Practically Pretty by Design

Gift Certificates now available!

2012-01-02T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Practically Pretty seamstresses are excited to now offer Gift Certificates! We hope this will serve you in a new way at Practically Pretty.

Not sure what to get that special someone? Thinking that they might like something from Practically Pretty but not sure what? A gift certificate might work for you! You request the amount and we send a printed, gift certificate in the mail. The recipient can then choose from any custom item in our online store and even request styles that are not yet listed.

The fine print reads: "This gift certificate is redeemable for any custom sewing from the Practically Pretty by Design online store up to the amount listed. It does not include Practically Pretty patterns. Please see the Practically Pretty website for ordering details. If you have any questions or concerns please contact practicallyprettybydesign@gmail.com. Thank you."

Contact us at practicallyprettybydesign@gmail.com for more information or to purchase a gift certificate.

Blessings,
The Practically Pretty Seamstresses

New skirts!

2011-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

All is well here with the Practically Pretty seamstresses. We have been sewing away as always, along with our other responsibilities and are happy to offer some new styles! This time, we have a tiered skirt style that can be made in any size or length or fabric to suit you. And a favorite, a basic a-line skirt with a double ruffle that is a wardrobe basic in jean fabric or quite elegant in other fabric choices. Both can be fully lined and the double ruffle skirt can be made in heavier fabrics for winter time warmth.

We hope you enjoy them as much as we have making them! There are more pictures and details for you to peruse over on the new Skirts page.

Blessings,
The Practically Pretty Seamstresses

What a Summer!

2011-08-16T08:42:00.001-07:00

If you have been wondering what has happened to the Practically Pretty seamstresses, we are alive and well-- and extremely busy! We are not only seamstresses, but gardeners, musicians, home makers, and much more!

Did I say gardeners? Does anyone know how to get rid of the Mexican bean beetle? In my garden, they happen to LOVE natural bug killers! In fact, they thrive and multiply on the stuff!

The blackberries I transplanted from Virginia, that came from my father's garden in North Carolina have decided West Virginia mountain tops are absolutely the best place to grow. For the past six weeks we have been prisoners, unable to go anywhere for more than a day or two unless we arrange for someone to pick our blackberries. Every third day for the last month we have picked two gallons from one eight foot raised garden bed! My freezer is full of gallons of blackberries, waiting for their turn to be made into jam, pies, or wine. No time to do that yet, as the beet greens and Swiss chard need picking often, too, and the tomatoes decided to ripen all at once!

As for sewing, most of my time besides being in the garden has been occupied with making a semi-fitted peasant blouse pattern for moms and their daughters. Contrary to what my supremely efficient pattern-making daughter at Sensibility.com says, pattern making is not a "cinch!" The child's pattern is done, but making multiple sizes for the moms is still "under construction." I am working on the "master" which I will then take to the printer. After that, I may admit extreme lack of "tech savvy" and send the pattern to my daughter to change into a format which you ladies can easily download.

I have included some photos of "practice" blouses I made for myself in the pattern perfecting process. Not that the pattern may be perfect, but I think it will be easy to make and simple to fit. For the adult version, you may elect to make the sleeve straight, or gathered with elastic, with a 3/4 sleeve version for winter dish washing ease. Another option is lengthening the blouse hem down to dress length and adding elastic at or above the waist. We hope you will like it.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24

New things!

2011-04-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce that Practically Pretty is now open, once again, for custom orders. We have added several pages to this website so that you can see what we are offering at this time. You can also read more about us and how Practically Pretty started. Our prayer is that you will be blessed by our endeavors. If you have any questions or feedback please contact us at: practicallyprettybydesign@gmail.com

Blessings to you and yours,
The Practically Pretty Seamstresses

Welcome Spring!

2011-04-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

With Spring comes the reminder of our Savior's great sacrifice and new life abounds. Much sewing and creating has been going on behind the scenes as the world once again turns green around us. As seasons of life change, we here at Practically Pretty hope to introduce more custom clothing options for ladies and girls in every season of life, as time allows. Updates to the website and exciting news is forth coming! We hope you are looking forward to these new styles and changes as much as we are.

Warmly,
The Practically Pretty Seamstresses

Girls Simple Gathered Shift Questions

2011-02-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

It seems like ladies are already starting to sew summer dresses for their daughters, and the snow is still falling! "Hope springs eternal in the human breast!"

Several of you have asked questions about why the front waistline ends uphill from the waist position on the Girls Simple Gathered Shift. The dresses I make do not have that problem and I wondered why. I was unsure about the answer until one of my friends showed me the dress she made for her daughter. She had her daughter put on the dress to show me how the waistline elastic goes up in the middle of the front.

Aha! My friend had distributed the gathers on the neckline EVENLY around the neckline. This caused the front waistline elastic to pull up. Why? When you look at the photo of a dress I have made, below, you will see that the waistline elastic is straight, and the neckline elastic curves down in front, as it should do for the front of a dress.

There should be less elastic at the back neck-- gathers more close together-- and more elastic at the front of the neck, with looser gathers since the front neckline is more scooped than the back. I usually put most of the front gathers at the center of the front neckline, so the gathers do not pull up the fabric too much at the shoulders. Does this make any sense? I hope so!

Another suggestion about putting in the sleeves for the smaller size dresses: Sew the shoulder seams together and do the flat felled seam. Stitch the gathering lines on the sleeves, and attach the sleeve BEFORE sewing the side seams. You will find it much easier to put the sleeves in then, instead of after stitching the side seams.

We appreciate your comments and questions. Happy sewing!

How Long Has It Been?!

2010-12-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, This year has been a year of practically living in our car as we have traveled miles and miles! When we finally get home, I do not have the energy to update the sewing blog!

So many new things are going on here! The most important event will be the debut of my new partner in Practically Pretty by Design. I hope you will remember the sisters who came to learn how to slipcover a couch in 2009. One of them, Bethany Stricker, will be my partner, beginning in January with a new line of clothing for pre-teens and teens, as well as dresses for ladies-- including maternity ones. Bethany has so many creative ideas, we know you will be pleased to see her creations.

Check out Bethany's work at diaryofaseamstress.blogspot.com Please be patient as we go through the steps to revamp the Practically Pretty by Design site! We are looking forward to many new things in the years to come!

Summer Whirl

2010-08-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

What a summer! Just when you think things are going to slow down to Gershwin's "Summertime, and the living is easy..." the "tornadoes" come! (Along with all the tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, cabbages, beets, onions and blackberries growing in the garden!)

The Virginia interns came back for ten days of whirlwind action: designing a new nursing dress pattern, making it up, testing it on a customer, and adjusting the dress so we can tweak the new pattern before writing up the directions.

In the middle of all that, we cut out two dresses and a pelisse for my September trip to Jane Austen's England with my daughter (and granddaughters), of Sensibility Patterns' fame. We made four dresses for two little sisters, as well as a dress for the interns' mother, designed and made from the mom's measurements as a surprise for her!

What a joy it is to have eager young seamstresses in our home! We are so glad to be able to encourage young ladies in their sewing and home making. We hope your household is a productively busy one, too.

Ec 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Praise the Lord for creative work He gives us! May we do all things excellently for His glory alone!

Summer Sewing

2010-06-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our 24th grandchild finally arrived April 27th! And with him came warmer weather and planting time. After starting seedlings indoors during February and March, we have finally gotten most of our plants into their own raised beds.

Now it is time to return to sewing. I received a request several years ago from a woman in Hawaii, asking if I would make her a pattern from one of her favorite dresses. I told her I would try, but did not hear from her until three years later, when a package containing a dress appeared in the mail! I tried contacting her by email for more details, but finally had to call her after figuring out what time zone Hawaii is in.

Long story short, as a result of trying to fulfill her request for a raglan sleeve pattern, I am now inspired to try again to make a woman's version of the Girls Simple Gathered Shift. Please be patient-- it will take time to make a few samples to make sure it will fit most women's sizes with minimal changes.

May you enjoy the summer heat, remembering winter's extreme cold!

Time Stands Still For No Man (Or Woman!)

2010-04-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

How did it get to be April so soon?! Our winter snow, drifting at times to 8 feet high, stayed on the ground even through March, though much of it melted some! With the warmer days of April, the grass is now green, the wind is fierce, my seedlings started indoors in February are begging to be placed outside in the sun, and I am torn between gardening and sewing!

Sewing is winning out this week, since I am making three Girls Simple Gathered Shifts for some of our granddaughters to wear at a wedding in May. I am putting several tucks in the skirts to be let out as the girls grow. I have yet to start on dresses for the older girl, and the mother!

Our bags are packed, waiting for my son's phone call saying his wife is in labor! I have a list of things to take, including the sewing machine, serger, patterns, fabric, notions, etc., in case the baby comes before I finish the dresses for the wedding!

Isn't life wonderful?! I hope your sewing projects turn out well, and that you all will have a wonderful year!

Proverbs 31:

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Winter Tasks

2009-12-19T13:12:00.000-08:00

There are 19 inches of snow outside our warm home in the Blizzard of 2009, and the snow has not yet stopped coming down!

This is a good time to catch up on computer time, as I must finish the e-book my daughter asked me to do on slip covers. Have you ever tried to reconstruct an event by looking at photos? Two apprentice sisters came for a couch slipcover lesson in April, and I am still trying to combine photos with the "flow chart" -- the step by step order by which we accomplished the job!

To add to the confusion, I also slip-covered another couch, and the photos are mixed in with the first ones! A book writer I am not! I can tell you step by step how to do a sewing job, but it is very hard for me to put it to paper. and illustrate it with the appropriate photo!

The winter appears to be a long one, so maybe I will have the book finished by spring. Hope springs eternal in the human breast!

I hope your sewing projects for the winter will give you joy and a sense of accomplishment! Have a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year!

(The photos show my husband shoveling our walkway. The right hand one shows the snow "mountain" covering our cars behind my husband. We guess we may be able to get off our mountain in two or three days!)

End of Summer Clearance

2009-08-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over! Up here on our mountain, the summer has been quite cool-- we are not sure we want even cooler weather yet. The veggie garden has kept us busy, and we have been on the road a lot, so I am ready to "settle?" down and do some fall cleaning. That means getting rid of the summer dresses in our store, and hopefully adding new ones for cooler weather.

So-- the 25% OFF dress sale is on! Check it out, and have a good end of summer!

The eClass is now available!

2009-07-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

The eClass my daughter recorded for the Simple Gathered Shift ePattern is now ready for download! You can get the class by itself (if you already own the ePattern) or purchase them together as a bundle at a discounted price. Use the buttons in the sidebar to add the one you'd like to your cart, and then checkout using the View Cart button.

To take the eClass, you simply open the PDF containing the visual presentation, then click to play the audio MP3. The narrator prompts you to go to the next slide when it's time. You can pause the class, stop and start, or even sew along while you watch! This is a great way to learn hands-on techniques without having to go anywhere or pay a professional teacher for expensive lessons. You'll learn how to assemble an ePattern (video tutorials are included), how to choose the correct size for your child, what fabrics are most appropriate for the project, how to make flat-felled seams, create casings for elastic, and more!

Here's one customer's comment on this class:

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the Simple Shift Dress tutorial. After the tutorial, I whisked my family though lunch and went straight to my sewing room. My daughter wore her new dress out for ice cream this evening! It is so flattering, modest, girlish and EASY to put together.

Your tip on flat-felled seams was brilliant! I've only ever used f.f. seams on my husband's pants. It never occurred to me to use them on dresses. I've muttered under my breath many-a-time while trying to force elastic past a seam. Never again!

Thanks for all your good work.

Rebecca W

Please note that both of these are LARGE zip files (over 15 megabytes for the eClass and 30 for the bundle), so you will need a high-speed Internet connection (no dial-up!) to download them. If you do not have DSL or cable, you can use your local library or Kinko's to download the file and burn it to CD.

Enjoy!

Need a New Dress?

2009-06-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this, it means that my husband and I were successful in acquiring new "techie" skills. We finally called my daughter Jennie to ask for help in setting up the items for sale, which she graciously gave us-- from her cell phone as she traveled back to their home to move the final load of belongings to their new home in southern Alabama! She is always upbeat (even at 10 p.m.) and thinks we can do what she tries to teach us to do! Old dogs may be able to learn new tricks, but it takes some longer to learn! Thanks, Jennie, for not giving up on us! Thanks to some of our granddaughters for modeling the clothing, in spite of the younger one's fractured arm! They love to wear "sister" dresses!

Visit my etsy store to see the ready to wear clothing in stock. Note: The elastic in the waist, neckline and sleeves can be accessed and adjusted. If the elastic stretches with age, it is easy to replace. Also, the dresses can be shortened, and those with tucks can be lengthened.

From the Mail Bag

2009-06-12T03:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks Bettie! I made my daughter a dress today and it came out beautiful!! I plan on making a few more yet. They are so easy to make!! Thanks for making the pattern available for us busy Moms.

Blessings, Rhoda

Hi There!

I ordered the shift pattern last night...? Our printer wasn't working so I actually just set the pages to 90% and traced the pattern off the computer screen!? It took a while, but it worked!? :)

I thought you and your daughter might like to see pictures of the finished product.? Do you have a gallery somewhere to post them?

Your daughter did a great job on this pattern... I think it took me about 5 hours in all....? But that's not bad considering that I have a 2 week old baby who I fed several times in those two hours, had to stop to feed the older children and then had to stop again to mop the floor when a pitcher of iced tea got spilled all over it!? All in all, I'm very happy with the pattern...? I bought this pattern because I was looking for something pretty that would be quick and easy to make with a newborn in the house.? It seems like my 4 year old outgrew all her other dresses in the 2 weeks since the baby came.? This pattern was perfect for us!

By the way, I added six inches to the length of the shift then sewed in three pleats to let down later (as you suggested).? I was just using whatever I had in my stash and I ran short of single fold bias tape, so I pulled out some dark green double fold bias tape for the waistband, opened it, pressed it flat and then proceeded as if it were single fold.? :) ? I liked your directions for the flat felled seams, but my daughter really wanted to wear her new dress today, so in the interest of time (considering that the baby would need to eat again soon!) I just serged the side seams and it worked out fine.

You can see from the photos that my daughter is as happy with her new dress as I am!? Heidi is 4 years old.

Blessings,

Alina Joy

Next on line!

2009-05-30T04:06:00.000-07:00

Dresses and petti-pants are finally ready to post to the store! Rebecca and Bethany came for a 12 day internship and learned how to sew the Girls Simple Gathered Shift and Petti-pants. Check them out soon!

The ePattern is Ready!

2009-05-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm so delighted to announce that the Girls' Simple Gathered Shift ePattern is now available for download! This pattern is sized from 2 to 10 and includes options for both short and long sleeves and is so easy to put together. To see the yardage chart, click HERE. The instructions contain photos to guide you through each step, but if you still need some hand-holding, my daughter will be teaching a live class on this pattern on May 29th (click HERE for more information). The class will also be recorded and available as a download here sometime in June.

Do note that the zip file containing the ePattern is nearly 14 megabytes, so you need a high speed Internet connection to download it. If you don't have high-speed access at home, a local library or Kinko's will let you download the file and burn it onto a CD. You'll need Adobe Reader to open the PDFs contained in the zip file. It's available as a free download at THIS LINK.

Click the "add to cart" button in the sidebar to purchase the ePattern. Payment is made through Paypal, with options for debit cards, credit cards, and eChecks through your bank. You do not have to have a Paypal account to use my shopping cart.

Have fun sewing!

Working on the "Store"

2009-03-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am working on "ready to wear" spring/summer dresses and pantaloons available in various sizes. Are there any common sizes preferable to anyone? We have had several funerals in our community over the last few weeks, and it is also garden planning time, so time to sew has been quite limited. But I keep hoping! Thanks for your interest.

Put the casing on the outside!

2009-03-10T14:51:00.001-07:00

I recently found some fabric remnants that went well together and decided to place the elastic casing for the waist on the outside. My granddaughters and their brothers loved posing for this photo.

Even crawlers can wear this dress.

These dresses are fun for work or play.

Long-sleeved Version of the Girls' Gathered Dress

2009-02-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

My daughter just made these matching dresses for her girls from the pattern she created for me. She hopes to finish up the pattern so I can offer it as an ePattern by early March. Be sure to check back!

Pictures of the New Girls' Gathered Dress!

2009-02-02T21:15:00.001-08:00

I made these dresses for my granddaughters from a pattern my daughter created just for me! I'll be offering ready-made dresses with both short and long sleeves in sizes 2 to 10. I just wanted to share a sneak peek. These are really cute over pantaloons (which I'll also be offering).

The dress on the left has a regular empire waistline; the one on the right has a high empire.

Belle gives her dress a twirl to show off the skirt!

The bodice backs are gathered, too.

This little cowgirl got a fit of the giggles when we took pictures!

Side view, showing the puffed sleeves with self-ruffle.

This pattern gives a beautiful Regency/Jane Austen era look but in an easy-wear format. Elastic casings in the neckline, waistline, and sleeves make this garment one even a toddler can pull on (no buttons or zippers!). Eventually, I'll be offering this as an ePattern you can purchase for instant download if you'd like to make your own dresses. Stay tuned!

All photographs by Deep South Images.
Thank you, Lindsay!

New dress design coming soon!

2009-01-28T21:22:00.000-08:00

I've been visiting my oldest daughter and her family this week, and she designed a new pattern for me to use to create adorable, easy-to-wear girls' dresses. I'll be making a bunch to sell, but I'll also be offering an exclusive ePattern and sewing kits for those who'd like to make their own, so stay tuned! I'll post pictures of the model dresses soon!

A pattern I use to make girls' dresses...

2009-01-26T17:38:00.000-08:00

This is a pattern my daughter designed for her Sense & Sensibility Patterns line. It has an adorable Kate Greenaway/Jane Austen look and is great for everyday playwear as well as church or dress-up.

Jennie now offers ePatterns, which are available as instant downloads after purchase. No shipping costs; no wait for patterns! You get a printable PDF that you can print at home. I'll be using this pattern and her pantaloons pattern to create darling accessories for little girls. Lots of fun!

Welcome to my new website!

2009-01-26T16:23:00.000-08:00

I took a break from sewing this winter, and now I'm looking forward to starting up again with a new line of ready-mades and sewing kits! I'll be offering cute drawstring dresses for girls, aprons for moms and daughters both, maternity/nursing dresses, and more. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks.

I've so enjoyed creating custom garments for ladies all around the world, but as I've devoted more time to gardening and visiting grandchildren, I've decided it's time to cut back on the custom work and create a line of wearer-friendly garments with a forgiving fit (many will go pre-to-post-maternity with ease!). I look forward to sharing these new designs here on my site and in my new Etsy store as I create them.

Thanks for your continued interest in my work. It's always a pleasure to create beautiful, feminine, yet entirely practical dresses and accessories for daily wear!

About Us

2009-01-26T14:48:00.003-08:00

Bettie's husband, Ovid, a semi-retired Baptist minister, writes theological books and edits The Biblical Examiner, and acts as Bettie's personal computer "expert (?)" and web designer. Bro. Ovid and Sister Bettie also have a Christian Courtship ministry. Knowing how difficult it is to find modest clothing, Bettie desires to serve busy mothers by sewing modest dresses
that are both practical and pretty for their daughters. We do not make fancy, complex dresses, as our goal is to make affordable everyday modest clothing.

Mission Statement
Our goal is to glorify God in our work, and minister to the needs of families for modest apparel for their daughters.

Check our other websites: biblicalexaminer.org & christiancourtship.us & ww2color.com