American Designers Challenge... "Dot"

For last weeks Sew Weekly challenge. They chose American Designers. I was kinda short on time but wanted to join in. This is where one of my Built By Wendy patterns came in. As Wendy Mullens was my inspiration. This is Built by Wendy 3692 from Simplicity. I wasn't enamoured by it on the pattern envelope as I said before but here it is finally finished and I love it! I lowered the neckline just a tad but it could do with taking in a bit more (As per usual I cut too big for my actual body size.) Its only a remnant from Ditto and less than 30cms of white jersey for the yoke.

I'm pleased to say it fits in with the whole capsule wardrobe thing I've decided to go for and looks good with my Small Victory Beignet.

This week has been a week of prep for sewing more than actual sewing. I have pre-washed loads of fabric and spent most of today cutting up the patterns I want to use in the next few weeks.

Heres a better look at some of the Jerseys,

The Best Laid Plans...

One of my favorite bits of sewing is planning what I'm going to make. Whilst unpacking I decided to pull out a few patterns I was thinking about using for now/Autumn/Winter sewing.

What a mistaka to maka! 25 patterns came out, not including the free burda ones, or the ones I've had ordered, Sewaholic and otherwise.

I did exactly the same thing I always do. Dresses are not something I wear often unless I can stick tights or leggings underneath. 11 of the patterns were dresses! 6 were tops, 5 were Jackets and 1 was for PJs and 2 for shorts.

After looking in horror at these patterns and realising there was only 5 or so that had ever been used I decided on a scary solution.
I already have a partial fabric ban. I can buy one piece for every 3 I use. How about a RTW clothing ban like Jane? I'm not sure I could manage but I could certainly try until Christmas.
Has anyone else tried doing this?

I seem to make clothes at an alarmingly quick rate at the moment so perhaps this wouldn't be so bad.

Talking of which here is my Sew Weekly challenge in progress. I'm really pleased with it so far! This week is American Designers and I went for Wendy Mullins, who owns Built By Wendy. This is one of her patterns she did for Simplicity, I've taken to feverishly collecting them!

I wasn't convinced this would look good with my bust and all the ones i've seen bar one were not my kind of thing. I am not sure if I should add the sleeves or not. It needs taking in a little but it is looking pretty good. Its just a white cotton jersey and a white and blue polka dot cotton jersey. I think I could get a lot of wear out of this!

More Sewing moodboards to come. I'm still hoping to get my Beignet skirt and Violet top finished this week as I've sorted out the Buttpocket. I'm trying to intermix new and UFO so that I don't get too bored!

My Belated Birthday Weekend!

I have had the best weekend. Since my family couldn't get together for my actual birthday we planned to come to Bristol this weekend. It has been a fun filled few days full of Thai food, cocktails, dressing up to the nines, roast dinners, presents and most importantly my whole family!
I have had plenty of surprises!

Hendricks Gin! Infused with Cucumber...

My auntie bought me the most beautiful Osprey Audrey handbag I had been looking at for ages! Total surprise! As well as my camper van cake! (my parents call me Steph)

Then came the sewing stuff!!!! Beautiful pattern weights from Etsy.

A tailors ham and roll, from the Cupcake Goddess.

Finally A Lady Valet Mannequin.

She is so beautiful and in the correct size!

She needs a name though so any suggestions I would love it!

The Second Post... Finally!

It took me ages to realise I was going to blog about the Sew Weekly Pattern swap goodies I acquired. I completely forgot. So here goes. I'll start off with the fabrics.

I won this from the very kind Judy who sent a package from America,

This is a super cute vintage sheet. Onto the women's patterns...

A lot of these are going to involve grading and some are amazingly 80's. However the shapes look good like this yummy shirt with gathers at the shoulders.

Another Similar shirt. This one has a bit of a Lady Di Vibe with the model in the cream.

This is a 90's one, but the skirt in the middle in green gingham is cute! Plus anything that takes an hour is all good in my book!

The top really appealed to me on this one, not sure why but hey I need some stretch knit patterns! Onto the 70's

I am not sure what to do with this one at the moment. The middle dress looks quite appealing.

Two sixties ones. I love the funnel neck one! I have some paisley material for this but I'm not sure I have enough.

Then I picked one modern one. Lots of separates. This is what I'm using my Brown and Orange print jersey for.

Then I picked out a couple of Mens patterns. Not sure if I will make them anytime soon but there could be some comical Christmas presents lurking in these cheesy looking outfits!

I'm really happy that these are added to my collection. I am also pleased i'm using one so quickly. I have to say it is tempting to make that jersey top right now as a quick gratification before all the things on the list! I have pretty much finished my exam prep today Hoorah! But I have a house inspection Friday so cleaning my room is next before the sewing. Boo!

I might use it as an excuse to do my least favorite of sewing tasks. Ironing!

Independent Pattern Wishlist...

I seem to spend forever looking at patterns and fabric dreaming up all the combinations and things I could make but one of the things i'm always oogling is patterns from independant retailers not the big names. Here is a few on my wishlist.

Sewholic's Pendrell has been on my list forever. I'm waiting for my presents from my mum and dad as I put this on my birthday list. If I don't get it I am buying it straight away!

Amy Butlers Liverpool tunic. It just looks so comfy and the fabric its made up with is so imaginative!
The same goes for this Anna Marie Horner skirt. I love the almost peekaboo inverted pleats. Even in plain fabrics I think this would be stunning.
Sew Liberated call this the Picnic dress. How cute is that? I love the big bow and its a great wrap dress. I've been looking for something that would be nice in a lightweight denim and I think this could be it.
Jamie Christina's Honey Dress is lovely but i'm not sure how I would cope without straps.
I think that this Betsy Kingston tunic is another one that would look lovely with some leggings and flats.

Perhaps even tucked into a Sewholic Crecent skirt. I wasn't sure this would be flattering on me to start with but for summer it might be worth a go.

What independent patterns do you love?

Me Made June 11

'I, Stevie of Beebeesvintagedress.blogspot.com,

sign up as a participant of Me-Made-June '11.
I endeavour to wear one handmade item each day for the duration of June 2011'

Phew. I had better get cracking then! Otherwise June could be a very boring month!

I have finished (bar the zip, hem and armholes) My red white and blue dress. A few sneaky pictures later but i'm keeping it mainly under wraps until the London Blogger Meet.

After my little moodboards I immediately panicked when I made this pledge. 30 days!? How the hell am I going to do that!?

Out of everything I have made and everything I have planned to make so far I've worked out that it gives me... 7 dresses 4 skirts 3 tops 1 cardigan and 1 pair of trousers. When I wrote that, it seems quite a lot but I am a fussy one when it comes to my clothes, I have to be honest I'm more of a jeans and cardi girl. (Unless its winter and I can have wooly tights) I feel somewhat exposed in a dress even though I love them!

I am thinking the antidote could be knit tops and quick make ones at that! That way I can pair it with jeans most days without pushing my comfort zone too much this time around.

Heres all the top pattern contenders I own. I'm also thinking a fre cardi's like this New Look pattern,

Hopefully most of these can be made in multi versions like this one which would diversify my wardrobe and quickly! So I could bulk cut and make in batches.


I've never done a cowl neck but it was one of the pieces i'd really like to own, they are comfy and effortlessly stylish?

What are you planning for Me Made June?

Contemplation: Re-evaluating the sewing queue...

I have been thinking... (whats new?) About where I am in my list of garments.

I have also been trying to find a way to collate all my images and stuff and have been trying out ways of creating a theme that fits with the rest of the blog. So here is a few of the garments I've made recently including the Macaron, Lyra, Pearl and Elie dresses, my Mona skirt and Market top!

I thought it would be nice to put together the line drawings of my most recent plan! I have finished 3 of the five.

Here is the group of patterns I intend to make in the next few weeks. But of course most of them are multi view so you lot can't see exactly which garments I want. So I decided to put some together with the fabric and any inspiration I have so here goes...

This is the Lisette dress that I intend to make for the blogger meetup after my disaster with the patterned fabric. I'm making version A with the floral red as the bodice and the royal blue as the skirt.

Next I have Simplicity 2936 Which I have already cut in a lavender poplin as a wearable muslin but it is in preparation for this yummy cotton and silk mix that I bought on the Brighton meetup. All I could say when I bought it was, "I can see full/bell sleeves, I don't know why..." Turns out I had this in my head!

One of my goals I've decided on for pushing myself is making myself a pair of straight legged jeans that fit! Tall order as most ready to wear jeans don't fit! I'm trying McCalls 5142 because they sit above the waist. I'm using this pink ish twill but this is definitely a wearable muslin!

I'm trying so hard to stay on the seperates wagon here. So I also got some purple needlecord in Brighton and thought of the Colette Beignet skirt... The problem? I haven't got the pattern yet because of my aversion to buttonholes! But in the words of Zoe "You just got to get over it" She is right. Once I've practised I'm sure I'll wonder why the hell I worried.

Finally this is one of my little treat dresses! I have loved this hot pink dress and of course everything from the costume dept of Pushing Daisies, and I saw this Lisette Traveller dress in my stash and thought it would really suit the style and colour. I haven't yet got the fabric but this is one I will be on the lookout for in the next blogger meetup in london.

So what do we think? Are the mood boards helping you visualise like me?

I still have my Art Deco skirt to do as well as my Lavender Simplicity 2936, I also have to put the loops and buttons onto Simplicity 2601, (Viola Shirt) But then who doesn't have UFO's?