Cami Top from a Pillow Case

Sometimes the sewing works and sometimes it doesn't. Yes this is a nice enough cami top but for some bizarre reason it turned out HUGE! compared to the other times I've used this pattern.

The pattern is the cami top from the 3rd GBSB book, but without the ruffle because well putting a ruffle on my boobs would just be overkill.  

Its the back that seams big? maybe I should put a little box pleat in or something? In this picture I have the back of my bra pulled right the way down so you don't see it. So maybe that means the strapos are whats too long? [do you like my tan lines? I took these pictures the day after I got sunburnt which was ages ago! safe to say I'm now back to my milky white colouring]

That said if I don't alter it I'm sure I'll still use it for layering under tops and if all else fails I'll just wear it to bed.

Construction wise it took no time at all to cut out or sew. It was however sat on my chair for about a week after cut out waiting to be sewn because new shiny projects kept distracting me! 

The fabric is an old pillowcase and came from my Aunty Shelia and Uncle Gordon's house. There was only one otherwise I might have tried to make a little pj set. I love the delicate flowers and the lightweight fabric. I'm gonna guess that its vintage? 

It looks 100% better tucked in!

Their wasn't quite enough fabric to cut the facings as well so they have been done from a plain white fabric. 

All in all its a really nice make and its always nice to make some more practical items that will get lots of wear. Especially when the weather turns colder and I'm looking for an extra layer to keep me toasty. The only issue is its a little bit on the sheer side so I have to be careful how I wear it.

In other news, 

The summer holidays are going okay I'm not ready to kill lil man just yet......

We are still playing lots of games and trying to get outside whenever the weather lets us. We have high hopes for a big bike ride but I'm not sure how realistic that is!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Aztec and Black Long Sleeve Top - Operation Stay Toasty

 Project lets try not to freeze my backside off on the school run is going quite well, Im not in possession on three long sleeve tops, 2 handmade and 1 rtw. The school run is still as cold and this morning I had the added bonus of rain! But one of the Grandad's was nice enough to drive me home so I didn't get completely soaked!

Anyway onto this top! I used the same threadcount cardigan as last time and just cut the front and back on the fold. I used an old aztec print dress and the skirt part of an old dress for the top so its recycled! The only issue I had was I didn't have quite enough fabric for the full length of the body. And keeping it as a crop top would have defeated the point of operation stay toasty! So I added the bottom of the dress on the make it a bit longer.

The fits pretty similar but there is some bunching around the seam where I had to add the extension. I do kind of like the look of the black and the print colour blocking that's happening.

It was a pretty simple sew, It took about an hour to cut it out and sew it up on the overlocker. I just overlocked all the edges again to make it a super speedy make.

In other news, I am super super tired, which I'm blaming on the stupid weather. Its making lil man grumpy as well, yesterday he whinged the whole way home because he was cold :(

I've been getting lots of sewing done and I think I've finally restored the balance between cleaning and sewing after or honeymoon and wedding!

And I've had a couple of very good post days!

Frankie

xxx

Fully Recycled Maxi Dress.

I'll start off by saying this dress is completely recycled. The denim for the bustier came from a pair of Rikkis old jeans, the main skirt material came from an old maxi dress, the d rings came from an old handbag and the rest of the skirt panels are from various tops that I don't wear any more.  

I split the main maxi dress material into four and added godets made from the tops, this means the skirt is really swishy! I also added a solid band to the bottom of the skirt (off cut from another dress) to tie the whole skirt together.

Pattern wise, i used the corset top pattern from the gbsb book fashion with fabric, however this time it came out really big on me so I might have to retrace a smaller size in the pattern. really I should have completely taken it in but I couldn't be bothered so I just added a halter neck via some d rings. At least this way i have growing room should I choose to grow. 

There's no pictures of the back sorry, I forgot to change into a strapless bra and all you can see from the back is my bright pink bra straps. Not attractive!. 

The skirts semi sheer and I've not lined it, so I'm just wearing it with one of my many slips! {honestly slips are the most useful thing ever! I've got a white skirt one a black skirt one, a purple long skirt one {used here} and a black full slip, next on my wish list is a nude one!}

Can you tell I love the skirt? All in all I'm feeling pretty meh about it as a whole but I do love the swishy skirt, even if you can't really see it on the pictures.

I didn't really bother hemming the skirt, I just used the overcast foot and a overcast stitch. I was going to do a small hem but it drags on the floor [as all maxi dresses should] and I hated the idea of a hem I worked hard on getting all frayed and stuff!

I got photo bombed as I took these! Apparently it was his turn!

He even started turning like I do!

So all in all I'm not calling it a success because I don't LOVE it . And I'm reaching the point where I want to LOVE everything in my wardrobe. That said I can see me wearing it n the summer and if I go on holiday, on the beach sans slip {but with bikini bottoms obvs!}

And just for kicks here's a throwback of me wearing the original dress to an 18th birthday party many moons ago.

Look how short my hair was!

Look how socially awkward I look, trying to join in whilst simultaneously wanting to go home and have a brew.

There's not really much I can say other than that! I had a terrible time, I didn't know anyone and the only reason I stayed is because my mother said she wouldn't pick me up and I didn't want to ruin my new heels. 

 Yeah I don't do well in social situations!

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx 

Margot pyjamas

Today I finally finished my margot pyjamas from The tilly and the buttons book love that first stitch. I thought after making my other pyjamas from no pattern that this would be the easiest task in the entire world. however I realised something, I do not do well with rules or with steps or with being told what to do. When I made my pyjamas I had the freedom to experiment and Do what I wanted but for this I told myself I was going to use the pattern and do it properly and I think that's where my problem started. 

 The whole cutting out process went really really well although you can't really tell if this parts gone badly until you start sewing. stitching up the inside and outside legs I had no problems, I had a few problems with the crotch but that's mainly because it I inherited my mothers bottom. 

I did however have a problem when I started to make the channel for the drawstring to go through, for some reason when I folded my channel over it bobbled and didn't look right. I ended with pleats all over the place so after un picking it and lobbing off about 2 cm it finally folded over without looking like a complete mess! 

I had no problems with making the actual drawstring or with hemming the bottoms of the pyjamas. 

 

I won't show you a picture of me in them purely because I do not look like Tilly in hers who looks like this! 

Now the idea of using this book was to make one piece according to the original instructions and pattern and one variation of each pattern however seen as these didn't turn out, quite as nicely as I wanted them to, I think I'm going to make another version of the original pattern and then possibly do an altered version! 

I wasn't going to but then I realised that all my pyjama bottoms are starting to get a bit tatty so I might as well make myself some nice new pairs without spending any money! 

HURRAY for handmade! 

Much love 

Frankie

Xxx