Simple A-Line dress

Not exciting, but nice nonetheless! A simple, A-line, princess seam dress made in a gorgeous cotton/silk from Fabric Vision. The pattern is modified from the Burdastyle Book - I've made it before, just made it a high neck rather than a keyhole. Also added cap sleeves. It's fully lined too.
 

Panelled Skirt

Another Burdastyle 06-2011-121 skirt. I omitted the ruched front panel, and instead used a patterned overlay on the centre front and back panels, plus an exposed zipper. I finally learned how to do a proper split at the back! Perfect work skirt.

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.

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 :-)

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... 

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!

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

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!

Back on the horse (sewing machine)

I finally got my new DSLR back from the camera shop, after various incidents which culminated in a rather surprisingly pleasing result. After buying it online from Hong Kong, only to drop it 3 days later and break the shutter release button, I took it all the way to Japan to get fixed (my reasoning being Panasonic was a Japanese brand). One non-fix and one month later here we are. And the best part was they didn't charge me, for reasons I can't begin to comprehend (could be the fact that I spent a whole lotta money in their store? the baby blue eyes? they wanted to get rid of me? haha)... but I shall not argue at this one! Thank you, Japan, Panasonic and K's Denki employees, you have made me very happy. So. I digress. I finished my first Japanese sewing project. I made shorts. Japanese cotton, McCalls M5391, super super easy, it's almost embarrassing. But I feel awesome having actually created something again, especially using blunt scissors and a sewing machine sans foot pedal (please, i beg you, don't try it!)

Up next

It's actually been really hard finding fabric in Japan, which I did not expect. Maybe we're spoilt in NZ? The only fabric stores I have seen so far are craft shops, and they only seem to carry printed cotton fabric. Hmm. I found this random garage shop that's only open on certain days at bizarre times, but my friend managed to talk to the owner and find out the times...good work Chie! So let's hope that yields some sucess. In the meantime, I bought some patterns from America (you can imagine I am missing my massive pattern collection, which is in storage in Nelson). I never buy new patterns, usually only vintage, so I'm actually quite excited about it. Here is the first thing I plan on making. Not sure exactly what fabric I'll use, but probably will be gingham (I know, because I don't already own a million checked things), but possibly stripes. We'll see.

Winter coat

This is what's keeping me warm this winter :)
Details on my BurdaStyle page.

New stuff!

Couple of new (but old) pieces in my Felt store. Check them out!

The ballet dress!

Here's the final dress. I'm really stoked with it. For once in my life it was an easy sew! Phew. I just used the slightly suspect-looking corset (see below post, lol) pattern for the bodice (simple princess seam), made it a bit lower and without the lace up ties, obviously. Hah. And cut it off at the waistline. So simple, with a rectangle gathered for the skirt, and an invisible zip up the back. Fits real nice. I even used instructions from my "Couture Sewing Secrets" book to make a stay to fit the bodice as it was gaping a tiny bit - exciting!

More detail

What to wear to the ballet

So I'm going to Tutus on Tour on Saturday. I got rid of all my clothes when I moved towns so I seriously have nothing to wear... not that it really matters in Dunedin, it's pretty chilled out. But a girl can dream, and I think I'm going to attempt to make a dress... I've been wanting to make it for a while. It'll be based on this BurdaStyle pattern, but probably without the front slit! Questionable.

BurdaStyle.com pattern - source

And maybe have the back like this... but probably not in a heart. I'm not that cheesy, haha.

Source

You'll die when you see what pattern I'm using for the bodice....

I know, I know. Hilarious eh. And the skirt will be a straight rectangle gathered onto the bust. We'll see how it goes...

In the flesh

Here's a pic of Karen's dress I made for her (on the left, not the bride, lol!)

love love love

@ Anthropologie

@ Anthropologie again. Wonder if I could knit this... haha. Saw a pattern vaguely similar at the knitting shop today. Working my way up to bigger things so this could be a big autumn project!