Project Pinafore

I got this pattern a few weeks ago from Cloth magazine, my lovely Nan brought it for me.
I brought a really nice black pinafore from River Island recently, which I love, but it is a little big for me. So this pattern came just at the right time.

I love the look of pinafores, I love how you can wear them with a crop top or something on a night out, but then they can be really smart with a shirt. I'm ignoring the fact that they remind me of my nursery school uniform.

I have brought some light blue cotton for the main parts of the pattern and some navy floral cotton for the pocket tops and bias binding. Both were from Hole in the Wall in Walsall, near my home town of Birmingham. I love Hole in the Wall, the staff are so friendly, and there is so much choice! my mom would say too much, I end up spending so long choosing!

The dress looks so fun to wear but there are a few construction bits that I have not really attempted before. Its going to be my first go at making my own bias binding, and also first go at doing proper button holes, not just practice attempts.
Lets hope my sewing machine is feeling up the challenge! (sometimes she definitely doesn't)

Here is me pinning and cutting on the carpet, which is a challenge in itself.

Also sneaking in the photo is my pin cushion, which I made in the form of a peacock a while ago, but my housemate says looks like a fancy duck. (I'll accept any bird shaped analogy to be honest)

I wish that I could spend all weekend happily sewing this up, but it will have to be saved until next week as I have an exam on Monday :( therefore instead of my dining table looking like a tranquil haven of sewing it looks like this-

(the beer is purely medicinal)

 

Love For Celia Foote

I think I'm very late on the bandwagon, but I finally watched the film The Help today. Great film. But I am now slightly obsessed with the character Celia, and more specifically her CLOTHES!

Played by beautiful Jessica Chastain, Celia, a crazy 'white trash' blonde ditzy woman who has, in my opinion, one of the best wardrobes ever.

There are two outfits that are especially beautiful, one is this gorgeous yellow playsuit.

How lovely is this! Its definitely made me want to make a summery playsuit with a fitted bodice. I haven't attempted anything like this before, so that will deffo be a challenge, I had better get looking for a pattern! I always find that fitted bodices never fit me properly on the high street, I guess that's one of the joys of making your on clothes, you can actually get them to fit the way you want them too ha.

Another outfit of Celia's has got to be the pink dress.

I know she gets talked about and criticised for it in the film, but its so beautiful!
The fact that I would have nowhere at all to wear a dress like this has not stopped me wishing for one.

With my exams around the corner :( I haven't had much time to sew lately, but I'm itching to do something a bit creative. Not long to go now though until I have finished Uni forever and look forward to a bit more sewing.

 







First Shorts

Here are my first pair of shorts, semi-successful!

They were from a Burda magazine pattern, and although I am really pleased with the outcome, I definitely didn't follow the pattern instructions. (I would like to think that this is because I followed my own creative impulses, but its really just because most of the time, I couldn't understand the instructions. )

I have actually never done a Burda pattern before, and I'm not gonna lie, adding my own seam allowances and learning how to construct pockets for the first time was a challenge! But I'm very happy with the outcome, and actually have a great pair of shorts I will wear if the weather allows me.

The fabric is a sort of 70s style stretchy knit, love the pattern (there isn't enough purple and green combinations haha). I got it from a craft fair in Sheffield for about £2, and had just about enough to finish the shorts.

Now that I know how to make pockets and how shorts are actually put together, I do think that this is a very easy style to make, the waistband is just thick elastic, and the hem is a big turn up. Maybe I'd better wait for signs of nice weather first though!

Love to hear anyone's thoughts!

A bit about me

Hello!

As my first ever post I should probably introduce myself. My name is Lauren and I love sewing and doing anything creative. Making stuff is usually a way I relax, which is probably why it has increased at the same rate as my history degree! I am really here to record what I make, get some inspiration and make sure I finish every project I start!

I am deff going to need all the help I can get, both in the blogging technological aspect and sewing. As while I am quite ambitious with my projects, things rarely go the way I intend! So any help and guidance anyone can offer will be gratefully snapped up.

Hopefully by the end of the week I will post up some pictures and info of my latest sewing adventure and see what everyone thinks. x