Wide leg jeans

Jeans or trousers are something I don't make very often. I don't wear them often and/or I prefer skinny leg styles. 

Saying that, I do love high waisted, wide leg styles but I find they're not so easy to come by or terribly flattering. 

This pattern is Vogue 8751. I've been wanting to make some good quality denim trousers and this is a great simple pattern to start with. I'll get to things like studs and pockets when I'm more familiar with such a heavy fabric.

I used a mid weight denim with no stretch for these in size 12. No alterations required. I used a narrow hem at the lower leg edge so I can turn these up into nice cuffs (although they'll hover above my ankles if I do so that option probably won't be taken).

I only have two issues with these. One is my fault; I placed the lower hook and eye closure too far out and you can see it. No big deal but annoying enough for me.

The other issue is that these make my backside look really flat! I mean I'm no Coco Austin but this is not a good look! I don't like this photo much but you can see what I mean here. Possibly I could take in the seam a little around the back but I'm not going to touch these now that they're done. I'll experiment with another pair.

Also, how cute is my top!? It's a Rock Steady top from Mod Cloth but I got it a while ago so I think it will be sold out now.

Anyway, there you go. Jeans. Now I just have to wear them.

The end.

 

The Sewing Machine dress

I've managed to fit some sewing into my all-too-brief holiday this week (going home tomorrow, boo hoo!)

Pattern: Vogue 8727

View E (the blue version in the design images)

This is the same pattern as the Green Marilyn Dress

(This is Mac. He always likes to get in on the action and see what everyone's doing. He'll be featured, along with the other animals who live here, in a couple of posts coming up.)

Oh, hello! There you are!

I love the print of  this fabric. I bought it not knowing what I wanted to make with it, so I bought lots and consequently have a lot left over. I think I'm going to make a bag to go with the dress

The dress is a little bit too long, and a little bit roomy around the waist. I've left it like this deliberately because I forgot to pre-shrink the fabric before I sewed the dress. I'll wash the dress before I see whether any alterations are necessary.

The next couple of posts will probably be filler posts... I actually have to move house AGAIN 

(and if you're thinking I moved house not so long ago, you're right... my house is being sold AGAIN, damn renting) so I will be off the radar for a while. 

The good news is I have many animal photos to post in the meantime.

x

Carnival dress

Last Saturday I went op-shopping. Whilst carting around armloads of clothes I REALLY need, I spotted a Laura Ashley quilt cover set which was just BEGGING me to turn it into a dress.

(Extra large rack appreciation pic)

I pulled the quilt cover off the hanger, paid all of $8 for it!! and took it home for its immediate transformation.

Ta-da.

 

 This fabric makes me think of carnivals and fairs from days gone by. There is something sweet about the print which brings to mind innocent fun and freedom. And fairy floss.

 

 

 The pattern I used is a Vogue 8766 , heavily modified. I used one and half circle skirts, which is to say I cut out 6 quarter circle pieces. I did this because I really wanted to gather the waist of the skirt, rather than having a flat circle skirt (if that makes sense). So the skirt is very full.

Attempting to demonstrate said fullness:

 

Weird insect pose:

 

 I gave the bodice a sweetheart neckline. The straps are slightly curved by making a pleat at the ends.

In order to wear the gathered waist without looking pregnant, I knew I had to lower the waistline of the bodice. I intended to make it rounded and soft but it ended up kind of pointed. However, I like it. It's more corsety.

 The buttons were all attached to the quilt cover so I wanted to re-use them. They are only pinned on here. I'm trying to decide how many suits best. Five looks nice but I can't decide if they look a bit crammed in?

 

  

I probably could have worn some carnival-y shoes for this post. Oh well.

Leopard (non)maternity dress

When my friend Miss Tallulah Porkchop recently lamented the lack of attractive maternity dresses available to her, I had to do something about it.

Something fashionable. In leopard print, of course.

The pattern is Vogue 8489.

I originally bought this because I fell in love with the cornflower blue and pink/black versions in the pattern illustrations. Alas, I discovered the hard way that gathered waists do not suit me. In fact, they make me look pregnant. How ironic.

As it turns out, this makes (I hope) a rather nice bump dress.

The inverted V is a complete pain the bum to achieve but it looks nice in the end. If you ignore the bunky stitching.

I made this with regular short sleeves instead of the puff-sleeve version. I'm fairly sure a pregnant body does not require extra puff.

One thing I don't get about this pattern is the zip. The dress is made in stretch fabric, with lots of stitching around the waist, so I understand that a zip allows the wearer to put this one without breaking all the stitching. But couldn't this have been designed without a zip? Isn't that the point of stretch fabric??

This always happens when I insert a zip into stretch fabric.

Argh. Wrong bumps.

The gathering above the waist will hopefully accomodate Miss Porkchop's bump nicely.

This fabric also reminds me of cookies 'n' cream ice cream or chocolate.

I've only just given the dress to Miss Porkchop so I'll update this post with an extra pic or two when she's got it on!

**update - it fits and she loves it!