Tuesday 30 November 2010

lining a jacket


Not that I feel confident about even thinking of making a jacket yet...but here's a good video tutorial I wanted to share

more scalloped tutorials




And just when I thought I knew everything about scalloped edges....

November inspiration



'm finding so many good tutorials on the internet today! Here is a really nice bow belt that would go perfectly with any dress!

November inspiration



Following the scalloped edge post from last week, I thought I would post this really cute skirt that I found on this website .

Sew along!




I think I just found my favourite blog!Please please visit this blog if you like sewing! It's a great resource for anyone with this passion... and you can even join a sew along!

I have also found this post very useful...it is from the previous sew along and it explains really well how to make your own coat!

Monday 29 November 2010

Polyvore


Are you bored? Are you into fashion? Call yourself "arty"?! visit this website! It's so much fun...there's an infinity of items that you can add to your blank canvas and voila'...christmas is at the door and there's no excuse for not knowing what I want this year...

free patterns

More free patterns from the german Burda website!


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Friday 26 November 2010

free patterns




If you lucky enough to be able to read any other language apart from English, here are some free patterns taken from the german burda website. You can download them in loads of different languages (but not english I think).....

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Thursday 25 November 2010

Free patterns



Because everyone loves a free pattern! These patterns are all taken from the Burda website. All you have to do is sign up. It's worth it, Burdastyle is a fantastic website with a great community, loads of patterns and great tips!

1. Denim Pinafore by Angela Kane (the first dress I've ever made!)
2. Marry dress
3. 1 piece Kimono Tee
4. Batwing Top

Wednesday 24 November 2010

November • Simple dresses and princess seams



I've always been of the idea that the fabric is what MAKES THE DRESS. Now I have evidence of that. I came across these beautiful dresses just now, they are created by dora_s_mora and they are so cute! The pattern is simple, the fabrics are lovely...I can't wait to make one!

I really like the way the corset is made. Instead of having darts to shape it (and I am not a big fan of darts), I found a couple of good tutorials on how to create princess seams from darts. The first one is from the Burda website and the second one is from the rostitchery blog which is worth a visit!

Free patterns



As a new seamstress I find patterns a bit daunting. I am working on my second creation now and I am terrified of getting the measurements wrong... is it going to be too tight? too large? too short? To get over this frustration I use free patterns...not because they are easier to follow (although some of the instructions on the free patterns are much easier to understand than the ones on proper patterns...), but because if I really can't get my head around the instructions, well...I just don't bother!

So, here's a list of free patterns. There are a lot more on the web and I make it my mission to find them all and share them!

1. Couture Inspired Dress
2. Mila by Burda
3. Junya Watanabe
4. Danielle dress by Burda
5. Cocktail Dress
6. Petit black dress
7. c-dress by Masty
8. Convertible dress
9. Infinity dress
10. Mendocino Dress

Tuesday 23 November 2010

November • inspiration and scalloped edges



I am absolutely in love with Vain and Vapid dresses!
Have a look at some of her creations here: www.etsy.com/people/VainandVapid/feedback
I love the colours and the simple lines. I wish I could create dresses like those!

Also, there is a very interesting tutorial on her website on how to create scalloped edges like the image above (taken from Vivat Veritas' Burda projects www.burdastyle.com/projects/scalloped-waist-marie). I love that skirt, it's so quirky! The pattern for the skirt is called Mary and it's free to download here www.burdastyle.com/patterns/marie while the tutorial for the scalloped edges is here http://vainandvapid.blogspot.com/2008/10/scalloped-edge-tutorial.html. It's on my 'to do' list.... is it on yours yet?

Pinafore dress

I have just finished my very first dress. I can't explain the surprise.... it all started with a piece of fabric and now it's a dress!
I can't describe how happy I am...and how glad I am that it's over. Let me explain, the satisfaction is immense, but the stress I had to go through was possibly greater!

For this dress I have followed the free pattern that I have found on the burda website www.burdastyle.com/patterns/denim-pinafore-us-letter-a4-printing--2 created by Angela Kane. I chose this as my first project because the wonderful Angela Kane has uploaded the full tutorial on youtube, which can be found following this link www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZzCsI_zRno
This tutorials are very helpful, but I haven't actually followed them as I decided I wanted to add lining on the inside of the dress (which the tutorial doesn't have). Instead I have attached the front bodice to the front skirt and the 2 halves of the back bodice to the 2 halves of the back skirt. I have then created a lining from the same pattern and I have attached the lining pieces in exactly the same way. I have then attached the front and the back of both the dress and the lining to at the shoulder seams and then I have understitched the neckline. To do that I followed this tutorial http://sewaholic.net/understitching-a-step-by-step-demo/

After that, I have added the zip to close the back, I followed this tutorial www.youtube.com/watch?v=smWo0GnwvVw although, because I had the lining as well to take into account, it took me quite some time!

Now the armholes! This was so much fun and joy! Just follow these instructions and cross your fingers... it really works!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OwC6L7IMsQ

Sew the side seams and the hem and you have a dress! ok, it sounds easier than it is in reality... made loads of mistakes but I have learned loads as well. Possibly the most important lesson is to make the lining slightly larger than the actual dress...as it happens, the dress fits, but the lining inside it a little too tight...