Tie Waist Dress - Mccalls 7381

It's pretty rare that I buy sewing magazines. Mainly because I have a lot of patterns that I haven't sewn yet and a lot of the patterns that come with magazines are already very similar to something I already have. 

But in this case I brought the magazine purely for the sewing pattern! Mccalls 7381 came free with a copy of love sewing magazine an absolute age ago [but you can also buy it here]. I loved the hippy floaty style of pattern and thought it would be an great addition to my wardrobe. Fast forward a LONG time and I've finally gotten around to making it. 

Okay so this pattern doesn't require a zip instead you use elastic on the back waistband. And as you can probably see from the photos, mine doesn't fit terribly well. 

I cut a size medium [as per my measurements] and when I came to try it on it was absolutely huge! In fact instead of just adding elastic to the back waist mine goes the whole way around.

Its still wearable but there's a lot of gaping in the boob area. 

As demonstrated here. I think you could probably store things down the gaping in this bodice. Important things, like mobile phones....loaves of bread......and fully grown men. [preferably shaped like Tom Hardy]

For these pictures I;m wearing it with one of those strapless bra bask things. I'm not sure what they are called but they are properly uncomfortable and leave no room for cake.

Which is ironic considering that without the bask I would have room for several cakes under this dress. In fact for one terrifying moment I did wonder if its boarder line maternity wear. I live in desperate fear of someone congratulating me on being pregnant when in fact I just like cake....and biscuits.....and donuts.

Luckily due to the way the pattern is nested on the sheet I have been able to cut a smaller size for my next version. Because I do still love the style of the dress. I love the tie detail at the front and the pleats on the shoulder. And surprisingly for me I'm actually on board with the whole elasticated waist thing...Typically I hate elastic around my waist but with this dress I like it [Or maybe that's just my subconscious preparing me for the gorging I'll be doing over Xmas]

And its not even that awful from the back!

I wish I was a bit braver an had worn this with a bra. but that would be a LOT of boob and I can't really think of many situations where that amount of bob would be considered appropriate. 

The tie detail was easier to sew than I thought it would be but It is worth interfacing the ends of the ties and maybe doing an extra line of stitching just to make sure they don't fall apart when yo turn them through. 

Its also worth mentioning that their are a LOT of pattern markings for this make and yes you will need them all! I used tailors chalk to keep track of them all and I;m so glad I took the time to mark everything on. There's a lot of stitch to the small circle etc instructions.

The fabric is a ditzy print viscose from Abakhans I found it in a remnant bin, I can't remember how much it cost but it is beautifully soft and presses really nicely. 

I did wonder if it makes me look a bit wide from the side but in reality how often do I look at myself from the side? 

The bodice is fully lined which leaves a nice finish, especially around the tie area. 

In the above two pictures you can see the pleat shoulder detail a bit better. The pleats are folded and then stitched down to make a sort of pin tuck. It took a couple of goes to get the stitching on them looking nice and neat.

 All in all its not a terrible dress. Yes it shows at least 80% of my boobs but that's just means that its more of a strutting on the beach holiday dress rather than a popping to tesco sort of dress. 

I'm actually a bit gutted that the fit is off because I had such high hopes for this dress. I love the fabric and its some of my best sewing. I really loved the challenge of doing something that's not just a basic dress. 

In other news! 

I took approximately 1 million blog pictures yesterday! So hopefully their will be lots more garment posts coming! 

I have a cold. Its not a bad one but its keeping me up at night and I't not enjoying the snotty nose. Does anyone have any cold remedies? aside from downing a bottle of whiskey? 

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Off the Shoulder Top

I've had off the shoulder tops on my radar for a while now and in the spirit of trying to make as many clothes for Vegas as I can before I go I ended up cracking on out in about two hours! And that includes me having to work on my maths skills. Which suck by the way..... 

At some point I'll do a proper tutorial but for anybody who wants to bumble one out themselves I basically took my bra measurement and and cut two rectangles that were brasize x 21 inches and then four sleeves that were 9inch x 11inch.  

The fabric was from my grandmothers stash and was also used for this top here! Its actually covered in little flowers which is really cute!

So yeah I will do a proper tutorial at some point in the future but it will have to wait until after the summer holidays are over because OMG do I have no time to myself! Seriously I've gone from the quite cozy, having 4 mornings a week to myself to do as I wish and now I have NO TIME! I mean I love it because I get to spend large amounts of time with my little boy but I am missing being able to sew and blog at my own pace.

Anyway!Its quite blousy at the bottom because of the amount of the fabric. I prefer it tucked in but I can see how it might be nice to wear it untucked if you've had a bloaty beers and pizza kind of night! Oh if your some kind of pregnant! or post pregnant! Because lets face it the only people who "bounce back" are those that have personal trainers on speed dial!

Its held up with elastic, which trust me you are going to want to make sure is tight. I mean its what is holding your top up and as you might have realised this is a strapless so you are either going for a strapless bra or your gonna have to let the tatas hang free. The first time I wore this I went for the strapless bra but unluckly for me it got eaten in the washing machine so now I have no strapless bra! [that will teach me to wash my intimates on a regular cycle!!!!!!!!

The beauty of this top is that you can also wear it with the sleeves up!  

Anyway I LOVE IT! I basically feel like an extra from the godfather part two! Every time I wear this outfit I feel like I need to be stomping grapes in the Italian sun! And then drinking some pre stomped grapes in the Italian sun!!!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Gingham Lakeside Grainline Pyjamas

I know I'm boring this is the second pair of Lakeside Grainline Pyjamas that I've made recently but I just loved the first pair so much and found then so satisfying to make I couldn't resist!

This time I used a very light cotton lawn that was given to me by a friend with this pattern. I love the warm colours of the gingham pattern its so unusual.

I used the same binding that I used for my first pair because I made too much. I don;t think it looks out of place and it saved me a lot of time [and swearing] in ironing out a whole new batch.

I made no changes and followed the instructions exactly. I still had trouble with the binding on the side seam of the shorts. I'm not quite sure what I was doing wrong but when I stopped sewing at 9.30pm to watch the GBSB final I was nearly in tears and when I decided to try and finish at 10.30pm It went on smoothly. 

No idea how that happened.

Pattern matching wise I did try, the side seams on the top aren't too bad but the shorts are a bit hit and miss. Apart from on the bum [you can see it a couple of pictures up, yes feel free to stop reading and go and have a quick gander at my bum, its okay we're all friends here]

I am pleased that I put the black stripe along the centre front though, I really debated over which colour should be at the front so I left it too my toddler. He said black and I know better than to argue with a four year old. [I highly recommend this deciding style to anyone with kids, it really takes the pressure off yourself]

The straps and everything went in wonderfully!

I turned down the speed on my machine for top stitching. That way I have to take my time and can't rush through. 

I think the problem with the pattern matching on the sides is that I flipped the pattern piece so now the colours are in the wrong order.

So in general I'm very pleased. The fabric is beautiful to wear to sleep in, its so light and cool.

The shorts are riding up a little but but I think its because I shortened the elastic a bit too much this time and they are trying to find a slightly smaller part of me to sit on, Its not uncomfortable it just means you get a saucy bit of bum cheek poking out in the morning.

It is a bit weird to see the whole ensemble in one print after making my first pair in two different fabrics. I wasn't sure I like it at first but its grown on me!

Ive also discovered that the top goes with these pj bottoms I made yonks ago! Which means hopefully they'll get some winter wear as well! Yes even in winter I can't abide wearing long sleeves in bed!

To be completely honest I've been wearing both of the pairs I made in constant rotation. Wash and a wear style!

In other news! the lovely Charlotte won the sewing bee! It was such a close call this year. I felt a bit gutted for Joyce who I'd been rooting for, after weeks of being told her stuff was a bit boring she went all out only to be told it looked like a costume. I did love Charlotte and Jades dresses though and I shed a lil tear hearing Charlotte talk about her relationship with her ex-husbands new wife, "she's such a big part of the children's lives" Isn't that a lovely way of looking at it? 

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx