Sew Darn Tired

I won some tickets to a show at the QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Complex) - Wizard of the Keys where  piano virtuoso  Behzod Abduraimov    played Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 3  - he is only 24 and was sensational - not that I'm any specialist, but he did get three standing ovations! So, as I don't get the opportunity to get out to special events often I took the opportunity to wear the Style Arc Alisha dress I made for the wedding in early May. I didn't manage to get a single photo of the dress on that night so I took the opportunity to get some photos. My friend took them with her phone and they are a bit washed out but really nice photos. I wore it with my Burda coat I made (actually for the photo taking friend's wedding in April 2009). Below without the coat showing off the lovely fabric. The lining, which I know you can't see, is a synthetic but superb quality (a Daniel Lightfoot - Brisbane designer of long ago who made/makes beautiful gowns...

I finally got round to getting some labels. I got 50 from  Name Tapes and Labels  through nothing other than I got sick of looking at label sites and just ordered. They were pretty reasonable (50 for about $25? can't find the receipt right now) and were quick to deliver. I think it was 10 days from ordering. They are woven - dark grey with silver. I wanted something that was neutral so I could put it on t-shirts etc for me but also on my son's clothing. I can fold them and put them in the seam so they are more a tag but I will rarely put them in clothing. I don't like labels in clothing and will always rip it out (so will my son). If I need a hanging tag I will use cotton twill take which is soft and not scratchy. What do you think? I'm not sure about the sewing machine on it now.. a bit twee? Also big thank you for all the encouraging and very complimentary comments regarding my me-made smalls. I can see lots more in my future. 

Whatever you call them, I made them finally. I have been putting off buying undies because I can make them but I haven't ever made any before and was nervous about it. Why ever so???? It is so easy. My impetus was finding Kwik Sew 1484 at the Salvo Thrift Shop a few weeks ago. I had a free day yesterday and wanted to sew but had to have a win... I've not been too happy with my fitting lately and have been putting off sewing stuff although I know what I want to make. The first pair I made with fabric leftovers from a Fabric Store buy that I made a bias cowl dress (don't know if I blogged it) and I made them in size Medium and they a bit too big so the next two I made in a small size and they are perfect. The sheer flowery fabric was $2 at the Fabric Store a while ago and I only bought a metre because I like the colours and wasn't sure what to make from it, the other is like a tightly knit but fine power mesh (but it's not mesh - if that makes sense) perfect ...

This is the Donna Karan Vogue 1250 I made for my friend. I'd had this fabric for a while but knew it was never for me. It's pretty accurate in the colour on my screen. I remember it was a remnant fabric at Spotlight years ago and I figure I wouldn't have paid too much for it because I probably thought I would make a costume or something from it. When I was doing my stash stocktake (of which this fabric wasn't counted) I saw it and knew it was for my friend. It is so her! Sorry these are really bad photos she just sent me from her phone that was new to her and so they are blurry but they are in the process of moving so the best we will get for a while. When I made her dress I adjusted the cowl to be longer and more curved; the draft for this is a very square and I felt it wouldn't  sit well so I changed it. I did the same for the sausage dress. I don't think this photo needs to be increased in size! When I made Maree's dress, I realised that ...

Fabric sale is on again. I just got the notice - don't miss out! Yes, the ants have taken over the photocopier! Help..anyone know how to get rid of them?

 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 ...

The dress is finished and I wore it to the wedding on Saturday. I started Thursday. There was a few hiccups but not unmanageable. I made the slip but in the end I made a full lining. This is my first fully lined dress and I had to work out the best way. I did this because the pattern calls for the lace to be a scalloped edge and I couldn't work out a nice finish to just make the lace dress so I decided it would be best for a full lining. Close up of fabric I ended up bagging out the top and if you notice, I attempted to give it some turn of cloth so the lining wouldn't show at all. It wasn't a well thought out plan as I added a couple of millimetres all around but I don't think that is the ideal but it worked out ok. Then I had to work out how to make the dress part so I just made a lining and attached the skirt part (lining and dress) to the bagged out top and then to finish made a nice bias strip and finished it like this. I put a hook and eye on the back b...