Sorry its been quiet...

I appear to have dropped off the edge of the world again this week!

Not purposely, but the final year of University has been kicking my butt. I have a case study in soon based on a piece of victorian patterned velvet.

I thought I'd let you know I've got some very exiting blog news coming up soon, I can't wait to share but I can't reveal it just yet!

I thought i'd leave you today with a few images from my case study. We have dated the Velvet around 1885-1900 and have had to come up with a profile of its history.

This Worth dress has the same flower design to our piece how exiting is that?!

New Patterns...

I took advantage of one of those buy one get two free pattern sales about three weeks ago but they only just arrived today!

Very annoying but at least they are here.

So heres what I got. Above is that amazing Kay Unger dress. I saw a similar one in a peach silk but I think this could make an amazing christmas dress is I could get around to it.

I got a couple of coat patterns, I know i'm sorted for this year but I really loved these and thought they would be good for future use.

I also bought these simple pjs as I intend to make a couple for friends for Christmas.

Then onto the dresses! The lovely Michael Kors dress I've been waiting for for a while. I have some fabric in mind for this one.

Most of these I want to make in some lovely warm jerseys. I am short of wintery jersey dresses that I can layer at the moment..

I think i underestimate the usefulness of wrap dresses and after my Kirstie Allsopp post I decided to get a few patterns that could be used to bulk up my wardrobe with versatile wrap dresses. Easy to chuck on, wrinkle free and great for travelling!

Finally I liked the 1970s feel of this Vogue shirt dress. The little details make all the difference. I made up my first Vogue pattern recently and I don't know why it took me so long to do it. There is many more Vogue patterns in my future!

THE GREAT NOVEMBER FABRIC EXCURSION - Was Epic!

On Saturday I met up with some fabulous bloggers almost all that I had met before. Steph, Santie, Claire, Dibs But also some new faces. I was pleased to meet Alana and Nikki for the first time too!

I was also thrilled for Dibs who as you can see here is waiting for her lovely little boy to come!

We hit the fabric shops straight away but most of us were pretty restrained up until after lunch.

Goldhawk Road did not disappoint as usual and we had a great time not leaving until it was dark! Of course laden with fabric!

Claire was also kind enough to give me this cute little tin and a multi coloured pencil for pattern drafting!

So what did I buy? I have to admit I could have bought a lot more! I had a plan and I pretty much stuck to it but I didn't even get everything on my list.

This cotton is for a wrap dress

This cotton is for an unidentified christmas present.

I think me, Steph and Dibs all bought this cotton sateen. Its so fabulous!

This poly was the bargain of the day. Just £1.25 per metre!

I had my eye on this linen last time I went to Goldhawk road and so I had to get it the next time around!

My favourite thing of the day however was this awesome lobster print that I'm going to turn into a shirt dress!

I had such a brilliant time and I can't wait to do a bigger outing again soon!

THE GREAT NOVEMBER FABRIC EXCURSION... Its on Saturday!

Just to remind everyone I will be standing like a lemon outside of Goldhawk Road Tube Station at 11am on Saturday waiting for all you lovely ladies to join me.

If you know you are definitely coming please email me at beebeesvintagedress@hotmail.co.uk

So I can make a list of people i'm waiting for.

We won't set off until 11.30 but if you email I'll send out a mobile number you can get me on if your stuck in traffic etc.

You can also leave your emails in the comment box if you like.

Can't wait to see you all!

Orla Dress...

My Machine is fixed! Thanks to the internet and the patient genius of Piemaker. (Partly because he was sick of me sat next to him asking silly questions about his new Xbox game,)

I managed to finish a new winter dress! I needed something comfy that I could wear with leggings and boots as the weather gets progressively worse.

I have a box full of Jersey and voila a dress was born. This particular fabric had been paired with Vogue 8685 when I bought it at Goldhawk Road. (Don't forget the Goldhawk trip on the 19th! This Saturday!)

As a Fashion/Design History Student the print really appealed to me.

The pattern is very similar to Orla Keily's logo. At £3 per M I was not going to leave this in the shop...

I wasn't expecting it to, but this dress has a kind of Egyptian vibe to it. The shiny bronze bits tend to shimmer in a kind of antique gold kinda way. I'm really happy with it!

I think its important to show you the tech drawing so you can see the shape. I chose to do View C but I shortened the sleeves to a 3/4 length, lowered the neckline about 2in and as mine is jersey, I didn't bother with the skirt split and just took the wedge out of the back.

Overall I'm really pleased with the result I got. I like that the design of the dress isn't overly obvious. Like a clever trick! It's not the most flattering top skirt piece if you have a tummy like me (Scary holding in pants helped here.) But I think if you wore a slip it would make a world of difference!

It would be beautiful in a more moderate knit like a ponte in a bold plain colour. So you can see the design clearly. I'm intending to make another in a hot pink wool. (Possibly drafting the skirt without the top skirt detail.)

I had to fiddle at the point where the corners of that top skirt piece met at the side seams. But that and taking it in were really the only issues I had.

I totally recommend making the dress! I was done in a couple of evenings.

I also thought I'd show you my Grandmother's dresser I inherited. I finally got it to our house this week and its great to have a place to display my vintage dressing table trinkets!

11.11.11 Lest We Forget...

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the

years contemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning... WE WILL

REMEMBER THEM!

This is a very important day for me as I have friends who currently

serve and all of my grandfathers and great uncles have also served throughout their

lives all around the world.

I also want to mention the fantastic work The British Legion do for soldiers both

serving and retired. Make sure you wear your poppy with pride!

A Week of My Life...

This has been pretty much an uneventful week. I'm quite unwell and have been for quite a few weeks now. My sewing machine is broken and I have to embark on quite a few tests in the near future. So I thought it would be good to do a little snapshot of my week so far...

My teaset finally got used when my Mumatron came to stay and look after me.

This has a little backstory...

My grandmother has one teacup and saucer in this print that I always loved. She bought it in the 1950's in Scarborough.

Years later I wandered around a car boot and a stall had an entire teaset of this pattern. It was complete with cake plate and milk jug but it was missing one single cup and saucer!

I bought it and its so special to me! Knowing I completed that set completely out of luck!

I have been using it to try and cheer me up this week.

Its not been working. I've been in a bit of pain and trying out various tablets, but on the positive side its giving me time to start padstitching my Lady Grey coat. Its actually much easier and more relaxing than I anticipated.

The last snapshot of my week is what arrived at my front door today. I'd bought a couple of bits from MyFabrics.com a little while ago.

This was planned for Sew Weekly's Orange week but it took to long to come. This is a Wool Mix I'd planned to make into a dress. However I think it might lend itself better to a skirt or jacket.

The second fabric was a yummy Blue Garbadine. I thought about using this for my Lady Grey muslin but I also have a couple more jacket patterns. I can't really see this as anything like a dress or skirt. Any idea's?

I Broked It...

My sewing machine! Its well and truly broked! I'm not happy as I've been sick and itching to do something as to not get bored. It needs to go to the repair shop but I hope it won't take too long.

I started cutting my hair canvas for the Lady Grey but I've cut the front and the back but I'm not sure what other pieces I'm supposed to cut. Anyone got any ideas?

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!