Friday 31 October 2014

oh yes - I made a yoked blouse... AND BOUGHT AN OVERLOCKER

At the beginning of October, I recieved an email asking if I wanted to be part of a pattern test for https://seamstresserin.com/.
Of course I said yes because its not like I have a million and one other things on my to-do list or anything!
The pattern was still in basic format, so I took on the challenge.

I found it pretty simple to sew up even with limited instructions. There were no photos, but Erin forwarded some lovely little sketches to give us an idea of what we were aiming for. I went for flutter sleeve as I had some chiffony fabric I bought recently (I can't remember where)


I also thought I'd use THIS:


Yes, Lidl came good. £129 of singer goodness. I bl**dy love this thing. So happy I went for it this year. (I held back last year) I was in that shop at 8.28am on the morning it went on sale. Good job too as they only had one in stock. I also bought most of their overlocker thread whilst I was there, as it was £4 for 4 which is cheaper than I can get on ebay.

Blouse construction went well. I had absolutely no issues to report back. The flutter sleeves were the right choice although I did have a bit of wonky sewing at the shoulder which was entirely my fault for being slapdash.

I did grade this up one size to make it fit - its based on upper bust and I did not want it to be tight. It was really easy to size it up as I just used the gradings for the previous size for measurements. 


I did make a big old bow brooch to try and cover the wonky stitches!



Here it is on. Doesn't look so bad in the selfie, but it absolutely does not look good on my size 18-20 frame. I also tried to belt it, but that made me look matronly. Which is a shame. Because I think its very cute.



Friday 17 October 2014

In which I actually get a bag finished! Its another Queen Bee. And this time it fits the frame!

I don't know what I did last time, but at some point I really messed up my attempt at the U-Handbag Queen bee, and had to patch over the bits that just didn't fit in the frame (see evidence at the bottom of the page. I also completely forgot to add binding. I still liked it, because I love that Viva Frida fabric, but I wasn't happy. )

This time, I got it right. I don't really know what I did differently as I followed the instructions like last time. I must have messed up on seam allowances or something last time.

This is my 'Shopping for Shoes' bag. I've had this fabric in my stash a while - I bought it at an actual fabric shop which is rare - Fabritastic had an opening night event and this Shoe fabric is one of the yards I bought.


I wanted to embellish one of the 'frames' so I added on a few sequins and beads and some bronze roses to the peeptoe shoes. Its quite hard to see the details in my shots, but believe me they are there!


I also felt I should add a little 'fancy' hence the bow and brooch. This is on a clip so can be removed. 


Lots of shoes on the rear. I used gold satin bias binding to use for piping. It was a b&*tard to sew. I made the right choice adding it, but boy I wish I'd found some ready made flanged piping. 


The inner fabric I bought on sale online. Somewhere. I don't remember. Its bleeding hearts but I think It complements the colours of the shoe fabric very well. I will use this combination again.


Leetle purse feet. 


And below: the bag that failed to fit the frame. Artfully concealed with bits of lace LOL!

Friday 10 October 2014

In which I appear in Simply Be!


I'm not sure how much more I can milk from the same set of shots LOL, but I'm sharing cos I'm so thrilled that I'm in a mainstream catalogue. Voodoo Vixen is now available through Simply be. Linky here

Monday 6 October 2014

Washi Dress Completed! Dress Fitting at Voodoo Vixen. Irregular Choice earrings.

I finished the Washi Dress! Only several years after the rest of the sewing population have made it. I got there!
I bought the downloadable version. In hindsight this was a mistake. The only shop that sells it near me is backstitch, which really isn't that close by (and free time is scarce) , so, even knowing how much I hate putting together download pattern sheets, I went ahead anyway.



That was a mistake. I should have just gone and bought it. It uses a lot of ink (and ink is outrageously expensive) As usual, I detested the process of having to tape it all together, which was magnified by the fact I had to grade it up a size. 

Anyway, cut to the chase. Having constructed a pattern, I just went ahead and cut it out (also I bit I hate, but it was relatively quick) I used this pretty fabric I bought ages ago from Grace and Favour. 
This is the first time I've done shirring, and I didn't find it too taxing, although some of it is woefully wonky. I went with just a standard round neck and cap sleeves. Not sure about the sleeves - they are kind of wierd. I think I'd prefer a slight puff sleeve set in a little closer to the neckline. However, they are fine. I was very good and used binding as it suggests in the pattern. 




The blue band was an afterthought. If I'd thought of it beforehand, it would have been piped. I couldn't face unpicking the waistband though so I just folded the binding plonked it on the front.
I just felt that the dress was a bit Meh without a belt, but a belt doesnt really work with an empire line.

I was shockingly lax with this I have to say. I made no muslin, did no fittings - just bombed ahead with it, and I was very very lucky that it fits. The blue stripe sort of 'lifts' it.


See what you think anyway. I really love the pattern, and I will make it again. Its really comfy and can be dressed up or down. Love the pockets. Love that its a quick sew.


In other news, I popped back to Voodoo Vixen on Friday to be fitted for their latest plus size dress range. Some gorgeous frocks which will now be returned to China for a few modifications. How cute is this tartan number?!


Did a bit of mooching around London afterwards. Stumbled upon Choccywoccydoodah. How astonishing are their cakes?

 



Also popped into Liberty. Its halloween soon, and they have the 'loveliest' range of stuff available. I think this is lemon curd - however it is not labelled so...


Also ended up in Irregular Choice. I love their shoes, but I can't wear them as the ones I like are too high and I have a dodgy toe. I did buy some earrings though. Melons, Pandas on a tyre swing, and deers.



In other exciting news - this morning I bought an overlocker!
I knew they were coming into Lidl today, and my mum has given me money towards it bless her heart, so I went in before work. There was just the one solitary box calling to me. It is now mine :) 








Wednesday 1 October 2014

In which I'm in Vintage Life!

That's it really. Voodoo Vixen messaged me earlier this week to let me know I was in the October edition. Page 55. Me!!!
If someone had told me I'd be modelling a dress on the fashion pages of a magazine a year ago, I'd have said more chance of pigs flying.
I'm not seeing any airborne pigs yet, but there's time ;)