Just a couple more images from my recently acquired Successful Dressmaking book.

Love these illustrations, so simple.

All the tools…

More treats from mums house!

An oldie and a goodie, Successful Dressmaking, this is my bedtime reading.  I have plenty to learn, so it’s good to have a book to refer to at the moment, and I LOVE the illustrations.

These are the inside cover images…

And this one, the only colour plate.

I remember reading this when I was a kid.

(Yes, I know, I should have pressed it properly… but I may not have had any photos til next year!)

This maybe my favourite dress.  It was far easier than I thought it would be to make, though the fabric was tricky to cut accurately and moved somewhat no matter how many pins I used.

I made the largest/tall size on the pattern, including the longer skirt, I also allowed extra fabric on the front top and skirt panels (on the center fold) which worked ok on the skirt, but gave me more fabric than I needed in the bust (this was based on my estimated adjustments considering the my measurements and those noted on the pattern) and was fairly close.  However the next time I make this one I will get a better fit!  I also had to increase the darts in the top considerably, again I think this was because I allowed a little extra while cutting.

This the first dress I have made that is in two sections, a top and skirt, and it was not too bad, just a bit tricky lining it all up in the end, but I think this gave a good and comfortable fit in the end.

I’m trying to use what ever I have at hand as far as notions go, and so this baby is fitted with a hot pink invisible zip (which is mostly invisible I have to say – phew!) and as I do not have a suitable belt buckle I made the belt longer and tie it on the side (which hides the pretty pleats a bit though, so I am looking out for a buckle to suit).

I was a bit unsure of the style, as far as how well it would suit me, and the fabric was a gamble, it was not the first choice, though I’m happy now!  I learned I need to slow down a wee bit, I took the time to carefully finish all the facings in the top, however I neglected the inside raw edges in my enthusiasm to complete it, so need to address those before I’m leaving threads behind me wherever I go with it.

Here are those lovely pleats…

On to the next dress!

You’ve seen my festive little Hanging Strawberry Sewing Kits already?  The kits come complete with all you need, including soft corn fiber stuffing, but did you know I make kits without stuffing, to save you on postage?  These are great little gifts, and post well, I will be listing them on Felt and Etsy over the next couple of days…

Of course, you can still buy the cool noodle box kits too!  That’s them up there..

Can you imagine some of these hanging around your place?  They look so pretty…

I will have these little treats available at the next couple of markets, the Gladstone School Christmas Market, Thursday 1st December, from 5 pm – 9 pm, address: 8 Seaview Terrace, Mt Albert.

And at the Auckland Art and Craft Fair, Saturday 10th December, 11 am – 3 pm, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE, Auckland Central.

Here’s my artists interview!  Here!

It’s all cut out here, I made no major alterations to the pattern, though I used felt to reinforce the brim and in the end the entire hat is lined or backed with felt.  I was after a really wide brimmed hat, and I did not hem the edge as directed, planning to use the bias binding as the edge.  Which was fine, only the pattern had not allowed for my extra width of brim and so I had to add an extra section of binding at the end.

I used a small section of a vintage sheet, which was getting a little worn, but is such a pretty and summery print.

Here’s the picture from the original pattern…  (not so into the massive bow and rose look).

And here’s the finished deal, I love it, but it is really quite floppy, so will make another with a firmer brim.  I will also make it more circular, Audrey Hepburn styles.

This is my current we sew retro project, it’s a bit scary!  I hope the fit is good, and I’m a bit worried because I don’t look like one of these women, what with those skinny ol’ legs and red lippy.

Here’s the fabric, which, I’m sorry to have found to be a bit of a slippery kind of poly cotton, it looks lovely, and I think I’ll be ironing it every time I wear it.  I chose a pink zipper, because I’m going to ace this invisible zip again, and it was in the stash that came from my nana too.

I’ve been extra carful about the notches and ironing this baby with almost every stint of sewing, and I’m backing all the facings too.

I’ve had this pattern kicking around for ages, and with this dress, I now know I don’t really suit the shift style…

Here’s all the bits, this one even had a punch card, how old school is that?  First time I’ve pulled one out before.  This was a new/unused pattern that I found in an op shop.

I chose version three, the center one, and it was only after I found the perfect fabric that anything happened…

I was unsure about the sizing, this pattern is size 12 and my measurements placed me somewhere between size 12 and 16, so I added 15 mm on both the front and back panels, and lengthened the facings.

Making darts is very exciting, for me, it starts to take share pretty quickly!

One other reason (besides being a fairly straight forward dress to make up for a beginner sewer) I chose this dress is that it would be simple to modify to allow me to breastfeed comfortably.  I just lowered the front opening a touch, extending the facing too.

Once I tried it on I decided to add a couple of darts in the front, it was a bit too boxy on me, mybe it would suit someone much thinner!  So I added a dart on each side under the bust, all by eye and while wearing it – so I also discovered I could really really do with a mannequin, or a sewing buddy…  Here it is all darted and pressed, but not hemmed…

Oh and I did end up not needing the extra I had allowed for, taking about 15 mm off either side seam, but it was probably what gave me fabric to pay with for the additional darts.

And the reverse, with the not-quite-invisible zip…

I also was a bit slack and did not using any proper facing, mostly because I could not find my stash.  I managed to use one of the zips mum gave me from nana Shirley’s stash and so it was very economical…

All in all I love it, it was a big confidence booster for dressmaking, it feels very summery and I made myself!  See how happy I am?

Here’s that fabric again…

The last visit to my mums, my nana gave me some small pieces from her fabric stash, she’d heard from mum that I’ve been making purses and so wanted to share some of her fabric… and oh my, it’s a dream come true is it not?

How lovely is that print?  As I was calmly looking through when I got home (actually I was having some flashbacks of couches and cushions from the family bach all those years ago, and random curtains and bedspreads from the old family house here in Auckland) so it was a bit overwhelming all the same.. I found this cut and pinned skirt, pretty exciting, it looked close to my fit and was basically pinned and pressed ready to sew..  Well, I couldn’t pass it up could I!  Today I almost finished it while the kids were sleeping, just need to sew in the zip and decide on the hem…

Some of the pins were a tad rusty and oh my!  When I ironed it was like going back in time, I wanted to assemble it before washing, to preserve the pinning etc, it had also frayed somewhat, so I raced around the edge with a straight stitch too, but it smelled of my grandparents old house.  Which is a bit kind of spooky too.

I tried it on after sewing all the darts, and pre-zippering, I’m going to ace this invisible zip.  I am.

(And please excuse the filthy mirror!  I suppose that’s what happens when I walk into the sewing room when the kids are napping…  I will sort this out maybe tomorrow, at least before the next photo!)

I think I’ll shorten it quite a lot, but I’m undecided.  It’s a good weight for winter, but I’d like to wear it as soon as I can, but then I don’t want to lose any of those flowers either, well not TOO many.  I also wish I had enough to make a bag…

Here is my table at i.craft.kingsland… oh and they gave us delicious coffees, a freindly market AND fresh free coffee.  I know, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Sewing kits, sew your own strawberry decorations…

Baskets of snuggles.

Purses,

And more purses…

Cupcake pincushion sewing kits…

See those strawberries?  That’s what you can do with one of my wee kits!