Friday 25 January 2019

Butterick B6318 in Houndstooth!

Hey!!!! 

This make feels about a thousand years old now! Seriously I've worn it loads since I made it. 


The fabric is from the abakhans fill a bag sale and as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to make this dress. Annoyingly their wasn't quite enough for the belt as well so I used some of the Burgundy triple crepe that I used for my other version. Both of the fabrics are of a similar weight so it works nicely. But I'm not 100% about the two colours, mainly because the ties are inserted into the seam so you can see them really clearly. 

I think the hounds tooth is some sort of drapey polyester type thing? It melts under a hot iron but luckily provided I hang it up straight out of the dryer it doesn't need ironing anyway. 


The pattern is butterick B6318 which is a vintage reproduction pattern. You can buy it online and I'm pretty sure it came free in love sewing magazine at one point but I actually got mine in a charity shop for 20p!!!!! 

Image result for butterick b6318

Alteration wise I took an inch off the length of the bodice [because apparently I have a tiny torso] , took a wedge out of the centre front neckline to stop gaping and make the skirt panels the same size. 

For some bizarre reason the original pattern has the front skirt and the back skirt pieces at different sizes and then it has you line up the bodice side seam with a notch [or a circle something like that] which means the skirt and bodice side seams don't end up matching. 

Which makes me very very twitchy!!! 


I also extended the ties so that the bow would be much bigger and longer and I lined the bow in the same fabric. The original pattern just has you hem the edges but I much refer the ties lined because it makes for a cleaner finish. 


For the zip I just whacked in a standard one. I didn't even bother with doing a lapped one because I thought it was unlikely that the fabric would play nicely doing a lapped zip.

The only real issue I have with the dress is that the drop shoulder/kimono sleeves kick up a little bit where I hemmed them. Its not enough to stop me wearing it, but I will probably use bias binding next time I make the pattern up in the hopes that it doesn't happen again.


I've not got any pictures of the insides but its not lined, instead the neckline is finished with a facing and some top stitching. The waist seam is finished on the inside with bias binding. it makes it a bit bulky around the zip but its stopping the fraying and making things look a bit tidier. 


All in all I really like the dress. I love that its such a loud print on such a simple dress and that its so easy and comfortable to wear. 

It works especially well with my fleece tights and a big coat! Even in this weather!!!!!!!! Although saying that I am taking full advantage of the fact I've made my own jeans and keeping my legs really really toasty during this cold snap! 

I have some fabric to make another of these and I've promised my mum one as well to wear to Goodwood! 

In other news!!! 

Ummmmm I'm not sure I really have any other news? 

I've been enjoying wearing all the winter hats and scarves I knit last year. 

I was gutted that there wasn't more snow. I really wanted to have a snowball fight with little man! 

I'm hoping to get some more sewing done next week and I've got a pile of things ready to photograph for the blog! 

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxxx


Monday 21 January 2019

The Unicorn Tshirt Dress

Well this is one of those projects that falls halfway between brilliant and hideous!


On the one hand its a dress covered in unicorns and rainbows which makes it pretty bloody awesome. on the other hand the length and colours make me look like an over grown toddler. 

Now I have no issue in dressing like a toddler, I'm a huge fan of pigtails and what I'm wearing now could only really be described as a party dress.....

BUT 

Is this just a bit too much?

The fabric is from the craft cotton company and is one of their lovely jerseys. I can personally vouch for how well they wash , my jersey items take quite a beating in the washer but they always come out looking as good as new.


The pattern is the peak tshirt dress from wendy wards book. However its the longer length [hence making it a dress] and I lowered the neckline slightly. Although apparently not enough because it still looks very high on these pictures.


In fact looking at these pictures I'm wondering if 1] it might be more of a summer dress or 2] that maybe I should just hack it down into a tshirt???

What do you think?


Construction wise I used my over locker for most of it and just used my regular machine for top stitching. Its really quick to put together and is perfect for one of those no thinking required sewing sessions. 

Anyone else have those? Where they NEED to make something but don't actually have the brain power or the energy to do something complicated....... Just me? Okay........


So what do we think? Do I try it for the summer or do I say screw it and cut it down so I can wear it with jeans ????? 

In other news! 

I'm feeling pretty good? 

I finally got back onto my [backup] sewing machine last night and although its not exactly running smoothly its better than nothing. Anyway I made a pretty dress and I'm wearing it today. I'd forgotten how much a new dress can perk up my mood and I'm already planning my next project.

I've added about 2 hexies to my hexy quilt.......Yeah its sort of on the back burner at the minute.

I've started reading the witches by Roald Dahl. Yes I know its a kids book but its such a nice easy read and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy his writing. 

I also had some very good news recently which perked me up a lot. 

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx





Friday 11 January 2019

Hello 2019

So it's been a while huh? What can I say.......
Life guys life!

So here's the deal me and Rikki split up before Xmas for reasons that I'm not going to get into and we'll since then let's just say I've had quite the ride!

I've been dealing with Christmas and New year and scheduling and getting a job!

And in-between that I've not actually be getting a lot of sewing done! What can I say grown up responsibilities must come first! But here's a few things I have made!



I made this festive hat for work , we were asked to wear Christmas jumpers but I didn't have one and didn't have the time to buy or make one so I went with a
hat! It's various medicine boxes wrapped in fabric and tied with bows and then for a bit of crafty punch I also added a ball of wall with knitting needles and a few spools of cotton!


I demoed how to make this Chanel inspired jacket at abkhans and you can still see it on display at their Hanley store! 

Full details of the jacket will be on the blog soon! 

I've been easing myself back into sewing by working on my hexy quilt. I pulled it out and was shocked because it was a lot bigger than I remembered! 

I spent a wonderful Christmas with lil man family and friends all of whom have been absolute rocks over the past few months! 

I'm hoping to be back to proper blogging soon and I have a huge backlog of projects to show you! 

Sewing challenge wise I'm not taking part in make nine this year , I failed miserably last year and it made me realise that I only want to sew that I want to sew!!! So I'm skipping it which might mean you find me making mundane things or stupidly eccentric things!!! 

I hope your all having a wonderful start to 2019 and I'll be back to regular blogging soon!!!! 

Much love 

Frankie 

Xxx