Back to work

Having spent last weekend tidying up my workspace I did nothing all week (apart from go to work as usual that is) - did a bit of thinking and planning though.

Today it is back to sewing. Did I show you the completed flat Iris: if not here it is...

Next it was time to make up the background of the jacket - thought I would use the blue I had intended to use for the 'Spring' jacket.

And here is the photocopy of the Van Gogh picture I am considering for the Sunflowers - a scale test on the back 

 Next time to consider how I will make the petals.  Appliqué or stitch? Or both..  Hmmmm we will see

What do you do at silly o'clock?

What do you do when you wake up at 4.30 on a Sunday morning - not feeling too well?  Well I made a top!  If it works it works - if not it will be cut up an reused (or sold :-) ).
I used up white cotton fabric, scrim and some old lace together with some old die cuts and create this...

Here it is on me - looks a little stiff at the moment but it will soften (I hope).

 Then it went in the dye bath -

I will update when its done.  Fingers crossed.

UPDATE:  Fresh from the wash - still wet  so will be lighter!!  Looks good at the moment....

Another dress and the Brockenhurt Fiesta

So I was asked to make another of my cross over, reversible dresses - this time a fairy pattern for a four year old - so here it is, with matching pants....

 This morning I went to the Brockenhurst Fiesta  (See here) - it is a great experience - lovely exhibitor and great traders.  I go every year and don't usually buy anything but this year I could not resist the Clearance items from Simply Sequins/French Knot Studios - I came home with all this lot for just £24.50!!!

The sari silk was just £8 for this huge pile as many of the bags were buy one get one free and the bottom right is three skeins for £3!!!!

I got a bag of elastic - looks like there is a lot there, and three bags of various lace edgings each between 8 and 10 metres, two tubes of buttons (they were just £3 per tube so much better value than the 30p for each button!!) a small bag of mixed buttons and a pack of mixed fabrics - there are nine pieces - I think most of them are cotton fat quarters. 

Latest Creativity

I had lost my mojo recently - I have not been well and then I have still not got a good diagnosis - but never mind.

I have recently made the baby dresses below - I have sold a couple already!! The purple one is reversible and has two pairs of matching knickers - the photo does not show the colour properly so I took a picture of a different fabric of the same colour.

Happy Christmas to all

As some of you know I have not been too well recently - things are not much better - scan showed some unexpected issues but no main reason for the stomach issues which are getting worse.  Anyway - this has meant that I have not really felt like doing very much - not even wanted to blog!  To make amends - a quick update....
During my weekend away recently (when the Christmas fairies invaded my house - see last blog) I did start a new garment project.  These pics show where I have got to so far - I do have to say that the stamped bits you see in the pics will be covered and the jacket will have sleeves..  I am just using up old over dyed fabrics and bits. The main fabric had been created many many years ago when I was doing the Surface Decorating C&G Course with Val Campbell Harding and had been yardage  for a 'sea' themed roller blind for my bathroom - but I moved house and did not have a big enough window any more - so the stamping and stencilling will be covered up.
Front view

Back view

Close up of godets and the different fabrics used

I hope my enthusiasm will come back in 2014, maybe I need to set myself a creative challenge - any ideas?? For the moment I wish you all:

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia

i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku

(translated - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year)

Nothing to Lose - minor alterations

As I was not too happy with the tops I made last weekend - thinking I had nothing to lose - I undid the neckline of one of the stretch tops and instead of removing the front panels (which I did think I could) I just added a strip (bit of a botch job on the shoulders - but only I know where). At least it feels more comfortable - not quite so open.  If I do use this pattern again I will make the front pieces bigger at the shoulders.

Then on the rather 'boring' first top I have cut the bottom off, added a piece and gien the top a frill.  Also found a little bit of toning ribbon and have outlined the frill and around the neck - there was not enough to do the armholes but I think it has made a little bit of an improvement. 

  Not sure if I will do anything to the two other tops.  But I may wear these now??

4th Top done

Top number 4 complete - best fit but still far too open in the neck, even though I made it higher at the back - the pattern picture is no where near as open across the neck.

I am definitely not going to make any more clothes for myself for some time.

3rd Top done

OK - so the white top is a better fit than the blue (although I used exactly the same size) and the sleeves make a difference - my adaptation of sleeve - it all needs pressing in this picture - I wanted to try it on before pressing.  I don't think home making this top is for me. The bought ones are so much better. Unless I try a stretch fabric next time.  OK one more top to go and then I give up home dressmaking until I have lost a lot of weight :-)

2nd Top done

The second 'practice' top purple one is much more successful than the first.  BUT I am still confused by the pattern sizes - you see first top was made using a size larger than my measurements and is tight, top number 2 I made using the largest size on the pattern which is a size smaller than my measurements - (I thought I could adjust the final version later) and this top has turned out looser than my liking.  However I think it is OK.

Although there are two changes I would make - the neckline is a little open for my liking especially at the back so I will fill it in a bit and there is no need for the centre back seam - the small 'shaping' at the back waist is not necessary as it is a stretch fabric.

UPDATE: I have just cut out the white top and the black with bows top and found that due to the generosity of Fabric Land, Salisbury I have actually saved around £5.50. That is the value of the spare fabric. So the tops will have actually cost roughly £8 each  (or £5.50 each if you don't count the cost of the patterns!!) - even though I am not completely happy with the first two I will still wear them.

One top done

I have had a couple of suggestions that the Great British Sewing Bee has influenced my decision to sew but thankfully and truthfully I can say I have NOT and WILL NOT watch it - I was told about it by a friend who said that the judges are sarcastic towards a skilled sewer and allow badly made clothes to pass through to the next round because 'they are fun'! It was actually Super Scrimpers that reminded me a few weeks ago about cost saving and made me notice how expensive clothes are in the shops - when a young mum was told to make two dresses for her little girls for £10 when she normally spends £30 per dress.

You see I rarely go shopping for clothes.I make costumes which are wearable and look great on my human models!!

So far one of the tops is done and now I remember why I a) don't make my own clothes, b) hate shopping for clothes and c) hate photos of myself!

 I bought the blue fabric as the practice fabric.  The pattern allows far more fabric than required but I went with the suggested quantity, however the pattern is also a bit tight even though I used a size larger than my measurements.

It was  also quite a good thing that I did have more fabric as I tried tried first the small ruffle sleeve










and then the long sleeve - both were horrible






so I left the top as sleeveless.  It looks lovely on the mannequin but a bit tight  and rather dull on me - (difficult to take pic in the mirror) - it may be OK under a cardie - and it definitely encourages me to work much harder to lose more weight and firm up those saggy arms :-).

I will make the white one using two sizes larger and sleeveless but will make the yoke with the tiny pin tucks.




UPDATE:  What I don't understand is that I have found a top in my wardrobe which is exactly the same size and style as the one I have just made but it has sleeves and looks so much better:

So is it something I am doing wrong or is it the fabric - now I think I may try sleeves in the white top.

Dressmaking - what me???

I have not done any dressmaking for myself for many years but whilst shopping with my daughter on her birthday this week I kept grumbling about the price of tops which I liked in M&S - £35 for a top - outrageous.  So today I visited my favourite fabric shop in Salisbury (Fabric Land) and purchased two top patterns and four (YES 4) pieces of fabric for just £38.   This will make the tops less than £10 each and the patterns will be an investment for future tops so the price will go down the more I use them :-)

Keep your fingers crossed that the sizing/fitting works out OK - the last time I made myself a top I was a UK size 10 pattern - now I am somewhat larger (but working on a reduction), so am not sure if the patterns will work- but they are lovely!!