May Sixth

Today was my boyfriend's graduation! Yipee! He finally got his Master of Science. Again it rained hardcore during the day, hence the beret to protect my freshly washed hair hehe. Prepare yourself for more awkward and out of focus photos, this time courtesy of the boyfriend.

Top:Kmart Skirt:Made by me! Tights:Gift Shoes:Melissa Beret:Gift

I made this skirt as part of Casey's circle skirt sew-along. However, I had miscalculated the waist and ended up having to put in four pleats to take up the extra fabric. And after realising it was kind of out proportion wise on me, I cut 4 inches off it. Now I wear it all the time! Yipee!

May Fifth

Today I finished this velour skirt! It's my first attempt at stretch fabrics eeep. Not too bad I think. I have a velour tank dress that I wear at least once a week, so I thought a skirt in a similar style would be useful. I should have enough fabric left over to make a gathered skirt too. 

T-shirt:AA Skirt:Made by me! Leggings:Kmart Shoes:Op shop

Sorry for the incredibly awkward self timer photos, it's been raining hardcore for most of the day and everyone else is out :(  

May First

I'm back! It's Me-Made-May and I've pledged to wear at least two handmade garments a week AND to refashion or finish one other item every week. I wore my Simplicity 1880 wrap dress with some tights, a skivvy and my new favourite op shops shoes (they were just $1!). I feel like the colour is a little bit dull on me, but I'd might as well wear it. 

I did a few hours of lab work until Tamzen and I went to see Lawrence Arabia (the singer) at the Wine Cellar. It was absolutely amazing! Here is a sneaky video Tamzen took. He took mostly requests and this song is originally a Reduction Agents number. 

July Fifteen

Today is the last day of the holidays! Whoops, that went quick. Luckily I managed to get a few projects in. After the Colette Sorbetto blouse, I made the wrap dress version of Simplicity 1880 following Sunni's sewalong. I need help to mark the hem so I haven't been able to finish it yet. I'm happy with how it turned out.

I had to do a FBA, adding 2 inches to each side. It took two attempts, as the first time I under-estimated the amount I needed to add because I hadn't marked centre front on the pieces. Duh. The second time was better, but I had to add an extra pleat because there was too much fullness added on the bottom edge. Hmmmmm. Something to remember for next time. I'm unsure as to what the fabric is, but it's a slippery silky light fabric that my boyfriends mother bought for me. I used bias binding for the neckline and made the short sleeves. I will take some pictures of me in it the next time it is sunny around here.

After the dress, I started on the Colette sewing book. My boyfriend bought it for me at Christmas, but I had lent it to a friend for almost all of last semester. Anyway, I tried out the Meringue skirt, without scallops and with a waistband instead of the facings. I also like how it turned out. I did a sway back adjustment, although I don't know if that was the correct adjustment to do as the back/butt still isn't right. 

The fabric is a $6/metre Thai cotton from a local emporium. I also got the invisible zipper and thread from there because it was super cheap, but the thread moulted a bit and I wasn't happy with the zipper. I got the dam thing in, it's not perfect, but I figure I'll just wear the skirt until it breaks and the replace it. There is still a lot of fabric leftover and I'm contemplating trying out Simplicity 3688 as high waisted shorts for the summer. In my books, one can never too many polka dots. 

Yay!

June Thirty

It's finally holidays and I made something! I decided to unpick my Minnie Mouse Halloween dress and use the fabric to try out the Colette Sorbetto pattern .

After one muslin and a FBA, it turned out ok. It's probably something I'd wear over jeans in the summer. It's not super flattering on me because of the lack of closure making the waist huge, but it's a starting point. I got Simplicity 1880 at spotlight on sale (at 50% off it was till like $11.WTF) for the sew along so that might be next on the list, or the rest of the Colette patterns from the book. 

January Fourteen

Nick gave me the Colette Sewing Handbook for Christmas and I just LOVE it so much (isn't he good?!)

When the news of a sew along popped up on my Google Reader I was super excited. 

Yay! I love a sew along and I can't wait to show off a finished project. 

First up is the Meringue skirt. I'm thinking making it in black or navy to maximise it's usage. 

I'm leaving my job soon, I don't know when I'll next need more professional looking clothes, so I might just go for some fun polka dots instead. I love polka dots and stripes.

December Thirty

December was very busy, so here's a quick update. 

We made chutney for the first time! Just tomato, from a good friends recipe (and excellent advice). Yum!

I finished the Christmas dress! On Christmas eve I was up past midnight hemming it. 

Nick's Grandma gave me a gift voucher for the mall so I picked this bright fruit sun dress.

It's got oranges and limes on it!

And another wonderful surprise was the package from Molly, all the way from Chicago! 

I won this cute pattern and a lovely pleated skirt. I love it! Thanks Molly :)

December Eight

I got some fabric at Spotlight to make a dress for Christmas. It's got cats and dogs on it too! 

I'm planning on drafting it myself. Better get cracking

November Twenty Seven

Last weekend I made these pillows from some odd offcuts.  I'm so lazy I didn't even measure them out, so they're a little loose in places. I just went the simplest thing I could think of, no zips or buttons. Once I figure out buttonholes, I might do some. I'm still using the machine from hell; I keep expecting it to come right. It does OK mostly until the bobbin runs out, then it throws a fit. 

November Fifteen

My friend Mazzy is making teddy bears. 

OMG they are so cute! She has some to give away too. 

November Six

      asos                                                           d&g

I'm always thinking out of season. Currently I'm diggin little lace up booties for the winter

and velvet. Lots of velvet. This polka dot skirt is teasing me! How cute is it? HEAPS. It would be great for work too. If I can't find some similar fabric, I wouldn't mind a plain velvet pencil skirt to kick around in. I like the shorter length too. 

October Thirty First

Wooh! Halloween costume finished. And worn. 

I ran out of time to make something really nice, so I just improvised. I traced the outline from an old dress that I like the shape of, but made it way bigger. It turned out REALLY big. Oh well, I will recut it later. 

I made the bow in less than 5 minutes! Two rectangles, interfaced and sewn. THANKS MAZ!

Boo!

October Twenty Seven

One American Apparel-esque gingham skirt. Check! It's significantly longer than theirs, falling to the perfect below the knee/slimmest part of the leg. It's quite a thick cotton, so it hold he shape well. And it has pockets! There's a little bit of leftover fabric, so I'm going to make up some cushions for the couch. 

AND popping into the local Sallies last weekend I found these 1930s cookbooks. They had another 2 but I picked these two because they were in the best condition (maybe I should have gone with the busted up ones now that I think about it). One had these extra recipes and notes in it. Whoo!

October Nineteen

Invited to a Halloween Party

+

No Costume

=

SO MANY POSSIBILITES

I was thinking of going as Minnie Mouse!

Best excuse to dress up all cute

I'd totally wear a red and white Minnie inspired polka dot dress regularly right?

And Nick will be dressed as Mickey if I get my way.

October Twelve

I love the look of these gingham skirts from American Apparel. 

But really, they're way too short for me and more than I can afford.

I don't want to break my 'buy nothing new in October' vow just yet, so I've bought some secondhand fabric and zipz from Trademe. I've drawn up the pattern already from Gertie's tutorial, and I'm ready to roll!

Or rather cut and stitch. Hehe. 

September Twelve

ASOS addiction? Yes.

I'm in love this fluorescent lace skirt.

When I find this lace, I'm so going to sew it.