First Sewing Project

[pinksalamander]

I posted last week I think asking if anyone had any sewing experience to help me get into sewing...

Anyway, I wanted to start with a dress, but I opted for a free bag pattern I found on BurdaStyle.com, as In clothes I'm going to need lots of adjustments (I'm a different size on bust, waist and hips... hmph). This is the pattern I used:

http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/show/2562

It was pretty easy, although I was a little messy, so I guess I need to improve on that!

And this was the outcome:

http://www.burdastyle.com/creations/show/10019

Overall this bag cost around £10, I has all the material in my Mum's stash in the loft, and I only had to buy thread, popper snaps, and interfacing (which I bought from an expensive department store, so it was more expensive than from the fabric store). I'm really pleased, its got loads of little customisations, like a loop to hang my keys on, and a phone pocket and pen pocket.

I'm now ready to start something new... I bought a gorgeous piece of fabric... its a viscose/polyester mix - basically an imitation wool mix, in purple plaid with white, black and pink. I'm going to be getting this pattern (for the strappy dress) tomorrow....

So whatcha think?

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[LadyBug]

glad the bag went well! good luck with the dress, it looks cute!

 

[pinksalamander]

Went and bought my pattern today

Hoping to start tomorrow or Monday... Monday is Bank Holiday so hopefully my Mum will decide not to go to work and help me (although I have work at 1).

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[LadyBug]

i hope it goes well! be sure and post and let us know how it went monday evening:biggrin2:

 

[BlueGiants]

Wow! Your bag came out very nice. Excellent choice of fabrics and colors. (I love being able to customize what I make. Makes it so special!)

Love the dress pattern. Are you going to make the jumper version or the short sleeve look?

 

[Becca]

Wow thats really nice!!

 

[pinksalamander]

I'm making the jumper but lengthening it to the dress length. I may make the little button up dress at a later date.

Just finished cutting! Although I wish I'd made a toille first.... I just went ahead hacking but I had to adjust the pattern by the odd inch everywhere. I'm a bigger size on waist than bust, and a bigger size than waist on hips.... so hopefully it should be OK! Also made it worse for myself as I chose plaid which has to match up perfectely.

If it goes well I'll post a picture, although not sure if I will be able to get it to work... I'm hoping it fits and I haven't gone too overboard sizing it up! Probably won't get it done tomorrow, as I have to go to work 1-5, and I'm exhausted so thinking of a lie in tomorrow, so won't be able to start before work.

My legs and back ache, I had to cut on the floor, and I lost my Mums dressmaking scissors so had to cut with a fairly small blunt pair.. hmph.

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[BlueGiants]

Don't get overwhelmed with the peoject. Take it step by step. If you did cut it too big, it can always be taken in. But it's tough to add fabric if you cut it too small.

Ugh! I hate it when I can't find my "good" scissors. I won't even start a project if I can't find them. (My girls borrow them all the time!) I know how bad your hand can hurt cutting with dull shears!

Good luck on the jumper! I bet it'll come out great! (What color shirt will you wear under it?)

 

[pinksalamander]

I'm thinking probably a white or black top. The fabric is knit, and its dark purple, with a mainly white check, but also has thin lines of pale pink and a slight background of black. I'll probably wear it with my woolly tights and Ugg boots. Our weather is like autumn here anyway, so I could get away with a scarf too. Plus I just got a new pair of shoes from work that I think will look good with it!

I just can't believe I found such a nice fabric in the remnant bin though! They had a similar fabric in blue which would look good for the more full dress, but there was 2.5 metres of it, way more than needed, and it was pretty pricey.

I've also got a nice bit of purple linen that I'd like to try something with. I found it in my Mum's stash. Might try a smock dress with it. Plus found some red check I'd like to make pajamas out of... so many ideas, so little time!

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[BlueGiants]

pinksalamander wrote:

...so many ideas, so little time!

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

I KNOW the feeling! :foreheadsmack:

 

[LadyBug]

i found a sewing forum! don't you if you're interested or not, but here's the link-http://sewingforum.com/forum/index.php

 

[BlueGiants]

Thanks! I'll look into that later today!(As soon as I get a free moment...)

I'm in the middle of re-making my daughters gown. It had a straight zipper up the back and she wants loops and corset lacing. So I'm ripping out the back of the dress and doing it over. Had a devil of a time finding matching fabric! (And it doesn't exactly match, but it's real, real close.) Purple and lilac satin! UGH!

 

[pinksalamander]

I planned to sew my jumper dress today, but got as far as marking. Then I decided as my Mum went out I'd try my hand at a pajama set out of some old gingham, but in the end started making a shift dress out of this GORGEOUS (must have been very expensive - it feels like a REAL pashmina scarf, in purple) fabric. I got as far as printing the patter, cutting, marking and even pinned the top but not the sides (its literally just 2 pieces, back and front, that go together.)

It is supposed to have casing with elastic on the waist, but thats not very flattering for me, so I'm using extra fabric to make a tie round the waist.

Its also supposed to have bias tape on the seams, but I think that will make it look cheaper (well it is super-basic) so I might buy some nice trim tomorrow to put around the neck, and I cut it larger anyway so I can just hem it and leave it at that.

Will post pictures whenever I finish any of my projects! The purple dress is currently hanging on my dress form in the living room. I'm sure my Mum will have a fright when she comes in!

Fran :hearts :brownbunny