Oxford Charity Shop Bargains!

Style 4467 1973

This week I spent a day in Oxford visiting the museums and markets and picking up a few bargains along the way.  There was a really lovely 1950's pattern on a stall in the outdoor market but it was a bit expensive for something I know I wouldn't be using right away and will sit in my stash so I passed it by.  The same lady have a 1910 one too but that was way out of my price range and was a childs pattern so I was not very likely yo use it.  I did however find some lovely new-to-me patterns in a charity shop for 50p!  If anyone gets a chance to go it is in the indoor market and has lots of knitting and sewing patterns as well as wool and the odd bit of fabric!  Heaven! 

I got this 1973 pattern above because I loved the ruffles and the white details outlining the bodice on the pink dress.  The shorter dresses are very wearable now.

Woman's Weekly B496

I don't know the date of this pattern but looking at the Vintage Pattern Wiki it must be 1960's. This is a great resource and I always add my patterns to it if I cannot find them on there as it is great to have some record of different patterns, styles and dates.  I like the double-breasted style top but this is the least inspiring of the patterns.  I'm not sure what colour of pattern to make it out of.  Any ideas?

Woman's Weekly B915

I absolutely love this one!  I have a real thing for pin tucks and this is right up my street.  The obi style belt is really cute too and the Chinese style collar is fab.  I can see this in a sleeveless version in pale blue with lace already!  The funny thing about this one is that it has an illustration of Venice's Bridge of Sighs and we had just been to see the Oxford copy of the bridge that morning!  I wonder if that is why the original owner bought it?

Oxford Bridge of Sighs

McCall's 5553 1960

This one is in a pretty bad way.  the envelope is torn open on both ends and the pattern was falling out.  I took a gamble on it as it would be perfect for the Sew Weekly Mad Men challenge coming up( (plus it was 50p).  When I got home I got it out and the 2 skirt pieces and the neck facings are missing.  Not too bad, I can re-draft the neck but I will have to find something else for the skirt.  I am hoping I can.  If anyone out there has this pattern I would be happy to pay for the skirts pieces traced off.

In this envelope there was also a very interesting little note which I will do another post on as I have been looking into where it came from.  I love it when you find little things like this, such as shopping lists of bookmarks in things you have bought second hand. 

In the same shop I picked up this white dotted polycotton for £4 I think this would make a really cute little shirt.

Wedding Party Dress - Prep

I am going to a wedding reception at the beginning of February of two of my university friends and I thought I should make myself a dress.  After my Christmas dress success it is nice to make another more formal outfit and I used my Christmas money to slightly nicer fabric than I would be able to afford normally. 

I bought this great pattern after seeing it on the Make This Look section of Sew Weekly.

 I am planning on making the sleeveless dress from teal taffeta I got from Abakhan with a contrasting coloured bow. 

Yummy!

I have also just joined The Sew Weekly as a contributor which I am really excited about!  This year they have opened it up to people who want to contribute but not make something every week.  Personally I would find this very difficult, both on the time I have to make something and the amount of money fabric and notions would cost.  I have already set myself the one garment a month target and I am hoping Sew Weekly will help me to reach this as working to a deadline is such a help to me.

Cosy Coaster Tutorial

Firstly I apologise for the dark pictures, it just wasn't a nice day when I was making these and the gloom shows through!  Hopefully they are just a guideline though. 

I came up with this method of making my own coasters, there are lots of them out there but this is a simple way of making fabric coasters.

Finished and ribbon tied coasters

First you will need a template.  To make one the right size I drew on to some scrap cardboard, a cereal box would be perfect, and traced around an existing coaster.  If you don't already have one then draw around a mug to get the right basic size then draw your square coaster shape around it.

Draw around coaster

Coaster template

This is now the actual size you want your coaster to be.  Use this coaster to cut out 2 pieces of felt for each coaster you are making so that you will have a double thickness.  To allow the coasters to be washable use a light or white colour fabric so the colour won't run in the wash.  Making them washable was important to me so that if a drink spilt on them, which is after all their purpose, it can be washed out. 

After cutting out the felt I roughly hand stitched the 2 layers together.  This technique is called pad stitching but I only did it roughly with long running stitches as it is only to secure the 2 pieces of felt. 

Hand stitched double thickness felt

Now back to your template.  Draw around the template in cardboard again and add a seam allowance.  I used a 1cm allowance but if you can prefer you can make it more or less.  If you feel confident you can just use the original template and just add the seam allowance when you cut.

Template with seam allowance

Cut out 2 squares per coaster with your fabric.  You can use two different fabrics to make your coasters reversable if you wish.

Cut out fabric

Once cut out, move to your ironing board and iron and place your original template in the centre of your fabric.  Then using the iron fold the seam allowances over the template creating a fold line on the top  and bottom. 

Ironing seam allowances

Once you have folded and pressed the top and bottom, do the same to the sides making sure the corners are folded neatly and don't overlap the edges.

With all sides pressed

Remove the template and place the felt pad in the centre of the square.  I needed to trim it a little bit to make sure it fit and get rid of any wobbly edges.  Pin in place making sure all corners are tucked in neatly.

Once side pinned around felt

Once you are happy line up the second fabric square and re-pin.  I found it easiest to to pin and the re-pin to ensure all the corners are kept nice and neat and the felt doesn't slip around.

All pinned and ready to sew

Lastly sew all around the edge of the fabric using a thread that blends in or if you are feeling brave a contrasting colour.  Make sure you keep close to the edge and sew through the top and bottom layers. 

Finished!

You are done!  I made a set of fur and tied them with a ribbon for a gift but you could make 6 or 8 or however many you need for your family.  Next I would like to try some with bias bound edging which would give a really neat finish and you would not need the seam allowance then.  I couldn't find any that matched this project so that is why I came up with this method or making coasters.  It is really great for using smaller pieces of fabric and fat quarters. 

I would love to see any that you make using this tute!

Cosy Coasters

Today is my lovely Mums birthday so along with the presents I bought her I wanted to give her a little handmade gift.  My Mum always appreciates handmade which I find some friends and family do not so I love to make things for her.  My parents ate having a new kitchen diner built at the moment so my sister sneaked a wallpaper sample so I could get the colours right and I decided to make some coasters. 
I used some lovely fabric from Cloud 9 which I won in a competition and had been dying to use.  It will match the elegant gold and turquoise colour scheme they have chosen. 
I am also planning my first tutorial for these so stay tuned.

My First Attempt at Fabric Dyeing

I had a plan to make a copy of a certain Modcloth dress which I have been coveting for ages but just could not find the right fabric.  I then stumbled across what I thought would be perfect to match a border print I have found.  (I am being deliberately vague as this dress will appear in another post once I have gathered all materials.)  I thought I had fund the perfect thing, I was looking for a beige based fabric, sort of the colour of foundation to match the border print and I found a lovely cotton sateen on ebay for a bargain price.

Apricot cotton sateen

I took the gamble and this turned up.  It was a lot darker than I expected but I thought why not try it?  I put it next to my border and yuk it looked awful.  The border has yellows, reds and the foundation colour but this didn't go with any of them.  Worst of all it totally clashed with the red piping I wanted to use and I knew if I made it up I wouldn't want to wear it as it just wasn't a colour I would choose.  So back to the drawing board on finding my fabric choice.  I am thinking I am going to go a completely different way and get some lemony yellow instead as it ties in with the red better.

So then what to do with the apricot fabric?  As I decided not to use it for this project I didn't think I liked the colour enough to use it for something else.  I don't want to waste it so why not try dyeing it?  I won some Dylon dyes a while ago but I didn't have enough of a single colour so I picked some up from Wilkinsons.  Isn't that weird that they sell it there? 

I have had a plan for a Christmas party dress in my mind for a bit and thought if I could dye it a usable colour then it could become this.  The fabric did have some sort of treatment as it was slightly shiny and is fairly dark so I didn't think it would dye completely solid but hoped it would have some effect.

I had read about the pre-dye that Dylon has and thought that would be a good idea to try and strip the colour so here it is after following the instructions on the packet.

After pre-dye

It does looks significantly lighter in the photos, a little less so in real life but it didn't remove all the colour.  This made me think that the dye may not work as well as hoped but this was all pretty much an experiment anyway.  It also removed the treatment and was no longer shiny on one side so that is good. 

After Intense Violet

The dye I used was Intense Violet which is really very purple and did leave a bit of staining on the rubber of my washing machine so be careful of that.  You add salt too (not sure what this does) and I again followed the instructions.  It is not violet but is a really nice pinky-burgandy colour and much more wearable than the original.  One thing that happened was that the edges took the dye better than the rest so I have a ombre style finish.  I quite like this and would love to incorporate it into my outfit but as of yet I am not sure how.  I am pleased that the fabric is now more usable but if I did it again I would use a 100% cotton to get the full colour effect and be more aware that cotton mixtures don't take as well. 

Vintage Vogue Re-issue Summer Dress - Work in Progress 2

Bound Buttonholes I fear you no more!!  

This project has been on hold for a while, partly as I needed to sew up 6 aprons and partly because I have been very scared of the bound buttonholes.  Looking at the instructions I just though argh I don't understand, so I ignored them and ran away. 

This weekend however I had a day free and I felt some sewing motivation so I started on this dress.  In my head I had started calling it 'The Impossible Dress' which is never good for conquering your fears.  The dress itself has 43 (!?!) steps in the pattern instructions which is more than any I have done before.  To break it up I have written the numbers down and am slowly crossing them off as I work through it as it is better for me to break them down into small pieces.

Front right bodice piece

I have currently done 1-11 which includes the bound buttonholes on the bodice.  Before starting on them I searched the net for tutorials and found this one on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing which explains it
very well.  I didn't really know what they looked like finished either so this was very helpful.  I grabbed some scrap bits of fabric and had a go myself.  I was just playing to see how it worked so it isn't pretty and I didn't press it, it was just to get the hang of it.

Buttonhole practice

So then I was feeling very confident and I re-read my instructions and realised the pattern suggested making them in a slightly different way.  Instead of using a different piece of fabric for the lips as Gertie suggests, it uses the same fabric that is pushed through the hole folded back on itself.  I decided to use this technique as it kept the bulkiness of the fabric down.  I am really pleased with how they have turned out so far.  Don't mind the black stitching, that is just to keep them in place and to stop them stretching when sewing the bodice together.

Bound buttonholes on front

I have also done the darts in the front and back and sewn the 2 front bodice pieces together and the same for the lining.  I have realised that sewing darts is one of my favourite things in making up a garment.  I think it is because they make your flat piece of fabric instantly shaped and more on its way to becoming something you can wear.

Back pieces and linings

Cupcakehead Aprons for Superfex

Ta Da!!  This is the secret project I have been working on, custom aprons for my sister Superfex. 

Pink Apron

Pink apron back

There are 6 aprons in total, 3 with pink and 3 with brown strings.  The main fabric was designed by Superfex and printed by Spoonflower which is great for making up custom fabric.  These aprons will be going on sale in her online shop very soon and if they sell well then I can imagine that more will be commissioned.  I just did the sewing with all directions from Superfex and I  think they have turned out really well.  They have velcro on the neck loop so that it can be easily detached at the neck while crafting or cooking.  I really like the bright funky pattern and the length looks really cute over dresses. 

Brown apron

Brown apron back

Professional pictures to follow but I just wanted to share!

Shh it's a secret!

Can you keep a secret?  The project I am working on at the moment is a secret as it is a commission for my sisters web shop Sour Jelly.  I can't say too much about it as the products I am sewing up are not live yet but I thought I could sneak you a picture. 

Shhh don't tell!  The fabric is one of the lovely Superfex designs made up be Spoonflower which is a great site for printing your own designs on fabric.  I have made up my sample and I am waiting to see if she likes it, then I will be whipping up more.  Don't worry, as soon as I can I will show you all my sneaky project.  This is about as far away from the 1950's dress I am also working on as you can get!  (Will do another post about that, it is on the back burner at the minute.)

If you are interested and want to see more of my talented sisters graphic design work, click here!

Fantastic Prize!

I recently entered and won a giveaway over on The Eternal Maker's blog.  I won this very lovely charm pack by Oliver + S, which has such beautiful fabrics in it.

I love the florals in different shades and the clothing ones, they all match really well together.  As yet I am undecided what to use them for.  They are meant for quilts and although I have never made one I am quite tempted, or I could use it to make mug rugs or patchwork cushions (cushions being my new love as you will see in my next post!)  I can't wait for these to be available by the metre, unfortunately they are not yet but you never know!  I love the Eternal Maker website, it has such a large range of different fabrics and designers, and I can't resist sharing a few of my favourites here.

Butterflies and Rainbows by Kokka

Apples by Kokka

Love in Mint by Amy Butler

Vintage Dishes by Melody Miller

Queen of Hearts Jacket - Work in Progress

This jacket has become a very slow project, luckily I started working on it very early so I haven enough time still.  I have cut out all the white pieces.....

and all the red! 

There are so many pieces and I haven't even started the lining yet which is going to be a black cotton.  The white and red are some very cheap satin fabric that looks bright and shiny but doesn't breathe well so I am lining it with cotton rather than something shiny as it will be nicer next to my skin.  Also I chose red and white instead of the red and black in the pattern picture for two reasons, firstly I already had enough of the red and some white and no black and secondly I think it more closely resembles the playing card suit rather than just going as a Disney style queen.  I want to make the costume my own rather than a copy of Disney or Tim Burton as I just think its more fun that way and I don't have to worry about being accurate.

I have been having problems with my interfacing though.  I am using fusible interfacing on the bodice of the jacket and when I ironed it onto the back white piece it has come up really bubbly like this:

This makes me sad.  I have used it before, though not with this cheapo fabric and it hasn't done this.  I have been more careful with the other pieces and the smaller ones have come out far better.  I then padded out my ironing board with a towel, as the cover is wearing thin and I could also see the marks on the fabric and this helped but it is still not gone.  If anyone has any suggestions/advice for using fusible interfacing and keeping the bubbles out, or even getting rid of them after they appear?  Please let me know.  :)

Also my Daddy has been taken into hospital today and I'm wishing him all the best for his operation later tonight xx  (Sewing keeps me from worrying too much)

Sewing for Pleasure 2011-Purchases and Earrings

Ok this is definitely my final post about Sewing for Pleasure but I though I should show you what I actually bought at the show even though everything was lovely.  We decided on the plan of going round everything once, watching the fashion show then coming back to our favourite stalls and items.

Firstly I wanted to find some floral print fabric for one of my 1950s dress patterns, there was alot on offer but when I saw this it was perfect.

I love it!  To me it is less granny curtain and more retro vintage or at least I hope that's what it says!  Another thing I was hoping to buy and as if by magic was there was a pattern for my birthday costume.  Every year I have a theme and costume party which I love doing and usually means a night dressed up on the town.  Last year was 1950's for halfway to fifty (I was turning 25) and the year before was Victorian bathers.  This year is going to be Alice in Wonderland because I love it and I think there is alot of options for dressing up and with the Tim Burton film it is pretty popular at the moment.  I have a few good friends who love dressing up but others who think its childish and embarrassing so I am hoping this might be a more inspiring theme. 

This was the pattern I was looking at online, I really like how versatile it is for different costumes.  I am planning on going as the Queen of Hearts and making a jacket and dress combo though not entirely like the pattern.  Just after buying this my friend stopped a lady buying a red ruffly fabric and commented on how perfect it would be for my costume.  She was sooo right!

If you brush it one way it is all red with a black edge and the other is red and black striped.  I'm thinking wearing it upside down, so you can see the red and black would be perfect for the skirt.  These were both bought from the Abakhan stall. http://www.abakhan.co.uk/

Then I found this gorgeous lace trim the button lady stall www.buttoncompany.co.uk

I could only afford a little bit as I had a strict budget and I keep changing my mind on what I want to use it on.  (Sorry the leaflet is upside down!)

I finally bought some lovely beads from Spellbound Bead company which is one of my favourite stalls from last year and has absolutely stunning glass beads.  www.spellboundbead.co.uk

The pearls were from another stall I forget the name of but I really wanted to use in embellishments and jewelry.

This morning I made these 2 pairs of earrings form the beads I bought, the red hearts are to match my red queen costume as I am very inspired by this idea now.

The second are from the beautiful dragonfly beads, which this morning when I took the picture were purple and when I went to work were definitely blue!  Spooky!