I have now decided that overblouses are the best ever......... now that winter is coming, and jumpers are beckoning, an overblouse is a lot smarter (than some of my jumpers anyway) and I just love the pockets. The style of this overblouse is not unlike a 'kinsale smock' (or fishermans smock), and its perfect 'transitional' … Continue reading Simplicity 3636 – plaid skirt to plaid over blouse
and now for something completely different – replacing an irish dancing dress skirt
There are few things I know about Irish dancing dresses, 1 -they are an acquired taste, 2 -solo dresses are very very expensive even second-hand, and 3 - I now also know that it is worth getting the dance instructors opinion before you commit to buying a dress. The dress was bought second hand and it pretty much fitted … Continue reading and now for something completely different – replacing an irish dancing dress skirt
McCalls 7530 – Pauline Trigere Jacket, coat to jacket
About 6 months ago, I was in a charity shop and spotted a coat for 2euro. now this particular coat was - a dated cut(huge shoulders), dated colour (green), and dated buttons (they were everywhere), but it was also wool cashmere and that started me on thinking about the challenge of refashioning these coats - … Continue reading McCalls 7530 – Pauline Trigere Jacket, coat to jacket
McCalls 7530 – Pauline Trigere Dress skirt to dress
This is the most expensive pattern I have ever bought! ..... and I am beginning to be a fan of Pauline Trigere. I also love coats so thought at least this was a 3 for 1 pattern. I also thought I would do the dress first as it was probably easier than jacket/coat.(not so famous … Continue reading McCalls 7530 – Pauline Trigere Dress skirt to dress
Ann Adams 4602 – duvet to dress
I had been looking at this pattern for a while and I love wrap-arounds, skirts, dresses, tops - The duvet had two lovely faded shades and the blue over-lock edge suited so to include this detail in the dress I made some with blue piping with bias from some blue scrap I had and and yarn (which … Continue reading Ann Adams 4602 – duvet to dress
Simplicity 1178 halters and weskits – from pillowcase to halterneck
More pillowcases to tops. I did some rough sews of these two as I liked the look of the halter. The cream halter has a low back and the blue halter/weskit has none! I did make up a halter for a friend since and brought the back up more, so to allow for bra. Cute … Continue reading Simplicity 1178 halters and weskits – from pillowcase to halterneck
Butterick 2704 – pillowcase to top
Butterick 2704 -so much in one pattern. I have made the coat, top, beach dress, and trews (so only skirt, shorts, and jacket to go). I saw these 2 pillowcases, and adored the vivid design, what I hadn't factored, was that the design and grain would not run true to each other, and in order to … Continue reading Butterick 2704 – pillowcase to top
Simplicity 8203 – trousers to tennis dress
The athena poster dress was auctioned earlier this year and got 15k! It well exceeded the guide price and the back story is a good read. Its a home-made dress and is from a simplicity pattern (is supposed to be from Simplicity 8203). I like square necklines, and decided to give it a go. The pattern allows … Continue reading Simplicity 8203 – trousers to tennis dress
Butterick 2704 – green cloak to green coat
When I saw this green cloak in the charity shop - I truly could not resist it.. It reminded me of the original Irish Air Hostess uniform. Its a full-on kelly-green woven wool cloak with hood. My feeling is that it was probably made for either a primary school play or float about St Patrick, and also … Continue reading Butterick 2704 – green cloak to green coat
The 3 Armhole dress – table cloth to beach cover up
http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Butterick_4699 I have been fascinated by these dress pattern, looks so so cute, and only one pattern piece - so little sewing, and in the 60s quite a few pattern companies did different variations of this dress. I drafted a pattern that I thought would work, while based on a Butterick illustration here, I … Continue reading The 3 Armhole dress – table cloth to beach cover up
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