Mission complete...I made a dress!

I did it! I made a dress..... I was wearing polka dots for the first -day- back- to -school -after- hols drop off ! (as I vowed )  And yes! you would be right in observing I am still smiling!

As I pinned and stitched, I began to entertain the notion that this may just be my newest love.....and I dreamt of all the clothes I could make. The possibilites...the fabrics ooooh.

8 hours later lets just say the lure of dressmaking had lost its shine....and the endurance test began. I would not be broken by the Megan dress! (and more specifically the sleeves!)

We are now firm friends, the Megan dress and I.... you can't go through trials and tribulations like that and not come out firm friends! 

So what did I learn.....

1) I want to jump right into a project and skip past ALL the prep work....which does NOT work for dressmaking...no siree.

2) Instructions as there to help even if I think I know better. (I DON'T)

3) There is a maximum limit as to how much a sleeve should be pouffed...who knew? 

4) People that make clothes and design patterns should be saluted. What skills and genius they possess.(bordering on superpowers I reckon)

5) Dressmaking is uncannily like labour... the hours of  toil  and discomfort are very quickly forgotten once the Megan Dress is in your hands. 

I have already plans for number 2! Though I might add will in NO way involve pouffy sleeves. 

6) Taking photos of the finished article ...... endurance test Mark II.

x

Tilly and the Buttons to the rescue!

Its now nearly 3 years ago (wow!) that I left my post as a midwife and became a self employed artist. Which means it's also nearly 3 years that I've been promising to make some clothes for myself.  I would like to say that the colourful collection of fabrics I have gathered (below) have only been sitting around gathering dust for the same length of time...but truth is it's been waaay longer than that!

I have been the BIGGEST procrastinator when it comes to making my own clothes....... Ok. ok. I take back the procrastinator bit.....I've been the BIGGEST scaredy cat!

Yes I'm more than at home with a sewing machine...... but deciphering patterns and sewing with precision (it is helpful that arm holes actually match with the sleeves) gulp! Add this to a very poor history of following patterns (did I ever show you the knitting pattern I tried?...supposed owl mitten turned into wierd mini blanket..aherm)

So I have decided to "take down" (insert fist pump) the scaredy cat, and tackle the fear of sewing my own clothes which has now grown horns and an extra head. To do this I have armed myself with a worthy ally.....the book "Love at first stitch" by the very adorable Tilly Walnes (of Tilly and the Buttons fame).

Photo Credit: Tilly Walnes

Tilly started a blog several years ago as she voyaged into making her own clothes and shared the adventure, along with tutorials to help demystify dressmaking jargon (Hello! this is EXACTLY what I need!) She was also a contestant in The Great Sewing Bee (which I never saw myself but have been told was highly addictive to watch!) She now runs a blossoming business selling her own patterns, holding workshops, and of course publishing a book. If you go check out her blog you will be instantly pulled into the lovely world of Tilly and want to stay around to see what she is creating whether you dressmake or not!

And just like her blog, the book is full of the same bold and beautiful visuals (which definitely helps a reluctant seamstress like me)

Photo credit: Tilly Walnes

Photo credits: Tilly Walnes

Photo credit: Tilly Walnes


(c) Tilly Walnes 2014

See what I mean!

The projects in the book walk you through projects and techniques working from the simple to more complicated...... I'm jumping right in (so may end in disaster) and making the Megan dress! 

I've got some sweet navy polka dot cotton for the job......

The girls are now off school for their 2 week October holidays.. it is my mission to send the girls back to school wearing a polka dot dress.... 

:)

wish me luck! xx