Work in progress: New Look 6184 (2)

The latest on my dress...

Once I'd sewn the darts at the back of the bodice pieces, the next stage was to actually sew front and back together. Although I know I should make a muslin...let's be honest, I just cut the pieces out and hoped for the best! When I did my initial measuring, the pattern implied that I should be one size, when I looked at the pattern pieces themselves, the amount of easing they allow for is very generous - it was going to give me a full 3 and a half inches of easing, which to be honest, isn't the look I go for on a dress like this! So I cut the smaller size, which would still leave me with about an inch, and hoped that I was doing the right thing.

Once I got the bodice front and back pieces sewn together, I did a first 'try-on' (with my hubby holding the back closed - always a good look!), and it actually fitted perfectly. The whole concept of having the 'easing' in the pattern is worth remembering when you're starting out - depending on the fit that you want, ensure you read the actual measurements on the pattern rather than the sizes on the back!

The next task - which was pretty time consuming - was to prepare the facing for the neckline. I ironed on the interfacing...

...and then sewed the pieces together to get my rather amusing looking neckline!

Then I finished off my exposed edge with a zigzag stitch, and attached the facing to the bodice of the dress.  Although this required a bit of footering about ensuring the right sizes were facing and the curve and seams were in the right place, it really was a brilliant way to finish off the neckline.  To be honest, this was the thing I couldn't quite work out about the neckline - how would it get finished in that 'shop bought' sort of way.  Neckline facings are the answer...!

Once the actual facing was attached, it was time for some understitching. Another quick Google search was required for something I'd never done before, and this Sewaholic demo came to the rescue. The little stitches in the facing are so cute...I'm enjoying them, even though it'll only be me who sees them...!

The next thing I need to do is do the bias binding for the arms - this is another one where I've found a fantastic tutorial so that hopefully I'll really know what I'm doing - that's certainly the plan anyway!  One for the weekend I think...

Work in progress: New Look 6184 (1)

After making my new years resolutions, I've finally made a start on my first ever dress.  I bought the New Look 6184 pattern in a sale in Calico for the very reasonable price of £2.95, along with a couple of others.  It's similar to the dress that I wore to my cousin's wedding in the summer - I really liked the style, so I thought it was a good make for my first dress!

I used the fabric that I bought in America in JoAnn - at last!  As well as cutting my pattern pieces, I've also dutifully transferred my pattern markings - usually I'm not very good at that part, but I'm determined that on this dress I'll do my best to get all the markings transferred so that I get my darts in the right place etc.

So far, all I've done in terms of sewing is the front bodice piece, as you can see above.  It looks quite massive in that picture, but as you can see, it's because there is a bit of sewing to do in the front to get it into the nice fitted shape that looks so good on the model!

I sewed my two darts in, and they came out well - nice and sharp.

 

The next bit to do was the neckline.  This is a pleated neckline, which I really liked.  You make the pleats by folding, and then basted to ensure that they stay in place.

Now that they're safely in place, I've had to leave it, but I'm hoping I'll get more sewing time in at the weekend, and have some progress to report soon!

Crafty presents!

Happy birthday to me...! It was a bit surreal to be hitting 26 yesterday - I'm really not feeling like I've passed the mid-point of my twenties, but it's happened...! You're only as old as you feel though - and I can assure you, I really don't feel old at all!

A birthday so close to Christmas is a bit strange - as well as difficult for present ideas. Now that I have a crafty hobby, my family and friends have (encouraged by me!) seized on it with delight for present inspiration.  Christmas was a handmade delight for me, with new books, magazines, wool and even craft classes.  Here's a few of the bits and pieces that I can't wait to get started with...

• Sew Serendipity book - man, I am excited about this book!  There are some absolutely gorgeous skirts, tops and dresses - and even coats - and the book comes with the patterns.  Thanks to my lovely mum-in-law for getting this for me!

• The Sewists Notebook - I found out about this fantastic notebook on Handmade Jane's Christmas gift ideas post and my sister Deborah was quick off the mark.  It's got places to write all about the different projects ongoing - as well as somewhere to put notes etc about what to improve for next time, something that I definitely need!
• My lovely hubby was obviously listening carefully when I was discussing what I would like for Christmas, so I've now got a subscription to Inside Crochet magazine.  I was already on a 3 month subscription to Simply Crochet, which I've really been enjoying, but I'm also excited to try something different as well!
• The lady skater sewing pattern from Kitschy Coo came from my mum - this is another dress pattern in knit fabric, and looks lovely.  Hopefully this will be one of my makes this year.

• Little crochet books - one for Christmas and one for my birthday by my two sisters-in-law.
• Craftsy classes - thanks to my mum and sisters, I'm going to be doing 'Make your own designer jeans' and also 'Underneath it all'.

All this bodes well for 2014...I'm off to get started!

New Year Resolutions

I appreciate that making new years resolutions already a week into the new year smacks of a lack of commitment! To be honest, life was pretty hectic around the turn of the year - I made my first family Christmas dinner on new years day, and family stuff basically consumed from then until I went back to work on Monday - so I've really not had any time to think about my sewing resolutions for the year ahead! I'm back to work and reality now - surprisingly giving me a bit of a breather - and so I've finally had a bit of a chance to think about what I'd like to do this year.

Back in September, I had a bit of a think about my sewing to-do list. Of those bits and pieces, I managed to achieve number 1 - the roman blind for the landing, number 3 - the cord skirt - which I love - and number 6 - Christmas presents! Which, lets be honest, gives me plenty of scope for a few resolutions for this year.  So, as well as picking up those bits, there are three things I really want to do this year!

Sewing room

We're fortunate enough to have two spare rooms in our little house - and although they're not the most spacious, as we have lots of visitors, it's so great to have them! However, obviously they're not always occupied, and in the interim they tend to become the official dumping ground / laundry room. I know it's a total waste of space to use them like that!

Then, when I sew, I end up with my machine on the kitchen table, pins everywhere, fabric on the worktop - it's just chaos!

So, my first resolution for this year is to make our little spare bedroom (the purple one!) into my sewing room.  We'll still keep the bed in there - and the two sets of bookshelves *ahem* - but I'm going to get the room cleared and make some space so I can do some proper sewing in there!

Dresses

I've now got four dress patterns - not including the ones in the new book I got for Christmas - and absolutely zero dresses to show for it! I've made quite a few skirts, but I've not quite got the courage up to making a dress yet. As you probably know, I do just tend to launch into things with abandon, and that makes me nervous when thinking about lots of fabric and 'bits'! Hopefully a sewing room will be just what I need to get myself organised and ready for action. So, Resolution #2 is to make two dresses!

Craft classes

When doing some pre-Christmas blog reading, I noticed Tilly mentioning that Craftsy had a sale on their online classes. Friends have mentioned these classes to me before, so on a bit of an impulse I suggested to my mum and sisters that I could get some classes for Christmas. So I now have a class on linings, and one on making your own designer jeans! Exciting! Resolution #3 is to do the classes and actually put them into practice.

Okay, so I've tried not to go too overboard - three resolutions is enough for going into my second sewing year, I think! If I don't start mentioning these bits, feel free to give me a nudge and ask how I'm getting on...! Do you have any sewing resolutions for 2014?

Red and cream draught excluder

The grand plan for Christmas 2013 was to do handmade gifts! All experienced sewists are probably nodding wisely right now - as you would guess, it didn't take me long to realise that if I wanted to do all my gifts handmade, I should probably have started in January! However, I did manage to make quite a few presents, and one of them was this lovely draught excluder for my mum-in-law. My in-laws have a beautiful big Victorian house up in north Wales - it's absolutely lovely, but drafts definitely come with the territory in a house like that.

I found lots of tutorials for draft excluders on Pinterest, but the one I liked best was this one. It was simple to follow - although I did increase it slightly because I knew their doors were likely a little larger than ours.

You might recognise the fabric pattern - it's the one that I used for my roman blind - but the red version! I just loved it so much that I got some more from Calico for the draft excluder.

A handy way to create the ends for the draft excluder...

I sewed the pieces up with my machine - leaving a little hole for the stuffing - and then stuffed it with the guts of a pillow which Pete had thoroughly mangled!!  I attempted to hand-sew the final bit together, but my hand sewing is appalling, so I ended up with the glue-gun, which was a perfectly adequate way of finishing it!

The finishing touch...my little 'handmade by Rebekah' label...!