Tuesday 8 March 2016

Blue Bettine!

                     
 







Hi!!
What can I say? I've got the sewing bug baaaad! 
I finish one thing and can't wait to get started on the next! So here is my Tilly and the buttons 'Bettine'.
As soon as I saw this pattern, I knew I had to make it, it's just so wearable and so very 'Seasalt', which is just the style I like to wear. It's such a versatile dress, I love it! 
I decided to be brave and attempt the pocket and tab version, because, well, pockets?! They're such useful little things. Great for storing your kids' snotty tissues. Anyway, there are quite a lot of pattern pieces to cut out, and I was feeling apprehensive, but to be honest it was quite straight forward to sew, as Tilly's instructions are a dream to follow. I found the neckline facing a bit fiddly to do, but I just took my time and it turned out fine. 
The chambray fabric was a bit of a pain because it kept fraying terribly, but other than that was easy to sew with. I will definatley be making another of these, but I may try it in a drapier fabric next time.
Next on my 'to sew' list is the delphine skirt pattern from Tilly's book, 'Love At First Stitch' because I want to try out a concealed zip, and the construction of this skirt looks fairly easy. 
Until next time... Happy Sewing :) x


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Wednesday 24 February 2016

Margot Pyjama Bottoms & a Nautical Coco...


                    
    








I decided I needed a new pair of pyjama bottoms, as all of mine had holes in, so I thought the Margot pattern from Tilly's book 'Love at first stitch' would be a perfect pattern for me to try since its aimed at beginners.
I got given 'Love at first stitch' as a christmas gift and up until now, I've been too busy with the children to have a good look at it, but I've definitely got my 'sew-jo' back since doing my Coco dress workshop! 
I decided to use an old bedsheet for the fabric to make the margot bottoms, as i didnt want to buy fabric especially for this just incase I didnt make it so well, but as its such an easy make I will definitely be buying some funky fabric to make some more! To be honest, I've always liked having lots of pyjamas, so I'm pretty sure I'll be making a pair for every day of the week.
Tilly's instructions are very clear and easy for you to understand, and as I'm a visual learner, I'm grateful for all of the pictures too! I particularly liked her advice for when sewing the crotch, to turn one leg the right way out and put it inside the other leg, genius! 
I only had black ribbon available for the drawstring, and didn't want to make it from the same fabric, but when i get some more fabric, I will be changing it.
This was such an easy make, it probably took me 90 mins from start to finish, and I'm very proud of my first pair of me-made pyjama bottoms!


               
 
I also made another coco. Although I made on on the workshop, and I'm very proud of it, I probably won't wear it all that much because I find it a bit short after my hemming disaster, and also the colours aren't usually what I'd wear. I love Breton stripes, and anything slightly Mariniére/nautical, and I saw the most lovely fabric in Guthrie and Ghanie, it's a jersey, navy blue with white stripes, and the stripes are sort of ribbed. I just envisaged a coco in this fabric, so I bought it! 


                 
 
I didn't refer to the instructions once, and I didn't have to use my seam ripper at all! Hurrah! And it only took me 2 hours to construct it all. The last coco I made, I cut a straight size 4, and to be honest, it was a little big on my waist and didn't do anything for my silhouette, so this time, I still cut a four, but before I sewed up the sides, I decided to put it on me and pin it to my shape, which worked really well, it's now a very flattering shape. I ended up taking about 1.5" out on either side. I can see me wearing this dress a lot, it'll be nice when the weather warms up too with some sandals or pumps. 


                 
 
I've really got the sewing bug now, my beautiful chambray and Bettine pattern is just waiting for me to find some time to make it, I can't wait! 
There are so many patterns I want to try out at the moment! 

Sunday 21 February 2016

My 'Coco' dressmaking workshop at Guthrie & Ghani...

    
                                
         
                                  
So yesterday, I went to the lovely Guthrie and Ghani in Moseley on a dressmaking workshop which my husband kindly bought for me as a Christmas present.
I decided to go on a workshop so I could understand why and how things were done because I've previously only made a few dresses for my daughter, without a pattern. As my New Years resolution was to make more clothes for myself, I wanted a helping hand making my first adult sized garment.
I chose the Tilly and the buttons Coco pattern because there were no zips or button closures, and I think the style is a really flattering shape, although I was a little nervous sewing with Jersey.


                                

The tutor, Claire was very knowledgable and was always on hand if we got into difficulties. 
So firstly, it's was time to find out my dreaded measurements, I measured around my bust, waist and hips. I was a straight size 4, so no grading! Happy days! Then it was time to do the tedious job of cutting out the patterns, which as it was the first time I'd used a pattern, this took me a while as I wanted to be as accurate as possible, once that was done, we laid the pattern onto the fabric and cut around it, I found this pretty nerve wracking too because I did not want to make any mistakes! But it went smoothly with no problems and I had a shape that was resembling a Coco dress! Yay! 

                                   


 Sewing Coco was pretty straightforward, I onlŷ had to use my seam ripper twice and that was when I was inserting the arms which was the trickiest part. Once I'd seen the dress and all that was left to do was the hem, I tried Coco on, the fit was good but was a bit long for me, so I decided I wanted to turn it up by 3 inches. So, I pinned it and proceeded to zig zag all the way around the hem, that was fine, no issues at all, until I had to cut away the exess fabric, I was just about to take the last snip when to my horror, I cut a hole in the dress just above the hem!!! I was devastated! I'd spent six whole hours sewing this dress, and right before I finished, I'd put a hole in it, I felt like crying actual tears 😭😭
I was going to take a picture of the damage I'd done but I was too upset. 
Claire, the tutor saw how upset I was and suggested overlocking the hem to cover the hole, and then I could turn it up when I got home, so that's what I did. It's slightly shorter now than I'd planned but it's fine with a pair of thick leggings underneath.
I had no real issues with the construction of the dress itself, it was straightforward, which makes the mistake I did make all the more frustrating! At least I know I'll never ever do that again, I will be much more cautious and concentrate better next time! 
I now plan on making a few more cocos, definatley a stripe one, and a funnel neck version so I can practise getting my stitching neater, as its far from perfect! 

                                 

                                 

 Please excuse the photos, I'm not one for taking a selfie, and this was the best I could do! 
   

Another thing I wanted to talk about was the sewing machines they have there! OMG they're amazing, the needle threads itself! and there's a scissor button and the machine cuts the thread for you! Ah-mazing! And oh so quiet! 



I have a very beginner-y Toyota sewing machine, which is manual and very noisy! I find it hard to find time to sew, as I'd usually to it when the kids are in bed but I can't with this one, because it sounds like a pneumatic drill! I think I know what I'd like for my birthday..... 

So next on my list of makes is another coco, and then on to the bettine, but I won't be going on a workshop for that one, so not sure how I'll do with that.... 
     
   
    



Wednesday 10 February 2016

My First Blog Post....

Well Hello There!

Ive decided to write a blog about my sewing adventure.

I was bought a sewing machine as a gift for Christmas 2014, and whilst I have made a few dresses for my daughter, that is literally the extent of my sewing experience.

This pink floral dress had a fully faced bodice, with a little gathered skirt and was buttoned up the centre back.


This duck egg blue floral dress was quite easy to do and was the first time I had ever used a sewing machine so I'm quite proud of this one! it had an elasticated neck, with a little loop button closure at the back, i used contrasting yellow floral fabric to interface the armholes, and i just love the matching hat, this outfit looked lovely on her!

And this is my daughter Emily modelling another one of my makes.
this floral one (i like florals, im not sure if you can tell :D) was the same pattern as the dress above, i just shortened it to make a top.

I have made a few other outfits for her but I cant find any pictures of them at the moment...

so, My new years resolution this year was to make more things with my sewing machine, and i'm really keen to get started on making me a few items of clothing too! 
I really got into the great british sewing bee and since then i have been following tillys blog and lauren has opened a haberdashery shop in moseley which is 10 minutes up the road from me! my christmas present this year was a dressmaking course at Guthrie and Ghani (Lauren's shop) learning to sew Tilly's 'Coco' dress. To say I'm excited about that is a bit of an understatement, it's next week and i can not wait!! I've ordered my ponte knit fabric, but i cant show you a photo as it hasnt arrived yet :(
I've ordered two metres of teal ponte knit and half meter of tan coloured ponte knit for the patch pockets.
I've got my eye on another of Tilly's patterns too; the Bettine dress. it just looks like such a versatile dress, lovely for the summer with a pair of converse but also lovely in the colder months layered with a long sleeve top, tights and boots. Ive ordered some lovely light blue chambray fabric to make the Bettine, which im going to get started on after ive made my coco. 
I love the Collette Ginger pattern too, so i will be making that too, and I want to make tilly's clemence skirt because I like the idea of drafting my own pattern for it. 
My family and I will be going away for a weeks holiday in June down to Newquay for a week and I want to have good few handmade outfits to take away with me, so I need to get cracking! 

My next post wont be until after i have made the coco, so hopefully i will be sharing pictures of a successful make! 

Thanks for stopping by! 
happy sewingggggg :)