Sorry I have been lost at sea again, it will probably happen again if I’m being honest as I have many gigs and a new album to write but I have things I’ve been stitching to tell you! 😉I
LOVE
SEWING!!
OK I have for a while now but I am officially obsessed!!!
Last week I went to a masterclass of make a dress in a day with the wonderful Craig at The Fashion Box it was only £49 on groupon and I really have wanted to do this for ages. Also there were only two of us so we got lots of attention! Yay! I have been dabbling with my sewing machine (that the lovely Stephen got me for Christmas 2012) for a few years now but only managed cushions, pin cushions and dog toys until last week… now I have two dresses under my belt and I couldn’t be more excited or inspired if I tried. I’m so pleased I had a day off straight after I learnt all my new skills because it meant I could try it out all by myself and not forget too many things, which I definitely would have done if I left a few days, weeks or months in between.
Here they are…
DRESS NO.1
Apart from a few minor issues (that I don’t want to point out as it will only make them worse) I would say that I am super proud of my first effort but I was helped and watched throughout by my teacher so it almost doesn’t count!
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| It’s a little shapeless without a belt but hey! I made it!! 🙂 |
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| Actually it could do with a good ole iron, how lazy of me! |
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| Much better with belt!! |
NB, I am in love with this belt that I got for £5 at my new favourite vintage shop – Resurrection Boutique – on the Archway roundabout and they also do amazing alterations. If you pop in tell Yuksell I sent you there – she’s super lovely, does great deals and is very talented with a sewing machine!!
I am considering snazzing the dress up with a white collar – maybe lace and white pockets too! What do you think? I wore it on Sunday (with the belt!) to my dad’s 70th birthday party and, apart from the fact I noticed a loose thread hanging off my arm, it was a massive hit!
DRESS NO.2
I bought this pattern a while ago and promised I would make it by the end of 2014 so I knew exactly what to make next!
The main reason I got into sewing and did the lesson was so I can start to make my own stage outfits so this is the first of many a 50s style party dress. I chose the fabric specially for this design as it will really pop on stage and who doesn’t love polka dots?! I definitely did a fair bit of unpicking and had to try the sleeves about 4 times before I got them right… actually they are wrong compared to what I found out in the pattern but I prefer them and improvisation and ‘trial and error’ is one of the best ways to learn so I’m alright with that!
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| I have discovered my bedroom floor is the only place big enough to lay out patterns and cut out – thank god we moved into a loft bed earlier this year otherwise I would have immense problems with space! |
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| Did my first lot of interfacing! |
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| I enjoy sewing darts, which is great as I thought they would be terrifying! |
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| But I am appalling at sleeves and keep getting them wrong. Gathering is quite fun though! |
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| I also used my rolled hem machine foot for the bottom – just for fun! |
And here it is…
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| Don’t follow the lines or look to closely at dots not matching up just enjoy the pretty colours! |
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| My 2nd invisible zip and no, I wouldn’t normally wear these tights with this dress! 😉 |
Now I am (getting) pattern savvy there is no stopping me I have just ordered some amazing dresses, trousers and pajamas patterns to try next – huge thanks to google to introducing me to Tilly and The Buttons blog when I searched for ‘free online sewing patterns’ she is Amaziiiing – a real inspiration and I have just ordered her book too and can’t get wait to get stuck in!
I actually want to quit my life and become a full time seamstress… I won’t… but you know what I mean!
ALSO, and this is the most exciting part, I have a completely made over sewing room with A LOT of fabrics, trimmings and tools that were passed on by a wonderful friend who happened to be a very successfull tailor to sew to my heart’s content… now all I need is time! 😉
I think the summerhouse now sewing room makeover deserves a blog of it’s own but here’s a cheeky sneak peek! 🙂
Love and bobbins
Xox Gabsew xoX
PS. Questions for bloggers…
1) I really want to invest in a good camera to capture all these goings on – any ideas what make and model to go for?
2) Since my sewing lesson I love the idea of getting an overlocker machine as we used it throughout the day but don’t have much money to spend here – what do you use? Is it worth forking out for one or can I make do with other ways?
THANKYOU! 🙂
Damn good work and very brave of you to tackle a not very easy dress on your own. Amazing! On your questions:
1) I bought an entry level Nikon but was about £350. Very good though
2) Don’t buy an overlocker. Total waste of money. I use a lot of couture (i.e hand sew) techniques in making clothes. One of the fundamental rules is to avoid unnecessary bulk. An overlocker uses a lot of stitches. Also, you really do not want to close your seams together, overlock them to each other and press to one side. Not only will the overlocking stitches cause bulk, but pressing seams to one side will make the bulk uneven. Use a zigzag stitch. To do this:
1) Place the raw edge of the fabric in the middle of your presser foot
2) Sew. The needle will go in the work and off the work. Repeat for the other seam allowance
3) Press the seams open using steam (always press after overlocking)
Steam is important. It will also embed the stitches into the fabric. Remember not to iron the fabric as this can distort the grain. You want to press in an up and down motion. Allow the fabric to completely cool before moving it.
Re: sleeves. I use small hand running stitches and not the machine
Hope this makes sense!
Angela (Cocoon Home)
Thankyou Angela! Very useful indeed! Xox
I can’t offer any advice at all because I just press all the buttons on my sewing machine and hope for the best (and I’m looking for a new camera myself – I love my Canon but want something a bit easier to carry around now I have you know who in tow) … but I just wanted to say CHECK OUT YOUR SKILLS!!! xxxxx
Yay lovely to hear from you! I am now in the Canon club and got a bargain on a 600D! Hope to see you soon Xox
QoT has one, and uses it occasionally. It is very much dependent on the sort of material you are using and seam/hem/edging you want. Our pro friends use theirs extensively. At the beginning, threading and balancing tension is HORRIBLE, so it’s something you need to get right before using. Call a friend! But for the right stuff, they are professional and fast.
This seems in line with the little I know – http://retromummy.com/2013/03/11/do-you-need-an-overlocker/
Great thankyou so much Mike and Sue! Xox
They look fabulous. Love the polka dot dress. Burda patterns are so nice to work with.
Q1: I invested in a Nikon D3200 last year. Main reason because a lot of Dutch bloggers recommended it to me. And it prooved a very good investment.
Q2: My friend has an overlock machine, and I have tried it a couple of times and asked her experience. She really likes it for sewing jersey/ stretch/ knitted fabrics. But for other fabrics she doesn’t use it that much. She adviced me to get more sewing experience on my sewing machine, before investing in an overlocker.
Oh, and congratulations on getting a whole DAY off, you busy woman! 🙂
Thankyou – great advice – I think I will put the overlocker on the christmas list and see what happens! Xox
Wow Gabby, now that’s called taking up a new hobby! Really nice to see people immersing themselves in something, so enjoy! Can’t wait to see you perform in your own outfit somewhere in the future! I can only help you with question 1 haha..as for type of camera, I would definitely go for a so-called ‘compact system camera’: they are small in size (almost as small as the simple digital ‘point&shoot’ compact camera’s, but they can reach pretty much the same level as any entry-level dslr camera (you know the big ones). The best characteristic shared is that these small system camera’s also have changeable lenses, so you have so many possibilities! And because it’s small, you’re not carrying a huge camerabag around..this one’s just an example, there are quite a few around now to choose from, also for the small budgets..don’t you love the retro-like look by the way? Lots of succes choosing! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00FGO9R6I?cache=e0df2ae045465707b052ef1e2ab9fd38&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&qid=1413619384&sr=8-6#ref=mp_s_a_1_6
Brilliant! Thanks Yoran. I got a bargain on a canon 600D in the end and couldn’t be happier! Xox
That’s great too! I have a 500D myself actually (but if could choose again I would probably go for the system ones)! One word of advice, practice! Now I almost never use the automatic setting anymore, I prefer to put it on manual and choose the diafragma and shutter speed myself..I also focus manually, more freedom..but it takes some effort to feel comfortable with it! Wich lens(es) do you have with it? I love the macrolens I got a few years ago, you can take pictures of tiny things and even see details you would never see with the naked eye.. Some examples on my fb actually! 🙂