"Are those pockets on backwards?"

Yes, yes they are.  But more about that later.

It seems that everyone who blogs about sewing has, at some point, made Simplicity 2444.  It looked lovely in every post I read, so I thought I'd make one for myself.  I did want some dresses that are more wearable for every day and this seemed perfect.

After reading about the treasure trove that is Goldhawk Road on Roisin's blog, Sew Dolly Clackett, I nipped there after visiting the Language Show at Kensington Olympia and got this cute cotton for £5 a metre

I bought 2.5 metres which wasn't quite enough, so I shortened the skirt pieces and managed to squeeze it all on.  It all came together fairly smoothly, and the sleeves weren't as hard as I was anticipating.  As the title suggests, however, I did manage to sew the pockets on backwards, so they're facing towards the back of the skirt.  Oops!  Not quite sure how that happened.  I'm also not sure I've done the pleats quite right because they don't seem to lie properly, but that could be my body shape, idk?  

My first two projects have highlighted that patterns don't suit every shape, as they've both had gaping necklines.  I'm a pear shape, so fitting the dress so it isn't too baggy at the waist and lies flat on the bust is tricky, and my adjustments so far have been by eye as I don't have a dress form.  The darts I added look ok here, although the neckline is a bit angular and the zip gapes a bit at the back.  It is supposed to have a hook and eye at the top but my attempt just looked shoddy, so I might add a button and loop, or I might just leave it seeing as I normally wear a cardigan.

(Slight attempt at pattern matching, though you can't really tell from my crappy phone photos) 

I have found a couple of tutorials about how to redraft a pattern that gapes so I'll have to try that, but making muslins is far too tedious for an impatient sewist like me, so it's something I'm putting off.  I might also try using this bodice with a gathered skirt (maybe from Simplicity 6262) because I think it looks more flattering for my pear shaped hips.

How do you get on with commercial patterns?  Have you had to make pattern adjustments and how successful were they?  As ever, please share your creations and blogs for me to peruse :)

My first dress!

As I said in my first post, I started my foray into sewing with a dressmaking course.  But for that I needed to provide my own pattern and fabric.  I went to John Lewis' haberdashery department to look through their pattern catalogues, but had no idea how to tell the difficulty.  Thankfully there was a lovely lady there who had been sewing for years who helped me out.  It was really lovely for an experienced sewist to take time to help out a newbie!  I decided on New Look 6262 because it looked fairly simple, had nice variations and had a flared skirt that suited my figure.  The lady said it shouldn't be too hard and since I was going to a class I knew they'd help me with it anyway.

I found my fabric at a stall in Coventry market because I had yet to discover the ridiculous range available online, and got a Liberty print cotton for £6.99 a metre.  

I had no idea at this point how expensive good fabric can be so this seemed steep to me!  Obviously it must be an old season's print at that price, but it feels nice and soft and I love the colours. 

(Ignore the awkwardly posed photos taken in my living room with the timer on my phone)

In my first lesson I only got as far as cutting out my pattern, and the next week I had sewn my bodice.  I then attached my skirt and inserted my zip.  It took longer than I had expected because I made a few silly mistakes, like sewing the same French seam twice, and attaching my facing before checking the neckline fit properly.  It gaped quite a lot at the front so I added two darts at the front, which is fine on this fabric because it's quite a busy print.  Because I was so impatient to get it done, I cut the armholes a bit smaller by eye and so they're not entirely symmetrical, but knowing English weather I'll probably have to wear a cardigan with it anyway.  The top of my zip is also a bit wonky, I think I should've left a bit more space above it so I could turn down the fabric over the zip tape.  

(Nearly invisible zip.  I'm saying it was a design feature)

I did line the armholes with bias binding which I'm happy with and is a new skill to have.  I used Colette pattern's tutorial which I'll link to when I'm not on my phone.

Overall I'm really happy with my first dress.  Yes, it's a bit higgledy piggledy here and there, but no one's going to be analysing it when I'm wearing it, and it's quite a flattering shape.  I'll definitely use the pattern again, maybe with sleeves next time.  And I'm so glad I started out with a few lessons, otherwise I probably would've cut lots more corners and ended up with a lower quality dress.

Have you ever used New Look 6262? As ever, feel free to link your blogs and creations below :) 

Well hello

Hi, fellow sewists!  Newbie dressmaker over here!  Though the Internet probably doesn't need yet another sewing blog, I love seeing other people's creations and getting inspiration and advice, so hopefully I can join in with the creativity :)

I was given a sewing machine (Janome J1012) for Christmas about 5 years ago and for 3 years it sat in the loft, but last summer I got it down and then it sat in my dining room for a year.  But this summer I finished an internship and had some free time before a knee operation, so decided once and for all to have some lessons.  I signed up for a course of 4 dressmaking classes at Coventry Sewing Centre and learned how to cut out a pattern, sew darts and insert an (almost) invisible zip.  It was really helpful and my teacher was obviously very experienced and knew her stuff, and was lovely and encouraging :) I didn't quite finish the dress within the course but made a few adjustment and finished it at home.  

I have well and truly been bitten by the sewing bug and have a pattern and fabric stash that is growing at an alarming rate.  Keep an eye out for new posts showcasing my latest makes and feel free to link your blogs in the comments (in fact, please please do!). I love discovering new blogs so the more the merrier. 

¡Hasta luego!