Out of a coma and into Papercut Patterns

Ok so who wins the worst blogger award? yup, that'd be me.

But who has the time to worry about such things? Let's press on shall we...

Though there has been minimal blogging activity in these parts, there has been manic sewing activity.

I recently finished up at my office job and started working full time in a fabric store...(I know, kid in a candy store and all that. I shopped there so much that they had to employ me soon or later). 

So life is pretty swell, I walk to work each the morning, stopping for the obligatory coffee on the way and traipse along to play with fabric all day. Pretty much.

So, what of the sewing you ask? Here is a little somethin somethin I whipped up last weekend.

Enter La Sylphide...

So I guess I'm late to the Papercut Patterns party, Fashionably late I hope. 

I was seeing beautiful papercut creations popping up  all over the interwebs. This spawned furious jealousy inside me! So much so that I decided it was high time something was done about this cumbersome urge. Cumbersome! (greatest. word. ever.)

Patterns were ordered toot sweet, Add to cart, add to cart!

FIngernail biting and sleepless nights ensued and then the lovely pattens were in my hands.

Laughing like a mad scientist, I retired to the sewing lair.

I shopped the stash. Of course a light summer cotton voile is perfect for this cold Victorian weather... okay maybe not. But who cares, practical shmactical!

I could sing from the rooftops about how much I love cotton voile. Whenever the wind blows, it whispers "cotton voile" "cotton voile" (said in best Enya voice). 

Cough, we simply must press on...

Toosh. 

Nothing stunning to report about this make. It was pretty much completed in one afternoon. 

No major boo boos to report either. Simple sewing. My new machine even made the buttonholes a breeze (must tell you about the amazing buttonhole contraption one day!) and the plain white buttons were found in the button drawer. winner. 

So let's tally up the scores. 

Pattern: Papercut Patterns la Sylphide 

Size: XS (No alterations, Perfect fit!)

Fabric: Cotton Voile from the stash, High Five!

Notions: 6 white buttons from stash, High ten!

Minutes spent obsessing lusting thinking over next Papercut pattern: 164 (approx)

So thats that. I have several projects up in the air as usual and will be working furiously on another Tessuti competition dress. Only 14 days left before comp closes and counting...EEK!

Hope you're all sewing your little fingers off.

Over and out rubber ducky...

Tessuti Gridlock Gertie Wiggle Dress!

Now try and say that 10 times fast!

I finally decided to get my ass into gear and finish this dress today.
Yes...on the day this competition closes. No pressure!

I was unsure about this fabric from day dot, so it was left to sit in a pile on my sewing room floor for a good 3 weeks. Blue is really not my colour... yet I continue to persist in testing this theory!

 So in a pile it sat until I started seeing Gertie's wiggle dresses popping up all over the blogosphere (such as this one and this gorgeous one...)

I said to myself "you will be mine wiggle dress... oh yes. You will be mine!"

Then i stopped talking to myself and cut the darn thing out.

looking like a proud new mother...

Construction went together pretty smoothly.

After sewing the 8 double pointed darts! phew...

There was much head scratching over how to insert the underarm gussets.

But I managed to get them in somehow... and they look pretty neat if I do say so myself!

Finished Underarm Gusset! woop woop

So the gussets were done... then I lost steam and dropped the project in a pile again.

Until today that is...

 I had a day off from work and decided to tackle the UFO box (Insert scary music here) 

And I thought, what the hay, there are still a few hours to submit a dress for this competition so lets get cracking!

I whizzed up the side seams and added the neck facing and finished the hems. DONE AND DONE!

however... it looked pretty boring compared to some of the other comp entries. Hrmph...

(Not that I am in the running with a last minute whip up Ha!)

So I needed to use the white side of the fabric to add a little something.

A bow seemed like a nice and simple addition, and a quick one too.

I made it detachable so I can swap brooches depending on mood.

And the fit you ask?

A-m-a-z-i-n-g

I have never had a pattern fit so well straight out of the envelope... or book in this case.

I traced a straight size 8 (I think) and made zero alterations. 

No full bust adjustment, no pinching excess from the back. Nothing!

Winner. Thanks Gertie.

All in all, I am a happy little vegemite.

I feel a bit va va voom yet classy at the same time.

Now I just need somewhere to wear this little number.

Cocktails anyone???

A month in pictures

cooking, crafting and compiling...fabric that is!

What other dungeon is so dark as one's own heart!

Where have I been?

What am I doing?

I've been in my sewing dungeon, trying to finish this coat for the past 3 months...

Life has been hard in the dungeon...

eating whatever morsels I can find (Mice mostly)

Lack of sunlight for my brittle bones

 looking (And smelling I might add) like a raggedy pirate woman...

But its all over now, I can start to live again.



The coat amongst the apocalypric ruins that once was my sewing room...

More photos to come... after I shower...

What other dungeon is so dark as one's own heart! What jailer so inexorable as one's self! - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Bombshell Dresses ahoy!

Guess who is taking on Gertie's online Bombshell Dress class...?

Me!

Woo Hoo!

Now back to that full bust adjustment... ugh the perils of having large bosoms...

Finished Project: Unfocused Night Dress...Finally...

Hi all. 

 Isn't it about time that I posted some photos of a finished project?

I recently finished this little Mccalls number and thought I'd better share.

You can check out the toile in my previous post. 

I Made the finished version from a lovely Japanese Cotton called 'Unfocused Night' from Tessuti Fabrics & some black gabardine from the stash. (It is much blacker that the photos show, thanks Mr.Flash). 

Please excuse the hair and face. We just got home from a weekend away and I am looking a little flat after sitting in the car and recovering from a few days of nothing but eating, drinking & exploring. 

Thanks again to Mr.Flash for showing up all of the wrinkles!

It all came together without any major blips and was reasonably quick....

I think I got most of the bodice done in an afternoon, interlining,boning, lining & all.

I used the pretty cotton for most of the bodice and the gaberdine for the under layer of the bust and for the skirt also. Gaberdine has such a nice drape!

I traded the skirt from the pattern for a self drafted full circle skirt. Nothing beats a swishy circle right?

As I mentioned in my last post, one of the reasons I purchased this pattern was that it came in different cup sizes. These things are important for a full busted lass like me. 

It goes up to a D cup size but that seemed ample enough (I am an E cup normally). 

The D cup fits perfectly! Hows these crazy pattern sizes... sheesh.

Trusty bow belt, you are the greatest!

I did however have to take a LARGE (and I mean huge!) amount off the back pieces. I seem to have that problem with most patterns. I must have a small back or something...

The front fits and side seams are where they should be, but the back has at least 2 - 3 inches too much.

Does anybody else have this problem?

I shaved a chunk from both sides of the middle of the  back bodice pieces and it worked out fine. 

It is perfectly snug now.

The other alteration made was to the bust darts.

They came out pointy.... and I mean Madonna Pointy!

I re-sewed them with a much curvier shape and they came back from the 80's. 

Phew...

This was my first time using boning - Easy Peasy as it turns out!

And again, finished with a handpicked vintage metal zipper.

I would love to make another version of this in brighter colours and with a different skirt.

The possibilities!

The insides too you ask? 

It is lined with a soft purpleish cotton. Comfy!

I managed to get some dodgy iphone photos for your enjoyment...

                

                             

Thats all folks! Thanks for looking :-)

Let me know what you think.

Hope your all swell...

(Thanks to my lovely gent for the pictures. You are the best ox)

Toiles Away!

This is my toile of McCalls 6350. A pretty little Laura Ashley pattern.

si

What do I love most about this pattern you ask?

Why it's the cup sizes of course!

I love that this goes up to a D cup. I always want to make up patterns with lovely bust details but just thinking of the full bust alteration on a pattern like this gets me flustered!.

I am an E cup and the D cup of this pattern fits like a DREAM!

I am making it up in this pretty Japanese cotton from Tessuti.

And a contrasting black fabric from the stash :-)

The only thing I had to change was the shape of the darts... they were slightly...

erm.... pointy Madonna style. So I rounded them off.

Finished pictures to come, I'm wearing this out on the weekend! hooray

Sunday, I've got buttons on my mind...

Last week I my lovely man had a day off so of course I wagged work to spend the day with him, strolling around the wintery Melbourne city. Eating, drinking, shopping & exploring.

We had breakfast at one of our favourite little cafes in Central Place and looked around the shops.

All the usual ones... T2, Alannah Hill, Anton's, Lush and the rest.

I wanted to take a look at Buttonmania, as I havn't been there before.

(Every single time I have visited the shop it's been closed! no luck).

But on this day it was open. It was so busy that I didn't really get to have a good look though.

But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, I was hovering around the front of the shop & happened to stumble upon another little shop in the same building.

l'ucello 

What a pretty little shop. I picked up some lovely buttons, thread and a belt buckle...

I also grabbed some vintage threads- Olive green nylon & black cotton. They work on the Pfaff like a dream.... ahhh...

Also... The woman behind the counter was so lovely & helpful. Thank you!

I recommend that everybody nearby check it out. There was way too many buttons to choose from so I just took a lucky dip.  

Does anybody have any ideas of what to make with these beauties?

I need something that will show them off :-)

Hope you all had a great week.
What is everybody sewing?
I've got a few things on the go, and a new Beignet to show you all!
If only it would stop raining...

Tally ho!

Jeans! How cool is this guy...

My lovely gent was looking around on the world wide web and stumbled upon the great video of the lovely Roy from Roy Jeans (I've never heard of them up until now.)
I have watched it over and over again and I am jealous of all his cool gadgets!
I like that it shows just how much effort goes into making a single pair of jeans... Sheesh, no wonder they have a $275 price tag attached...
And is it just me or does anybody else find a man who sews sexy? ok maybe thats just me...
He looks like he has sewn a trillion pairs, so speedy and perfect!
Thats all for today folks. Stay tuned for a 200 follower giveaway coming soon!
Have a nice weekend & long weekend if your here in Australia :-)

Roy's Jeans - Video by Self Edge from Self Edge on Vimeo.

Running in Circle Skirts

Howdy All

Hope your all well and dandy!

Its been a busy few weeks of sewing & knitting & all things nice around here. 

I have been plotting & scheming around online ventures too!

In Sewing news...

I have been playing around with some fabric dyes.

Using an ombre technique that I found online... somewhere...

I started with my favourite olive tones and have since tried red, navy & even bright pink.

just hanging around with my dummy (Still unnamed! scandalous!!!)

Peekaboo Petticoat

This is the result of the first dye. Made up into a simple circle skirt.

It has a mustard coloured voile underskirt and invisible hand stitching (The whole inside of the waistband!) to create a clean look on the outside.

It has an invisible side zipper and a hook & eye to finish. I made it using a good quality medium weight gabardine, ombre dyes & plenty of LOVE of course..

All in all it cost around $60 to make. Sheesh...

I was wanting to put a few of these in my new Etsty Store in every colour of the rainbow! So...

Questions for you, dear readers:

Do you think that these are sellable?

How much would you pay for one of these handmade/hand dyed skirts? 

How would you photography them? (They really don't look as nice in the pictures!)

Any other thoughts/tips/ideas/input... 

Things that have helped your own etsy/ebay etc. stores??

I'm in desperate need of your input and ideas :-) 

Or tell me if it is ridiculous too! HA

In the meantime, I have been perusing all of your blogs

The snug Bug's Tahitian Treats

Tilly's pretty Summer dress

&

Voodoo Stitches all round awesomeness!

Have fun and stay stitching!!!

Black & White #1

Current Obsession - Black & White frocks.

I have been eyeing off some lovely black and white frocks lately over at Modcloth and other such pretty sites and decided I need one... In gingham.

Twas just my luck when I happened to stumble upon some perfect black and white shiny gingham taffeta on ebay & won it for a steal! I had to start stitching as soon as it arrived.

Full Frontal

This is the first complete dress that I have drafted myself and it turned out pretty good I think...
The only thing is that the neckline is about an inch too low, oops. I will have to be careful when & where I wear this number.

Back Shot

The fabric was a bit of a pain to sew with... so shiny and creasy....bleh!

But we got there in the end... after two zippers and some loss of hair...

Its completely lined in some light white cotton but I didn't get a picture. Silly me.

I plan to make this again in a gorgeous lemon print seersucker (Yes another ebay score, don't judge me!)

Think I'll raise the neckline this time so its good to wear out of the house... Tee hee

Lemony Awesomness and Mystery Fabric

Hope everyone is going well in sewing land.

What is everybody sewing???

Stay Tuned for Black & White #2 & #3

Black and white fever!

xx

A Happy New Year, A Finished Project & A Giveaway Announcement Hurrah!

Stay tuned for a GIVEAWAY which will be posted tomorrow! But in the meantime...
The finished New Years Eve Dress

With the fluffy purple petticoat underneath :-)

I actually got the New years eve dress finished for my lovely pal Jodie

And what a saga it was... 

The story starts........ now

Twas the night before Christmas New Years Eve and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse..... oh wait yes, there was one certain creature stirring... it was Renay working franticly at the sewing machine finishing seams and bows, hems and what not, then carefully handstitching here and there & everywhere. Then finally.... finito.

View from the back

Then the day came. The dress was to be worn. Jodie stepped out looking dashing in the swishy skirt and perfectly fitting bodice. She then twirled around for a little help with her zipper..... alas, when the zipper upperer went to zip her up the zipper decided that it would split. Even after an hour of trying to fix it, no luck. We tried every trick in the book, every old wives tale, Candle wax, greylead pencil... My lovely man even tried to spray WD40 on the darn thing! But no... The zipper bombed out, and with only an hour until the party, the backup dress had to be dragged out. 

The moral of the story: Don't use crappy invisible zippers that feel like paper. UGH! 

Bodice and skirt pleats. So hard to capture details 

So Jodie only got to wear the dress for 7 minutes... thats right 7 minutes!!!

But it worked out okay in the end, as it was 42 degrees (celcius!) and we were SO HOT.

Her backup dress was much cooler than the 50's petticoat number.

What a shame.

Open back design as requested

Never fear though, it has since been corrected and in wearable condition so we will just have to take it out for a twirl and cocktails another time... oh how terrible!

Dress Details:

Pattern: Self drafted. I took Jodies measurements and just got lucky with the fit.

She wanted a full skirt and an open back with a bow. I like it enough to make one for myself. Its so swishy and feminine.

Fabric: Jodie found the fabric herself and a nice little fabric boutique. It's a nice medium weight cotton sateen and sewed beautifully.

Time taken: Forever.

Anywho! Hope your all well & happy and enjoying the new year 

Come back tomorrow for a giveaway, some cute items up for grabs!

Thats all for now folks, I need a brandy.... wait I don't drink brandy...