Summer’s here and it’s time to bring the shoulders out. Cold shoulder dresses are great, I’ve been eyeing them off in stores and on Pinterest for a while now. They bare just the right amount of skin to show off your shoulders while keeping them a little covered at the same time which is perfect for summer evenings when it cools off a bit. Continue reading →
#sewfestive3 week 3 : Sequin Pencil Skirt
This is the final project for my Sewfestive3 DIY sewing challenge. It’s a super easy sequinned pencil skirt which you can whip up in under an hour. I’ve used sequinned fabric but you could use any fabric with a stretch. This skirt is so much fun and looks so glam! Perfect for New Years Eve celebrations. Continue reading →
#sewfestive3 week 2 : Bolero Wrap
Welcome to the second week of my#sewfestive3 challenge.
This weeks DIY project is a glamorous DIY Bolero Wrap. This super easy wrap will look striking in gold, silver or any type of fabric with a sparkle and is perfect for those xmas functions where you feel you need something to cover up your shoulders. I happen to have a little left over purple chiffon fabric with sequins which will be perfect! You could make it up in a chiffon or a lace or any lightweight fabric that has a nice soft drape. Sequinned fabric would look amazing too. Depending on what fabric you choose, you will finish the bolero wrap edges either with a sewn rolled hem or finish it with a satin binding. Continue reading →
#sewfestive3 week1 : Tulle Skirt
Welcome to my DIY festive sewing challenge. As the festive season approaches, it’s time to sew up, dress up and have some fun. Who doesn’t like a good excuse to frock up? And, there’s no better reason than when celebrating with friends and family in the lead-up to Christmas.
#sewfestive3 is a challenge I’ve created for the month of December to sew up 1, 2 or all 3 of the DIY festive outfits from the projects I’ve chosen and simply wear them (to a festive event) and share them. Wear them to a Christmas party, drinks with your girlfriends, work party, Christmas lunch or New Years Eve! The DIY projects are simple, are quick and easy to sew up and the results look fabulous! Continue reading →
Sewing the Maritime Shorts – Pattern review
Summer has almost arrived, Yay! Time to start sewing pretty shorts and dresses. Well, maybe in the rest of Australia except Melbourne. It’s been unusually cold here this spring and the thought of wearing dresses and shorts is the furtherest thing from my mind. Luckily we’ve had one hot day and I got to wear these Maritime shorts that I made (in anticipation of a hot summer) bowling. Continue reading →
Palm Tree Pullover Top
I didn’t want to waste any of the beautiful palm print silk twill I had left over from the Birdie bomber so I used it to sew up this quick and easy pullover top. The fabric is a palm printed silk twill and the pattern is McCalls 7195. It’s a loose-fitting top with bust darts, neck and sleeve bands, and hemline variations. I made it up in a couple of hours and wore it out to the pub for a drink the same day! It reminded me of when I was about sixteen and I used to make most of my clothes. I would buy some fabric, sew it up and wear it out to the Blue Light disco the same night!
Nice easy pattern, highly recommended for an easy beginner project.
Oh and my cat Oki helped me with the photo shoot. Continue reading →
Gold party pants
My latest project was the most fun I’ve had sewing for a while. My son who is turning nine, decided he wanted a pair of gold party pants to go with his reflective sunnies he’d bought recently. Don’t ask me why or where he got this idea from but I thought it was a pretty cute idea so I took him to Spotlight where he chose the gold pvc fabric and the pattern, Burdastyle 9406. He was very specific with how they should look as he’d found a picture on the web of a teenager wearing gold jeans. Continue reading →
Ideas on storing PDF sewing patterns
Sometimes organising and storing PDF sewing patterns can become a little overwhelming as they are printed on regular paper which makes them bulkier than than your normal store bought tissue paper pattern. Also, they are more affordable and easily accessible so the pattern stash can grow very quickly. Not only do you want to store them in a space efficient way but you also don’t want to pay a fortune for storage. Here are a few ideas on storing your PDF sewing patterns that I have tried and some ideas that might help sort out your stash.
Jungle Ruched Dress
This Jungle Ruched Dress came to life after I bought the fabric from Tessuti on sale for the bargain price of $11 per meter. It’s a 95% Rayon 5% Spandex Jersey Knit called Nouveau Jungle. I wanted an easy project which I could whip up in an afternoon. I found the Burda style pattern 6626 at Spotlight on sale (of course) for $4, perfect!