Proud as a Peacock for Dolly Clackett

Being pretty new to the old blogosphere (but eternally grateful for all the fab tips; insights and inspiration) it wasn't too long before I came across Miss Dolly Clackett. And whoo can this lady do print! Some of the fabrics she has used,  I have come across on my explorations and totally loved... Lobsters, Racoons, map of the world!!....but to wear, I've not come close. Having a fair few year on Miss DC and  living in the sticks may of have a slight bearing on this, but the reality is probably.... I just don't have the balls !!  although I think I'm increasing my repertoire of colour and print since exposing myself to some of the awesome blogs out there and gaining confidence in each make. 

Anyhow, back to business, when I saw the totally awesome post by Sarah @ Rhinestones and Telephones, I was so touched-(but not totally surprised) to think that this incredible sewing community was to honour one of their own in such a way; I wanted to be part of it, and lets face it girls,those of us who are lucky enough to be in that other amazing club....marriage - top trumps xx

My initial idea was to make the full skirt version of the Butterick Retro 6582 after the success of my Retro Tulip  in the fabulous  Michael Miller fabric Jack Daws 

I'd even found the shoes to go with it!!!

But alas... distracted with other projects and dawdling over the purchase of said fabric, meant that when it came to ordering there was just 1 meter left!!! 

I was now in a right old pickle and conundrum-time was ticking...on my visit to the Sewing for Pleasure Show at the NEC mid March, inspiration stuck... as clear as the "Wahkkkin" of a peacock, buried beneath the bolts of fabric, between the throngs of sewists, I spied a distinctive plumage. This was it!!

and at £ 6.00  a meter I loved it even more!! I'd also picked up New Look 6223 pattern - a good shape that echoed Miss DC. 

I went with the cap sleeve version with the pockets. With not using a New Look before knocked up a toile of the bodice- glad I did as I miss read the final measurements and it were rather snug. The usual lengthening and back reduction was needed, but the front still didn't sit right so out came the darts, and so did the felt tip! Basically, I stood in front of the mirror and drew all over myself and pinned in surplus material... Not sure if thats quite what you're supposed to do, but it appears to fit okay and feels comfy. 

The pattern matching is not brilliant, but was the best I could do with the amount of fabric I'd got. The fabric requirements were 2mtr - which is what I had... one side of the selvage... but the cut line had gone awry .. to 1.75mtr!   

 

The fabric itself has got a fair bit of body to it, but with cream as the main colour it needed lining. For this I splashed right out; it's in the honour of a wedding, so a lightweight silk seemed quite the done thing .... at £8.50per mtr (more than the flippin dress!) but I love it- ooohhhh its soft and ... silky!!! I thought I would extend this extravagance by doing french seams around the arms.. and mighty pleased I am too.

I even hand stitched the lining around the zip, waist and hem of the main skirt- for me that is a major achievement, as hand sewing is definitely not by bag and therefore dislike with a passion. 

   

 I do really love the dress, I did think about getting my wedding shoes out and dying them peacock green - but there not that comfy now ( can your feet change shape?)

 I can see me making this dress up quite a few times - its such a great shape, especially now that  I've got a basic bodice that fits (will try and  play around with the dart placement)   
 

                                                   

 So, here to wishing Roisin and Nic a wonderful wedding day, may the sunshine throughout their marriage. XXXX  

      

A Busy Productive Week ... Bliss

Well what a week! Doesn't it just give you that lovely fuzzy feeling when you can look back over a day, week or even a month, and be wowed by just how much you have either achieved, learnt, developed or gained.

For moi, the last week has been a bit of all four elements; the achievement (and learning how to) of 11 blogs on 11 made items (not all made this week- good but not a miracle worker)- pretty cool, complete a Retro Tulip dress -love it , made a Jersey Landmark top- staggered how quick , gained an additional 20 Likes on the Wear A Wyatt Facebook page-proud, found some stunning shoes to go with my Sew Dolly Clackett dress-fuzzy feelingxx  

wooo they are lovely xx
Just need to settle on a pattern and narrow down the fabric... drool.( minor details...not)
Will most definitely have bring an element of hot pink in -perhaps?

Strong contender 

Couldn't resits these either, so on the plus side the options are open on fabric colour choice! (there were a third pair but if my hubby reads this ... I'm dead meat! 

So what else has happened- received my very own Wear.A.Wyatt garment label- sqeeeeel -lots of labelling to go ahead.

Ordered and received my Gabriola pattern for Stitch 56 "Sew Dramatic Gabriola"  lots more fabric shopping ...Oh the chore of things. 

Contacted Sara at radianthomestudio to be a pattern tester

for her beautiful retro rucksack and she said "YES" whooo really honoured that she thinks I'm a good enough sewist to test her pattern.. lots more fabric research/aka y shopping - you can see how this can become so tedious hahahah 

                                      

Finally -a friend has asked me to custom make a tunic/dress for his girlfriend as her birthday present!ahhhhrr pressure - but lets face it girls .. how thoughtful and so out side the box, I think I'd be pretty toughed by that kind of present (so long as it comes off!!) seriously, I am so honoured that he thinks that what I've made is worthy to dress his lovely lady in - his rational is that, he gets how great it can be and must be to wear an item that is specially made but more so, totally unique form the high street. We have agreed that it will be best to make-up a plain cotton toile in her high st. dress size, wrap it beautifully with a Ware A Wyatt label, and then invite her for a fitting and discuss design and fabric choice- this way she has complete input, great fitting, lots of fun and most of all something that represents her personality and individuality-its all a bit scary but really exciting at the same time - any advise on making for somebody else would be greatly appreciated xxx  

Well there it is- the end of a great week- lots of sewing in front and of course retailed right xxxx

Retro Tulip make up

Showcasing the Retro Tulips in my excited stated of completion at the weekend, I thought I may as well continue in my now slightly skewed listing of makes, especially as its relatively fresh in the old grey matter.   The Butterick 6582, was my first, but not last, dabble into Retro styling. 

Generally, in my OOOO whole 7 months of clothes sewing, I have found or not bothered very little in the way of alterations and just gone for my normal dress size; but just like high street stores differ in their sizing...( like there's no way I'd ever get a leg near a Dotty P these days!) pattern makers are just the same- Yes, I know all books, blogs and info sources say that you should ignore high street sizing and go on your own measurements but you have to start some where-either way I'm ,must be a funny shape or can't measure for toffee-if I went on my measurements and related them to what the patterns said,  I'd end up with a cosy tent for two!? anybody else have the same issue , or know where I'm going wrong?  

Anyhow I had for some strange, sixth sense reasoning, decided to make up a toile- not for this one but my Butterick 5917 made previously (not yet shared, but coming soon) 

Toile for Butterick 59

I'd found that the back was really quite large and needed a fair bit out of it. so following the instructions from a threads post  here on narrow backs- all went well. Although bottled taking so much when cutting out the real dress... Duhrrr why,I asked myself when it came up still a bit loose!!!  

Upper-body back Alterations  

So using, the reduced pattern sizing- I measured it against the Retro- all looked fine and equal - STOP, PAUSE, THINK- working on the basis that the B5917 was roomy and this little number was going to be made in a cotton spandex, big no no to saggy spandex - so the proverbial was bitten and I cut the size smaller 9 ( few prayers Amen )

Cutting out was hampered while/by watching #GBSB- as it was pattern week- I looked and looked for a recurring pattern in teem dam tulips- nop go for it....Whoops, dam , blast - cutting single layer fabric- my front upper "left" shoulder was now my front upper "right " shoulder bugger - sure no one will know, tell or care!!    

As the dress was not lined I wanted to add a bit of nicety inside, so went with edging the facings with red satin bias tape. The curve on the front facing proved a little tricky and ended up cutting a new one and lessened the curve that worked okay.  

Basting the seams together for fitting ( another usual no no bother),  but was tentative about the smaller sizing -if it was going to be too tight I was up the watsit creek-or a bit of additional ruching would need to be inserted- but YEAH it was great - that's why I love a bit of spandex.
Onwards with attaching and edge stitching the facings, but once on What The .... big gapes at the back - not the most attractive look.

So off came ( or at-least unpick back to a mid-point) the facings at the back and darts inserted to take up the excess. 

Voilà all complete - absolutely LOVE this baby - have had loads and loads of complements ( even some naughty ones from hubby -who was taking the pics this time- hence the laughing!)   

Would recommend this pattern if not already done - I will definitely do this one again - a serious contender for the Sew Dolly Clackett surprise but in the full skirt version. 

was instructing to get the shoes in the pic 

so here they are - love these soo much X