Miss Claire's Sewing Blog: polka dots

Showing posts with label polka dots. Show all posts

Thursday, 24 April 2014

The Helgastock2014 dress

I received this fabric from the lovely Helga von Trollop at Helgastock2014 a few weeks ago! It is just fabulous and exactly the right fabric for a new frock. Thank you Helga, I LOVE it!

As the fabric is so bright and busy I kept the pattern very simple.

This is the slip dress from McCalls 6646.

I added in a second should strap as one on each side looked a bit insubstantial. No other alterations.

Here are some of my photos from Helgastock2014 - other installments from saucy wenches Sarah and Helga can be seen here and here

I have not been commenting on blogs for the last couple of weeks as I am still getting my bearings with my recently revamped life. I feel bad for this but I am still responding to comments at least! I start part-time work next week and have been industriously buying home wares in purple to decorate my house... when I'm not sitting on the couch watching all the Harry Potter films for the billionth time.

Monday, 10 March 2014

Headscarves!

This was supposed to be a post about a pair of wide-leg jeans I'm making, but the zip just broke and now I Hate Them. So here are some headscarves instead.

I really like this look but I didn't just want a rectangle or triangle of fabric wrapped around my head. After trying out some pleats and gathers I've settled on this design. It's a rectangle, with a centre pleat or fold, and attached tie ends.

The pleat means there isn't a heap of fabric bunched up around the knot, which is specifically what I wanted to avoid.

These photos were taken in a hot sewing room so my hair is getting more and more frizzy as these photos go on.

So far I've made a few, and I have a heap of leftover fabric to make more. I also want to make some with long tie ends, to wear more as a headband with the ties hanging down, and some in silkier fabric.

I'm thinking of selling these but I'm not sure what the interest in them would be. If anyone has any suggestions for design or fabric I would love to hear them.

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Daisy dress

Finally, I have sewn a creation again. It has been a while. This was made with Simplicity 1803

More specifically, this view, without the waist tie

Alterations: I dropped the waist in the front by about an inch, and had to take in the seams under the bust for more definition to the bodice. I also opened up the split in the neckline at the front because it sits rather high, and was creating the dreaded mono-boob.

Apart from that, I made it in size 12 and it fitted pretty well...

...except for the front. It pokes out over the stomach, which is the one thing I try to avoid with all my dresses. I tried pressing the gathering, and it still pokes out. This is just how the dress sits:

Yick. That is not my stomach. It's all dress.

I do like the neckline though.

And how GIRLY is this fabric?? Not only is it covered in daisies, it's also covered in strawberries, AND polka dots, like OMG.

Am going to try belt variations to deal with that stupid waistline at the front.

And in other news... I'm now on Facebooks. I gave in, and joined the masses (and some of you already found me! Hoorah!). There is now a big blue F on the right hand side of my blog you can click on to follow and be my BFF, or you can just click here...

https://www.facebook.com/miss.claire.whitelaw