a spare 30 mins....

Well, isn't this madness...

Half way through my 2nd week of Annual Leave and only just found some time to sit down with my Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016 pattern (that was delivered the other week) - Simplicity 1458 - and work out what goodies are required.

Half hour surfing through Minerva Crafts and fabric, thread, zip and interfacing all ordered (as well as some additional fabric for a top....don't know what top yet, but you know how it is!!).  I've even paid for 48 hr delivery as I'll be back to work next week and won't be around to sign for it :-) 

Now all I need do it get started!!! 

Maxine n Steve's wedding ....

Happy Sunday!

Well, the dress got worn on Friday to Maxine and Steve's wedding... a shameful lack of photo's of me in the dress (I'm not too keen on being snapped...) so I pinched this off my neice (who's on the right...my cousin Tom is on the left).

Soooooo, pleased how it turned out - I wasn't able to make a belt (lack of plain navy blue cotton!) but a mad dash to C&H Fabrics in Canterbury once I'd finished work Friday lunchtime, and hey presto, a navy blue ribbon does the trick - I knew I wanted it to hang the length of the skirt, but I was still disappointed to discover that 3 meters was enough (with only a couple of inches 'leftover')...deffo back on the diet this week!!!! 

 Tom, me and Liz

I was a brave girl, and ventured out into the garden this afternoon to take a photo of me in the dress....had to wait all day for the wind to drop and for the slight drizzle to stop, and what do you know, the cloud lifted just a few minutes after Andy Murray won Wimbledon!!! 

This is my favourite 'make' of the year....possibly ever!  In fact, I love it so much that I've spent most of the afternoon with my head in the washing machine to extract a bra underwire that had worked its way out of the washing machine drum, broken 2 of the 3 lifters and poked though one of the washing machine holes and punctured holes into various tops .... I don't want that to happen to this lovely dress!!! 

 Shameless posing in the garden - luckily no one could see me!

 without the tie belt... will buy some pillar box red ribbon to wear with this as an alternative (and I've got some beautiful red shoes that would go a treat too)

hmmmmmm idle fingers...and a head full of decisions

So, the party dress is done....I had given some consideration to making a navy blue fabric tie/belt to finish it off, however, a quick trip to C&H Fabrics on Monday left me a little dumbfounded that there was NONE!!!???!!!! 

I don't have time to order some from any of the online stockists so I'll just have to do without. :-(  

This has meant that I've got idle fingers....wasn't too much of a problem last night, what with it being the last episode of this seasons Great British Sewing Bee, but I've found myself 'prowling' round the house feeling agitated tonight wondering what I should do next.

I've seen a very nice designer blouse on an online designer clothes outlet ... but....no way on this sweet earth can I afford to spend £500+ on a top!!! don't care how nice the silk crepe is...

So, as I've drafted various other items over the last 12 months (yes alright, little half aprons, christmas decorations and one wrap-a-round skirt isn't exactly gonna set the world of fashion alight, but a novice has to start somewhere right?...) I thought I'd have a go at making my own semi-similar/inspired version.

Being the poor ex-student that I am, and working at a place where oodles of staff have been placed under 'consultation' .... I couldn't afford anything too grand, especially as I'm not even sure I'll be able to draft a suitable pattern...so I've bought 3 meters of poly-crepe from the lovely Minerva Crafts that was delivered to me at the weekend, with a view to making up over the next few weekends.

Then it occurred to me this evening, I've still not received my pattern for the Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016.  I kinda thought I'd have it by now...if it doesn't turn up soon I'm not too sure I'll be able to complete it in time, and that would be a shame as I was quite looking forward to having a go :-(

Has anyone else had their pattern and/or started sewing ???? (not that I'm expecting to hear from any fellow competitors...not exactly sure anyone ever reads this blog!!!)

any hooooo.... just idle thoughts while I have idle fingers and a head full of decisions to make :-D

 

all but done...

It's done!!! 

Spent the best part of the day yesterday pinning, pressing, machine edging, turning, re-pinning, re-pressing and hand stitching the hem(s) on my 'Maxines-Wedding-Ceremony-and-Reception-Party-Dress'.

That's hand stitching the hem of a full circle skirt & lining.  My hands feel like it was equivalent to the circumference of the planet...!

I spent the rest of the evening and some of this morning contemplating a net 'underskirt' or petticoat.

My dilemma was that its that stiff net so ideally I wanted it go in between the lining and dress fabric, as it would be too scratchy next to my legs...especially if I were to wear tights...which is highly likely with my motley legs...and this is Summer in Blighty afterall !!!

My secondary dilemma is that, ideally, I wanted it to be removable - its not every day that I want to wear so many layers. 

However, after careful consideration (and lack of patience!) I decided to do a basic 'gather and attach' job on it.

Luckily, I never got round to 'trimming the excess' fabric where the bodice and skirt were attached, so I had some seam allowance to sew the net to.

All you proper dressmakers, seamstresses and sewers would cringe at my cowboy job...however, I'm sooooooo pleased with the result.

A very 'subtle' net layer that gives the dress just the right amount of 'poof' .... 

It's finished.

It fits.

It hanging up ready for the big day (5 more sleeps!!) 

I'm ridiculously pleased with it.

I'm sitting here with a banging headache from such 'close work' and contemplating popping to C&H Fabrics in Canterbury tomorrow to see if I can buy some navy blue cotton to make a tie belt... we'll see.

 not a very good photo, but trust me...it looks much better on!

Shoes, bag and wrap all sorted....hope to get some nicer photos of me actually wearing it!!!