Mint aperitif party dress

Well, this is just a quick update before I'm off for Christmas holidays (can't wait!). I finished this dress in November in time for a 50s, themed bridal shower, which was a picnic at the beautiful Hamilton Gardens (followed by dinner, drinks, karaoke and dancing). Unfortunately I didn't get too many snaps as the weather was pretty shitty.

The pattern is Butterick B6582, which is a repro from a 1960 pattern, but the silhouette of the full skirted version is close enough to pass for the 50s!

I had to resize it quite a bit as based on the pattern measurements I should be a 12 (smallest size on the pattern I bought) but I guess there is a shit tonne of ease in there because it was 12cms too wide overall :( I couldn't figure out how I should've gone about reducing the bodice with the overlapping bits and the facings so simply took 6cms from CF and CB and redrew the angled line going across the front of the bodice. This meant the angle of the neckline isn't exactly even but I don't think it's too noticeable. The dress wasn't too difficult to sew up once I'd figured out the resizing.



I also managed (just) to make a petticoat to go with it as the skirt really looks better with the extra poufiness :) The fabric was this amazing mint green with little bottles (pretty sure they are aperitif bottles) all over it, which went perfectly for a hen's night I thought! I got it from the Whitianga op shop, I've found so many good bargains there.



I really want to make the wiggle dress version of this pattern but that will have to wait as I've got so many other patterns waiting in the pipeline! A couple more snaps from the picnic with the lovely bride-to-be.


Well that's me done for the time being, bring on the sun, sand and good times at the beach. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays. Can't wait to see all the rest of your festive season makes xxxx

Orange doughnuts

I tested out the Brasilia dress that Rachel of House of Pinheiro is releasing for FREE. It's due out on Christmas day. I would seriously recommend trying it out because it was such a breeze to sew and it is such a flattering style.

This Brasilia is more of a wearable muslin because I don't think I graded down enough from Rachel's size to fit me/to accommodate stretch fabric, but what the hell - I got heaps of compliments wearing it so it can't be too bad! I can't wait to get started on my next version, just maybe in not such a loud fabric....


This stretch cotton (possibly sateen?) was from trusty ole Ike's in Devonport. So hard to resist the cheap fabrics there. The black/orange circle print (actually octagons if you look close enough) remind me of doughnuts, go figure! Unfortunately the print is off grain, but I don't think it's so noticeable from distance. I used a contrasting black and white striped fabric for the panels and binding otherwise it was just too orange or something. Not that I have anything against orange.


You can see the print doesn't match down the centre seam (but don't even care!)


I used a contrasting black and white striped fabric for the panels and binding otherwise it was just too orange or something. Not that I have anything against orange.


The fabric has stretched out a bit around my hips and bum so I might take it in but I'm not sure if I can be bothered - this dress is still fully wearable as is and I certainly plan on rocking it throughout the summer. I have my eye on a navy tropical print sateen for my next version.

Pretty Pink Polka (dot) Polly

Because I can't help myself I've made another polka dotty thing - the Polly top! It's a totally free (FREE!) pattern from By Hand London. It's a simple top and didn't take too long for me to whip up.


I've only previously made 1 top so wanted to keep things simple. I found this slightly sheer, dotty fabric (off cuts of some sort) at John's Place Emporium in Wairau Park for about $2 a piece (I got 2). There was only 1 selvedge edge, which is what makes me think they are off cuts.




The dots are actually larger/more dense at one end of the fabric (not sure if it shows up in the photos - this is along the bottom of the top) which is a bit more interesting than regular dots... and I picked up the solid pink fabric ($4/m) from my fave store, Ike's. I don't have too much to say about sewing it up except that it was straight forward :)


I just made the straight (UK) size 10 and added a couple inches to the length, based off my issues fitting BHL's Anna dress bodice and I quite like longer length tops. But I think the original length would've been totally fine too. I also used french seams for the sides because of the sheer factor.


So that's it, another top to add to my summer wardrobe. I've almost finished up my November Sewing pattern for the Monthly Stitch (just have to hem it) and am about to cut out my La Sylphide dress for the sewalong. I've also got to get onto the November pattern for a Year in Indie Sewing, the Nougat dress from Štepalica patterns.

(not so timely) Anna dress

Well *ahem* I finished my Anna dress from the sewalong... and finally got evidence of that fact! I wore it last evening as it has finally warmed up enough to comfortably wear it. These photos were taken at 7pm last night, man I love spring and summer with all the extra sunshiney goodness :)


It was really hard to photograph this dress because of all the yellow... I love wearing this dress, it's so light and airy and feels absolutely lovely against my skin. Not sure of the fabric, probably polyester.

I whipped this up way ahead of the sewalong schedule, but with the weather and general other things going on this was my first chance to take photos. The only problems I had sewing her up were the fitting of the bodice, as previously discussed here. The rest of it was a breeze, even all the hand stitching of that split.



Speaking of which, I didn't realise how indecent of height it was till I was actually wandering down the road and the gentlest of winds blew it open..... I need to close her up by at least 2 inches, oops.


Overall I'm so happy with how this dress turned out. I ended up making the bandeau onepiece to go underneath this dress as I couldn't find anything to buy that was quite right, but i'm thinking i'll attempt to make a slip dress to go with.



Next time I make the Anna (and there will be a next time!) I will avoid using  a sheer fabric and shorten the bodice length a smidge, as I added a bit too much in my opinion.

I can't believe that I wasn't very into this pattern when I first saw it, I can see my Anna getting a huge workout this upcoming summer!

Metallic Laurie Striped Tee

Here's my first completed Named pattern - the Laurie Striped Tee. So that makes 1/1 for the year in indie patterns challenge, I wonder what pattern company Stephanie will choose for October?

Whoop, first T-shirt I've ever made and only the second time I've sewn with a knit. I don't want to jinx myself here but I don't get what all the sewing with knits fear is about? I read up on it, used a ballpoint needle and the "stretch stitch" on my machine, took my time and had no issues. Any fault in the finished top is my own lack of paying attention so I'm not going to blame anything on the fabric. Actually, I take that back - this was a bitch to press, the fabric wouldn't hold the pleats very well - but a bad tradesmen blames his tools so I'm still not going to blame my slightly wonky pleats on the fabric :p

I don't own an overlocker so this was completely sewn with my normal machine. I'm really happy with how it turned out - the bottom hem is wonky but I think (hopefully) I'm the only person who will notice.... This is a bit baggier than I'd normally wear my T-shirts, and the shoulders are a teeny tiny smidge too wide, but it's definitely something I will wear (and have already!). Looking again at the model for this pattern I think it's supposed to be this relaxed a fit?


The pattern was really easy to tape together and trace, the only issue I really had was the lack of illustrations with the instructions. That being said, this is a very basic pattern so it wasn't difficult without, I just like looking at diagrams of how things should go together :) I would be a bit apprehensive about sewing some of the more difficult Named patterns without diagrams....

I used a metallic grey knit from Centrepoint Fabrics in Newmarket. Sorry for the out of focus photos - it is a lot sparklier IRL but my shitty point-and-click camera (and the lack of daylight) made photographing it difficult. On top of the sparkle there is a shiny dot kinda pattern on the fabric as well. You can sorta see it here

I trawled through Ike's and Spotlight for an appropriately drapey knit with no success so had to check the more expensive fabric stores to find the right sorta knit. Luckily this stuff was $5/m but I had trouble deciding on fabrics; once I found a store that actually had a SELECTION to choose from, I  went a bit crazy and got 2 other pricier knits as well. Meh, i'll find good uses for the other knits, this Laurie is more of a wearable muslin anyway, I'm keen to make a more fitted version of it.

I persuaded Sean to take a few photos (the ones taken outside- at the top of this post) but he wasn't that into it so I figured out the self timer on my camera - here are a few shots of me trying to get the distance/angle right



The camera autofocus with the timer was a bit funny so I've still got to play around with places/times of day that are best for taking outfit photos.

And here's an obligatory kitty photo.

Maya is generally my little "helper" when I'm sewing but she wasn't around on Sunday when I was making my Laurie t-shirt. I'm participating in the Anna Dress Sewalong from the ladies at By Hand London, and Maya has been dutifully keeping my sewing chair warm for me since I started on my Anna...