Crazy Cat Peasant Blouse

So why was this one of the most fun sewing makes ever? Well, just look at that fabric - guaranteed to put a smile on your face anytime!

Look at him!

Thanks to Miss Crayola Creepy and her Crazy Cat Lady Sewing Challenge, I am now the proud wearer of a crazy cat peasant blouse. I bought this fabric in Tokyo last year with the idea of making a knitting bag but never got around to it and when Erin announced her Sewing Challenge it got me thinking - could I make something so that I could actually get away with wearing this ridiculously cute fabric?

I used McCall's 6346 dress pattern and hacked it into a blouse using a top I already had for reference. I had made the dress version before so I knew my size - yay, no need to toile! All I did was square the side seams from under the arms down to the length I wanted.

I shirred 6 rows 1 1/4 inch apart as this was how my reference top was done. If you're a newbie to shirring as I was - I used this tutorial and it was really easy. I had been wondering how much fabric one has to allow for shirring and everything I had read said to double the amount. Well, I certainly didn't do that and if I had done, it would have ended up enormous. Maybe this was because my rows were quite far apart, I'm not sure. Initially I thought the shirring may not be tight enough but all you do is steam over it with an iron and it soon pulls in.

I whipped it up in an afternoon at my friend Karen's house which is the other reason this was so much fun to make. She has the most amazing new sewing room which I'm very jealous of but also super pleased she's willing to share it! It's great sewing with a friend, we had a good laugh and both ended up with something new to wear!

Thanks Erin for hosting this sewalong that I couldn't resist, be sure to check out what some of the other crazy cat ladies have made. I had a big smile on my face the whole time working with this fabric (though it was a little weird sewing over some of those cute little faces when I was shirring).

Of course they're not as cute as you, Koko!

I'm off to Japan again next week where I'll definitely be picking up some more fabric - I could do a whole collection of crazy cat blouses - how awesome would that be?

Frankenflamingos

It was a dreary October night, the rain smashed against the window pane and the occasional lightening flash brightened up the gloomy, candlelit room, exposing the mighty creation before me. I had taken one part Simplicity 2512 and another part New Look 6002, unleashed them on a flock of unsuspecting flamingos and lo and behold, my Frankenpattern was born ...

The flamingos were captured on a field trip to the Goldhawk Road in London with my accomplices Marylou and Nicole Needles. I knew right away that they would be perfect for a tiki dress and my search began for a suitable pattern. You can imagine my excitement when I came across New Look 6002 with it’s perfect specimen of a bodice in view C, but wait, the skirt would not do, I had to find the ideal companion to complete my vision!

I turned to my trusted accomplice Nicole for guidance - she had used the Simplicity 2512 Cynthia Rowley skirt to make her beautiful tiki mash up dress - that was the answer! All I had to do was track down the now out of print pattern and bring my cunning plan to fruition. 

At last a copy was acquired and I set about bringing my creation to life. It was just a case of fitting a skirt to another bodice, surely it would be simple? Alas, it wasn’t as easy as I thought. If I didn’t want my dress to end up looking like some grotesque monster from a nineteenth century gothic novel, I would have to toile and toile again. 

Deep into the night I toiled away, a little tuck here and a little tweak there, until she was just right. 

And now, my work is done!

For more details please see my notes on Pattern Review and check out some of the other wonderful creations that have been conjured up for the Frankenpattern Contest - and don't forget to vote!

One Pattern, Many Dresses

I often think that I'll make a repeat of a pattern but then I end up wanting to try something new - except it seems when it comes to New Look 6699 - turns out I've made it 8 times! But with so many mix and match variations, you don't need to make the same dress twice. I must say, multiple makes of a pattern has advantages too - it's quick because you've done it before and you know it's going to fit with no need for a toile - yeeessss!!!!!

Here is my latest version: The Tropical Blaze dress

I scoured around looking for the perfect dress to make with this fabric - and 6699 kept calling out "pick me, pick me". Although I'd made it 7 times before, I still managed to come up with yet another variation. 

I love the vividness of the colours on this print which I picked up on the Goldhawk Road in London. It's bright and summery, perfect for the coming months ahead.

So let's open the vault and see what other gems 6699 has to offer:

My Very First Dress:

This is probably my favourite version. I guess I have a soft spot for it seeing as it was my very first dress (though I did have a bit of help putting it together) but I love the fabric and I think it suits the pattern so well.

Red & Black Leopard Sequins:

Sequins look fab under stage lights but working with sequins is not for the faint-hearted. Multiple needles were broken in the process (I'm sure there's probably a special needle out there for such things but that didn't even occur to me at the time, I was too excited about the prospect of wearing a red & black leopard sequin dress!). The lining has tulle round the edge to give it more fullness. This was a pretty tight fit at the time I made it and unfortunately I can't get into anymore :(

Jungle Juice Dress:

Pebbles grows up and discovers rock & roll!

You will no doubt notice the superior quality of the photography here, these pics were taken for our "Jungle Juice" cd. We went all out with the jungle look here complete with the jagged skirt edge and turkey bones in the hair. Next up ...

The Monster Dress:

I blogged about this a little while ago here - I  just love the fabric and I love wearing this dress, it's so much fun!

Gingham Copycat Dress:

Moving away from the stage outfits, I made this dress for Peneloping's Copycat Challenge and thought the pattern was a perfect match.

Black Cat Fever Dress:

This is the same combination as my very first dress made up with cute cat fabric purchased in Tokyo. I love the way the cat heads are not really obvious until you get up close.

There was an eighth brocade version but I had such a nightmare with the fabric fraying that it ended up being way too tight, I only wore it once and then it got buried in the giveaway pile which is out of reach at the moment. 

I dare say I'll probably end up making another one of these - do you have any favourite patterns you just keep coming back to time and time again?

Blog Hopping

I'm jumping on board the latest Blog Hop folks - this is where various bloggers spill the beans on their writing and creative process and then pass the baton to some fellow bloggers to do the same. I have been nominated by Sarah from Prairie Girl Knits who I met on Ravelry during the recent Outfit Along. Make sure you check out Sarah's blog where she knits, sews and cooks up a storm - she even manages to combine two of her passions and knits food!

So here goes:

What am I working on?

I've always got lots of ideas floating around in my head but I try not to have too many different things on the go at once as I find it too overwhelming and I'd probably never finish any of them. I've pretty much always got a sewing project on the go and since I started knitting a year and a half ago, there's always something on my knitting needles (even if it might sit there not being touched for a while).

I've been on a bit of a knitting roll lately. I'm a good way through Andi Satterlund's "Chuck" sweater, even though I've discovered my cable mishap on the side (oops), not sure what I'm going to do about that! The sweater is a fitted, 3/4 sleeve, cable design and so far it's been really straight forward to follow (provided you pay attention, like I obviously didn't) and once I got my head around reading a pattern within a pattern. Andi has a great article about this on her blog so that was a huge help. I've decided I want to do full length sleeves but I will need to figure out how to do the calculations, so if anyone has any tips, please feel free to send them my way. 

So, onto the sewing table: I just finished a dress which I'll be blogging about once I have photos ready. But I've also been delving into the murky world of fitting lately, in a desperate attempt to understand my fitting woes. I tried my very first Full Bust Adjustment on Colette Pattern's Rooibos dress using their sewalong blog as a guide. It actually worked out pretty well but the end point for the side dart is too close to the apex so I'll need to make that adjustment.

I've also been plotting and planning my creation for Pattern Review's "Frankenpattern Contest" - (cue loud thunder clap and lightning bolt) heh, heh, heh. I love a sewalong! I get a real kick out of seeing all the different creations people come up with and you end up discovering a bunch of other sewists in the process, which brings me to my next question.

Why do I write/create what I do?

I think if you're passionate about something, you want to share it with others. I love making things and being immersed in the whole process, but unless you're sewing with a buddy, it's a solitary experience and it's nice to be able to share your wins as well as your "hair tearing" moments with others. That's why I started writing my blog, to connect with other sewists and share tips and inspiration.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

I'm not sure if my blog is hugely different from other sewing blogs out there, but I guess the main point of difference is that I make a lot of my clothing to wear on stage. I have a few different groups that I sing with so I always have an excuse to make a new dress! Some of my creations are strictly for the stage but most of them can be worn to go out in too, they just tend to be made with bold and fun fabrics.

Day-to-day Wear?  Maybe not.

But I would wear this to go out in as well as on stage

How does my writing/creative process work?

I'm fairly new to blogging so I feel like I'm still finding my feet when it comes to writing. Mostly, I just try and be myself and imagine that I'm having a chat with a friend and keep it pretty conversational.

When it comes to sewing, I usually fall in love with the fabric first and then see what I can turn it into. Very often I'll be inspired to make a garment that I discover on someone's blog and sometimes it will be a pattern I never would have considered until seeing how good it looks on someone else.

Next on the Blog Hop Train

Thanks Sarah for inviting me to join in. It's been really interesting for me to think about these questions and I've also enjoyed reading about what sparks other bloggers to do what they do. I can't wait to see what my next Blog Hoppers have to say when they post their answers next week. I'm delighted to hand you over to:

Ree from Ree-Sewn who I met through the Dolly Clackett Sew Along for which she made an impressive FIVE dresses, all of which are gorgeous!

And Kath from Bernie and I - fellow Aussie blogger (though way over on the other side of the country) and queen of the shift dress, she certainly knows how to rock the 60's mod look!

And finally, the lovely Nicole Needles who I was lucky enough to meet recently in London. Nicole makes fabulous vintage inspired clothing with an attention to detail and finishing that puts most of us to shame (well, certainly me, anyway!)

Enjoy!