Violet Blouse

I finished my Violet blouse a week ago but haven't been able to take a good picture as it has been so dark. Despite the sunshine outside today, my photo is still dark. I've tried every room in the house, and nearly fell down the stairs when I lost balance carrying the dressform, but still no happiness. So I'm afraid my pictures are dull and don't really show it to its potential. I think it must be the time of year as the front of my house gets the sun streaming in during the summer.

Anyway, I am so delighted with this! I've already worn it and had compliments. My mum said it looked old fashioned in a good way, I think she meant it looked vintage. I've been wearing it with a little cardigan of a similar colour and I love it.

What I particularly love are the buttons as they are from the 1940s. I think they go perfectly with the fabric and add to the vintage charm I was going for. I altered the sleeves, giving them a few small gathers to create an even more feminine look and I used more buttons than recommended as mine were slightly smaller. The pattern was a dream to use as it is so well drafted. Many people may think a blouse like this would be tricky for a beginner but the excellent instructions and the way all the pieces go together perfectly make this easy. I learnt new techniques too such as button holes and how to make a collar and this is my first sleeve attempt. I was so delighted with the results that I jumped straight into my next project the same day. I will reveal all when it is done...

Dressmaking Course

Last week I started a dressmaking course at my local college. I was really excited to see so many people there, lots were my age too. We spent the first lesson getting to grips with a sewing machine, which was a bit pointless for me as I know how to use one very well, but it was good for me to get to know the other people. This week she is going to show us how to cut our patterns properly and even though I can do this, I'm hoping to pick up lots of hints and tips and learn how to be even better!

I've been working lots lately and I'll be doing extra hours this week, so I'm really glad I signed up to this course because it will force me to sew every week. At the course I'm going to start by making a Macaron dress.

I've been having trouble deciding exactly how to make it. I've chosen some navy blue cotton winceyette fabric which is so soft and I thought it would make the dress cosy for winter. I planned to use this for the whole dress so there won't be a contrast, but I feel some red in there somewhere might really make it look great. Maybe as the waistband or as piping along the sweetheart part of the bodice. Then I was worried it might be too bright for me. Then I was thinking polka dots would make a nice contrast and I got all confused! So as it stands, it will be navy blue but it is subject to change, see how I get on. I'm still in the process of making a violet blouse and I'm hoping it will be finished soon. I'm up to attaching the collar. Bit worried about the button holes as I've never done those before so they will take a bit of practice I'm sure. Right, I'm off to pre-wash my winceyette now so it will be ready for Tuesday!

A Pretty Dress

 This dress was made by a wonderful person, Andy's nan. she made it in the 80s I think, and even made the belt, how clever. She used the overlocker that I blogged about the other day. The dress is a liberty print cotton lawn fabric. It fits me but I think I'll remove the shoulder pads and shorten the hemline

Sorbetto Blouse

 I love the way my Sorbetto blouse turned out, I've worn it out already! It was really easy to make, definately a beginners pattern as it only has 2 pieces. I was a bit worried about what printing a pattern out and sticking it together would be like but it was very easy. It helps to have an extra pair of hands to cut the cellotape whilst you hold the sheets in place.

 The fabric is really lightweight and is perfect for this top. They say at Colette Patterns that you can make this from printing out the pattern to finishing the top in 2 hours and there are people on the web making 1 a day. However I think this took me nearer to 4 hours to make, just because I take my time.

 I've learnt some new techniques making this. I've never used bias binding before and always imagined it was really difficult and fiddly but it isn't! It's so easy and I love the amazing finish it gives. I want to make another one in a plain fabric and use a floral liberty print bias binding I have. I bought it last year and have been waiting for the perfect project to use it on. This pattern includes darts which I have done before on bags I've made. However I struggled to transfer them to the fabric and it took me a long time to draw them out but they turned out perfectly. After all my struggling I saw in a book about using carbon paper and one of those spiky wheel things to transfer the pattern lines, what a great idea! Need to invest in one of them asap!

The only problem is that the arm holes are too big for me but I always planned to wear it with a cardigan so it won't matter. If I make another I will take care not to cut them as deep as the pattern. I think I'm totally addicted to making clothes, what a shame I'm back at work tomorrow.

In the pipeline...

Here are the projects I am planning for the coming months. I've enrolled on a dressmaking course at my local college so hopefully when I'm back at work next week it will force me to sew every Monday, force in a good way obviously! I'm planning on making a Sorbetto blouse with this beautiful floral fabric above. It is quite lightweight and drapes well so I'm looking forward to sewing with it. The Sorbetto blouse is a free pattern from Colette Patterns and looks very simple to make. I love Colette Patterns, and how nice of them to make a free pattern. I have quite a few of their patterns ready to start making but my problem is finding good fabric suitable for the job. However, last week amongst the hecticness (if that's a word) I visited my local fabric shop and got this beautiful cotton / satin blend, I think, (no information on what the fabrics are in that shop.)

It's slightly more of a peach colour than it looks like in the photo (bad light again) but I thought it would be perfect for the Violet blouse.

I love this pattern, it will be perfect for work. I have some lovely vintage buttons that will be perfect for this blouse but they seem to have disappeared, I really hope they turn up.

The next fabric I bought (all very cheaply I add) was this pretty red floral, again some sort of cotton mix suitable for dressmaking. So pretty, perhaps another crescent skirt?! I also have Colette Patterns Parfait and Macaron and I've had my eye on Crepe for a while too. Just need to find the right fabric before I can start making these. 

Crescent Skirt - Finally!

Well, even though I finished this skirt about a week and a half ago, it's taken me until now to put it on here. Things have been crazy busy here but hopefully they will settle down, I basically spent the whole of last week away from home seeing people but now I'm back normality can resume.


 I am so pleased with this skirt! I've worn it three times already! Sorry that the pictures are a bit dark but there hasn't been much sun lately. It's so comfortable and easy to wear and I love the pockets most of all.

 Now, I am not a novice sewer but I am new to dressmaking. This pattern says it is for beginners and whilst I didn't struggle too much, I don't think it is quite beginner's level, I'd say it was more intermediate as the waistband is in 8 pieces, there is a zip and pockets, plus the waistband is lined. I learnt quite a few new skills.

 My version certainly isn't without its faults, oh no. But I don't think they are so noticeable. My Mum and Gran, who have both made clothes in the past, were very impressed and considered it to be quite a difficult pattern.

The absolute best thing about this skirt is the fabric. Vintage, soft, brushed cotton, I love it. Without the sew along for this skirt I think I would have struggled as the instructions were quite basic, so it really helped me to have pictures online to guide me through it. I'd recommend this skirt pattern to anyone, I think it's great and I'll be making another one soon I'm sure.

It starts ....

So I've made a start on my first dressmaking project. I've decided to make this skirt from Sewaholic patterns. I chose this skirt because it looks very wearable and is similar to styles I already have in my wardrobe. I'm making option C which is slightly longer, I like skirts to be just below the knee on me. The pattern cost £12.95 from http://www.sewbox.co.uk/. I'm making the skirt from vintage 1960s brushed cotton given to me by my Grandmother. I got very lucky with the zip I'm using too because it's one I've had in my stash for about 4 years which I bought from a department store's closing down sale for 50p! So this skirt is going to be quite cost effective! Free fabric and 50p for the zip! What I'm hoping is that if it goes well and I like the fit of the skirt, I will make it a few more times in different fabrics to really get the most out of the pattern, but we shall see! As soon as it is finished I will post pictures here. I'm really enjoying the process of making this skirt. I'm taking my time to make sure I get it just right as it is a first attempt. What is really useful is that sewaholic patterns have a blog with a sewalong on it for this skirt, so that has helped me a lot to follow the instructions. Anyway, better get back to it....