Monday 29 April 2013

Me Made May 2013...


Yes guys I am signing up! Unfortunately I'm not going to go better than last year. I've come down with a nasty virus thats affected my breathing so I'm less than inclined to take photos of my snotty, wheezy self every day for a month.
Since the weight loss, a lot of my me mades also no longer fit me and I've not yet caught up with enough to make it through a full month.
So here goes:

 'I, Stevie of 'Beebee's Vintage Dress' blog sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '13. I endeavour to wear one item of me-made clothing three days a week for the duration of May 2013. I will also make two new garments in this time.'

I'm more likely to stick to this as its been rare for me to make it to the end in the past, it also gives me a bit more time to deal with deadlines I have coming up on my MA. 
How are you taking the pledge this year?

Thursday 25 April 2013

I Was There!: Sewing Summit...

I'm sure you've seen this all over the blogisphere this week. But we managed to cram 40+ Sewists into a meetup! How awesome is that!
It was lovely to catch up with old friends and finally meet some new ones. I was so pleased at how many meet up newbies were there. 
 It was all organised in honor of Lizzie's trip to the UK! By the lovely Rachel, who by the way was lucky enough to meet me first on her first meetup a couple of years ago, hehe. I was also thrilled to finally meet long time online buddy Marie! We have missed each other on so many meetups so it was great to finally meet, she is really that awesome in person!
 We had such a lovely day and I was gutted when I had to leave around 5.30, I took huge amounts to the swap and I'm so glad that I did. There was just enough to go around (Joking there was LOADS!)
I got some great goodies and I'm so grateful for the items I got in the Swap. If I got something from you please let me know and I'll thank you properly,
I'll do a separate post imminently to do my swapsies justice! 
 All photos from Digpal Singh you can see more here!

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Bee Bee's Great British Sewing Bee Top...

Longest title ever maybe? But this top is pretty awesome. Its more inspired by bumblebee's than the Sewing Bee but still! I know, I know its another Renfrew but with Me Made May coming up I need lots of good basics. I scored this lovely jersey on a little solo trip to Brighton. It was in the remnants and it was exactly what I've been after. It looks very different on the website. If it didn't look so different I would have ordered it in a heartbeat. The grey stripe looks more turquoise.
Nevertheless I got it in the end and the quality is fab! Gill told me it was ex-blumarine. I didn't reverse the stripe on the bands on this one and those that follow me on Instagram saw how little fabric I had but this just meant no waste. I didn't bother with cuffs on the sleeves and they are just about perfect length on me. With the cuffs on they would have been too long. 
 I topstitched the neckline and the cuffs to give a nice neat finish. I couldn't quite match the stripes everywhere though.
So heres the stats...
Fabric: Striped Jersey remnant for Ditto £8
Notions: Thread from Stash £0
Pattern: Renfrew, used before £0
Total: £8
Wearability: 10/10! I ADORE this top. Its the perfect colours for my wardrobe, fits nicely, its nice quality. Can't get better than that!
I will be wearing it whilst watching the third episode Great British Sewing Bee. I do hope they bring it back for a longer series next year. I'm really enjoying it. (in case you hadn't seen on the sidebar, I'm on Team Patrick!)

Monday 8 April 2013

On The Seamless Pledge...


Its been almost a year and I've not spoken a lot about how I'd fared in this challenge.
On a personal level, since May last year I've not been able to find a contracted job that would allow me a Tuesday off and have been surviving on a bank work job on a "as required" basis. When starting my MA this seemed like a good idea but work can be erratic and with the house sucking up money we've struggled.
So in actuality I've not had any spare income to indulge in any retail therapy anyway. That being said, with the weightloss I'm left wearing a lot of clothing that is too large for me and I've been wearing it out of necessity. At Christmas I asked for a few items of clothing and they have pretty much sustained me through the winter.

I said that I wouldn't count shoes, tights underwear and socks and I think I should have included leggings into that group. They are a basic in my wardrobe and I seem to wear through them fast. I have purchased 3 pairs of leggings and I need to replace all three. I still haven't mastered trousers so I purchased one pair of jeans and the grey and yellow top (from my moss skirt photos) in the M&S sale (I'd been stalking it for months and its become very worn!)
So although I said no purchases I've bought 5 items but only two if you count leggings as underwear/tights which I do!

Other than the aforementioned offenders there have been no other purchases except slippers. I've also had a good go at clearing out my wardrobe but this meant tossing out a huge chunk of Me Mades that don't fit.
Overall I'm pleased with how i've done but my sewing took a huge dive last year and I desperately need to replace stuff. Co-incidentally I've noted a real change in my style this year. I think this will come across in Me Made May. The vintage style I used to covet so much has taken a back seat as its just not practical enough for day to day life. As a dress historian, I'd like to think i'll revisit these elements in various projects later on but I don't think i'll be making more dresses than separates anytime soon. Its quite nice that the end of my seamless pledge will be overlapping with the start of Me Made May so I can really test the pieces I've made and contemplate the holes that need filling.
Have you ever thought about the Seamless Pledge?

Saturday 6 April 2013

The Great British Sewing Bee


I know everyone is jumping on it but I was so excited last Tuesday about "The Great British Sewing Bee," I was running around in circles like a little puppy much to Piemaker's distain. I sat down with what can only be described as a bowl of tea and proceeded to gasp, groan and generally chunter all the way through. I genuinely like all the contestants and they all seemed to work hard throughout the challenges.
So here's what I think. I love that sewing has finally come to be seen as popular enough to put on TV, I'm also glad it wasn't full of one kind of person all ages and sexes and the choices of fabric the contestants have is pretty fantastic.
I think that the judges are fair and to be honest I have a serious crush on Patrick Grant. I can't help it!
I'm a bit sad its only a four part series but I guess they are testing the water. Although lots of people commented on the men having to make a skirt in the first challenge, I didn't think that was too much of a problem. They were testing their ability to construct a garment and follow a pattern. Its no different to having a "Bread Week" or "Macaroon Week" on the bake off. Sometimes one week is going to be a stronger one than others. I can't wait to see next weeks.
In other news Piemaker is currently ceremoniously tearing out an ancient wall heater marking the beginning of my Sewing Room Makeover! So excited! I will be tweeting lots of pics as we go along.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Completed: Grainline Archer Shirt in Silk...

Another FO for you today. It hasn't been an easy ride but here is my lovely new silk Archer!
I haven't made a full blown shirt with collar and cuffs since college, far too long ago to mention and it really tested my skills, but I'm really pleased with the result! I used a silk cotton blend from the stash. Its a lovely sage colour. Not my usual kind of colour but it was a lovely light weight.
I went for the version with the back gather as I thought it more feminine. I hated it when I tried it on without the sleeves but I've totally changed my mind. I think if it was any higher it would sit on my high hip and look more like a bustle with a bum pad underneath.
I used my measurements to calculate the size I needed but I feel I could go a size down and it would fit me in way I would prefer. I know its meant to be a loose fitting shirt but it feels a bit too loose on me. 
I didn't do my usual narrow shoulder adjustment but I will on the next one and shorten the sleeves!
The cuffs are almost past my knuckles!
I also chose to just put one pocket on. I felt like it drew too much attention to "the girls" with two big patch pockets.

This was always going to be a wearable muslin but I really didn't think it would be this wearable! Its perfect for taking on my holiday to Florence. I started this before the sewalong but I am going to make another one following and pick up some more construction tips.
So here are the stats
Fabric: Silk cotton mix from Ditto. In Stash £0.00
Notions: Thread from Stash £0.00
Pattern: PDF £8 approx
Total: £8
Wearability: The jury is out on this one, I'm going to give it a 6/10 I like it but the style is something I'm not used to and its also way to cold to wear it without a jumper in the UK.