Purple haze all in my brain

It's finally getting cool enough to start breaking out my coat collection. This is one of my favourites. It's a crimplene dream with purple and white stripes. I'm pretty sure it's 60s. It has a Mod sort of feel to it. I found it in a tiny op-shop on the West Coast for $5. I bought the purple tights last week so decided to channel my inner Violet Beauregarde today.

I've been so busy at uni I haven't had much time to do any sewing lately but hopefully I'll be able to show you something by the end of the week.

A Motley Crew

(um..I really need a haircut)

I bought this lovely summer dress off Trademe a few weeks ago. I have a bad habit of buying/making things that are completely weather inappropriate. I do tend to wear my summer dresses in Winter though. Of course, I usually pair them with thick wool socks, thermals, cardigans and coats.
The dress originally came with a plain light blue ribbon threaded through the bodice but I didn't think it really went with the dress. I made a bow out of some black petersham (my favourite kind of ribbon). It threads through slits in the bodice and closes under the bow with a couple of snaps.

The lovely Reana Louise from Curves, Patterns and Pins has passed on the I am all that! blog award to me.

This is the description from Beangirl's blog:

The recipients of this award are asked to answer the following questions, link to whoever awarded them and then pass it on to five, no six people (who they think will actually be willing to answer these totally intrusive and possibly inappropriate questions). Feel free to snag the badge too, right?

Questions:

1) What size shoe do you wear? If you wear a size 7, can I borrow your shoes?

US 5/UK 3. I have freakishly small feet. Everyone thinks small feet are cute but let me tell you it's a total pain finding shoes that fit. Most shoe stores here start their sizing at six so I pretty much wear vintage shoes or too big shoes. Sure, you can borrow my shoes...if you can squeeze your feet into them.

2) 30's or 60's?

I don't own any clothing or patterns 30's because it's so hard to find here. I just bought this cute pattern from 1960 though, so I guess 60's.

3) Have you ever kissed someone you shouldn't have?

Yes.

4) Have you ever been poisoned? Was it by the girlfriend of the person you kissed?? That is awesomely "Knot's Landing".

No. The closest I've come to being poisoned is having an allergic reaction to a nectarine. My lips swelled up and I got a rash on my face. It was not pretty. I guess if you want to poison me you now know to feed me lots of nectarines though.

5) Who's on your "Celebrity Free Pass" list (top 5)?

Patti Smith, Janelle Monae, Ellen Page, Beth Ditto and Joan Jett.

So now I'm going to pass this on to:

Kat's Creations

Helga von Trollop

The Velvettes

Sew Darn Tired

The Evil Dressmaker

Sewing and So on

By the way, thanks so much for all your suggestions on my last post. I tried a few and it looks like the bleeding has faded quite a bit so I can finally finish it. Hopefully I'll be able to show you it soon.

Disaster (this time of the sewing kind rather than the natural)

I am not a follow the rules kind of sewer; sometimes I don't pre-wash my fabric, I don't like making muslins, I use the word sewer instead of sewist (badass, I know). This is why it's all the worse when I try and do everything right and it still doesn't work.
Let me start at the beginning. I saw the fabric in Spotlight and I had to have it. It was the perfect weight and print for a Spring coat. I knew the perfect pattern to use. Simplicity 1411. I wanted three-quarter set-in sleeves so I redrafted the pattern to have those. I made a muslin. I kept faithful notes of all the changes I made to the muslin. I pre-washed the fabric.
Everything came together perfectly until it came time to do the buttonholes. I noticed a tiny stain on the fabric so I put a little bit of stain remover on it, rinsed it off and then washed my almost finished coat. I have used this stain remover heaps of times, even using it on my precious vintage dresses and it's been fine.
When my coat dried the blue dye had run in several places all over the white dots. It's strange because it ran in places that were nowhere near where the original stain was.




It doesn't actually look that bad in these pictures but it's pretty noticeable in person.


So, now it sits on a hanger in my sewing room. It's too stained to bother finishing it but too pretty to just throw away.
Moral of the story: don't be seduced by cheap and pretty fabric from Spotlight.

Folks would kill to fill your shoes

A source of great frustration for me is the fact that I can't make everything. I would really love to learn how to make shoes and hats (obviously making hats is a more realistic goal). I am always on the lookout for shoe lasts or a hat block. I had never thought of covering shoes with fabric until I saw the tutorial on Burdastyle. I wanted to cover some shoes as soon as I saw it but it took a while to find the right shoes and fabric. Although, it isn't quite making your own, it's still a fun way to personalise your shoes.

I started with a pair of second hand wedges that I got off Trademe for $10 and a skirt that I had bought at the op-shop. The skirt was made of gorgeous fabric but didn't fit me very well.

I did a few things differently to the Burdastyle tutorial. I didn't have any self-adhesive fabric so I just used some fabric scaps and attached them with double sided tape to make the pattern. It seemed to work. I used Mod Podge glue to glue the fabric on and then did another layer of glue over the top to seal it. I left the shoes overnight to dry and then cut off the excess fabric around the sole with a craft knife. There was some dried glue bits on the thin strip of sole that you could see around the bottom of the shoe so I used some black nail polish to cover it.

It was quite difficult getting the fabric smooth around the curves, especially on the toes. The glue also makes the shoe very stiff so I wouldn't use shoes that are a little bit tight. These fitted me perfectly before and they still fit me but they are a tiny bit snug. I think next time I will use shoes half a size bigger than I normally wear.

I'm really pleased with the way they turned out though. I can't stop thinking about the next pair I want to do.

Tengo ganas a vivir. Ya comencé a pintar*

I wanted this Frida's Garden fabric to make into a skirt for ages but I couldn't justify spending that much per metre on material (about $30). I am, after all, a poor student. Luckily, I found it cheaper on Etsy (even with shipping and currency conversion).

I love Frida Kahlo's paintings and I think the fabric captures her style pretty well. I wanted to make the most of the print so I tried to place the pleats so as many of the Fridas could be seen as possible. The skirt is really basic and easy to make without a pattern. It's just two rectangles with pleats and a waistband. I also put inseam pockets in because I do love a skirt with pockets.

Thanks for your nice comments on my earthquake post. I'm glad to be back doing some sewing because it makes everything seem slightly more normal.

* I desire to live. I have already begun to paint.
It says this on the fabric, as well as, "Pies para qué las quiero, si tengo alas pa' volar" (Feet... what do I need them for if I have wings to fly with).

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may

While I was away staying with my Grandma I managed to squeeze in some op-shopping. To be honest, there wasn't much else for me to do except wander round the shops and hang out in the public library.

I finally bought this amazing wool coat. I had already seen it in a second hand shop the last two times I visited my Grandma but had resisted the urge to buy it. I decided that if it was still there a third time I would get it. Luckily, it was.

The label is Windsmoor. They started making coats and other clothing in 1933 and continue to do so today. At a guess I would say this is from the 50s. It's in almost perfect condition and is made of lovely worsted wool. I thought it was a bargain at $79.99 but my Grandma thought that was a ridiculous amount to pay for a second hand coat. Different generations, eh?

Speaking of bargains, on my way home to Christchurch I stopped in Ashburton and went to an op-shop there. That's where I picked up this little beauty.

An Elna Supermatic...for $15. I probably would have paid $15 just for the cool metal carry case. According to the lady at the shop it does work, but she said I can bring it back if it doesn't. I haven't actually tried it yet because I'm a bit scared to plug it in until my Dad brings over one of those cut-off plugs that cuts off the electricity if there's anything wrong.

I'm kind of in awe of how well designed it is. The carry case folds over to become a work table that slots into place. It didn't come with a manual but I managed to find two different ones online that people had scanned. Apparently vintage Elna machines have quite a following.
I also think it's the cutest sewing machine I've ever seen. I love that vintage green. It's not really a colour that you see around much any more.

It did, however, come with all manner of different feet, including a darning foot, a buttonhole foot, a hemming foot, and some I can't identify. It also came with the discs which are used to sew different stitches. Based on the number of discs that fit in the accessory box I think that this is from the Elna Supermatic series made between 1952 and 1956.

As you may be able to tell by now, every time I buy something old I obsessively research the brand to see when and where it was made etc. I like to think of it as honing my research skills, something which is always handy for the research papers I have to write.

Earthquakes and Heartbreaks

Sorry for my absence. I went to stay with my grandmother for a while after the earthquake and she doesn't have the internet.
The above picture is what I came home to on the 22nd of February. Almost the entire contents of the kitchen cupboards and the fridge were on the floor.
I was at uni at the time of the earthquake. It was my first day back after the holidays and I was in my first lecture of the day. I remember the darkness and the screams and struggling to get under the lecture bench. At the time I had no idea how bad it was but I knew I had to get home. Within 15 or so minutes of the quake the city was gridlocked. The usually 20 minute drive home took me three hours. I listened to the radio the whole way home. Once I heard that people had died in the CBD all I could think about was the people who I knew for sure were in town. My nephew, who goes to school right in the central city, and who I had seen that morning because he had stayed at our house the night before. His mum, who works just down the street from his school. My aunty and uncle who both work in the city.
Thankfully, as I found out a few hours later, they were all safe and unhurt. I was so lucky. My family and friends are okay and my house is still livable. I am so incredibly sorry to those who lost their loved ones, homes and businesses.
Last week, I watched transfixed with horror at the news coverage of the Japanese quake and tsunami. Although it is hard for us to imagine what the people over there are going through I think the people of Christchurch have a special sympathy for all those in Japan at the moment. I know I have at least one reader in Japan so I hope that Birdie, who lives in Okinawa, is safe and well. My thoughts are with all those in Japan.



If you've read my 'About Me' you might have noticed that I collect old religious icons. Although I am not religious at all, the antique mirrored Saint Therese of Lisieux I got for my 20th birthday was one of my favourite things (now you know just how odd I am). She was badly damaged in the earthquake. My Dad (who you can actually see reflected in the bottom of the mirror) thinks we can probably get it fixed but I'm not so sure.


When a major disaster happens it almost feels like everything normal stops but I take comfort in the fact that the garden has taken the shaking in its stride. The morning glory plant (above) is flowering gloriously.

Normal posting should resume shortly. I've been doing some sewing which I will post next week. Below is a sneak peek of the fabric I'm using.



Sorry for the delay in drawing the giveaway. The winner is Louise from The Princess Prudence Diaries. Congratulations Louise. I will email you shortly.