Making...

I ordered these dress patterns on Wednesday as I had seen them on By Hand London's Facebook page and thought they looked fun! I haven't made any clothes for years and usually make cushions and homey stuff and usually for other people, so I've found that it's becoming less of a hobby and more of a chore. So I thought I'd give garments a go again!

 

I bought them from one of my favourite shops in London, Ray Stitch. It's got loads of great fabrics and you can sit and have tea and cake if you fancy it too! They also do lots of workshops which I would love to go on if I lived in London. Walking round a haberdashery is my idea of bliss... I think I'll go to my local one in Ely tomorrow. It's a lot more old fashioned than Ray Stitch but it has everything you could possibly need!

 

I remember being interested in sewing form an early age... My mum used to make lots of her own clothes and then lots of mine when I came along! I remember a little red coat which she made out of something that she didn't wear any more. I also remember a floppy hat stage and a really garish waistcoat from the nineties (think MC Hammer style...!) The first thing I remember making was a cushion for my Dad, it must have been his birthday or something... I made it from red velvet  and appliqued the word 'Daddy' across the front in satin gold lettering. Cute hey?! The first garment I made was a pair of trousers for a school project. They weren't the most flettering fit but I managed to pass! I also made my prom dress for my final GCSE Textiles piece out of purple two tone silk dupion and a matching irridescent stole... very ealry noughties!

 

More recently my best friend and I have made my bridesmaid skirt for her wedding. The first one we mocked up was a complete disaster as we had read the instructions wrong and not cut enough fabric... but the second one was great! Now we just need to make 6 more... The skirt is called 'Carrie' and it's from Lisa Comfort's book 'Sew Over It'. Here's a pic of our attempt... not bad hey?! (Please excuse the cheesey grin and the fact that I'm standing in the cat bed...)

 

 

We were pretty pleased with the result so hopefully my next garment will be a success too... Fingers crossed!!