Prima daisy print dress

When I finished this dress I was all like "OMG this is bad"

and then I was like "FRANKIE YOU FOOL YOU'VE WASTED FABRIC!"

and now its like "hmmm maybe its cute?"

And then I realised I'd made a dress for my baby god daughter in the same print and if somebody did a who wore it better she'd definitely win! And then I decided if shes going to upstage me then I'm not sewing for her anymore.

Yeah things went crazy fast!

It all started out with a hankering to try something new, I was going to make a lilou dress out of this cotton daisy print fabric I got from abakhans but then I was just bored withe idea. so I dug through my patterns and found a pattern by prima [which I forgot to photograph before I cut, Woops. But it was from 2014 anyway so Its not like your gonna be able to pick it up.]

The bodice is a simple darted bodice with a scoop neck and cap sleeves, and then the skirt is an a-line. In the image on the pattern the skirt looks bigger so I was a bit gutted when I tried it on and it was less big than I expected.

I shortened the skirt pieces by 3 inches and then had to hack off another 2 when I went to hem it anyway! And I scooped out the back neckline because the idea of having a high neck at the front and back made me feel claustrophobic.

The armholes and neckline is finished with bias binding and I hand hemmed it. The bodice is unlined but I finished all my seams with a second row of stitching and my pinking shears. To be honest I wish I had lined it but that might be a personal preference thing,

I cut out the pattern according to my size but OMG apparently prima patterns just require all of the ease! Its big and that what really got my goat. All i could think was I should have used one of the bodices I spent forever altering instead of rushing in and ending up with something baggy.

That was until I gorged myself on food and was like "oh wait, wheres the uncomfortable I might pop out of my clothes sensation?" I mean this might actually end up as my eating dress. Its kind of nice to be able to reach for more food without worrying I might pop out of my clothes [Prime example being when I wore my african wax print dress to the cinema, the fit is bang on...until you've eaten a tub of popcorn and a bag of smarties as well as guzzling down lovely bloaty coke. Then Its like wearing a straight jacket whilst trying to burp quietly.]

And I feel kind of adorable in it? Like the kind of girl who listens to indie music and has a cat named dog or something super hipster like that. [no word of a lie, I really want to be a hipster but I have no idea whats cool, whats not cool and whats ironically cool. So I'm screwed guess I'll just have to settle for being gawky. Plus I hate cereals and milk and I'm pretty sure eating cereals with milk in a cafe is the most hipster thing you can do]

Its shorter than usual which is a nice change and I think it will work for winter.

So the bad points:

the weird fade line in the fabric which made me want to cry [No idea how it got there, but if its wants to do one that would be awesome]

Its not lined 

I wish the skirt was a fraction fuller

Necklines a bit gapey

good points:

The print is all the 90's goodness rolled into one super cotton bolt!

the length, I'm embracing my legs

Room for a second slice of cake.... nuff said.

Darts hit the right place on the old bosom.

Looks adorable with my granddad cardigans and brogues.

And that's it really, I thought it was a complete flop but its actually not too bad. I think I like it better after seeing it in these pictures,

In other news! 

You may have noticed I been posting less often. I feel like a day on and a day off is a good place for me at the moment. It kind of felt like I was churning posts out just for content and to be honest it was all a bit soul destroying. I want to show you guys awesome stuff I've made that I love, or at least crappy stuff I've made but I can laugh about. Not stupid little projects that I've made for the sake of a post and then chucked in a drawer.

I'm also trying a lot more new techniques now so It is taking me longer to finish things.

I am considering posting throwback links to old blog posts as well. Mainly so I can see how far I've come but also so you guys can see some of the awesome crazy stuff I made when I started this blog! like this!

I think its just about trying to find my groove. 

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Thoughts on Two years of blogging.

I've been blogging for roughly two years now. I'm not sure if I ever thought it would last this long bt it has and I'm feeling pretty darn proud of myself.

This is officially my 437th post which seems a long was from my first ever post.

Ive seen my sewing and knitting skills improve in the last two years and I've noticed a huge boost in my confidence. I no longer avoid difficult techniques in patterns instead I take my time, google it and do the best I can.

I've been lucky enough, to win competitions, review products and write tutorials. In fact If you'd have said to me in the beginning I'd have my own tutorial section on my blog I'd have told you to shut up.

My little blog has come a long way since I first set it up. Originally It was just going to be a platform to help me sell things in my etsy shop, and at craft fairs. Until I realised I didn't like selling stuff. I liked making things, and if I was going to sell something, I wanted it to be a custom order I could have fun with, not something I had to churn of 30 of. I like writing, I like writing about sewing and knitting, giving my opinions and sharing my inspiration!

Now this blog is my personal sewing diary. I like to imagine that when I'm 90, old and frail, with arthritis from knitting and terrible eyesight from unpicking seams I can sit and re-read this and remember everything I once did.

This blog gave me my own space when I was a new mum who felt like her identity was melting away, It gave me a creative outlet and introduced me to some of the nicest people I've ever known.

I sincerely hope that the future is just as bright as the past if not brighter! And if you've been reading, thank you. It really means a lot that you've sat an enjoyed my ramblings.

Much Love

Frankie

xxx