Sequined RP Laura dress

 

I have to be honest when I saw the line drawings for the Laura dress I was unimpressed. I thought it was not worth the fabric or effort to make this. There was no challenge, it being such a simple design. Then I saw it on people and it was a lovely simple and very wearable summer dress. I did not need another summer dress this year though because I had already made several by the time the Laura came out. 

Onwards a few months and its Christmas. Yes we cannot go out really but its still party season and when else do I get to wear sequins?

 I really want to finally get round to using this fabric. It comes out of my stash every year but I never find what to make. My initial reaction to needing a pattern was to go to Burda. I am very lucky in owning Burdas right back to 1968 and I have a good selection through to the present. I reckon about 200 copies. So you can imagine I have lots of different choices of patterns. But the problem is I really want to use something thats a simple design with no darts. Burda are generally either sack dresses or very constructed. That makes working with sequins, especially the old fashioned chain mail type, very difficult.

This fabric was an Ebay bargain around 5 years ago. I got 7m for £2.50 and I even picked up from the seller so never paid any delivery charges. Its proper old fashioned mesh backed fabric with real metal sequins. In fact I suspect I now need a new pair of cutting out sissors because this is hard to cut.

Then I remembered the Laura and I have  a credit still to spend with Rebecca Page patterns so I buy the pattern. Thats was about a week before Christmas. I printed the pattern last weekend. But I was tired after work every day this week and that was as far as I got.

Roll forward a few days and I have my fabric ready and sorted from my stash and its December 23rd. After work I put the pattern together. I cut my fabric.

I made a slight mistake and cut with the nap going sideways not down or up. I was in a  mad hurry to make this due to lack of time and I cannot sew at all over Christmas. My sewing table is the dining table so from Christmas Eve lunchtime there was no sewing allowed or even possible in my home and so it will stay for around a week.

 

Late 23rd and I am sewing this up. I lined with a rather horrible shade of coral scuba that is another Ebay bargain ( 99p for 6m) has also been hanging around for years and has made a few prototypes/ muslins but I don't like this colour at all so its fair game for this and happens to be easy to find because I sorted the sequins from the stash but never though till I was cutting about the lining and by then its pretty late already. I really cannot handle sorting through my stash looking for a possible lining fabric. So coral cheap scuba it is. It will also make the dress warmer for this time of year.

I am wearing it right now its its nice and warm despite the short sleeved design.

I start sewing and the instructions are as good and easy to follow as usual - I do like this about RP patterns. They instructions are usualy really good and I have started to use them for other patterns ( eg Burda) when the design is similar. 

 Unfortunately thought the Laura is not originaly lined so I need to work this bit out for myself. You sew the back vent first then the rest. I think thats probably the key - starting with the vent. I did the sequins as the pattern directions using my normal sewing machine. I considered pockets and even cut them out but it was by then really late and I have to work Christmas Eve so I need to get this done now. I cannot think properly due to tiredness by now let alone work out pockets and linings. I use the overlocker for my scuba lining but I did not do the back vent yet on the lining. I left it open.

 Put both bits together and sew the scuba to the sequins at the back vent. Then how to do the rest? 

I am not good at linings. Start sewing it all together flip it and Oh dear but my sequins are on the inside facing the lining. I have done the burrito method before but cannot remember. I do not have time to watch Youtube and work out how. I am tired and need to stop but if I do there is going to be no dress to wear this Christmas. Well I have lots so there will be something I can wear but not this one.

I unpick my neck and sleeves hems. I put it all together again and decide to just sew to the dress and tuck it all in together because you cannot see the stitching anyway.

 

 I use the stretch neck facing from the pattern but add to the inside and sew it down because I do not want it seen on the outside. It would ruin the look.

Finally the hem which I flipped over twice on top of the scuba layer to make everything neat - making this a bit shorter than I think probably it should be. Though I am taller than the person the RP patterns are based on. I usually add a couple of inches to a patterna dn forgot. The hip shaping is slightly high I think but still its a lovely comfortable unresticting dress.

And so here is my lovely lined sequined Laura dress.

I love the "tails" at the back. I will be making a few more of these come next summer.

I probably should have lengthened though. I usually do lengthen RP patterns but I do not mind this short and its really good. It will work very well with leggings too. I am so happy despite the sequin directions error. I actually can see me wearing this lots too not just for Christmas. I have a thing about grey marl - like sweatshirting - mixed with sequins and trainers. This will work well with a tshirt under it so that will be  a great look for January and I think surprisingly warm as well due to the scuba layer.

Happy Christmas!

Bracken

Short sporty sequin sided skirt

Its New Years Eve and I decided to make a short sportswear type of pull on elastic waist skirt. I used the same fabric as my trousers and added some sequin trim down the side seams as I did with them.

Unlike the trousers I made from this fabric, the skirt did not need this to hide the imperfections of my pattern matching because this worked much better. I just fancied having sequins down the sides.

And of course this means I am now back to sewing again. I can't say everything is perfect or easy to do yet but I am certainly on the mend. I suspect half the trouble is in fact due to not having been sewing for nearly 3 months, meaning I am well out of practice.

I shall put the practice part right over the next few weeks!

I was inspired by these skirts from H&M:



I really like the college look but I do not want to buy anything that I can easily make and get something unique rather than run-of-the-mill RTW. Especially when it takes such a small amount of fabric!

So I set about finding some kind of fabric from my stash that I might like to wear as one of these types of skirt. Now my hip is done I want to be me again. No more hiding behind old lady clothes with skirts down my calves.

I can walk!

 I always, all my adult life, like either very, very long skirts or very, very short skirts. I reckon at 55 I will not wear quite so short as I used to but I can still do this sort of short so thats what I am aiming for.

By the way, how do you like my new blue dip dyed hair?

To be honest its an accident. I used dye remover to get rid of the rest of my pink and purple colour for an interview and it left me with blue ends. No idea if I got the job yet😊


Back to this skirt: I have quite a bit of scuba fabric in my stash and never found a use till the other month, when  made my flares - with the OTT sequin trim that is.  I made them before my op. Now I am managing to sew at last so I am thinking why not also a short skirt?

This time I actually managed to almost pattern match too so just added the side stripes for the hell of it if I am honest. And why not. I buy all these trims when I see them but never seem to use them. Well now its time to make the best of life, the most of life, and live what is left to me properly.


And it seems at the moment that include sequins!

To hell with what others think. Its my life and if I want to wear sequins then thats how its going to be. So this skirt has happened and I reckon summer or winter this is going to be a nice little skirt with a bike jacket or a denim jacket. And importantly its meant to be an every day ( not obviously work day) skirt rather than a party skirt.


And also at time of writing its now New Year's Eve and of course this adds a little bit of glitter and sparkle for the party season so very apt for now clothing. I do expect to still wear this skirt come the warmer weather though. I think this will transition nicely. Theres not too much sparkle - if its possible to have too much😊

This is also an enjoyable venture into copying RTW clothing and I have a new skirt from the same pattern as my fluorescent green summer skirt:
https://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2019/09/my-first-attempt-at-v-neck-t-shirt.html

Except this one is about 4 inches shorter than the green skirt which I need to chop before I wear it again I think. Just look at the wavy hem as well! I actually wore that.

This is certainly more me!

And no wavy hem tho' thats partly down to fabric choice I think.

The red top is a sportwear pattern and made here: https://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2018/10/view-b-mccalls-m7261-sportswear-pattern.html

Thats a very successful make because I wear it loads. I really should make a few more of these.

I reckon now I am back sewing I should make a camo version of this as well. 

I love the camo version on the H&M site and have some camo fabric left over from my dress and track pants but had no more time today to get that one sorted.

So, as well as getting back into sewing, I am now starting my New Year's resolution list for my next years sewing.

I am not sure if I managed to make all of 2019's intended makes. I will have to have a look back once 2020 is upon us and see what I did or did not achieve.

Also, what else do I need to put on the 2020 to-make's list?

I am sure I can think of several items straight away having been sitting unable to sew and just dreaming for the last loads-of-weeks. I will post the list once I know what is on it, as much for me to keep track of, and look back at, as for the world to read.

Happy New Year to you all........

Bracken

Sequin trimmed flares from Mood Sewciety Jamesia pattern

I had my operation at last and I am definitely getting better. I will not be allowed to sew (with sewing machine) for at least another 4 weeks, but I made these just before the op and never had time to take photos of them. I am feeling pretty good today hence can stand for long enough to get them photographed. And I can only get better..........

These are a free pattern from Mood's Sewciety patterns. This is the Jamesia pattern. I have fancied making this since it was released.

Mood Jamesia FREE pattern

Unfortunately my bad posing on crutches does not show the flared-ness of these very well at all.

 

Please just take my word for it these are flares and very good flares as well. I will get some much better photos of these as soon as I can stand and walk - and pose- properly.

I used a scuba knit and I omitted the zip and darts. My reasoning here is without these the Jamesia is a very 90s pattern for a pull on pant in a stretch knit. I still treasure a couple of pairs of flares from the mid 90s that are very similar to these though possibly they are tighter on the thighs. Its an easy adjustment to make on future pairs though to take in the thighs. I added 1 inch wide elastic round the waist. Sorry not to know the cm of the elastic but its sold as 1 inch wide even though I am based in the UK where its usually metric. I expect it equates to 2.5cm wide.

I added the sequins in my efforts to cover up the mis-matched pattern at the sides and its does a pretty good job I think. At the same time lots of RTW clothing is currently " glam- glitz sportswear" so this sort of fits with that category. When I decided to add the sequins - they are stretch sequins and the black velvet stripe is a stretch elastic ribbon which I expect is meant for bra/ bustier straps - I thought I would possibly wear these at Christmas because of the OTT glitziness. Even for me its a bit much but actually as lounge/ PJ type house pants for my recovery I think I am going to like them lots. They are brightening up my world which currently contains no sewing.😞

I did not do a very good job at pattern matching unfortunately. I was very P***ed off with this at first but I suspect its realy not very easy, even if you are good at pattern matching ( I am not!), as it goes due to the curved seams and very large print.

I have more of this scuba knit though, so I may make some leggings because its a lovely though large print and very warm fabric. If there were no side seams - as in leggings - then it would mean it would be less obvious a mis-match. You would only see it on the inside leg seams. Of course the back and front seams ( CF and CB) would need matching but I did not do too bad  a job matching them - at least the front matches anyway 😀. They are not perfect but I am not unhappy with them.

Tucking in my top also does not help the look but really I am unable to adjust once standing at the moment so this is the best I can give you. The reasoning was; you can see my waist better with tucked in top. Also the top is not the best colour to coordiate with these trousers. I am reliant on my partner for my clothing choices at the moment, since I am unable to bend over 90 degrees and cannot get into my wardrobe easily, and we do not necessarily agree colour-wise on what goes with what, but being stuck at home it does not really matter what I wear - except of course when I decide I am well enough to get some photos taken.

Never mind. If you want to read about this top which is a favourite for winter and a very easy make its here: https://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2018/03/two-tops-and-my-latest-stash-builing.html. 

Again I need some more photos of these trousers I think, at a later date.

I suppose now I am "temporarily disabled" I should take the time to plan what to make from the numerous magazines I own. I know other people who sew have done this when they have a hip replacement. Its a good idea and will help focus the frustration I am already feeling. I am only 1/3of the way through the minimum recovery period right now as well.

My intention, once I am better, is to actually make one item from every sewing mag. This then justifies the room they take up to store and my owning them at all. I have no idea how many mags I own, but easily over 60. I have complete years for 3 years of Burda alone so 36 mags, and then all sorts of odd ones bought from Ebay going right back to the 80s. Thats more than a years worth of posts if I manage one item a week. I seriously have collected loads of Burda, Patrones, New Mode and others which I cannot remember and currently I am unable to get to.  My partner can help with that though and bring me a few at a time. I even own a couple of Turkish magazines. Hopefully I can work out how to make what is in them.

I intend to write down in a notebook exactly what I intend to make and what fabric will work with it. I also am unable to access the fabric stash right now but I pretty much know what I own so thats probably going to work most of the time. Of course, I will not be able to actually measure my fabric bits, but I should get it right most times I reckon as to what can be made from what. And, I am planning a fourth The Vampires Wife inspired dress for my Christmas party dress. More on that later. Anyway back to these trousers...............


 


I seem to have lost a bit of weight since I made these - hospital food? but I do not think that matters. Being a bit loose is better right now because I have yet to have my stitches out. I expect I will put the weight back on anyway.

These are certainly not my best modelling attempts. Its hard on crutches to actually pose and I do not think these photos show my lovely trousers very well, but at least it keeps my in touch with you, my readers, and with my sewing. The slippers are stopping you seeing the flares. The trousers are accurately shaped just like the Jamesia pattern on Mood's website. Its my modelling not showing it well.

Mood have several versions or Reduxes of these trousers in loads of sizes so well worth a look at their patterns - all of which are free and so far everything I have made works and fits with zero adjustment. I actually feel as confident of Mood at the moment as I do of making Burda so thats saying quite a lot about these patterns.

And I have to be honest it has really cheered me up to be able to blog again even if I cannot sew. I usually make far more than I actually post about, so maybe its time to try and catch up and show you other items I have made. There's probably quite a lot I can wear even though on crutches because generally I prefer comfortable, sport type of clothing to fitted clothing anyway. It works better in my life so should work OK for my convalescence as well.

These trousers have a quite definite flare - very fashionable in fact though not yet many seen on UK streets. At least in the Midlands. There is the odd person seen in flares but people do not like to be trend setters though do they?

Hence there are not many flares as yet.

There will be. I can seriously recommend this pattern if you wanted to make some flares for the coming seasons. And you cannot fault a free pattern though in all honesty I would happily pay for the Jamesia. And I do not say that very often!

Wishing you well and see you next week

Bracken

76: sequin trimmed T-shirt top

I quite fancied making the sequin front sweatshirt in the Burda 01/2017 but I have yet to buy it and really I own a similar pattern already. I used this pattern for this top:

 

Unlike the new Burda mag this has inset sleeves. The Burda version has raglan sleeves.

Unfortunately you can see the top I wore underneath this which had a chiffon frill round the neck and makes the neckline look like there is an extra bit sticking up!

The front is black sequin fabric on a mesh and is very drapey. Bought at a bargain price off ebay over a year ago for about £3 for 5.3m. The back and sleeves are black cotton T-shirt jersey and the neckband and bottom band is some stretch ribbing of unknown fibre. I made the bottom band longer to wear with leggings. The back piece is also the side panel so there are only 3 pattern pieces plus the neck edges and bands. I also decided to add sleeve wrist bands which the pattern does not include. 

 My front is lined with the same lining I seem to be using for everything right now. Still its pretty.
Though only I will ever see it.

I stitched the lining down inside so to make the sequins nicer against my skin. It works really well. It also gives a nice inside to my top.

Unfortunately, because of my near miss a year ago when attempting to overlock sequins where I nearly took out my eyes I decided to sew all this top with my normal sewing machine. Everything is  twin needle stitched or single needle stitched ( my lining) because it is stretchy but less likely to cause eye damage due to flying parts like broken needles. Means my finished top does not have nicely finished off overlocked edges which is a shame but it was much safer to make this way. I also wore safety glasses when I made this. Well I do not care how silly this sounds. After having had  one near miss there is no way I am losing an eye for a top.

 

As it turns out the inside is not too bad really due to the fabric does not fray.

I made the tartan leggings ages ago here http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/10-tartan-leggings.html if you want to know more about them.

Thanks for reading

Bracken