Notions Of Fabric

Another spotty dress! Part of my new fabric buying ban includes spotty fabric, in fact, after the two I've made... But this one is lovely! (Excuse the derpy face there...) This pattern I've had for a long time, actually - I attempted to make one a few years back, but it was masses too wide. This is Kwik Sew 3682, View B, with more spotmania fabric from Lincraft.  I really like this dress, only next time I might make the front skirt one section so there's no seam down the middle of the skirt. Having cut a size L last time and being swimming in it, I cut an M this time and it was spot on! New skills: facing

This fabric I have had for a long time - there was a sale, I saw it there... I had to have it. I can't remember what it is called or where I bought it, but it is a poly cotton with a nice drape to it.  A perfect pairing to the harder version of New Look 6208, View C, with V back and straps and bows! This was the reason I bought the pattern in the first place, for the bow back! (Excuse the black - that would be my bra strap!) As the last time I found the neckline a bit wide, I graded the pattern to a 14 at the neck. The waist still needed reducing at the waist 2" (more than las time to account for the ease of the fabric). After I completed this dress and left it to hang, it stretched more than I'd anticipated. I had to restitch the zipper, side seam and bottom hem. I also lifted the shoulder seams 1cm to realign the back straps with my bra back (and as you can see in one photo, you can still see the black of my bra there - sorry about that)   (See? B

Having made so many dresses, I wanted something else. My favourite skirt is a high waisted one with a gathered skirt and waistband, covered in multi-coloured polka dots. I wanted another skirt that I wanted to wear just as much, and given that I wear this skirt on average twice a week, I'd say I was onto a winner. [Since writing this post, that has been upped to at least 3 times a week, I think. It's so comfy and versatile!] This is a self-drafted 3/4 circle skirt (drafted using this tutorial ). I wanted a full circle but didn't have enough of this lovely weight check fabric, so 3/4 it is! Both the Scotland Check fabric and the black Bemsilk lining I used were from Lincraft, again. The skirt is cut to 22" to hit just above my knee. I ended up putting a few tabs on the waistband - it was just a little loose when completed. I love how twirly this is! New skills: self-drafted.

When I started sewing again, I wanted something to track what I was up to, the patterns I owned, and the sizes I used for the best fit. I didn't want a notebook - that seemed too hard, so I did what any normal person would do. I googled. And I found 110 Creations: A Sewist's Notebook ! This. Thing. Is. Genius! Wih room for sketches, noting your pattern collection, your needle changes, your wishlists... Oh, it's amazing. There is space for 110 of your creations (obviously), pages 1-90 of which feature a mannequin drawing, space for pattern, fabric, and taking note of notions, accents. You can note which size you cut, how it worked, and what you would change for next time at the end of it all. Projects 91-110 don't have a figure drawing, but a blank space for your handbags/accessories (or kindle cases, in my case). I have only completed 8 projects, and have a handful of patterns, but even for people with more, this is awesome. I am already planning

Hi! This was a dress I virtually dreamed up. One of my favourite TV shows is the BBC's Doctor Who, and when the boyfriend and I got tickets to go to the Symphonic Spectacular earlier in the year, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to get an appropriate outfit. I didn't want to cosplay any of the female characters (all the one I look remotely like are not very exciting), and was thinking of wearing a dress. So I googled 'Doctor Who dress', and bam: (Dress from The Vintage Doctor  - still available!) Only problem was, it wsa a week until the concert, and the dress is a little out of my price range at $225. Cue thoughts of 'Oh, I could make that!' Enter Simplicity 1606 (View A), one of their 'Amazing Fit' dresses, some brown, maroon, and beige stripe cotton. I cut a 12, the D cups *the cups are sized seperately, which worked out well for me, as I sometimes go up a size just for my bust... It must have been a long pattern, as I hemmed it up 10&

Hi there! After pushing through to get my Sew Dolly Clackett entries done, and spending a week in Melbourne, I've been a bit... listless with my sewing. I have a list of projects and at least 6 fabrics to use, but have been feeling like its a little too much effort for the last week (I am planning on starting something this weekend though, and have just ordered a new pattern I'm super excited for!). So, I decided I wanted a cover for my Kindle. Mine is the Kindle Touch, the model before the Paperwhite (I love it, by the way - currently rereading Harry Potter!), and has a case, which is a plain black hard case. I like having a case for it to protect, but very quickly the black became... so boring. I needed something nicer, stat. So I Googled, and found this tutorial . It's so easy, it took me less than an hour from finding the tutorial to having a completed case! It took me a few tries to get the perfect stitching distance, but I'm so happy with the end result. T