My latest makings - 60's Shift dress!

Whilst in my local vintage shop the other week, I found a lovely 'psychedelic' print dress-top,
which I then tried on, and noticed a rather large hole in the side! It was a bit too short, so I took it it to the lady who owned the shop to let her know, and she ended up giving it to me for free as a little sewing project!

This = Happy Sophie :)

This is what it looked like to start off with:



...and this was one of the many holes that was in it (although they were all mendable!)



After mending those, I went out and bought half a meter of dark brown fabric, and 3 of what I call Grandad buttons
(cause they're the weaved leather ones that you get on Grandad cardigans!)




So, to start off with, I cut into the roll neck to create a base for the peter pan collar that I was going to add.



I then pinned some calico around the collar and cut it to shape whilst it was on the mannequin - I always find it easier to do it this way,
because it can be taken off and used as a pattern piece, and it gets the collar to be the exact shape you want!



I then used this as a pattern piece and cut out 4 of the collar shapes,
front and back for each side, pinned together and leaving 1cm seam allowance:



I did the same for the cuffs, to make them longer, and also made a 10cm band to go at the bottom of the dress to lengthen it!

I then sewed on the collar, and added the 3 Grandad buttons down the center front of the dress:



... and here is the final outcome!



Here's a close-up of the bottom and cuffs:



From the back:





I'm quite pleased with it!

:)



I'm very happy, because it only cost me the £2.25 for the fabric and 30p or so for the buttons!


I hope you had a lovely Christmas!

:)

More of my makings are on the way...

DIY Project #1 - The Bow T-Shirt...

So... it's been a very long time since I first set this up, and this is my first post :)

Recently, whilst browsing asos.com, I have come across a few tops and dresses which are decorated with large, but very pretty bows:-

Due to my lack of fundings, I decided that I would have a go at making my own DIY version of one of these lovelies...credit crunch styleee.

I got hold of an old long sleeved t-shirt, and chopped the sleeves off.

I then made a small bow out of some wide satin ribbon
- to go in the middle of the larger lace bow

Using an old 'scarf' (or small net curtain as it turned out to be...)

...I cut out various pieces and sewed then together on the sewing machine. After pinning and sewing them all onto the front of the t-shirt, this was my final outcome:-

YAY

And it cost me half nothing. Good times.

:)