Styling Handmade

Styling A Sunday Afternoon Handmade Outfit

One of the few times I've managed to wear a fully handmade outfit! 

Details...

The skirt is actually my Clover Dress in paisley polyester - check out my last post for more details on it. 

My lovely Gran knitted me the pretty, cropped, pastel blue jumper. It was just meant to be a tester piece as she didn't have much of the wool left, but I loved the colour so much I asked if she could just do me a cropped version. I love it! 

Finally, I made the coat using Burda pattern 6844. I think it's one of the best things I've made, mostly because I challenged myself with something that wasn't a dress! A full blog post will be coming soon on this one - just as soon as I've braved the buttons...

So it's all handmade apart from the leggings - but plain black leggings? They don't really count. I'm still after an overlocker to make my own of those. And they wouldn't be black. These are £3 Primark beauties!  

All styled with a necklace and bag from Accessorize and Topshop boots. I love a good statement necklace and Accessorize never disappoints. I've also always found that although Topshop boots are a little more pricey, they're always the nicest and good quality.

Clover Dress - Papercut Patterns

Clover Dress

I LOVE this dress! This is the first time I've tried Papercut Patterns and I'm a huge fan! This dress was so easy to make - it only took an afternoon start to finish. No zips or buttons to faff with!

This dress is such a gorgeous shape and the lace panels are so pretty. It's so versatile too. It can be dressed up with heels for a night out or down for casual wear with tights and boots... So I can wear it all the time!

I've had the pattern and material ages now but just couldn't decide what use as the insert. I loved the lace used on photos I've seen of other clover dresses but thought chiffon might be better because the main material is so patterned... But I went for lace in the end anyway! The polyester paisley print fabric  drapes perfectly and I'll definitely use this material again.

These patterns are a little expensive and a bit more than I'd usually pay for a pattern but honestly it's worth it! I'll be making this dress in all the colours/prints/lace combinations! And I reckon the top will be perfect for work. 

Coming soon... I also got the Sigma Dress from Papercut patterns for Christmas! I'll be onto that once I get some suitably beautiful material! 

Pattern Hack

Little Red Dress

It's the new LBD. And it's finished! 

I take inspiration from current fashion for my makes and red has been big this season. I got this red jersey fabric in a sale for just £3.99 per metre and used patterns I already had to make the dress I pictured for it. 

This is my first real pattern hack. I used the Cynthia Rowley 2054 pattern for the top, taking it in at the waist, and New Look 6262 for the skirt. This has been the first item I've used elastic for the waist and it was a lot more successful than I expected! Really easy to do too - just sewn in with the waist seam with a zigzag stitch. 

It didn't all work first time though. I had to take in the sides of the top about 3 times before I was happy with the fit (and if I did it again I'd still take it in more) and take the sleeves in twice too. I also unpicked the entire neck binding to redo it because it was such a mess the first time.

I'd still make it again though! Perhaps in a less festive colour... 

Current WIPs

What I'm currently working on...

The first one is this very festive red dress! I've seen little red dresses everywhere in the shops recently, especially in H&M. None of them were quite right though...They were either too short, ill-fitting or made with cheap-looking fabric (especially the lacy ones). So I made my own. I used a combination of patterns - Cynthia Rowley 2054 for the top and New Look 6262 for the skirt. I sewed the waist with elastic, which isn't something I've tried before but it worked really well. I just need to bind the neckline, hem the bottom and take in the sleeves a little and I'm done! I've been distracted though...

Distracted by my other WIP. This is a coat I'm making using fabric and faux fur bought at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show. I love the combination of the two. This is the second coat I've attempted to make - the first was a complete disaster that barely got past the cutting stage. Bit of an embarrassment. So far this one's going a lot better! 

Another New Look Pattern 6143

I LOVE this pattern

So I've made another! This time out of polyester crepe, which is a perfect fabric for it. The feel, fit and drape of this material is so lovely. I made this one for work and the only problem is that the material is a tiny bit see-through. It'll be fine for the current black-tights-at-all-times weather, but I'll probably have to line it for spring time.

I've also rediscovered this version of the dress. I really need a much bigger wardrobe so I can actually see what I own! This one I just made a bit shorter for nights out. The photos below are pre Ed Sheeran gig in Newcastle, which was AMAZING!

Cynthia Rowley Pattern 2054 for Simplicity

Cynthia Rowley Pattern 2054

 So this is my newest make and my first successful jersey dress in a long time!

This pattern was amazing to use. It was so simple to follow and quick to make. The fit and the fact it's jersey fabric meant there were no darts or zips to insert, so it would be perfect for  any beginners wanting to try out sewing their own clothes. The only part that takes a little more skill is inserting the neck binding, as you have to stretch it out and distribute it equally so as not to create any accidental gathers. This is perfectly possible though - it's actually the best jersey binding I've managed!

This simple dress fits brilliantly and will become a staple basic in my wardrobe. I made version B, with 3/4 length sleeves. I'd definitely make it again, probably with the long sleeves next time as I would have done long sleeves this time if I had had enough fabric!

My cardigan is also handmade, although not by me. 
The lace-effect knitting is courtesy of my amazing Gran! 
I must learn to knit.

The Knitting & Stitching Show

The Knitting & Stitching Show 

Tickets booked!! 

Last year I went to the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate for the first time and LOVED IT. 

My mum and I ended up getting free tickets from someone who had won them but couldn't go and decided to try it out. It was amazing! Huge halls filled with wool, fabric and crafty bits... I got beautiful material for dressmaking and for quilts and lace and faux fur, and I could have bought so much more! 

So obviously we're going back again this year!

Tickets and hotel booked, its in the diary - cannot wait. 

I'm starting saving for it now...

Last year's purchases