I am long overdue for a giveaway here at Lilacs &
Lace.
I was thrilled to hit the 100 follower mark and
meant to celebrate, and that number somehow doubled while I was busy in the sewing room! Thank you, everyone, for your amazing support and
encouragement. I am so thrilled to be a
part of this incredible community - thank you for making me feel so welcome.
As you may be aware, today is Giveaway Day over at Sew, Mama, Sew! and I thought it would be fun to join in the festivities.
Up for grabs is a pair of Teach Yourself to Sew DVDs, Seasons 1 & 2. And to give you a project to
work on once you have mastered all of those fabulous techniques, I will include
this lovely summer frock by Simplicity (the pattern is a size 6-14 and is in factory
folds).
To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below. For fun, you might tell me a technique you
feel still needs a bit more work before you become a master
seamstress/sewer/person who sews (but this is not a requirement of the giveaway).
Everyone is free to enter!
The giveaway will close May 25 at 5 p.m. PST.
That’s it!
And be sure to check out all of the other giveaways going on
this week over at Sew, Mama, Sew!
Congrats on your 200 followers! Your blog is such an inspiration. I especially love seeing all your pretty knit sweaters.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway. I could use more knowledge/skill in fitting. Also, tailoring.
ReplyDeleteWheee, congratulations! Hmm, I think I need to learn more accurate cutting and marking techniques, I often 'wing it' and end up with things not lining up properly!!
ReplyDeleteI want to learn tailoring!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I need to learn more about the proper way to grade patterns.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on over 200 followers! I am a newbie follower/blogger and love to see what everyone is up to. I have been sewing for years but find I get lazy with construction sometimes in an effort to finish faster - I could do with more knowledge in fitting my short curvy figure!
ReplyDeleteOh goodness! I'd love to win this. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog via Peter at Male Pattern Boldness. My challenge is fitting!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on reaching 200 followers, although it's no surprise when I see the amazing items you make.
ReplyDeleteI so would love to win this giveaway!, My challenge are zips!. Congrats on your 200 followers and thank you so much for the chance!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the followers and thank you for such a lovely giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI still have a lot of techniques that I need to master :(
But I am working on learning, very slowly and patiently (actually still working on mastering the technique of patience too, not just in sewing LOL).
Ooh! I could definitely use some help -- I only recently learned that I'd been threading my sewing machine incorrectly -- I'm not sure if I'd always done it wrong or if I'd forgotten how to do it correctly! I definitely need to work on patience, because I want to rush through it and end up messing up!
ReplyDeleteOverheard Conversation #21:
ReplyDelete(woebegone) "Her legions are forming!"
('gasp')"But from where?!"
(scoff) "Just look for the torches, pitchforks, and seam rippers, and you're sure to find Laura Mae fans."
"Fans? These people are under the sway of well-rehearsed charm and unbridled guile."
"Why doesn't any of that work on us?"
(extended index finger, then palm at base of neck) "Simple, WE are too worldly."
(short gasp of enlightenment)"Of course."
"If snake oil could lubricate a sewing machine, this one would have a product to sell."
"I've just been quietly dreading the day she gets her first endorsement."
"Either way Laura Mae lands on the pages and web pages of every outlet pertaining to sewing."
"Mmm hmm, and that's only a matter of time."
"With the body count rising, she's suddenly the McDonald's of vintage sewing."
"Notoriety is her plasma, and nothing fuels that faster than by befriending famous others."
"Enter Mr. Lappin, not only is he in the tent, but she has his home address and has sent him patterns."
"Mmmm hmmm, there ya go."
"Thankfully his cousin, Cathy Lane, has her number."
"Boy, and howdy. Plus, Miss Lane practically perfected the 'admirer/detractor' persona."
"Indeed, her proposed moth larvae trick is in the pantheon of re-gifting."
"Good role models are rare."
"I'll say."
"So, do we confess our challenges and enter?"
"Not a chance. During her 'Ricardo Days", she was only too delighted to twirl."
"She knows were here, doesn't she."
"You betcha. If lured too close, her diamond-tipped hem would spiral slice us into ribbons."
"Ribbons she'd happily weave into her next sweater!"
(in unison) "THAT Laura Mae!"
I don't even know where to begin with what I need to improve upon! Fitting is probably my biggest problem, but also just taking time and being really precise is another issue. And of course, the major problem is that I am NOT creative. I used to tease my mom about being "re-creative". She could copy anything!
ReplyDeleteOh, who am I kidding???
ReplyDeleteTeach Yourself To Sew, Season 1 and 2 - enter me!
My challenge is using creative license as a catch-all. Making a few samples, and at least being pointed in the direction of perfection would be a start. I've been treading on the ground of "there are no wrong answers", while "skillful execution" has become somewhat of a voyeuristic pursuit, and remains untrampled upon terrain in my psychedelic sewing room.
Congratulations on achieving 200 followers, and know that you have many more fans. On behalf of us unregistered-types, we too appreciate your artistic skills, the time you take to make each post, and admire that you wear what you create.
Testosterone
Buttonholes are always hard for me to get looking nice. :/ I don't even do zippers...one of these days I will get over my zipper phobia!
ReplyDeletebrooke at richardchurch dot com
Congratulations on reaching so many followers!
ReplyDeleteI started following your blog a while ago, and LOVE seeing your projects. I do lots of historical reenacting (1500s and 1600s), but I love 1940s and 1950s dresses. I wish I had enough to wear every day!
I would love to enter this giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to enter this as well. I just put in my first zipper, so everything is new to me, lol.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Beata - my challenge is accuracy in stitching and keeping the seams the same width. Not helped by my machine periodically going wonky and developing birds' nests of thread on the underside of my fabric. I took it in to have it looked at, it was better for a bit...and it just started again as I finished my last project this weekend. :( Anyway, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm a new follower, but I've seen your amazing creations on burdastyle for a while now. I would love to learn proper hand sewing, as I've become more and more interested in couture sewing.
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway. My tailoring needs loads of help. the fit is just never right.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on followers!
ReplyDeleteI could always use a refresher on inserting sleeves. There have been times that when I get to this part, I have set the garment aside and it turns into a UFO.
What a great giveaway. I sew all of my items by hand, but I bought a sewing machine so I could finish my crafts faster. I have yet to figure out how to sew on a machine, so this DVD would be great!
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I would like to work on just being more adventurous, instead of picking the 'easy' patterns. And try not to rush so much. Having confidence in my skills would help.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletethanks, i gotta master those zippers!!
ReplyDeleteThose would go to my second grand daughter would just recently decided she wanted to learn to sew.
ReplyDeleteI really need to work on adjusting the bustline of my dresses and blouses. Gravity is an evil mistress, and most patterns are made for busts 20 years younger than mine!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. You have a great blog and I love receiving each new post. The clothes you make are lovely. I've just come back to sewing after a 17 year break and have been looking to the internet for inspiration and motivation. You also give information - I've found your reviews on pattern review. I'm incredibly rusty, but am having some success. It's a great giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI really need to master fitting. At the moment it is pretty much through guestimation and trial and error.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI need to work on pleats.
ReplyDeleteThis would be great as I'm self taught and could use the video instruction.
ReplyDeleteHow fantastic, congratulations on reaching so many people. I have been following you since the early days. You are such an inspiration to us all. For me my downfall is hemming being only 4'10'' I always have to shorten my dresses even the petite ones by a huge amount and no matter which way I approach this they always look a tad wonky. Luckily so far using 1950's patterns and needing a large underskirt this helps to even out the slight wonkyness. And seam binding can always make hems a little more even, I have found.
ReplyDeleteYou might have 200 Google followers, but you have over 400 followers of your blog's feed (including me!). Congratulations! There are too many techniques I need to learn - it would be impossible to name them all. I'm just too new to sewing to feel mastery over much of anything. But, I'm trying!
ReplyDeleteI really need to work on my darts. I'm just not very good at them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway. If I were to win, it would go to my beginner student. I just found a machine for her - and this would be a great addition. As for me, today I just did my first hand picked zipper. It was a lot of fun and came out fairly decently.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Patti
Thanks for the giveaway, I am trying to learn garment sewing (I'm a quilter) this summer.
ReplyDeleteThe list of techniques to master is too long to list. But I keep trying! :) I absolutely love that dress pattern. And while I am fairly new to your blog, I enjoy it very much!
ReplyDeleteKaren
I'd love to enter!
ReplyDeleteI would really like to master bound button holes... no actually, I would really like to get up the courage to TRY bound buttonholes. I've read a few online tutorials so I think I've got the help I need, but for the life of me I just can't bring myself to do it.
I'm a pretty rough-and-tumble sewer. I'd love to learn better finishing techniques (but that would mean allowing more time to get things done)
ReplyDeletemajorasue(at)hotmail(dot)com
thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI am currently working on tailoring. Thank you for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteI still need to work on making and applying bias tape. It always looks wonky!
ReplyDeletemframe00@gmail.com
In clothes sewing, I really need to learn how to do alterations. No clothes or patterns fit me correctly.
ReplyDeleteI think all my sewing could use some improvement. i realy want to master FMQ
ReplyDeleteThis looks great! I'm self-taught, so probably everything could use a little perfecting!
ReplyDeleteOoh I'd love to win this package!! Zippers, the invisible kind! and hems that don't look like another piece of fabric is attached to the bottom.
ReplyDeleteI need to learn how to do zippers and buttonholes and different kinds of hems, and I still struggle sometimes with what needle/thread/stitch combo is best for the fabric I'm using!
ReplyDeleteI need to work on my handsewing. It really scares me.
ReplyDeleterebekahricker (at) yahoo (dot) com
I could do better on zippers and general seam allowance accuracy.
ReplyDeleteAppliqué! I can quilt till the cows come home, but appliqué gets the best of me !
ReplyDeletesince I am fully self taught those dvd would be AWESOME. I feel that zippers are my number one nemesis right now and if I can get a better grasp on that I would feel invincible.
ReplyDeleteFun giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI love this dress pattern! I only quilt and sew other things requiring straight 1/4 inch lines. I would love to branch out to actual clothing pattern sewing, etc. I don't know how to paper piece so that is a technique on my bucket list. thank you for this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteAll of my techniques needs improvement LOL. Thanks for the offering! alley_alexandra@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI really nead to work on better seam finishes. I rely heavily on my serger to finish seams and I kinda wish I knew fancy couture seam finishes.
ReplyDeletetina_crossgrove(at)hotmail(dot)com
I just started teaching myself how to sew in February. Fortunately my son doesn't mind wonky stitch lines! I have a lot to learn. Thank you for doing this. shannrw05@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletei need to wokr more on my mitered corners
Thank you for an opportunity to win these awesome looking DVD's. I've never sewn a button hole and would like to try it. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this for my daughter. She wants to learn to sew so badly and as we live pretty far apart I am not there to teach her.
ReplyDeleteA giveaway! How lovely! Thank you for the opportunity to win. My daughter and I love your blog. krisvog2000@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI am new to quilting only 5 months. I want to learn FMQ.
ReplyDeletehttp://richardquilts.blogspot.com
I need help on a lot of techniques because I'm still new and Ive been learning all my "skills" from tutorials and YouTube :)
ReplyDeleteI think this giveaway might be tailor made (pun intended) for me because I am just starting out with sewing. I need to learn everything, the basics!
ReplyDeleteMy contact info is: scrapgirl1467 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks for the chance to win!
What an awesome giveaway esp since I am trying really hard to teach myself to sew.
ReplyDeleteZippers still give me fits, so definitely zippers!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway. I want to get better at drafting patterns.
ReplyDelete(esfunayama_at_gmail_dot_com)
Can I say - everything? I can (sometimes) sew a straight line, but I have a lot to learn...
ReplyDeleteI'd like to learn how my zippers could go in easier, more smoothly. audiodropzone at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI would like to enter! My skill that needs sharpening is buttonholes!
ReplyDeleteI'll like to learn more on sewing knits.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great giveaway. I could use more help in following patterns.
ReplyDeletesmcintosh12(at)gmail(dot)com
What a wonderful giveaway. I would dearly love to win this. I learned to sew only from high school home ec class and now that I have Grandchildren to sew for and am disabled so I can't work and have all day long to make cute clothing for any of those cuties, I NEED help. I didn't learn that much in that sewing class from high school and oh gosh, what that a very long time ago so what I might have learned, much of that has been forgotten. I stopped sewing to raise my 3 sons and now that I can't work I have a very nice machine and all the time in the world to learn. I really need to start over from the beginning to learn to do things correctly. I have attempted but the results just don't look very good at all. As these Granddaughters grow I want them to ask for me to make more cute dresses or tops etc, not run and hide when they see Grandma coming with another outfit she made. LOL
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win and improve the horrible skills that I do have and learn so much more.
I really want to sew clothes for myself, so far I haven't gotten past kid clothes (where fit is not so important) so some techniques for sewing for moi would be great!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on hitting a new follower milestone!
ReplyDeleteMy biggest area of angst always comes back to zippers. Why? I've sewn a bazillion. They turn out just fine. For some reason I'm constantly on the lookout for new tips and tricks to get those tricky buggers to be just perfect.