CONTEMPLATION UPON FLOWERS

Dress number one, blue flowers has now become skirt.

I simply chopped the top half of the dress off.

I used the fabric off the top of the dress to create a waist band. The outside of the band looks ok; however, the inside is a bit of a patchwork of fabric. Yes I could have used other fabric, but I wanted to re-cycle as much of the dress into the skirt as I could. The only thing I got elsewhere was the zip. The one I un-picked from the dress was way too long, and rather than chop it off, I used another zipper I have in my stash.

Over-all happy with the skirt as it ticks many boxes.

* One sewing item per week – tick.

* Up-cycling garments – tick

* Adding more colour to my wardrobe – tick

* New garment for under $5

You do obey your months and times, but I
Would have it ever Spring:
My fate would know no Winter, never die,
Nor think of such a thing.
O that I could my bed of earth but view
And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

Henry King

JUST A BUTTON

Some weeks, life gets in the way of the best made plans. My plans of sewing one garment a week, preferably from recycled fabrics, just didn’t happen this week. All I managed was to find a skirt from an op-shop for under $5, and sew on the button it was missing. This has kinda summed up my week. 

With Justin working every day, and then each night this week he had something on...dentist, gym, photo shoot of Macy Gray... I didn't even get a shot of me in the skirt. Can't believe Macy Gray came before me! 

I did find four dresses in my op-shopping ventures, four dresses that I think can begin again with a little adjustment, or a lot or adjustments. 

Each dress has no front opening, so need to adjust that to allow for feeding Jarvis. All are way too big for me. The bottom two, the pink is a ho-hum colour on me and the yellow, in the yellow/pink floral, makes me look jaundice. But I got all four for next to nothing, so happy to un-pick, re-fashion and maybe even dye. Any suggestions would be great. Oh, and some free time to sew would be even better.

JUNGLE ANIMAL ORIGAMI

This week’s sewing project was an easy cheat. A box pleat skirt with an animal print fabric, now known as: Jungle animal origami.

What was one an old 80’s girl, with shoulder pads and long sleeves, became a skirt. I have had her in my dress up suitcase for years, I have always loved the fabric, but the cut of the dress never appealed to me.

Originally I was going to remove the lining, the shoulder pads and the sleeves to have a sleeveless summer dress, but it just didn’t sit right. Plus, I would have had to re-do the neckline to allow for breast-feeding.

After all the careful unpicking, I ended up just chopping off the top half of the dress and turning over the fabric for a slight ruffle and elastic waist. Not much sewing involved, but happy with a new skirt that cost me nothing.

FLOWERS EVERYWHERE

Second day of spring, and Father's Day spent at the Botanical Gardens, the perfect day to wear this week's sewing project. A full circle skirt, with a black back-ground, and full of beautiful flowers.

Justin gave me a vintage dress a few years ago, I always loved the fabric, but the dress was always too small. Even now, after I have lost 10 kilos from my pre-pregnancy weight, it was still too small. Not sure who it would have ever fitted. Barbie? As the dress had a tiny waist and a huge bust area.

Since having Jarvis, I find myself dressing more and more, well sounds stupid for a 44 year old to say, but yes I am dressing more girly. The fuller skirts hide my weight loss and the tight waist shows off shape. Plus, Jarvis loves colour. His little eyes light up when ever I wear colour. OK, so this is still very black, but for me it is a huge change.

I slowly (read: wearing glasses sitting under a lamp) unpicked every seam in the dress. This was hard to do on a vintage dress with older frayed stitches. Then, the next part was simple; I made a full circle skirt and a basic waist band. I chose not to have a zip, but to use hook and eyes.

Footnote: My weight loss is something I normally do not wish to discuss; however, since I have mentioned it here I thought I would explain... It is a side effect of me being ill. I do not choose to lose weight, and do not normal discuss my weight and any one else's weight. But I have chosen not to take medication, so I can breastfeed, so I will continue to lose weight.

Baby Sarouels Sewing 1.

                                                             

Not so long ago I made a promise to myself for more “me” time. Things I included in more “me” time was to start blogging; to take more photos; and another, was to sew more. So I have set myself a challenge of sewing at least one item per week. 

Where to start was obvious, that being Jarvis’s wardrobe. I got a major dose of inspiration from Sophie on her amazing blog Cirque du bebe. Sophie’s sewing is really good, I am more than a little envious of her skill, so I thought I would start with one of her projects, the Baby Sarouels.

So I raided Justin’s wardrobe and found this t-shirt.

Drafted a pattern

Then I half followed Sophie’s directions and half made it up as I went along. I didn’t include the pockets, but I did make a waist band to encase the elastic and the draw cord.

Because my model is not good at sitting or laying still, here are a couple of shots of the sarouels on the line.

Instead of using draw cord, I should have followed Sophie’s recommend and made it out of left over t-shirt, because after two washes the cord looks ragged.

But for my very first attempt at sewing a stretch fabric overall I am happy with them. Already started on next weeks improved version! Thanks Sophie for the inspiration and the great ideas in your blog, Cirque du bebe.

p.s. It it Sophie's birthday today, make sure you go over to her blog and wish her Happy Birthday.