Macaron Muslin done...

In a frankensteiny kinda way... I get way too impatient with muslins. When I started this one, I thought I'd need to cut a smaller size but after putting it together I think i'm happy for it to be slightly slouchy and comfy but still its nice to know a size down would be good too.

Its botched together very quickly as I have a 5000 word essay due in very soon. But i'd ideally like to get this project finished asap!

I only did one sleeve (but I love the little design detail) and pinned the bodice to the skirt.

I was a very good girl and I did do both pockets because it's the first time i've put a pocket into a pleat and that was the part that took me the most time.

I was amazed at how lovely and clear the instructions are! It went together like a dream! Now I intend to cut the pieces out tonight in front of a boxset of Abfab with my housemate.

Parisian Dress... Could it be salvaged?

Apologies for the DIY Photos but I have been thinking...

The Disaster Parisian dress has been languishing at the bottom of my rail for a while and I decided that I was gutted about letting it go even though it was awful.

(Its a burda 08 pattern blogged about here and here.)

The problems was that the bust was pulling too much and the sleeve felt too small.

After calming down I realised that I hadn't sorted the ease in the sleeve at all and there is plenty of room in the bust dart to loosen it up!

The skirt is a little uneven too and In a huff I cut the skirt shorter than I normally would have

(the shortness of the skirt looks ok with tights on.)

It sounds sooo bad that it wouldnt be able to be fixed however when I pulled it around my and pinched the back I realised it would fit lovely with all those adjustments but all i'm thinking is, Is it worth it?

In other news... My boyfriend took me to a fab fabric shop in Worthing and I got some Sheer Voile fabric that I'm going to use for Burda 7448

Its nice for spring so hopefully i'll add it to my sewing list for this year! x

2011 Organisation Exercise

I have a lot of stuff ok? I am a hoarder and LOVE my stuff. Patterns and fabric included, I know we are all guilty of it and some are worse than others... But this year I have decided to try to rectify this and plan my sewing better.

I know I know the best laid plans and all that! But I have spent the last few days organising my room /sewing space and already feel loads better. After a quick count I have found I have 52 sewing patterns (not all in my size) plus all the Burda Magazine freebies. So what I have done is photograph them all (Burda still in the process, Theres a lot of them!) and popped them into my Iphoto so I can see exactly what patterns I have before I go on a mad spree.

I put them on my shelf in order of Era's which is what the dividers are for. I also did the same with my oodles of fabrics. I have 24 useable peices of fabric in various sizes and I have put them into files on my computer organised by type of material, I.e. Cottons, Jerseys etc. This should make it much easier to eliminate waste and for me to use what I have! Now I just have to make a sewing plan and now...

Much easier to see straight away if I have the right fabric for the job. How does everyone else organise their stash?

Outfit Post: Ponteroma Dress

I happened to have a very lovely family and yesterday I wore one of my many presents from my Mum and Dad from Christmas. Its called the Ponteroma Dress. Its a gorgeous royal blue colour. Actually pretty much the colour I had planned for my Cynthia Rowley dress. Apologies for the rubbish Photos, one bedroom lamp doesn't make for perfect studio conditions.

The fabric belt is one of my favorite parts of this dress! It fits so nicely and is fully lined. (Granted it should have cost £100 but it was in the sale, I had been watching it for a while.)

Just swooping in to let you know I've started on the Macaron, doing the muslin so more to come.

Dress: Country Casuals (Old Lady Brand but it just means no one I know will own it!)

Cardi: Old M&S that has holes in I wear it so much (Thanks Auntie Karen!)

Necklace: No idea but I love it, goes with everything!

Sewing Plan: Macaron

Just a sneaky peak at my 1950's buttonholer and little pincushion bought for me by my dad for Christmas. Such a cute bit of Curios for my shelf!

So Onto the Macaron.

I wanted mine to look a bit grown up as I've seen lots in cutesy colours and cotton prints but not many that have been my kind of thing, I tend to look about 12 in cotton prints. I really liked this one by Elle.

so I went for a more muted colourscheme with a printed herringbone tweed and a flower detail organza.
I like the combination of the Teal and Caramel. Heres a closeup of the organza You can kind of see the depth of it and the herringbone in the main fabric. I'm hoping the organza won't be too itchy on the top as I'd like it to be sheer.

I've almost finished the muslin for this. Its SUPER easy to follow! I've cut out and made the majority in a day. I'm considering going down a size but I'm concerned about the bust area being too small, Its on the line of straining at the moment as it is, So I think I'll just tweak once its made and see how that goes... Heres a sneaky peak of the bodice. I'll post up the rest of the pics tomorrow. The light is rubbish in my room so daylight is needed! I look slightly like I'm wearing armour. I think an 18 may have been a bit over generous...

Resolutions of the sewing variety...

I've never been one to be focused, but I love lists so when it gets to a new year I tend to go easy on myself a bit and give myself a few big and a few little things to do. These are my notebooks, One, was bought in Paris by my lovely friend Rosie and my parents got me the "Shopping With Mother" for Christmas, This contains my New Year list. I'm going to use the other to note down the things I'd like to make.

Craft Wise, I am deciding I'd like to learn new skills and revisit old ones, So learning to Crochet is on my list.

I have armed myself with a crochet hook and a really super cute pattern ( not sure how easy it will be but we shall see!)

Fingers crossed (or hopefully not!)

I also can knit but I don't.

I think I'd like to further that skill, as I started selling Vintage Knitting Patterns on Etsy but no such luck in them going and to be honest I'd be sad if they did! So I'd like to knit one garment this year, like a jumper or cardi.

Now then onto the Sewing!

I have yet to draw up a plan of action but I am starting myself slow and put down that I'd like to make 10 garments this year.

I'm hoping I will do more but I'm trying not to make it too daunting as Uni has to fit in too.

Topping the list at this moment in time is the Macaron Dress,

seconded by my Lady Grey that I have been way too scared to start!

Eeekk! I'm sure it will be ok if I do a muslin and take my time. Now onto my less than favoured friend Organisation.

I have made a pledge to organise my sewing life, especially my patterns that are strewn everywhere and stuffed in a pink incredibles suitcase (not joking.) I would like to order them by era for the moment and then photograph them so I can also organise them digitally so I know what I have.

Finally on the blogging front, I'd like to post far more often than I have been and get in some lovely guest posts. So if you fancy it please leave us a comment! Also I think Outfit posts are lacking, I try but I tend to get overcome with shyness and don't want to post the photo! I promise I will try not to do that this year as I have some lovely new clothes I'd love to share with you all!

Wow that's quite enough to be getting on with I have some muslin planning to do! Have a fab day everyone x

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!