First Photos - Shoes! Fabric Dress

So I was up until 1:30am the day before, but I managed to finish the Shoes! Dress in time for my friends' wedding!

Some photos are up on Facebook and I took one on my phone, but I don't have many photos through yet.  I can't wait for more photos, so here are some photos of me in the dress and fascinator.

As usual, I made things harder for myself because I decided it was a good idea to put a shirring panel beneath each arm, move the zip to the back and insert a waist stay.  Why follow pattern instructions, when you can make it up as you go, right?!  Errr, yeah ... maybe not the best idea.  The bodice doesn't fit as well as it did on the toile because of the changes, so I chucked on a belt and I love the fabric so much, I kinda don't care!

Look at me not caring:

I've decided that all weddings should have oversized swings - they're way too much fun!

If I made this again, I'd flatline instead of bag lining the bodice because that would have allowed me to adjust the fit more easily.  I might rip out the bodice lining and instead finish the neck and armholes with bias tape.  But that's for another day - for now, I like this dress a lot!

In fact, I probably will use this pattern again, after faffing about with indecision about it (thank you so much everyone who commented on that post of fabric fear - it really helped me have the confidence to actually do this!) - the bodice fits perfectly (if I don't faff).  I particularly love that the back sits just above the back of my bra.  I can't go bra-less, so low-backed dresses are usually a no-no for me, but not this one!  Isn't that one of the joys of making your own clothes?

Even better, I have about 2 metres left of this fabric, so I think I'm going to make a skirt with the remainder.  Yay for more Shoes! fabric fun!

Stationery/Sewing Bag of Love

So I'm a teacher, as you might already know.  I have to lug lots of stuff around different classrooms - my pens, pens for students to use, scissors, board markers, board eraser, diary, glue, rulers, photocopied handouts, books, blank paper ... and so on.  My colleagues often use toolboxes for all this equipment; I've been using a tote bag, where everything floats around in the bottom so I can't find it!

For ages I've been on the lookout for a bag with different sections, with no luck, so for my final project on the oilcloth course, I decided I'd make one ...

I've mentioned Norfolk Textiles before and as I was pouring through their many pages of oilcloth, struggle to make a decision, I spotted this toile de jouy and instantly knew it would be an 18th century inspired, grey on grey fabric combination.  I played with the directions of the stripes, pieced the bottom of the bag (very 18th c!) and, as patchworkers would say, 'fussy cut' the side pockets to have the main toile motifs at the centre.

I also wanted a pop of colour to avoid getting stuck in 'Greysville', so I went for the dusky rose polka dot lining (yes, another colourway of the tote bag fabric), which I tied in with a grey inside pocket:

I was really lucky to find matching grey grossgrain ribbon to reinforce the top of the bag and side pockets at the local market.  This stuff looks gorgeous in real life - it has a lovely silvery sheen.  (Plus, it helped avoid the oilcloth sticking too much!  Though the stripe and toile are matt oilcloth, so that is less sticky.)

I also made sure it was big enough to fit A4 folders in the main body, as I have those for each of my classes.  (Unfortunately, the bag doesn't photograph so well as a whole - it's a bit floppy!)

The end pockets aren't quite so pretty, but I only had half a metre of the toile fabric.

I'm really pleased with how this came out - it's really pretty and everyone who's seen it has loved it and asked where I bought it!  Even better, it's practical and fits all my stationery bits inside, yay!

Usually there's something about one of my makes that I'm not 100% in love with, but I think this is probably my most successful make so far - love it!

Oilcloth Tote Detail

Here's the promised detail shot from my oilcloth tote bag (and, as promised, without any shots of the horrible top-stitching!):

This was fun and simple to do; I particularly liked following the leaf motif around the edge of the large applique.

You see, oilcloth is evil to topstitch on, but free machine embroidery avoids all those problems ... and it's not so bad to sew normal seams on (though the fabric does stick to itself when right sides together, so it can be a pain to align your fabric pieces).

Oilcloth is fun and cute, just beware that you'll want to curse it if you have to topstitch the stuff!  I didn't get round to trying stitching with tissue paper, which is another tip for sewing with the stuff.

Have you tried out oilcloth before?  Any tips on sewing with it?  Any fabrics you love, but are a pain in the arse to sew with?

Busy with Oilcloth

Hello, hello!  Yes, I have been quite neglectful of my blog recently - the truth is, I've been busy doing, rather than blogging about it.  I don't want to apologise, because I consider that to be A Good Thing!

Plenty of photos to come soon, but for now, here's a quick phone photo of a tote bag I made during a 10 week class at the Textile Workshop - Vintage Inspired Summer Sewing with the lovely Natalie Smith.  It was all about sewing with oil cloth.

You can get some fabulous oil cloth fabrics around, but one of the main things I learnt was that with oil cloth, you do get what you pay for.  Very cheap oilcloths tend to be a flimsy plastic with a non-woven backing, whereas the slightly more expensive ones (around £12/m) will be cotton fabric with a PVC or similar coating.    I got mine at Norfolk Textiles and particularly loved the matt finish oilcloths.

The other main thing I learnt was that oil cloth is a *£&%$&^ to top stitch.  Really.  Even with a teflon foot, it sticks to your machine and itself in an attempt to stop you ever getting any sort of stitch regularity.  So, no close up shots of the straps or top of the bag, hahaha!  I am, however, quite pleased with my free-machined applique, so there will be close-up shots of that, soon, as well as the other bits and pieces I made.

Oh, and the shingle beach ... The other thing I've been doing is spending a week away in Portsmouth with Mr Magpie!  It was such a lovely, chilled out week - I didn't want to come home!

Finished Object: Fascinator

I have been busy a-making, though I've not had much time for blogging about it.

Yesterday, I spent a lovely day at a class run by the Living Threads Group, taught by the fabulous Hannah Wroe of Hannah and Bella fame (who blogs here and is soon to have a new website, which looks like it's going to be rather lush!  [I am very much drooling over the collection of books on that entry page.]).  She showed us some excellent techniques for making wired fascinator bases and flowers from cotton organdy/organdie (whichever takes your fancy!).*

I made the base and most of my petals in the day-long class ... I probably would have finished ALL the petals, but I was having too much fun chatting with the fabulous ladies there (oops!)!!  I finished the petals at home in the evening and made a bow while watching box sets in bed, then today I sewed them to the base and attached the clip and set to modelling the fascinator!

* By the way, I've now decided that making fascinators should be referred to as 'fascinating' - how brilliant would it be to have this conversation:

Friend:   What are you up to tomorrow?

Stitcher: I'm fascinating, daaaarrling!

Fabric of Win

I got this fabric about a month ago.  I saw it in the local market and my mum bought me a couple of metres of it as I loved it so much - I wanted to make a circle skirt with it ... Then I had to go back a couple of days later and buy some more, I love the fabric so much, it needs to be a dress.

But the question is, which dress?  It's actually an impossible decision!

As soon as I saw this fabric, it said to me 'big skirt', so I think I need to obey that.  And it's such an awesome fabric with a lot going on that it needs a simple pattern.

At the moment, Retro Butterick 5748 is winning, but I just can't commit until I'm sure this is the perfect pattern for this amazing fabric.

Am I the only one who sometimes gets frozen by this kind of perfectionism?  

Do you cling on to a fabric because it's just so awesome that you feel that you need to save it for the perfect pattern?  Or when your sewing skills are 'good enough' to do the fabric justice?

Do you get a bit scared of those sacred fabrics?

If you have any ideas for a pretty pattern for this one, please do let me know!

12 in 2012 - How did we get to half way already!?

So yeah, it's June.  How did that happen?!

Some of you may remember that waaaaay back in January (which, to be honest, seems like 2 weeks ago to me, but apparently it's a bit longer than that) that I joined in and wrote my own lists for Suzie's 12 in 2012.

Well, Suzie's just reminded me that we're now half way through the year (!!!) by posting a great refection upon her progress so far.  Quite sensibly, she's also revised her lists to add in her wild cards and adjust according to what she's completed (lots - go Suzie!) and what she wants to do.

Oh dear.  I suppose I should do the same ... though it's a far less successful story, alas!

Here's the situation so far:

Clothes to Make:

1. Skirt 1 (Simplicity 2413, paper bag waist).
2. Skirt 2 (slim skirt from a vintage pattern with inverted pleat at back).
3. Skirt 3 (high-waisted skirt from Simplicity 2654)
4. Blouse 1 (anchors fabric, vintage pattern).
5. Blouse 2.
6. Cropped jacket (vintage pattern, silver-grey dupion).
7. Dress 1 (New Look 6000).
8. Dress 2 (Macaron).
9. Dress 3.
10. Men's waistcoat.
11. High-waisted trousers.
12. Coat (McCall's 6442 - the hood, the hood!!).

Not Clothes to Make:

1. House thing 1 - throw (possibly involving patchwork?).
2. House thing 2 - doorstop(s)?
3. House thing 3.  - Patch! cushion cover.
4. Pattern weights.
5. Apron 1 - for that giveaway I mentioned aaaages ago!
6. Apron 2 - giveaway!
7. Apron 3 - giveaway!
8. Yule present 1.  (Well, my little sister's Birthday present *cough*fromlastyear*cough*) - A Kindle cover.
9. Yule present 2.
10. Yule present 3.
11. Yule present 4.
12. Something pretty!

New Things to Try Making:

1. Men's clothing.
2. Trousers.
3. Piping.
4. Actually completing an item from one of my vintage patterns!
5. Actually completing an embroidery item!
6. Doing some more advanced fitting/pattern altering techniques as needed (eg, grading up one of my vintage patterns that is quite a bit too small).
7. Knit a garment (so far I've made a scarf and a snood).
8. Outerwear.
9. Patchwork. - Yay, hand-sewn patchwork, no less!  Patch!  Cushion cover.
10. Making a lining.
11. Underlining.
12. Hand-picked zip (they look so lovely and seem like a relatively simple technique to use for a bit of couture luxe). - I have, in fact, done one of these now (now my favourite method of zip insertion - it makes sewing a zip actually enjoyable!), I just haven't blogged about the project yet.  It's a skirt from Butterick B5466.  The skirt isn't finished, but the zip is in!

Yep, I haven't finished any of the clothes on my list.  I feel bad about that, but it's not necessarily surprising, considering my fluctuating weight situation.  So I need to try not to beat myself up over this one.  Try.

Looking back at this list, I have noticed some things do need editing, slightly, though - my needs have changed over the past six months, so my list needs to change slightly, too (changes in lilac):

Clothes to Make:

1. Skirt 1 (Simplicity 2413, paper bag waist - hmm, I've kind of gone off this pattern, so this is a wildcard skirt.).
2. Skirt 2 (slim skirt from a vintage pattern with inverted pleat at back - actually, this is a lot like Butterick B5466 (see below), so I'm going to change this one to a wildcard skirt).
3. Skirt 3 (high-waisted skirt from Simplicity 2654 - actually, I've started Butterick B5466, which is quite similar, but I preferred the idea of having a waistband)
4. Blouse 1 (anchors fabric, vintage pattern).
5. Blouse 2 - currently finishing the silk crepe blouse - fabric and pattern to the right, just need to do the button holes and hem.
6. Cropped jacket (vintage pattern, silver-grey dupion).
7. Dress 1 (New Look 6000).

8. Dress 2 (Macaron - actually, much as I love this pattern, with the waist band it's not as easily adjustable as others, so it will have to wait; instead step up Retro Butterick 5748.  I already have an amaaaaaaaazing fabric for this, which I have photos ready to post very soon.  So excited for this one!).
9. Dress 3 (after the lovely weather we had a couple of weeks ago, I'm thinking the very summery Vogue 8184 ... that's if the weather remembers that it's June!)
10. Men's waistcoat.
11. High-waisted trousers.
12. Coat (McCall's 6442 - the hood, the hood!!).

Not Clothes to Make:

1. House thing 1 - throw (possibly involving patchwork?).
2. House thing 2 - doorstop(s)?
3. House thing 3. 
4. Pattern weights.
5. Apron 1 - for that giveaway I mentioned aaaages ago!
6. Apron 2 - giveaway!  I've realised it's probably not the best idea for me to make three of the same thing, that's just going to add to the time it takes me to do a giveaway and it's taken long enough already!  So this is a wild card.
7. Apron 3 - giveaway!  Also a wild card.
8. Yule present 1. 
9. Yule present 2.
10. Yule present 3.
11. Yule present 4.
12. Something pretty!

New Things to Try Making:

1. Men's clothing.
2. Trousers.
3. Piping.
4. Actually completing an item from one of my vintage patterns! - Nearly there, currently finishing the silk crepe blouse (see above).
5. Actually completing an embroidery item! - I didn't specify at the time whether this included machine embroidery did I?  Hmm ... Let's say it does, OK?  ;P
6. Doing some more advanced fitting/pattern altering techniques as needed (eg, grading up one of my vintage patterns that is quite a bit too small).
7. Knit a garment (so far I've made a scarf and a snood). - I have started a jumper!  Well, I've cast it on ... not gone much further than that, though, to be honest!
8. Outerwear.
9. Patchwork.
10. Making a lining. - This is in progress - I'm making a lining for my version of Butterick B5466 in an attempt to avoid the dreaded skirt-riding-up-on-tights curse!
11. Underlining.
12. Hand-picked zip (they look so lovely and seem like a relatively simple technique to use for a bit of couture luxe).

And the winners are ...

I'm so excited to announce the winners of these lovely patterns!  A big thank you to everyone who entered!

1940s

1950s

Without further ado, here are the random number generator results from random.org:

Comment number 6 came from the lovely Isis, of Isis' Wardrobe  (yummy 18th century costuming!), Madam Isis' Toilette (fascinating experiments in 18th century cosmetics) aaaand Fashionable Forties (1940s stitchery and style.  Phew, what a busy lady!).  Congratulations, Isis!!

And the first comment was from Rowenna, a long time reader and, dare I say, blog-friend, of Hyaline Prosaic (18th century stitchery and reenacting) and Rowenna, Writing (yes, she's a fellow writer and stitcher!).  Congratulations - I hope this will give you something to work on for post-pregnancy!!!  (Yes, dear Rowenna's expecting!)

Since Isis loved the 40s pattern and Rowenna likes both, I'll be sending the 1940s nightwear pattern to Isis and the 1950s nightdress/slip to Rowenna!  Please email me, ladies: quintefoil [AT] hotmail [DOT] co [DOT] uk

Thanks again to all who entered.  And if you didn't win, don't worry, I've got more giveaway plans, so watch this space!

x

Vintage Underwear Giveaway - extended

There is still time to enter the vintage underwear giveaway!  

I realised that as we're in BST, comments don't always show as the correct time, so it's all a bit confusing to set a specific time that entries have to be in by, soooooo, as long as your comment is in by the end of tomorrow, Tuesday 5th June, when I will do the random number draw, then you'll still be entered.  

So what are are waiting for?  Go and enter!

Sew Direct Jubilee Sale!

(First off, if you haven't yet, enter my vintage underwear/nightwear pattern giveaway!)

I love Sew Direct!  Just had an email about another sale: 60% off all patterns for members and 30% off for non-members from today until 5th June.  (Again, I really don't work for them, but I do think they're awesome!  I am a member, now, because I just think it's that great a deal!)

The only question is what to get?!



Retro Butterick 5748 - vintage, bows ... need I say more?



Vogue 8766 - something about that pretty lace version keeps drawing me to it...

Vintage Vogue 8811 - there's something wonderfully simple and comfortable-looking about this dress.

Vogue 8184 - the photo doesn't look it, but this design really reminds me of vintage sundresses, with that pretty turn at the top of the bodice.  Bonus features - princess seams for a great fit, lining (yay for Vogue patterns) and straps wide enough to hide bra straps!

Decisions, decisions!