Finished Project: The 50s Housewife Dress

I'm Back and Starting a new Project! How to Change a modern pattern to look like a Vintage dress!

This Guitar Solo brought to by the letter "S"

Found at a Yard Sale

Finished Project Simplicity 2247: THE NEWSPAPER DRESS

It's wednesday, and we need more shiney things!

An AMAZING Tip for Everyone!

Plus Size Sewing with Psycho Sue- Part 6: Sewing a bodice to a skirt tutorial and finished muslin!

Plus Size Sewing With Psycho Sue: Princess Dress Part 5

Two Reasons to be HONKED OFF at a Certain Fabric Chain!!!