Mash-up

I bought this blossom patterned quilting cotton on sale a couple of weeks ago. I'm trying to stop buying new fabric, but I couldn't resist the print. I knew I wanted to make a slim skirted dress that I could wear to work but also just wear generally.
 

I've made both these patterns before so I knew they fitted reasonably well. I used the bodice from the pattern on the right and the skirt from the pattern on the left. 

I cut the bodice out on Thursday and then didn't do anything else until about 3 in the afternoon yesterday. It was quick and easy to sew up and I finished it in time to wear it to work today. 

This was my attempt to take a picture of the zip. I used an op shopped vintage metal zipper. I have a huge stash of op shopped zips. They're mostly still in their original packaging. I hardly ever use them though because I never have the right colour or size. I was excited to finally use one.  

This is what happens when I take pictures after work/around sunset

Dress: Butterick 8459 skirt and Vogue 4260 bodice

 Belt: Op shopped

Tights: Kmart

Shoes: Tony Bianco

June Challenge

I've joined Stephanie's June Challenge. The goal is to sew four summer dresses during the month of June. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, where we are well on our way to colder weather, I've changed it slightly to sewing four winter dresses. I'm hoping that having a deadline will be the kick up the backside I need to actually use the patterns I've bought and some of the fabric from my ever growing stash. I am usually good with deadlines (by this I mean I leave everything until the last second and then scramble to finish it on time, but I always manange to finish). I have a fair idea of what I want to make but will probably change my mind halfway through.

I've had this pattern and two different fabrics to use for ages but I haven't worked up the courage to try it yet. The first fabric is a heavy cotton knit with one way stretch. I haven't really sewn any knits before so I'm approaching this with a feeling of trepidation.



The blue is a merino wool knit that is really stretchy, which could be a problem.




I would love to sew Butterick 8459 (on the right) in a bright red. With some of the main fabric stores in the city having been destroyed/damaged by the earthquake my fabric choices might be pretty limited, so I may not be able to find the fabric I want. I've made the full skirted version of Butterick 8459 twice before so this time I want to make the slim skirt and use some thicker wintery fabric.

I bought the pattern on the left recently because I am obsessed with peplums (if you click to make it bigger you can see the peplum more clearly). I would quite like to make it in a solid colour, maybe a navy blue or grey.

Me-Made-May Day 11

This is what I wore to uni today. It isn't a very good picture of it but I think this version of Butterick 8459 is my favourite dress that I've sewn. The colours are actually a lot brighter and there are two rows of fabric covered buttons down the front. Said to me by someone today when they found out I'd made this dress, "What? Even the buttons?"

Me-Made-May Day Three

Today I wore Butterick 8459 to uni. Sorry about the bad photo, I only managed to take one and then my camera promptly died.
I have lots of sewing plans but haven't managed to get anything done since the start of May. Hopefully I can sew a few more things soon so I don't have to start repeating outfits.

Butterick 8459 take two

This is my second version of Butterick 8459. I seem to have gotten in the habit lately of making multiples of every dress I sew.

The fabric is furnishing fabric I bought ages ago for $3 a metre. The print is kind of strange because if you look closely it has little ceramic bunny rabbit vases with flowers in them.
I think I like this version better than my first one because the fabric drapes in a much nicer way.

It was the first time I've made covered buttons and I was happy the way they turned out. I also made a belt using one of the belt buckles I got last year at Stash reHash.

In which I make things complicated for myself

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I was in the middle of sewing something complicated. I finally finished it. Butterick 8459 itself is probably not that difficult but the one I have is missing the instructions and the pattern piece for the collar has half of it ripped off. This meant I had to re-draft the collar piece before even beginning. I am usually terrible at following instructions but the diagrams are always handy. It took me awhile to figure everything out but I got there in the end.

For my version I used the bodice of View A and the skirt of View B because I wanted sleeves. I also cheated a bit. The buttons on the front are purely decorative. The bodice closes with four snaps.

I'm pretty pleased with the result, although I don't really like the drape of the fabric.

(Please excuse the wonky seams on my stockings).