Wednesday 24 December 2014

Grinchy!




 Stuck for ideas of what to buy people this xmas and decided i should incorporate my hobby and make some gifts! Last year i made my mom a xmas table runner and this year i decided to make my boyfriend's mom an xmas apron. I was inspired by some Grinch fabric, as her grandsons are fans,then scoured ebay for a couple more complementary designs. Came across the penguins and the reindeers and started cutting lots of squares! I used gingham for the frill and backing. It came out quite chunky and felt good quality. My boyfriends mom wore it xmas day so i hope that meant she liked it!!



Bavarian make


Here's my costume for a Bavarian themed party


Gabriola

Wanted the Gabriola pattern for a long long time so finally bought it. This is my fave skirt :)


 With the leftover fabric i made this top:



Sunday 19 October 2014

Butterick 5953

Just completed the Butterick 5953 pattern. Had this hanging around for months to make for a friend's wedding but just couldn't find the right fabric. So pleased with how it has all come together. Can't wait to wear it later this week!


This is the original pattern. I fell in love with it as soon as i saw it. It's a very classy Jackie-O look. Contemplated teaming it with some lace gloves but didn't want to go too far ;)


Tuesday 9 September 2014

vintage style handbag

been very busy lately so got myself back into sewing by making a little vintage hand bag. Definitely making more of these!!!

Monday 26 May 2014

Left over dress...

I have acres of fabric left over from my jacket so made a little dress...




I added some lace to the hem line to stop it from looking too office-y. Not sure whether to add more, don't want to over do it but want the dress to be casual looking enough to get some use out of it.



My first jacket!

This couldn't have turned out better. Love the fabric, but the lining is my favourite feature. Must line everything i make from now on...




I need to add some sort of clasp to the front to finish it off then it'll be ready for summer evenings...


My first trousers



Very pleased with my first attempt at making trousers!! The pattern was way too big for me so re-sizing it took up most of the time. The construction was very simple. 
The fabric is a very light and floaty viscose. They are going to be great for the summer, i intend on making a few more pairs...



Monday 21 April 2014

Colour block

Very quick project this afternoon just to use up some of my fabric stash before i replenish it...

I've made this skirt in about 5/6 different fabrics but decided i'd add a contrasting colour tgis time to create a different feel to it.



I just need to add some elastic to the waist band because i made it too tight to fit a zip!!

Sunday 20 April 2014

Kimono

I bought some gorgeous drapey fabric to free hand myself a kimono top for the summer. This was the basic shape i cut:


The i cut a slit up the front and along the top in a t shape to make the opening and to finish i roll hemmed the edges :)



Bird print summer dress

I made this dress by using a pattern for a top i have as the corset and taking the shape of the skirt from another dress pattern. I've never tried splicing patterns together before and am too lazy to make a toile! Fortunately it came together really well. Looking forward to the opportunity to wear it! :)

Sunday 13 April 2014

sunshine shirt dress

Finished my next t-shirt dress just in time for the return of the sun! I was a bit disappointed with the collar area; it was too short to join up with the button band so i hand to do a bit of fabric origami to join it all up. Looked ok in the end though. Its gonna be perfect for my next visit to a beer garden :)


Friday 4 April 2014

Shirty

To keep the button theme going i recently moved on to shirt dresses (the summer wardrobe is really coming along now). I made the first dress using a dress worn by Gwen Stefani in the No Doubt video as my fabric inspiration:



I am working on the next shirt dress now which i want to make sleeveless with this fabric:


And then this fabric is next:


Its time to start shopping for matching belts and buttons...

Button fetish

I got this pattern as summer is approaching again and i want to prepare with little tops and skirts! It made me realise how much fun it is to search for the perfect buttons to complete the garment!!







Wiggle wiggle

I chose this pattern because it was more fitted than other dresses i'd made which i learnt shows your mistakes a little more obviously and requires you to take your time a bit more....




 I liked my first attempt so much that i decided to make a less formal version...


Paper piecing patterns

I wanted to make a patchwork blanket but i didn't want to do it the easy way so decided to make it by hand using the paper piecing method. It took me about a year to complete in between other projects but i think it was worth it. I added a thin layer of wadding to the middle and a mitred border around the edge.


Summery swish

I made this dress for a summer wedding, the fabric was a little heavy for a summer dress and it felt like there were acres of it. It was pretty though and turned out well. I'd like to make it again in the red polka dots like on the cover of the pattern...



Rags to riches?

I wondered whether i could turn my hobby into something slightly profitable so i got myself a pattern for soft toys



I must have mad half a dozen of the dogs, sold a few, a couple ended up in a shop and i kept my favourite one. Then i decided i was bored of making the same thing over and over again so went back to dressmaking...





Some like it floral

I made this Marilyn Monroe-esque summer dress to wear to a friend's wedding last summer. It turned out great and is still my fave creation, i'm loving forward to giving it another outing this summer :)

The pattern was a Prima pattern


Sewing Bug

I caught the sewing bug about two years ago after not having used my sewing machine since my GCSE's, since then i have always had at least one project on the go! I mainly enjoy making clothes but i have also dabbled with cushions, soft toys and a hand-made patchwork blanket that i thought would never end!!

My first creation was a summer dress and it's the only thing i have made that i haven't worn in public. I chose a cherry patterned fabric for this fifties inspired pattern by McCall's (M5094).

 Finally wore this dress. I thought it would be just right for a wedding in Hackney....