Saturday, 14 July 2012

Lace with Satin dress.



Was quite excited when I came up with the idea of mixing this little yardage of lace I had with satin left over from the girls birthday dress. As I got a bit tired of making (waistline) gathered dresses I wanted a full circle skirt...

Circle Skirt

...I got a full circle skirt. One of the girls actually loves to twirl around and around in her dresses, guess she would have enough fun in this dress.

Twirling...




Puff sleeve detail.
First time making a puff sleeve, it took about an hour to make four sleeves!! 
I gathered sleeve cap as normal and used shirring elastic to make three rows of shirring to the sleeve hem. I love how it turned out though.

Back view
Had a bit of issue getting a smooth line at the centre back when attaching the invisible zip to the skirt. (where the crease is). I sewed on zip three !! times, but still no luck and i just gave up. Does anyone know why this happens? never had problems with satin before now. :(


Purchased flower added as an embellishment.
Little flower detail added to the side.

Overall this turned out pretty OK, but I just don't feel a connection (if am allowed to say that!) with this outfit.
Maybe its the (plain) colour or I had higher expectations...
Can't even put my finger on it.
Anyway its done and they will wear it. Sure they will like the full skirt. :)

With regards to a comment I received from Marie, I always make two of everything but sometimes I use one girl (the more willing one) for a photo shoot because it is faster and easier to deal with one than two. :)

Until you have reason to be here, see you around.






Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Black floral trousers

This post has been updated with pictures...


Saw this fabric.... loved it.




                                                                                                                             
B4861
Butterick 4861

...saw this pattern, decided to make it in long grey version.




Everything went pretty smooth in the construction and was finished in one afternoon.
The only issue I find is it doesn't go with everything except white or black. Go figure.!
SassyT told me to try them with blue, and it goes. So guess I was wrong. lol

After this matching issue I decided that since I had full control over the things I make, before making anything up, I will find what it goes with, shoes, accessories etc, conclude on all this before making.


The fit is OK straight from the box, made a size 8, no bulging issues here or there.



That's all for now.
Until you visit again...

Cream and Brown polka dot dress



Wanted to make a bubble dress for the girls, got this fabric and decided it was a perfect match.
Its some sort of satin polyester blend fabric. 

I just love this bubble dress.
Was going to use my simplicity pattern for this bubble but believe me I just didn't 'get' the instructions on the pattern about how to make the bubble so I decided to use my imagination. This worked out just fine.



Let me explain.
This is a fully lined dress. i made sure the length of the lining was shorter than length of dress fabric.
I sewed the hem seam before the waist seam.
Putting both fabric and lining together using normal seam allowances I sewed an elastic round the fabric +lining to create the gathers at the hem. 
when this was turned right side up, the bubble was formed.
Main principle is because lining is shorter than fabric, after it is sown together, lining pulls up the dress fabric and a bubble is form.
Sorry no pictures to explain, if you interested in full tutorial, let me know and will arrange one.





 Actually made dress in February. Was going to add extra details using same colour brown velvet fabric for a bow. I looked for over month and couldn't get brown velvet in the exact same shade!!!
Plan b was use any dress fabric in same shade. found that and bow was made.

This is the back view, can you see extra detail
This back detail idea was from simplicity 1913 but it was mostly used in front or at the side of the simplicity dresses




Love this dress so much we used it for our family picture.!
Got this fabric really cheap, wishing a bought more of it now... like a whole roll of it. lol. joking.

Stay tuned as although I haven't blogged a lot lately. I have made a lot. Once pictures are taken, they'll be here.
That's all for now...

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Jubilee Colour Blocking

One of the people that inspired me into colour blocking is Erica B. http://www.ericabunker.com
decided to use the jubilee colours or Tommy's (navy blue, white and red) which ever you prefer. lol


I love how easily it came together, was actually inspired by this pattern from Burdastyle.

June_148_tech_drawing_original_listing
From Burdastyle.



Decided to add piping as and extra detail.
Quite pleased with result. Would have added link for piping tutorial, but just kept technique in my head. Will try to document all my sources henceforth.

Busy licking a sweet!!!
clearer piping detail...

How else could I get her to agree a photo shoot?
And how did I finish the back?


...with three buttons blue white red of course. :)


This is all for now.
I have tons of ideas of colour blocking, should make more sometime soon.

Regards to you and yours.