Debora Coelho

Hello everyone! I wrapped up another dress using 1960’s pattern Simplicity #1284. You may remember I’ve used this pattern several times in the past couple of months. This is the final one. The pattern is finally put away. I’m afraid if I left it out, I’d go at it again. I highly recommend this pattern if your looking for simple lines. It’s an incredible comfortable dress that you can wear to just about anywhere. Meanwhile, I have a few other projects pending in the sewing studio. I like to show them when I actually get to wear them. I’ve made a few more hats and a casual winter coat which I hope to post soon. Meanwhile, I hope your exploring new ideas and creating thing only you can create… and as always, thank you for sharing in our sewing journey. Debora Here’s a quick view at the other four dresses I made from the same pattern. It’s amazing how they all look so different. I truly love all of them.

Why should “Lara” have all the fun? I’m a huge fan of the Doctor Zhivago film. I have watched it countless times through the years.  I love everything about the movie…the romance, history, location, snow scene, ice palace and of course the Russian hats and furs. So much so, that for years, I’ve experimented with making some hats and coats of my own. This past week, old man winter set in. And all of  sudden, I had an inspiration to make more hats. And so I did. A few at that. They are all made out of fleece. They are all different. The brown hat, I actually decorated it with a braid from the same material. The blue, I added pleats and the cranberry, I made a matching hood. I love the hood combination. It’s warm and very comfortable for walking in the winter months ahead of us. I hope your inspired to create your own hats. I used no pattern. I learned a lot about hat making through the years. There is no limit to what you can create. I already have a few more ideas I’d li...

“2016” Happy New Year! This is my first creation of the year. Again using vintage 1960’s pattern Simplicity #1284. This time I added a red strip down the front center middle of the dress. I thought it would elongate the body. In addition, I made a matching pillbox hat and clutch bag. No pattern, just cut what was fun of the left over material. As always the dress is entirely lined and I added my own side pockets. This has been such a fun pattern to work with and incorporate into different fabrics and designs. At the moment. I’m working on the last dress from this collection. I hope to have it ready for next week. Meanwhile, I hope everyone is having a great weekend and as always, thank you for sharing in our sewing journey. Debora

2015 - Year in Review - Sewing It’s always nice to look back at our accomplishments. Especially when it gives us great joy. Here is a quick look at what I made this year. I took some chances and made a couple of designer pieces. With other garments, I repeated the same pattern making it different every time. I learned a lot this year with both design and garment construction. I’m looking forwards to incorporating all this experience and skill in the new year “2016” ongoing sewing project. Sewing has definitely made my life better. Happy New Year everyone! I hope your year is filled with love of creating. 

Kimonos for the Holidays Hello everyone. Hope all of you are enjoying your holiday season. I’ve been enjoying wearing what I’ve made to events and Christmas parties. This afternoon I had a simply delightful brunch with a few dear friends right in the sewing studio. It was fun decorating around the sewing machines. I didn’t fuss over anything, just added to what already existed. I love wearing kimonos this time of year. They are very festive. I made this one a year or two ago. I’m also wearing the new jean skirt I made for the first time. You can look back on my blog for the skirt details if you’d like. As for the kimono, I usually just cut and make them without any pattern. I have no two alike. There’s no rules. If you find a fabric you like, just drape and cut to whatever shape pleases you. Well, I hope to do some more sewing tonight. Let’s see if I have anything to show you by the end of the week. I hope you enjoy the brunch pictures. I also hope you find some inspiration to s...

Hello everyone! I’m still working with the same vintage 1960’s pattern Simplicity# 1284. This is the third time using the same pattern and I’m just as excited about it. This week I used a beautiful stretch weave material that my sister Dorinda gave me as a gift from her latest trip to the Azores. Anyone familiar with the Azores, the islands of Portugal, knows sewing is still a big part of many people’s life’s . That’s where my sewing roots originated. Going back just a couple of generations, both my grandmothers, aunts, cousins and sisters all were brought up learning how to sew.  It was out of necessity of course. But it’s such a great gift to enjoy and share with others. Some of the women in the islands  are also great weavers, knitters and embroiders.   As for this weeks dress, I like the black yoke contrast. I hope to experiment more with that. This pattern is becoming easier to assemble as I go along. The pattern is now perfectly fitted to my body. The who...

Indian Peacock Floral Dress Good evening everyone. This weeks project is another dress once again using Simplicity 1284. A 1960’s Vintage Dress pattern. The fabric is just so bright and beautiful. I picked it up at JoAnn’s Fabrics from their cotton quilting selection. I ended up using more fabric due to the matching of the seams. I ended up making two trips to the fabric store to get the fabric I needed. Well worth it. The dress is very comfortable and great for everyday use. I like that. Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and to the rest of the world thank you for sharing in our sewing journey. Debora