Its all metallic

So to make the best use of the fabric I have, ive been starting to do two tone outfits with panels of the metallic fabric as I have a big amount of this left.

To make a dress in this way, I took my original dress pattern and retraced it so that I could draw on the new lines and know where I needed seam allowance.

   

I decided on a sweeping panel on the side covering the dart, a v neckline and a racer back.

     

After working out the pattern pieces it was just a matter of cutting it all out in the fabric and sewing it together!

  

 

Im really pleased with the results and the combined colours of the fabrics, all that's left to do is make a facing and add a zip!

   

 

Ive started on a new garment, im hoping to make this shirt into a long loose shirt dress that will either be bleached or dip dyed to soften the colour and make it a more interesting garment. So far I have just looked at how it fits and where the seam would be for the bottom half of the skirt.


Heres a sneak peak at tomorrows garment!

I dont like skirts

So I was saying how I had no bottom halves of outfits, well I made some put it on and fitted then attached the elastic waistband, thought id try it for size today and nope, not getting up my legs........ ive even been going to the gym!

So that's two skirts that possibly wont be worn, ill see what I can salvage from this.... might find a very slim model with no bum.....

Anyhoo it became clear that I had to make new ones. So instead of using a skirt of mine for size I used the bottom of the silver dress pattern which I already tried on and know fits!!

So I chopped off the bottom half of a rather shiny stretchy top to make a nice skirt, lets hope this one fits real people!

   

This was the top, I quite like the fabric so have decided to keep the top half as a crop top. 

         

Taking in the top was a quick over locker job so I went back to skirts, using my dress pattern I used a pillowcase and some contrasting gold fabric, im still deciding to have the back as the back or the other way around with a big chunky zip....

       

Then I really did get bored of skirts so I took apart a skirt and made this crop top/ bralette.
it is quite fitted as I am not using elasticated straps or elastic under the bust just a simple zip at the back, because I have used cotton is it best to not add elastic as it may stretch the bra cups out of shape and not give support.

                    

I think i may end up having more than 8 outfits if i can work out the correct size of a skirt! Wish me luck

Overlocking everywhere

So today ive finished my silver dress! yay

I can also say that I have 3 bottoms now, so im getting closer to having a collection! The finished garments will be up tomorrow but for now I can show you the sewing pile!
I have a big list of things I need to sew once ive changed the sewing machine and over locker to black thread!

So I've also started working on this vintage night gown trying to reshape it to be an elegant evening dress. So far I have added darts to the back and some pleats to the front whereby I will be adding a strip of gold binding to cover the stitches where the pleats will be secured. I am also going to add gold buttons all the way down the front in keeping with the metallic theme.
I am yet to decide on the length of the dress, to keep it full length or crop it to a high low skirt. I am also still working out the lace on the neckline, I feel like it is too vintagey and need some brightening up. So I may decide to spray it with or embellish it, there is also the option of getting rid of the lace all together.

    

Ah decisions, decisions!

Two tops and two dresses....

Ive been busy playing with my garments seeing how much fabric I have and what I can make to fit normal people not just models!

This may by why if you think about it I have two tops and no bottom halves..... my intention was to make shorts from the jeans but they are all massive and I thought of other ideas for that much fabric.

So heres what ive done today!

 I just need to overlock the facing and side seams then I can attach the facing to the dress and its done!

Here I took a large women's shirt and decided to use it back to front as there was no darts in the front I knew it would work both ways.

       

I took in the sides of the shirt and marked out the new arm holes, took off the collar and decided on the new length of the shirt turning it into a crop top. 

               
 So after marking out all the lines and pinning in place I took it to the sewing machine.

                          

     This made it easier to draw out a new neckline and hem for the front of the top creating a slight high low        curved crop top. 

                    

I then tacked these gigantic jeans hoping to turn them into a dress but realising that the pockets would look strange I decided to make the dress shorter, but you will see that it may have turned out better as a longer length shirt.

     My first step is to cut open all the seams making it easier to drape on the manakin. I joined up the shoulder seams first so that I can easily cut the neckline and give the garment a close fit.

           

    I then cut out the arm holes and continued to play with the denim to get a better fitting garment. 

           
    This is the new length of the garment and I decided that it would be a high low shirt as the pockets made       the dress look strange and would be heavy and uncomfortable to move in. the back has a rounded                 neckline and a dipped hem.

                    

    Just need to sew this and add a chunky zip and its done too!
    Hoping to start some more skirts/ bottom halves of outfits tomorrow!

well i managed 6

So today was my designated draw some preliminary designs day.

I managed to draw 6 simple designs before thinking about how I need to focus more on the expanse of fabric I have in relation to my designs. 

So after 6 designs I took out all the garments and sorted them out, I tried to decide what garments I could get the most fabric from and what would work better on certain parts of the body. 

To get a better idea of the amount of material needed I traced a dress block and looked online for some other patterns that may be suitable for my collection. Whilst doing this I also thought about the seam allowance and if the garment needs a facing.
So now that I have a better idea of the amount of material I will have I can develop my designs more and think about colours, prints and fastenings.

Then I can get sewing!! eek

a million black sacks and one

Pretty tiring day yesterday.

To have a collection I have to make it from something, this is not fabric but actually old garments.
Yesterday we took a trip to the Cyrenian store and sorted through a mass of black sacks, arranging into sections of what could be sold as is, needs a wash before being sold and a final section of garments that cant be sold. This is where I come in and rummage through to find suitable garments for my collection.




                    
Happily I can say I got some rather good garments and felt pretty happy being able to help sort and clear all the black sacks in just over an hour! (perhaps I should use this method for my own room....)

So now that I have one sack of garments I can start thinking about designing my collection. I need to think about how garments can be cut to save fabric and the best way to make them into something new, i.e can I just add new buttons, darts or simply dye the fabric.

I also need to think about my target audience and where the garments would be sold, this will help me to design something appropriate and on trend.

                                                  

Id better get cracking then!!

there's always a start....

No need for my life story here I think, just a simple explanation about the ideas behind this blog.

Now firstly I must keep up this blog to keep me sane but also so that I can pass this module in university. Which leads us nicely onto the reason for this blog, I will be blogging about my adventures and ideas about researching, designing, creating and promoting a small collection for a local charity in Coventry.

So enjoy as I bumble along trying to sew things from recycled garments and scraps of fabric!

Hanaa
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