Beyond the Basics - The Last Days of Summer Dress.

29/02/2012

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So, I have called my A-line dress re-make the Last days of Summer Dress. I like this little dress so much I really wanted to call it the "I hope she doesn't grow too much before next summer because I really hope she can where it then dress" but maybe that title is just a tad too wordy! Interestingly, today is the first truly hot day we have had in Sydney all summer, so maybe there will still be lots of opportunity to wear it.

I would like to say there was no bribery involved in this photo shoot, but a picture tells a thousand words. It took a lollipop and a play with a favourite cousin to get these pictures and even that was pushing my luck!! If you would like to make the dress that Lizzy is wearing, Caroline's tutorial is here.

In today's tutorial I will show you how to:
  • draft up the placket and front gathering
  • draft up and sew the collar
  • line the top of your dress for a simple but very neat finish
Apologies and Warnings

In this tutorial I use the term "Master pattern" This is just your original A-Line Dress pattern that has no seam allowances include. Trace this off and make all your alterations to this master pattern. It makes the whole drafting process much easier to not have seam allowances included. Once you are happy with the changes you have made, add back your seam allowances before cutting. I will say this over and over in this tutorial. Boring and repetitive I know, but so much better than realising you have cut out your pattern without seam allowances (I know from experience!)

Caroline apologised for her photos in her last post, I can only admit that mine a worse. As the tutee  progresses you will have many insights. Among other things -  I sew day and night and when desperate regularly use my flash, I am terrible at trimming threads as I go and my lawn needs some tlc and a good mow. There is photographic evidence to support all these statements! So I am really, really sorry.

Another warning. I am bilingual and ambidextrous when it comes to the whole inches/centimetre thing. I concretely use a 1cm seam allowance but in some places my brain just works better in inches. I will point this out as I go along. Sorry for any confusion!!


If you are brave enough to read on, click on the read more button...


Maryanne

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'Just' beyond the basics dress - a tutorial

27/02/2012

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So this is my take on the a-line dress.  It's really simple to make up.  So simple, infact, that it barely qualifies as being 'beyond the basics'! That's why I've called it the 'just' beyond the basics dress...
It has a gently gathered neckline and some waist ties to give it some shape.  I really like inserting ties into the side seams.  They stay on  nicely and you don't lose them in the wash!
If you're a regular reader of our blog you'll know that my four year old Lizzy has an aversion to wearing anything other than dresses.  This dress is so comfy it's our 'wear instead of shorts' substitute.  It's summer here in Sydney and it's perfect for hot days - it's baggy, loose and cool. Here's a similar one  (no gathering around the neck) that I made ages ago.


I made this one up in Liberty.  Every time I sew with Liberty I fall more in love with how beautifully it sews up.  It's the most amazing fabric !  That said, if you want to go at having making one of these dresses, don't forget our golden rule of pattern alteration. Repeat after me 'Don't use your favourite/most expensive fabric the first time you alter a pattern.'
If you'd like to make one of your own, click on read more to find out how you can do so.  It's really easy... promise!
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Beyond the Basics - Introducing the A-Line Dress

26/02/2012

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Week one, The Basic Bodice has flown past with a round up and tutorials from Caroline and I.

Have you had a go at playing with a bodice pattern yourself?
If you have, please let us know. We'd love to see what you have come up with. Even if it is a project you have worked on a long time ago, inspire us! Leave us a link in the comments section or email us via our Contact Us Page. We would love to do a round up of other peoples work during this series.

This week we will be looking at the A-Line dress, hoping to inspire you to cut up your pattern, play with it, reconstruct it and sew something truly unique.

So, let's begin by taking a look at some dresses that use an A-Line pattern as a starting point.

Click on  each image for its source
Inspirational isn't it?

So, let me tell you a little secret... The bodice from last week was just our A-Line dress pattern shortened. So you could do the reverse - just lengthen out your bodice pieces and widen it out a little over the hips. Dig around your patterns - even if you have only done a little bit of sewing, you'll probably find the pattern you'll need. If you can't find one at home every major pattern brand will have a child's A-line dress in its collection.  Or, find an A-line dress in your child's wardrobe and trace off a pattern.

Here is what it should look like:
So, now it is your turn...
Any of the techniques we showed you last week would work well on a dress. So you already know how to make ruffled sleeves, use bias tape and make a front button placket...
And you can make a contrasting facing and draft up some sleeves.

Do you want to learn something new?
Caroline and I will both have tutorials this week with more inspiration for the A-line dress.

You may notice that we are inclined to post fairly frequently but irregularly. Subscribe to our RSS feed and you won't miss a thing!

Maryanne

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Beyond the Basics - Colour Pop Tunic Tutorial

23/02/2012

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Today  it's my turn to play with the basic bodice pattern. This is what I have come up with – the Colour Pop tunic. It has a contrasting facing (the “Pop” bit) and some sleeves with some inverted pleats at the shoulder. I’ll show you how to draft and sew both of these features in today’s tutorial.

I am still so happily amazed at the variety of permutations and combinations you can make with a good basic pattern. If you haven’t checked out Caroline’s Modern Vintage top you can find it here. We have used the same bodice pattern to make both of these tops.

Watch out next week for our Basic A line dress round up and tutorials from both Caroline and I. We'll show you how to vary this pattern to make two very different dresses

If you would like to make your own Colour Pop Tunic grab your basic bodice pattern and click on the Read More button to find out how.

Maryanne

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Beyond the Basics - the modern vintage top tutorial

20/02/2012

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Have you got your bodice pattern ready?  Today we're going to use it make this...
If you need some more information about bodice patterns, have a look here.

This tutorial has quite a lot of assumed knowledge  - it's not for the complete beginner but for someone who feels reasonably confident with the basics of sewing and wants to experiment with their basic patterns a little more.

Through this tutorial I hope that you come to understand  a few things about pattern alteration - 
  • Pattern alteration is not an exact science - there is a lot of tweaking involved.  For that reason, don't use your favourite/ most  expensive material the first time you make up an altered pattern.  Ask me how I know!
  • Know what the seam allowance is on your basic pattern is and keep it consistent with any pieces that you draft.
  • Bias tape  is your best friend!  It's so much easier to use  and so much more flexible than drafting facings and gives you a lovely finish.
  • Gathered sleeves are very forgiving and perfect for the beginner.
  • Most things are fixable!  See how the placket in the picture is a bit wonky?  It's because I made the buttonholes too big.  A few stitches on the end of each button hole and voila - a placket that sits much better!

If you'd like to see how I took a basic bodice pattern and made it into the modern vintage top then just click  read more.

Oh... and before you start sewing - don't forget we have a giveaway on at the moment.  If you'd like to enter, the odds are definitely in your favour!

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Beyond the the Basics- Introducing the bodice and a giveaway!

19/02/2012

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Finally! We're both really excited to start our very first series  - Beyond the Basics.  Our aim is to show you how, with a few basic shapes, you can create a multiplicity of garments.  You can make exactly what you want!

What do all of the gorgeous girls tops below have in common?  The all start with a  basic pattern.  Look at all of the things that you can do once you have a bodice pattern!
Click on  each image for its source
It's hard to believe that all of these tops are based on one shape, isn't it?

So, to start at the very beginning, what does a bodice pattern look like?

Just like this! (Apologies for the weird colouring... it's the result of a green cutting board and trying to take a pre-dawn photo...)
Where can you get one?

There are lots of tutorials to show you how you can draft your own using a pre-made garment.
Jess at Craftiness is not optional has one here and here is another one from icandyhandmade. You also find that many patterns that you've purchased (you know  - the stash in the back of your cupboard!) will be based on a bodice too.  You just need to have a look for the pattern shapes above.

This week  we're going to show you two amazing things that you can do with a bodice patterns  so make sure that you've got your pattern ready to go. 

Phew... this post is way longer than I intended.  If you've read this far, you definitely deserve a giveaway!

If you'd like your very own copy of 'Getting the Most From Your Sewing Machine' and a yard each of Miss Mod by Chelsea Anderson and Tea Garden by Dena Designs, then leave us a comment.  You've got until midnight on Sunday February 26th to enter and we're happy to send internationally.

Good luck and see you all later this week for a tutorial!

Caroline

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Curiouser and curiouser - Alice and some parenting questions...

18/02/2012

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I'm not normally much of a costume maker, but a recent invitation to an Alice in Wonderland party took my fancy. Lizzy and Mart were both invited and elected to go as Alice and the White Rabbit (respectively!)  After trying to convince Lizzy that she didn't want a horrible Disney-esque costume (who designs those truly horrible things????) I set about making a blue and white dress and apron and a vest and pocket watch.

The finished products looked like this...

Every one looks pretty happy in the photos, but  I have  some questions...


a)is it bad if your daughter looks disappointed when you present her with a handmade costume because it's not slippery and shiny and  looks like the one in the shop?  

b)Should I have made her a shiny blue one even if I really, really, really hate that kind of thing? 

c)At four, should she get a say in these kind of things?  

d)How much say do you give your kids in what they wear? 

I'd really love to hear your ideas...

Despite a bit of drama as we addressed the above issues, we all had a great time.  I do have one more question though...  If your kids get invited to a themed party, is there an expectation that they dress up?  The only reason that I ask is that my kids were the only ones in fancy dress. I kind of felt a bit like a Toddlers and Tiara's mum and we could have avoided the aforementioned drama. Anyways...

Somedays I really, really, really need a parenting manual!

Caroline

PS  - We're starting our Beyond the Basics series tomorrow.  It's going to be a huge week with a fabric giveaway, a round up and two tutorials.  Drop in and let us know what you think! 
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Project Run and Play - Signature Look

13/02/2012

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The final week for Project Run and Play... phew!

I don't really have a 'signature look' but I do know what I like to sew... 
I like lines that are clean and crisp.  I don't like things that are super glittery or sparkly and though I don't mind the odd ruffle, I do think that less is more when it comes to them.  Before I finished this project I would have said that I don't like things that are too  matchy...matchy... (hmmm.. is there a real word for that?) but I did use matching covered buttons on this project and I think that they work.
I do like little details like covered buttons and bound hems...
Most of my projects seem to involve full skirts and bows so  I had to throw both of those in for good measure...
and to finish off  a little bit of running stitch around the collar to match the gorgeous colours in the skirt.
I like the finished product.  I do think that signature looks should make some kind of grand statement and this ensemble certainly doesn't do that.  I haven't dyed any fabric, tatted any lace or  spun any wool for it.  But you know what?  It's wearable and for me, that's what my signature look is all about!

Caroline

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A Lone(ly) Star

13/02/2012

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It's finished...

I have to say the piecing of the star was so much easier than I expected and fitting the white squares and triangles so much harder than I expected. I must ask Mum how she does it. I just made it up!! More and more I am working out with patchwork - there is an easier technique. I just didn't know it this time.
I think it is lonely and needs some friends.

I was thinking about playing with this collection of fantastic stars and making a red and white star sample quilt. I'll keep you posted.

Maryanne

PS I know... I'm still playing.
But I promise I am working on our great blog series Beyond The Basics. Caroline has got me on a timetable so the play has got to stop!!
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A brief programming announcement... Beyond the basics

11/02/2012

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Maryanne and I have been scheming...
We've been planning to do a blog series for ages and finally we are on track  for doing just that!
While we're not pretending that we're draftswomen, we do spend a lot of time tweaking, changing and modifying patterns to make exactly the outfits that we want for our children.
Nearly everything that we make is based on five very simple patterns...
  • a basic bodice
  • an a-line dress
  • a simple lined jacket
  • an elastic waisted skirt
  • simple unisex pants
For the next couple of weeks we'd love to share some of our ideas and tips on how you can take each of these basic shapes and pattern and make them into something completely unique and amazing.  

There will be round-ups,  lots of tutorials and maybe  even a giveaway or two.  Come along for the ride...It's going to be lots of fun!

Caroline

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