Malvorosa take two...

I loved by original Malvorosa but I bought it with a hack in mind. I wanted to use it to recreate a dress similar to the one below...

I wasn't able to get my hands a green fabric but I did find a similar black drapey fabric at Walthamstow Market. Whilst it's not as close as I would like it to be, I'm pleased with the dress.

I played around with the skirt pattern, using a pattern master to draw a new curve. I started the curve from the side seams but I should have definitely started it from the front and graduated it in more. I think that this would have showed the back detail off more. The skirt is lined in a bright pink drapey fabric.

The new curve of the skirt creates a pretty shape for the side and back of the dress.

I decided to keep the sleeve the same as the Malvorosa as it's one of my favoutite features of the pattern.

Overall I'm pleased with the hack but if I decide to make another, I would definitely continue to play around with the shape of the skirt.

Happy stitching x

Me Made May...hooray

Horray! We have made it through Me Made May! This was my first Me Made May and I'm really pleased that I took part. Although at times, especially after a long day, I couldn't stand to take another picture overall I have loved it!

Here is an overview of my four weeks worth of outfits...

Most of all, I'm pleased about how it's encouraged me reflect on my wardrobe and it has definitely given me some new sewing goals!

-I need to make some more casual clothes (planning some Hudson pants!)

-More plains than patterns.

-More tops/t-shirts!

-I also need to develop more of a summer wardrobe (most of my sewing has taken place in the winter thus far).

Happy stitching!

Ralph Pink Prilla Dress

I have been super excited to sew a Ralph Pink design after my friend introduced me to his patterns a few weeks ago and I certainly wasn't disappointed!

I decided to start with one of his most simple projects, the Prilla Dress. Which is a jersey full circle dress. I made it using jersey from Minerva crafts which had a nice weight for the dress and it must have taken me no longer than two hours to cut and sew! The hardest part was putting the PDF pattern together which wasn't quite as straight forward as others I have made.

Although the pattern is labelled as a dress it is certainly not a dress on either me or the model (who also wears it with skinny jeans). It would need some serious lengthening to make it a dress but I like it as a top anyway!

The construction was really straightforward and I made it almost entirely on the overlocker. I did use my walking foot to make sure that it wasn't stretching so much that I could see the overlocking stitches.

My only drama occurred when I attached the full circle skirt only to overlock a hole in it! Luckily it wasn't too far from the seam so I sewed around it again and caught it into the seam.

The full circle gives the top lots of movement...

The only construction detail I'm not happy with is that Ralph Pink leaves the hem unfinished. I know I want to hem it but I'm also no sure how. Has anyone used jersey bias binding? Or do you have any other ideas for how to hem the top?

Happy stitching x

Me Made May

This is my first Me Made May and I am so enjoying viewing everyone's amazing me made wardrobe as well as scrutinising my own! I'd say that I usually wear a me made item most days but certainly not all days. Thesefore my pledge was to wear a me made item each day.

So, we are half way through and I'm pleased to report that I have worn a me made item each day so far! Fingers crossed that I can keep it up.

It's been really useful to look at my me made wardrobe and spot some glaring gaps I have. Because of this I would like to focus my sewing in some new areas;

Sewing more plains!!

Making more tops

Developing my summer wardrobe (most of my sewing happened this winter)

Creating a selection of plain pencil skirts to wear some of my tops with larger silhouettes with.

Are you taking part in Me Made May? Is it making you reflect on your own sewing plans?

Happy stitching x

Luscious Lilou

When I bought Tilly and the Buttons Love at First Stitch Lilou was top of my sewing list. However, over time I've made everything in the book but this gorgeous dress. As summer is approaching I decided to dive in!

It's made in a drapey cotton rayon so I made the gathered skirt version rather than the pleated version. The dress is lined and as I'm trying to sew using my stash rather than buying new fabric I lined in the same fabric. I do slightly regret this decision and think a pink inside would have been so girly and gorgeous with the hearts.

As ever Tilly's instructions were absolutely fabulous. I think her instructions are the most comprehensive of all the independent sewing labels. She really does hold your hand throughout the project. I didn't make any alterations to the pattern or construction. When I make it again, I will definitely lengthen it though as I feel that it's slightly too short on me.

Fit wise I altered it only at the end when inserting the zip and took it in slightly. It has a loose fit still but I like it. It makes it feel relaxed and easy to wear.

The drapey fabric gives it such a lovely swish when you move!

I always have trouble with rayon hems. Despite leaving the hem to fall it always seems to grow wherever I have joined two fabrics together. Because of this, I ended up re hemming it, but I think it's dropped again! Any ideas for how to stop this?

Happy stitching! x

The Malvarosa

This fabric has been in my stash for a while now and I was beginning to think that it was a mistake. After I bought the Malvorosa pattern by Pauline Alice, I thought that I'd use the fabric so that if it was a total disaster I wouldn't be too sad!

But it turns out I love it!

I love the front pocket detail and the shape of the sleeves which are all part of the dress...so no sleeves to insert!

The dress has a relaxed fit which meant that there were no fitting issues to deal with and best of all you just pull it on so there's no need to insert an invisible zip! It's a fantastic dress for a beginner or for a quick sew at the weekend!

The instructions were easy to follow, the only part which wasn't quite right were the instructions for finishing off the insides which would be great if you were zip-zag stitching on a machine but aren't in the correct order for using a serger.

I'm planning on making another but hacking the pattern slightly to create a dipped hem at the back then line the peplum detail with a flash of colour to add a bit of drama.

Happy stitching x

Swooing for The Merchant and Mills Camber!

I love this dress so much that for the first time ever I made two straight after each other! They are in constant rotation in my wardrobe and I love both of them for their absolute simplicity.

Each dress took only a couple of hours to make and was very simple to construct. There is a gorgeous yoke detail which finishes the inside beautifully.

Fit wise, Merchant and Mills are supposed to be relaxed and baggy. But I find that making the size they recommend is too baggy so I always size down from what they recommend and so far it's worked well for fitting.

The first Camber was made in a brushed cotton from Walthamstow market. The brushed cotton is incredibly cosy, it's like wearing a hug and has got me through a fair few Monday morning blues!

Here is a close up of the fabric

My second Camber is made of Liberty corduroy bought from Goldhawk Road. I've affectionately called this my 'sofa dress'!

It doesn't fall quite a nicely as the brushed cotton dress as the fabric isn't as heavy but I still like how it looks.

I only had a meter of the Liberty fabric which meant I didn't have enough fabric for the inside yoke so instead I used a plain piece of black cotton I had. Because of this I decided to finish the hems with black bias binding to pull it all together.

The Camber is definitely one of my favourite day dress patterns and I can feel a few more coming on! Happy stitching x