Inari the incredible

Named clothing called this dress Inari which is a Japanese name meaning successful and I have to say that this dress is more than aptly named! I actually made it a few months ago bit it's spent most of its time either on my back or in the wash basket.

Whilst the end product is indeed successful, there was a bit of a journey to get there! A few months ago I bought a metre of gorgeous silk from Walthamstow market. I thought that I might be able to squeeze the Inari out of a metre and after tryin more than a few layouts I managed to squeeze it on. Triumphantly, I strutted upstairs to iron the fabric. After ironing I began cutting out only to realise that I had started using a layout which didn't work. I was fuming with myself. I was desperate for more of the fabric so I jumped on a train to the market but sadly they has sold out. I reluctantly settled for this piece of blue rayon instead. Luckily, I'm pleased with the dress which has got lots of wear and I have a growing love for the fabric!

The dress was a very quick sew with impeccably written instructions. It has a relaxed, baggy fit which made fitting very easy, I only took it in slightly a the bust.

Despite appearing very plain it has some beautiful details such as the dropped split hem and a cuff on the arms.

I have also since made a silk version which I wore to my friends wedding...

I hope you avoid any disasters similar to mine! Happy stitching x

Evie La Luve Rosie

I'm currently a very lucky lady as it's the summer holidays! Because of this, I have been sewing up a storm which made me want to try a new skill. I turned to my underwear pattern stash and choose the Evie La Luve Rosie pattern.

The language and seemingly endless list of supplies has always put me off sewing underwear but over time I have managed to pick up most supplies (apart from the strap elastic). I bought no new fabric, using all scraps from left over projects. Bra making is brilliant for using up jersey scraps. Because of this, the lining is rather an unusual colour for the bra!

The instructions were fabulously straightforward and I only came unstuck when trying to create the straps. However, after reading them out loud to a friend they became much clearer. I would definitely recommend the pattern for any bra beginners like myself.

There was something so gloriously satisfying about the whole project. With each step it seemed to change so much and develop as an item.

I love the back detail to this bra, with the straps coming out from the hook and eye.

The rather random mix of colours means that I have some funky thread on show on the inside but as it's my first bra it doesn't bother me too much.

Fit wise, it's pretty good. I made a novice error when cutting the elastic for the bottom band and didn't cut it small enough to provide a huge amount of support. So this is definitely something to bear in mind when making the next one. But it's beautifully comfortable to wear and it's so nice not to have under wiring digging into your ribs.

I'm keen to continue to develop my skills and sew another, are there any bra patterns you recommend?

Happy stitching x

No moaning about Moana...

I feel in love with Papercut Patterns Moana dress as soon as it was released. I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to get around to making it...but I'm very pleased that I finally did!

The pattern can be a top or dress and I must admit that I loved the top instantly but it took me a while to warm to it as a dress. It sat on my dress form as a dress for few weeks before I finally asked Instagram followers what they thought. Upon their advice I decided to keep it as a dress and see how it went. Since finishing it, it's had more than a few outings and I am so pleased I kept it as a dress!

I made the dress from a drapey rayon I bought on a trip to Walthamstow. It took just under 2m of fabric as a dress but I wasn't being especially economical with the cutting out so it could be possible to squeeze it out of less.

I made the dress in xxs sizing out to xs at the waist. The top was rather baggy at the bust to I took this in either side by about 2cm.

I love the peplum detail with the dropped waist. I was fearful of hemming the peplum and decided to use my rolled hem foot for the first time. After a few practises (and more than a few YouTube clips) I jumped in. The full circle made it more tricky but considering it was my first time using it I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

Moana has an exposed zip detail at the back. The instructions recommend a metal one but I used a plastic one instead (I couldn't find a nice coloured metal one). Because of this I didn't feel the need to interface the facings which I'm pleased about as it keeps the dress relaxed and floaty. I always find exposed zips tricky and ended up having to do a little bit of hand sewing a the end.

Definitely pleased with this dress. I'm already dreaming of Liberty silk version...

Happy stitching x

As high as a lark

I LOVE this t-shirt! After me made may, I decided that I needed more me made tops so I purchased the Grainline Lark tee. It has been a faboulous addition already and comes with so many different variations.

The t-shirt sewed up exceptionally quickly. Taking only about an hour. Perfect for when sewing time is a bit squeezed!

I made the t-shirt using a metre of fabric. There's a bit left over which I'm hoping to squeeze some underwear from. This gorgeously colourful fabric is from girl charlee. It has a lovely drape to it which is perfect for this pattern.

I cut the top out separately rather than on the fold to make it easier to pattern match. I always find pattern matching tricky so I am pretty please with how the stripes matched.

The t-shirt pattern is very long. I shortened the pattern by about 4 inches and it's still this long! As I usually tuck my t-shirts in, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Because I loved the t-shirt so much, I made another one straight away! This time using a striped jersey from Walthamstow Market.

I really liked the effect of cutting the neckline with the striped vertical on my first version so I did this again for my monochrome version.

I'm already planning a few plain versions which will make it easier to wear some of my patterned skirts!

Happy stitching x

Another Camber...I think I'm addicted...

It's yet another Merchant and Mills Camber. I know, I know I already have two but they're just so gorgeously easy to wear (and make)!

I was seduced by this fabric while at Walthamstow market. It reminds me of a fabric used by Kate Spade in her summer collection this year. However, as you can see, it creases really easily! The fabric is beautifully drapey and has lots of movement for such a straight shaped dress. I squeezed the dress out of a mere metre. I have passed the remaining metre onto my friend who's planning a grainline lark in it.

Because I have made the dress before, I made the same alteration to the darts (elongagting them by about 5cm) and shortened the dress quite substantially. I'm pleased with the fit of the dress, I affectionately call these dresses 'beautiful sacks'! Baggy but still with style.

I finished the sleeves and hem with bias binding. Purely because I find this method both pretty and easy.

I hate to think how many times this dress has been worn already. Perhaps I need another drapey Camber...

Happy stitching x

Tilly and the Buttons Picnic Skirt

I haven't been sewing very much recently. I felt like I had lost my sew-jo. When this happens, I generally need a super quick, easy project to fire me up again. I decided to make the Tilly and the Buttons picnic skirt in a Makower siamese cat print and thankfully it's done the trick!

Tilly's instructions for drafting are perfectly straight forward (as always!). Because I had made the gathered skirt in Love at First Stitch I decided to adjust the pattern I already had to include the placket which worked out well and saved me a job!

Originally I wanted pink buttons to match the butterflies but I couldn't find the correct colour anywhere. After some fabulous advice on Instagram (got to love the sewing community). I went for black in the end. The buttons I used were actually saved from an old RTW French connection jumper. I love how the black accentuates the Siamese cats' faces and tails.

I followed Tilly's instructions and the construction of the skirt itself was straightforward. I had a little trouble with some gaping between the first and second button so I added a popper between them which seems to have stopped the problem. I'm not sure if this is because the fabric is medium weight. All in all, I'm definitely happy with it...and Susie seems to approve too!

Happy stitching x

Fabric shoppin in Brighton

Brighton has to be one of my favourite places in England. So when I heard that Sewmance was on I thought that it would be great to time it with a trip to see some family.

We started out at Sewmance which was held in a bar on the seafront. This was the first year it was held so it was small but there was some nice fabric there. It was great to see Village Haberdashery (who are based in Hove) because I wouldn't have seen them otherwise.

I only bought one fabric from Sewmance, this rather pretty cotton voile.

After Sewmance we headed into the city to Fabricland which was absolutely amazing! So many pretty prints at brilliant prices! I wish there was one closer to where I live. My fabric stash is lacking cottons so I bought quite a few! Perhaps it was being at the seaside but I seem to have been drawn to birds...

A cotton stretch sateen which I'm imagining will be a pencil skirt.

A viscose print which I'm thinking will be a Tilly and the Buttons Marigold.

Another two cotton prints. I'm not sure what to do with these yet!

Next we headed to Brighton Sewing Centre where there were lots of pretty prints on quilting weight cotton.

Then it was straight to Ditto which is such a pretty shop! Everywhere we looked there were gorgeous roles of fabric.

I was very restrained and only bought one fabric a pretty sweatshirt fleece which I'm sure will become yet another Grainline Linden...

Fabric shopping in Brighton certainly was not a disappointment and I have no doubt that I will be going back to fabric shop again.

Happy stitching x