Maxine's Wedding Reception Party Dress....

A last minute late afternoon phone call from my fence erectors meant that I had a random day off work on Friday...with a 7:45am start, which on a normal day would mean a 15 minute lay in, however I was up until 1.30am watching the start of the EU Referendum votes come in, and awake again at 4.50am to see how it was coming along - lets just say it didn't go the way I voted but I wasn't too surprised or shocked.  

What I was more shocked about was a random 'FB Chat' my sister had with our family Bride to be, who casually threw into the conversation that family should be at the venue for 5.30pm for a 'twilight' ceremony.   Errmmmmm, Maxine, you've sent us 'Evening Reception' invites...for 7.30pm!!!

A few phone calls later and we discover B.T.B had sent out the wrong invites to all her Aunts and Uncles...she was 14 days away from having no family turn up to the actual wedding!!! 

So, while the fence erectors started on my new fence at 8am, I started on finishing my Once-Maxine's-Wedding-Reception-Party-Dress-now-Maxine's-Wedding-Ceremony-and-Reception-Party-Dress!!!! 

The dress skirt lining was cut out and attached to the dress bodice lining, then at this point I didn't fully understand the pattern instructions..I was being asked to attach the lining to the dress at the waist...which I did (but quite possibly not as instructed!!), no matter, as it works!

Finally, to insert the concealed zip, again, I couldn't really make head nor tails out of the pattern instructions (unpicked previously sewn seams...???) so I inserted it my way...and although I'm not too good at putting in zips, I'm quite please with the finished result :-D

More importantly, I've tried it on and its a very near perfect fit...possibly a little too 'snug' around the bust/arm hole, and maybe a bit 'long' in the back bodice (but I've no real idea how to deal with that next time!) but on the whole, very VERY pleased with it.

Now its just ''hanging" around while the fabric relaxes/drops/whatever it does before I tackle miles of hemming!!! 

Maybe not the most perfect concealed zip int he world, but nothing a good press won't sort...and look at that amazing bit of pattern matching...wwwwaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy more luck than judgement...and it is only that one flower :-D

Hanging about 'relaxing' before the hemming begins....and there's a lot of it.  oooo and notice that nice new fence and gate in the background :-D

Luckily, the Fence men were one fence post short, so they need to come back on Monday to finish up...which means I've got another day off work...which should give me just enough time to deal with the hem...

If only the EU Referendum result was so easy to deal with?!

something to attempt in July...

Sewing Challenge

Sewing Challenge



aiming for a successful 'best dressmaker' entry  ... fingers crossed

what have I done ?!?!

Friday, 17 June 2016

it seemed a good idea at the time...

I've been an avid GBSB (Great British Sewing Bee for those of you who don't know...is there anyone???) viewer since series one.  

From that first A line skirt pattern challenge on episode 1, series 1, to this weeks 60's inspired Jackets on episode 5 of series 4, I sat (sprawled) on the sofa, watching in amazement that people can read a pattern and understand it.  

They might not 'follow' this pattern, but they at least know what 'understiching' is and how to complete this task!!! Every time I see this written on a pattern I head straight over to the lap top, type it in and hope that someone, somewhere, in the virtual world (usually YouTube!!) has provided me with explanations and demonstrations so I can complete the project I'm working on.  Why is it that I can NEVER remember this?!  I mean 'topstitching' I get, but understitiching...every time my initial thought is ' urrrmmmmmmm ' 

Watching it has over the last few years encouraged me to dig out my very old sewing machine, I've had it at least 30 years and up until GBSB had made a selection of curtains for my first home (about 26 years ago!), some soft toys for my very young bridesmaids (about 23 years ago) and 2 waistcoats!!! that's it!!!

Since GBSB, I've made a few skirts, a few dresses, a pair of trousers and lots of summer tops... only the tops fit as I've had no real idea how to 'fit' garments properly.  I say 'properly', I actually mean 'at all' !!!! 

So this week, while watching GBSB and the twittersphere I stumbled across 

http://www.simplicitynewlook.com/sewingchallenge

I've applied, received a very lovely and friendly email back, and now eagerly await my pattern so I can join in!!! 

it seemed a good idea at the time!!!!    WATCH THIS SPACE !!!!!

well...no one else will be wearing this outfit....unlike the last wedding!

Finally managed to pin down a whole day to myself to get started on 'Maxine's Wedding Reception Dress'.

Tiny bit of background to this dress:

Last year I went to my cousin April's wedding, and as I arrived at the venue, my Aunt came running over giggling away as we'd worn exactly the same outfit!!!  A layered blue number from Next.

This year, I don't intend for the same thing to happen again (my Aunt and I are a similar age and similar taste!) so, I decided some months ago to make my own outfit.

I finally decided to give the Butterick 5748 pattern a go.  I've seen it quite a bit on different Social Media and blogs and it looks pretty good on all shapes n sizes (which is helpful in my case).  

I then spent quite some time waiting for the right fabric to come along.  I'm determined to wear my Irregular Choice Girly Pearly shoes - as they're soooo 'weddingy'.  So when I saw the 'Cornflower Frenzy' cotton poplin at Clothspot, I couldn't believe my luck with its perfectness, and promptly ordered 4 meters of it.
 

This duly arrived nice and prompt two days later, which was fab.  However, since it was delivered I've had zero time to even think about getting the sewing machine out.  I did manage a quick toile a couple of weekends ago (I say quick...it took me 10 hours not to finish it!!) and it became clear that, thanks to the Dualit toaster I bought myself as a birthday treat this year, and the subsequent never ending bread and pastry products I've toasted and warmed on it, I was never going to fit into the size 14 pattern I'd cut out.    Ooops! 

My sewing skills are somewhat limited and my pattern drafting/altering is pretty much non-existent, so I spent about a week trying to work out how and where I could add 2 inches to the waist ... and considering Butterick 5748 is a lined and fitted bodice on a full skirt, there seemed to be only one solution...5/8 inch on each side seam...well, I think its worked??!!??

Finally, today, I've managed to pin and cut out the fabric (and the bodice lining) and after a couple of hours of slow, meticulous, not deviating from the pattern instructions at all (this involved a few trips to Google to find out how to 'understitch' ... seriously, why can I NEVER get this simple instruction to make sense in my head without seeing it on the internet first?! ... and lots of pressing.

                                                                   front of bodice

                                                             back of bodice


I may only have a completed lined bodice, but I'm really pleased with it!!!! just hope the rest goes as well...in the limited time I have left !!!! ....2 weekends !!! eeeek !!!!