Colette Myrtle

So this is my first make in a little while but I've totally fallen head over heels with Colette patterns.

www.colettepatterns.com

This is a pattern primarily designed for knits but can be made with woven fabrics as well. I'll post the link with instructions, as they are slightly different, later on.

I made this dress in a new class provided by CraftsBee on how to sew with stretch fabrics. I was pretty happy when I saw this class advertised as stretch fabrics are something I've been a bit scared to try!

Well i shouldn't have had any fears as it's such an easy fabric to work with. I used a fairly cheap plain cotton jersey so i wasn't too worried about mucking it up and with a lot of help from the tutor I managed to knock this up in a day!

I'm really pleased with the fit as I was able to cut a small on top an medium on the bottom! Also being jersey you need to make very few if any alterations.

The pattern was classed as a beginner. There was a couple of places where I really had to think about what I was doing as it wasn't overly clear. But other than that it was easy to follow.

I'm definitely going to make some more of these dresses for my holiday in June. So much so I've already bought a navy jersey and a lovely fabric with blue birds.

Oh and as promised here are the instructions to make this dress in woven fabrics.

Future Projects

So, I've completely lost all my sewing space now!

Lost the dining room to the work we are having done downstairs and the spare bedroom as my OHs parents are over for a bit.

Therefore, thought I'd take this time to update you on some future projects.

My first project will be Colette Myrtle. I love how Colette Patterns are packaged with a cute little hand-stitched instruction booklet. This is one of three of their patterns I have purchased but have yet to start them!

This is my first foray into working with knit fabrics so I signed up for a day course with Crafts Bee on how to work with it. This is the pattern I'll be using, still undecided on a fabric. Have seen so many lovely fabrics but I think I'll go with a plain to start just to see how I get on. My course is on the 21st June so I'll update you after that.

www.colettepatterns.com

Meet Nigel the Dragon! This is from the latest issue of Sew Home & Style magazine and I'm going to be making a variation for my nephew's 4th birthday. I'll be making in red to reflect a Welsh dragon as he is half welsh. I've ordered my supplies and am eagerly awaiting to start him. 

www.sewmag.co.uk

Finally, here is another Colette pattern I'm hoping to start. Dahlia is going to be made in a suiting fabric I purchased from the online Oxfam store and will be more designed to being a winter dress. You really should check out the Oxfam online shop as they sometimes have some lovely vintage fabrics.

www.colettepatterns.com

So now you've seen the projects I hope to be starting over the summer. I'll be sure to update you with some progress shots of Nigel once I get started on him.

Simplicity 1364 - Bloggers Challenge

A while back I mentioned I entered the Simplicity Bloggers Challenge.  My challenge is the Best Vintage Make category using Simplicity 1364 which is a relaunch of a classic vintage pattern.

I started by making a mock up of the top (view D) in calico. 

On first fitting it was a little tight around the top but I let out some of the seams under the arms which made it fit much better. However I'm not happy with the facing around the neck as it seems a bit bulky so decided to replace it with some satin bias binding.

Ultimately this is the fabric I'll be using, Prim Cotton Lawn - Hanakatoba, which I hope is fairly vintage looking.

And this is the final product!

I found this pattern very easy to follow as it just consisted of three main pattern pieces. The fabric was also a dream to work with. I did have to make a minor adjustment by increasing the seam allowance down the back as there seemed to be too much excess material. I also added an invisible zip instead of the regular one.

I would make this top again, I just need to find the right material! 

New Look 6223

This was the first item of clothing I made in my dressmaking adventures. It's a pretty dress that can be made to look formal or casual dependant on the material used.

New Look 6223 

I made view D in navy linen. It's a lovely fabric and drapes well but doesn't half crease! The fabric also stretched slightly on the skirt so when it came to joining it to the bodice none of the seams matched up! A few choice words later I ended up increasing some of the pleats to use up the excess material. It still doesn't look great but I'm still chuffed with it.

I will get a photo of me sometime!

I found the pattern as a beginner fairly easy to follow. I was lucky as I did this dress during a six week dressmaking course so had an instructor on hand in case I got stuck.

Overall the dress fits really well. I cut a 14 but had to add a little bit to the waist on both bodice and skirt as my waist has got slightly bigger over the years!

Simplicity Amazing Fit 1800

This was one of the first dresses I made starting out. It looked daunting at first to a newbie because of the number of pieces and the way it is made. However I was attracted to it due to the fact it is suitable for those with bigger busts and no full bust adjustments are required. 

Simplicity Amazing Fit 1800

Hint, do not use your best thread at first! This dress requires you to sew some pieces wrong side together at the start so it's easier to adjust later. You then unpick the thread and sew new seams depending on any adjustments.

I chose to make option B as I prefer shorter sleeves. For this dress I used a plain navy cotton, dress lining and lightweight interfacing. However due to static and the fact that it's slightly see through I would recommend a slip. The pattern calls for a standard zip but I used an invisible zip as I think they look neater. 

I found the pattern easy to follow, even when some steps called for wrong sides together. There was a moment when I was a little confused with the facings diagram but figured it out in the end. The good thing with this pattern is once you've made one dress you can go straight in to making another without haveing to make it seams out.

Overall the dress fits really well. I only had to make one minor adjustment as the front bodice was gaping a bit. I ended up making two in this design and will probably end up making more.

Front of the dress

Rear of the dress

Second dress I made (excuse the mess, we are working on the house!)

Well I haven't got off to a great start!!

Well I haven't got off to a very good start with this blog have I!

Truth is we've been having some work done to the house so I've kind of lost my sewing area for a bit. Hopefully I'll get back up a running again and will shortly be posting some of the items I have made between my first post and now.

What better way to start off sewing again by entering a competition! I've entered Simplicity's Bloggers Challenge in the Best Vintage Make category.

I've admired this pattern for a while so am thrilled to be able to give it a go.

I think I have the perfect fabric but I'll share this once I receive my pattern!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog on my adventures in dressmaking. I gained an interest after I got a sewing machine for my 30th birthday. I had the idea that it would be nice to make my own clothes as I do have trouble with shop bought, especially trousers.

To get me going I'm starting a six week dressmaking course on Monday where we'll be guided through a pattern of our choice. I've never done anything like this so it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

The pattern I've chosen is New Look 6223 in style D. I'm going to make it in lightweight linen so it is more of a summer dress rather than a formal dress. I'll keep you posted on how it's going and whether I've been bitten by the dressmaking bug!