The dress that makes me look like a teacher* ...

... at least that's what the hubs said! That's not a bad thing, right?

Photo taken in front of the shophouses along Purvis Street

You can see the silhouette of the dress more clearly here. I have been waiting to find the perfect cap-sleeved sheath for the longest time. Sheaths are the easiest, quickest and most fabric-saving thing to make! They can also be worn for any occasion (although I tend to prefer being over-dressed as opposed to under). 

The pattern I've used is New Look 6000. I have seen literally dozens of these in various versions across the sewing blogosphere and every single version looks fantastic on the wearer. Most of these were part of the New Look 6000 Frock Fest and were purposely made to look rather retro-ish - complete with props! 

With the busy print, View D (the one in the middle) reminds me of a cheongsam

As above, there are several versions one could make. The print I have used was rather busy so it would have been better to stay away from details. I made View A - without the colour, with the simple darted bodice and cap sleeves.

I made a size 4 with my usual sheath modifications of narrowing the width by 0.5" on fold, and shortening the bodice length by 1".  The fit is near perfect now, except for some excess fabric on my upper back. Anyone knows a remedy for that? (I'd forgotten to take a pic of that! Will try to remember the next time I wear this ...)

So anyway, I felt lonely taking pics by myself so I called my little buddy over ...

C'mere, cutie!

Look who's come to join me!

A reluctant pose since she was in the middle of having a picnic with her Barbie dolls.

Hers is dress 13 from EM Patterns without the waistband because she hates elastic. Anyway I think this version is cute too (also because her tummy is a little too big ... there was hardly any space left to insert the waist elastic).

Our matchy dresses are both made with Nani Iro double gauze in Sen Ritsu, the blue version. Mine is unlined with only facings used along the neckline, while hers is half-lined with a coral cotton lawn. I love the contrast! Should've made her some pockets in the coral fabric too ...

A final shot to showcase how the back of her dress is fastened with 2 adorable fabric-covered buttons (No button-holes! No zippers!) that I found lying around. Instructions on how to make the button loops are also included in the pattern.

*Before I am accused of being discriminatory against teachers, just a disclaimer to state that I AM an educator myself (so the statement is actually quite funny). I teach the local equivalent of senior high school level students!

Matching in May

Whilst perusing at one of the many amazing thrift stores on our recent trip to Perth, I came across this cute single doona cover for $1 - marked down due to a few rips. How could I resist? $1 for almost 4 metres of soft cotton? Why not, right.

Some people might feel squeamish about using someone else's cloth things to make clothes but I'm an experienced thrifter and had spent many a good afternoon at the local St. Vinnie's when I lived in Australia many years ago. I am a huge proponent of recycling and upcycling. Thrift stores depend on donations and are screened by volunteers to make sure they are of reasonably good condition. They also tend give employment opportunities to the less privileged (e.g. those with physical or other health conditions). It's just a little sad that now that I'm back in my country, people here are less open-minded about upcycling and repurposing, so we don't have as large a thrift community here.

Anyway, back to sewing. The Scientific Seamstress Lab Group has announced a series of challenges for the month of May and the one which I had contributed was naturally for the week of 17 to 23 May for little matchies!

"Make a child's outfit and the matching doll version
Make a clothing piece for yourself and something to match - accessory, outfit for a kid, something for your pet, etc.
Feel free to get creative! just use a Scientific Seamstress or Sisboom pattern in there for your focal piece! "

So I did!

Excuse the poofy bust, it's not usually like that

Mine is a Carolina Mae from Scientific Seamstress / Sis Boom, while hers is a self-drafted easy dress since I didn't have the Gabriella Fae. The pink rose border print was a pleasant surprise as I did not see that when the sheet was purchased since it was folded up and placed in a clear plastic bag. I have not worked with border prints before but it was quite fun!

The actual print itself is a little too sweet from my usual style but the little princess loved it.

I love this photo :)  And her sparky shoes.

For my CM, the modifications were an extended waistband and using a half-circle skirt. On hindsight, I should have stuck to the gathered skirt as the overall effect is rather shapeless on me. 

Just a pick to show the back of her dress. Instead of a loop and button closure, I've opted to just use a self-fabric ribbon tie just coz it's cuter. Also I do not enjoy making button-holes and button loops.

Just a pic to show how darn proud I am of my perfectly matching seams at the waist! And a close up of the rose and lavender print.  

Instead of my usual hand-picked zipper, I'd opted to use an invisible zipper sandwiched in between the lining and the main fabric. This gives the dress a neater finish in the inside and prevents zip from scratching / digging into my back. The instructions were from my Sewaholic Cambie dress, but it is easily adapted to almost any other lined dress.

Not bad for $1 worth of fabric!

The Tiramisu dress - conquering my fear of sewing knits

Pretending to look at something interesting that's crawling across the floor

I made a functioning dress in knit material! Darn proud of myself, too. Not sure what took me so long to embark on the knit journey but I am hooked. Knits are so so comfy, really quick to sew up and actually quite easy to handle (I used a serger).

The Tiramisu dress from Cake Patterns was one of those patterns that inspired me to start sewing my own dresses (the other one being the Sewaholic Cambie). I love the easy kimono sleeves, wide cumberband and overall vintage-y silhouette. I've got chunky heels and a little red belt on (the holes are heart-shaped!!) just to play up on the 1940's look.

Pretending to look at something that's behind the photographer

The dress was made in size 30 and 25" waist with no modifications other than not adding pockets, and shortening the skirt to 19" so it comes up to just 2" above the knee. The bodice looks a little wrinkly in the photos but it's not like that in real life. This dress was made for comfort and it really is!  The navy blue makes it just a little more formal, and I wore the dress to work. I don't think this dress will look out of place anywhere that a normal person would go to, e.g. after work drinks, on a date night to the movies, to a picnic, for chasing the kids/dogs around in the park ...

Pretending to look at something in front of me, but my hair is in the way

I would like to make a special mention about the surplice neckline. I am naturally drawn to cross-over bodices but I've not been able to make or even buy a RTW that doesn't gape. One would usually be a little self-conscious with the gaping, but I could literally do somersaults in this dress (with leggings on underneath, but of course) and the neckline will still stay - NO GAPING. It's sheer genius in the "why didn't I think of this" sort of way.

Pretending to look at something in front on my right, my hair is forever in the way

I can't wait to make more of these! I already have 2 yds of lovely fuchsia bamboo jersey ready for another version of this, but with pockets and maybe 1" taken in at the side seams. I also have some double knit that would be great for a frankenpatterned Tiramisu top + pencil skirt combi. Has anyone attempted that yet?