Her children rise up: Dress 20!

Well, how are we all? It's been a while....so sorry!!

I've been a bust little sewing bee in my blogging absence though and have now learnt how to create a wiggle dress, yay!

A wee while ago the lovely Roisin lent me her Gertie book and I traced the delightful pencil skirt pattern. 

I've been messing around with pattern hacking pretty much since I started on this sewing journey so decided to try adding a pencil skirt to the New Look 6886 pattern bodice (which I love) and added thicker straps.

I love this dress although I must confess I have not yet mastered either fishtail pleats or splits do I'm a wiggling in it!!

What do you think?

I've even got enough fabric left to try a play suit....watch this space!!

Xx

From her earnings she plants a vineyard: Dress 18

Well, how is everyone this week?! Ive been enjoying the bits of sunshine in between the large amounts of rain and am in the process of transforming our 'den' (insert converted garage-thingy) into my new sewing room! Woop woop! More on that later....

In the meantime, I don't know whether I should blame Sew Dolly Clackett formy copious purchasing of novelty fabrics (or whether they just give me the impetus to actually sew), but I can't seem to resist novelty!! 

On a dangerously late night trawl of the internet I found this! Drum roll please.....Introducing my 'Beam me up Scotty' dress!

I made it quite a while ago but realised i hadn't blogged about it, so here you are!!

Guess what? It's another mash up of the Simplicity 2444 bodice but I've added a half circle skirt from New Look 6886. I think it works really well, especially with my new Irregular Choice shoes! Not bad for a cheapy poly cotton purchased once upon an online.

Sorry about the goofy selfie- no one was on hand to play David Bailey :(

I am definitely finding the relative In-expense of dress making = more shoes!!!

I have since discovered that this fabric is probably a cheap imitation of a Michael Miller one so apologies to all you fabric purists and hooray for cheap imitations!

What do you think?!

Xx

A noble wife who can find? Dress 19

Hello lovelies!

Well it is almost the end of half term -is it just me or was it quite a short half term?

As with all the school holidays my making drops off a little and I have been deliberately trying not to make enough to wear for me made May!

I have however made this little beauty from a free 1950s dress pattern I downloaded off the Internet!

What do you think?

I wanted to wear it today even though it's hideously cloudy so I'm wearing it with my Miss L fire boots- a MULTI-seasonal staple!!

I've called it the Picnic Dress as the fabric reminds me of vintage picnic cloths!

I was pleased to find a pattern that created a thinner strap to the bodice without them being spaghetti straps like the new look 6886 pattern- and it was free! Of course I added a circle skirt as always.

Hopefully the weather will be picnic worthy soon!

I've loved it so much I made another in this pattern- will show some photos soon!!

Have a lovely weekend!

Xx

She reaches out her hands: Dress 17

Hello everyone; how's tricks?

Huge congratulations to Roisin today too!!

 I'd like to introduce you to the Vegas dress! Ta da.....

This one is one of my new favourites!

 I bought the material from Royal Fabrics in Leamington on Roisin's recommendation and it's lovely! (The lady in the shop was fab too).

I don't know what it is about dresses with ice creams on them?!

I've added a circle skirt again to the New Look 6886 pattern for added summer swooshing!! It's just, well, more me really than the sort if half circle midi lengthy thing the pattern requires.

This one simply had to be worn with my Irregular Choice 'I'm in Vegas' heels! They matched so well I named the dress after them. 

I've only just discovered IC as I don't live near anywhere that actually sells them out of a shop, so am pleased to report that they're actually surprisingly comfy and all over eBay!!

I'm not sure I shall be wearing these particular shoes down Earlsdon High St on the school run (only one is home educated; the other 2 are in school!) We shall have to see!!

The good news is this dress goes with all my HB Paloma cardigans too! Absolute winner.

(Thought you needed another goofy selfie!)

Now I just need the sunshine to re-appear!! 

Have a great week everybody, it's half term in our house- yay!!

xx

With one hand she holds the wool: Dress 16

Hello all! What a shame the sun's gone in! Oh well, here's to Mellow yellow, the colour of sunshine!

I'm in love with this fabric! I nearly didn't buy it as it was a rash online purchase but oh, (Danny Zucko pause), im so glad I did!

I've made it up in my usual simplicity 2444/circle skirt mash-up and I think it has a wonderful 1950s vibe.

I got to wear this dress yesterday and because it's a poly cotton it was perfect for the balmy weather that's now over!!

I was watching Star Trek TNG again when I made it so it's aptly named the 'Time's Arrow' dress. I'm wearing it with my Clarkes shoes in yellow suede. I seem to be enjoying yellow at the moment; I'm even considering a yellow based wallpaper for our bedroom smarten-up!

(V&A wallpaper)

(Yellow suede shoes)

What do you think?!

Xx

When it snows she's not afraid: Dress 15

Hello all, how are you?

I'm a bit behind in my making vs blogging so although I made this a few weeks ago I haven't posted it. I'm wearing it today though in this glorious sunshine so thought if take the opportunity to photograph it!

I love this fabric!!! I was thrilled when I found it as it's such a funky pattern. I've made it up in New Look 6886 having redrafted the bodice slightly to get a better fit- cool 'eh! (I'm very aware I seem to be making an awful lot of 6886 at the moment... Oh well!)

I'm particularly excited as we've booked to go to Sydney for Christmas to see my lovely brother and his gorgeous family and this dress is definitely coming too!

I've called it...the Funky Flamingo Dress! Original I know!!

I love this pattern! Perfect for twirling!!

Am wearing it with my lovely new green espadrilles from Wallis of all places!!

Dizzy!

It's exam day again today so I'm supporting my number 1 daughter with the funky flamingo dress! (Any excuse!!)

If you or yours are taking exams this week- good luck!!

Xx

Her husband is respected at the city gate: Dress 14

So, how's everyone this week? It's been a bit mad and crazy here of late what with GCSE exams and the like but were nearly over the hurdles now and looking forward summer! In preparation I've made another New Look 6886 dress out if this stunning fabric and aptly named it 'The Sundae Dress'- I think it's the spoons....

Lovely ice cream fabric- £2.99 a metre!!

I'm clearly into ice-cream fabrics right now! It's the same as my 'Pi' dress fabric only in a slightly different colour way.

I was very also excited to see that Hell bunny's Paloma cardigan now comes in pastel shades too so I have wisely procured for myself the blue and the pink seeing as I wear my red one a lot!

I'm wearing Sundae with my pink one (it goes with so many of my dresses and my Vivien of Holloway 1940s style trousers!) and I wearing it with some pink gingham wedges I bought a few years ago from New Look. What do you think?

Finally managed to take an outdoors photo the weather is so grand!

Close up of pink Paloma cardigan- wish they made these on every colour!!

Add caption

Apologies for the cheesy grin!!

Have a great day all xx

She sees that her handiwork is good: Dress 13

Two weeks later dress- that's what I've called this one as I made it two weeks after Sew Dolly Clackett had finished!

It's a usual me mash-up of Simplicity 2444 and the circle skirt part of my new Eliza M patterns 'Betty' dress.

What do you think?

Had these green wedges in the wardrobe and I think they're a pretty good match!

Xx

She teaches faithfully: Me Made May is on! (Better late than never!)

Hello lovelies!
I've finally decided that I will in fact enter Me Made May 2014- especially as I have only worn my own creations so far this month already!

I think I need to somehow or other declare my commitment so here it is- I pledge to wear at least one item of handmade clothing for at least 4 days out of every week during the month of May 2014. I will try harder to produce better fitting and better finished garments and to take more care when hemming circle skirts!!!

I will be posting my Daily Outfits on each of the 4 days using the hashtag #mmmay14 on Instagram and Twitter and will create a dedicated page on my Pinterest feed so follow me anywhere you like by clicking the links on the right of the blog!

Let's see if I can improve over the course of the month shall we?!

Here's the end of today's outfit anyway-

No Cream Dress and Irregular Choice Summer Storm Heels

She makes her own bed coverings: Dress Fabrics!

Hello lovelies!

Well the Easter holidays involved an incredibly sunny week in Cornwall (hoorah!) Another lovely week of extended family, chocolate and lie-ins but alas, very little sewing.
This week however I am back in the saddle with my new pattern drafting skills to assist me and some stunning new fabrics! I'm still deliberating over Me Made May (although I'd better decide very soon!!) so perhaps knocking something up in these stunning fabrics will help?!

I ventured away from my local drapers momentarily to find these little beauties online. 

Flamingo anyone?!

Scottie Doggies

After a fab bank holiday I'm raring to go!!

Watch this space!!
Xx

Me made may 2014....yea or nay?

Hmmm....shall I do it? Or is it too much pressure?!

I've now made an incredible 15 dresses, all of which are mostly wearable, and 5 skirts. I'm thinking a handmade garment at least 4 times a week?

My challenge would have to be the inside finishing. I'm always so keen to get my dresses finished that the inside overcasting can suffer a wee bit so maybe that's what I'll do.

Here's today's offering anyhoo....

(Home Sewing Is Easy Dress in New Look 6886)

Do you think I should go for it?

Are you??!!

Xx

She speaks wisely: Dress 12 & a Leibster Award!!

Hello lovelies- how are you?
I'm so sorry Sew Dolly Clackett has finished but so pleased to have made so many amazingly talented and very interesting friends on the interweb who, like me, are discovering the joys of sewing their own wardrobe! The lovely Kate from the Polka Dot Room has even nominated me for a Leibster award! I didn't know about to until I read Kate's post so I've shamelessly knicked her explanation for you!
"So what does this award mean? Well, this is a blogging award given by bloggers to other newer bloggers....generally with a following of less than 300....answer some questions given to you by your nomination and nominate 3-5 bloggers of your choice....and ask them some questions.

The award highlights new blogs and helps them get noticed, thereby increasing their audience!"

So Kate asked me some questions so here they are!
1. What is the dress pattern you would recommend the most?
It has to be Retro Butterick 5478. It was my first. It's also extremely easy (once you've corrected the neckline gape) and fun to sew up. It's a vintage pattern Butterick have reissued so it's got the vintage vibe I like in my dresses and looks amazing with a petticoat!!

2. What's the worst thing you've ever made and why?
Hmmmm.... Your not going to like this but it was an Anna dress. I just don't think the kimono sleeves and v neck suited me. I also added a circle skirt to the pattern which may have made it too frumpy but the good news is I've removed the Anna bospdice and am attaching a halterneck!! Waste not want not!

3. If you could dress like any woman in history who would it be?
Ooh- if I had the body shape then Audrey Hepburn. Always Audrey. (Although a bit of Dita wouldn't go a miss either!)

4. Out of the 4 'sex and the city' lead women who would you be?
Ahem..... Confession time....never watched it. Not really my cup of tea I'm afraid. Next question?

5.When and what would your ultimate holiday be?
I have to say I'm incredibly fortunate to be taking my ultimate holiday this Christmas. Sydney's Northern Beaches with extended family- every time!

Thanks Kate!
So I guess I now have to nominate some bloggers at this point but I'm afraid I've been sew busy (get it?) with sewing I haven't actually stopped to read any (except Dolly C!)

Perhaps I could hold the award for a while until I discover some deserving new bloggers to pass it on to hey?!
Don't you just love the sew-blog-o-sphere?!

In other news, I've made a new discovery over the holidays- I can pattern redraft!!! I was a bit fed up of the gaping neckline on my retro Butterick pattern so taped up some of the pattern front but this was pulling the armholes in a bit so I had another look.....it's worked! I have altered the neckline (is this a 'sloper'?) , redone the bust darts to make them larger and the waist darts to take in more fabric under the bust and I really like it!!

Ta-dah! I've named this dress the 'Ode to Dolly' dress as I finished it after sew Dolly Clackett had ended. What do you think?!

I'm also loving my new shoes! (From Clarks!!!)
Xx

she is like the ships of traders: Dress 11

Good morning lovelies! I can't believe Sew Dolly Clackett is over :(
I'm a bit behind in my blogging so this dress was made for the competition but I'm only just posting it now so apologies. (draft posts- got to love 'em). I have made 2 and half more dresses since April 23rd and won a Leibster award so I will be back to sequential blogging once the hols are over- oh, that means Monday!

This dress is a completely sew Dolly Clackett fabric- I think you'll agree!! But I just couldn't resist this completely ridiculous fabric from my local Drapers and as it was only £4.99 a meter I did think "what the hey"!!

I opted for my favourite Retro Butterick bodice and paired it with the half circle skirt from New Look 6886. 

I did my usual and lined it with spare fabric from an Anna dress I'm making.

For all it's a ridiculous fabric it makes a pretty amazing dress! Apologies for the slightly off centre 'selfie'!

My hubby was watching an episode of 'White Collar' on Netflix while I sewed up this dress (if you haven't seen it, it's a fab series!) so I've named the dress 'Caffrey Rules' -get it?!

What do you think?

Xx

Beauty is fleeting: Dress 10

I've been waiting until I felt confident enough to sew with this fabric ever since I saw Roisins dress in it.

The other day...it arrived!

I bought 2.5M and plumped for New Look 6886 as I wanted a summer dress that I could still wear a flouncy petticoat with but one that wasn't a full circle.

I had to think hard when pinning to make sure I maximised the pattern! Didn't want anything to be upside down!!

The fabric made me smile the whole time I was sewing it up!

What do you think? I love it!!

Home sewing is Easy dress worn with Poetic License floral heels.

I will be fairly easy to spot this summer I think!

Just heard I won a Leibster award! Yay! More details soon.

Xx