Sewing school no.3

Hello !

Here are some pictures of my efforts so far. I am making this...

I dislike any pics of me, but had to take a couple to show you what it looks like on. Please do not view whilst eating !! I may put you off your roast, lol

Actually, I just had a roast and therefore now was probably not the best time to take a picture of myself.

But - here you are. I just sat and tacked extra on the side seams (I adjusted the pattern too large !), and the casing for the ribbon. I will be using the ribbon shown in the photos, I fancied a contrast rather than making the ties from the same fabric.

Here are the adjusted bodice pieces (the skirt, ahhhhhh thats another post !)

I have actually added too much on the sides, but the tutor showed me a neat trick for grading around the arm and neck. I was all for adding the same amount all the way around, but she said I should add an amount on each section to measure the same for smaller sizes.

I am having trouble explaining, so you can see what I mean here...

I measured the distance between each size line and added that amount to the pattern. See, I can explain better with a picture   :-))

This is the bodice pinned together - you can see my tailors tacks !  Very exciting ! Also the gathers I made.  I well love this fabric, it is a cotton poplin from Heathcotes in Tiverton. The ribbon is a deep chocolate brown, also from Heathcotes.

Then I tacked it together and added the ribbon....

And here it is on !!

Ta Da !!!!

(sorry about my bra poking out !)

I am excited about this - I am super pleased with how it looks already and I cant wait to finish my exams and get cracking with this dress. I cant wait to see it all  made up !!  I am already planning a second version, in silk charmeuse, I think that would look gorgeous !

Well, I had better get on with some more revision !

I hope you are all having a cracking Sunday.

MWAH

K xxx

Sewing school no.2

Hello friends !

I hope you have all had a good week ? I was at sewing school again today, and was actually very excited to  learn some new skills.

I have learnt how to adjust the bodice and widen the empire band and lengthen the skirt. I have also learnt how to make tailors tacks. I thought they would be very time consuming, but found that for me anyway, they are quicker and easier to handle than chalk lines.

After last Saturday I was worried this project would be not so great due to sizing issues and lack of confidence. Also the fact that I was cutting and sticking all day did nothing to ease my worries.

But !!  Phew, it was not in vain. there a few people at my stage so I didnt feel so bad. I actually cut into fabric today, learnt how to do gathers, and tacked together the bodice part of the dress. And it actually looks pretty good. I am very happy !!!

I WILL take pictures to show tomorrow - I promise ! Its dark now, and the light is no good to show the colour of the fabric.Ill show the bodice at this stage so you can see how I am getting on. I still have loads to do, but feel confident as have made great shakes today. Now yet started on the skirt, facings etc. Guess ill need to make new facings as made so many changes to the bodice. Hopefully that is not a hard job as I would like to get started once my exams finish (week Monday !!!  ARGGGHHHH !! )  I think I just need to trace a couple of inches around the armhole, but I am sure it wont be as easy as that    ;-))

Well, best get cracking on this evenings tasks !!

K xxx

Sewing school

Hello people

I went to sewing school today ! Very exciting.

I didnt feel quite so excited at 7 am this morning, but once I got there it was perfect.

I am making Vogue 8380 - white view, (I LOVE all the versions I have seen sewn up of this style)

                                                               Source

.......... and I spent THE WHOLE DAY altering it. The whole day !!! Can you believe it ? One lady in the group has totally finished her garment ! I started cutting paper at around 11 am and did not stop til 3.30 pm. I will take some pictures to show you the alterations tomorrow. I am making it as a maxi dress, and I will be quite excited to see the end result.

I totally cant wait to see my classmates makes too - I will ask them if I can take some pictures next week, didn't want to scare them all by getting the old camera out on the first day.

I am not making a muslin !!!  This feels frightening but the tutor has lulled me into a false sense of security by tissue fitting. If I didn't have exams in 2 weeks that I need to study for, I would make one up tomorrow. It feels quite liberating though not making one.  I feel like a naughty kid ! I have made more muslins than anything else since I started to look into making my own clothes so its nice to miss that step for a change.

Going to see how this tissue fitting malarky works before I knock the muslins on the head though. I quite like the safety of the 'practice run'.

Sorry no pics for you today, but I will share my alterations with you tomorrow. I used pretty much a whole sheet of burda pattern paper making the adjustments. And I didnt have time to trace the pattern, so I had to cut the original, which I didn't like at all. I love that pattern so much I will buy it again, to trace if I want to make shorter versions.

Hope you are all having a cracking weekend.

K xxx