Pretty Penny

Oh my it’s been a while pals! I have been busy away in the background making stuff but I’ve just been procrastinating longer and longer before sitting down to write an actual blog post! And well life happened! I got engaged last September, which incredibly exciting, we have a date and it’s full steam ahead. I honestly cannot wait to call my best pal my husband!

Enough of all the soppy and let’s talk sewing! I’ve been excited to sew up a Penny Dress for myself ever since I saw the design way back last year when we were prepping the designs for this year at work. It’s such a simple but really pretty dress and in a lovely cotton lawn, which this version is in, it’s perfect for all the lovely but slightly sweat inducing sunshine we have been having!

I made this up last week and I was so excited to have made the perfect sundress my wonderful photographer/fiancee took some pictures on an adventure to Syon Park yesterday. We had the perfect day filled with sunshine and plenty of cake! I would highly recommend it if you fancy a day out, the conservatory is awesome. We didn’t get to go into the house as it was closed for a wedding but we will just have to go back for a second visit!

Back to the dress! I did a slight FBA following this tutorial, I also lengthened the front slightly to accommodate my bust and stop it sitting just under my bra! It seems to have worked fine and I’m pretty pleased with the overall fit. I kept the skirt the original length, normally I would shorten it but the longer length is nice for the summer, less chance of flashing your pants in an unexpected gust of wind, I’m looking at you London Underground!

There is already another Penny on the go, in the most amazing flamingo fabric but it has taken a bit of a backseat as it is not the most breathable fabric so I doubt I’ll get much wear out of it anytime soon! There will be photos, I am determined to fill up my wardrobe while I have the time before wedding dress sewing takes over!

That’s all from me pals, hope you all have restful Sundays! I’m sat with some tea and enjoying some leftover cake from our afternoon tea yesterday.

Pushing forward towards spring

It hasn’t been such a funtime in these parts for the past few weeks , apart from the usual February doldrums I have been harassed by all manner of lurgies and I’ve felt like a snot monster most of the time, attractive I know. But hopefully the worst is over and we are indeed hurtling towards spring.

Despite all the snot induced woe I have been doing quite a bit of selfless making in the form of some presents for some very dear friends, the first of which I bring you today.

In issue 49 of Mollie Makes there is a very cut embroidery pattern for a very rare hare which I decided to turn into a cushion for my wonderful friend Iris. It was her 30th so I wanted to make her something really special and after quite a lot of swearing and some help from my lovely boyfriend I’m really pleased with the results.

I had  trouble sewing the central piece to the border but I got there in the end, there’s probably an easier way to do it ,rather than the convoluted way I was trying but I got there in the end. The next one will be easier I’m sure.

The cushion inside was made with fabric scraps and is surprisingly soft and it’s such a great way to recycle them. I’ve been desperate to try it out for a while and I’d highly recommend using some of your scraps up this way. Makes me feel better anyway, there were at least two toiles used in the stuffing of this cushion!

For now there will be a bit of selfish sewing squeezed in to the next few weeks before the next birthday!!

Wardrobe Architect 2015

Over on the Colette blog they’re re-starting the wardrobe architect challenge for 2015, that is if any of you folks didn’t know already. I remember reading about the process last year and thinking what a good idea it was but not being nearly prepared enough to start. So here we are a year later and I’m still nowhere near organised but  I’m going to give it a bash anyway!

There are many reasons why I wanted to do this, to push myself to sew more and to learn new skills but then main reason is that I never really think of my projects as a whole. It’s normally ‘oh that looks nice, yes it’s a party dress but I always need party dresses’ but never really what’s actually missing from my wardrobe.  I will still be sewing party dresses, obviously, but I’m planning a more practical approach to my sewing and my wardrobe.

One of the steps is to define your core style and this is something which has always clashed in my mind. My mental picture of my core style is always slightly more elegant and refined than what actually happens when I leave the house. So this is the perfect opportunity for them to meet in the middle somewhere and for once be harmonious. Well that’s the plan.

The way I would describe my personal style at the moment is fun, bright, floral and a little bit retro – I would like to change things up and push forward in a new direction as I’m now in a new decade but most importantly I want to keep it bright and fun. How we dress is how we express ourselves to the world and I’d like to make that expression even bolder and sewing my own clothes makes me incredibly proud of what I’m wearing.

I’m beginning to research shapes and styles and have taken a few pictures of the patterns I want to start with. I would like to add to what I already have, buy selectively and actually draft my own as I fear my patterning cutting brain is dying a slow death from under-use and neglect.

So here’s the start for your perusal and I’ll be working on a lot more in the coming weeks!