I'm lusting after...

This Software

I don't even know why considering I have no interest in making clothes for myself right now and they haven't released the children's module yet. Oh and it retails for $A600. I need an overlocker first.

For my Mum
Speaking of overlockers... When you read this Mummy dearest, you really need a new overlocker, yours is looking terrible! But I know how you worry about the environment, so I'll take the old one off your hands so it doesn't end up as land fill. I know, I know, I'm the best daughter ever, but its the least I could do for you! Lol, you're not falling for it are you mum?


My mum asked me on the phone today what projects I had finished lately, I said "You mean since yesterday"
"Yes"
"None"

So now I felt like should make a post even though I have nothing new made. So the rest of this post will be photos.

Firstly, this weeks Op Shop finds:

A dress pattern I got for 20c

A couple of meters of thick navy fabric.

Fabrics, 50c each. Navy as above, 1m grey skirt fabric, 3m green stretch T Shirt material, 2m Garish yellow fabric I couldn't resist

Detail of Garish yellow fabric (I love it)

3 Pillowcases

A couple of metres of pretty fabric. Might be good for Ava blouses. I saw cute matching strawberry buttons at the material store too.

I also went and picked up the pattern for Ava's winter coat today.

I will be making Coat D. I should have run when I saw how thick the envelope was, but I didn't and now after reading the instructions I am glad that there is 4 months until Winter starts. I will make it from the Navy material above. Our Winter is very warm, the weather could be described as brisk, so the jacket doesn't need to be too warm. Any suggestions for lining would be appreciated. Both for colour and type of fabric.

Blogs I am liking
http://www.studio-alexandra.com
http://scpbanks.blogspot.com

My father in law just handed me a beautiful old Origami book so I will have fun with that tonight. Now Ava wants stories, bye bye

Red and blue looks good on you (Another new dress for Ava)

I know I said Ava wasn't getting any new clothes, but I had a bountiful trip to the Thrift store when I went out to get the Mail yesterday. Here is the dress she ended up with:

Here you can see the front pleat

A nice shot of the back, but it does highlight how it is too big.

The back hanging up

I owe the inspiration all to this site. I'm sure one day I will come up with my own original idea. Until then, thank goodness for the internet!

The Process

1. Go to Op Shop and find good quality/condition men's shirt with back panel
2. Pick trim to go with shirt
3. Follow instructions in link (I'm feeling lazy)
4. I used this pattern to form the skirting in the dress
   
5. I also didn't elasticize the sleeves as I wanted something straight.
6. I replaced the buttons with Red ones to keep with the contrast theme

It ended up being a size 3/4 rather than the 2/3 I was aiming for. I'm guessing that has a lot to do with the fact that I used a loose fitting size 3 pattern as the base. I'll know for next time.

Cost of Project

• Shirt = $3
• Thread = Free from stash
• Rick-rack = $3 (I paid too much)
• Buttons = Free from stash

Total cost = $6

It was a size XL shirt so I have lots of left over bits as well as the original pockets. That is for another project. More on that later.

Thanks for any comments. It makes me feel special. I am such a dork!!

The Pillowcase Dress

I stumbled across some directions to make pillowcase dresses when I was online the other day. Immediately I thought I had to give it a go as it fit all my criteria for sewing, quick and economical.

My two main points of reference were:
http://www.andersonsplace.net/sewing/pillow_case_dress.htm
http://www.jenleheny.com/archives/158

I went down to the Op (thrift) shop and got some old (vintage) pillowcases for 50c each. I also got a jar of buttons for $2 and bags of material remnants. I have sorted my buttons into sets in little plastic baggies which may have been a tad obsessive but, when I want to make something they will be right there!

By the time I got home I really only liked one of the three pillowcases. I decided to try first on a flimsy green one. I got the general idea of it and decided to move onto the one I like. The fabric is a thick cotton with a fully stitched hem. I used bright orange contrasting thread that I had gotten in a sewing fair goodie bag.

To start with I made a traditional full length dress with ribbon ties. There were a couple of problems with this. The first was that Ava kept tripping over the bottom. The second was that she complained the gathered neck was "hurting her" and lastly her Dad said ribbon ties were too fiddly when he was in a rush. So I completely reworked it. I stiched elastic into the necklines and made permanent straps. I just hand stitched the straps on, but I used the wrong needle and it bent in two! The finished results are below.



I'm still thinking I might elasticize under the arms as well, but I may be overly obsessive. I couldn't get a front on view, but it looks very sweet. Not bad for 50c and some elastic. I'm happy.

I found some 2 hour patterns when I was cleaning up, so I might start top and short set for her now.