Fabulous Fabric: Party dresses

It all started with vintage shoes my mum was about to sell. She had bought them in the early 60's but had hardly worn them. The moment I saw them I fell in love, bought them and a new creative project was born as I didn't have anything suitable to wear with them.

I decided to make an evening dress and initially chose a McCall's pattern. After 6 trials in old curtain fabric I realised I wouldn't feel comfortable in it so I chose a different design and went for the pattern from Butterick 3080. Aberdeen unfortunately doesn't have a wide range of shops that supply dressmaking fabrics and after a bit of research online I found
The Dress Fabric Company based in Edinburgh. The owner was able to advise and source a wonderful drapey fabric (100 % polyester) that would perfectly suit the colours of my new shoes, all by email and phone!

As there was no gala ball to go to (we decided to pass on the one organised by Jaap's employer) I had plenty of time to finish it...and this is the result:

Front view wrap evening dress ©Fenfolio2015

Back view wrap evening dress ©Fenfolio2015

Close-up front view wrap evening dress ©Fenfolio2015

Close-up side view wrap evening dress ©Fenfolio2015

Close-up back view wrap evening dress ©Fenfolio2015

To make it really stand out of the crowd I made a clutch from the dress frabric I had leftover. I bought the PDF pattern online via Etsy.

I used the same buttons as the ones on my dress, only one size larger, supplied by my
local craft shop. It was quite tricky to get the pintucks perfect, even after pressing, as it's 100 % polyester. I used a tricot stitch as this fabric tend to pucker easily.

Front side evening clutch ©Fenfolio2015

Back side evening clutch ©Fenfolio2015

Close-up wristlet evening clutch ©Fenfolio2015

Close-up evening clutch ©Fenfolio2015

I applied two magnetic closures for the flap. For the interior of the clutch lining fabric
(100 % viscose) was used which I had bought for the dress based on the McCall's pattern.

Magnetic closure flap evening clutch ©Fenfolio2015

Interior evening clutch with pocket ©Fenfolio2015

Evening dress with clutch ©Fenfolio2015

After I completed my gala outfit I realised there wouldn't be many opportunities to wear it. I  was also left with a lot of lining fabric which I didn't want to go to waste so I decided to sew a cocktail dress with a lace overlay. I used the pattern from New Look 6261. It was hard to find the right scalloped lace fabric in the UK so I bought it from a supplier in the USA via Etsy.

To check whether the measurements were correct I quickly made the dress in old curtain fabric (looks like satin). After I made some adjustments onto the pattern pieces I started the project. Well, little did I know how difficult it is to sew lining and lace fabric! The mesh of the lace fabric was very stretchy so even cutting out the pattern pieces was really tricky. Also pressing with a low heat iron seemed to stretch it so I had to be very careful.

The pattern allowed for quite a bit of ease but I like it more tailored so during this project I had to make a few adjustments, meaning cautiously ripping my seams. Luckily I was sensible to baste everything first so it was easier to make changes if it wasn't right.

In the end, by being patient I was able to create a wonderful dress I'm really proud of. I have already worn it to a ladies night out. They adored it and were gobsmacked to hear I made it. They even asked whether I would take any orders! I don't have any intention to become a professional seamstress as I would have to give up all my other interests, but their feedback really made my day.

Front view cocktail lace dress©Fenfolio2015

Back view cocktail lace dress©Fenfolio2015

Close-up sleeve cocktail lace dress©Fenfolio2015

Close-up waist cocktail lace dress©Fenfolio2015

Close-up scalloped edges cocktail lace dress©Fenfolio2015

Fabulous Fabric: Ipad sleeve and pouch

Since I refound my love for sewing again I have been collecting lots of different fabrics, received from friends and family, purchased in charity shops or online and leftovers from past projects. After I made my first handbag last year from the Joel Dewberry fabric I bought on Etsy (see article), I had some Fat Quarters and scraps left I wanted to use.

Joel Dewberry FQ fabric bundle

Recently bought a handy keyboard for my Ipad and wanted to have this together with all my other accessories in a funky Ipad sleeve for easy and safe transport. I stumbled upon this article by The Crafty Blog Stalker and loved the way she used various patterned fabrics together. I didn't buy the pattern as it 's quite straightforward so I drew a pattern based on the images of her blog.

And this is the finished result:

Front of my Ipad sleeve ©Fenfolio2014

I used Pellon Peltex single- and double-sided fusible ultra firm stabilizer (or interfacing as it's also been called) for extra stability and protection. For the front pouch of the Ipad sleeve I cut out four different pieces of fabric and sew them together. I also watned to have at least one of the birds on both the front and back of the flap in matching colours.

Ipad and keyboard fit in perfectly ©Fenfolio2014

The sleeve is finished off with a magnetic closure.

Front outside with magnetic closure ©Fenfolio2014

 

Inside flap with magnetic closure ©Fenfolio2014

The interior of the front pouch and the sleeve itself have been lined with fabric of similar designs.

Inside front pouch ©Fenfolio2014

Inside Ipad sleeve ©Fenfolio2014

As I still had fabric left, my husband came up with the wonderful idea to make a drawstring pouch to keep all the accessories in like charger, card readers and earplugs.

Front drawstring pouch ©Fenfolio2014

Drawstring pouch and Ipad sleeve ©Fenfolio2014

The front and back have different fabric designs, similar to the Ipad sleeve. I used pink and green coloured strings to match the colour palette.

Back of drawstring pouch and Ipad sleeve ©Fenfolio2014

Fabulous Fabric: French Fat Quarter Apron

For my mum's birthday earlier this year I sewed an apron from fabric which I bought online and found in a charity shop. The theme I chose for the fabric was French, as she is a retired French teacher. While searching for a good pattern I stumbled upon this and used it for my project: 
http://www.sew4home.com/projects/kitchen-linens/fat-quarter-garden-apron

I really enjoyed this creative project: from sourcing the fabric, finding the right pattern, deciding about which fabrics to combine and how, measuring and cutting (my fabric was not in a FQ size) and assembling on my sewing machine. And it looks quite cute too, I think!

French Fat Quarter Apron

Detail fabric

The pockets are finished off with a lace trim

Detail pocket

Top of apron

Fabric gathered in front of apron

Detail fabric

The back of the apron is lined with black muslin.

I used Fuse-A-Web for the skirt to cover the seams of the fat quarters

Added fabric to the end of the waist ties

Added fabric to the end of the waist ties

But most importantly, my mum was very happy with her present as you can see here!

Fabulous Fabric: Upholstery

Since my small but wonderful art studio is finished end of last year I'm spending time in there regularly whether it's preparing for my workshops I organise every Monday and Tuesday, preparing for the life drawing class at Grays School of Art I attend myself or just working out concepts for new creative projects.

One of these projects was already getting shape the moment I finished the interior. The colour scheme of the office chair (black plastic and red furnishing) was really bothering me in the light interior and it made my wee studio even smaller!

Office chair before revamp

My collection of scraps and purchased fabric is gradually growing so it didn't take long to find the right combination. After I dismantled the furnishing from the plastic backing I measured the amount of fabric needed by covering it with a newspaper, traced around with a pen and cut it out. This was my pattern. Then I put the various pieces of fabric on to the newspaper pattern, moved them around to get the right design, cut some pieces to fit properly and sewed them all together.

Close-up of  sewed pieces of fabric

With a staple gun I fitted the fabric around the furnishing surfaces tightly (without taking off the old furnishing) and kept them apart. For the plastic parts of the chair I used Plastikote Antique White spraypaint. Several layers were needed to make a good covering. Et voilà, this is the result; a great revamp of an old office, if I may say so myself.

Revamped office chair

Top view revamped office chair

I used the app Instamag to create a professional look of my "new" chair, almost as if it was published in a real magazine!!

Magazine lay-out of revamped office chair with app Instamag

Fabulous Fabric : Handmade bags (1)

I have always been inspired by the amazing designs and textures of fabric. As a matter of fact, when I was a teenager I made my own clothes on an old sewing machine I got from my mum. It took about 25 years but one day earlier this year it just happened; my love for sewing came back and I was eager to pick it up again! The old sewing machine was taken down from the attic where it was stored for such a long time. After reading the manual, I started to remember again how the machine worked (it really is like driving a car) and tested some stitching on some cloth. But suddenly, smoke came out of the motor!!! I thought that was the end, but couldn't give up yet. I thoroughly cleaned and oiled the mechanical parts and....it worked!!!

Vintage sewing machine

My first project was making a purse. I bought an instruction book about making handbags "Sew Serendipity Bags" by Kay Whitt, funky fabric from an American supplier via www.etsy.com. Other haberdasheries like closures and interfacing I purchased online too.

Instruction book I used to make my bags

Although the machine was able to sew fine through thin layers of fabric, it was unfortunately not coping well with multiple layers of fabric and interfacing together (e.g. handles). I finished some parts off by hand and this is the result!

Purse

Realising I wanted to sew more and that my birthday was coming up soon, I asked for a new sewing machine: Janome Excell 5024. Oh, what a difference with my old one. It was just a breeze to sew through many layers now!

My new sewing machine

My second project was born quickly; another handbag but this time bigger and a special one for my mum who is a musical talent (oratorium and piano). I had already found some gorgeous fabric of music on Ebay and with some scrap fabric I found at Aberdeen Forward, golden coloured fabric at my local craft shop Meg's Attic and grommets from donated curtains at the local Red Cross shop, I just had to assemble it with the clear instructions in the book.

I'm really pleased with the result and had raving reviews on my personal Facebook page. The biggest compliment however was when I gave it to my mum; she was very emotional and touched when she saw it! She didn't expect something like this at all and could hardly believe I made it myself.
 

Shoulder handbag

Curtain grommtes have been used for the handles

Interior of scrap upholstery fabric

Magnetic closure inside

Side view of bag

The bag has been enforced with interfacing on the side and bottom

Stitched handles with golden thread

Quilted stitches on top of wadded fabric

I have already started two new projects again; aprons (for myself and as Christmas present) and my evening dress. As soon as I have finished these (bare with me because the evening dress has already proved to be a challenge!) I will post it here again.