Whoops!

I seem to have forgotten all about my blogging duties lately! Despite my absence I have still been sewing up a storm, actually that's a lie, its been more like a small puff of wind.
But I have finished my Butterick dress that I was previously working on, however there are few minor adjustments I'd like to make to it before taking photos for you all.

I've also started working through all the fabric I picked up at Walthamstow Market, starting with this.

This is made using Simplicity 5645, which is the same pattern used for my blue leopard print shirt. I made sure to lengthen the tie this time so I could make a big bow. I've been wanting to incorporate more yellow into my wardrobe, and so far this has had quite a few appearances in my work wardrobe. This also ties in nicely with my Spring/Summer Palette Challenge

I'm also just about to start the muslin for my next little project, which is this beauty,

For the real thing I'm using some chocolate brown polka dot viscose, but for the moment i'm working with white crepe as I have a feeling i'll need to do some adjustments.
Wish me luck!

Finished Project: Simplicity 5645

It's finished!

Don't you love that feeling of satisfaction when you've made a garment that you're completely happy with?!

This was so quick to put together and only took me this long to finish because work/house chores got in the way. Stupid chores.

The main bulk of this was done on Monday and once I decided enough was enough, I only had to hand stitch the facings, and make the buttonholes.

Here it is

Just as a reminder, here's the pattern

This seriously fits like a dream, probably because it's not meant to be too fitted.

I really like the length of this too, it sits quite nicely in line with my hip bones, meaning I can wear it casually with a pair of jeans, or I can wear it tucked into a skirt for work.

I know i'm going to get a lot of wear out of this, and I will definitely be making this again. I'm really eager to use the collar instead of the tie, and of course the sailor blouse (which is the reason I bought the pattern in the first place!).

I didn't really come across any problems with this pattern either. The directions & illustrations were simple to follow, all in all a thoroughly recommended pattern!

In addition to this, I thought I'd also share with you some recent purchases.

First up patterns...

I've finally bought my first mens pattern, at the request of the husband. I think he's getting jealous at all the new clothes I'm making for myself and has now decided he wants in too!

I bought a couple more blouse patterns as i'm wanting a few new things for work.

The top 3 actually came as a set from Ebay, so the Butterick dress was a bonus!

I then opted for the more contemporary Butterick pattern as it reminded me a lot of Gerties Bombshell Dress. I've seen quite a few floating around, and thought this would be a great way of making a similar one myself. I especially like the option of having a contrasting band wrapped around the bodice, and it has pockets.

Next is fabric..

Due to my recent splurge on patterns, I restrained myself and only bought this, again on Ebay. It's about 2 3/4 metres of vintage rayon in a cute plaid design. I'm quite tempted to use this for the Butterick 9973 shown above if there's enough of it?

Happy sewing!

What A Weekend!

This week has been a hectic one to say the least, with plenty of exciting things happening.

This week saw my husband & I celebrate 5 years of being together, his 25th birthday, one of our best friends birthdays, and a welcome home party for two of our friends who have spent the past year traveling around Oz & Asia.

Not only that, but we've put a deposit down on a brand spanking new car (which is being built in a factory somewhere as i type!), so it's been a bit of a busy (and expensive) week!

Needless to say not a lot of sewing has been going on, however I have finished my blouse muslin and am very happy with the way it's turned out despite the minor alterations I had to make.

My chosen fabric has been cut out ready to start this week, 

and I managed to pick up some of these babies at the weekend to..

So I can have my very own leopard print buttons!

My red 1947 Butterick dress only has the hem left to do now, but I can't quite make up my mind about how I want to do it? I'm thinking binding the seam with some red ribbon I have, but I just can't decide!

Either way, it WILL be done this week!

I've also had a few fabric bits given to me by my mother-in-law this week that she managed to grab from work. It's mainly home furnishing type fabric but that doesn't mean I can't find a use for it somehow?!

Top Left - Cream lining for curtains

Top Right - Rose Printed thick cotton

Bottom Left - Pink & Red polk dotted cotton

Bottom Right - Dark Grey Wool Blend/Possibly Tweed?

Any ideas on what I should do with them?

Simplicity 5645 (1964) Continued..

I've started putting together a muslin for my blouse this week, as the bust is actually a size bigger than I am I thought it best to play safe and do a test run. So far I've made a couple of amendments such as taking in the side seams (by 3cm each side!) and reshaping the armholes, but this was to be expected.

I've used an old 1970's (I think?) bed sheet that my mum had stored in the loft for years and donated to me a while back along with some other material.

It's pretty safe to say I would have never used this for anything worthwhile, so a muslin it shall be!

Gorgeous right? Ha!

Not too shabby, right?

There has been however, a couple of hiccups as far as the instructions are concerned. For one thing it mentions an interfacing pattern piece that does not exist in the actual pattern. Confused? Me too! 

The pattern has all pieces accounted for, but for some reason in the layout diagrams there is an extra piece called 'front interfacing' that isn't listed along with everything else, and there's no mention of what size/dimension it should be? Either way, I don't see it as being too important as I have other patterns of a similar style that don't call for interfacing in the front (only collar/cuffs). 

I also had a misunderstanding with the collar/tie piece which ended up having one half cut on the right side, and the other half cut on the wrong side. If you look closely you might notice it!

A lesson learned for next time!

Next up for me are the facings & stitching the collar in place, then onto the sleeves.

I also managed to get myself to a shop that stocked the type of zippers I needed so I can finish my red dress, as well as this beauty

Some yummy blue leopard print cotton, which I'm very tempted to use for this pattern.

I've also been a bit naughty and bought some ebay/etsy goodies this week too

These are currently on their way to me from the States

And 3 metres of polyester goodness was waiting for me when I got home from work yesterday

Now to decide what to make with what?!

Simplicity 5645 (1964)

My first attempt at making this pattern will be View 5 shown above, it's the most 'wearable' out of the bunch and will come in handy for work. Now I have the hard task at choosing the fabric....

I decided to go with a cotton print first, and these 4 immediately sprung to mind. 

Polka dots Vs Gingham

I'm not entirely sure that there will be enough of the blue polka dot to make this, so it may have to wait for a smaller project. I'm also not wanting to bite off more than I chew right now and have the hassle of lining up the checks, making sure it's all symmetrical? 

So for now (at least) lilac polka dot is declared the winner of round 1!

Good decision?

Let me know your thoughts?

My Red Dress

Throughout the week I've been putting together the bodice of this pattern:

I know, I know, it's from 1987 and belongs on Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman'. I had every intention of seeing this through making minor changes along the way to attempt at 'modernizing' it (excluding shoulder pads, shortening the length etc...)  but somewhere between sewing the facings & putting the sleeves together I lost interest. It happens. 

This is as far as I got (sleeves are pinned on), I've already adjusted the armhole to try and get rid of the extra amount there for ridiculous shoulder pads, but it still doesn't look right to me? 

So in an attempt to have not completely wasted my time with this material, i'm using the cut skirt pieces and spare fabric I have left to make this..

I've already made this once here so I know I'm going to love it & get lots of wear from it.

So far half the bodice is done and I'm hopeful that I should have this finished this weekend.

In other news - I ventured out on my own to the next village along from me today, as I discovered there was a fabric shop on the small high street! As excited as I was, I was a little disappointed with the fabric range. They seemed to concentrate more on the home furnishings/curtain making side of fabric rather than dressmaking, however it should come in useful for the essentials. As I wandered along I dipped in and out of the standard charity shops that you get in UK, and wondered in amazement (and let out a small squeal of delight!) when right at the back of one stood a bookshelf FULL of vintage patterns!

JACKPOT!

After sifting through the atrocious 80's/90's patterns I found 2 (in my size) that were hard to say no to at just £1 each.

First up is Vogue 5308 from 1961 - a super cute shift dress shape with princess seams and a box pleated skirt. This was missing one piece however, but it was only the belt facing which isn't hard to replace. This will be perfect for a work dress in either a stiff cotton blend or even wool for the winter?

Then I have Style 4151 from 1973. How amazing does View 2 (Blue Dress) look? I'm a little bit in love with this design, and the instructions look super easy! (famous last words). 

This is going to be perfect for making some summer dresses in some cute cotton prints, or in synthetics like rayon.

I also bought this on Ebay this week

Simplicity 5645 from 1964. How cute are these variations?

I saw this and knew it should be mine!

So now I need to dig around my stash and start deciding what to make with what! 

I've been slowly turning my sewing room into a useable space, trying to de-clutter as much as I can.

I now have a somewhat clear workspace

A place to hang my vintage clothing

To store my jars of buttons

My fabric stash

My dressform, and my art supplies.

There are more things that I want to do with this room (time and money depending) in order to get it looking how I really want, but I have to bear in mind that this room is also supposed to function as a spare room for visitors!

Until next time!