College project finished

College finished, but I still hadn't completed my dress. We probably spent to much time chatting! But seriously, when you have a class of people all fighting for the attention of one tutor, there were moments of standing around.

I finished the dress today, I'd left some hand stitching so I could get the rest of the complicated items done whilst I was at college.

This is definitely the best dress that I have made, however since starting college I've lost a bit of weight so it's a little more roomy than it should be, but I still think it looks pretty.

It's Airelle disaster!

So I finished a Deer and Doe Airelle blouse.

It has been sat on a hanger in our bedroom. I walk past it and I think 'I am 'T' count on me'. (Confused? Google T-Systems or Deutsch Telekom) I must have been missing work.

I've been in two minds whether or not to post this blouse. 

I keep daring myself to wear it.

Let's call it a toile.

Vintage curtain wrap skirt

So called because I'm pretty sure this is curtain material, but I don't care. It's so easy to wear, I had a sandwich at lunch and instead of feeling uncomfortable, all I needed to do is let a bit of the tie out! I really like the pattern too, I love big shapes.

It was also really easy to make and took only a few hours to complete. I didn't want to cut the pattern, so I traced it on to tissue, then made a few adjustments. The only difficult bits were the waistband and the button hole.

The waistband wasn't actually so bad, but I've never done one before. Fortunately I'd seen one made in college a few weeks ago, so I had a good idea of how it went. It just gets a bit fiddly when it comes to boxing out the corners, but if you pin it to the skirt first, then fold the ends inside out and box out the ends to line up with the skirt prior to stitching on the band then it's a lot easier. I also ironed the seam allowance of the band before pinning it on which both gave me a good marker for stitching the seam allowance and also, once it had been sewn, it just sat in place perfectly. If that at all makes sense.

The buttonhole was a pain in the butt. I've not used a one-step before with a button hole foot. After unpicking a failed attempt, I got out a clear foot and did it 2 step. Since then I've watched a very useful YouTube video!!

Anyway, enough babbling, here's the finished skirt...

My first vintage

Unfortunately, due to some coccyx issues, I've not had much opportunity to do any sewing.

But even that can't keep me away from my sewing machine for too long!

Last night I whipped up a little vintage pattern that I found on Ebay. I bought it on a whim after seeing Tilly's wrap skirt from the Tilly and the Buttons blog: http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/2013/04/introducing-miette-perfect-sewing.html

I don't have any pics right now, I'll get some added later, but here's a pic of the pattern, for your viewing pleasure!

First : Traced pattern

So I got out the Deer and Doe pattern and traced the pattern pieces from the paper to some tissue. I'm a bit nervous, some of my lines are a bit wobbly.

Wish me luck!

Ta-da!

As if by magic, my dress was complete!

This dress was made from the Simplicity 2886 pattern. It didn't seem to take as long as the last and I seemed to unpick a lot less, which must mean I'm getting better.

There were some new skills to learn like putting in pockets, inserting a side seam concealed zipper and a scallop shaped neck line (?).

All in all I'm quite impressed with my new sun dress, it's a shame that now I've finished, the sun has disappeared!!

#spoileralert

The new dress is almost finished. I was set back a little as I hadn't read the pattern instructions at all. If I had, I would have noticed that it had a side zip prior to doing the seams lol!

Here's a sneaky peek.

Good-bye my brother...

I'd like to say a fond farewell to my Brother. You were a most excellent machine. I'll never work with such a good looking machine as you. I'll miss your quirks and that little laugh you did when I tried to sew too much material together. You helped me with some difficult, precise work and I'll never forget you.

Here's to you Brother...

What is it with cats and tissue?

As soon as I lay out a pattern they are there. If any are sticking up, they try and get under. I'm not sure this is what is meant by pattern weights!

Oh Mummy look, I can sew too!

So, I've started another dress. I should really have a break after the last one, but I really want to start another. I was going to make Butterick b5317, however, I opened the envelope to find the wrong size pattern. Great stuff, I've had it a couple of months now, so I can't take it back. Ebay it is then.

So instead, I've got out Simplicity 2886, which I think was pattern of the week last week on the Simplicity New Look website.

Finished

My dress is finished! I wore it tonight to go it with the ladies and I really felt like a lady.