This skirt pattern was a Christmas gift from my in-laws. I love a good pleated skirt, they never go out of style. (Full disclosure, there will be lots of pictures) The only pictures I took of the sewing progress was on my Instagram stories... I made the size 12, but I had to let out the side seams. Even though the waistband measurement was fine and had some wiggle room, it wasn't comfortable at all. Especially considering this will most likely be a work skirt. I let the side seams out as much as I could, graded the seam to the normal 1.5cm allowance by the length of the dart, and reattached the waistband. This fit is perfect now. Much love. I made the long length, C, with pressed pleats. It has a centre back zip and waistband extension for a skirt hook closure. The waistband is secured with stich-in-the-ditch. Mate. That is the best way to do a waistband. Easy, fast, brilliant. If you are still hand stitching waistbands down, you gotta level up! There was enough fabric left to make a matching neck tie. I even went so far to purchase pearl and bronze popper/snaps for the neck tie. Pearl won. I hope to make a few of these neckties to use up some scraps of fabric. I'm even thinking about doing a free pattern for you guys. Or selling them? Don't know. Hit me up with your thoughts. Honestly, the hem doesn't look that bad in real life! I will need to press it again and steam it and press it once more. I used an invisible hand slip stitch on the hem. I am happy to hand sew a hem when I don't hand sew a waistband down. The pleats were pressed and set (on mums advice) with a spray of diluted vinegar water. What a great vintage technique! I have cheap cleaning vinegar in my laundry so that wasn't a problem. It certainly makes the pleats look crisp. Well, not at the hem as previously mentioned... There are three pleats at the front, three in the back and 4 waist darts in total. The pattern closes with a very short back zip (I think the zip could finish one inch lower) and a skirt hook. It fits smoothly over the hips and then softens into the pleats. I would absolutely make this skirt again. In a delicious wool blend. Or a plaid. Or a tweed. Or all of the things. Seriously Vogue, you make great patterns. I might almost be a full time convert to only Vogue patterns.... These shoes are from a brand called Bondi Baby. After a quick Google search, they seem to not exist anymore. Shame. Epic sun glare this morning. But look at the little matching tie! Check out the gorgeous pearl popper. Necktie: made by me
Blouse: Uniqlo Australia Skirt: Vogue 8066 Shoes: Bondi Baby
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There is something about beige and cream colours that remind me of 1930s explorers. In Egypt. Not sure if this is from The Mummy, or something else. The women are often in shades of beige, cream, latte, brown, with a belt and boots. A billowy blouse to catch the wind and some sort of excellent hat. These pants are from Hell Bunny and are a linen blend. I had worn these trousers through breakfast and getting ready. Look how creased they are! Already! Outrageous. I purchased the size medium which is a bit too big, hence the belt to cinch them in. The white blouse was an eBay find. It's 80s, billowy and fits my shoulders. I'm proud (?) to say that these shoulders are all mine. No shoulder pads to be found in here. The blouse has some gorgeous detailing and texture on the collar. The shape of the collar sold me. It has a great 30s/40s vibe which I love. Thank you eBay. This jacket is another vintage item. Classic 80s and found in my local Vinnies store. It works will with 1940s style outfits due to the boxy shape. I bought it for about $12 and it has been in heavy rotation. Jacket: 1980s from local Vinnies
Blouse: 1980s from eBay Belt: stolen from Mum years ago Pants: Hell Bunny from Gwynnie's Shoes: Wittner from years ago Barely seen: Besamé 'V for Victory' brooch that came with the Victory Red lippy Barely seen: Fake tortoise hoop earrings from BowCrossbones on Etsy here It's the second Tuesday of November which is Melbourne Cup day here in Australia. As far as I know, a bunch of horses are forced to race for the enjoyment and financial loss of the nation. I do not condone casual horse torture - there's plenty of info and stats out there about the treatment of race horses. I don't participate in sweeps or gambling, I don't often watch the race. But I will take any excuse to wear a hat. Melbourne Cup has turned into a hat wearing day, and a chance to over dress. Where anyone can wear a hat and no one looks twice. This is the first year that I've been able to frock up and hat up. As a dancer teacher, it's hard to wear a hat while working. No fancy hats go with dance pants and a sweaty work top. But now with my office job... I can frock up all the time! My Melbourne Cup outfit this year is 60s inspired. My saucer hat is from Etsy, New Look 6000 dress made from a ponte knit which has never let me down. The vintage 60s glo-mesh handbag is from a gorgeous vintage store in the Dandenong Ranges. It's in brand new condition. Very happy M! Seriously, look at this hat! It's pretty gorgeous. We were told to wear a crazy hat. This hat is crazy to me. Sticking a saucer on your head is fairly mad. But it's still pretty! It's a beige/crème colour. It's got a couple of marks, but that builds character. Hat: Ehranjadevintage on Etsy here
Dress: Made by me, New Look 6000 (my tried and true pattern) Seams and underthings: What Katie Did Shoes: Sheriton Shoes (Inniu) Bag: Vintage Can I make a dress in 3 days, only sewing in the evenings? Yes I can. It was stressful, tense, and so much swearing...but I did it! It was cut out on Tuesday night and I constructed most of the bodice. Wednesday morning before work I finished the armhole facings. Wednesday night was the pockets, sewing the skirt together, gathering the skirt and attaching it to the bodice, inserting the zip incorrectly, and then just MacGyvering the back of the bodice to work with the incorrect zip. That last step was where all the swearing was. I tried it on. And got stuck in it. More swearing. It was tense. But it was finished! I've previously made Vogue 8789 in a lovely yellow cotton duck type fabric. This time it was from a 'spots and stripes' cotton range at Spotlight. Cheap and cheerful. I did my usual construction of this pattern which is to change the side zip to a back zip.
This is the bodice completed. It's not the best job, but I was rushing! One day I will make this in a stripe and it will be glorious. Beautifully matched stripes running to the front of that bodice.... gorgeous. The little armhole facing is hiding in there. These armholes facings are not interfaced at all which makes this dress such a quick make. No interfacing, no messing around with stuff. Just get on with it. Perhaps my cutting out was inaccurate, but I can never get the facing seam to line up with the bodice seam. It's fine. I'll just do a little bit of invisible hand sewing to hold the facing in place. The skirt is attached and the zipper is going in! At this point in time, I didn't know the zip was being stitched in the wrong place.... That was for future M to discover. The Birthday Partay!You wouldn't believe it. I didn't actually get any full length pictures in my outfit at the party! There are some almost full length like the picture below. The cardigan and beret were also made by me from a while ago. Have a look at the general shenanigans. All names of people read from left to right. I didn't get photos with everyone. I was too busy having a lovely day! Me and my lovely. He did the sound set up for the day. He rocks. :D Happy M.
My cousin got married on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Dandenong Ranges, VIC. It was a really lovely day (weather wise and event wise). The sun was shining, there was no rain, and it was a beautiful ceremony. Of course, I had to make a new outfit for the occasion. I sewed this whole outfit out in 1.5 weeks of evening sewing and cutting. I actually made the capelet in two evenings - cutting out included. It was pretty stressful and I finished the night before our flight to Melbourne. The dress is New Look 6000. What can't this pattern do!? I have made this dress 5 times now. Perhaps that is enough? Nah, probably not... The pictures below are mostly of the zip process. Lapped zippers look so lovely, but this sure isn't my best one. It was messy and uneven. It was rushed. I regret it. But at least is on my back where I can't see it. This upholstery brocade fabric frayed as soon as you look at it. The very first thing to do was edge stitch every single piece. Over all the sides. That was tedious! Even the facings had to be done. I usually do my edge stitching in a different colour. Mostly to use up old thread from previous projects. (I went for the green zip) This is before the facings and hem were done. It has such a lovely shape. This is the size 12. Now the little capelet. I used the Butterick 5032 pattern (I think it is out of print?). I have previously made the dress from that pattern and was uninspired by it. Perhaps a poor fabric choice, but the dress pattern is really short waisted. I made the 12 in the capelet and I LOVE IT! The picture below is just after I had finished attaching the lining. It hadn't been understitched yet, I just couldn't wait to turn it though and see what was happening. It wasn't pressed, it was just thrown onto the body form and I went to bed. And the finished cape! Check out that gorgeous self covered button. It's the first one I ever made. And boy, it won't be my last. I'm not trying to be humble or anything, but that pattern matching over the front of the cape is an absolute fluke. I should rush through projects more often! The collar sits really nicely, the button is fantastic. The capelet is fastened with a very large press stud underneath the button. It's a super cute finish. My lovely is wearing a vintage suit that he purchased while we were in Dallas, Texas. It's a really great suit for a spring wedding. Perfect. His shoes are awesome - can't remember where they are from though... It was a lovely wedding, and a successful outfit. Hooray! My Lovely
Vintage suit: Dallas, Texas Tie: Vinnies NSW Barely seen pocket square (actually a bow tie in matching fabric): made by me Shoes: can't remember Me Capelet: Butterick 5032 (size 12) Dress: New Look 6000 (size 12) Stockings and underthings: What Katie Did Shoes: Django and Juliette Watch: Fossil |
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April 2023
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