Crop top in Stuart Hillard Kimono Fabric

GUYS!!!! I TOOK BLOG PHOTOS!!! 

Yep today I took a trek to my mums house armed with 13 projects that needed photographing and then I moved her sofa and forced her to take photos of me for an hour and a half. 

And she spent half of the time making me giggle hysterically! 

But onto the make! This is a crop top *well duh Frankie* 

I made it because I only had a teeny piece of  this kimono fabric by Stuart Hillard for the Craft Cotton Company and because I needs a top I could shove on for yoga. 

The print is some adorable flowers and I think combined with the style of the top it all ended up looking a bit 90's which I love. 

My mum spent about five minutes tucking the band of bra under the band of the crop top!

I used the free pattern Noelle from Madalynnes website but made a few changes such as making it a halterneck. Its actually the same pattern that I used for my bikini back in June.  

I did all of the main sewing on my over locker and then just did the top stitching on my regular machine. I pretty much had to drag it through my sewing machine to be honest as it was on the blink so its not the most beautiful top stitching. 

I'm hoping to get both of my machines serviced soon and then they should be back in full working order. At the moment I have one that won't sew and one that won't sew jersey. Realistically I could get my 1950's singer out because shes not scared of anything but I always have a swearing fit when I'm trying to thread it and I'm not sure I need the stress!

Anyway! I love this top! I've worn it loads for mooching about the house and Its sort of become and unofficial bra. You know for the weekends when you want to let the twins hang free but you also don't want to scare the parcel delivery guy.... or the pizza delivery guy! This top gives enough support to be decent without being uncomfortable. 

But in other news!!!! 

- Umm I don't really have much news? I'm enjoying summer and I'm hoping to get some sewing done tomorrow. 

- I'm watching the GBSB and now I want a pair of flares

-  The warmer weather has made me abandon my knitting! 

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx 

Guitar Crop Top

I love a crop top. Mainly because they are so versatile for layering under jumpers and vest tops, but also because of how little fabric they take. 

This fabric was a gift from @quiltygal on instagram. She posted a picture of the fabric and I mentioned how awesome I thought it was and she was kind enough to send it to me. 

It was only a small amount so I thought I might have to be put into a quilting project of some sort. Which I was gutted about, because this fabric needed to be on my body! 

Then I remembered that the Corset top from the 3rd GBSB book takes hardly any fabric. 

I promise the strap isn't sewn in twisted it would just appear that I struggle to dress myself. Originally I wanted the front to lace up with ribbon and eyelets because I thought that would mesh nicely with the guitar theme of the fabric. 

BUT

The eyelet puncher thing I brought from home and bargains for a measly £2 something was absolute and utter rubbish. I mean seriously if your looking for a cheap eyelet tool don't buy that one because you'll only end up binning it in a fit of rage. Instead get a decent one like this one by Prym.

Luckily I'd had the brains to test how to use the bloody thing on a piece of scrap fabric first so I didn't wreck the constructed top. I was pretty gutted though because I had my heart set on a lace up version and now it just closes with standard press studs. 

The fits pretty good but I really ought to tweak the pattern so its a bit longer as it will make it a bit more wearable. Its fully lined with some scrap cotton. I did realise afterwards that If I'd been a bit neater sewing on the press studs then the top would be reversible. 

I didn't try and pattern match because I didn't have enough fabric. Plus matching little tiny guitars is not my jam! Instead I just tried to position the pattern pieces so as many guitars were whole as possible. I think I did an okay job, you can definitely see that its a pattern of guitars at least. 

All in all I really like it. I've been wearing it a lot under some big loose vest tops that I have and it makes sure that the "girls" are covered up quite nicely.

In other news! 

More snow! Yay or well not? I'm actually ready for spring now and I'd like to start wearing my summer dresses please.

Pretty please???

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx

No scrap Left Behind - Velvet Cropped Peak Tshirt by Wendy Ward

One of my New years resolution's for this year was to wear more of the clothes I want to wear. For example crop tops. 

Typically I don;t wear them too much by themselves because I'm worried I look too pasty and untoned [and whilst I do have the time on my hands to get "toned" I'd just rather sit and eat some cake to be honest]

 Anyways I made a crop top! Although if I'd have had enough fabric I probably would have made a longer version. 

This velvet is what was left from my Valentines dress last year. I'd been pondering what do do with it for a while. It wasn't a big enough piece to throw out but it wasn't really good for mush else. 

I originally brought it from abakhan and I think it was £8.40 and I got a wrap dress and this top out of it. 

Then I was given Wendy Wards new book sewing with knitted fabrics by minerva crafts, and I realised I could probably squeeze a Peak Tshirt out of the material I had left. [FYI I highly recommend this book even if you aren't new to sewing knits it has some great information in it and some lovely projects]

This is the cropped length with the short sleeves but there are at least ten variations that you can make! 

The only thing I didn't do was add the neck band. My fabric simply didn't have enough stretch so instead I over locked the edge and turned it over twice and then hemmed it with a zig zag stitch.

Zig Zag is fast becoming my favourite way to hem knits, it seems whenever I get my twin needle out I spend about four hours faffing around with tension and trying to stop the threads snapping.

[I am hardcore breathing in on this photo to the point where I'm surprised I'm not blue in the face!]

The main construction was done on my overlocker so it was a really quick make, In fact I have a few more of these planned but with jazzy sleeves and stuff just to make sure I definitely use up every last piece of stash fabric!

All in all I actually really ended up loving this project which surprised me because I wasn't best keen on my valentines dress! [In fact I've only worn it twice since I made it!]

In other news:

From 4 O'clock to 9.30 we've had no water. Yep a burst pipe left us with one brew in the kettle and half a bottle of juice for lil man. Naturally he tanked that in five minutes from being home from school so a HUGE shout out to our awesome neighbours who gave him a bottle of water because he was thirsty at bedtime and naturally we couldn't leave the house. 

We are so lucky to live next to such awesome people! 

Luckily the water is back on now we just have the fun job of running all the taps so we don't have dirty water and air in the system.

Much Love 

Frankie 

Lace Crop Top

Okay so I think I have a thing for crop tops? Its becoming like an actual thing!!! This one came about because I was going to do fancy dress for my hen party and the theme was going to be 80's but people seemed kinda meh about the idea, and the idea of just me and like two other people turning up in fancy dress filled me with sheer terror!!!! So I cancelled the fancy dress part and just said to dress nice.

Anyway this was based off Madonnas like a virgin outfit, and to say its made from old net curtains and some other scraps of white fabric I think its pretty cute. 

The pattern is from the third GBSB book its the pattern hack from the corset I didn't do a zip from and instead sewed 14 eyes [from hook and eyes] up the front so I could make it corseted. That was completely spur of the moment but ended up being my favourite feature. But it does take quite a bit of "jiggling" to get everything to sit right and to make sure the front isn't ruched p from the ribbon.

The straps are recycled from an old bra and aren't quite long enough so pull it p a bit too much, meaning I have to pull it down. I'm going see how much this annoys me before I unpick them and replace them. The whole thing is lined so It looks super pretty on the inside, I didn't do flat felled seams because flat felled seams with lace seemed like a lot of effort.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with it, I'm really loving crop tops at the moment for layering under tops and wearing with oversized men's shirts!!

Funnily enough I left this on after taking these pictures and a jar of pasta sauce exploded all over me. And I mean all over from my freshly washed hair, to my white lace crop top to my skinny jeans. Could not have been more peeved if I tried! 

I have no idea if the stains going to come out, I have soaked it in vanish but I don't have high hopes!

anyway in other news! I'm getting my hair done today so expect selfies!!!!!!!

and I'm taking part in the #sewphotohop so Ill be doing weekly round ups for those of you who don't have Instagram or don't follow me [although if your not following me WHY NOT!!!! Your missing out on some serious sewing goodness, and also my face!!!] 

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Hawaiian Print Crop Top

If you've all finished laughing from my last post I'd like to give you an excuse for another giggle.

I made a stripper top. But I'll get to that in a minute.

So I eeked this crop top out of the left overs from my tie shoulder Hawaii dress. And its lined using an old pillow slip, because well I'm a classy girl who uses what she has! and the lace is thrifted off the bottom of an old dress? top? something?

The fabric by the way was by the craft cotton company!

Anyway the pattern is from the third great british sewing book, its one of the hacks. But I added a bit to the front so I could have a button band.

Which is why its a stripper top. Because as it turns out my button hole foot does not like sewing through six layers of fabric, so instead I used press studs. Which seamed like a great idea until I realised, as I was removing it by pulling apart the front to a rhythmic "pop, pop, pop" that this is how strippers remove their stage wear. To a rhythmic "pop pop pop" and of course the hoots of drunken men!

So yeah I'm classy and apparently I now have easy access to.....well....... stuff............ 

But yeah stripperness aside the fit is pretty good. Its a bit short for my liking but I'm told that exposing ones tummy [omg can you tell I love with a four year old? Tummy? TUMMY for gods sake!] anyway I hear its the new thing! 

Oh look at me being all fashionable and stuff!!!!! 

No idea why I look so miserable on these pictures? I'm actually very pleased so this face must be related to something else? Maybe I was thinking about the ironing?

Anyway In a slightly new feature I'm going to show you not only what I've made but two ways I've styled it! I know right! Aren't I the best! Which means if you have a burning desire to make a crop top we can dress the same and be twins! 

So look one! this one is actually what I wore a few days ago and now it might be my flying to Vegas outfit, mainly because I can wear this top bra-less and a long haul flight with no underwire seems pretty blissful to be honest.

Blue skinny jeans - mine are Newlook but similar here

white shirt - Pretty sure mine is a george at asda mens one? but similar here

crop top - handmade

This is the slightly more summery look and I'm thinking of packing it for Vegas. Now normally I wouldn't wear shorts this tight and well short on the internet or ya know in the real world, but someone on instagram said my legs looked "amazing" and its given me quite the confidence boost! [I swear I'm basically Heidi Klum now]

Anyway 

Slouch cardigan - Handmade , my own tutorial can be found here! 

Crop top- handmade

shorts - cut off levis! [pretty sure this pair was my sisters and that one summer my mum took all of my sisters jeans and cut the legs off, but I might have just imagined that! Either way these jeans are nearly as old as me!] Similar here

Shoes - Matalan, similar here 

Anyway so yeah I'm loving this as a tourist look, minus the heels! Actually I've seen a pair of red Hawaiian print trainers in the nike shop in free port and I'm pretty tempted, although to be honest I'll probably just pick up some low top converse wannabees from primark!

Let me know what you thought of the style ideas!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx