Bridesmaid Dress Part 1

My sister is in the bridal party for a wedding in March and the girls are wearing long knit dresses. She wasn't confident that she would find something off the rack that would suit her body shape, so I bravely offered my sewing services. To make sure I could actually do it, I made a practice one in black. I bought the fabric (of the Bride's choosing) from Spotlight, it is called "Kaleidoscope Interlock" or something like that, and it has a surprisingly lovely drape to it.

I used the Anda dress pattern from the Burdastyle website as a base and changed up the neckline to make it more scoopy, arms to make it sleeveless, lengthened it to the floor, and added a ruffle around the neckline too. I also made the elastic casing inside the dress, rather than on the outside.

The bride and my sister are both really happy with the outcome, and so am I. (It actually looks better in real life than in this picture, if I can swell my head to say so.)

It didn't take that long to make in the end, and now I have to rally all of my energy to make the "real deal".

PS I didn't end up using my overlocker, I needed the familiarity of a machine that I felt secure with- especially with the wedding in less than a month away. I used much of the wisdom in "Sew U Home Stretch" by Wendy Mullin.

In other consuming news, Caleb is settling in at "big school" and overall it is going fairly well, but statements like, "I like preschool better (because there is more stuff to do)," and "I asked some girls to be my friend and they just pretended I wasn't there!", indicate that this adjustment is not without its challenges. He pulled his brave poker face (the face he pulls when he is a bit overwhelmed) as he lined up with his class and tottered off to his classroom for Day 3- and that had my eyes welling up behind my big dark sunglasses!

Having said all that, I am pretty darn proud of him for how he has gone so far. It is a big culture shock for a 5 year old to adapt to the school system I think, and he is doing great. (And I am doing OK too.)

Singlet + Skirt = Singlirt

When not DIY-ing, we were at the Reptile Park. Caleb catching flies.

What a week! Chris and I are officially DIY-ers and officially don't think much of it. Our place is in need of a fresh coat of paint. It is not TERRIBLE, but it is cream throughout, and our home is about 7 years old, and it would seem that the trend in newer homes is for the original paintwork to be the cheapest quality around. I have tried washing the walls, and the paint comes off!

So a week of leave for Chris later, we have painted... our bedroom. That's it! We did everything though, the ceiling, the door frames, everything. It looks much fresher and less creamy which is lovely. We painted in Dulux Antique White USA which is apparently the most popular interior colour in Australia. So clearly we are not-so-innovative, but happy nonetheless.

Anyway, onto sewing! I have been looking at these sorts of dresses and really like them. They are a dress without being too dressy and look so comfy. They also look mighty easy to make oneself. Even for me. So I used a singlet that I never wear anymore and an ankle length elasticized waist skirt that needed updating and came up with this little number.

There is nothing to say really, except that I sewed them together with a zig zag stitch. Then I cut about 30cm off the hem and made a tie out of it.

Overall I am fairly pleased, but the reason I didn't wear the singlet was it was a little small for me these days, so making it into a dress doesn't change that- I am really sucking in my gut for this picture. Also, the skirt is quite see-through, so I need to wear my slip. Not a bad thing, but makes the outfit a bit more fussy to wear. I can see another one or two of these in the works for summer.

Oh, and a shout out to Gina for her generous giveaway that I was the lucky recipient of! A little bag filled with surprises. Hopefully I will be a-blogging some craftiness done with the contents soon!

Jeans to a skirt 2

I have a whole bunch of jeans languishing in my drawers. Too big, too small, none just right (which is why I keep buying more.) And I actually prefer to wear skirts anyway, so a jeans conversion was always imminent.

I have had a go at a jeans to wrap-around-skirt conversion before, but this one is much more wearable. I love the idea of a wrap around, but they can be a bit drafty/flashy if you catch my drift.

For this one I used this tutorial which is very easy to follow. Is it too nerdy to admit I was watching Project Runway Canada on YouTube while I was ripping apart seams?

The back panel on mine looks a little funny as it is not as worn as the seat of my pants were, but it is OK. I am not aiming for perfection here.

It is very gratifying to use something that I never wore and refashion it in such as way that I am getting a lot of use out of. Yeah!

PS Look at Caleb pose!

Crazy for crochet

I joined Ravelry last week as I think this crochet thing might just stick. I really wanted to do a hat and I found this one that I downloaded for a small fee from Ravlery, but you can also see it at this Etsy shop. A very nice design I think you'll agree. Kinda different from what I ended up with, but more about that later.

Being new to crochet I don't really understand how you check gauge etc, so I just used the hook the designer used and have ended up with a tiny hat that barely fits Jemima. So funny. I will finish it up though and give it to a baby friend, or adorn the hat of a dolly that lives here as a reminder to always check the gauge before beginning a new project. 

Obviously I figured the gauge thing out, though I had trouble with the brim of this hat. If you went and checked out the pattern you will see that the brim (turned down) has stitches that seem to be running in a different direction from the crown. In my hat they all run the same. Which is why I turned up the brim, to give the hat some interest. I think the problem lies in the direction: "work back loops only". I seem to do all my crochet that way- working in the back loops, so the stitch was indeed the same for the brim and crown in my case. Or perhaps I wasn't working the brim in "rows" as opposed to "spirals" as you do for the crown... Anyway, I am determined to get to the bottom of it so I can make this hat as designed. Anyone out there got any ideas? I am going to find some helpful person on Ravelry and bombard them with questions. 

But I quite like my blue hat despite all that. The wool is from my mum's stash and the blue button was from mine, so a pretty economical little project too. 

Capelets for all!

I finished MY capelet (another from Leila and Ben) last night after a very long wrung out kind of day. I get these atypical migraines once in a while where I lose my vision and sensation down one side of my body. If the migraine biz is in the left lobe of my brain I also lose my ability to speak. Quite unnerving for anyone, but as a speech pathologist also strangely interesting as I figure out what neurological pathway is being affected. A bit nerdy, yes. When I first had one of these migraines, I thought I was having a stroke and was very freaked out. Yesterday, it must have been the right lobe as I got left numbness and kept bumping into things.

I managed to catch it early with panadol and a lie down and a very kind mother of mine who took Caleb to preschool and Jemima off my hands for the day. 

So am feeling a little fuzzy today, and thought this photo was therefore appropriate.

But anyway, back to capelets. After making Jem's about a week ago, I found this one came together very quickly. I am loving crochet as the ultimate pick-up-and-go craft, and have taken to it a lot more easily than knitting. I have yarn for another of these for a little friend... who knows where it will end. 

Skirt Alert!

A little while ago I mentioned I was keen to get a but more curviness going on in my sewing to match my hour glass figure. Quite a few people commented that they too are of the classic hour glass persuasion, so I know that you all understand the challenges of sewing clothes that are fitted. I do so love the smock, I cannot deny. I love the way it conceals my squishy tummy, but I must confess I look a little on the with-child side when I wear one.

(PS I am really bad at having my picture taken- you can almost read the thought bubble, "what shall I do with my hands??")

This skirt is from Sew U by Wendy Mullin. It is the largest size that you can make which surprised me. I wear an aussie size 12 to give you an idea of how big the pattern goes. The skirt is a little roomy, but is very comfortable. It was my first attempt at sewing in a zipper, and with the help of the book, you know what? Not so hard. (At least not so hard if you aren't demanding absolute perfection.) I also learned about using weights to help cut out pattern pieces rather than pinning all the pattern pieces to the fabric. So much easier. I learned a few interesting things actually, Wendy is like the textiles teacher I never had.

The instructions for this pattern are pretty clear, but probably better if you read through the whole book first before you attempt to make something if you are a bit of a beginner like me. 

Another thing I like about the book is she gives some information and ideas about design features to customise your garment. I stuck to the basics for this as I haven't made a lot of adult clothing. The belt loop instructions for the skirt were a little lacking for my liking, but I just made something up which was quick and seems so far to have worked out OK. I used a satin ribbon as a belt here, but I think I will make a sash out of the same fabric too. I sewed some beautiful mother of pearl vintage buttons that are the shape of a flower to the front belt loops too. I think I will do one like this from Angry Chicken too. Lord knows I have enough buttons around this place.

There are 2 other patterns in the book: a button up shirt and a pair of pants. I don't tend to wear button up shirts, and I don't find pants all that comfortable, so I don't know if I am as keen to make these. But there are certainly more skirts in my future. For. sure.

Eye Spy... what I am reading now

I would really really like to be able to sew clothes for myself, but my figure makes that difficult being of the hour glass variety. Anything that's a bit easier and less fitted, ie smockish, is a bit of a disaster for me. The above blouse is something I made from a Simplicity pattern last year, just wasn't my thing in the end. After a few months (when the emotional attachment had worn off) I gave it away. The new owner might even iron it... 

When Chris went to the US, he brought me back the Sew U books by Wendy Mullin. I started "properly reading" the first one this morning after tea and toast in bed (Happy Mother's Day!!). I think it should be a good start to sewing for grown ups... I've sewn a bunch of stuff, but mostly straight lines, so curving it up will be good for me.

Thanks Monique for the theme! Pop over to Cindy's place to see what others are reading.

What not to wear

I was given the book "The Body Shape Bible" by Trinny and Susannah (of "What not to wear" fame) for my birthday the other day and have discovered my body shape is an "hourglass figure" (no surprises there, it is something I have always known deep down.)

But I also discovered, unfortunately, that most of my wardrobe is unflattering to my newly diagnosed said hourglass figure.

I put on a smock top (most unflattering now that my eyes have been opened!) yesterday morning and 5 minutes before we were due to head out to church, I decided I couldn't handle it and made a sash to cinch in my waist a little. It was just what I had lying around and happens to be what I am making some kitchen curtains out of- Sound of Music, anyone?

I'm not really sure about it, it still isn't amazingly flattering, but certainly an improvement! They have a little section at the end of the book urging readers not to go out and spend spend spend, but see how they can adapt what they already have. So there may be some more wardrobe refashioning in my future!

Jeans to a skirt

I borrowed the book 99 Ways to Cut, Sew and Deck out your Denim from the library a little while ago and made this skirt. As a book it is OK, but a lot of designs seem aimed at a younger and well, thinner, audience. This skirt was most appealing of all the patterns to try because I knew I would wear it and it was pretty easy looking. It wasn't too difficult, but because they were wide leg jeans, I needed more fabric than the instructions suggested, so I had to keep snipping and sewing until I had it right. It actually works well that there is some extra fabric in it as there is nothing worse than a wrap around skirt that flies open revealing more than you had planned. This one wraps around about one and a half times, so I feel safely enclosed.

I have several pairs of jeans that I don't wear as I can't seem to get a pair to fit. Word is that you should buy jeans a little tight as the denim stretches. So I do that, and get a pair of jeans that are too tight. Think muffin top. Better yet, don't. 

So then I buy a pair that fits well and they stretch and are baggy and fall down, which has never really been the look that I go for. 

I have borrowed the book again, but really I can't see that I will be making anything from there in the near future as I have a lot of gift sewing to do. Not sure if I will get it all done!