Have to go to a family wedding at the end of the month. It’s in the evening but I believe mostly outdoors. So question, is a dress like this appropriate for the occasion?
If I’m wearing heels and other dressed-up stuff?
I happen to be making another Simplicity 2209 and I’m using the fabric I bought in London. Which is not dissimilar…
What do you think? Too casual? I could always make something else but I’ve already started the 2209. I think it’s probably fine but I just need reassurance.
2013 Sewing Plan: Project 4 (project 3 is as-yet unblogged)
Fabric: Floral quilting cotton $5, black cotton sateen $7
Pattern: Simplicity 4070
Year: 2006
Notions: Invisible zip $1, hem tape from stash
Time to complete: About 10 hours? Four of that was hand-sewing hems and stuff.
First worn: For pictures, but I will wear it to an event on Thursday
Wear again? Yes ‘um
Total price: $13-ish
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Sneak peak at our new living room!
Fabric: London print cotton $20 (widely available but purchased at Michael Levine’s in LA), and black cotton sateen from stash
Pattern: Simplicity 2211 (minus collar, placket and sleeve ruffles)
Year: 2012
Notions: black bias tape for the sleeves and hem from stash
Time to complete: Maybe 8 hours of slow-pokery
First worn: To work yesterday
Wear again? For sure!
Total price: $20
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I’m home! And a little jet-lagged. It’s 6am. I should be asleep. ANYWAY! I have things to share!
So after doing a bunch of touristy things – including the Harry Potter Studio Tour (which is the best thing ever!) – I got to go off on my own on Wednesday to do some fabric shopping while Husband did more sightseeing. I went to Goldhawk Rd and Liberty of London (and also the V&A shop in hopes of finding their fabric but alas that did not come to pass.)
On Goldhawk Rd I came away with two fabrics though. Slightly less than 2 meters of the floral (last on the bolt) and 1 meter of what I can only describe as “Hail Britannia” print.
Here’s some close-ups of the prints: floral and Britannia
At the V&A I was hoping they’d have their fabric yardage available. Sadly they did not. But they did have a stash of these beautiful zippers. And while I knew you could get these scissors elsewhere I wanted to get them from the V&A just because.
At Liberty I decided against getting any fabric in the end. It was amazing to get to see it all in person but I knew I could get it slightly cheaper online. I did walk away with the ribbon above (the only print they had on ribbon) and the Great British Sewing Bee Companion Book – also something I could have gotten slightly cheaper online but wanted it from a UK shop as a memento from the trip.
Look! There’s Tilly! It was great to get to see the show “live” on Tuesday. Hopefully I’ll get to see the final two episodes as well.
Fabric: Striped jersey for cardigan, scraps of cotton for applique.
Pattern: Stretch & Sew 300, self drafted the bolt
Year: 1979 and 1973 for the original lightening bolt design.
Notions: Teal grosgrain ribbon for the facings of the cardigan plackets
Time to complete: I’ve completely forgotten. It’s been about a month since I finished these.
First worn: For quick pics after I’d finished them, and then to the exhibition David Bowie Is… at the V&A!
Wear again? Likely.
Total price: I’m calling it free because these were all already in my stash from other projects.
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Today is my 30th birthday! Hurrah! Let the trumpets sound! Also I’m in London!!! For the past year I’ve been gearing myself up for this occasion, so I’m not weirded out, or scared, or any of those things that happen to women in sit-coms. I do feel more adult somehow though. Ready for accomplishing life milestones. I think the home-ownership thing had a bit to do with that as well.
Anyway, I wanted to celebrate the last month of my 20s by doing something special/crazy. It only happens once, after all. I did Sew Weekly last year and that lead me to “30 makes in 30 days before I turned 30″. Well, that was rather ambitious. It turned more into “Special Things”. Some are cooler than others. This was hard, yo! I had a TON of other work to do! We’ve been working on the new house basically non-stop! Anyway, here are 30 special things I made!!
1. Bowie-inspired cardigan (separate post to come) || 2. A list of artists for a future exhibit || 3. Jeni’s Black Coffee Ice Cream || 4. Made my finger bleed and two beige rooms, grey. I can’t really explain it, but I have a massive aversion to beige walls. Grey is my go-to neutral. It goes with everything, and makes every other color pop. It just makes me happy. We’ve since painted three other rooms in our new house. Three more to go! So ready to be done. || 5. Coffee. Well, about 25 cups of coffee over the 30 days of counting “makes”. I grind my own beans and use the pour-over method — for anyone interested in that type of thing.
6. Pillow cover out of a fat quarter in my stash and scraps (might say more later) || 7. A jumble into someone else’s work of art. I’ve curated and installed my fair share of exhibits before, but I’ve never had to re-create someone else’s installation art. It felt pretty darn awesome so I’m counting it! || 8. Seat cushion for my future sewing room! (Also may post more later) || 9. Mini pies for Pi Day! I don’t own a pie pan but I did have these little tort cup things, thus mini pies. || 10. Object labels and thus a “room” into a “gallery.” This is not my first rodeo with label making. One of my superiors tried to help and relieve me of this task by telling me I could outsource them, but I couldn’t let go. Sometimes it’s the only way I feel creative and invested in a project. This time it made me feel like I had completed the entire exhibit from start to finish.
11. New bag for myself for my London trip. (Will say more later) || 12. Irish Soda/Dairy Bread for St. Patrick’s Day || 13. Fleece hat! I thought I lost my favorite hat and I was distraught (and cold) for two days until I found it under the couch. I made this one as a back-up || 14. Pancakes for dinner! || 15. Zipper pouch. I thought I knew what I was doing. I was wrong. It’s wonky inside.
16. Vegetarian Black Bean Espresso Chili. This is my TNT food. I can almost make it from memory. || 17. Bowie-inspired tee-shirt (more to come.) || 18. Polka-dot shift dress (more to come. Too cold to wear for photos) || 19. Teal knit dress (see previous post for more) || 20. Pasta! I make my sauce from scratch because otherwise my Italian relatives will haunt me. Also I drank a glass of wine on a Monday! Oooo adventurous!
21. Striped fabric storage bin – still working on finishing the top edge. Finally used up every scrap of this navy stripe fabric! || 22. Easter Egg garland from paint chips (we have so many nowadays!) || 23. Chai concentrate I doubled the recipe (so yummy!) || 24. Green ribbon belt || 25. Button clutch for the London trip too.
26. Egg sandwiches for Easter || 27. Roasted veggies || 28. Banana bread (using up produce!) || 29. Stanchions (those things that go around art to keep kids out! :D) || 30. One of four little curtains for my future sewing room.
Wow. That’s a lot. It looks like a lot, and it felt like a lot! Having to keep track of it all was probably the toughest bit. So anyway I’m in London for a little while. Sadly, I’ll be missing the meet-up on the 20th, but I do still plan on fabric shopping and watching the Great British Sewing Bee live!!
Fabric: Dark teal medium-weight knit from Haberman’s $18 but used a gift card
Pattern: The bodice of Stretch & Sew 1505, self drafted the waist band and circle skirt
Year: 1979 + my medling
Notions: 2 scraps of bias tape to reinforce the shoulder seems
Time to complete: Probably 6-7 hours or so. Did it start to finish on the same day!
First worn: To work Wednesday
Wear again? Indeed!
Total price: $18 but free because of said gift card!
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