Burdastyle blouse (and skirt)

Back on the horse after my 6 month long ordeal making my wedding dress (coming soon, I promise!)
My return to dressmaking was helped by two Global Fabrics birthday vouchers AND a brand new Janome Overlocker (thanks mum!)

Blouse: Burdastyle book. Great pattern - very comfy and stylish. Only mods were to take off a couple of centimentres down the side seams (pretty standard for me though). Probably could have done with making a size smaller, but all good. It's a very nice rayon with a perfect drape from Global Fabrics. It has a lapped zipper down one side, and a drawstring waist. I used cord with wooden beads to finish off the ends. Definitely will make this again, so good for work!

Skirt: Burdastyle 06-2011-121. Made last year but never blogged (boring work clothes!) Nicely designed ruched pencil skirt made from stretch cotton and fully lined. Bit of a nightmare trying to get the hips/waist to fit properly, but I got there in the end.

Cake Toppers

This was so much fun! I bought blank cake toppers on Etsy, and painted them myself. So cute! Can't wait to see them on top of the cake (in 2 weeks!)

Burdastyle book dress

Simple princess seamed dress with neckline flounce and button closure, centre back invisible zip and ruffled hem. Plain printed cotton, one layer, no lining. Nice to make something easy for a change.

Lace peplum top

A family friend gifted me a big box of 1960s lace and other gorgeous fabrics. There was only a little of this aqua lace but I had to use it for something. I based it on Vogue 8815, everyone's favourite basic peplum top, but adding a cap sleeve, lowering the back, and adding an extra layer of peplum.

Vogue 8787

And I'm back! A long slog of wedding dress sewing and boring work clothes not worth posting has kept me busy... Anyway, Vogue 8787 is a lovely pattern, very easy to make up. The only adjustments I had to make were to let out the hips a tiny bit, as per usual. The fabric is a gorgeous 100% cotton from Global Fabrics, with a white acetate lining. Made a little fascinator to go with it, and ended up winning "Best Dressed Lady" at my work Cup Day event!

Wedding dress updates to come soon :-)

Wedding dress inspiration

I'm getting married next April, and am going to make my dress. Elie Saab is my main inspiration. He is sooo amazing. At this point I'm thinking about long sleeves and beautiful lace... strapless just isn't my thing. I think I'll try and find a basic pattern to base it off, then draft it from there.

Tiered dress

Burdastyle 5/2010 Tiered Mini Dress. Not a lot to say about this one. Blue cotton fabric, gingham bias binding, silk lining (bodice only), wooden buttons.

Striped jacket

BurdaStyle Asymetric Jacket 03/2012. Really simple jacket. I used a striped cotton, white open-ended zip and white buttons on the wrist. I didn't make any alterations to the pattern apart from not lining it - just used the facing around the neck. Nice pattern, easy to sew... 

Baby jinbei

Made this from a Japanese pattern for a baby gift. It's nani IRO double gauze in 'Little Letter', and it's beautiful to sew with. Super happy with the way it turned out.

Kyoto shopping

So I went to Kyoto during Golden week, and found the most amazing fabric shop: ノムラテーラー (Nomura Tailor). 3 floors of gorgeous fabrics and notions, including an amazing range of Japanese cottons. I picked up a few things - striped cotton drill for this BurdaStyle jacket and some beautiful Nani Iro cotton to make my niece a baby jinbei (casual Japanese style clothing)... it's going to be sooo adorable!

Ashley hat v2.0

A hat for my friend. Details on Ravelry here.

Kimono bag

Here's a little bag I made from a Japanese craft book. It's made from recycled kimono silk, the outside is hand-painted! I love the gold on it. It's lined with more silk, has a hand-stitched flower on the zip.

Saturday

Sleep in + reading Murakami / Flowers from my ikebana sensei / Kyoto sakura chopsticks + sweets papers from Kyoto from my tea ceremony sensei / Coffee + coffee jelly + pumpkin cake from my friend's cafe

Winter beanie

The longest knit everrrrrr, sock yarn and US#1 needles... ugh. But it turned out really nice so I can't complain, really. And now knitting anything else feels fantastically massive and easy! Details on my Ravelry page. 

A replacement beanie for one lost during a night at an izakaya :P 

More Japanese packaging

Spring is coming and the packaging is super cute!

Spring Macaron

I made this Colette Patterns Macaron in December but couldn't really wear it until now. I didn't mean for it too look so similar to the pattern picture, but I happened to have the light blue cotton in my stash. As for the top part, it's actually silk from the inside of an old kimono, I assume hand-dyed. I love ombre! Anyway, it's a really nice pattern. I didn't make any changes to the pattern and am really happy with the way it turned out. It could possibly have done with a lining on the skirt but I didn't have anything at the time and it's not a deal breaker.

Close up of the silk

And in other news... SPRiNG!!!!

Hanami picnic in the plum forest

and MORE crafting

A little bag/purse for my friend's birthday, containing cute Japanese goodies. I bought a little pack with the fabric and instructions from the craft shop, and added a zip instead of the "magic card holder" they suggest.

Crafting!

I've gotten way more into crafting in Japan, probably because I have less room and less equipment for sewing garments. Plus there are so many cute fabrics here. So here's what's been made lately:

A drawstring bag for my DSLR from this tutorial.

Using up my millions of colour scraps with some little coasters.

Using up more scraps and some felt with a needle book loosely based on this tutorial.

Running at night

I love running through the streets and alleys of my town at night. There are heaps of lanterns and awesome stuff to see.

Spring is coming!

I'm dreaming of spring. The plum blossoms are starting to come out and I'm so happy, even going to my first はなみ (flower viewing party) on Saturday, complete with picnic in the plum forest, and umeshu (plum wine) :D Anyway, Japan has the most beautiful packaging, it's so inspiring. I haven't done much design lately, but all the pretty stuff here is making me want to do some personal art... Oh, and the fabric. There's this craft shop a few towns up that is just ridiculous. I just want to go there every weekend. Luckily it's a bike, train ride and walk to ge there unless I coerse someone into driving me there via the coffee shop, either way it's decent trip so I guess it's saving me from myself.

My Minoru: done!

It's finished! It took a while, due to the whole crappy sewing machine/sitting on the floor situation. The machine can't even reverse stitch without catching, so please forgive the sloppy sewing!

That said, I really love it. It's one of the best things I've made in ages.

Pattern: Minoru Jacket from Sewaholic Patterns. I definitely recommend this pattern!

Supplies: Fabric is all from Tomato, in Nippori, Tokyo. Fur and zips are from Okadaya in Tokyo. Buttons are from an old jacket, and happened to match the fabric perfectly.

Pattern adjustments: I lined the hood, added pockets with faux-flaps and buttons, added straps on the wrists and took a couple of centimetres width off the cuffs coz they looked too puffy with the thick fabric. I don't really like the exposed zip on a jacket look, so over the zip I sewed a placket on top, with button loops, and sewed buttons to the front left side. My zip goes right to the bottom, because Japan has bizarre sizing in zips and I could only get super long zips... and I like it better that way. Oh, and in regards to the lining, I wanted it to show on the neck lining so I used the lining fabric instead of the outer fabric on the inside collar piece.

I think that's all! It's super warm, and I love wearing it. Awesome pattern, good sizing, flattering cut.

My Minoru

I've been wanting a parka for ages now (something along the lines of this All Saints parka that retails at £395.00!), so once I discovered Sewaholic's new Minoru Jacket pattern, I thought it would be a good one to use and alter slightly to make my jacket, as the basic style is perfect.
I bought some great thick brushed cotton in Nippori fabric town, Tokyo, plus some red plaid brushed flannel for the lining, as well as some faux rabbit fur and chunky metal zippers from Okadaya Crafts in Shinjuku Tokyo (OMG, go there, it's 2 buildings with 6 floors each of sewing and crafting heaven). But I digress. The changes I plan to make are:

1. Add pockets. Easy, sew on top pockets with a decorative flap and button or metal snap, once I figure that one out. 
2. Faux fur (narrow) around the hood. 
3. Add wrist straps with buttons or metal snaps... I have no idea what those wrist bits are actually called, but I love the look and put them on my last coat. 
4. Add flap over lay to the front with buttons. I'm not a big fan of exposed zipper on jackets, and I want a bit more detail. 
5. Probably make the waist a little less cinched.

 The Minoru Sew-along starts tomorrow, so I better get myself sorted today. Can't wait to sew this thing!

Tokyo winter hat

Nice little winter knitting project for my trip to Tokyo this past week! Details on Ravelry here.