Old Burda makes and daleks

I made this dress a few years ago. It's a Burda magazine one - sorry haven't got the details handy - and I really loved it. From memory I only wore it once, then I put on weight. I can't do the back zip up at the bodice (but you can't really tell in the photo...I am spilling out of it though - thanks menopause). The skirt part was a piece a friend gave me from her stash, just a polyester satin (thanks Marian) and the bodice part was a remnant of duchess satin from Gardams for $3 from memory. The hem is rolled on the overlocker. I really love the colours and feel of this dress and I'm aiming to get back into this. It's a great summer dress that looks smart but doesn't need a lot of care.

This top is also a Burda magazine make from about the same time ago. This is the second iteration of this top. I loved the first one so much and wore it to death but it faded and pilled. I made it out of this lovely polished cotton from Spotlight a few years ago - it was last of the roll and only $5 per metre.

This top has some lovely details - the bottom part of the top has 3 pin tucks on each side and is supposed to have a casing for a tie under the bust, but I didn't put this in as I don't need it. I love the cute little buttons.

I made the little button loops from some cord - it was so fidgety but worth the effort for the nice finish, it's also faced with some 1" satin bias. You don't have to undo the buttons to get into it. Well that would be if I could get into it - when I made this one I forgot to add the seam allowances so it doesn't fit - don't you hate that!

Yes, that bad looking cake is supposed to be a dalek (thanks Karen for the comment that made me realise I spelt this incorrectly). My son turned 10 recently and we had a little party at a great skate park nearby. He wanted a dalek cake - it's not my best make but the kids recognised it. The cake stood about 30cm high so there was a lot of cake.

That my hand to show scale. The computer in the background trying to get ideas.

One part of the skate park. There was a whole huge ramp built as well just behind here. There were about 20 late teenage boys there and our boys felt a little intimidated at first, but they all took their turns and there were not problems or falls. When we cut the cake, I took over about half of it to the teenagers and they were ecstatic - seems like you can never be too old for cake!

I've traced and half cut out a Ottobre raglan t-shirt. I need some basics for winter and I have nothing casual for school drop off and around the house. I want to make up some jeans or trousers but I'm feeling really low and flat - that's how the cold makes me feel and it's not even that cold yet.

Happy Mother's Day tomorrow for all the Mums to there. Enjoy your day.

Island night... PNG cruise

Well hello again. I've just come back from a cruise to Papua New Guinea and I made a dress for Island night. Island night or any theme night is just a suggestion... there is no organised event, meals, activities; just a dress code suggestion. As soon as I read that, I searched for this vintage surfie fabric I bought years ago at an op shop. I was thrilled to use it. I needed an easy pattern that I could make 2 days before the cruise departure and one that I would wear again. I used this Style 2911 pattern that I only bought online a few months ago. Style are my favourite patterns. I cut out a size 16 but had to reduce it to the 12. It's a great simple but elegant pattern and it went together perfectly. My machines liked it too... they cooperate when they like what I'm making and it was a breeze. I cannot believe that we didn't get one photo of it on. I was thrilled with it and even tho there is some ink staining you can't really see it as it's so busy. I had ...

More things I've made - part 3.

Well part 3 is here. First up Style 1876. Did I ever say that Style are my favourite patterns? So this one was an op shop find a long time ago. It's a great pattern. I can't remember if the bodice is cut on the bias (but I think not) and the skirt is cut on the bias. I made it out of some synthetic crepe in the most fabulous colour. It has great pockets that you can see on the red dress.. The are sewn onto the back pieces, and then when you sew it up and leave the opening, you stitch the pocket onto the inside/front of the dress. That pocket isn't going anywhere. I used up all the fabric which was a gift from a friend's mother in law. It turned out to be a bit see though and I didn't wear it. It fits so nicely around the shoulders and arm holes. I decided I was going to wear it to Brisbane Spoolettes Frocktails this year as I didn't have time to make something else. I decided that it needed something else though as it was a little too see through for me. I had ...

Trying a vintage togs pattern.

Hello, it's been a while again. Not as long as some bloggers who have recently returned to blogging...up to 7 years, but I'm glad people are coming back. I never joined Instagram as I'm not that fussed on 'social media' and more with people who write about their sewing. So back to sewing. I picked up this vintage McCalls togs pattern. It's quite a good value pattern as there are three very different and interesting swimsuits included. That's pretty rare. It's a size 16. I decided to make view B. All of the patterns have pieces for the bra cups too which is really great. Photographed with it is a Burda beach wrap. I can't find the magazine number right now, but it's at least 10 years old. Basically it's a large square of fabric with arm holes cut out. The fabric is genuine 70s towelling. I know because Mum bought it to cover our 'fantastic plastic' vinyl couch. Vinyl was preferred back then...

Sew Darn Tired

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