She speaks wisely: Dress 12 & a Leibster Award!!

Hello lovelies- how are you?
I'm so sorry Sew Dolly Clackett has finished but so pleased to have made so many amazingly talented and very interesting friends on the interweb who, like me, are discovering the joys of sewing their own wardrobe! The lovely Kate from the Polka Dot Room has even nominated me for a Leibster award! I didn't know about to until I read Kate's post so I've shamelessly knicked her explanation for you!
"So what does this award mean? Well, this is a blogging award given by bloggers to other newer bloggers....generally with a following of less than 300....answer some questions given to you by your nomination and nominate 3-5 bloggers of your choice....and ask them some questions.

The award highlights new blogs and helps them get noticed, thereby increasing their audience!"

So Kate asked me some questions so here they are!
1. What is the dress pattern you would recommend the most?
It has to be Retro Butterick 5478. It was my first. It's also extremely easy (once you've corrected the neckline gape) and fun to sew up. It's a vintage pattern Butterick have reissued so it's got the vintage vibe I like in my dresses and looks amazing with a petticoat!!

2. What's the worst thing you've ever made and why?
Hmmmm.... Your not going to like this but it was an Anna dress. I just don't think the kimono sleeves and v neck suited me. I also added a circle skirt to the pattern which may have made it too frumpy but the good news is I've removed the Anna bospdice and am attaching a halterneck!! Waste not want not!

3. If you could dress like any woman in history who would it be?
Ooh- if I had the body shape then Audrey Hepburn. Always Audrey. (Although a bit of Dita wouldn't go a miss either!)

4. Out of the 4 'sex and the city' lead women who would you be?
Ahem..... Confession time....never watched it. Not really my cup of tea I'm afraid. Next question?

5.When and what would your ultimate holiday be?
I have to say I'm incredibly fortunate to be taking my ultimate holiday this Christmas. Sydney's Northern Beaches with extended family- every time!

Thanks Kate!
So I guess I now have to nominate some bloggers at this point but I'm afraid I've been sew busy (get it?) with sewing I haven't actually stopped to read any (except Dolly C!)

Perhaps I could hold the award for a while until I discover some deserving new bloggers to pass it on to hey?!
Don't you just love the sew-blog-o-sphere?!

In other news, I've made a new discovery over the holidays- I can pattern redraft!!! I was a bit fed up of the gaping neckline on my retro Butterick pattern so taped up some of the pattern front but this was pulling the armholes in a bit so I had another look.....it's worked! I have altered the neckline (is this a 'sloper'?) , redone the bust darts to make them larger and the waist darts to take in more fabric under the bust and I really like it!!

Ta-dah! I've named this dress the 'Ode to Dolly' dress as I finished it after sew Dolly Clackett had ended. What do you think?!

I'm also loving my new shoes! (From Clarks!!!)
Xx

she is like the ships of traders: Dress 11

Good morning lovelies! I can't believe Sew Dolly Clackett is over :(
I'm a bit behind in my blogging so this dress was made for the competition but I'm only just posting it now so apologies. (draft posts- got to love 'em). I have made 2 and half more dresses since April 23rd and won a Leibster award so I will be back to sequential blogging once the hols are over- oh, that means Monday!

This dress is a completely sew Dolly Clackett fabric- I think you'll agree!! But I just couldn't resist this completely ridiculous fabric from my local Drapers and as it was only £4.99 a meter I did think "what the hey"!!

I opted for my favourite Retro Butterick bodice and paired it with the half circle skirt from New Look 6886. 

I did my usual and lined it with spare fabric from an Anna dress I'm making.

For all it's a ridiculous fabric it makes a pretty amazing dress! Apologies for the slightly off centre 'selfie'!

My hubby was watching an episode of 'White Collar' on Netflix while I sewed up this dress (if you haven't seen it, it's a fab series!) so I've named the dress 'Caffrey Rules' -get it?!

What do you think?

Xx

Beauty is fleeting: Dress 10

I've been waiting until I felt confident enough to sew with this fabric ever since I saw Roisins dress in it.

The other day...it arrived!

I bought 2.5M and plumped for New Look 6886 as I wanted a summer dress that I could still wear a flouncy petticoat with but one that wasn't a full circle.

I had to think hard when pinning to make sure I maximised the pattern! Didn't want anything to be upside down!!

The fabric made me smile the whole time I was sewing it up!

What do you think? I love it!!

Home sewing is Easy dress worn with Poetic License floral heels.

I will be fairly easy to spot this summer I think!

Just heard I won a Leibster award! Yay! More details soon.

Xx

She gives him all the important things he needs: Dress 8

This dress is a Butterick 4758 again with a circle skirt. The fabric is an amazing array of Licorice Allsorts and was a gift from my amazing Mum! Yay!

I've altered the neckline of the bodice so there's no gaping and have discovered that zips probably are better under the arm but not right up to the edge!

I seem to be making a habit of lining my dresses with leftover fabric from previous makes so this dress is lined in the hot air balloon fabric I bought to make a New Look 6886 pattern.

I cut the pattern out one evening and sewed up the bodice the next- I'm

Pleased to be getting a bit quicker!

My paper pattern is the sewing bee book circle skirt pattern from series 1. I have added to it however as modern patterns simply aren't long enough for my vintage tastes.

I'm really pleased with the finished result of this one!!

I've named this dress the Kelly dress. It's a long story.... Basically, my Mum (pictured!) bought the fabric which is Bassetts Licorice Allsorts right. My Mums sister's surname is Bassett and my Mum's maiden name was Kelly so there you go! Two sisters in one dress!

Needless to say I wore the Kelly on Mothers Day!

Will be making more if my new improved Butterick patterns I think!

Xx

She loves to work with her hands: dress 9

You will all be pleased to hear that I've now increased my pattern collection to include New Look 6886! I wanted a more summery style for warmer weather and having had a peek at Roisins handmade wardrobe this pattern looked perfect!

I bought this beautiful hot air balloon fabric a few weeks ago and so have plucked up the courage to actually cut into it. I hadn't realised until after I bought it that Roisin had also made a dress from it!

Following my somewhat steep learning curve I did make a muslin of this bodice.

The straps were interesting- well, turning them right side up is always a challenge but I found a thick knitting needle worked a treat!

I used a really nice quality lining fabric for this dress too so it should be super cool come the summer!

Although the pattern requires a half circle skirt I had enough fabric to make a full circle cos they really are my fave!

What do you think? I've named this one the Zoë dress after my middle daughter who adored the fabric! 

Xx

A wife of noble character who can find: Dress 7

I think I love polka dots. Really I do; they're so ultimately chic and retro! This time I've gone for classic black After the frustration of No Cream I've looked very hard at the Simplicity 2444 bodice and decided to allow more side seam allowance and move the zip to the side as opposed to the back.

I had enough of the Russian Romans dress fabric to line the bodice and have opted for a mash up of the Simplicity bodice and the half circle skirt from my New Look 6886 pattern which I think has worked really well. 

As I've moved the zip to the side I can only fit one pocket on the dress so that will just have to do!

I'm delighted with the finished result and after listening to lots of U2 while sewing this dress (the Singles album we bought in Australia a few years ago) have decided to name it the 'Wakehurst Parkway' dress in honour of the road we used to derive up and down to visit my lovely brother & his crew on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

I especially like it with my red shoes!!

Xx