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Crafting ideas, DIYs, Featured

Autumn sewing plans

October 22, 2017

The title of this post could alternatively be ‘A Pinterest wishlist’. I’m seriously on that site most days, coveting the many beautiful clothing and crafting ideas. I’ve got plenty of sewing ideas of what to make in the upcoming months. The only problem is whittling them down to what I’m actually going to make and wear.

Here’s a list of things I’m (hopefully) planning to make fairly soon.

Tartan dresses

Autumn sewing plans And She Made

(Image here)

My love for tartan is reignited around mid September and I’m like a woman obsessed with tracking down all that the high street has to offer. I already have a plan to make a tartan smock dress like the Sudley, having seen the best fabric (that I sadly didn’t pick up) at the GBSB Live a few weeks ago. I can imagine quite a few in varying colours!

Autumnal florals

Autumn sewing plans And She Made

(Image here)

Autumn sewing plans And She Made

(Image here)

There’s something special about wearing warming florals in the colder weather. Never one to give up my florals whether or not it’s sunny, I’m planning on a fair few midi skirts in burgundy and navy floral fabric, next to a few dresses of course. I love wearing florals with brogues and thick black tights at this time of year. I’ve already blogged about one here.

Pretty lacy tops

Autumn sewing plans And She Made

(Image here)

I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect lacy top to wear with thicker cord skirts and denim pinafores this coming season but so far, I haven’t found it. The one above is a simple yet stunning wear and I’m thinking of making something similar but still need to hunt down the perfect sewing pattern. Any ideas?

Cute collars

Autumn sewing plans And She Made

(Image here)

I just love the idea of pairing a shirt with a sweet embroidered collar with the thickest of jumpers this autumn. I’ve found a number of tutorials and inspiration online so this is one I’ll probably personalise. Perhaps I’ll even make a Rosa shirt to embroider?

What are your seasonal sewing plans? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

 

DIYs, Dressmaking & sewing, Featured

A handmade Liberty skirt

October 11, 2017
Liberty skirt And She Made

I started this Liberty print skirt ages ago along with a tartan version. I had visions of one midi length pleated skirt and one to-the-knee version, both made from the same tutorial.

I followed Almond Rock’s guide on how to make a pleated skirt but I’m not that great at maths and it came out too large. Both of these skirts therefore ended up on my pile of unfinished things. But then, when I was home last, I decided to salvage this one. I just loved the fabric too much! The quality of the tartan was not that great so I’ve left that one on the sewing pile for now, but I’ve got plans to use it as a jazzy lining for a jacket at some point.

I pulled the waistband in by quite a bit and based the pleats around that. I added four pleats to the front skirt and four to the back. I prefer pleats over gathers in skirts as they’re more flattering, don’t you think?

Liberty skirt And She Made

At first the length was just below my knees but I took off quite a bit of length to make it in a style that best suits me (tried and tested of course) and I’m much happier with it this way than if it were longer.

I bought the fabric on Ebay and it was described as a crepe cotton rather than a tana lawn which gives it more structure but I’d definitely choose a tana lawn over this the next time I make it. There’s just something special about a tana lawn.

Liberty skirt And She Made

The fabric is Liberty’s Tatum, a firm favourite which I’ve featured before here and here (this last one is what I made from the leftover fabric I had from the skirt). I think this fabric is my all-time favourite Liberty fabric but it’s just too hard to decide between them all.

What do you think? Worn with my all-time favourite brogues and a black long-sleeved top this is my current favourite outfit!

Dressmaking & sewing, Featured

Purple power

June 21, 2017
Purple dress NL6866

DSC_0180Anyone who knows me knows of my love for purple. It’s a colour that I’ve always loved, ever since I was a child and when I found this fabric in my stash I knew what I wanted to make with it. it’s basically the brightest purple ever and I love it!

You may remember the fabric from this top which didn’t quite work out (and you’ve also had a more recent sneak peek of this dress here). I bought it a few years ago from eBay. It’s viscose so has a lovely drape to it, which maybe didn’t lend itself well to the Marthe top I made, but definitely works for this beauty.

I used the New Look 6866 pattern (a reproduced pattern from the 90s I believe) to give it the grungey edge I look for in most of my summer dresses these days and it’s been on my to-make list for ages. I literally obsessed over this dress for ages before I made it!

And She Made May sewing plans

One thing I would say for this pattern is it comes up large. I made a small which is meant for a size 8/10 and it was still too big. I’d definitely recommend sizing down with this one, although had I used a sturdier fabric perhaps I wouldn’t have had the same issues? I made view E but the back is V necked, kind of like the front of A and B (minus the bow).

Purple New Look 6866 dress

I’ve made a second version of this now and a modified version, but next up on my list is the midi version. I basically visualised myself wearing this in a teen movie from the 90s – that was the look I was going for. I’d also love to make a version with vintage fabric! Hmm, lots of plans!