Am I mad?

I joked about it in my last post, but since then I have actually decided to make my own wedding dress...however, even whilst I am typing this I am questioning my sanity! Why is she doing this, oh why? why? I hear you ask...

Well...
a) I don't want a traditional dress, I want a fifies style below knee frock with big underskirts (like the picture above - oh how I would like my waist to look like that!), but in a bright print.  Somehow this feels a bit more achievable than a traditional wedding gown with all the embellishments!
b) I've hopefully found a 1950s specialist designer/dressmaker who is local and has agreed to give me some "in the moment" lessons and guidance
c) Wouldn't it be totally cool to wear a one-off, and say to everyone, "Oh this? I sewed it myself...(!)"

I'm meeting the designer on Thursday, but from our phone call last week she suggested I practice inserting invisible zips.  Not one to need any excuse to sew, I had a go yesterday...following a few You Tube videos I found.

First time round my zip was extremely visible! (forgot to get a picture of the sorry state though). I unpicked it and found some advice online to iron the reverse of the zip to flatten the rolled over teeth, enabling stitching much closer to the zip teeth.

It worked!  Here's a photo to prove it:

And what did I sew the zip to?  Well, a little dress for Felix of course!

(whilst I am pleased with the zip and the applique, I am really not pleased with my other dress-making skills, namely, not thinking to add a facing or a lining, making a right hash of binding the armholes, and the width across the shoulders which makes Felix look like she's wearing an overall - live and learn eh?)

 

So back to THE dress...I am told that half the battle will be finding the perfect fabric.  I am also told that quilting cottons will be too heavy, so I am shocked to find that despite the task being fabric shopping, I am seriously out of my depth!  I would not know a dupion silk if it smacked me in the face!

Therefore, can anyone recommend any good dressmaking fabric shops in London or the South East where the service is friendly, the fabric is excellent quality (I don't mind paying for quality in this instance) and the shop carries a good selection of prints?   We are heading up to London next week, to Libertys and The Cloth House.  But other shop recommendations would be very welcome indeed!

x

Over-committed!

I admit it... I totally over-committed myself this Christmas.  What with a few commissions, plus a whole heap of Christmas gifts I decided I was going to make, I find myself in full on panic mode with a ginormous list of sewing left to do, no Christmas cards sent and no present wrapping done!

And this kind of panic leads to sewing disasters....

but first the good stuff :)

One doorstop completed for a commission due on Christmas Eve.  A remake of the hungry caterpillar to match is on it's way too.

Another commission, two kids book bags (for twin girls) and a large cushion cover.  The cushion was fun because I was handed the old one (on the left) and asked to replace it "in the same colour scheme but a bit more interesting"....I really hope this will fit the bill!

And a large washbag destined as a Christmas pressie for someone who I think doesn't read my blog!

There's more, but I can't show it just yet.

Did I mention a sewing disaster?  Sigh. 
It all started pretty well. The request is for four dining room chair cushions destined for brother number 2 and his girlfriend (also hopefully not blog readers).  I've never made these before so I'm in "make it up as you go along" mode.  I started by purchasing four cheap cushions and unpicking the covers on them (Tip: this worked out at half the price of having foam cut to order!)

Using the old covers as templates, I cut my fabric for the first one, added a zip (ha ha, so easy to type, but not so easy in real life) and stitched the top and bottom together, with piping and cotton tape for the ties.

It's a bit messy at the zip ends, but it's passable.

Encouraged by this, and with the learnings of zip number 1 under my belt, I embark on cover number 2.  It goes like a dream, the zip, the piping, the corners...I even finish the insides with a zigzag stitch.

Number 2 is on the left...can anyone spot why I am officially a Doofus?

Yes, the fabric is upside down. I think I want to cry :(

James says it won't be noticeable when people are sitting on them....had to smile at that...am giving up for this evening and am going blog surfing...goodnight all!

x