Dressing up a birthday present

 THE DRESS I made over for my niece was only the beginning, after making the retro looking dress to wear to my cousins wedding I decided to make the same pattern up for my niece for her birthday.  I found this lovely fabric in our local haberdashery shop (this shop is in two parts - one for fabric and one for everything else) http://www.the-haberdashery-shop.co.uk/

 

I brought three metre of this pretty Rose and Hubble fabric and cut it carefully (this time very close to the pattern, I did change the sleeves slightly) and there should be enough fabric left to make a fitted summer top or sleeveless blouse. 

I often line the bodices of dresses, partly because if the skirt is very full this gives the garment more strength, partly because it is easier than sewing the recommended facings and partly to just make the overall finish neater,  This cotton is very lightweight so lining it was a must.   I decided to finish the neckline and the elbow sleeves with shell edging.  It has been years since I last did this.  A catch stitch every four stitches gives a lovely decorative edge - just like a line of shells in a seaside garden.

The dress was finished in time for my nieces planned birthday holiday in Rome.  I also want to make her a froufrou petticoat to wear with this dress when she comes home to finish its retro look.

Sewing club inspiration

The sewing club that we started a few months ago is going really well, even though we haven't met as a group during most of August, we have all carried on sewing.

 My sister and I had to get ourselves outfits made for our cousins wedding.  
I went for a fifties/sixties inspired dress complete with froufrou petticoat and my sister made a stunning two piece from some teal brocade.  While we were doing this my niece has been making pyjama bottoms and a retro look swim suit.  My niece's friend decided to design and them make a fitted top, it may need a little work when we all meet up again.  I am so proud of them - they are really getting the dressmaking bug.  Soon nothing will hold them back.

I had to alter the pattern to make it the right size (not as thin as I used to be)  and because I didn't have enough my chosen fabric to make it as the pattern sleeve stated, I also changed the sleeves slightly.  

All cut out and ready to go.

 

 French seams for the skirt and sleeves and a lined bodice

Flowers made from the dress fabric to coordinate my plain straw hat. 

Vintage blue crochet gloves complete the look.

A good look in the cold light of day

Saturday was the first day of military odyssey for this year.  I really like this show because as it covers a large period of history it meant that there was (as always) a nice variety of items on sale.
http://www.military-odyssey.com/index.php?ix=1&iw=251&iz=0

The first thing a saw as we arrived was a beautiful old parasol, been a bit taken with parasols for a while and this one brings my total up to three.  

I got a Christmas present for my niece, a brooch for myself and then it was time to buy fabric ....... lots of fabric. 

Looking at the pile in the cold light of day this morning part of me felt I had got carried away - OVER FORTY METRES OF FABRIC!!!  Not all of it was for me so another part wished I had brought more.  I had sent some pictures to my sister for her to make decisions on and some I just brought to see if she would like it.

 Here is the thing, this show at Detling is once a year, the fabric I got was only £2.00 a metre.  We have a very good fabric shop in Ramsgate and the prices there are good - but not £2.00 a metre good.

This I got to see if my sister would like it to go with her 10 metres of  embroidered cotton and 5 metres of natural lightweight linen.

Left to right :- 7 metres of a heavy brushed cotton type fabric (I was thinking of sharing this); 2.5 metres of white spots which will become a skirt; 5 metres of green & 5 metres of lightweight floral to make fifties style full skirted dresses; 2 metres white cotton for a blouse and finally 3 metres of stripe for hippy trousers and maybe a skirt.

£35.00 for five items of clothing decided on plus the decision needed for the blue.

These three remnant pieces I got with my sister in mind for £1.00.  If she decides not to have them I am sure I can find a use for them.

So lots of sewing to keep me going, especially if saturdays haul is added to the fabric I already have.