Tag: dress

A new summer dress?

I can’t even begin to count how many patterns I’ve bought in search of the Perfect Dress. Some of them I’ve made and then hardly worn; others are in the process of being cleared out on Ebay, completely unused.

Having recently discovered that an empire line dress is apparently the most flattering style for me to wear, I’ve been looking at this pattern – Butterick 5317. I was thinking that it looked like a nice smart, grown-up dress that I could wear to work with a little jacket. Maybe I could make it in a fine linen, or a swingy crepe.

And then I looked at my fabric stash, and wondered how it would look with a pretty cupcake print, or a selection of sugar skulls. Not so smart and grown-up, but much more fun!

Diane’s second tunic dress

Diane's 2nd 1970s tunic

This is the second dress I’ve made for Diane, using recycled 1970s print bedding. (The first one is here.) This one’s a very pretty, girly design with plenty of hearts and flowers. It’s made from half of a duvet cover, and Diane’s kept the other half to turn into a quilt.

If you’d like to order a pretty tunic dress, the sizes are here, and the prices are here.

There’s also one on Etsy, and I’ll be making more over the next few weeks!

Seventies Style, and Size Charts.

1970s print tunic dress

I think this one might even be my favourite tunic so far.

It’s made from a brand spanking new thirty-five year old bed sheet. Check out the fabulous 1970s print!

In the interests of encouraging you all to buy a lovely tunic dress or top… I’ve now put together a size chart. It runs from UK size 2 (bust 29½”) to UK size 30 (bust 54″). If you fall outside of that range, fear not! I can still make a dress or top for you. All I need to know are your bust and hip measurements, and I can draw up a pattern in your size.

It Has Begun.

Teacups Tunic

The first tunic dress is now up for sale on Etsy.

All I need to do now is make more. Lots more.

Taking over with Tunics.

It occurred to me that it would probably help me in my plan to take over the world, if I told you how I was hoping to get there.

This is how:

Raglan tunic tops and dresses

I’ve been working on various incarnations of this pretty little tunic dress and top over the past couple of years, and I have great plans for their future. But that can only happen if I tell you how you can buy them – so that’s what I’m doing now.

I can make these in just about any fabric you can think of. Pictured above are knits and wovens, patterns and plain, recycled curtains and bed linen, brand new fabrics and an old t-shirt.

Because I sew each tunic by hand, I can make them in any size you need. Just send me a couple of simple measurements, and I’ll send you a dress which will fit.

All the information you need is here.

Know somebody who you think might like one of these?
Please feel free to pass on the details.

Thank you!

Dennis the Menace dress…

Dennis the Menace dress

I made this for Dott, the proud owner of a matching corset!

It’s made from a vintage duvet cover, except for the stripy bits which are new.

I have a moderately-sized stash of vintage children’s duvet covers and curtains, so I’ll be making a few more of these.

Gingham dress and a price list.

Gingham dress

This is the second incarnation of my new dress pattern – this time in a black and white polycotton gingham. This one’s a bit longer than the first one, and trimmed with black broderie anglais/eyelet.

I’ve now worked out my pricing structure, and it looks like this:

  • Reclaimed/recycled fabric: £90
  • Hand dyed organic cotton: £120
  • Novelty print quilting cottons: £140
  • Hand woven Yorkshire silk dupion: £285

Other fabrics can be used, but I’d like to try and concentrate on the organic, reclaimed, recycled and locally produced as much as I can.

My next task is to build a web page and a gallery, so you can start to place your orders!

Terracotta Dress

Terracotta dress

This is what’s been keeping me busy this week – designing, drafting and making a new dress.

Once I’ve sorted out a pricing structure and a size chart and some other information, I’ll be putting this up for sale, and taking orders.

(Assuming that anybody else thinks it’s a nice dress, and that the credit crunch hasn’t crippled everyone’s dress budgets!)

I’ll be starting off with a range in UK sizes 10-22. Smaller and larger sizes will come later, when I’ve done a bit more work on the proportions of the patterns.

The basic incarnation is designed to fit a B/C cup, but I will eventually be offering larger cup sizes.

It will also be orderable in three different waist lengths. So, if the waist always sits in the wrong place when you buy clothes, you can have the bodice made longer or shorter, for a better fit.

The dress fastens with poppers, with buttons sewn over the top. It comes with a matching sash belt. There are pockets hidden in the side seams. (They don’t add bulk to the hips, because the skirt’s already enormous.)

I’ll be making a few more versions for myself, so that I can build up a picture gallery.

This dress is making me excited and happy every time I look at it across the Shed.

Now I just need to find the people who want to wear it…

My Little Pony dress…

My Little Pony dress

No, not a dress for a My Little Pony, a dress with My Little Ponies on it!

I’ve made various incarnations of a simple raglan tunic over the past couple of years. I’ve added a matching belt to this one, and a pleating detail at the shoulders and centre front.

Look out for more of the same coming soon…

Sugar and Spice

Sugar & Spice

 

I made this little dress from a pair of curtains that Lisa (Off With Her Head) found in a charity shop!

The fabric is 100% cotton from John Lewis, and the print is called “Sugar and Spice”.
The background is a trellis with flowers weaving all over it, and there are little girls in aprons and caps.

Adorable!