The Dress That Started it All...

While looking on some old photo hosting sites I used to be on, I came across this! The dress that sparked my interest in sewing! Its a Suzie Creamcheese dress from the 70's.

Ironically looking at it now most of the colours are reminiscent of those that inspire me!

This is everything that was good and theatrically dramatic about the 70's. I love it so much!

Maybe one day I'll make a replica... Anyway in other news,

I started to assemble my bombshell dress pattern for Gertie's thing. I'm not sure how large the sizing was so I measured the widest part of my hips and checked the measurements on the pattern. To be safe I'm adding half an inch to each sized seam as I can always take in what I don't need but it would be gutting to put in all the work on something that was too small!

Here we have my silk dress, my green beignet with the same silk as lining, I did finish off the lining today but don't want to change thread until i've finished the dress. Not to mention I have no interfacing for the shell of the skirt. So that is my mission tomorrow.

This combination made me smile, knowing how awesome my Liberty Beignet will be eventually...

I also have this mustard jersey which has been cut ready to sew up version B of this Mccalls top plus a Mccalls cardigan in a matching twinset style. I intend to make a few of these so I can mix and match them in the colder months.

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!

Not one finished but two!...

Yay I got around to hemming the Sunny, Funny Girl top! I also sucked it up and got around to putting the loops and buttons on my Viola top (Not to be confused with my Violet top which is still on the UFO pile.)
I'm wearing SFG Today! For MMJ Day 15

Still so far so good with MMJ, I'm still wearing different things each day but I'm starting to feel sorry for my skirts! I don't wear them enough as they are a bit wintery. I think if I do Self Stitch September then I would get more wear from them. I'm in need of comfy cotton skirts to go with leggings I think!

Here is yesterday when I wore my Mona Skirt

Day 14. Yesterday I did lots of sorting out and cleaning the kitchen. Which didn't require a very exiting outfit. Not to mention watching Monarch of the Glen repeats and sewing on some little pearl buttons to Viola.

Here she is. I have to admit I haven't got the loop thing down yet. I'm going to wear it tomorrow with a white vest underneath as the upper bust pulls when the top button is done up.

I prefer it worn open anyway It isn't an uncommon problem for me with RTW tops.

It looks like there is some excess fabric that could be put into the side seam. At the moment when I move it gives me the droopy boob effect. This was only a wearable muslin though and I will wear it! I have the duck egg blue version in the process so I can be aware of it.

Don't forget to sign yourself up to the Flickr group for the Lisette Sewalong and show us your fabrics!

Hope your having a great day!

Sewalong Flickr Group is UP!!!

Hello!!!! I have finally set up the Flickr pool group for the Lisette Sewalong. I would love it if we shared our fabric before we start. Partly becuase i'm nosey and partly because Its nice to see it before the finished product. Makes it all the more exiting I think!

Lisette Sewalong Flickr Group

I thought I'd show you a few that i've already seen made up in lots of different ways.

*Ladies, I've tried to credit everyone, if this is your photo and you don't want it up here please send me a message and I will take it down.

This is Lisettes fab version! I love the idea of a full single print!

Mary's version is very simple Chanel styled.

Farah even added a little peter pan collar to hers!

I hope thats whetted your appetite! I can't wait to see everyones fabric!!!

MMJ Days 6, 7 and 8...

This week is busy busy. I am almost finished my essay and am going onto my exhibition review tomorrow so by the weekend I should be free!!!
Kind of. We have house viewing for the rest of the week and then its down to packing!
We are moving EVEN EARLIER than we thought now so the pressure is on!

I'm pretty much on track for me made june though which is good. I have not yet missed one day and i'm quite proud of myself. I'm gradually getting to the end of what I have made now though so its starting to be a case of re-inventing and re-working what I have in new exiting ways.
Here's days 6, 7 and 8

Day 6 was a self drafted jersey polka dot pencil skirt. This needs taking in, taking up and the waistband could do with being faced. Having said that it is soooo comfy. I've had a rough couple of days so I had a couple of trips to the doctors this week. This was a doctors and library day.

Day 7 is my favorite so far. I'm not a shorts girl but in the heat last week I went and bought some RTW shorts. I have to wear them with leggings to feel comfy but this outfit came together a treat. The top is Ada. Piemaker said I looked like a 1930s explorer. I thought of Nicole Kidman in Australia,

but I think he probably meant something like this...

Day 8 was only a quick photo so apologies for the crazy hair. I wore my Lyra dress. We had house viewing and frantic essay writing in store today.

I'm still not overly keen on this dress but it is comfy with leggings and a cardi!

Hope your enjoying MMJ!

Life Can Get In The Way...

This is going to be one of those months I fear...

We are moving out of our house by the 11th of July a few days earlier than we had anticipated so we are in a mad rush trying to pack and clean our house from top to bottom, as well as find another place to live.

Not to mention I have an essay and exhibition review due in by Friday Argh!!!!

This week might be a bit quiet on the blogging front. I'm going to be posting my Me Made Junes on the Flikr as well as on here in 3 day stints hopefully.

Here is Day 5 for now though!

This is my Etta Cardigan with a Skirt from White Stuff, the top is from Kaliko and the shoes are Moshulu. (This was taken in a rush to get to lunch with Piemaker's family.)

Don't forget the sewalong for the Market Blouse is starting on the 20th! It should only last a week as it is a super quick top to sew up.

I will set up the Flikr group and stuff next week, So we can see how everyones prep is getting on! It would be great to see everyones fabrics before they are made up too dontcha think?

Onwards!

Today has been a day of meh-ness. I got all exited that I had fully lined my beignet with no problems. But alas! Twas not true, I've either lost a piece in translation or I have sewn it to another piece and it is therefore trapped in the lining. Doh.

Look there is even a Butt pocket! In the wrong damned seam.

Anyway that was thrown on the floor in a fit of rage...

Heres my MMJ Day 2 outfit. This is my market blouse that I will be doing the Sewalong for on the 20th of June! (Me and Piemaker have been working on the button and stuff for this!) This is paired with cheap RTW sailor trousers from Dorothy Perkins or something that I cut into shorts. Bit boring but I've only been sewing today and it required comfort!

So Once I had calmed down and ignored my Beignet I grabbed my Kona cotton (in Curry colour, plain yellow) Then stopped myself. Not wanting to waste a good quality plain fabric when I was mad. But I needed to make something new and craved something happy and yellow.
I grabbed my Amy Butler fabric I bought at Sewing For Pleasure Aeons ago and grabbed McCalls6011 (My Pearl dress was made from this) and chopped it into a top.

I literally LOVE the result. I was worried about wasting the fabric but I'm pleased I cut it! I just need to make some facings and finish off the seams. (To add to my distress my overlocker ran out of white thread!) Here's a sneaky peek. Pie maker is out galavanting so yet again I am forced to take my own damned photos.

Literally LOVE this fabric...

At Dawn We Dress Handmade...

Indeed I did.
Today I wore my red white and blue mark 1, (A Lisette pattern), and my Etta cardigan for little errands in The Laines, post office etc.

This definitely needed an FBA and the waist is a little tight for my liking.

I did my photos on photobooth as I was waiting for Piemaker to be my resident photographer. He's not yet in from work and its date night so were going straight out for dinner and then to see Pirates of the Caribbean 4! ( I think its the 4th right?)

Well anyways. I did errands today and spent the rest of the day sewing.
I got the collar and button placket onto my shirtdress and did a few odd sewing jobs, cutting some interfacing for my duck egg peplum shirt I had to use my pattern weights! I also started putting together my Beignet!

You didn't think I could walk past two fabric shops and not buy anything did you? I got some buttons for my duck egg blouse. Some Mustard Kona cotton (I really like the weight of this I was thinking it was going to be too thin!) some unknown floral fabric, like a very lightweight cotton linen texture and some Michael Miller Peony fabric. It was an expensive treat but I had some birthday money. (9.99 pm) I had also seen it online but it was too breathtaking in person to leave. One of these florals will be a Lisette tunic dress I think!

Hows your first day of Me Made June?

Progress... I Suppose

Hello all!
I have been sewing pretty much all day today woohoo!
However things have not all been running smoothly.
My Violet shirt eluded me with the collar facing situation. I've tried it 10 million ways and can't get it right so I lost patience. I then finished off what I will call my Ada Shirt. But it doesn't suit me! The thin fabric doesn't lend itself to the pattern and wont sit right whatever I do. The facing also won't stay down as its not faced. Even though its edge stitched.

(Apologies for the Mother Mary pose, I was trying to stop the fabric looking wrinkled.)

I cut my Jersey for my autumnal palette top and i'll be honest there was literally No room to swing a small feline once i'd stuck the pieces down. I serged it all together and it looks ok. But I'm not 100% happy with it. it is miles too big and the neckline was much more scooped than I had imagined.

The only thing that did go ok today was my duck egg blue shirt. But I have made it before. I'm really liking the colour but for the second time I cut the long sleeve. It just doesn't suit me I need to stop doing it and just cut the damn cap sleeve. Much more modern.

Still at least I'm sewing and making some progress for Me Made June. Heres hoping I have something I can wear on the weekend.

Progress List...

Morning all. I am blogging early so I can drag my sorry self to the library. Something tells me I won't be getting much sewing done this week which is making me a bit tense.

So I figured a progress report will help so I know where I am with each project.

First up is my duck egg cotton. This has been cut for Simplicity 2601 in the end. I have some duck egg swiss dot I got at Goldhawk Rd. I could use for the Violet if I wanted a blue one.

This hasn't got past the cutting stage. But as I've made this before it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to construct.

My Violet shirt is started. I'm getting on really well with it. I'm into the collar stage so it shouldn't take much to finish.

I didn't really talk much about this one. Partly because its fast becoming a UFO. The fabric is beautiful and expensive but I rushed it for the Sew Weekly meetup and the sleeves are appalling. It needs the sleeves taken off and a few bits straightening out, the collar put on and the belt made. I have to get this done as it is a lovely cardigan that I would get a lot of wear out of!

My original plan for this fabric was a different pattern, but since i bought the minty green colourway I reserved it for that pattern instead and went for this in pink with a white collar. This is virtually finished but someone started to sew the collar the wrong way round (DOH)

I did all the finishings first though so no more fiddly bits left on this one.

My Jeans are cut and marked but I had a bit of a freakout about how complex they looked. I have had a look at Peter's Jeans Sewalong posts and a few other bits and bobs but I think I have to be 100% focused to be able to get around to these.

My Lisette Traveller is cut and ready. I'm doing the tunic version with the small collar but making it longer so that I can wear it with leggings.

I know I was trying to resist cutting the Beignet but I couldn't I did it yesterday whilst waiting for an email from my tutor. I just need the interfacing piece cut and this is ready to sew. I was surprised at how difficult the needlecord was to cut. I ironed beforehand but it just kept wrinkling, hopefully this won't affect the pieces too much.

I've prewashed my fabric ready for the Market Sewalong. Just a plain dark purple. I have some cute buttons lined up for the placket too! I personally will be doing Version E but if you want to do a different version be my guest! I might squeeze in the tunic version but I am already pretty swamped!

This is the Jersey for the simple 6874. This is pre washed and drying before its cut out but I think this could be done in an afternoon no problem.

It doesn't look like that much on my rail. Gosh. Here's hoping I get some free time soon!