That's EXACTLY what I'm going to do x

nevermind - thought of what I'm going to do with it!!!

Hi all!

Haven't been on here for yonks - just busy with life in general!

Right - I have a dilemma. I bought this amazing leopard print coat off of ebay, thinking it'll fit me, but nope : literally a few inches too small around the chest and arms!!

I really love it - I checked the seam allowance on the sleeves and chest area, not enough to let out. I don't want to get rid of it, as I love it waaaaaay too much.

I was thinking turning it into a cape or something - if anyone has any suggestions what I can do, that would be brilliant!! Mucho thanks!! xxx

Hey all - I recently posted a thread about this top I did (which you can find in the Costumes : Completed section) My query is this : I was trying to get some 'permanent' pleats/creases going down the sleeves and ironing doesn't seem to do the trick. The woman who I did it for took it to a dry cleaners to see if she good get it professionally pressed, but it still wouldn't hold.

So I honestly don't what to do - she's getting a bit upset with me about it....but no cool, as I spent a lot of time and effort on the top. I'm not superwoman, for crying out loud! Any tips/advice will be soooo grateful right now. Thanks!! -x-

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[I was approached by my boss's sister to make her a top in the style of Zhandra Rhodes' poncho thing she made for Freddie Mercury back in the day. But not quite - she wanted her own spin on it. The big winged sleeves were a MUST. She sings in a covers band - they do all sorts of glam rock tracks - so she wanted something a bit flamboyant, but comfortable to wear on stage. Here was my reference pic - pretty neat, right?! So we met up a few times over the course of the month for brainstorming, fittings, and more brainstorming. I have never in my life dealt with so many meters of white satin....ever!! It was insane and a bit annoying to keep it still on the machine....the damn stuff kept slipping around!! ARGH! After many long days and nights (and yet another fitting of the finished product!!), my boss's sister went away a happy bunny. But managed to stick around for some action shots of her in it. I think the bit of the top I was super proud of were the pleated sleeves. (and add some elastic wrist bands to keep the sleeves from slipping down whilst she pranced around on stage) Although I did tell her she would have to take the top to a dry cleaner to get the pleats properly pressed all along the sleeves, as I just had a meager iron that just about did the job!! The bodicey bit of the top is all fully lined with white polycotton, so it'll be comfy to wear without having a vest top underneath. *Don't mind all the crap in the background - I didn't have time to sort out my work area! Aww, starting to get all 'empty nest' syndrome that that the top has gone! But that should do me for the rest of the year. Going to kick it with some coffee and sleep until Xmas. -x-]

I was approached by my boss's sister to make her a top in the style of Zhandra Rhodes' poncho thing she made for Freddie Mercury back in the day. But not quite - she wanted her own spin on it. The big winged sleeves were a MUST. She sings in a covers band - they do all sorts of glam rock tracks - so she wanted something a bit flamboyant, but comfortable to wear on stage. Here was my reference pic - pretty neat, right?!



So we met up a few times over the course of the month for brainstorming, fittings, and more brainstorming. I have never in my life dealt with so many meters of white satin....ever!! It was insane and a bit annoying to keep it still on the machine....the damn stuff kept slipping around!! ARGH!

After many long days and nights (and yet another fitting of the finished product!!), my boss's sister went away a happy bunny. But managed to stick around for some action shots of her in it. I think the bit of the top I was super proud of were the pleated sleeves. (and add some elastic wrist bands to keep the sleeves from slipping down whilst she pranced around on stage)

Although I did tell her she would have to take the top to a dry cleaner to get the pleats properly pressed all along the sleeves, as I just had a meager iron that just about did the job!!







The bodicey bit of the top is all fully lined with white polycotton, so it'll be comfy to wear without having a vest top underneath. *Don't mind all the crap in the background - I didn't have time to sort out my work area!

Aww, starting to get all 'empty nest' syndrome that that the top has gone! But that should do me for the rest of the year. Going to kick it with some coffee and sleep until Xmas.

-x-

[Tablecloth?! PAH! I don't think so. That dress is GORGEOUS!! The fabric and print work really well with the style of the dress. Alexander Henry FTW. Great stuff, lady!! -x-]

Tablecloth?! PAH! I don't think so. That dress is GORGEOUS!! The fabric and print work really well with the style of the dress. Alexander Henry FTW. Great stuff, lady!! -x-

[I think it looks dope - Snorlax is my fave Pokemon. Close second is Charmander. Great work!! -x-]

I think it looks dope - Snorlax is my fave Pokemon. Close second is Charmander. Great work!! -x-

[I love these!! Me and my boyfriend are getting a bit mad over Angry Birds too - I would totally put these on the living room shelf. My boyfriend saw them and thought it might be a good idea for me to make these so we can throw them around. Great work - I'm sure your kids will love them!! -x-]

I love these!! Me and my boyfriend are getting a bit mad over Angry Birds too - I would totally put these on the living room shelf. My boyfriend saw them and thought it might be a good idea for me to make these so we can throw them around.

Great work - I'm sure your kids will love them!! -x-

[Coolness! Thanks for the kind words Found out my next assignment - a Zandra Rhodes-esque top. Ya know, in the style of Freddie Mercury's poncho thing? But as a top for a lady. I get to play with shiny satin soon! Weeeee! -x-]

Coolness! Thanks for the kind words Found out my next assignment - a Zandra Rhodes-esque top. Ya know, in the style of Freddie Mercury's poncho thing? But as a top for a lady. I get to play with shiny satin soon! Weeeee! -x-

[I hate making anything with sleeves and armholes. Everyone knows that. But a friend of mine told a friend of HERS that I make stuff....and dabbled in costumey things.So his wife contacted me and asked if I was interested in making a 'little jacket' to go with her samba drumming outfit. So I said, 'Sure, what do you have in mind?' When I was asked if I can make the bottom hem wavy to go with the waviness of the skirt, then have the same detailing on the collar and cuffs, and fleece lining (she was going to wear it when her troupe have outdoor shows during the colder months) - I was almost beside myself with panic. But I sketched out a rough idea of what she was after and went to town on the fabric with chalk, creating all sorts of sqwiggley wavy lines. After a few fittings, alterations, and stitching gawdawful slippery swirly fabric that kept moving around....this is what happened. It looks a bit bulky and weird because the mannequin wasn't having any of it...it also needed a press to keep it lying flat. But the woman said she'd be more than happy to sort that out herself. :pI am bit chuffed because I have never, ever done anything like this before - and the end result came out better than I expected. SQUEEEE!! After a bit of a success, I think I might takle another jacket-related project. To be determined at a later date. -x-]

I hate making anything with sleeves and armholes. Everyone knows that.

But a friend of mine told a friend of HERS that I make stuff....and dabbled in costumey things.

So his wife contacted me and asked if I was interested in making a 'little jacket' to go with her samba drumming outfit. So I said, 'Sure, what do you have in mind?' When I was asked if I can make the bottom hem wavy to go with the waviness of the skirt, then have the same detailing on the collar and cuffs, and fleece lining (she was going to wear it when her troupe have outdoor shows during the colder months) - I was almost beside myself with panic. But I sketched out a rough idea of what she was after and went to town on the fabric with chalk, creating all sorts of sqwiggley wavy lines.

After a few fittings, alterations, and stitching gawdawful slippery swirly fabric that kept moving around....this is what happened.





It looks a bit bulky and weird because the mannequin wasn't having any of it...it also needed a press to keep it lying flat. But the woman said she'd be more than happy to sort that out herself. :p

I am bit chuffed because I have never, ever done anything like this before - and the end result came out better than I expected. SQUEEEE!! After a bit of a success, I think I might takle another jacket-related project.

To be determined at a later date.

-x-