I recently completed this party dress for a wedding I was going to at the weekend.  I had a great time, the bride looked beautiful, the food was amazing and got lots of compliments so it was pretty successful all round.  I used Simplicity 2444, a project runway pattern which I am now in love with and taffeta for the main dress, even though lots of people said it would be too '80's.

Yes that is frost in the grass brrr! 

I thought it would look good with a contrasting bow and I shortened the skirt as they are always too long on me.


I also love that you can tie the bow at the back or wrap it round like a sash to make the dress look different.  I am all about the convertible!


For more info or photos see my blog- http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2012/02/emerald-city-wedding-party-dress.html

I made this top for my friend who loves The Wizard of Oz in blue gingham with white straps.   I have made this pattern up before, it's New Look 6900 but I changed the straps by adding buttons and button holes so they are convertible.


I tried it on for photos but my friend is slimmer than me so there are no funny pull lines when she wears it.


The red button on the front is a little heart.


Adjustable straps can be worn cross over, straight or halter neck.

 

Not because my party was 8 hours, it wasn't, I only had 8 hours to sew up my Christmas dress!  I basically left it too late and then did it all on the day I was going to wear it but it turned out pretty well for all that and I got to wear it out.

I knew what I wanted, a net overlay dress like the ones that are all over the place at the moment.  I dyed the cotton sateen fabric as I didn't like the colour after I got it on ebay, actually, all the fabrics came from ebay!  


You can see the graduation of the dye towards the bottom fabric, this was completely accidental but I really like it.  The pattern was horribly 80's/90's but actually looks really good once made up and not as boxy as I thought.  This also has the best invisible zip I have ever sewn!  Woo!


I used bias binding around the neck and arms holes which finished it off really nicely as well as some vintage glass buttons I had.  


Very quick in the mirror shot after the party so ignore the messy hair, face etc.  There was a little bit of a fit issue on the bust as it gaped a little but I think taking some in at the side seams could remedy this.  Not bad for a days work though.

If you would like more information on the dress, materials, pattern, or more photos, please visit my blog-http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/12/amazing-8-hour-christmas-party-dress.html

I recently made a set of coasters for my mums birthday to match her soon to be decorated kitchen diner.  I really love the fabric it has a really nice sheen and almost silky feel and is an organic cotton I won in a giveaway.  I can see I will be making more of these simple but effect coasters as gifts. 

I am thinking some tattoo print with red bis binding for my sister next....

Tutorial posted on my blog here - http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/12/cosy-coaster-tutorial.html

For a recent costume night I went as a Pan Am stewardess and made myself a hat and skirt as a fairly quick sewing project.



The skirt has one big pocket in the front which is a nice feature and is from a Burda Style magazine, pattern 122, issue 8/11.  It also has a kick pleat at the back a centre back zip. 



For the hat I used the tutorial found here - www.instructables.c om/id/Pan-Am-Costume/



For more details see my blog post here - http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/12/pan-am-costume.html

HI all, I hope you can help.  I found a tutorial on here ages ago for making mary jane style slippers from fabric rather than the knit version and now I cannot for the life of me find it.  I thought I have bookmarked it but it appears not.  I remember that the ones that featured in the tutorial were a brown fabric and they had a little gap fastened with a button.  If this rings any bells with anyone or anyone has a link I would be very grateful. 

These are the closest to what I mean that I have found so far :- http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=279156.0  Sadly no tute

I have just finished this summery dress form a vintage 1975 dress pattern.  The fabric is a cotton lawn with tiny flowers and I used lace and ribbon under the bust to break up the pattern a bit.  I really love it and although its a bit tight in the sleeves it fits really well.

I stitched some ribbon into the top of the zip to make a cute little bow.

Close up of the pretty trim and fabric

How I hope to wear it (though maybe looking happy!)


For work in progress pictures and further details please visit these blog posts
http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-1975-ditsy-floral-dress-work-in.html
http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-1975-ditsy-floral-dress-work-in_09.html
http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-1975-ditsy-floral-dress-finished.html - Finished

This was a bit of an epic project but I got it finished before my birthday although I only made my crown on the day!  Never mind something always has to be done last minute otherwise it is not a proper craft!  I had an Alice in Wonderland themed party but I didn't want to be Alice as I have always wanted a Queen of Hearts costume.

I made the skirt just by making a tube of the lovely ruffly fabric which has been sprouting all over the web recently and sewed elastic into the waistband and used Simplicity 3685 for the jacket.

I picked out the colour scheme, interfaced everything and found a way to appliqué the hearts without having horrible fraying edges using freezer paper.  I had never done eyelets before but they were really easy with a kit and I didn't add the lower sleeve as it was for wearing out and I liked the shorter sleeve with the black lace.  It is fully lined in black cotton as I used very cheap satiny stuff that makes you sweaty if it is next to the skin.

My friends took all the pictures and I haven't got the best ones yet but these give you an idea of the outfit in total.

I also made the crown from cereal box card, covered and painted gold and I stuck some plastic jewels on them.  I used wire to attach it to a hair comb and surprisingly it stayed in all night apart from one very vigorous bouncy song!  It even survived being hit on the taxi roof on the way in and out of the car!  Alice who is with me did my hair which I don't have a shot of, all twisted up like little snakes.

One final fun shot while we waited for the taxi!  Alice made her apron and its all hand stitched as she doesn't have a sewing machine and the hat was for the mad hatter (though he looked a lot like a leprechaun!)

Full in progress pictures and details (there are a lot!) are on my blog but I won't overwhelm the boards with them here!
http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/search/label/Queen%20of%20Hearts

I am putting this under home as it is the first sewing item I have made that actually has a useful purpose about the house!  I needed a carrier bag holder so I made one!



Cheeky cherries, sunshine orange slices and a bitter lemon......


 ....a moustached kiwi, baby blueberries and sour grapes!  Heehee!

I did arrange the fruit a little wonky but I don't really mind, I got the measurements from a tutorial but then went my own way with the fruit and fabric.

I finished this dress off last week then my internet promptly died so I didn't get to post it.  It is made from Simplicity 3622 which I have used previously and liked so tried the short sleeve version this time.  


It is brighter than the pictures, more sunshine yellow than lemon yellow.  I really like the details on the sleeves and it fits me better than the last version.  


The little daisy trim gives it an extra something I think.


Not the best photo as I have wet hair but you can see how the sleeves gather better here rather then being droopy on my model.  It is a bit see through so I may need a slip to preserve my dignity!  Further details here http://sorbetsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-daisy-dress.html