I'm currently in the middle of a week off work which so fa I've spent largly behind the sewing machine! Yay!
Along with doing some housey things, yoga and catching up on movies and TV shows that I've had waiting for me to watch for 4 months (I just finished Love Child! omg I need to share that show with you all) I've been somewhat productive!
Wanna see what I've made so far?
This! How fun is this? Leesa from Makers Society invited me to do a little photo opp a few weeks ago and I've sewn up two dresses for the occasion. This colourful lady is one of them, made from fabric I bought from Fabric-a-brac. I'll be heading out there today and hopefully all this rain we've been having will ease up for a few hours! I'll share the full photos on here soon
Also I've been quietly working on a cape for my friend. We tried a few different modern patterns but we could never get the sizing right. She is quite petite and so we chose a junior sized pattern from 1969 to get the right size.
While cutting out the lining this yesterday, I decided to power ahead and cut out a whole bunch of other patterns. Not sure if this will make my sewing more productive, but I'm hoping it will. Also spring is on its way, and generally I become really excited and productive with the extra sunlight and warm days so I'm hoping for more happy sewing times!
These photos are a bit non de-script, but basically they are intended to be a floral dirndl skirt and a yoga mat bag. The bag fabric is just some plain wool I got at the opp-shop and used this tutorial to measure up. I used to just carry my old mat around tied up with ribbon, but I bought a new fancy padded-non-slip one and it weighs a ton (ok like 3kg) but it makes it really impractical to carry, so I decided a drawstring bag will be the way to go.
Do you normally cut out a lot of projects ahead of time? Does it make you more productive?
Also, I didn't want to mention it on here initially because it has nothing to do with sewing or the 60s - my boyfriend and his clever colleagues have designed a nifty butter knife for cutting through cold butter taken from the fridge. They started a Kickstarter to raise some money for the manufacturing, and well basically it went much better then planned...
It's really exciting and I'm very proud of my boy! They have plans to increase manufacture so basically all the money they've raised will be put back into production and marketing, so no trips to Hawaii for me =( There is still time left if you want to back them!
Enjoy the rest of your week lovelies!
Cat xo
Hello, dear Catherine! I'm so happy to see a new post from you. My eyes popped and my mouth fell open when I saw picture #1, the floral design dress you've sewn. It's beautiful and a remarkable achievement. I can't wait to see pictures of you modeling it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your inventive boyfriend's success. You have every reason to be proud of him.
Take good care of yourself and enjoy the upcoming weekend, dear friend Catherine!
Thank you! It's quite adorable and fun and all those sort of words that I like to think of when I make things! It was pretty fun to model, so I'll share the photos Leesa took of me soon. I'm very proud of my dear boy, but it was all at a sacrifice to one of my favourite butter dishes that they came up with the idea
DeleteI am SO envious at you having a lovely sewing time out! I haven't touched anythign for weeks.....but I am very strict on myself these days, one garment at a time!
ReplyDeleteI love everything you're making!!! The Fabric of the frock and the green paisley for the blouse are to die for, and the CAPE! I adore a good cape. Now it's starting to warm up a bit I must pull mine out! I blither about making a few, but as yet haven't........:(!!!
Go hard!
XXX
Oh this is my first sewing time in weeks! I've been saving it all up for holidays! I usually try to stick to one thing at a time too, but life is a bit all over the place right now, so why not let everything get out of control! Haha! I have to get that Cape done quick smart! My friends last day at work is next week! Eep!
DeleteA lot of projects to come !
ReplyDeleteI never cut out a lot of projects ahead of time , but i guess it's a really good idea to be more productive . For the moment , i sew in the dining room , so, when i cut my pattern, my project had to be finished in the next two days ...first , i 'm not really patient and second, the sewing mess will certainly break the family 's serenity !
I love the cape and can't wait to see your next floral dresses !
Oh now that's a good idea in order to get yourself going! I pretty much own the space so I only need to move a few things in order for us to have dinner, but otherwise it just sits there waiting.
DeleteLove love love that dress! I can't wait to see how it looks on you. The colours in the fabric are just lovely. I love purple, orange and green together. Very nifty little coat too.
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations to your boyfriend, what a clever idea! You must be very happy for him!
Thank you! I wore it in the photo shoot with orange tights and purple shoes! It's looks so fun! And yes, I'm very happy for him! Especially because this time last year we were worried he may not have a job for long, and here we are now! Very good turn around!
DeleteYou put me to shame! I love the scalloped hem mini dress and am looking forward to seeing the cape. xxx
ReplyDeleteAww but you at least beat me at being a more disiplined blogger! I'll have to get a photo of my friend wearing it to show off!
DeleteSuch a lovely dress Cat! Hope it all goes well with the photo op today, I look forward to seeing the pics.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear! It didn't rain so it was pretty good!
DeleteEeeep! So inspiring! I loooooooove the top dress with scallops on the bottom. What pattern did you use? Wonderful fabric--those colors are right up my 60's-lovin' alley! I can't wait to see the rest of your makes. My least favorite part of patterns is the cutting out and transferring marks. It looks like you're facing hours of fun from now on!!! (I don't know, maybe that's your favorite part?!) Anyway, I hope your boyfriends' project works out well---that's really cool. All it takes is one fabulous idea....
ReplyDeleteIt's adorable isn't it!!! I used Simplicity 7635 to make the top dress, you can see a photo here http://instagram.com/p/sCjsIwkO6S/?modal=true . I usually don't transfer the mark until right before I need it, I think the longest part for me is the fiddly bits, like getting the facings to fold over right, that's annoying! But that's a small part of the whole process!
DeleteThe dress looks very sweet! Cutting out patterns is one of my least favorite sewing jobs, so this looks like a really smart idea :)
ReplyDelete- Mia
Yes! I don't mind it, but it can take a really long time! Especially if your short on fabric and you have to do tricky tricks with the fabric to make it all fit. That totally happened in one of the patterns I was cutting... Basically the dress is on,y going to have 1 pocket! Haha
DeleteI look forward to seeing your photos, and all the lovely things you have cut out!
ReplyDeleteThat butter knife is BRILLIANT.
Thanks!! I can't wait to see them myself too! And yes, I love that butter knife, I've had a go of it and can totally vouch for it!
DeleteThe first dress is so pretty, what a gorgeous print and great colours.
ReplyDeletethanks! I love the fabric - i wish i had more!
DeleteI loved Love Child! That first dress would fit in perfectly :)
ReplyDeleteAlso I can't believe your boyfriend is involved in the butter knife invention! I saw that on the Project. Very cool. :)
Hehe yes! did you see my boyfriend talking about breaking the butter dish? that was my butter dish! its actually a plate with a cheese dome on top, but it worked, but not so well against knives!
DeleteI love the first dress. And I do cut a lot of patterns a the time and it does make me more produtive - it's lke it is calling me when it i already cut - and i am sort of already startet.... I can't wait to see your results...
ReplyDeleteSunshine
Stine from Denmark - where winter is comming
Thank you!! I hope it makes me more productive too! Thinking about it makes me more motivated certainly!
DeleteAll of your projects are just gorgeous! so many pretty fabrics and you always choose the best shapes to cut them into. Can't wait to see them all finished!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! After all that fabric I got a fabric-a-brac i had to get sewing at some point right?
DeleteI really love the dress !! And I look forward to see the photos. You are very busy and I can`t say, which projekt I like to see first :-)
ReplyDeletethanks! I need to wait for my photographer friend to send me the pics, but they'll be up soon!
DeleteLove that floral frock, what a great print, and look at all your sewing projects lined up and ready - you are very organised, it takes me ages to get around to deciding what to make, let alone actually doing it... Some fabulous fabrics and patterns there, looking forward to seeing the finished articles. xxx
ReplyDeleteooh thanks! I am quite easy to pair a pattern with a dress, but getting it actually made up takes a lot longer then i'd like! :)
DeleteI'm so in love with your new dress! You made perfect use of this gorgeous fabric! So glad you have had more time to sew. I find my mental health improves exponentially the more I sew! Don't you? :) Speaking of which I have had this dammed tartan pinafore sitting on the table for over a week ALMOST finished. I have today off so I'm hoping I will get my act together! Also- yes! I always cut out multiple projects at once and I feel like it does improve my productivity. Even just committing to a decision about what to use a fabric for helps a lot! Right now I have 5 projects cut out and waiting.
ReplyDeleteyay! thanks Kath! yes, i totally feel much better when i get to actually make things and feel productive. When i sit there dealing with a tiny detail for an hour really tests me though! I haven't started any of the project i cut out yet, but i will hopefully tomorrow. or Wednesday... eep!
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