New Patterns.....

2 new patterns ordered today, for summer dresses.

1st up we have V8992

I love the clean lines in this design, have a fab blue and white striped cotton in mind that I purchased a few months back from Truro Fabrics

 

Next up we have V8997, This is a custom fit A to D cup design, which is ideal for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will update you once I start making.

 

 

Summer Dress - Butterick B5317

My latest adventure in sewing was to try Butterick / Maggy London Pattern no. B5317.

Available in sizes 8 - 22 ( i made a 22 with no pattern amendments)

Pattern Description:

Very easy

Slightly flared

Below mid knee

Fitted bodice

Lined bodice

Empire waistline

Pleats

Side seam pockets

Side zipper closure

Contrast band



I chose to omit the side pockets, mainly because i do not need the extra bulk on my hips, and because having put side pockets in dresses before, i know i very rarely use them.



I also didn't do the contrast band because finding a solid colour which matched the fabric i used was going to take a while, also choosing which colour to match with was driving me mad.

So i eventually made deviant A with skirt B !

And this is how it turned out.



The fabric was from John Lewis, it cost £3.99 p/m in the sale ! A good bargain. Its a very light weight 100% cotton.



In fact its so light weight I'm considering lining the skirt as i feel on a sunny day it may be a tad see-through.



The bodice is lined in 100% cotton, I prefer to line my summer dresses in cotton as its cooler.

Side View.

Concealed side zip.

Dart detail on bust

Photo of Bodice detail.

Top stitched

I enjoyed making up this pattern, it was definitely easy to follow.

As always with dress making the key is in the preparation i.e. pressing the pleats and pattern pieces to ensure a crisp finish.

All i need to do know it hem it and then wait for a beautiful sunny day......i might be waiting quite a while......

Pinafore & Pants

Happy new year, well what a start to 2010 !!!.

My fisrt project this year has been to make

some baby clothes i started with my own

design of this -

Its a pinafore top with matching knickerbokers / panties.

Really please with how it turned out.

Thought the strawberry material was super cute.

Summer Dress - See & Sew B5307

So I'm making use of being of work with a cold :-( by finishing off all my half finished garments.

When my husband gets home he wont know whats happened, he complains its like living in a sweat shop at the moment with outfits hanging all over the flat.

The first item i finished off was See & Sew B5307.

I made this up in a fabulous John Kaldor fabric which i got on eBay for a bargain £8.00 for 3m. Its a beautiful white cotton with a bold yellow, orange, red print.

Once made up i had to make a few changes to the design on the bodice. The front showed a little too much for my taste, so i added a piece of material to the front for modesty!

New Look Pattern 6779

So amongst other things my sister brought me this pattern for my birthday. Mainly because she likes it and has already brought the material for me to make one for her!!

But as it does go up to a 22, I'm gonna give it ago myself. The reviews aren't good on sewing.patternreview. But I'm hoping it will work for me..

I brought a nice blue cotton with floral print, and I'm waiting for a white cotton to arrive for the contrast. I'm gonna make version B (top right corner). But without the pockets.

Wish me luck !

My first Dress - Vogue 1089

I'm so excited and pleased with myself. I have just completed my first sewing project! yipee...

I made Vogue 1089.

The material i used was a cotton sateen (not shiny) with a little stretch in it, in a beautiful off white with large red flower print all over. Which i brought for £6.99 p/m from Ebay !!!

I chose not to add the beading detail and feel the pattern of my material does not require it.

Only changes i made were to the length of the pattern. I'm a curvy gal and don't have the legs to pull off a dress as short as this ( think tree trunks) so i added 5 inches to the length and now it ends about 1 inch below the knee. Which i think is perfect.

So here is my dress.

Also brought some fab red wedge platform sandals to wear with it. Will add a pic of these in a few days.

The wonder of a vintage pattern.

There is just something about a Vintage pattern that sends me a bit doolally.


This weeks purchase was an original Special Design Vogue 4010 from 1959.

The pattern is complete and uncut ! Although as you can see the envelope is a little worse for wear but hey , i can over look that.

Cant wait to make this up, but its gonna take a lot of preparation. I don't want to be the one to cut the original pattern piece so i plan to trace it out.

From the trace copy i will then need to grad the pattern up a few sizes.

I'm thinking a rough silk in a deep red colour. would be perfect for Christmas party season.