dressmaking Archives - Page 14 of 17

The last word….possibly…and FO 20/2010

November 23, 2010

Ok, I guess that after all this time you’re glad the wedding is over!!!! I know I am, but if I was ever to be stuck in Groundhog Day, that would be my day of choice. It was just the most amazing day.

I can’t tell you just how wonderful it was….why don’t you mosey on over to Lawsons and check it out for yourself. I can see a bajillion things I’d have done differently with the dress but it was much admired and I loved it, as did Mr S, so that’s all that counts really.

And yes, everybody did spend the whole day laughing and smiling.

The moment of truth

October 26, 2010

Today I basted the dress together.

Each stitch taking me closer and closer to the realisation that I really need to give up dressmaking and high tail it to the Trafford Centre to find something to wear for my wedding.

At just after 6 pm tonight I tied off the final stitch on the final seam.

The moment of truth had arrived.

Remembering what the dress looked like at the toile stage, I slipped it on.

Filled with trepidation I turned to the mirror.

…

My eyes filled with tears.

…

IT FITS.

It is (if I can toot my own horn a little here) just a little bit beautiful.

The only thing I need from the Trafford Centre are shoes for the baby girls.

I’ve just finished sewing all the seams. Tomorrow I shall remove the basting and press the seams to crisp loveliness.

I am a very happy, if slightly tired, girl.

19 days…

October 25, 2010

…and we’re making progress.

Yesterday I spent a glorious autumn afternoon in the car listening to podcasts of Desert Island Discs and driving to the Midlands to meet Alice-who-isn’t-a-cat at a motorway service station for coffee and a fitting session.

The coffee raised no eyebrows. I can’t say the same for the fitting session in the rather unpleasant ladies loos.

Thankfully the dress fits perfectly so we could escape very quickly. But the sight of a tall brunette in a half finished satin frock and matching shoes was more than some of the other occupants could quite get to grips with.

Unfortunately, the visit was not without problems.

I discovered a stain on the front bodice.

WTF!!!!!

Sewing gods, why do you try me so?

I’ve no idea what it is.

I’ve no idea where it came from.

So today I removed the bodice (again) and cut another bodice front. By lunchtime the dress was ready for hemming (I just need some ribbon and I can get that done), and I’d had the opportunity to add one more little “couture” touch to make it all look just that little bit better.

Instead of under-stitching the lining on the machine, I did it by hand, with a toning thread. I love this detail!

And my dress?

I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week hand-stitching net and cotton lawn to 14 pieces of face fabric. Today I machined my first seam. This feels like a corner turned.

I love how the layers of interlining give you a beautiful seam with no seam allowance “show through” on the right side.

I’m using a contrast zip just for an unexpected pop of colour. It shouldn’t work, but it does!

And I just love a hand picked zip….so easy to do and you have absolute control over the thing. Goodbye wiggly zipper. And you can hardly see the stitches on this duchesse.

Tomorrow I put all the dress shell pieces together.

oliver + s birthday party dress – FO 19/2010

October 18, 2010

Whilst the fabric for my wedding dress languishes in a bag waiting patiently to be sewn (soon, my lovely, soon) I have tarried with other projects, namely the oliver + S birthday party dress.

image courtesy of www.oliverands.com

I’ll admit that I was reluctant to spend quite so much money on a pattern, but rationalised that if I traced it off I could get a few year’s use out of it, which in my head made it so much more reasonable priced. I’m very glad I did.

Sorry for the rushed on-the-bed-before-we-dash-to-nursery photos

The pattern is lovely. Printed on sturdy paper with clear markings and wonderful instructions, it shows what can be achieved with patterns if you take the time and actually give a crap about your product and your customers.

Big 4 take note!!

Sadly the same can’t be said of the fabric, which is a hideous but practical polyester that is washable but simply refuses point-blank to hold a pleat! I made a size 2, but would make the next size up next time to give her a little more growing room. And I’ve lots of the fabric left, so will probably draft a new front without the pleats to use this up. They are the perfect dress for nursery.

Button loves the dress, despite the failings of the fabric, and I love the pattern. I see more of these in our future. Just not in nasty polyester!!!!

Lady in Blue – FO 16/2010

August 4, 2010

I can’t believe that with everything else going on this year I’ve managed to make 16 finished objects. I know compared to some people out there it’s not a huge amount, but for me…well I’m rather pleased.

Particularly as number 16 is the bridesmaids dress for Alice-Who-Isn’t-A-Cat.It looks nothing on the hanger but even the muslin looked great on her, so I have hopes. I’m most pleased that I got all the darts and seams to match up.

Next, curtains for The Boy’s bedroom (the final pair in the house) then it’s the home stretch for my outfit. And 1 French paper and 2 French exams. Eeek!

Gratuitous cute photo

July 28, 2010

Perfect...thanks again Ma!

Princess Bridesmaids – FO 14/2010 and 15/2010

July 27, 2010

No ROUS here, just two tiny bridesmaids dresses finished except for the hems.Just a sneak peek until November. I’ll let the professional photographers do the real work!

To recap, this pattern is New Look 6881, the fabric is a poly satin from John Lewis and they’re lined with cotton for comfort. I’ll hem them the week before the wedding to allow for little girls growing up.

On the table at the moment is a slightly larger dress (man, that girl has been working out!) dress for Alice-who-isn’t-a-cat.

Blindz for boyz – FO 7/2010

March 28, 2010

The boy’s room has been looking more than a little Spartan of late.

This week Mr S put the cot bed and chest of drawers into the room. We won’t mention the Mystery of the Missing Cot Bolts.

Today I’ve ordered the mattress and bed linen. And hung a blind:

There is a toning pair of curtains to be made (the last pair for the house…huzzah!), but until I find a pole that matches the furniture, they are on hold. I can’t say I’m sorry not to be sewing them at the moment. I’m beyond bored of making window treatments.

The fabric is from John Lewis (of course) and I love its cheerfulness. However I never cease to be amazed at the difference 1.5 m of fabric and a little stitching can make to a room.

Finished project – blinds

March 14, 2010

That squeaking noise you can hear is me.

The blinds for the hall and landing are finished.

The one in the picture is the hall…it’s twin is at the landing window.

The fabric is from John Lewis. The blinds are lined and interlined.

I only have one small blind for the small bedroom and a matching pair of curtains, then I’m done. Done, I tell you! All the windows in the house will have curtains and/or blinds. There’ll be tiny blind to do in the loft when we remodel up there, but that’s going to be later in the year so I don’t even have to think about that now.

Squeeeeeeeeak!!!!

What I’m working on now

February 28, 2010

With apologies for the fuzzy pictures…all were taken in artificial light and I don’t (yet) have an SLR camera.

First up is the blind for the hallway.

I really rather enjoy making Roman blinds. These are an easy size to manage and even with the interlining and the trim, this is coming together rather quickly. Hurrah. Especially as I have another one to make in the same fabric and trim for the window at the top of the stairs.

Next is the Lucy cardigan.Just a teeny bit more of the yoke and the band to do here. It’s flying off the needles now I’m on the yoke. And about time too as this has taken far to long. My fault, not the pattern. A bad attack of ennui that has now been shaken off.

And last but by no means least:The yarn is a lace-weight from Teeswater Wools in Clitheroe with two strands knit together. It’s spun from rare breed sheep and is absolutely glorious. Whilst the photo above shows the cable pattern, Comfy Cables, free on Ravelry, it doesn’t show the colour. This is more like it:Just lovely. And a super easy pattern.

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