The Sewing Room

Bobbykins

OK, here goes. If it works, here is a picture of the raw materials and then one of the finished dress. I DID warn you that I'm not much of a model, didn't I?

here's the raw materials:_



and here's the dress




It's by no means perferct but I have to admit I am pleased with the fit after all the faffing and altering of patterns and trial runs!

(Running away to hide now)

eddi

hart44 wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the BD wishes
Pennib I love your birds :T
Love the heart door hanger's cuddles :T

A big welcome eddi

By the sound of it we are all too critical of our work but what I see here everything is wonderful and yes I have to stop myself from saying '' the stitches are a bit wonky'' were no-one would have even noticed

Thanks Hart ...and a belated happy birthday.

I haven't done any serious sewing to speak of for a good while but hopefully all this sewing natter will usher me on a bit The last serious thing I made was my costume for the Venice Carnival a few years ago .... I didn't ever want to see another sewing machine again when I'd finished. It took me about 4 months of sewing well into the night, altering patterns, sewing, taking apart, pinning, re-pinning, altering patterns again, swearing, drinking tea and general procrastinating with shortbread biscuits ... and still all I see is the bits that I know are a bit wonky lol

pennib wrote: »

Bobbykins looking forward to your photo. I always critical of my own work as well. Sometimes a bit to much I think, drives my dd up the wall:o

Anyway here is my latest make

:T Wow that's beautiful :T

Georgiabay

Bobbykins, the dress looks great on, well done! Is it lined with the plain red?

Cuddles your door hangings are lovely.

Pennib, I love your love birds!

eddi

Bobbykins that material is fabulous. And what a nice dress :T

This is the offending 4-month article that put me off sewing for a while (although there's lot's of hidden wonkiness, I am actually really proud of it) - robe a la francaise and my less wonky cloak & pocket hoops (under my frock, best things ever, got my DSLR in there, purse, guidebook, make up, phone lol they had it right in the 1700s)



It's a JPRyan historical pattern that I ordered from the states and managed to order the wrong size hence the problems I had trying to alter it. The mask I can't take credit for and the hat is now decorated to match the dress should I ever return to Carnival.

Georgiabay

Eddi, that's stunning!
What are pocket hoops?

eddi

Georgiabay wrote: »

Eddi, that's stunning!
What are pocket hoops?

Thanks Georgiabay. I might actually get it all out and finish it off properly now - reading through this thread has inspired me. People are making fabulous things and there's such a lot of good advice

A picture of the hoops would've helped wouldn't it? The dress itself has open seams above the openings in each side of the hoops so you can stuff all your belongings in them. I had to alter these too as the pattern had them going straight across where they would sit on the sides of your legs but I thought they'd be better kind of crescent moon shaped so they would sit better around my not stick-like thighs :rotfl:

Annybananny

Bobbikins, your dress is beautiful, I really love that fabric. Do you mind me asking where you got it?
Pennib, loving those birds they're so cute.
Eddi, that outfit is brilliant, I could never manage something soooo complicated, you look great!
I'll post my dress tomorrow.

Ann

Justamum

eddi wrote: »

Bobbykins that material is fabulous. And what a nice dress :T

This is the offending 4-month article that put me off sewing for a while (although there's lot's of hidden wonkiness, I am actually really proud of it) - robe a la francaise and my less wonky cloak & pocket hoops (under my frock, best things ever, got my DSLR in there, purse, guidebook, make up, phone lol they had it right in the 1700s)



It's a JPRyan historical pattern that I ordered from the states and managed to order the wrong size hence the problems I had trying to alter it. The mask I can't take credit for and the hat is now decorated to match the dress should I ever return to Carnival.

Wowee that's fantastic! :T

eddi

Thank you so much Justamum and Annybananny
I suppose I really wanted to post the pics in the hope of showing that even as a beginner who genuinely thought when I actually got the pattern out of the packet, "oh my god I'll never be able to do this", that with a bit of research and creativity you really do surprise yourself and if there are people who are happy to offer advice and/or a bit of helpful praise along the way it can only be a good thing.

I'd never made any clothes before those things. I'd done a lot of knitting toys (Jean Greenhowe clowns mainly) for people and customising clothes when I was a teenager and I did art,design & textiles as an A-level but never actually made clothes from scratch. I can never get things to fit me properly and couldn't find a costume to hire that I liked let alone fitted! I love that period of fashion and the lady who makes the patterns also runs online tutorials through costume classroom to help you make it (at the time it was an extra $60 but was the best money I could ever have spent).

I've already learned loads from reading through all the posts here. So many talented people :T

pennib

My goodness Bobbykins that dress is wonderful. The material is really, really nice. I bet you don't want to stop now do you :T

Eddi; That is some dress. I love it :j I can understand your pain in altering/adjusting/fiddling/stressing as I do a lot of it myself!!
But the end result is amazing. Love the little hidden pockets arn't they such a good idea. You shall go to the ball madam