Fabric Thoughts...

I know all of us have a stash... Some more than others of us! (love looking at cupboards full with stupendous fabric on peoples blogs!) I'm currently working on a sewing plan trying to use up my stash before I buy new. (Granted I fell of the wagon with some very cheap Vintage patterns. But i'll defend myself for that later.)

I pitifully whined to my boyfriend the other day when he questioned my buying new fabric when I already had plenty. I muttered that he didn't understand that you have to have adequate fabric for the pattern in hand. He smiled at my pathetic attempt to defend myself when I knew he was right...

I do have 14 pieces of totally useable fabric, but when your mind wanders (as well as your fingers on a laptop keyboard.) Your shown all the things you COULD own and it is very difficult to abstain. I have recently started a fabric inspiration gallery on my computer and it is rapidly running out of control just like my garment inspiration. Theres just too much!

Fabric can be inexpensive but I never like those bits... Oooo Ponteroma knit...

I'm a sucker for cute prints especially (unless you hadn't guessed hehe) I just have to look and dream. Especially super expensive quilting cottons. I always see kooky little shirt dresses with big wide belts. But £13 a metre!?! I suppose I need to just take a deep breath at this point. If you were buying a shirtdress in this kind of print your looking at £90 aren't you? (If they are from Get Cutie! ) I just am in student mode. I have to stashbust but I just can't help looking! I have a problem!

How can you not fall in love with that!?

I have however promised myself this silk to make a shirt...(maybe dress...) After I have completed my two essays.

How do you abstain/give in to your fabric urges?

Kirstie's Homemade Home

I have a lovely boyfriend who bought me Kirstie's homemade home book! Its full of beautiful images of her in amazing outfits! Doing all the crafty things she did in the series. (the photos are a bit shiny as I did them on my phone.)

Love this jacket! Mustard and purple together always look so sophisticated!
I love her cheeky fun attitude. I'm thinking about dyeing my hair dark like hers. She's good at wearing prints and relaxed simple styles!
I totally want this cushion too!

Hobbs How I adore Thee!

I have a tendency to sit on my computer browsing for patterns, fabric and dresses far too often, and I am never far away from the Hobbs website. Wildly pricey but sooo sooo beautiful! I am tempted to get a job there but I would never come out with my wages.

If you've never come across them before. Prepare to drool...

Their cut and fabrics are just impeccable they seem to fit perfect almost every time. But you do pay for it. My favourite thing from the new season is this Camouflage Dress. £130
Next is the military dress. HOW FRICKIN SWEET IS THIS?!
and the cute little Camo Blouse...
Hobbs. Please give me a job at head office with lots and lots of free clothes. I would really appreciate it, Thanks Love Stevie x

Macaron... DONE

Well sort of. Its finished all but the hem and the neckline (no facing you see...) but Its about two sizes too big! I gave myself a deadline of yesterday because I need to start these couple of essays so for now Its staying hung on my rail.

I'm pleased with the results though! it came together lovely and quick and weirdly the teal organza fabric was much nicer to sew than the tweed which I wasn't expecting.

The difference in size is clear under the arms, First picture is not pinching it in to fit the second is.

I love the cut of this dress its really simple but lovely. The in seam pockets were a new one for me but I literally adore them!

I love a dress with pockets its my favourite thing!

Like I said I was worried about there being too much texture but I like it a lot more now its finished and on.

I don't have any dark thread for my overlocker at the moment so it is starting to fray. But I think it could look nice to cover the seams with a dark purple bias binding that match my cute little purple pockets! Other than it being two sizes too big, (my fault obviously) I have to give props to Colette patterns, Its the easiest pattern I've ever used and with one of the best final products. I've already been planning more Macaron dresses as the combinations are endless and they are so quick to whip up!

What do we think about this colour combo?

Hope you like the dress as much as I do! Its one down from my 10 garment goal this year. Somehow I think I might smash that...

Macaron Progress

I'm sooo Almost there. If I hadn't gone out last night it would be done but I just have the Sleeves, zip and hem left! I've had my wobble about if I like the fabric combo thinking it looked too textural and busy but after sleeping on it (the idea not the dress.) I think It looks pretty good this morning. Please excuse me holding it together at the side. I have a feeling I may have to take a few bits in. I had to take a bit off the shoulders but thats it so far.

Heres a closeup of the top. Excuse my top underneath. I haven't snipped into the neckline yet either.

Quick parting shot and back to it!

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