Make My Week #43 – New Look 6000
I bought this pattern a while ago because I loved the pleated part so much but it takes a heap of fabric and I haven’t quite managed to get around to that view.
But the other day I picked up some fabric reduced to $6m and with another 30% off and so for $7.40 or something crazy I bought this cotton drill and made the plain version with the short sleeves. I love this fabric so much. It’s very William Morris I think.
Often when I am sewing I lengthen the hem only to find I have way too much length at the end so this time I cut it exactly and oh me, I literally overlocked and turned. This pattern is short!
The sleeves have a cute pleat detail on top (that is very hard to self-photograph!!) and I used an exposed zip. I quite like using hard looking exposed zips on super feminine clothes just to give them some spunk. (The Atlas told me I had spunk – personality wise – last night! He is so awesome.)
I graded the pattern from a 12 in the body to a 14 at the top to make some room for my ‘Taranaki Shoulders’.
This is the second dress I have made this month – the other one is here. I’m wearing the dress with the camper boots The Atlas bought me when we were in Milan before we had kids and a mortgage!
To see what other creative people are up to click on the button on the right.
For all my creative endeavours lately.
Clothes I’m wearing on pinterest
There are lots of people who have made this New Look 6000 pattern google it for more incarnations.
Make My Week #36 – September Spring Dress
Yesterday I had a day on my own (from 9.20-3pm – that counts as a day right?) and instead of cleaning – which still needs to be done, exercising – which seldom gets done or any other jobs – of which there are plenty! I sewed!
Yes indeed, I made myself a dress.
My mama gave me this Trelise Cooper fabric about 4 years ago for my birthday but I had been a bit afraid to cut into it. Anyway I had been into Annah Streton the other day and feel all inspired by her eclectic approach to fabric combinations – I think she must have grown up with quilts! so on Tuesday night I cut out all sorts of pieces and yesterday I selfishly sewed all day.
I used a Simplicity pattern that I have used a few times before (see yesterdays post for another incarnation) but this time I did the cross over front – oh my! I am pleased this wasn’t the first one I did – the pattern for this version is quite obscure in parts and has whole things missing out. I also ironed a point of the sash on too hot and now it has iron scolds!
I haven’t actually hemmed it yet but let’s not be worried about details shall we!
All up the dress cost me nothing because the fabric was gifted and the lining was leftovers, the zip was gifted in a big pile and I bought the pattern for something else and I’ve already made 4 other versions from it.
If you want to see me wearing it you’ll need to tune in for Wardrobe Wednesday next week.
there is still time to enter my giveaway for a wrist/money cuff thing for a little person in your life.
Joining in with other create types at our creative spaces – click on the button on the right to find them.
Make My Week #24 – Daddy Rowing A Boat
I am developing a family art wall in our place
My boys don’t do a lot of art, mainly they’ve been too busy playing outside to make stuff but when Flip did a special drawing of an ‘Octopus in the Shower’ at 4 I wanted to keep it so I turned it into a stitched picture
The other day Bounce drew a picture of ‘Daddy Rowing a Boat’ on a wee scrap of paper and it was so sweet I decided to do the same.
He is so proud of having something he has drawn turned into a sewing by mama
What are you making at the moment??
Do you have a fireside project for winter??
Do you have a special way of celebrating your children’s artworks?
Click on the ‘Our Creative Spaces’ button in my sidebar for more wonderful inspiration
Read More – My Boys Stitching
Wardrobe Wednesday and Make My Week #23
So this month for Wardrobe Wednesday we can pick whatever we like – which means you have no excuse not to sign up if you’ve been putting off because you don’t fit the theme my friends!
This is my June make…..It is from a 1950s re-production pattern from Simplicity and it has 12 darts, yes 12!! but other than that it is very simple to make.
I may also have a confession to make… at the beginning of this year I put myself on a self-imposed fabric embargo for 6 months and I have been going very well but in May I was given a $30 spotlight voucher at the same time as receiving a ‘spend $100 get $40 off voucher’. This meant for $30 of my own money I could get $100 worth of product. So I thought a lot, truly!, and I decided that $100 worth of notions was do-able but not really that necessary. I bought 3 pieces of fabric. This is No.1. Please don’t feel too disappointed.
This fabric is taffeta which means it sticks out nicely and has that crisp rustly feeling. It also frays like a mad thing but I was very disciplined and overlocked every seam.
I wore it to our screening of the 48hours film we made (I believe in over dressing) with my grandmother’s mink cape – say what you might about fur (I wouldn’t buy it new but I’m happy to buy leather shoes??) but the animal has already been killed for no good reason so I might as well make it’s life count for something.
And this is how I wore it to church on Sunday on a cold winter morning.
Dress – made by me – approx cost including notions and the pattern $30
Belt – hand-me-down/ on loan? from my Singer Sister
Shoes – ages old No.1 shoes I also have a black and red pair
Cape – Mink from my grandmother
Black undertop – Zara UK
Black opaque tights – probably had them since high school!
Black sequined sneakers – The Warehouse – slowly but surely coming apart – sob!
I joining in with Nin the Seamtress/Designer at Wardrobe Wednesday
and other ‘show and tell’ers over here
Make My Week #19 – Jacket
I found this pattern at a junk shop a while ago and I liked the shape and the over puffy sleeves (do puffy sleeves remind anyone else of Anne of Green Gables??)
I changed it up a bit in by taking the lapel opening all the way to the bottom of the jacket and using a button and loop system.
The buttons are vintage ones I got off my step-mother and the fabric is some I bought last year or even the year before – it has a slightly pearlised surface and comes from somewhere in Africa from recollection.
I also made the sleeves a lot slimmer to try to reduce the amount of volume going on.
This is my second clothing make for May.
Check out all sorts of creative goings on here.
Wardrobe Wednesday: I’m Being a Rebel, Make My Week #18
So the theme for the month is a REMIX – which means I am supposed to choose something from my wardrobe and work it a different way each week…..which will be a great challenge for me because I’m a variety lover – as in, I’d like to wear something different e.v.e.r.y day
However, I digress, I will join on this (when I choose what to remix) but I needed to show you my new dress.
This is my ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boys’ dress. I was given this fabric from an old-fashioned stash and originally I thought I would make something for the boys from it but then I got a little inspiration and decided to use this sexy wiggle dress pattern again (with a straight neckline this time).
The fabric has a great little texture in it almost snake-skin-ish but really miniature.
So I’ll remix next week!
In the mean time check out other lovelies here
and other creative spaces here
Outfit – dress -$0 all from stash, Belt- $10 on sale from Dotti, Shoes $2 NZ made, Over-cardi thingy Op-Shop hand-me-down.
Make My Week #17 it’s a pj party
When I did my mad men challenge last month I also ended up with new blogs to read. And one of the new blogs I read (Did You Make That?) has been hosting a PJ sew-along.
What you need to know – yes I wear flannel pjs. Isn’t it one of the great mysteries and sorrows of the world that one doesn’t look anywhere near as adorable in one’s flannel PJs as one feels?
The singlet is from my draws and I sewed the doily on. Flannel was a hand-me-down from a mother’s stash…. (call it an estate stash if you will).
Cost $0 all from my stash -whoop! Thanks Karen for such a fun challenge. Check out other ladies in their very respectable and non-inappropriate pjs from 28th of April – here. Apologies for the ‘come hither’ stare I’m not much of a bedroom model – these were the best of a very average bunch!
Karen also asked everyone to say what was on their bedside table so in light of sharing:
But Is it Real by Amy Orr-Ewing – a great book for people who have intellectual and other objections or questions about Christianity as a faith for intelligent rational people.
How to Keep the YOU in Mum by Karyn Riley – a book I will be reviewing at some point this year.
The latest Burda magazine – quite keen to make this one –
and a book from the library – Love Vintage a passion for collecting fashion – totally gorgeous book full of beautiful pictures of clothing through the 1900s – tempted to add it to my book wish list.
What are you reading at the moment?
Does this count as my clothing make for the month? I think so!
Wardrobe Wednesday #11, Make My Week #11 and Mad Men Challenge #1
Okay so hopefully you’re still with me after such a massive title!
This is my March clothing make and it is also my first post (I am going to do 2) for Julia Bobbin’s Mad Men Challenge – button on the right.
Our Wardrobe Wednesday theme for the month is Heavenly Homemade and I am the guest judge. Today Nin has published her interview with me so hurry on over and have a perv ah, peek into my wardrobe.
This dress cost – $2 I think for the zip, $2.99 for the thread and also, confession time $1 for the sheet I bought in Dunedin!!! I am supposed to be on a fabric embargo for the first 6 months of this year …but … it was so lovely and $1. You forgive me right? So, total cost about $6. The top part is an old curtain of my Mother In Laws and the lining is from my stash.
I am wearing it with my homemade full circle petticoat – also made entirely from stash.
Shoes – I can’t remember if I bought these at TKMaxx in the UK or No.1 Shoes in NZ – they were cheap.
Jewelry all gifted.
So it isn’t a direct copy of a Mad Men dress but it is supposed to capture the vibe and essence of the dresses they wore. I love the colours. It is made from a modified New Look pattern. The neckline isn’t probably that authentic but I did try to style it as authentically as I could.
Julia will be posting all about the dresses with some links on April 1st. But head over before then anyway if you like gorgeous, vibrant and talented show and tell of handmade clothes.
Other Wardrobe Wednesday ladies AND my interview here.
Fantastic, talented Creations here from Thursday.
Phew – take a breath. I hope you breathed while you read. I forgot to breathe while I typed and I’m a little light-headed now!!
Make My Week #10 – Sewn Picture
This year I want to create pictures for a story I have written.
So I started with this one, which is probably the easiest
I’m quite pleased with it
I hope I manage to do the other pages too. This one is just fabric, free motion stitching, a feather and buttons.
Wardrobe Wednesday – Heavenly Homemade
I am VERY excited about this month’s theme for Wardrobe Wednesday – Heavenly Homemade.
I so love seeing what other people make and wear…. and ….. (following a very small pause where I get very excited!) … I am the guest judge of the month! I know, I am busting my buttons with excitement…. 🙂
Which means I made a prize (the other denim bag I made and showed last Thursday) and Nin has done an interview with me and taken photos of my wardrobe – it feels like the pinnacle of blogging fame when someone wants to interview you on their blog – well it does to me.
It also means I have to pick the winner which is the downside of the privilege – I hate judging things unless it’s Project Runway from the safety of my own couch, but I digress.
This week I am wearing the dress I made last year for my sister’s wedding. It’s made from a New Look pattern – I currently have 3 dresses in this pattern in my wardrobe and another cut out ready to make up.
The Atlas took great delight saying silly things to try to make me laugh during the photo shoot – the man is an idiot (it’s one of his most endearing qualities).
Outfit –
Dress – handmade by me 2011
Shoes – $30 on sale (down from $120) in 2006 I have worn these so much they starting to fall apart.
Pearls – on loan from my sister – they belonged to a friend’s grandmother
Earrings – tiny wee flowers from Korea, birthday gift in 2009
Jacket – op-shopped and hand me down from my sis – just started wearing this last year. LOVE it.
Brooch made for me by Ann in a tin swap last year.
Sunnies – $5, I know I am wearing them inside but I literally just stepped in and made requested The Atlas take the photos immediately – so I forgot to remove them.
Go over to Nin’s and have a look at what people are wearing and see if my interview is up and why not join in???
MakeItGiveIt - Let it Shine 