Girl Crush... Kirstie Allsopp

I know I've already devoted at least 2 posts to her but I can't help it! (Here and Here)

I pretty much idolise Kirstie Allsopp!

I'm so glad her new series is on at the moment and I get to ooooh at the lovely dresses she wears. Her style is so feminine and relaxed! With pretty shirt dresses and wrap dresses, often with a vintage slip underneath. Perfect for any busy lady!

I think the more I contemplate my goal weight the more I want to emulate her. (She's a UK 14 bottom and 12 top. So I'm not too far off.) I don't think its sustainable for me to get down to an 8 or 10 and feel miserable at trying to maintain it. I just want to feel happy and healthy.

Kirstie also has similar opinions about family and homemaking (Crafting) as I do and I find that really refreshing!

Her manners are always spot on and she knows what she wants. She gets things done without being rude and always seems to be having a great deal of fun.

So if you were going to sew a wardrobe with her as your inspiration where would you go?

Heres a few patterns I am going to get my mitts on for that elegant casual style!

First starting with the forever useful shirt dress

I have this McCalls and I am itching to use it! A plain shirtdress is something I imagine in definitely in Kirstie's wardrobe!

This Vogue one is also on my to do list! I haven't seen more than a couple of people make it but Its such a fabulous style!

Shifts are also so easy to make, comfy to wear and if you make them in a luxe fabric look amazing!

This pattern is one I used for my Every Cloud dress and I adore it! So fast to sew up and so effective!

Now to the quintessential Kirstie outfit. The wrap dress! I am definitely intending to make a few of these!

I adore the pleating on this and have seen some lovely versions!

With this Maggie London one, I'm not sure about the hip gathers but its such a cute dress I have to try it out. Maybe in a lined chiffon?

I have this on order! Butterick 5030 is so versatile you could make one every season and it would still find a gap to fill!

Finally this Rebecca Taylor Vogue 1189. Isn't it fabulous? I really like the relaxed look of this dress. Even with leggings this would look stylish! I also think its the most similar to that first dress of Kirstie's at the top of this post.

Lets put it this way. Kirstie Allsopp, you are one stylish lady!

Stashaholism... New Patterns and Fabric!

I really am not to be trusted to wander around shops or the interweb alone. I have bought 9 new patterns ( On a deal,) and have new fabrics too. I've been sewing a lot lately but I'm not sure I stash busted enough to validate these...

So to the patterns first. I've been thinking about how I'm graduating this year, I will do a post on it in the near future but I realised I have absolutely no "work like" attire.

Not that I'm going to turn into Mary Portas the minute I finish Uni in March, but I will need some. So here goes.... The skirt pattern Above is McCalls 6439. Then obviously shirts are invaluable. I have my pussybow blouse from Simplicity but I thought I'd add McCalls 5522. I've always wanted a shirt with bust gathers and was thrilled when I found this one!

Next up is Trousers. I have a serious lack of trousers at the moment and as were going into Autumn I really think the more pairs the better.

The patterns I bought exclusively for trousers are...

Vogue 8604, (Although I love the jacket cape thing,) Vogue 8751, and Vogue 1264. I saw Erica make a fab pair of hot pink tailored trousers from this and I couldn't resist. I seriously doubt I will EVER make the jacket.

I only bought one pattern for a dress as I really don't need too many more dresses. But this reminded me of an Erwin Olaf Image I've put up before. This would look yummy in a minky ponte knit!

Last come the Suit sets and Jackets. I've been crushing hard on little jackets recently and I couldn't not have these.

Talk about value! You get a dress, a skirt, a jacket and trousers in this 8701! Then there is Rebecca Taylors lush jacket and skirt suit!

Lastly, As I said in my wardrobe planning post. I have been needing a lovely plain blazer and came across this McCalls pattern. I think it would be perfect and is lovely and relaxed!

Thats the patterns out the way. Now for the stupidly expensive fabric trip I went on today!

This 100% cotton is almost like a super soft moleskin. Think needlecord without the lines.

I thought it would make a good comfy blazer in a neutral shade. Then there is a lovely white Georgette for a shirt. I've never owned a silky soft delicate shirt before!

Imagine that blouse with a wicked purple wool pencil skirt! Yummy no?

Finally the Piece de resistance! This fine wool elastane mix is machine washable but sooo light! (Not cheap at £10 pm but I bought enough to make a super sexy jacket and trouser set. Plus it was only £40 for a suit if you look at it that way!)

So what do you think? How do you feel about workwear?

Today has Been a Good Day...

Today I've been sewing all blissful day and its been lovely. I was feeling a little stale this morning and my plans were thrown aside as I searched for something new and fast to make to get my SewJo going again.

I came across Butterick 5211 and a beautiful silk that I won in a giveaway from Liz at Zilredloh.

There was 2.30 odd there and I didn't want to waste any! But I knew this would be a perfect pairing of a simple pattern done in exquisite fabric. Something I am rarely good at doing.

This time I feel I have pulled it off. Its not quite finished as I need to get the mental strength up to thread my overlocker.

I think it looks like something I would certainly swoon over in a store and it was about £2 to make! I was very concious of waste on this project and so have decided to do yet another Beignet.

So before I cut the precious bunting liberty, I'm going to use this silk as the lining to the apple green sateen I had planned for a different project.

I was going to use this on the Marie skirt but thats another story for another day!

Heres what I wasted in total after cutting the dress and lining.

Not bad huh? I'm feeling good about the progress and I think that I should get my green beignet cut and sewn up in a couple of days or so as I've done it once before. I just want to check the sizing as I went down two sizes as my needlecord one is pretty huge on me. But if its not right I don't want to waste my Liberty on something that is going to be too small.

I'm starting to wind down into Autumn/Fall sewing at the moment I'm finding that my choices are starting to go towards browns and greens and more autumnal colours. I am going to make myself work through my list of cardigans and tops in jersey too though as layering is always a good thing. But sadly the topsiturviness of the great British weather has put me into a state of wanting my tights and big scarves with boots again!

Now i'm off the sew the buttons on my Colette Violet shirt!

Pattern Sale Woop!

Sorry its a super late one guys I can't seem to sleep tonight but I thought I'd give you a quick update on my wine jersey Elie dress.
Jersey is a nightmare. Fab to wear but i'm really struggling with how easily it bulks and how obvious it is. Granted this was half self drafted pattern but it isn't as close to the Elie Saab dress as i'd hoped and I'm getting wavy fabric in the bust piece!
It may be one of those started and left projects I feel. Theres so many adjustments and it is a little bit short on me which is annoying.
in other news an Unmissable offer from an un named company dropped into my inbox yesterday and I couldn't resist. Buy one pattern get 2 free... 2?!
I clearly bought 12. Plus a free one...

There is a mixture of Vogue, Butterick and McCalls there and I think i saved about £60! and got things I had been swooning over since I saw them. I have to admit i'm tempted to go back again!

More photos of the troublesome Elie dress tomorrow. I took some but can't find my lead to move them over Doh!
Tell me what you think!

Post Christmas Purchases

Hello lovely peoples! Hope everyones New Year is shiny and bright!

I have been a very spoilt girl this year all round and have scored some good clothes in the sales. Now I have just purchased some sewing stuff! YAY

I bought 5 new patterns and a free machine embroidery foot i've been hankering for since I bought my new machine! I love it its like tattooing fabric! So here goes on the Pattern front, I have some resolutions to put up later in the week but these are all part of the plan promise! (That's what they all say!)

Simplicity Cynthia Rowley 2497 that I had my eye on,

B5407 Butterick, Was super cheap and a good easy dress!

McCalls M6056 I like the green Version, My boobs would look weird with the bow higher!

McCalls M6011 Super cute and versatile, (Also will save me having to copy off that burda dress for my spangly lurex fabric!) and finally, Burda 7448

I've been looking at this over and over in various sales not sure if it would suit me, but in the end I decided to just go for it as shirt dresses are comfy and perfect for shoving on and looking presentable. I'm not forgetting that I have the Macaron dress pattern I got for Christmas.

I will have to draw up a plan and have been thinking about the various combinations I could use, As always Input from you guys would be lovely! I'd love to know what your planning for this year!

Finally... The Joan Dress!

It's here finally! not quite finished, there is still overlocking to be done and tweaks on the bust, the skirt, darts and hem but hey!

(please ignore the state of this room but I was too exited to wait!)

I'm feeling Sophia Loren, mid sixties in this dress, less so Joan.

But still I am really pleased with it. But my pattern adjustments were miles too big so I think it could be worth just buying the pattern again so I can cut out the 20. It had to be taken in a lot so thats why its taken so long to post!

Its very wearable, very comfortable and I am so happy with the fabric (after overlocking)

Heres the pattern again

Lowering the neckline was a good plan definately,

heres the back!