Broderie anglaise Mimi blouse

I'll start off by saying I'm sorry if that's spelt wrong, my spelling is hideous as is and I'm pretty sure that word isn't even English so I've decided to forgive myself, I hope you'll do the same. 

Anyway grammar aside here's my Broderie anglaise Mimi blouse. This is my second mimi blouse and comes from the now legendary love at first stitch book by tilly walnes.

I was lucky enough to recieve the fabric in a giveaway on handmade janes blog. The fabric is from dragonfly fabrics (the same place my butterfly fabric came from for my skinny clemence) however unlike the butterfly fabric I ordered 2metres of this lovely stuff and not a teensy amount.

Now I'm gonna level with you, it's got holes in it and it's pretty sheer in some lights. But I'm lazy and I used to be a bit of an exhibitionist (back in the day) so I didn't let it slow me down (read- I really couldn't be bothered to line it, if the police end up involved for public indecency I'll just put a  vest top underneath) 

Anyway here it is, I used the same size as before. 

But for reason I instantly liked it better? The gathers seemed to work better? And we're more pronounced than my first version? 

I did have two difficulties however :

1- I set an entire sleeve in the wrong way and had to unpick it, not much fun! 

2 - my interfacing just wouldn't attach! Seriously It took some ironing magic to make it happen. I used a lightweight interfacing that's available by the metre from Minerva fabrics and I've never had any bother with it until now? I am starting to wonder if all the stitching across the fabric and the holes might have been a factor? 

The buttons are from my stash and all my button holes worked first time! Yay! 

I'm calling this a success! I feel like I want to make one more for myself in a darker colour and momma Knitwit has hinted that she might like one of these in a similar fabric for herself! 

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

Singing those shudda, wudda, cuddas

One question I get a lot when I alter my clothes is "what if you want it back how it was?" 

It's a perfectly reasonable question, if your thinking of altering something you spent actual money on rather than pulled from a charity shop then your bound to be aprehensive. 

So to start I always divide mine into two piles the ones that I'm hoping to salvage, this includes shrunken tee shirts, mr Knitwit jumpers, and old jeans. These are what I consider throw away projects, things that if they don't work it doesn't really matter because chances are they'd end up in the bin anyway. 

Then there's the alterations, things that just don't work right now! The things that I like but I just don't seem to wear for some reason. I like to make these item reversible so they can be used as they were originally intended! 

EXAMPLE! 

This skirt used to reach mid calf, it wasn't maxi and it wasn't midi. It was however filled with sentimental value (my dad brought it for my mum) 

Now I knew I didn't want to bin it, I love the lace and the waistband, but I also knew I didn't want to cut it incase a 30/40 year old Frankie still wants to wear this skirt but would appreciate more coverage! 

That's why this skirt has a 30cm hem. No seriously on the off chance longer poofy skirts are back in fashion all I have to do is unpick my hand sewing and I'm sorted! 

I guess what I'm trying to say is, it doesn't all have to be so drastic, on refashioning program's and blogs we see them hacking away at garments. Well the thing is you don't have to, embrace deep hems! Keep the sleeves you didn't want one the off chance that maybe one day you will! Make the collar detachable and you'll find you can really turn your wardrobe into a workhorse! 

And then as you gain confidence in what works you can start to take bigger risks! 

Much love 

Frankie 

Xx

Minion mark 2!

I had an order for another minion! 

But I changed my self drafted pattern a little so this guy looks a lil different! 

I think he's pretty adorable! I just wish someone would order one with one eye! 

Also this happened 

That's my entire button stash on my carpet! I gave them a good sort and groups all the same ones together! I was getting sick of searching for matching buttons! It was surprisingly relaxing to do something mindless after caring for a poorly lil and mr Knitwit! 

Much love 

Frankie 

Xxx

It's a monster mash!

I'm not sure whether this is a refashion or a repurpose? 

Basically I've made a dress! I used the bodice from my simplicity 4070 pattern, which I made using some spare suede fabric I had from recovering the living room cushions and the skirt is made from this. . 

 

This is a silk dress my mum picked up in a charity shop, (when she brought it the front had some kind of beading so she harvested that for her own projects) and I got the dress which was made up of the front and back panels and the lining. 

As the lining and front fabric were different I split them into panels then frankenstiened them together to make a panelled skirt. 

I'm actually kinda pleased with it even if mr Knitwit does think it's very brown! 

I took the zip from my fake Louis Vuitton handbag that I brought in Rome,It was falling apart but the zip was still working and it's a pretty substantial zip! 

The skirts gathered quite simply onto the bodice. 

And seen as it was a bit sheer and less poofy than I thought I lined it with this old shawl! It's got a nice velvet floral pattern on it so some of that peeks through aswell. 

And the best bit? 

That's a fully lined bodice ladies and gents! Using scraps from a projects yonks ago! I love that you can't see any raw edges! 

So.....

Bodice fabric - free

Skirt fabric - free

Skirt lining - free

Zip - free

Bodice lining - scrap so therefore free!

Yay free dress! Even if it is a bit brown! 

Frankie

Xxx

Finished Mimi Blouse!

Okay so I know it seems like I'm cranking out the projects at the moment! And that the blog is becoming very clothes sewing heavy but I've got a massive backlog of things I've made to photograph and I'm really enjoying sewing clothes at the moment! It's nice to learn new skills and see yourself improve! 

Anyway today's finish is the Mimi blouse from love at first stitch! Are we starting to gather that I'm working my way through this book pretty steadily? What can I say the patterns are young and pretty and the instructions are clear! 

I think I finished this about a month ago? And to be honest when I put it on I thought "well here's something I'm never going to wear!" But looking at the photos I actually think it's quite nice! 

I should probably mention that momma Knitwit styled me! After I made it I sent her some pictures because I couldn't find anything it looked good with! I'm actually wearing my high waisted denim short shorts , but I've cropped my legs off! Nobody needs to see that pastyness first thing in the morning! 

The fabric was given to me by my nan and is a lightweight cotton, with a floral ditsy print on it. 

And the buttons are taken off one of Mr knitwits shirts that went funny in the wash. 

I'm super pleased that my collar points are even I was stupidly worried about them! 

And the whole thing is French seamed! (Apart from the sleeves, could not get my head around it, I blame tiredness)

It's a comfy blouse too! I know that some people said the arms were tight but I don't have that problem. 

And I love it with my denim jacket! Makes me feel like a 90s kid! (Can you tell I idolised my siblings in the 90s?) it makes me want to run off and climb through Dawsons window, and declare my undying love! That's a lie I'm a Pacey kinda girl!

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

P.s what do we think, is it appropriate for the mother of a three year old to wear high waisted short shorts? X

Knitting magazines and some good news!

 

Luckily for me Mr Knitwit nan has been having a clear-out again! and this time she found some old knitting magazines!

 

 

this was the first magazine and these are the two patterns I found most interesting!

 

this appears to be a slipper pattern that ISNT written in the round! 

And this jacket just looks stupidly cosy and cuddly!

The second magazine contained this gorgeous pattern for a lil girls cardigan with embroidery! So if one of my friends could impregnate themselves with a lil girl that would be awesome!!!!

 

Now I just have to get round to knitting them all!

In other good news the lovely folks at Minerva crafts have featured my navy megan dress on their blog!!  

https://www.minervacrafts.com/blog/projects/navy-bengaline-megan-dress

I feel rather proud of myself to be honest! 

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

 

Custom VW cushion!

A few moments after I posted a picture of my vw cushion cover on Facebook I received an order for one! In blue! I sent some pictures of fabrics, and voila! 

I actually prefer it to the original! The blues look so pretty together! 

All of the fabric was from my stash! 

I had to do a four button close because I didn't have any large blue ones! 

Yay! I'm very please with it and the customer was happy too! 

Now I just need to order some more cushion inserts and find somewhere to store them! 

Much love

Frankie

X