Wedding Daze

I love a wedding.  Seriously I LOVE them!  I love all the random crazy little things that brides have sent hours obsessing over like place cards and favours and I love crying at the vows and laughing at the speeches.  Going to weddings reminds me why I am planning my own when I get bogged down in the details, it is the overall air of love, happiness and lifetime commitment which I love most of all, not whether the napkins match the tablecloths.

These are some images I took of Kylie and Matt's relaxed garden wedding in Oxfordshire.  Such a different non-traditional wedding from anything I have ever been too.

Get ready for a picture dump!

Father of the Bride and the Bride 

 Kylie's dress was an original 1950's party dress with gorgeous rhinestones on the bodice which I LOVE.  Her hair and make up was done by her very talented friends which I got to meet for the first time prepping for the wedding.

 Our gorgeous bridesmaid bouquets, made by some of the bridesmaids themselves!

Amy, bridesmaid, and Kylie

 Excitement at arriving at the venue and pulling a 'Kylie face.'  We soon discovered that the bride could not stop giggling through the ceremony, at least until the point she started crying instead!

 The bride and groom.  Look at those happy faces!  What they wore really reflected their personalities and there was so much of 'them' in the ceremony and party.

Bridesmaids, Best Man, Bride and Groom

 The four bridesmaids (that's me on the end and a sneak peek of my finished Apple dress) didn't have a dress code, we just wore what we liked (though some coordinated in advance!) and we had sweet flower crowns and bouquets too.

 They had looooads of pretty and colourful decorations hung everywhere around the venue and I love this picture of lanterns, fans and birdies!

 Th tables were named after mythical creatures and we were on the Dragon table roar!!

 Kylie hand made the glittery stars and the chiffon fabric really made it feel magical without blocking all the light.  We had fabulous BBQ food served family style and I loved the roasted peppers and homemade coleslaw.

 There were lots of garden games including mini golf and, of course, jenga and there were so many little photo op places around the grounds, see the bench with lanterns behind?  These lit up at night and there were fairy lights everywhere.  It was so magical!

 As you can see Kylie is a really good sport and we just had to take a few photos are the place, there are many more like this (one of a crazy dwarf beard that appeared during some manic dancing) we all had a brilliant time and I can't wait to see Kylie and Matt again soon.

My 1975 Ditsy Floral Dress -Work in progress 2

Hooray I had a day off today and actually got some more done on this dress.  I was hoping to have finished it but best laid plans and all that.  This morning I went to see an exhibition at the local college which my friend had photography work in.  They also had some dressmaking bits including a really pretty 1950's poodle skirt.  It was interesting to see what people had made from this course as I decided against it last year as it was one evening a week and by the end of the year you had only made one outfit.  I know I can make a dress in a few days so I wasn't that impressed though I did think maybe it would be a really good quality outfit and maybe there would be things I could pick up that I wouldn't  have learnt through teaching myself.  Then I looked at the inside seams of the garments.  Completely unfinished and left raw and the hem was all done on machine.  Hmm.  Glad I didn't take it now as I am not sure I would have learnt anything new.

Anyways, on to the current project, my 1975 flowery dress.  I decided to make the dress with the neck facing from the instructions as the original suggested rather then lining it as the fabric is not see-through and I don't want it to be a bulky summer dress.

Inside neck facing before pressing

I also finish all my seams with my overlocker.  It's quick and easy and I am not really that worried about retaining the vintage feel by using French seams as I use vintage patterns because I like the designs not because I want to be historically accurate. 

Pressed facing from inside dress

The pattern suggested stitching along the top of the facing but I thought top stitching might keep if folded down better so I top stitched around the neckline through the facing.

Inside of sleeves

Next I sewed up the little puff sleeves, these were quite straight forward as they were the same method as a Burda shirt I made a few years ago.  It leaves the cuffs looking all neat and pretty inside.  I had to reduce the seam allowance by half a cm on each underarm seam as they were feeling a little tight on my arms when I tried them on.  (I hope other people do this, walk around with disembodied sleeves on their arms!)  I top stitched the cuffs to match the neckline too. 

Puffy sleeves!

The pattern calls for the zip to be put in before the facing and sleeves but as I plan on adding some trim (which you can see around Ann's neck) and thought it would look better if I can hide the raw edges when putting the zip in rather than have them showing.  I don't really see why you have to put the zip in first. 

Queen of Hearts Jacket Finished!

DRUMROLL PLEASE!

Finished Jacket

It's done!  Hooray!  I just hate it when project drag on longer than expected and you become a bit jaded and uninspired by them, which is what happened to this towards the end.  Instead of rushing it and most likely bodging it up I had a break and took my time when I encountered problems and it seems to have worked.

Jacket Back

To finish off I hemmed and added lace to the sleeves and had fun adding the eyelets to the front and lacing it up.  I have not used them before and I was really surprised with how easily they went it (I did do one back to front, but I think its part of the learning curve!)  I am pretty happy with it though it is a little small, I am hoping that it will be fine for the day.

Quick snap of me trying it on, not the full outfit as I haven't made a top yet but it does go well with my dress!

Smile for the mirror shot!

Queen of Hearts Jacket - Work in Progress 3

Another day on the jacket, this is starting to become a bit of an epic project!  I sewed the peplum together, which I think looks pretty cute and with a definite playing card feel.

Peplum back and sides

When I planned the jacket I wanted to have hearts on the peplum but I just couldn't work out how to sew applique them on without fraying.  I thought about using felt as it doesn't fray and sewing it on by hand but when I looked I didn't have enough red left just bucket loads of white.  I didn't want to spend any money if possible, especially as I do have fabric left over.  So I turned to the net, I had my shiny very fraytastic fabric and I found a great video meant for quilt applique with freezer paper.  

Woo!  Get in! I already have some freezer paper.  It worked pretty well on my quite large heart shapes and I am lining the jacket so no one can see the messy back where I cut the paper out heehee!

I zigzag stitched around the edge as my fancy stitches were not that great for this and I didn't mind the stitching being seen.  I also didn't fancy handsewing all 11 hearts on either.  So now the peplum looks like this....

I must confess, the half red and white heart in the middle is a bit of a late addition.  I accidentally tore a hole in the fabric with my overlocker as the fabric was quite slippery and got away from me more than once.  I was thinking about cutting a bunch of little hearts and scattering them over the skirt but I liked the look of just the large hearts on the bottom and thought maybe a half and half large heart would look ok.  Plus it will be right over my bum which I am sure my friends will love!  haha!

Queen of Hearts Jacket - Work in Progress 2

Finally got some sewing in today as the sun was a being a bit wishy-washy and not tempting me to the garden!  So back to the Queen of Hearts jacket, there were lots of pieces (I only cut 2 the wrong way round, and one was only little) so I separated the colours on to my bookshelves so I wouldn't lose any. 

 

 

 

From bottom, pattern, lining, red and top out of picture is red

(A collar facing still managed to disappear though!  Luckily its the smallest piece so I just re-cut it.)

Lllllllllllots of progress pictures.............

Front bodice

 

Back Bodice

 This looks very striking I think!

Collar

 The collar was quite fiddly, and the instructions were not particularly clear, it made it sound like you had to sew the facings on twice rather than the proper fabric.  I chose to alternate every piece red and white in the end which I think has a lot of impact.

Front bodice with collar

Back bodice with collar

Just look at that lining up!  That makes me so happy!

Bodice with Queen collar

I also made the huge stand up Queen collar included in the pattern as I want it to be over the top and obvious that I am the queen of my birthday and not just a boring card :p  Obviously none of it is lined yet but you can see the shape.  I do have interfacing air bubble (see previous post) but it is not as obvious as I first thought.  I should have interfaced the lining not the cheapy satin but ah well!  I have started the jacket peplum but just chomped a big hole in it :S I do have a way to save it though!

Birdy Skirt - Complete

As promised, pictures of the finished skirt :) I am very pleased with how it turned out and am actually wearing it today and have found it goes with a lot more of my clothing than I originally thought. 

It doesn't really have a waist band, the pattern uses twill tape to help it stay up which I have not used before but it has been fine today.  It sits under the waist anyway so doesn't really need to be tight.

Twill tape at waist band

I also found my care labels which I had made from a company on ebay over a year ago but which disappeared when I moved house.  Aren't they cute?

Finally and picture of me wearing it, though it is not very good as I had to use the self timer as the boyfriend was not obliging.  (Some sort of racing was more important haha!)

I hemmed it a little shorted than the original picture as skirts longer then knee length don't look right on me.  I wore a simple cardi and top with it but think it will work with quite a lot of outfits, I have a mustard coloured top that I think will look particularly nice.

Birdy Skirt - Work in Progress

I am off to Sewing for Pleasure after work today and I just cannot wait!  I  am going with my friend Kylie I haven't seen for aaaages and its just been too long.  The buses and trains are going to take hours and are expensive even though I did shop around and have got the cheapest tickets I could. This means I am travelling late at night so I won't be much good come Monday morning but its only once a year so I think I can cope!  The annoying thing is that my broken battery charger for  my camera has finally given up  the ghost completely so I will have to use my phone for pictures for now.

I started this skirt on my day off this week, taking a break from re-doing the sewing room (which will be in an upcoming post once its has done and I can free the 'before' pics from my useless camera.)  I am using this pattern and fabric which is from Ikea and I have had in my stash for too long :S

The boyfriend reckons it looks like a table cloth, gee thanks, but I think it will look spring like as it is cut into panels and looks flattering in the picture.  I have cut it out, though I  am not pattern matching as I  only had one metre and the design is haphazard and has a big repeat which would make it impossible in that small amount of fabric.  It only cost me £2.10 though :)

I have cute the panels and sewn the seams but I don't have a zip the right size and I am waiting on some twill tape for the waist which doesn't have a waistband which is interesting.  Here is it just pinned to my model, I  think it is going to be big on me so I will be taking it in if that is the case.  I had difficulty picking the right size for this pattern as my hips and waist are about 3 sizes apart heehee!  I like that I can tailor it for me though.  Strangley this is the first skirt I have made!  I know that most people start on skirts but I went straight for the dress, skirts are much quicker to go together.

Ebay Pattern Binge!

I have no money.  So of course I bought patterns.  :S  Well in my defence they were paid for using my Papal, so its not like it is REAL money. *ahem* Plus I am going away to the Sewing for Pleasure exhibition in Birmingham this weekend where I am hoping to pick up some lovely new fabric and now I have patterns to go with it!  Enough with the justifications, on to the patterns!

Vogue 6654

This was quoted as a 1940's pattern when I bought it and that was one of the reasons I went for it though it doesn't have the date anywhere on it.  I would like to get the date confirmed but can't find it online so it is quite possible. The style and hair dos look 40s though which is positive.  I don't think I would ever wear this but I would really like the challenge of making it.  I love the pin tucks just not sure about the frills.

Butterick 5033

This is a re-print of a 1952 pattern which I only bid on as I couldn't see it go for 99p!  heehee!  I wasn't going to buy any more 50's but I did and I love the necklines, they are very summery looking.

Sunday People 567

A free with a newspaper pattern but I had to have it as it is so sweet!  I love the bib front and shirt under dress look and this is lovely!  It is a few sizes too big fr me so I will have to have a go at grading it but I am game for this as it was cheap.  It was also listed as 1970's but I think it might be more modern than that as the sizing is pretty much modern sizes, i.e. size 16 is a shop size 16 instead of smaller.

.................and now, my favourite pattern to date.....................

Simplicity 4399

eeeeee  Don't you just love it!  I love everything about this!  The big buttons, the off centre fold, the big skirt and the cute wiggle dress.  I was so happy to get this one as I really love it!  I believe it to be another 1950's patter, again no date shown.  I love it when patterns come back in style and I can't believe how many 50's style dresses and prints I have seen recently.  Hooray!

Dressmaking Inspiration

Where do you get yours?  Mine seems to come from all over the place but I keep a file on my computer for pictures I have seen online or on tv and can quickly save before I forget.  I am working on a kind of mood/ideas board for my craft room at the moment and thought I would share a few of the images I am using on it.  Most of these are pretty much fantasy dresses, ones I do not think I will ever make but love to death.  (These are all pictures I have 'borrowed' from other sites and I don't have the rights to them but I'm sure you could find them if you googled.)

 Alice Dresses

 Who didn't love the Alice dresses in Tim Burton's wonderland?  I love the blackwork on the hem of this one and the buttoned bodice.

I can't tell you how much I love this coat!  It is perfect in every way, colour, fit, cute buttons, tapered towards the back, frogging etc.

A fabulous use of GIANT RIC-RAC!  I have seen this in the shops and I just wouldn't know what to use it on but this is great, plus the velvet waistcoat.

Stardust

Another gorgeous blue dress with a big ruffly bustle, I love bustles!  The sleeves are really sweet and the dark side panels on the bodice would be very slimming.

Pushing Daisies

I love Chuck's style in this series but this was my favourite dress and I did make my own version which I love to bits.  

Merlin

I partly watch Merlin for the costumes, but I think I do that with quite alot of tv shows and films.  I one day want to make this dress and overdress which I think is wonderful.  The colours are my favourites and they look so elegant.  I can see me turning up to a ball wearing this and it would be completely different.

Tv Advert

I can't find any great pictures of this dress but on the advert it comes across as beautiful.  It is hard to see here but its totally snow queen.

Red Carpet Dress

Some people hated this dress but I don't.  The graduation between black and blue, the unusual straps and glittering jewel details are so different and lovely.  I want to try draping one day and go for a similar look.

Online Stores

I can't remember which website I originally saw this on but it was an online store and it was sold out in my size so I decided I should make one.  I saved the image and haven't done anything about it yet.  I have a pattern that would work with modifications but have yet to find a similar fabric.  Navy stripes are easy but baby blue?

Thanks for reading!

My 1980's Vintage Patterns

On to my 1980's pattern post!  I won't post any of the modern patterns that I have that you can still buy in the shops and online as I don't really feel then need but it is nice to share these.

 1980

Style 3223

From my grans stash, I really like the pussy bow middle dress and I reckon this one could look pretty fashionable once it is made up.  I love how trends come around again.

1980

Simplicity 9497

This was my Mum's pattern, it looks as though she has made it in the past but I know she doesn't have the dress now if she did.  This is a bit shapeless for me so I'm not sure this one will get made up.

1980

Style 2949

The second view has really interesting sleeves and neckline which I think could look pretty good made up.

This is my total guilty pleasure pattern,  I bought it purely because of the subject matter, it actually looks pretty rubbish in the made up picture on the back but I am convinced I could make a good go of it.  Not that I have yet but we will see.  

1985

Butterick 3214

TA DA!!  What is not to love?  If you don't know already I have a My Little Pony addiction and basically I have to have anything the is original eighties MLP.  I don't want any modern rubbish mind, I like the old ones.  There is another 3 patterns I believe out there, and I desperately want them.  I will track them down and buy them!!!  (Scary rant over.)

Next post I am hoping to have a before and after of my sewing room, though I am feeling quite ashamed at showing the before!