For real, I've had a bunch of sewing done at the end of last year. Because of the nature of my work, I tend to sew in spurts - not revving up my machine for months on end, then sewing up a storm within a span of 2 weeks.
I've also not been able to get good pics, because I rely a lot on my phone camera and an unwilling spouse/child as photographer. Oh btw, have you seen the video on Instagram Husbands?? It's hilarious yet painfully true. Except mine doesn't 'gram, he uses one of those DSLR-things 'coz he's a camera snob like that. I hoard fabrics and patterns, he collects lenses and stuff. It's fair, except that he only likes to take pictures of underwater creatures.
I'll eventually get down to the details of each, but just some highlights that I've done for my Booboo and me for the Lunar New Year ...
Pattern is Ainslee Fox's Billie dress. I super love it and want to hack it for myself! I was contemplating between this and a baby cheongsam, but the weather has been hot and I didn't think she would like the mandarin collar. This is a more comfortable alternative, especially since I've used double gauze from Nani Iro Dear Mother;s Girlhood collection - one of my favourites.
The story behind this print is supposedly:
愛しき母の娘時代、それは一針一針刺していく刺繍の愛おしい創作の時間刺繍タッチを水彩で描き上げ、地模様の小花とのコントラストを美しく表現
So I don't read Japanese, but from the Kanji, I'm gathering that it's about a mother's love as she painstakingly hand-embroiders flower patterns for her daughter. Or something like that! (I hope someone can provide a more accurate translation ... pretty please?) Anyway, it's rather fitting and meaningful for matchy-matchy dresses, don't you think?
This self-drafted cheongsam has been on my to-do list forever. It's really a basic bodice block paired with a half-circle skirt, and a mandarin collar attached. I didn't want the usual slant opening because double gauze stretches out easily on the bias so the key-hole opening was just an impromptu cut out while I was attaching the bias trim. Nothing fanciful, just a simple dress to showcase beautiful fabric.
The most difficult part was pattern placement! Or trying best ways to showcase the coloured embroidered parts. The first time I did this, the flowers were upside-down :( The next best thing to salvage this fabulous (and also very expensive fabric) was to use it for Booboo's dress, which I did.
So what's next?
I've lost a bit of my sewing mojo, sadly, especially for myself. I find it more enjoyable to sew little girl dresses but mine is growing up a wee bit too fast *cries*. I've started to make little bags and pouches for the boys in my life and it's quite a bit of instant gratification because these things sew up real quick and I never have to worry about things like fit, or if the fabric is scratchy etc. I also get to use up those little scraps that I've been saving up!
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