Frocks & Frou Frou: handmade

Sunday, November 9, 2008

And the winner is....

"A Heart for My Princess Medal Brooch" - DeepIndigo @ http://www.etsy.com/

And the winner of the which-way skirt is....

D. Big Circles Up, Blue

(but only by a hair - in fact I had to call in Himself to break the tie between b & d)

Top: Target http://www.target.com.au/

Skirt: DIY from Ikea fabric http://www.ikea.com.au/ and Butterick Pattern http://www.butterick.com/

Shoes: Diana Ferrari http://www.dianaferrari.com.au/

I'm pretty happy with the results - it's the first thing I've even sewn from scratch that I'd actually deign to wear in public - it was crazily easy to make, and only took an hour or so (even with a bit of uh-oh unpicking).

I used an el cheapo Butterick Pattern (See & Sew Pattern Number B4710, for those of you interested) and I fudged the pattern a little because as you can see it had a separate waistband, some extraneous ribbons, and the back had two panels, which looked odd with such a robust print.

In fact it took so little time to make, that I even had the chance to wear it out to the Supermarket, and no-one pointed and stared, so overall I'd have to say my experiment was a success!

Oh, and Kellytubbie - the mocha lace ones ;-)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Stalled at the gate

I was looking at some simple a-line skirts over the weekend, and thinking "God that looks easy. I bet even I could make that skirt with my rudimentary seam-sewing skills."

So today, I took myself up on the challenge, and bought some fabulous retro-print material from Ikea (it's called "Fialena", which I think sounds like a supporting role in a Rossini opera). It was only $12.95, so if it's a disaster it's not the end of the world.

But I just got it home, and I already have my first speed bump.

Which way to make the skirt?

So I'm hoping that you, my beautiful little fashionistas, will offer your own suggestions on the following:

A) BIG CIRCLES DOWN, RED:

B) BIG CIRCLES DOWN, BLUE:

C) BIG CIRCLES UP, RED

D) BIG CIRCLES UP, BLUE

The last option is borrowed from the fantastic Ninaribena of www.ninaribenamakes.blogspot.com - for a proper idea of what it'll look like - rather than a tucked-into-waistband-of-knickers idea check out Nina's post:

http://ninaribenamakes.blogspot.com/2008/09/skirting-around-still-feeling-sjp.html

E) GATHERED

I'm going to buy a pattern after all instead of just winging it, so you have until Sunday to get your votes in (Just comment a, b, c, d or e in the comments section). Then - unless it looks like a complete dog's breakfast - I'll post the finished result some time next week. Prolly.

Wish me luck!!