Ghostie Derby Dress

Here's the thing about moving house when you've lived in fully furnished (down to the cups and knives and forks) apartments for over four years - it takes a million years to get organised! There's multiple trips to furniture stores (both new and used), and of course, Briscoes, I basically live at Briscoes now. Trying to fit all the house stuff around my normal working and social life has meant I've not had much time for sewing and that makes me sad.

I whipped together a knit top last weekend, which is a great sleeping top but hardly blog worthy.

However, I have now finished a dress that's been a UFO (that's unfinished object) for at least a year (sometimes I just like cutting stuff out ok). I'm not 100% sure if I like this dress and if I will wear it much - but I am happy with the work I put in and how it turned out, so I'm treating it as  a win.

Some of you will know I'm a fan of Christine Haynes, I like her patterns as they aren't really fussy with a million pieces and as an inner city girl who walks everywhere I want to be comfortable. Also simple patterns mean crazy fabrics can take centre stage and I'm all about that.

Anyways back to the dress, its a really simple dress - with pockets, a collar and buttons. I had about half a metre of this cute ghostie fabric I bought at Spotlight at some point (I wish I had more, because its super awesome). I think the black fabric I just picked up at either The Fabric Store or possibly Arthur Toye when it was still open.

I was going for a kind of Wednesday Addams vibe with this dress and I think that  I was kind of successful with that. Here's a photo of the dress - taken in our courtyard (yah!) unfortunately my eyes are shut (boo!) but its a good photo of the dress anyways so I thought I'd share it.

The main body of the dress is a bit shapeless for my liking, if I make it again, I would make it with waist ties to add some more shape. However, for now a belt is taking care of giving is some shape.

The most interesting part of this frock is the collar and yoke - I used my ghostie fabric in this part of the dress. The little ghosts are so creepy cute. The collar is a bit wonky, but I can live with it, its the first time I've done anything like this so I'm sure it will improve next time round.

Finally the pockets - as all dresses are better with pockets and its even better if those pockets include ghosts.

I hope you've all been having a nice weekend, we've been pretty busy with all kinds of things including our next trip (I'm heading back to the USA!). Take Care xo

The Monthly Stitch: Miss Bossy Patterns

One of my "things to do in 2014" was to undertake at least six monthly stitch challenges. I'm not sure if I've blogged much about it before, but the monthly stitch is a collective organised by three of my Wellington Sewing Blogger Network friends - Kat, Mel and Juliet. The collective is an ongoing sew-a-long with a new challenge each month and the challenge for March is Miss Bossy Patterns.

The theme does seem a little confusing to start with - but let me explain more! Miss Bossy Patterns is about making a pattern from your pattern stash which is brand new (to you at least, it can be vintage or second hand) but you have never made. Sounds easy right?

This is where the "Bossy" part comes in - you have to ask your blog readers to chose which pattern to make (by giving them a choice of three patterns). So have a look and let me know which you would like to see me stitch up during the month of March.

Pattern One - Sew Liberated - The Ashland Dress

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I bought this pattern long ago, before I thought I had the skills to make this dress. It was kind of a pattern to "work towards". I am pretty confident I can now make it, but I just haven't "gotten around to it yet". 

I really love this dress - it looks really comfortable and I love the neckline and there are some great versions of this dress around the internet. I love this grey version worn with a shirt underneath (it changes the look of the dress altogether) and these two versions made by Meg McElwee who is the designer of Sew Liberated Patterns. I just think the styling of her patterns is so beautiful. I also would love to make the Brynna Dress, School House Tunic, Sunday Picnic Blouse and strangely enough the Bohemian Carpet Bag (I know - me wanting to make non clothing items!).

So if you'd like to see me sewing up my own version of the Ashland Dress (does anyone else say Aslan in their head? Like as in from Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe? No? Just me?) then just let me know in the comments below!

Pattern Two -Made by Rae - Washi Dress

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I have seen about a million versions of the washi dress and ALL of them look amazing - look here, here and here for a few versions of the dress. The designer Rae (obviously that's her name, give the name of the pattern company!) has even created a washi expansion pack so you can add a bow, sleeves or peter pan collar to your dress. I know, loads of you are like "but I can make those alterations myself" yeah I could more than likely too if I tried, but I'd just rather have someone else do it for me and spend more time sewing and less time mucking about trying to draft pattern pieces.

I bought this pattern not only because I thought it was adorable, but also because the designer Rae seems like a really nice person (is that a weird reason - I mean if the pattern wasn't my thing I wouldn't buy it, but the fact she is nice makes me want to give her my money more). I've followed her blog Made by Rae FOREVER and I also love her Ruby Dress pattern - but I HATE sticking PDF patterns together, so I will wait until it becomes a printable pattern before buying it (hopefully it does become a printable pattern).

 If you'd like to see me sew up my own version of the washi dress pattern, just comment below and let me know. 

Pattern Three - Christine Haynes Patterns - Emery

So if you've been following this blog for a while, you will know that Christine Haynes is pretty much my sewing idol when it come to indie patterns. When I was first learning to sew, I learned about a million things from her book Simple and Chic Sewing and I recently made my squirrel print dress from Christine's Derby Dress pattern.

There are so many beautiful versions of the Emery dress out there, for just a few examples look here, here and here. I don't really have much more to say about this one except I love Christine's Patterns and this kind of pattern is basically why I wanted to sew. So why haven't I made it yet? I have no idea! But in my defense I haven't owned this pattern long, I only bought it at the start of this year (when I bought a pattern to buy Rich a shirt). So it hasn't been lying around unused for too long. 

If you'd like to see me make up my own version of the Emery - let me know in the comments below.

So that's all about my March sewing challenge, let me know what you want to see - an Ashland, Washi or a Emery. Hope you all had a great weekend (I've been sick ALL weekend - its the WORST - obviously I'm not resentful about it).